Recommendations for a Handgun?

Question

What kind of handgun do you recommend for a beginner, I want it to practice and self defense, I am looking into becoming a correctional officer.

thinking about a Glock or Beretta. I like camping & fishing and being a girl in the woods in the dark, I obviously like to be prepared for anything.

I dont want a revolver, I want an automatic gun that am able to use diff. ammo to for practice....It seems like the Glock 17 or 19 .9mm is the way to go.

Answer 1

I always recommend a revolver for new handgun shooters. The action is simple, reliable and safe, the maintanence is simple, and they're accurate enough to build a fair level of skill.

Look at a .357 Magnum revolver. As you've already been told you can practice with .38 Special ammo to save some money (and noise and recoil, as well.). A 2" gun is easier to conceal, but less accurate, so go to a 4" barrel and you'll be have a gun you can keep and use for years.

Good Luck!

Answer 2

I would recommend a .357 magnum. You can shoot .38 specials out of it for target practice and the .357 magnum rounds for defense, hunting, or use in the woods.

However, most corrections officers or police officers use the 9mm or .40S&W.

I suggest getting a Glock, the most common police weapon. I have a Glock model 23. It is a .40 S&W. I paid $479 + tax. You can buy a .357 Sig barrel for $100 and drop it right in. Use the same mags, springs, etc. just change barrels. It's like having 2 guns for about $600. The 9mm is cheaper to shoot, but many police now carry the .40.

The Glock has no manual safety. The safety is in the trigger. This is a problem for some beginners and many who prefer a manual safety. If that's you, the you can consider a Beretta.

The cheapest, yet reliable gun is the Ruger P series. My family has a p89 9mm. It's built like a tank, but is a great gun and very reliable.

Answer 3

Glock and Beretta offer excellent hand guns. But beware of the grips of the large frame Glocks in 10mm and 45 ACP. They are great guns, but a little big for some hands. The Beretta 92 FS is also a big gun for a 9mm, and the grip may be a little large. Beretta does, however, offer slimmed grips (I think they reduce the "hump" on the back of the grip).

Should you get a revolver or a .22 LR as your first handgun? I don't think it really matters. Revolvers and .22s are great guns to have whether you are a beginner or expert. I guess it comes down to money for me. If you can afford buying multiple handguns, then go for it and buy the .357 mag or .22 first, then decide on the Glock or Beretta, or better yet, buy both the Glock and Beretta. If money is an issue, then go straight to your preferred defense gun.

Answer 4

Well everything considered, you should look at a good Smith and Wesson, Taurus, or Ruger revolver, Caliber 357/38. If you want an auto, go with a Glock or Springfield Armory XD in a 9mm or 40 cal. Ok, why as for the revolvers. 1)They are reliable and generally more accurate 2) More affordable 3)Good beginners handgun 4) Most DOC's because of budget restraints still use revolvers 5) Easier to find one that is more accommodating to a females hand. Why on the auto brands reccommended, Glock or Springfield Armory. 1)Reliable for an auto 2)Affordable compared to other autos 3) Compared to other autos better grips for female hands 4) More likely due to cost to be adapted by DOC's as they go to autos 5) Low maintenance compared to other autos 6)Good customer service 7)Lightest weight auto's on the market. Between the 2 auto's I prefer the Springfield Armory XD. It just feels better in the hand, has 3 safety's built in, and the mags are better made. It shoots just as well. Price is comparable. Hope this helps, good luck and good shooting. Remember safety and practice.

Answer 5

Since you're considering becoming a correctional officer I'm going to recommend the .9mm rather than the .357 Magnum because the world of law enforcement has gone almost completely over to the auto-loader. Specifically I am going to recommend the Glock Model 19 .9mm with night sights and high capacity magazines. For defensive purposes select a quality defensive .9mm ammo. For practice get the bargain 115 grain ball ammo.

The Model 19 is very user-friendly and rookie officers (male & female) who have failed to qualify with other guns have switched to the Model 19 and qualified right away. Take your gun safety course and comply with your State's weapons laws.

Good luck and best.

H

Answer 6

I recommend a good .357 revolver because you have the ability to practice using 38 special ammo. Also a revolver is more reliable because it is not as easy to jam. Semi-Auto handguns in the hands of someone who is very new to it can jam because the person does not know how to care for it or how to shoot it properly. If you really want a good semi-auto pistol I recommend choosing a reputable brand i.e. Beretta, Glock, Springfield Armory, Kimber, etc. Go to a shooting range that allows you to rent guns and rent a few different ones in 9 mm, .40 S&W, or .45 ACP and see what you prefer and what you are most comfortable with. Personally I like my Kimber TLE the best. It is reliable and it shoots 45ACP ammo, a guaranteed man stopper. A gun is only as good as the person using it.

Answer 7

Because you are going to try to become a corrections officer, I would find out what the most common sidearm used happens to be. In Ohio, the S&W model 10 .38SPL with lead round nose ammo was very common for decades (even up to the 90s-but I am not so sure now). Aside from that, if you have never fired a weapon I would get a 4" barreled .22 auto unless you have practiced with one of those before. If you go through training you will be treated just like evryone else-even if you have plenty of experience with centerfire. Do things right and don't "jump the gun" and get something that is more for your personal liking than what is required.

Answer 8

Try a Glock 17 or Glock 19. They are 9mm, an acceptible caliber for defense, while inexpensive to shoot and low on recoil. They're both relatively inexpensive for automatic pistols while being high quality and reliable.

Answer 9

As a beginner's handgun? Go for a .22, zero recoil, cheap ammo. Ruger and S&W make some nice target pistols.
I say the .22 for a beginner because learning proper trigger pull and sight alignment are infinantly more important than any other factor. Once you learn those 2 skills, overcoming recoil is a walk in the park.

Answer 10

I usually recommend that beginners start with a good quality revolver in .357 Magnum caliber. This will allow you to practice with 38 special ammunition, less expensive and lower recoil.

If you really think you must go with a semi-auto then look at a decent 9mm pistol (Sig, Glock, Beretta etc...)