Gun Newbie Needs Help Making Gun Decision

I would go with a Smith airweight .38. It may be a little uncomfortable to shoot at first but you'll get used to it. You major concern is to find a gun that is small enough and light enough to conceal easily and comfortably but still has the power to be a dependable defensive weapon.
 
another thing to consider with recoil and self defense is that in a true self defense situation, your adrenaline is going to be flowing and you probably wont notice the recoil as much as if you were target shooting at the range
 
1st handgun, Ruger LCR, S&W 442, SP101 DA only...

If you are new to firearms & concealed carry, I'd suggest buying a simple DA only police trade in .38spl revolver with a 3 or 4" barrel, like a model 67, a model 10 or a model 15.
A new in box(NIB) model GP100 or a S&W 686+ converted to DA only(no spur or single action) could do well too.
You can train or practice with standard .38spl rounds then upgrade to powerful .357magnum or .38spl +P+ loads as your skills improve.
Many defense & firearm training experts advise against carrying a snub or small frame DA/DA only revolver until you can obtain solid marksmanship with full carry loads.
If you really want a small frame snub, I'd buy a NIB Smith & Wesson 642/442 .38spl +P, a Ruger SP101 .357mag(DA only) or a Ruger LCR .357magnum.
XS front sights(tritium) & CT laser-grips would be smart add-ons.
The bright red dot may deter a violent attacker & it can aid with target shooting.
NOTE; lasers or white lights are NOT a replacement for basic marksmanship!
They should only aid or support you in a critical incident.
A .357magnum is a good choice because you can carry .38spl +Ps then reload spare .357magnum rounds if needed. A .38spl or .38spl +P revolver does not provide that option.
Top .38spl defense loads include; the Corbon DPX, the Speer Gold Dot 135gr JHP +P, the Buffalo Bore 158gr Lead SWC-HP +P, the Ranger T load.
Always use FACTORY made ammunition. Do not use hand loads or reloads.

ClydeFrog
 
I know others have said a lot but if I may I'd like to add my $.02.

In revolvers I absolutely love shooting two calibers - .22LR and .44 Rem Mag. Talk about a world of difference huh? Anyway there's a lot of stuff between these two calibers and honestly I personally wouldn't consider carrying any of my guns chambered in .22LR or .44mag. I also remember exposing my wife to handguns for the first time as well as talking to lots of people at the range that have been exposed to firearms for the first time... and what happens is they shoot a .38sp or worse yet a .357mag out of a small light gun as their first experience.

I'd suggest forgetting about your time at the range with the .38sp and/or .357mag revolvers and go rent a good heavy .22LR. If I recall correctly Taurus makes a .22LR revolver that was quite heavy and that minimized recoil considerably. Either that or a Ruger Single Six in .22LR does a great job of minimizing recoil too... especially if its got a Hogue or Pachmeyer molded grip.

Once you get used to firing a .22LR then you can move to a .22WMR. Many Ruger Single Sixes come with a .22MR cylinder too so the gun can shoot both. After that then go find a .38sp in a larger revolver format - don't get the lightweight ones yet. Just find a larger frame (and heavier) revolver that will shoot .38sp. I'd suggest finding a Ruger Blackhawk in .357mag or a Taurus Raging Bull in .357mag. Then shoot .38sp out of it for a while. Get used to it and get used to the recoil. Then switch to shooting .357mag out of them. Once you get used to that and become comfortable with the recoil go get your hands on a .44mag. Shoot that till you're not intimidated by the gun and recoil. Once that's achieved go find yourself a lightweight revolver in .38sp like the Ruger LCR and shoot it. Note how manageable the recoil will feel in your hands compared to what you've shot and become comfortable with. Note how much smaller and lighter it is compared to the bigger guns you've shot. Now... buy the gun.

Of course if you're like me you'd have bought every gun you shot and now you find yourself owning 4 revolvers by the time you finally get to buying your EDC gun.... and they'll multiply over time.

Of course I haven't even touched on semi-autos but honestly I think that revolvers are easier to shoot and just plain old more reliable than most semi-autos. That said I do love my 1911...
 
Justin,

Welcome to the shooting world. I think your best bet would be to get a .22 and something larger. You made some very sound points about revolvers and I do not disagree on those points. They are generally very reliable and if it does not go bang you just pull the trigger again. If you can find two similar revolvers; 22 & .38, you can have cheap practice with the .22 and learn trigger control and good shooting form. 22 ammo can be had for $20 or less per 500 rounds so you could shoot a lot of .22 on your practice sessions and then work in more .38 in the practice sessions as you develop more confidence. Also, as was mentioned earlier a steel frame .38 will weight more and will absorb more recoil. The S&W J frame revolvers (36, 60, 640, etc.) all have a lot of different grip options if you prefer a little bit larger grip. The J frames are also very easy to carry and conceal.

Have fun with whatever choice you make and just remember to practice, practice, practice.

Jason
 
just a side note....

Picture this. You have had a wonderful day in the store. Many cash sales. Now you just want to get home and enjoy the family and a cool drink, and relax. You approach the bank deposit box. Not a sole in sight. As you open the vault drawer suddenly someone is beside you, on both sides. They spin you around, one punches you in the side of the face, and they latch onto your deposit bag. The other is yelling, KILL HIM KILL HIM, GET IT OVER WITH. You see one has a 7" butcher knife in his hand, and he's looking around and holding the front of your jacket. He pulls the knife back preparing to stick it into your lungs......
Question. What do you want in your predominent hand?

