Help me pick a handgun

[beer30]

IMO, if i were to buy a handgun i know is reliable i would buy a Springfield XD i think they make the xdm now not sure. I have a few friends that have em and ive shot the springfield and im pretty impressed with it.

I have a Springfield .45 XD Tactical. Tracy has a Steyr M9, different shape, but since Tracy has not used any other firearm, she loves it.Chuck

[HStream1]

I looked at reviews of all of these guns...Most had jamming issues with multiple types of ammo...The Taurus had no issues...Is it true you need to run a couple hundred rounds through em' to break em' in to make them be more dependable? Al

IMO to get what you are looking for you are going to have to face it and spend a little over your initial $400.00 ceiling.

With doing that you are going to have piece of mind, a quality piece, no jaming issues etc. The weight thing is also very limiting.

So again IMO go with a known name with a history. Take a look at the

SMITH & WESSON BODYGUARD 6+1 Double Action, it's under 12oz.

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/w...layErrorView_Y

It's about $400.00 + though depending on where and who you buy it from.

As far as number of rounds to break one in. Well every mechanical thing needs break in. BUT when buying a self defence weapon you shouldn't have to rely on break in to feel comfortable. In all my simi automatic hand gun buying experience I have only had one that was tempermental to specific ammo and jamming.

I bought a sterling arms 22LR model 302 for my Mom back in the early 80's. It was a very nice pocker pistol in a small package. Dam thing only liked copper jacked ammo. I took care of that by doing a field strip and throughting and smoothing the reciever with a stone and a high speed die grinder. Now it will shoot the cheep lead head ammo without jamming.

[Robby321]

On running a few rounds through it, not so much you breaking it in, as it breaking YOU in. Gotta get comfortable with it, plus use any spare clips too. Bought an extra for my old .380, but ended up simply throwing it away, as it jammed more than once at the range, where the rest no prob.

[mirage243]

IMO to get what you are looking for you are going to have to face it and spend a little over your initial $400.00 ceiling.

Should have kept this thread at 3-4 pages and spent the rest of the time working overtime to have the extra 200 bucks to buy the right gun the first time.

[vnemous]

Clip vrs. Magazine Not trying to start anything here but a clip is a device used to load rounds into a weapon, usually some type of rifle,some handguns, and than removed or disgarded. The only handgun that I can think of that used a clip was the Mauser, Im sure there are others. Of course speed loaders are a type of clip for revolvers. A magazine holds rounds and is loaded into the weapon and remains in it till empty or reloaded. Just a pet peeve. I have to cringe everytime my guys tell me they have problems with thier clips. JMO

[Viper GTs]

IMO to get what you are looking for you are going to have to face it and spend a little over your initial $400.00 ceiling.

With doing that you are going to have piece of mind, a quality piece, no jaming issues etc. The weight thing is also very limiting.

So again IMO go with a known name with a history. Take a look at the

SMITH & WESSON BODYGUARD 6+1 Double Action, it's under 12oz.

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/w...layErrorView_Y

It's about $400.00 + though depending on where and who you buy it from.

As far as number of rounds to break one in. Well every mechanical thing needs break in. BUT when buying a self defence weapon you shouldn't have to rely on break in to feel comfortable. In all my simi automatic hand gun buying experience I have only had one that was tempermental to specific ammo and jamming.

I bought a sterling arms 22LR model 302 for my Mom back in the early 80's. It was a very nice pocker pistol in a small package. Dam thing only liked copper jacked ammo. I took care of that by doing a field strip and throughting and smoothing the reciever with a stone and a high speed die grinder. Now it will shoot the cheep lead head ammo without jamming.

I missed that one Bud! I will take a look at that one for sure...Al

[Viper GTs]

Should have kept this thread at 3-4 pages and spent the rest of the time working overtime to have the extra 200 bucks to buy the right gun the first time.

OK wize asz! What can I get for a few bill more?? Ahhh you Southerners

[mirage243]

OK wize asz! What can I get for a few bill more?? Ahhh you Southerners

Just f*ckin' with you.

