I've shot rental .22 pistols and revolvers at the range, and after gaining plenty of experience and doing some research, I'm thinking of buying either Beretta 92fs, SIG Sauer P226, Glock 17, 1911, or a S&W 686 or 19 revolver. The gun will be used for target shooting, home defense, and for defending myself and my family when we go camping. I'll only be able to practice shooting once or twice a month, and on occasion, I might not be able to practice in a month. Because of this, I want a gun that I can store loaded in a safe for awhile that I can pick up for use when necessary. With the wide variety of handguns out there, I'm kinda overwhelmed, so I could use some help deciding which one is the best for me. Just so you know, I live in Southern Commiefornia, and I live in an apartment.
Beretta 92fs, SIG P226, Glock 17, 1911 or a S&W .357 revolver for a first time buyer?
- Thread starter Anferny
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hardworker
New member
They're all good choices. Pick the one you like best. Don't listen to those who say "x caliber has .5436% more stopping power than y". I've got a beretta 92fs and it's a great gun. Also have a smith and wesson model 19 357. Another great gun. I've shot plenty of 1911's. Nothing wrong with them.
Dragline45
New member
You are the only one who can decide what you want. All the firearms you listed are quality and will serve you well but you are making it alot harder than it needs to be. All the firearms you listed are different in their own like. First narrow it down to semi-auto or revolver then go from there. If you decide on semi-auto next decide on what caliber you want. Once you decide on what caliber you want look over all the features of each brand/model and so on... It is tough to tell what you are leaning towards because you listed such different handguns.
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Madcap_Magician
New member
All of those guns are fine choices. I would go with one of the 9mm just for ammo cost reasons. Pick up all three and see what feels the best in hand. I've not shot a P226, but the Beretta 92 is an accurate and soft shooter. The Glock 17 is slightly simpler to operate, doesn't have two different trigger weights, and is probably slightly cheaper. I feel the Glocks recoil slightly more than other, similar-sized guns, but recoil is subjective.
Tommy Vercetti
New member
those are all great choices
For a first time buyer I'd pick the Glock and the Smith as my first 2. They are much more forgiving firearms, in that they are simple, reliable, and more forgiving of what I hesitate to call neglect. The 1911 is really a gun for gun people, though many may disagree. I have had both and loved both.
Nothing beats a 4" barreled .357 magnum for one gun that's all around simple, reliable, accurate, and versatile. With the 4" .357, you can store it w/o having any concerns with magazine springs. You can shoot light-weight .38 special target loads or full-power .357 magnums, doing anything from punching holes in paper to shooting whitetail deer. Most people who don't have a ton of time to practice shoot a quality revolver more accurately than a service auto. And autos can jam; not likely with some, but they can. Finally, revolvers are much simpler than autos especially if you may need to pull the trigger in a high stress situation.
Don't get me wrong; I'm not knocking autos. I own 14 handguns and only three are revolvers. But for one gun that can do just about everything you will ever need a handgun to do in a practical, real life situation, you can't be a S&W Model 19 or 686 4" revolver.
Don't get me wrong; I'm not knocking autos. I own 14 handguns and only three are revolvers. But for one gun that can do just about everything you will ever need a handgun to do in a practical, real life situation, you can't be a S&W Model 19 or 686 4" revolver.
I would also suggest the 686. Its as simple as it gets, is basically indestructable, mine has been the only 100% reliable gun I have owned, extremely accurate, great trigger, comfortable, ergonomic, sexy as hell, and there has never been a person I have ever shown it, gun lover or otherwise, that has not said "Wow, that thing is awesome". Not that that matters, but it doesnt hurt either. With good 357 rounds, its very powerfull, and will work for everything you want. It will also hold its value much better than alot of other guns. Parts are plentifull. Stock sights imho are some of the best I have ever used. And for whatever reason, mine has been much more scratch resistent than other stainless guns I have owned.
I have owned all of the other guns you mention, with the exception of the Beretta, and have carried all of them as well. I like alot of guns, and dont have any perticular preference for any perticular design, but my 686 is the one gun I have ever owned that I will not ever sell.
I have owned all of the other guns you mention, with the exception of the Beretta, and have carried all of them as well. I like alot of guns, and dont have any perticular preference for any perticular design, but my 686 is the one gun I have ever owned that I will not ever sell.
The answer is the one that fits your hands the best ...and the one you shoot the best...and which trigger you like the best ( how it breaks, how it resets, etc ) ....and the controls on the gun that you like ...are all big factors.
You're looking at a big variance in controls, feel ---- of the guns on your list.
Defense - is primarily about shot placement / not caliber in my view.
For a first gun - I'd go with a 9mm in a semi-auto or a .357 mag in a revolver...
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Personally, I have and like Sig 226's ....and S&W revolvers like the mod 19, 66's in .357 mag ...hard to beat those choices ...unless you want to get into 1911's - especially in a 9mm ( from Springfield perhaps as an affordable option).
You're looking at a big variance in controls, feel ---- of the guns on your list.
Defense - is primarily about shot placement / not caliber in my view.
For a first gun - I'd go with a 9mm in a semi-auto or a .357 mag in a revolver...
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Personally, I have and like Sig 226's ....and S&W revolvers like the mod 19, 66's in .357 mag ...hard to beat those choices ...unless you want to get into 1911's - especially in a 9mm ( from Springfield perhaps as an affordable option).
357 Python
New member
A 3 or 4 inch barreled 357 is probably going to be your most versitle choice. You would be able to use 38 Special +P loads for practice or home/personal defense. You can use magnum loads when out camping. I would choose a medium (K) or heavy (N) frame revolver in stainless steel. The stainless steel will corrode but will resist corrosion better than blued guns. The best part is if you don't get much practice you don't have to concern yourself with flipping safeties in order to fire it when needed. In a high stress situation you may forget about the safety and not make the shot you need most.
I, too, would suggest the revolver, but let me tell you why: camping and the woods. There isn't a man alive that the other guns couldn't handle with gusto, but if you have to deal with real predators like bears, the 357 is the only choice. There are other reasons, of course, reliability being the first in importance...
BUT! As the other posters have said, if you don't feel like you can shoot the revolver as well, then a Glock or other semi (I don't like Glocks for a few reasons, some good and some not) in 10mm.
If you rarely enter the woods, then it's a tossup. Find one you shoot well and can find a good price on. 9mm will do the job and it's cheap.
BUT! As the other posters have said, if you don't feel like you can shoot the revolver as well, then a Glock or other semi (I don't like Glocks for a few reasons, some good and some not) in 10mm.
If you rarely enter the woods, then it's a tossup. Find one you shoot well and can find a good price on. 9mm will do the job and it's cheap.
my first gun was a 686, it's a fine weapon, good variety of ammo available 38 wadcutters to 357 defense rounds. oh, and it's very intimidating to look down the muzzle as a couple of would be motorcycle theives can attest to. the others you mentioned are good guns as well but the revolver would be my pick.