First personal firearm thread

[alley00p]

Originally Posted by floydpink

Also NEVER EVER buy anything that says Kel Tec, no matter how easy the salesman says it is to carry.

Personally, I can't agree about the KelTec... with a little work, the .32acp is a nice pocket pistol. From the factory, it is hard to shoot due to the stiff trigger, but they are easy to work on and will eat any hollow point ammo that I have tried.

My normal carry gun is a Springfield V-10 .45acp. It has a compensated 4.5" barrel and holds 7 rounds + one up the pipe.

I have other .45's, some .40S&W pistols, 9mm pistols, 357's, & a .44mag w/ 5" barrel, all that I have carried at one time, but I like a .45 the best.

In USPSA/IPSC competiton, I use a ParaOrdinance P14-45 double stack with custom trigger, safety and mag release work on it. I'd carry that, but it's just a tad too big to lug around on a daily basis.

I agree with the others, though - find a range that rents handguns out and try them out until you find something that you like.

[Moglman]

My primary weapons are a Sig P229 and a Sig P239, both in .40 because they fit me, are 100% reliable and are of incredible workmanship. Find a range that will rent you different guns to try. Your decision should be based on what feels right in your hand and what feels right during live fire.

[akakirby]

Glock 19 would be my choice.

[Bruins Fan]

My carry gun is a Colt M1991A1 45. I have used it a few times to protect my dog from coyotes.

[markem]

Hand guns are real person preference type of things. Is there a range nearby where you can rent some hand guns to see what fits your hand and eye? I was very accurate with my Glock 19 but sold it last year when I found I wasn't shooting much anymore.

For home defense, I have an aluminum baseball bat. I figure that all I need is time enough to get everyone safely out of the house. They can have everything in the house as things aren't important.

But if I wanted something for home defense, it would be a 20 gauge shotgun. Excellent stopping power, very accurate with practice and the pellets won't travel across the street and kill a neighbor.

[elderboy02]

Originally Posted by markem

...
But if I wanted something for home defense, it would be a 20 gauge shotgun. Excellent stopping power, very accurate with practice and the pellets won't travel across the street and kill a neighbor.

Here is a great and well written article about buckshot: http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=1&f=5&t=886723

[Mark C]

Originally Posted by elderboy02

Here is a great and well written article about buckshot: http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=1&f=5&t=886723

Good article, but I didn't see much discussion about 00 vs #4 shot. I read something somewhere else that said at close range, where you have a good chance of hitting with ALL pellets, the additional pellets in the #4 shell make that a more powerful load. Food for thought.

Here's the ballistic tests: http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/view...27cf8ed4552db8

[floydpink]

I keep a Mossberg 500 shotgun hidden for home defense and recently came upon some interesting ammo I am thinking about buying.. The double load "pitbull" is the one that caught my eye.

Not sure how a jury would take the name regardless of the castle doctrine in Florida.

Not sure how my wife would feel about the door breachers or the incediary rounds. Flame thrower rounds would certainly address any home invasion issues though.

I'm kinda surprised they sell this stuff to the public...

Brings back memories of the Black Talons.

http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/catalo...specialty-ammo

Any thoughts fellow 2nd ammendment lovers?

I've got two H&K .40's. One compact I use as a conceal / carry, and the other, a full size, LE model (trigger mod, tritium nightsites) that I keep for home security. I also have a small gun safe with digital push-button access by the bed, as I have a 3 year old, and a wife who is afraid of guns.

I'd like it to be a bit more accessible, just in case something happens at 3am, but I haven't found another way of securing it in the house.

[floydpink]

Lots of good advice and good guns mentioned, so I'll throw in my 2 cents.

I have been through lots of handguns and finally settled on a Smith and Wesson Airweight 38 special as my every day carry. I finally settled on it after my brother, who is a Sgt of a police dept up north told me about his everyday carry and he can chose anything he wants off duty.

I like the simplicity of a revolver as well as knowing it's always gonna go bang if I unfortunately need it to.

Very easy to operate, relatively safe, easy to clean, etc.

I also put the Crimson Trace laser grips on mine which might have been a waste of money, but I love them and my eyesight is going bad.

I keep mine in the front pocket of my cargo shorts all the time and usually don't even notice it's there.

In Florida's heat and my normal attire, I can't imagine carrying something like a Glock inside my waistband all day long.

The most common complaint I hear about revolvers is that they only carry 5 or 6 rounds, but if I need more than that, I feel I am in a gunfight I will probably be losing anyway.

As far as stopping power goes, I keep Speer Gold Dot 135 grain hollowpoints in it and feel very confident of them as well as my ability to make all 5 shots count.

