Help me choose a gun

[Boilerup15]

I recently just got my personal protection handgun license. I need help finding a gun now. I had my mind set on a .380 but maybe a .40. I don't really want to spend a lot on the gun because I won't be shooting it all that much. Can you give me some input and some websites or stores with the best prices? thanks!

[Alljackedup408]

springfield xd series... you will love them. check them out.

[Shocker]

Go to a gun range that rents guns and try a few. Pick one that you are comfortable shooting. All of them will poke a hole in a bad guy. Bigger is not better if you don't like shooting it.
:)

[Carolinaboy]

Brian is correct. I love my XD .45 I am a .45 ACP whore. All My dad has ever owned so it rubbed off on me. I use it for carrying in the truck and out hunting. I am also going to be gettin my CWP. If you want something cheap but still good quality you can't go wrong with the Glock 22 or 23 due to you hand size. I like the 23 but I needed a mag xtender due to my fat hands.

I would say .40 cal would be a good round. I love its shootablity and fairly priced ammo. even though all ammmo is :eek: .380 is a good round but I like some more back bone to the round personally. I love the .40 & .45acp personally. Jim and Alan will be the guys to tell you about this

[Bigredmariner]

Go to a gun range that rents guns and try a few. Pick one that you are comfortable shooting. All of them will poke a hole in a bad guy. Bigger is not better if you don't like shooting it.
:)

Good advice right there, if you don't like the feel of one after you have purchased it you're SOL.

I moved this to Texas Gun Talk so it will hopefully catch Texas1911's attention, he usually has some good input, his dad's pretty informative too.:D

[JennaBear]

I agree with the above. Hit up a gun range and go with what feels best for you.

[Zembonez]

GLOCK!

[Texas Jim]

GLOCK!



Very good guns...but I don't like the feel of them. :dunno:
Some of my friends have them.

I like 1911's.

:thumbs:

[Zembonez]

I like 1911s too but he's probably not gonna buy one to carry on a budget.

[Carolinaboy]

the xd has great ergonomics I am a little biased though :D

[ScottyBoy]

I was in the same boat. I REALLY wanted to get a Springfield XD but was on a tight budget. I ended up getting a Taurus Millenium Pro .40 cal for $350 from Academy Sporting goods.

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w233/cutdog504/DSC01961.jpg
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w233/cutdog504/DSC01962.jpg
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w233/cutdog504/DSC01963.jpg

[daddy]

Thompson Contender .45-70 :D

http://images.outdoorinteractive.net/mgen/317617_d.jpg

[Darkanion]

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w233/cutdog504/DSC01963.jpg

Should've known you'd have a Ford gun......... :uhoh: :jester:




I agree with that was said before, go to a range, put some stuff in your hand, fire off a few rounds, and see what you like best. :thumbs:

[ScottyBoy]

Thompson Contender .45-70 :D

http://images.outdoorinteractive.net/mgen/317617_d.jpg

that will have him leakin! :lol:

[Carolinaboy]

Hey man if it shoots straight and it will drop a bad guy then you are good to go especially if you're on a budget. But like said many times before spend the extra money and get a good quality gun now so you don't have to worry about it crapping out on you.

So get a high point :lol:
http://www.hipointpro.com/App_Themes/hipointpro/Images/hipoint1.jpg




No! Don't do that! I would shoot a Glock & a XD see what you like and pull the trigger (horrible pun :facepalm:)

[ScottyBoy]

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w233/cutdog504/DSC01963.jpg

Should've known you'd have a Ford gun......... :uhoh: :jester:




I agree with that was said before, go to a range, put some stuff in your hand, fire off a few rounds, and see what you like best. :thumbs:

Don't hate on the Taurus. Thats who also makes "The Judge", a revolver that can fire both .45 colt and 410 ga shotgun shells. :thumbs:
1ORlYmHtx78

[Carolinaboy]

"The Judge" FTW.....cool gun for sure I want one just to have one...they are very hard to get your hands on, well they were a year ago :dunno:

http://www.truckmodcentral.com/forums/image.php?u=212&dateline=1266016379

[ScottyBoy]

"The Judge" FTW.....cool gun for sure I want one just to have one...they are very hard to get your hands on, well they were a year ago :dunno:

http://www.truckmodcentral.com/forums/image.php?u=212&dateline=1266016379

They are readily available around here, but only in stainless for some reason.:dunno: The blued ones are in very short supply.

