Help me decide on a handgun. I've narrowed it down.

All BULLETS GO THROUGH WALLS. Pick a common Pistol that is easy to repair and get parts for. you need to study up with some reliable information Read this link http://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=19887. I wouldn't buy any of the pistols on your list for the first pistol. You have chosen the 3rd or 4th pistols to get first. IMO everyone should own a high quality 9mm .
 
Last edited:
The 1911 is the only one I would consider as not a good first pistol...

A good revolver is very beginner friendly... and the CZ is a reliable easy to shoot semi-auto that is no more difficult to use than any other semi-auto.
 
I was going to mention a 9mm 1911 as well. That said I've never fired a CZ 75, but the people that own them seem to really like them. My first revolver was a 4'' Taurus .357. Still have it. But now days I'm more of a semi auto guy.

While all my 1911's are .45's. I wouldn't shy away from one in 9mm. Modern 9mm HP's make a good choice for for defensive ammo. But if you aren't allowed to use HP's then the .45 is the better choice for defense.

Another vote for you to go down to the rental range and try all 3. Then decide from there what you like best.

Good luck with your search
 
Have you handled a 1911? They're not for everybody, but they are simply the best for me. I have 3, two in .45 ACP and one in 10mm. One is my EDC for the last 8 or 9 years. With medium hands, you will probably prefer a flat mainspring housing. My rather large hands prefer an arched MSH, though my EDC has a flat, so hand-filling grips were part of the fix to make it perfect for me. A 1911 has many variations of size, personalizations like grips affect fit, and there are many different cartridge choices. I am still missing a Commander-sized one in 9mm. Someday for sure. Certainly check out the 1911s. But beware. You can't have just one.
 
out of your list i think id lean towards the 1911 in 45. I have a rock island and its a great gun, probably my most accurate large caliber pistol and a lot of fun to shoot on the range while also being a good home defense gun (too heavy for me for carry).

im just not a revolver guy (other than maybe a snub for carry).

I would shoot a 40 first and then make your call on the recoil. I picked up a g27 in 40 and was worried about the snappiness of the round, and i cant tell the difference between it and a g26 in 9mm.
 
I like revolvers, especially some of the S&W designs from the 30's and 40's.

However, semi-automatic pistols have eclipsed revolvers because they are much easier to shoot. Never mind capacity; that's just a bonus. The learning curve is much lower with semi-autos and people like to see results quickly.

If you have no idea what to buy, get a handgun chambered in 9x19mm. Get a service grade gun from Glock, S&W, HK, Ruger, and so forth. Avoid small guns; the gun should fill your hand and have at least a 4" barrel. This is necessary for learning. Good gun combinations include the Glock 17 or 19 and Glock 26 and S&W M&P 9 and M&P 9C. HK and Ruger have similar offerings.
 
My recommendation is for a 22 rimfire. Something with decent accuracy and good sights.

Here's my reasoning:

1 Practice is important for becoming a good shot. Practice (beyond dry firing) takes ammo. Ammo is cheaper for a 22 than for any other caliber. Example: 22 rimfire costs (around here) $20 - $30 per 500. 500 rounds of 9mm (a very inexpensive round) is at least $100 to $150 per 500.

2 Practicing with a round that has almost no recoil makes concentration on sight picture, breathing and trigger control much easier without the distraction of recoil and muzzle blast. You can add those elements later after you have gotten the basics ingrained in your subconscious. If you start out with a hard-recoiling round you are almost certain to develop anticipation (usually characterized by a flinch) which is devilishly hard to cure. Prevention is much easier to, especially while you are learning.

3 Having a good, accurate 22 will put you on the range (if you go to a formal or informal shooting range) where you will get acquainted with other shooters, see their gun handling practices and see their guns. Most gun owners are proud of their hardware and if you exhibit good safety practices, a modicum of shooting skill and a little bit of polite interest, they will very probably let you handle their guns and even send a few rounds downrange. You can get to try out a wide variety of guns that way and collect testimonials from people other than salesmen when you go to a store.

4 Most (accurate) 22 rimfire guns are cheaper to buy than similarly accurate centerfire guns and hold their resale value well.

I also recommend you visit a web site owned by one of the administrators on The Firing Line, "Pax". It is principally written for women new to guns, but most of the information there is EQUALLY applicable to either gender. "New to guns" is "new to guns" whether male or female.
http://www.corneredcat.com/Contents/

Good luck. Thanks for reading.

Lost Sheep
 
Semi-auto for a first and please not a .22lr. A .22lr is not recommended for self-defense in my opinion. With a .22lr you decrease your chance of survival against a attacker. A couple of people break into you home with two .40 cals and all you have is a 22.lr you're better off haulin a** to the nearest door and running away!
 
Last edited:
If you aren't planning on carrying concealed, and if you want a .357 revolver, I am a bit puzzled as to why you would opt for the SP101, especially in 4.2" configuration.

Five shots vs six or seven in K or L frame sizes, or eight shots in N frame; lighter weight is great for carry, but at the range or used in home defense only equals greater recoil.

So, if I were looking at a range/HD .357 revolver, and I had medium hands as the OP claims to have, I wouldn't look at an SP101, or a J-frame, or an LCR. I also wouldn't look at an N-frame.