1. a .22.
2. a .32
3. a .380
4. anything that starts with .4 or larger.

Of course, anything other than a "get well card" will do... but its something to think about considering a .22 or .32 will take multiple taps, but work. A .380 would probably do with two taps, and anything .4 (.40, .44, .45. etc) would probalby pass with one tap each.
We shot a guy 5 times with a .38 and he ran 10 blocks. I know, some have had a single .22 drop them, but more have just gotten angry.
Just remember the goal. You live, they die, or leave you alone, or just leave.
think about it. Think about them holding on your jacket calling out for your death.
 
I think jasoninsd has the right idea. If it is possible for you to buy two handguns it will put you miles ahead. For first time handgun shooters I always recommend a good quality, long barrel (~5.5-7") .22lr. The ruger single six convertible is ideal, and the Smith & Wesson 17 or 617 is also an excellent choice. For a semi auto the ruger mark 3 is great. Then after you put a thousand rounds or so through the .22 learning the fundamentals of handgun shooting without excessive recoil and muzzle blast, shooting a larger caliber is much more natural. And I guarantee you will be a better shooter and than if you started with a bigger gun.

Then go out and buy a self defense gun. You will be much more familiar with handguns by this time and will probably make a better selection than if you bought the self defense gun first. The recoil and muzzle blast will take some getting used for sure. But it is an easier transition. If you get the single six convertible the 22 mag can help with this transition.

You will spend more money up front, but you will do a lot more shooting and in the long run if you shoot enough, because .22 ammuntion is so much cheaper, the .22 will actually save you money vs. feeding a centerfire for an equivalent amount of shooting. If that makes sense. Another benefit is that for the fun factor the 22 is really hard to beat. Most people will say that small carry guns arent really fun/enjoyable to shoot.

If you do decide to go this route I would highly recommend you buy a good quality .22 revolver or even a semi auto like the ruger mark 3, because chances are the .22 will easily be fired the most. For example, I own 4 handguns, one 22 and the other three are centerfires, the 22 probably has been fired more than the other three combined and I reload for all of my centerfire guns. Hope this helps.
 
The advice ive been getting is awesome, thanks again! Ive been going to the range every 3-4 days now and tried out a couple. The 22lr i was shooting was pretty fun and it felt nice in the hands because it had a bigger handle. The guy at the gun store told me about a gun Ruger makes called an SP101 .327 He told me that it has stopping power about the same as .38, and can shoot .32 bullets for practice, but ammo is harder to find. He also told me it has about 25% less recoil then a standard .38 but the guns and ammo are harder to find, thats the drawback.

Anyone shot one of these and have any feedback on it? It sounds almost ideal for what im looking for, aside from hard to find ammo, but i figure with the internet, it cant be that hard to find and order it in bulk.

Thanks
 
JustinG30,

Oddly enough, the "G30" in your name made me think of "Glock 30". This is a semi-automatic pistol chambered in 45 ACP. It happens to be a good carry gun.

You should take some shooting lessons while you are testing/renting guns. Revolvers are generally more difficult to run than a semi-automatic. "Running a gun" does not mean "Open cylinder, load, close cylinder, shoot". It is far more extensive than that. The phrase includes all the skills that are needed for effective defensive use of the firearm. It includes handling jams, firing rapidly with different sequences, using the gun while in contact with someone, longer distance shooting, and so forth.

I have found revolvers more difficult to shoot at speed than a semi-automatic. Part of it is due to the nature of the double action trigger; much of it seems to be due to the heavier recoil. You will need to practice frequently and doing so under the watchful eye of an instructor will prevent you from developing bad habits. I made the mistake of waiting several years before attending my first course. I had much work to do to overcome my habits.

Regarding 327 Magnum: I would not bother because the cartridge does not have much support from the industry. Other cartridges such as 38 Special, 357 Magnum, 45 Colt, 44 Special and 44 Magnum all have great support from the industry. There is a wide selection of guns in these calibers. Many accessories, speedloaders and holsters are available for those guns.

If you're going to go with a revolver, make sure you're proficient in its use in a fighting context. Shooting training is only 1/3 of it. You'll need to learn tactics, close combatives and handling the police and court. All of it is important even if these other topics are boring. Don't talk yourself into prison! You can "win" the fight, only to get killed because the "dead" felon pops back up and shoots you! Good instruction will go a long ways toward increasing your odds of winning in the street and in the courtroom.
 
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The Ruger SP101 in .327 is a good gun. Recoil is very manageable and ballistics are good. At this point though, you will want something that you can afford to shoot and shoot often. The .327 round is tougher to find and pricier than .38spl.

The beauty part of gun buying is there is always trade up opportunities. If you buy something you can always sell/trade it for something else. Take your time to learn what you like best and go for it.
 
The answer is pretty simple. Buy a gun with a larger grip.

My first recommendation would be an sp101 and put a Hogue grip on it: problem solved.

Other choices would be a 3" or 4" S&W 686 or Ruger GP100.

When you get that, start out shooting standard 38s until you are comfortable. Then move up to 38+P and maybe even 357s later.
 
S&W makes a 7-round .22 Magnum revolver in a small, light frame. The .22 Magnum has light recoil but good velocity and penetration into the target. It has traditionally been a rifle round that performs best in a long barrel, but 2 new ammo choices are available now for short barreled defensive guns.

The S&W 351PD and 351C are the choices in .22 Magnum. If the grip is too small for your hand, there are hundreds of different grips available for these revolvers.
 
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