Change in needs...

W

wpd8918

Moderator
Hello,

So, I am making some changes in my life and therefore what I need from a firearm is changing. For the last 4 years I have worked as a law enforcement officer in the small town I grew up in but I recently turned in my badge after deciding where I want to live is more important than what I do. I have a lot of adventure in me! I had (recently sold) a Glock model 22 and a Kahr PM9. At the time they were the perfect combo for what I needed but no longer fit my needs. I am now moving from Ohio to Colorado, this spring, and am looking to purchase a handgun for when I get out there. I would like a gun that I can carry for self defense, whatever the setting may be. I want it for protection against predators of the human kind but also from animals, up to bears, while off on hikes and multi-day backpacking excursions. Without firing either I have narrowed my choices down to a 10mm Glock or a Smith and Wesson 329 Night Guard. I have done a lot of research on both weapons and the 10mm and 44 mag rounds and weighed the pros and cons of both for my situation. Any thoughts, suggestions?
 
If you can shoot those guns comfortably (enough to put in sufficient practice), quickly and accurately, that's fine. The 329 might be painful if it's the lighter-weight .44 I am thinking of.

I used to lug around a .44 Magnum whenever going into bear country, but something like that is very bulky and heavy.

Check out Bear Spray as a light weight alternative to deal with bears. It appears to work well from the accounts and studies I have read, and has a huge advantage in that it never ESCALATES the anger of a bear as a wound from a handgun would!

You could carry a good-sized can of Bear spray, and a compact .40 or .45, and in my opinion be well protected from any realistic threat, without too much weight or bulk.
 
I have a Glock 20 10mm and a S&W 629.... love them both....I carry th 629 in the woods and the glock is for home defense.... but I ever were to move out of Alaska i would Carry the glock outdoors...hold 15+1....the 10mm is as good as a 357mag and should be adequate for anything down in the lower 48
 
I have a .45 Super that always dissuaded me from getting a 10mm. You can shoot standard .45 ACP and go up to magnum levels if you want for hunting. You also have shotshells for snakes. And its way more fun to shoot than any .44 magnum, especially those lightweights. I mean, why have a gun that's no fun to shoot when you can just as effectively have one that is?

Amongst your choices I'd go with the 10.

My .45 Super was made by Ace Hindman. Ace is no longer with us but his son has been following in his footsteps for a good while. By the way, it looks like they also now make Glock 21 based .45 Supers since you may prefer the Glock platform to that of the 1911. Maybe they could convert your 10 to .45 Super.

http://www.acecustom45s.com/45super.htm

I really think a .45 Super gives you both a better defensive gun as well as a better hunting/large predator defense gun than any 10mm. I'd much rather have it in bear country.
 
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I would go with the 329. There will be a little learning curve to become proficent in the reloads, but the weight factor should not be a problem with the new nightguard. The availability of factory ammo, and components for reloading in 44 mag and 44 spec is better than the 10mm. Another plus is in the power factor range in the 44 vs the 10mm. Wide variety allow you to fit the tool to the task and thats a big plus.
Tomaz45
 
I just made the same move, 'cept I moved to Colorado from SE Arizona. I've been in Colorado for less than a week, although I've spend a lot of time here in the past.

Like Tomaz45, I'd probably go with the 329. Ease of carry is worth it to me, and I've a feeling it would be easier to conceal, as well.

I've done the G20 thing in the past. Factory ammo is hard to find, and the "good stuff" you'll want for woods and mountain carry will either have to be handloaded, or ordered from DT, BB, or Grizzly Cartridge Co. The G20 is also a fairly large handgun, and is hard to conceal. If you go this route, I'd highly recommend getting an aftermarket barrel that allows you to shoot .40 S&W from the same gun. .40 ammo is far easier to find, and is far less expensive than 10mm as far as factory fodder is concerned.