[Carolinaboy]

Yeah I want the blued, shorter one I think but the longer one is more accurate I am sure

[ScottyBoy]

Yeah I want the blued, shorter one I think but the longer one is more accurate I am sure

Beleive it or not, everyone tells me the shorter barrel is actually more accurate. :dunno: (Everyone around here at least)

[Zembonez]

Thompson Contender .45-70 :D

http://images.outdoorinteractive.net/mgen/317617_d.jpg
:lol::lol::lol:

[Zembonez]

Yeah I want the blued, shorter one I think but the longer one is more accurate I am sure

Beleive it or not, everyone tells me the shorter barrel is actually more accurate. :dunno: (Everyone around here at least)
Shorter barrels ARE NOT more accurate. Not even close. Somebody been pullin your leg boy.

You ever see a sniper rifle with a 3 inch barrel? There's a reason.

[ScottyBoy]

Yeah I want the blued, shorter one I think but the longer one is more accurate I am sure

Beleive it or not, everyone tells me the shorter barrel is actually more accurate. :dunno: (Everyone around here at least)
Shorter barrels ARE NOT more accurate. Not even close. Somebody been pullin your leg boy.

I never said I beleived it, but 4 different people have told me that the shorter barrels are more accurate on the Judge for some reason. :dunno: And 3 of them even said "And it doesn't make sense, cuz a longer barrels is always more accurate". I can't speak as to whether which ones is more accurate or not as I've personally never shot one. :dunno:

[daddy]

Yeah I want the blued, shorter one I think but the longer one is more accurate I am sure

Beleive it or not, everyone tells me the shorter barrel is actually more accurate. :dunno: (Everyone around here at least)
Shorter barrels ARE NOT more accurate. Not even close. Somebody been pullin your leg boy.

You ever see a sniper rifle with a 3 inch barrel? There's a reason.

And, if you do, it also has a 12" lift. :jester:

[jhoff8487]

I love .40 S&W. I've got three different guns in that caliber and it's the caliber I carry (when I can...you know how that goes as a fellow college kid). You also can't go wrong with a good 9mm or a .45 though. In West Laf/Lafayette I think .40S&W has consistently been the easiest to find. You might want to check out some of the Kahr pistols (probably the CW series) or as many others have suggested the XD/Glock/M&P platforms. I've got the XD-SC in .40 and I just love it but there is nothing wrong about the Glock or M&P either. You might also consider some of the compact revolvers such as the S&W J-frames (442/642) or the Ruger Sp-101. For that matter, I've got an Sp-101 too and it's a great little revolver.

Tippy Sport Shop is nice I hear but I've never been. I get most of mine down in Indianapolis or online. It's a true shame that Sportsman's Warehouse closed. They had an amazing in-stock inventory and were always happy to wait on you/let you just get a feel for stuff.

Best of luck on your hunt!

[Dankle 666]

Yeah I want the blued, shorter one I think but the longer one is more accurate I am sure

Beleive it or not, everyone tells me the shorter barrel is actually more accurate. :dunno: (Everyone around here at least)
Shorter barrels ARE NOT more accurate. Not even close. Somebody been pullin your leg boy.

You ever see a sniper rifle with a 3 inch barrel? There's a reason.

And, if you do, it also has a 12" lift. :jester:

:crackup:

[Zembonez]

Yeah I want the blued, shorter one I think but the longer one is more accurate I am sure

Beleive it or not, everyone tells me the shorter barrel is actually more accurate. :dunno: (Everyone around here at least)
Shorter barrels ARE NOT more accurate. Not even close. Somebody been pullin your leg boy.

You ever see a sniper rifle with a 3 inch barrel? There's a reason.

And, if you do, it also has a 12" lift. :jester:

Touche~

[fireman80]

Gotta give the Smith and Wesson M&P some love. I've got the .40 and I love it. It comes with 3 easily removable back straps (different sized grips) so it fit's your hand well. The gun also comes in traditional safe or trigger safe only. I have the trigger safe only. Words of advice. "Don't want to spend alot" is not something that should be associated with personal pretection man. If you get into the situation that you might actually have to pull on someone as much as no one wants to get in that place you wanna be damn sure and 100% comfortable with whatever it is your aiming!

All guns have 2 safes
Bullets or lack of
your finger

[4banger83]

i cant help on handguns since i aint old enough to own one but i have shot my buddies 38. special and loved it

[Carolinaboy]

M&P is a great feeling gun, never shot one though. Pretty pricey actually. Buy it with night sights already on it or do it as soon as you get one!

[Zembonez]

People get all wrapped up in what they think is the best and shun everything else... sort of like we do trucks. Go to the range and handle several makes. You'll immediately have some favorites and some not so favorites. After you do that, you can start narrowing it down into your price range.

I know some of us have been kidding a bit in here, but some good suggestions have been made too. These are a good place to start.

I'm off to the range tomorrow morning to fire 500 or so rounds... My weekly ration.

[Boilerup15]

Well I called a couple gun shops today around here and non of them have a shooting range..WTF? I have been looking online a lot latley and it seems I am going to have to save some more before I do anything. I was hoping to spend less than 300 bucks but I don't know that that is possible.

