What gun should i get?

Question

I just took the class to get a concealed weapons permit. I don't really know that much about guns and was wondering if anyone could help me choose a good one for self defense. I actually shot my first pistol after completing the course. I want whoever answers my question to take into consideration that although I am a beginner I don't wish to purchase a sissy 22 to learn with. Whatever I get will be thoroughly played with at the shooting range. (I want to buy 1 gun, not 1 to practice with & 1 to carry) So with that said...

I've done some research online and most people say to get something your comfortable with. I think is that is 100% correct. However, i don't want to end up blowing money on a sucky handgun. I need someone that knows what they are talking about to help me out.

I don't like revolvers.
I want something that won't jam when i need it to work.
I want something with a high rate of fire.
It needs it to be practical as i will wear it most of the time, especially at work.
I would like for it to hold a good amount of rounds.

Basically, I want to know if i should get something like a 45 or 9mm. Also, I'm wanting to know what the good brands or models are and what some suitable prices are so I'm sure I don't get ripped of by the people at the gun store. I'm not fixed on a 45 or 9mm they are just some suggestions. If you have specific model/brand guns that would be awesome. Any info would really help me out. It would also be nice to know where to get a good deal as well, for instance buying at a army navy store vs. a shooting range.


thanks guys

Answer 1

I think you have quite a bit to learn. There is nothing "sissy" about .22lr pistols. They are fun to plink with. Ammo is cheap so I can shoot all day and spend 20 bucks. It gives you the experience to get used to how things work when it comes to control, safety, learning etc.



I made the same mistake that you are headed. I bought a .40 because I did not want something wimpy...I decided that after trading the .40 in because of jamming issues on the gun I would take the opportunity to buy a 9mm.



Since you want this gun for protection I would suggested the 9mm first anyway. It is low recoil, not as expensive as the other defensive calibers and will provide you with proper stopping power. .45 would also be too big to start with.



Make sure you take a safety course as well as a defensive handgun course. They are just as important as the gun itself.



As for the suggested models...Go with the Springfield Armory XD. Just as reliable and well made as the Glock but has a better fit and feel of the grip as well as an external grip safety. Glock is not a pistol for inexperienced shooters. The trigger pull is 5.5 lbs or so and is DAO. Both for the Glock and the XD. Single action only is also not really that good for defensive reasons for inexperienced shooters.

Answer 2

So, barring some of the other comments, Glock's are not single action. They have their own action and it takes some getting used to shoot.



Second, the Glock 30 is a fine weapon. However, it is not trivial to shoot and shoot well. Someone has commented you should put about 400 rounds through whatever you are going to carry, and I heartily agree. My guess is you won't particularly like the Glock 30 after 400 rounds because it is exactly what it is designed to be. Light, small and short. None of those things are condusive to learning to shoot well.



Third, you have to understand what "comfortable" means. Here's how I view it:



1) The gun should "point" naturally for you. This means that when you set your grip you can bring the gun up with your eyes closed. "Aim" it at a virtual point with your eyes closed, open your eyes and have the sights lined up. Not high, not low, not side to side. If a gun doesn't point naturally for you, it is something you have to overcome when learning how to shoot it.



2) The gun should allow you to get a "high" grip. Particularly in carry guns, managing recoil, particuarly to prevent from developing a bad flinch, is a big deal. If you are a new shooter with .230 grain Corbon +P+ Hollow Points in a Glock 30 you are going to come away from the range session yanking the trigger like it was a church bell. The higher the grip you can get - meaning the closer the web of your hand can get to the barrel axis the less rotational felt recoil you will have.



3) The gun should allow you to get a good 2 handed grip. No tea cupping, but a solid two handed thumb over thumb style grip. Again, mroe experienced shooters can compensate for small grips, but they are really hard to learn on.



4) The trigger should be easily in reach when you have the good grip. Particularly if you have smaller hands, Glocks aren't a great choice because the trigger starts out a long ways away compared to a 1911 style weapon. If you have to adjust your grip to reach the trigger it's the wrong gun.



So, all of that being said, and assuming you really are willing to learn how to handle a gun responsibly, there are very few "sucky" guns among the top makers. Smith and Wesson, Colt, Para Ordinance, Glock, Springfield, CZ, EAA, Kimber, SIG, H&K, Kahr, the list goes on and on.



While you've said you want single action, what is sounds like is you don't want a DA/SA gun where the trigger pull changes after the first shot. Not unreasonable. Learning to carry a true single action semi - auto is a responsibility though. Generally you are carrying hammer back, round chambered, safety on. You are hot from the get go with generally a short trigger pull. Someone mentioned a Kimber Pro Carry - excellent choice if you want to go this route.



Alternately, you can look at something like a ParaOrdinance in their LDA or Light Double Action. This gives you a light double action trigger that is still in the 4 - 6 lb range. Some people view this as safer.



