me and my dad have been shooting pistols and i know a lot about them but me and my dad still can't descide

Question

cant descide between a glock 19 9mm compact or a smith and wesson 9mm i say the glock but my dad wants to get a gun with a manual safty but im telling him the only way it will missfire is if someone mis uses it so which glock or s and w (also what cartridge best for in house i say .40 s and w my dad sais 9 mil is enough)

about the in house thing i mean out of every thing i said which is best for in house protection

but he might con carry it too and the s and w m and p doesnt have a manual safety and we use it probably for target and home protect too

but thanks big help ill tell my dad

Answer 1

It really depends on what you are using it for. If you are going to shoot targets,or home defense a 9mm will do just fine and is less expensive to shoot. The manual safety on the S&W is also a big PLUS. Your Dad is correct on more than one point, besides, he's the one that's going to be paying for this isn't he? 9mm IS enough.....

For Target Shooting 155 grain FMJ 9mm
For Home Defense 110 grain JHP 9mm (Jacketed Hollow Point)

NOTE* I've carried a 9mm for a concealed carry weapon for over 22 years..

Answer 2

I would avoid S&W 9mm pistols. The cheaper ones (908/909/910) use lousy guiderods and the other traditional models (now all TSW) are outrageously priced. You might find a first or second generatoion model used however. Has he thought about a Ruger P-89? Or what about a Beretta 92FS? CZ-75? 9mm is more than enough for self-defense and you can get "magnum style" ballistics out of a 5" barrel. For target I would shoot 147gr subsonic or 124gr ball. For defense 115gr+P or 124gr+p hollowpoints. The Glock 19 is a good gun for combat but does not lend itself to being as much fun on a range as a more conventional pistol.

Update: I just realized that your Dad might be looking at the M&P 9mm S&W. I would avoid it, because it is so new and I would bet that all the bugs are not worked out.

Answer 3

Glock makes a fine pistol. I trained at the glock armorers school, and really enjoy them. BUT, your dad is right. A Glock has a "safe action trigger" which is really the only manual safety on it. As soon as your finger is on the trigger, it is no longer safe. I recomend Glocks only to people very experienced with pistols. I have a very good friend who worked for a federal police agency. He had carried a S&W 9mm for many years. When he went to work for the new agency, they had him switch to a Glock and gave him some simple basic training on the new pistol. One day, he was attempting an arrest and the bad guy chose to beat feet. My friend ran after him, with Glock in hand. Realizing that the bad guy was about to climb a fence, my friend, while on the run, attempted to place his Glock back into his thumb break holster. In doing so, the leather retention strap slipped into the trigger guard and as he pushed the pistol into the holster, it deactivated the "safe action trigger" safety and fired the pistol. The 9mm round past thru my friends right buttock, exited there, entered his right inner calf muscle and lodged. Needless to say, he was not a happy camper. So, If you insist on a Glock, at least have the after market manual safety mounted to the pistol. In regards the 9mm round vs the .40 S&W, In years past, I have seen the direct result of people hit with a 9mm round. Including one shooting with the bad guy hit twice with 9mm silvertips at a distance of 3 feet, yes the guy went down with two holes next to his belly button, but he still managed to hrt an officer pretty badly before he did go down. I was very unhappy with the lack of stopping power. Now a days, with the new breed of bullets out there for 9mm, I would be much more comfortable using one if I had T.A.P or similar bullets in the pistol, If I had no other choice in caliber. I should note that I am a .45 acp fanatic for self defense. But, I'd take the 40 S&W cartridge over the 9mm anytime. It is a much better self defense cartridge than the 9mm. 9mm still has a tendency to over penetrate with all but a select few cartridges. The 40 S&W is much better at not over penetrating, and at putting down the bad guy.
It boils down to what you are able to fire accurately, coupled with research ( like you're doing here) and what works best for you. I might also add that you should talk to local law enforcement and see what they carry, both in firearms, and in caliber. Most departments went to the wonder nine because of the higher mag capacity, not researchng well enough the poor performance of the cartridge. Now a days, most departments are switching back to the .40 S&W or if they are lucky, the .45acp, THE best self defense cartridge around.
Good questions, hope I helped.
Shoot safe

Answer 4

The Glock is the superior gun. S & W company has had problems with their autos especially their Sigma series of pistols. Most Smiths with manual safeties won't shoot with the magazine not in place which can be a plus or minus depending on how you look at it.

The Glock does have a manual safety that is deactivated when you squeeze trigger. Caveats for the Glock: #1 keep you finger outta the trigger guard until you are ready to shoot. #2 store/carry in a holster that covers the trigger. Finally, don't throw your Glock shell-in-chamber into a purse or drawer full of clutter unless it is in a holster that covers the trigger and it won't slide out of the holster.

Best.

H

Answer 5

I would go with a Smith + Wesson or Springfield Armory handgun.... and 40 cal..... the manual safety is the way to go.... you must be crazy to get a weapon with no manual safety..... my friend had a glock and it's accuracy did not impress me at all, he traded it in for an XD 40..... alot better handgun IMO....

Answer 6

Glock... any Glock is, in my opinion, a piece of junk. Second they have no hammer and no safety. AND they WILL misfire for no apparent reason. Of the two, the Smith 9 mm is the best choice and 9 mm is enough for most purposes, but I still prefer the M1911A1 .45 cal pistol. It always gets the job done. It has a hammer and two active safeties: grip and thumb. I've carried one for decades in Condition One: ****** and locked, and never had a single misfire.

Answer 7

Without getting in to brand specific issues.

MANY Negligent Disharges (ND) happen when there is no available external safety. Yes... keep your finger out of the trigger, and it won't fire is one mantra... but what happens when you re-holster, and a piece of clothing is bunched in the holster, or a small stick, twig, or other debris is in the holster... BANG. And you have a nice hole in your leg or foot

For me, I have no issue with an axternal safety. Once the weapon clears the leather, the safety is off, and ready to operate as part of the drawstroke. when re-holsetering... who cares about speed. Pace the safety on... re-holster.

Answer 8

A S&W 39-series 9mm would be a great gun for you. Great looks (something the glock can't claim) and great ergonomics.

9mm is plenty for home protection. Load it with hollow points and put on a cheap ebay universal laser sight... it will make it easy to aim when you're groggy, it's dark, and there's a burglar in your living room.

Answer 9

the M&P does come with a manual thumb safety.

I do agree with the 4" .357 also. no safety needed plus the .357 magnum is suitable for home defense and concealed carry.

Answer 10

a springfield xd-45 is a great pistol it holds 13 rounds of .45 and they shoot really well, If you want it for protection and you want to put an intruder on the ground a .45 is for you, you wouldnt even have to kill the person it would knock them off their feet, they also come in 9mm, .40, and 357. they are just a really great pistol