As a note, I feel that concealment is almost mandatory in more populated areas of Colorado. The public's views on guns runs from "very acceptable" to "unacceptable", depending on -exactly- where you are at the time. Concealing in wintertime here, from my experience, it not all that hard. Summers are warmer, and concealment becomes more difficult for larger handguns.

FWIW,
Daryl
 
Mosin44az,

I absolutely planned on getting some UDAP bear spray, everything I have read and everything I have been told by people with expert knowledge, tells me that it has much higher success rates at warding off a bear attack. I would just like a plan B, especially on long backpacking trips, for bear attacks and a firearm in general for any other need for it that might arise.

As for the discussion on the firearms themselves,

I like the idea of the 44 mag, I like that it definitely has the needed power. I like that its versatile because of the multitude of rounds you can get for it. The only real draw back is that I am wondering if I can become proficient with it. I hardly know anything about the 329 Night Guard and cannot find many reviews for it.

The Glock I am pretty sure is powerful enough for what I need, I think. What I like about the Glock is that I am VERY proficient with Glocks. BTW I was planning on getting the smaller Glock 29 for the ease of carrying it. I have never fired a 10mm before but was exceptionally proficient with my chief's .45acp Glock of that same size.

Who has real experience with either of these? Can you share the experience with me?

Do you think I could learn the model 329 or should I stick to what I know?

Daryl, I have been to Colorado three times this last year and made some friends while I am out there. If all goes to plan I will be living with one of them come spring time. I absolutely love it out there, being born in Ohio I feel like I was born in the wrong place. I'm an outdoors enthusiast (hiker, rock climber, kayaker) and the mountains are where I belong.

PS- kcub, thanks for the info but I don't think I'm interested in the 45 super...
 
One consideration, the 329 will have significantly more recoil than the Glock 20. The 329 weights 26 oz, the Glock 20 weighs 27.7 oz. So the 329 weighs less and shoots a much bigger round.

www.genitron.com is the only site I have found that lists measured recoil for handguns. According to Genitron the Glock 20 produces 11.21 ft-lbs of recoil while the 329 produces 35.649 ft-lbs of recoil. For comparison, the Glock 21 .45 ACP you shot produces 9.8 ft-lbs of recoil.

You can see the details yourself: http://www.genitron.com/HandgunDB/DB-Handgun-Detail.asp?ID=89

http://www.genitron.com/HandgunDB/DB-Handgun-Detail.asp?ID=687

Perhaps you are used to shooting bigger revolvers, but I think getting used to a gun that produces over three times the recoil of what you are used to is quite the learning curve.
 
Do you think I could learn the model 329 or should I stick to what I know?
Click to expand...

My first thought is the 329, but after you stated that, maybe the Glock might be a better choice. Of course along with pepper spray. Just get the hottest 10mm ammo you can get.
 
As someone who is familiar with handguns I believe you can adjust to any handgun you desire to shoot and carry. After shooting it you may change your mind on wishing to keep it. In your case I do not think you will find your answer until you actually shoot both of them and let your mind & body decide what's best for your needs. Somehow you need to rent both for a test run. Between Ohio and CO you should be able to find a shop that rents at least one of the two. Then you find a shop that rents the other. You're not a newbie to guns. Your experience will tell you what works best for you.
 
Ok,

I've finally found some threads on some various forums about the 329 night guard. It seems like there are quite a few quality control issues, namely FTF cause of the firing pin. I'm gonna check out some other 44's that I could possibly carry, btw I have fired a 44 before but it was a model 29 with a 6" barrel and all steel, but I think I'm leaning more towards the Glock everyday...
 
If the Glock M20 is a good fit for your hand, then get it.
You can add a 40 S&W barrel to it and get lots of trigger
time shooting the cheap stuff. Bear spray is also your
friend and makes for a multi-level defense. Good luck
with your relocation; Colorado is a wonderful place and
hasn't yet be ruined by ex-Californians.:D
 
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