General shooting handgun

I'd agree with the CZ. Not a Glock fan. Had a Beretta 92, sold it because I never shot it. I really like my Springfield XD9. FN makes some good guns as well. I am kinda wanting to phase my XD out though. After having my 92 and shooting my brother's FNP I am really liking hammer fired over striker.

Definitely handle them first if not able to shoot it first. Some people feel an all metal gun will wear better, but there have been lots of people shooting crazy amounts through their polymer guns.
 
Thread title has dual meanings...

Did anyone else open this thread expecting to see pictures of a senior Army or Air Force officer shooting a handgun? ;)
 
No, a General officer or even retired General officer would have his military issued side-arm. He does have to pay for it when he retires, but the cost is nominal.

The OP mentions he has large hands, and a Beretta 92 would probably be the perfect pistol for him.

There are plenty of nice used one on GunBroker that would be of great value. You can find plenty of police trade-ins. I know of one seller who currently has one on GunBroker for under three hundred dollars. I have purchased at least a dozen firearms from this seller, and every purchase has been a great experience and wonderful deal.
 
One expense you will want to embrace is a good reloading press, powder measure and a powder scale. Getting into reloading is going to be well worth all the cash you'll spend up front. If indeed you are going to fire 500 rounds a month the reloading equipment will pay for itself in only 2-1/2 to 3 months.

Buy your dies last when you make up your mind as to what caliber you want to load.
 
I'd say it be a draw between a Sig p226 9mm or a Glock 17. My father has Sig p226 that he's had since 1991 and it's ran like clockwork through thousands of rounds. The trigger is amazing and crisp. If I were looking for a gun with your guidelines I'd choose the p226. Of coarse there's always the Glock 17 which is your basic no thrills but always reliable gun, which you can never go wrong with now that the Gen 4 is out. Just my 2 cents.
 
Count me in as another CZ75 fan. You can get them in a 22cal for cheap practice or step up to a Match Target. All of them are accurate and reliable.
attachment.php
 

Attachments

  • CZ75.jpg
    CZ75.jpg
    160.5 KB · Views: 148
A LOT depends on your preferences and what works best for you. As others mentioned by far the best way to choose is to try out whatever you are considering assuming you have basic skill set in pistol shooting. If not hire a qualified instructor for at least one range session to help you with proper grip, sight picture, and trigger control.

Then do you have a preference for hammer fired or striker fired?? Poly frame or metal frame? Safety or not safety? Price range?

I have tried pretty much everything out there that is commonly available. My choices for full size 9MM that work best for me. The P226 and HK P30 are long proven extremely very top tier reliable and durable. The VP9 is new but HKs have a reputation for extreme reliability and durability. There are also several compact pistols I own that also work extremely well as range/HD pistol such as the SIG P229/P228, SIG SP2022, and Walther PPQ.

SIG P226 -- hammer fired metal frame no safety
HK P30LS -- hammer fired poly frame with safey
HK VP9 -- striker fired poly frame
 
Last edited:
Lots of different models could fill this role and depends on what YOU end up liking the best.

For me a Sig 226 sounds about perfect. Other models that I like would be the HK P-30/L, Walther PPQ, Stery L9-A1/M-A1. More models would be the Beretta's 92 and Storm, CZ P-07 or P-09, FNH FNS or FNX, HK USP, P2000, or VP9, Sig 229, M11-A1, 250, 2022, or 320, Spinx SPD's, Walther P99AS.
 
If it's something you are only looking to use for home defense
a 20 to 12 gauge pump shotgun with an 18" barrel would be
a LOT more effective. Would cost a lot less too.

Just my humble opinion.

All the Best,
D. White
 
Why the high monthly round count? Are you going to be doing competitions? If so, that may affect the decision.

I assume you are aware of the ballpark cost of shooting 1K rounds per month ~ $20/50 rounds of 9mm = $40/100 = $400/1000.

Your basic Glock19 can handle that load but you may want to think of getting 2 of the same pistol for a backup in the event of failure. This may affect your decision also.
 
Whichever gun you choose, you should find out what periodic maintenance you have to perform on it and make sure you do it. Every gun will eventually wear out. Guns will eventually need a complete rebuild (i.e. replacing almost every part except for the frame) and eventually the holes in the frame will be too large to properly accept the new parts. So, unless you intend to become an armorer/gunsmith or pay one to rebuild your gun, you should just buy a new gun once you have worn that one out.

A better idea is, since you can afford so much ammo, to just buy two guns. Have one that you will use for home defense and one that you can beat the crap out of with lots of shooting. It is better to not tempt Murphy by using a heavily used gun to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Now as far as which gun that you are going to buy two of:
Being reliable and being able to hit things with it is mandatory.
More rounds = better.
Heavier = better.

Which trigger type do you prefer? SA with a thumb safety? DA/SA? Striker fired?

My vote for the SA would be a STI 2011 (very expensive).
My vote for DA/SA would be a Sig P226.
My vote for striker fired would be XDM.

But, you need to find out which guns you can actually hit things with before you trust your life to it.
 
SpareMag said:
Why the high monthly round count? Are you going to be doing competitions? If so, that may affect the decision.

I assume you are aware of the ballpark cost of shooting 1K rounds per month ~ $20/50 rounds of 9mm = $40/100 = $400/1000.

Your basic Glock19 can handle that load but you may want to think of getting 2 of the same pistol for a backup in the event of failure. This may affect your decision also.
Click to expand...
I am at some point going to get into 3 gun ive got my ar and ill have my handgun soon. I can find 9mm a lot cheaper than 20 a box
 
So...9mm is the beginning.
Click to expand...

I agree. I said 45, but 9mm is better in so many ways for this proposition.

Cheaper
Easier to shoot a lot.
Lighter
More rounds per mag.
Most of the terminal performance.
 
Glock 17 or 19 would be my first choice.

If you're an un-experienced shooter, the Springfield Armory XD series are also a smart choice, due the pistol having a grip safety.

Both suggestions are ultra-reliable and easy to maintain pistols.
 
Here in a month or so im looking to get a target/home defence handgun in either 9mm .40sw or 45 acp. I know nothing about different types of handguns other than the ones ive borrowed and used. What would you all recommend as a good home def/target gun. I will be shooting the crap out of it prob 800-1000 rounds a month so it must be durable.
Click to expand...

I would strongly suggest a .22 semi-auto of your choice until you learn a lot about hand guns and shooting. If your numbers are accurate on your round count per month, you are about to spend in the neighborhood of $450 a month or about $5400 per year depending on chosen caliber, and unless you reload. If you reload you will find out you will be hard pressed to find enough pistol powder to support your habit at those numbers.

Buy some bricks of 22s, if you can find them, and shoot shoot shoot. In the mean time start renting some guns to see what caliber, platform, and make and model you want.

I sure wish I could support a shooting habit like that.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top