I would look very hard at a Ruger GP100, or used Security Six, Service Six, or Speed Six. I would look very hard at a S&W 686, or a used model 13, 65, 19, 66, or 586.

I would also look at a 3" or 4" barrel. For the range, a 6" might be nice. For HD, the longer barrel provides a bad guy with more leverage for a takeaway.

My own .357 revolvers are a Model 13 and a Model 65, both in 3" configuration. Well, technically, the 65 is my wife's.
 
I think you need to test with a few different ones before buying. I'm not sure, but I believe the CZ 75DB goes from double action to single like most others with a decocker. Learning to get a fast second shot can be difficult for some people. ( I blew the second shot in a panic situation.) BTW, decocking, but not also using the safety is the same as using a DA revolver or using a Glock. And the trigger pulls for the Glock and the revolver are identical pull after pull.

Like one other here, I think you ought to get a 22LR. Use it for practice and getting used to a DA pull and the sight picture, not to mention just getting used to shooting and hearing the shots. THEN, look for a proper SD handgun. The 22 will be easier on your wallet and just maybe, while at a range, you can get to fire somebody else's firearm in a defferent calibur/configuration.
 
The first thing I would do is think about what you are going to use it for. I see so many people buy full size .45's and then they cant use it because they cant conceal it easy or they find it's too heavy to carry all day. It might start of as a home defense firearm, but later down the road you might want to carry it so I always suggest a compact revolver for first timers. Revolvers are versatile, easy to use, and are produced in many compact platforms that can pack a punch. For example I use a Taurus model 941 with a 3" barrel in 22 mag. It has 8 shots of mean little rounds that will ruin a bad guys day. I would go with a S&w pd If you had the money though. Just my 2 cents, I hope it helped.
 
Of that list, the CZ75B stands way out in front for me. It's not quite my favorite gun, but it's really close to the top of the list.
 
I have been reading reviews and watching videos and I think I've narrowed down my list to what I'd purchase (not in order of preference):

1. Ruger sp101 4.2" .357 magnum revolver

2. CZ 75B (either 9mm, .40 or 45acp) - Would I be better off getting the sp-01?

3. Entry-level 1911 45acp (maybe Rock Island Armory)?

.357 is obviously great for range and defense and a revolver would be great for me. I'm just not sure if I should get a semi-auto or a revolver.

"I learned .40 is not good for beginners because it's too snappy. I know 9mm is not the best for defense since it goes through walls, and has less stopping power than a .45. I read that .45acp is actually more of a push back than a vertical recoil, and I'm wondering if I could get used to it even though it would be my first pistol.

Ideally, I'd like a home defense gun that is fun at the range.

If I got a semi-auto, would it be better to go with a 9mm or just go ahead and get a .45 and just gradually get used to it?

BTW I don't have tiny hands, but my hands aren't large either. I guess medium.

I appreciate your feedback!!!"

_________________________________________________________________


You certainly have some oddball choices, for home defense and fun shooting, I would scratch the Ruger. short barreled .357 magnums are not optimum for self defense and certainly not a gun for newbies to have fun with at the range. Forget about shooting.357 out of a snub at home., the decibel level will deafen you and its not much fun to shoot.

If you like revolvers you would be better served with a 4 inch Smith K-frame better trigger easier to shoot.


As far as the 9mm being more penetrative, its all about bullet design a FMJ .45 acp will penetrate substantially more than a 9mm lightweight hollowpoint.

I would certainly shoot a few weapons before making your choice!!, the 1911 is a fine firearm, but it will take some consistent training to handle the cocked and locked scenario safely.

The CZ is actually a good choice, its heavy accurate fun to shoot, with the right 9mm hollowpoint iits an excellent home defense weapon. Although I personally don't like SA\DA triggers, even with training the transition can cause an accidental discharge in a self defense situation. Also with the CZ you have to manually lower the hammer, maybe a CZ with a decocker if you go that route.

I like DA only for home defense, some of the autos out there have an excellent consistent light DA trigger pull. I like the Smith autos in short DA only, used guns frequently go for under $400.

Best advice shoot a few different models, the question you also have to ask your self do you have time for training and shooting? If not keep it simple, a good DA only auto, or a smith revolver.

Good luck and be safe!

Paul
 
I have all three of those gun, my SP101 is a 3". I keep my CZ75B with me at night along with my SP101, my RIA is going on sale. 1911s just don't do it for me, I guess i'm weird.
 
1911s just don't do it for me, I guess i'm weird.
Click to expand...
You are not weird. A 1911 fits me like no other and I find it the finest design ever gracing a hand tool. But, like Glocks, they are certainly not for everybody, and I don't begrudge anybody finding their "perfect" gun.

The SIG P226 doesn't do it for me. No question that it's one of the finest handguns ever produced, but it just doesn't feel well in my hand, though I very much wanted it to.
 
Depends on what your prior experiences have been...what do you like?

If you live close enough to PA, maybe one or more of those ranges have rental guns. If that affords you the opportunity to try a number of different designs, calibers, etc, for a reasonable price, it is money well spent.

Spending a few bucks on handgun rental and ammo beats spending a lot more money on something you thought you might like...and finding out otherwise....repeatedly.

I'm not sure if anyone has ever started a thread on the subject of "how many handguns did you go through before you found 'the one'?"

That would be an interesting thread...

Enjoy your search... :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top