In plastic guns, many people carry Glocks, but as mentioned, no external safeties. If you don't want it to fire keep your finger off the trigger. Since that is the most common error that new shooters make (leaving their finger on the trigger) you will have to practice.



There are also the Springfield XD, H&K USP, the Sig 250 and a few others.



Fundamentally, don't buy a gun because you like the "look". Buy the gun you can SHOOT.



Thinkingblade

Answer 3

You say you don't like revolvers, and you don't want something that will jam. The truth is that revolvers have always been highly suggested for concealed carry, because they simply don't jam, even when not cleaned regularly. they are the most reliable handguns in existance.



Do NOT carry a 22. This is not the movies here. People don't just fall over and die when a bullet hits them. A 22 will not stop anyone unless you hit them in a precise area. In an event that you need to fire a weapon to save your life, you are NOT going to have the time to aim that carefully. I won't carry anything smaller than a 9mm, and then only with ammo designed for personal protection. As far as caliber is concerned, pick the largest that you can handle and still shoot accurately. As far as rate of fire is concerned, any semi-automatic firearm can shoot faster than your finger can function the trigger, so that is of no concern.



Another thing to think about is physical size of the weapon. Trust me that you don't want everyone standing in line at the cash register to see that you are carrying a firearm. Sooner or later, someone will freak out, and call the police. Then you are going to have a really crappy time trying to explain to the cops that you were just standing in line, and you have a valit permit. It's going to be embarassing. Pick something with a compact design, that is easier to carry without making your shirt stick out.



I suggest a Glock G30, G36, or G27

Also the H&K USP compact, in .40 or .45

Answer 4

Glock 19 (9mm). These are great guns at a decent price. The Glock 19 comes with two standard 15 round magazines, but you can buy ones with a larger capacity. And 9mm ammo is a cheap.





A lot of people don't like the Glocks, but most law enforcement carry the Glock 22 (.40 cal) so you know it has to be a reliable weapon.



.............................

If you want a sub-compact, the Glock 30 would be good. It holds 10 rounds. Most full size pistols in .45 caliber hold 7 or 8.

Answer 5

You said it yourself, you don't know much about guns. I would go to a local gun shop and ask the dealer to help you out. The gun dealer can explain and demonstrate the features for you. In the end the decision has to be yours.



You may want to start out with a .22lr and work your way up. A .22 will kill just as easily as a 9mm or 44 magnum if you place your shots properly. You'll need to work on that first, and a 22 is a great caliber to start out with.



Why don't you try a 1911? Just my opinion. They are excellent pistols and have stood the test of time. They come in 9mm, 45 auto, and a few other calibers. They are single action, and some models can use high capacity magazines. You can also get a 22 conversion kit. This would allow you to practice shooting with a .22 paying a mere 4 cents per round, and then using 9mm or 45acp. It's easy to swap - just like field stripping the firearm. The kits run about $150



As I said it must be your choice in the end, but that's my input. Good luck and congrats on your CCW/CHL

Answer 6

I have 25+ years experience carry concealed in Massachussettes, Maine and Alaska - and 30+ years as a pistol instructor and military competition shooter. I have gold leg points.



If they made just one gun that did everything my wife would have bought me one and sold all the others in the safe.



At $25 a box of 50 rounds for 45acp - compaired to $3 a box of 50 rounds of 22 - which one do you think will give the most 'bang for buck' training and practicing?



The only saving grace in your logic - and I sure hope they covered this in class - you need to put 400+ rounds through any pistol that is going to be become you personal defensiver firearm. This is called 'proof shooting'. Most people, after shooting 16 boxes of ammo tend to be a decent shot afterward........ providing you don't attempt to pop them all off on one weekend....... spread it over 5-8 weekends, take your time and learn.



There are lots of name brands - and they are all good guns. Take a peek at the Springfield Armory XD. I like that in complete darkness you can touch one part and it tells you there is a round in the chamber, touch another part and it tells you it ****** and locked. The model I have uses both a trigger and rear grip safety - no stupid thumb safety to get in your way.



The less of a hurry you are in - the better the deal you will get.



Hope this helps.

Answer 7

Sounds like to me you already know what you want. A Kimber Ultra Carry II fits your requirements and is also one of the best for the job however, you will loose some of the cap. in the mag, only 7 rounds there in .45acp. I would not pay more than $750.00 for the gun but there are several more Ultra series ( CCW) sized Kimbers you could explore. As far as price, go to the Kimber website and look at the MSRP, I wouldnt pay anymore than that for out the door taxes and all. Your not going to find them much cheaper because they demand a good price. Remember, your going to get what you pay for !



Good Luck & Happy Shooting !





EDIT:



A slight caution for you ! Glocks are not CCWs in most cases. Its really not even a good duty gun in my opinion. A Glock can be a very good firearm and has excellent scores in everything EXCEPT SAFETY ! There is no good way you can pull a glock from a holster under stress. It has no safety other than the one on the trigger that does nothing for you. Using a Glock for ccw is about the worst suggestion anyone on these forums could suggest to a new carrier. I cant believe how carless some people are!