[Zembonez]

I think 300-400 is quite possible. Under 300 might be a tad tough if you want a quality firearm but it pays to look around. I've seen a lot of used GLocks in the 300-400 range and they are supremely reliably firearms. I love mine.

[Carolinaboy]

not unless you get used, which isn't always bad. But I will never sell guns just collect them :flag:

What Jim said ^^

[PenguinLTZ]

People get all wrapped up in what they think is the best and shun everything else... sort of like we do trucks. Go to the range and handle several makes. You'll immediately have some favorites and some not so favorites. After you do that, you can start narrowing it down into your price range.

I know some of us have been kidding a bit in here, but some good suggestions have been made too. These are a good place to start.

I'm off to the range tomorrow morning to fire 500 or so rounds... My weekly ration.

So true. There are many great choices. Go shoot some! The best one is the one that YOU shoot well. That is what counts. You can get crazy on the cool models after you master the gun you carry.

[Boilerup15]

Anyone have any thoughts on the Kel-tec pf9?http://world.guns.ru/handguns/kel-tec_pf9-1.jpg

[rev353]

Gun shows, Gun shows, Gun shows. I go to 8 plus per winter, what a great place to find new and used, and a wide selection all under one roof. I don't know anyone that owns a Kel-tec, almost bought one twice though. Heres a list of shows in your area.

Feb 27-28 Shipshewana, Shipshewana Town Center, CPI Gun & Knife Shows 260-483-6144 www.cpishows.com (http://www.cpishows.com/)

Mar 6-7 Fort Wayne, Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, CPI Gun & Knife Shows 260-483-6144 www.cpishows.com (http://www.cpishows.com/)
Mar 6-7 Washington, Washington Conservation Club on Donaldson Rd. off hwy. 57 south by Walmart ,A.$3 kelley47501@sbcglobal.net (kelley47501@sbcglobal.net) / 812-254-4364
Mar 13-14 Dugger, Dugger Community Building, 843 S. Hicum St., Tbls $15, A: $3 Sat 9-5 sun 9-3 Chad Reynolds - (812)-648-2407 or (812)-201-0010 or E-mail: cnreynolds@sbcglobal.net

Apr 18 New Haven, Allen county Fairgrounds (Carroll Rd-North off Rt. 3) Sun 8-4:00 Free Parking, A: $3.00 Tom Daugherty 260 749-6509

May 22-23, Huntingburg, Dubois County Fairground, Hwy 162, 5 miles South of Jasper or 10 miles north of Ferdinand Hwy 162, Exit 63 off of I64, tables $35.00 A: $5 under 12 free, Set-up Fri 1-8 Show Hours Sat 9-4, Sun 9-3, Special Motel rates avail. John Dounnhaur 812-536-5252 jddcsd@psci.net (jddcsd@psci.net)

[Boilerup15]

Gun shows, Gun shows, Gun shows. I go to 8 plus per winter, what a great place to find new and used, and a wide selection all under one roof. I don't know anyone that owns a Kel-tec, almost bought one twice though. Heres a list of shows in your area.

Feb 27-28 Shipshewana, Shipshewana Town Center, CPI Gun & Knife Shows 260-483-6144 www.cpishows.com (http://www.cpishows.com/)

Mar 6-7 Fort Wayne, Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, CPI Gun & Knife Shows 260-483-6144 www.cpishows.com (http://www.cpishows.com/)
Mar 6-7 Washington, Washington Conservation Club on Donaldson Rd. off hwy. 57 south by Walmart ,A.$3 kelley47501@sbcglobal.net (kelley47501@sbcglobal.net) / 812-254-4364
Mar 13-14 Dugger, Dugger Community Building, 843 S. Hicum St., Tbls $15, A: $3 Sat 9-5 sun 9-3 Chad Reynolds - (812)-648-2407 or (812)-201-0010 or E-mail: cnreynolds@sbcglobal.net

Apr 18 New Haven, Allen county Fairgrounds (Carroll Rd-North off Rt. 3) Sun 8-4:00 Free Parking, A: $3.00 Tom Daugherty 260 749-6509

May 22-23, Huntingburg, Dubois County Fairground, Hwy 162, 5 miles South of Jasper or 10 miles north of Ferdinand Hwy 162, Exit 63 off of I64, tables $35.00 A: $5 under 12 free, Set-up Fri 1-8 Show Hours Sat 9-4, Sun 9-3, Special Motel rates avail. John Dounnhaur 812-536-5252 jddcsd@psci.net (jddcsd@psci.net)

Thanks! I defiantly will be hitting up at least one of these.

[daddy]

The twelve-gauge double-barreled Remington. S-Mart's top of the line.

http://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/07/boomstick.gif