As far as gun safes go, I feel that if I am being invaded, the chances of me getting in a safe in time to save my family wouldn't be good.

With kids, I think educating them as well as taking away the curiosity and not leaving the gun around is key, but might be wrong.

[replicant_argent]

Originally Posted by floydpink

The most common complaint I hear about revolvers is that they only carry 5 or 6 rounds, but if I need more than that, I feel I am in a gunfight I will probably be losing anyway.

No one ever said "I had too much ammo." A simple solution and a slight behavior modification for EDC is far better, IMHO, than a defeatist attitude.

[Agent11br]

I'd also recommend a Glock 19. It was recommended three times in this thread alone by other BOTLs. My G19 has had all sorts of different "quality level" ammo thrown through it and has always been reliable. It has never jammed up and is very forgiving on the maintenance side.

If you are going concealed frequently I'd take a look at the G26, which Starchild mentioned. It's slightl smaller & the pinky extender for the clip is must IMO. I've debated about switching over to one but don't want to spend $ on another sidearm right now.

You could also do what elderboy02 rec'd, snag a .40 glock and buy the 9mm barrel for range use.

IMO, a lot of it is personal preference. Set a budget. Then you need to decide a primary caliber choice and go a local range and try shooting their rentals to see what sidearm works best for you. If you are going to carry concealed that's another aspect to take into consideration. I'm only 5'9" and 140lbs, so for me to try and rock out even a Walther P99 and have it hidden is going to be a challenge depending on what I'm wearing.

Sigs are awesome too, very accurate. Still, for all around use and reliability, my vote is with any Glock.

Glock, Sig, and SA make the best handguns. Choose which caliber you want/need and shoot all three different guns. I think that would be a good way to do it. You know your getting an outstanding firearm.

(For those of you who don't live in the land of Lincoln, you are lucky and don't have a constitutional right taken away.)
http://www.illinoiscarry.com/

[DPD6030]

I used to have a glock 23 .40 cal for my personal carry. I sold it. For duty carry they issued me a glock 23 so I was very familiar with this gun. Ahh the memories. It is a reliable gun IMO and I have never had any problems with it (misfires, stovepipes, ect.). It's fairly lightweight and concealable. I'd rather have a .40 than a 9mm and if I could afford it I'd rather have a .45

[68TriShield]

Originally Posted by ChicagoWhiteSox

(For those of you who don't live in the land of Lincoln, you are lucky and don't have a constitutional right taken away.)
http://www.illinoiscarry.com/

We Marylanders feel your pain

Dave, I didn't know you guys couldn't carry either. I thought it was just Illinois and Wisconsin. That sucks

If your talking home protection I would go with a Thompson Center Contender with a 410ga barrel loaded with #9 shot. Unless your a seasoned shooter you will want the "wider" coverage a shotgun gives you in that millisecond you have to respond to an intruder. Then add another barrel of whatever caliber you want for fun target shooting as this gun can accommodate both. Some used ones will not break the bank.

[Biglizard1]

I dont want to start a banter about which is better, but please reconsider Taurus if you are looking at 45 autos, I have been very pleased with my PT1911 and have well over 3K of rounds through it, Dependable rides every where I go. Yes I have owned several diferent makes of autos and revolvers, I reload to satisfy my habits and there is a slew of good high quality guns out there. Take what you receive from here and try to get your hands on some that intrigue you.
Other makes I would trust my life to

Kahr
Ruger
Springfield Armory XD or 1911
Taurus
Glock
S&W
Sig Sauer

The list is longer but there is a lot of reading ahead for you.
There are some that lend better to carry/ defense than they do to targets and vice versa.

Pick the one that will satisfy your primary goal.
Just my opinion,
YMMV
-David

[Thrak]

You really should get to a range and rent some.. for ex. I know Glocks are pretty reliable (except the ka-boom .40s ) but I shoot them horribly. The grip angle just doesnt work for me.

On the other hand my buddy is very accurate with his.

Personally, I'm a Sig guy. P229,9mm vintage P220 and a P250 have all been perfect for me. Cant got wrong w/ a 229 and you can find CPO's for significantly less than brand new.

[bonjing]

You can't go wrong with any of the recommended firearms here. Just remember the most important thing here is that it fits you, and you can shoot it well. Like others have mentioned try a few out before you buy. I use a Sig Sauer P220 while working at the range, but at home i use a S&W 686 loaded with golddot +p 38spcl.

The reason for the revolver at home is my gf does not shoot as much as i'd like her too and has trouble manipulating a semi-auto; last thing i want is jam that she cannot clear. I showed her how to use it and refresh her every so often, and it seems like she has it down.

now I'm not saying that a revolver NEVER jams/malfunctions, but it seems that a revolver is less prone to user error.