Answer 8

"Whatever I get will be thoroughly played with at the shooting range"



first of all, you don't play with guns, you use them, their not a toy, their a tool, people who play with guns get hurt, playing with a gun isn't responsible.

ok, all semi autos have a chance of jamming, revolvers don't.

but if you want a semi auto and if you like glock, why don't you get one with a conversion kit, .22LR and 9mm, .22 is very cheap at the range and a 9mm is a useful defense round, cops use it.

I'm saying .22LR because it's fun and cheap to shoot and you'll have 2 guns in one, best of both worlds.

and about single action, most double action pistols give you the option of pulling the hammer back to lighten the pull weight and also give you the option of firing quickly without having to pull the hammer back,the reason it's harder to pull the trigger when the hammers down is for safety, if this wasn't here, you could fire the weapon by accident.

while a single action needs it's hammer pulled every shot, this can be a big disadvantage if you need to shoot quickly.

I don't think you listened well at the course if you didn't know this already, if you did know, then you don't care much about your life.

Answer 9

let's address what features you want in a ccw first, then i'll explain why you want these features, then i'll recommend a gun for you.



1- most importantly, reliability- why? for obvious reasons.

2- concealability/comfort- why? you are more likely to carry a small comfortable gun than you are a large bulky hand cannon. big guns usually get left at home like mine.

3- controllability- why? a gun you can't controll or shoot accurately is very dangerous to everyone around you. shot placement is as important as reliability. 5 .22magnums to the chest is better than one .45 to the foot (or worse, a bystandard)!

4-stopping power- why? bigger is always better for stopping bad guys but it is not always practical. anybody who knows what they're talking about will agree that SHOT PLACEMENT trumps stopping power any day. you will have to compromise stopping power for most ccw's.

5-accuracy- most guns are very accurate, even snubbys. it's all about how YOU shoot it. if you are a bad shot, adding a laser might be for you. remember that most gun fights happen at 10 ft or less.

6-snag proof- why? when drawing a gun, you don't want it to snag on your clother or anything. things that snag are; exposed hammers, safeties, large sights and sharp corners.

7-capacity- more is better, again this will have to be compromised in a ccw.



finally, the gun.



glock 26 (9mm) or glock 27 (.40)



why? it's ultra-reliable, small, light-weight, easy to conceal, accepts crimson trace laser grips, and snag free (no external safties). you can put high capacity magazines in these guns for the range or a smaller (but still pretty high cap.) mags for carry.



advantage arms sells a .22 conversion that will fit either glock for cheap fun practice with a .22.



this might not be the best for everybody, but for you is a good idea.

sorry about the crap spelling!

Answer 10

Go to a nearby shooting range that rents handguns. You can try several different ones and see what fits you best. It will probably cost about $40 for range time, gun rental, and ammo, and a little more to try different models. But most ranges that sell guns will credit your account for the amount you spend on the rental, so the expense is minimal. And even if you spend $100 to find the gun you like, it's a lot cheaper than spending hundreds of dollars on a gun you haven't tried and then finding out you don't like it.

Check out www.wheretoshoot.org. You plug in your ZIP code and the site will show you nearby shooting ranges, gun clubs, and training facilities.

Answer 11

I would stick with 45 acp and 9mm. Taurus 24/7, Glock, and Para ordinance 1911 ssp are nice handguns to choose from. Remember to look for realiability, accuracey, popularity, and how comfortable the pistol is.

Answer 12

"Concealed carry" is probably impossible with a Glock unless you wear really baggy clothing. My favorite CC weapon is the Kel-Tec P-32; cannot be seen in the front pocket of reasonably tight shorts. Google it to learn more. With hollow-point rounds it will stop almost anything. All the girls think it's cute.

Answer 13

Well you seem to know every thing but don't know anything. Sorry don't mean to be a smart azz but let's face it you'r a newbe at guns. here's my input I carry a 22 auto . I know how to use it. Get your self a 38 like the cops used to carry yea it's a revolver . you'r not as likely to shoot your self of anyone else accidentally with it. It's a good relible

peace maker . Tarus makes a nice one & it's affordable . It'll stop anyone & not as likely to kill him as quick as the larger cal. but will stop him even if u hit him in the arm or leg. I know u want a canon but let's face it you need to learn about guns first.

Answer 14

left handed or right then theres ambidextrous long barrel or short magna ported or common blued or stainless mabey nickle plastic or wood plain or engraved then sight arrangements fixed laser adjustable couple more others but narrow it down some an ill come back in a short

Answer 15

GLOCK

it will never fail you. it will shoot wet, dirty whatever. very reliable gun.

Answer 16

what kind of work do you do? and why do you need a piece? and why so many rounds?

Answer 17

get a machine gun , those are real fun.