What handgun should I buy?

Question

I have a lot of experience with rifles and shotguns...and I mean a lot. But very little experience with handguns. I qualified for the state concealed weapons permit using my instructors Glock .40 which I really liked. Any thoughts about what I should buy? I do like the feel of the Glock. Is there anything better?

Answer 1

OK so what exactly are you planing to shoot? because i have one in mind, but its not really one to shoot scorpions and snakes!
i would go for the 50 cal. Dessert Eagle. now that's a hand gun!

Answer 2

For concealed carry the Glock can be a bit bulky, but you do have three sizes to choose from. The Glock is ultra-reliable, I've carried a Glock Model 20 .10mm for 12 years (next April). In an inside-the-pants holster it conceals well under a windbreaker or light coat. I also have the slightly smaller Glock 31 in .357 Sig but I hardly carry it because the larger Model 20 fits my hand better.

Like I said, the Glock is ultra-reliable, accurate and high capacity. Mine all have night sights. I bought a Glock Model 26 .9mm for my 22 year old daughter after she was robbed at gun point one night.

The Glock does have safeties, contrary to popular belief. The best safety for the Glock is to keep you finger out of the trigger guard until you intend to shoot it. Unless you press the metal bar on the trigger itself, it will not fire. This makes it as safe as a fully loaded revolver which (usually) don't have any safeties! Now I wouldn't just drop a loaded Glock into a purse or drawer full of clutter without a holster where something can accidently come into the trigger guard, but then, you should never carry any handgun on your person without some kind of holster. Common sense!

The .40 S&W is also a good cartridge but consider also the .45 acp or even the .10mm (if the frame size, recoil & bang doesn't bother you). Whatever caliber you chose your Glock in, just load quality personal defense ammo and practice all rules of gun safety and you should be alright.

Final note: If the .45 acp is your cup of tea, Glock offers a compact Glock in .45 acp that uses a single stack magazine. It holds less rounds but fits smaller hands better. In a .45 acp 'less' rounds is a moot point anyway.

H

Answer 3

I'd like to start by saying that I'm in no way a hand gun expert. I have limited experience (I have gone to a shooting range 3 times). However, based on my (limited) experience, I like the Smith and Wesson 45 automatic (unfortunately I can't get much more specific than that, like with a model #. I don't remember the model #). At the range, I have shot a variety of makes and calibers, (Glock, S&W etc, 9 mm, 38 special, 40, 44, and 45). The Smith and Wesson was shaped in a way that comfortably fit into my hand (keeping in mind that my hands are, i think, larger than the average guy's), allowing for more controlled and comfortable shooting. It was easier to shoot and had less "kick" than ANY of the other guns that I shot. I would recommend visiting a shooting range (if you have one near your home) and trying a few guns. Also, if/when you go, ask the employees for recommendations based on your skill level, desire of gun power etc. The only negetive thing that I can remember about the S&W is that it was somewhat big (i think it was a little bit larger than the Glock that I shot)......but what it lacked in smallness, it made up for in performance. Hope this helps!

Answer 4

P K,

All firearms, without exception, are designed with an eye toward compromise. Chamber (ammo) vs. weight and size being the most important.

You've been presented with many fine opinions and suggestions...but keep in mind that:

The Perfect Handgun Is...

1. Weightless,
2. Shrinks to a 1" X 1" square so that it's easily concealed and carried,
3. Expands immediately and is utterly safe & reliable,
4, Impossible to miss with,
5. No recoil whatsoever, and
6. If someone takes it from you, they cannot use it against you.

Sounds like a damn fine weapon...but we all know that no such weapon exists...not yet, anyways. So, it's time for that compromise.

You made a great first step in taking responsibility for your own safety by getting a CCW Permit. Only you know what you're willing to put up with from a carry piece. If you really like the Glock chambered in .40 S&W, go for it...you could do much worse.

Answer 5

Consider that you have to carry around that brick slab that Glock calls a slide. Not easy to shove in the back of your pants. If that's cool with you, go for it.

I consider Glocks to be the Toyota Camry of semi auto pistols......not too pretty or stylish, not especially safe, but very reliable, boring, good resale value.

The Glock DOES NOT have a manual safety as some other posters have alluded to. All that info on Glocks having three safeties is bunk. There is a natural tendancy for people who do not have firearms safety skills to put their finger ON THE TRIGGER. It's very dangerous but part of human nature....you need to expect people to do it. When they do on a Glock.....they just bypassed any safety. I too prefer semi autos with a actual SAFETY LEVER. It's much safer for anyone who may get their hands on your gun.

While doing consulting work, I once witnessed a heroin junkie who had grabbed the security officers firearm at a methadone clinic who then proceeded to pull the trigger in an attempt to get more of the drug. It did not fire and no one was injured, because the retard did not know how to operate the safety lever. If it were a Glock, people would have died for sure. Glocks are safe to drop, but not safe in people's hands.

Answer 6

The Glock's are so-so. They have their following and their detractors - I personally am not a Glock fan.

I like the Sig Sauer product much better. The Sig's (P229 especially) are excellent pistols - very good feel in the hand, natural point, extremely accurate for an out of the box pistol, and very reliable and well made. The P229 in .40 S&W with the DA/SA trigger is a great pistol - its a little "chunky", but its concealable - the recoil is very manageable and negligable even in .40.

Answer 7

If you like the Glock .40 you should buy it because it makes you happy. But personally I think you should have a .22 Harrington and Richardson for target practice and maybe a snub nose Smith & Wesson .38 to carry and maybe a Dan Wesson .357 Magnum with 6 inch barrel and pachmayr grips in stainless steel. It's a beauty and it's accurate and I like it better that the .44 magnum. Also an Excam .38 derringer for your boot. For a last chance gun. Those 3 along with the Glock will round out your collection.

Answer 8

If you want to carry a Glock for ccw, I would carry a mini (G26 9mm). I think that the Glock .40 is best when in 22/23 format, and those are not ideal for ccw. Those are more like duty-rig sidearms. A SigArms factory refurbished P225 9mm is an awesome "commander-size" 9mm that is sleek enough for ccw. I know you stated that you liked the .40 Glock, but 9mm more than fits the bill.

Answer 9

There's too many possibilities, depending on what you plan to use the handgun for....self-defense?, targets?, hunting?, plinking?, etc. If I had to make a suggestion, I'd recommend a quality .22 revolver to start with...something like a Ruger Single-Six in 22, with interchangeable cylinders to switch from .22 long rifle to .22 Winchester Rimfire Magnum. Once you become proficient with that, (and doing so will be with much less expensive ammo), then you can step up to a heavier caliber, in either a revolver or sem-auto. By then you'll have quite a bit of experience. Hope this helps.

Answer 10

If you want a glock style with a little more punch, i would recommend a Springfield XD .45 its more ergonomic than the glock and just as reliable. http://www.springfield-armory.com/xd.php?model=1

Answer 11

Glock is hard to beat. Rock solid gun, very dependable. I won't carry one.

Reason: No safety. That is a personal preference, I want my semiauto to have a safety.

I carry a Taurus 745. Nice, light, powerful (45acp). Check out www.taurususa.com