[Robby321]

Clip vrs. Magazine Not trying to start anything here but a clip is a device used to load rounds into a weapon, usually some type of rifle,some handguns, and than removed or disgarded. The only handgun that I can think of that used a clip was the Mauser, Im sure there are others. Of course speed loaders are a type of clip for revolvers. A magazine holds rounds and is loaded into the weapon and remains in it till empty or reloaded. Just a pet peeve. I have to cringe everytime my guys tell me they have problems with thier clips. JMO

HA!...this old Nam vet should know better! Weapons, clips, Mags, Speed loaders.(yep, guess ya would call them a clip!)...(now, can we get this "Anti-ventilation, not cavitation plate thing figured out correct...my pet peeve!)

[vnemous]

HA!...this old Nam vet should know better! Weapons, clips, Mags, Speed loaders.(yep, guess ya would call them a clip!)...(now, can we get this "Anti-ventilation, not cavitation plate thing figured out correct...my pet peeve!)

I hear ya and you sound just like a guy in my Sub Gun intructors class. He did a roll out from the prone position and double tapped his target. The first round sounded fine but the second round was muffeled (I was shooting right next to him). I saw his hand go up and blood pouring down it. When he rolled out he got his fore hand out infront of the muzzle of his MP5 and shot a perfect cresent hole thru his middle finger. When we critiqued the unintentional shooting he told us that he had done two tours in Viet Nam as a machine gunner and thought this would happen to anyone but him cause he knew better. I will dig up my class picture with a big white bandage on his hand. I tell you what though he refused to go to the hospital cause he knew if they put him on any pain killers that was the end of the class for him. Go Army.

[Karsten]

Personally I would forgo anything from Keltec if you are counting your life or anyone else's as protection.

I have a P-11 that I thought was a great little pistol. Took it to the range every time I went just to do a few draw and fire drills. Worked great for about 2 range trips and on the third trip draw, bang and the trigger was swinging free....no 2nd shot what so ever.

Called Keltec and they knew just what had happened and told me to send it back....WTF, if ya know there is a problem with a gun then why not correct it before you ship them out to be sold

Anyhow, I suppose it is fixed now but I don't rely on it for much more than a paper weight these days.

My 1st choice in CCW pistol would be my SA Compact 1911 but they are rare. Seems SA got it right in a Compact 1911 and dropped the line to promote the Champion 1911



.45 ACP can't be beat when it comes down to stopping a target with 1-2 well placed rounds.

Another great little gun is a S&W 637/642 38 +P Rated revolver. Add a pair of Crimson Trace Laser Grips and you have 5 rounds of 125 plus grains of stopping power plus the little red dot to get you there.



Two rules of thought about Laser Sight and they are either those that want use them for all the wrong reasons or those that do and see them as one one tool to prepare them selves with.

Karsten

[Viper GTs]

From researching the net it looks like the Ruger LCP .38 is the most dependable of the bunch...I also like the Kel-Tec P-32 .32 for its weight factor..9.4 loaded vs 12.0 loaded...Opinions and thoughts please! Al

[Viper GTs]

Karsten, whats the weight on that revolver??

[Robby321]

I hear ya and you sound just like a guy in my Sub Gun intructors class. He did a roll out from the prone position and double tapped his target. The first round sounded fine but the second round was muffeled (I was shooting right next to him). I saw his hand go up and blood pouring down it. When he rolled out he got his fore hand out infront of the muzzle of his MP5 and shot a perfect cresent hole thru his middle finger. When we critiqued the unintentional shooting he told us that he had done two tours in Viet Nam as a machine gunner and thought this would happen to anyone but him cause he knew better. I will dig up my class picture with a big white bandage on his hand. I tell you what though he refused to go to the hospital cause he knew if they put him on any pain killers that was the end of the class for him. Go Army.

I hear ya loud and clear. I was (69 Nam), the Mech/spare gunner, rear Guntruck convoys (twin side 60's, TC ran the .50 turret, when he said duck, ya hit the floor armor FAST"..M79's, the side slept with "16", and more. Lotta fun "toys". Have to say though, the dumbest stuff happens to the well trained... and the UN-trained?.."lesson coming"..when?..dunno, but if ya think...well, quit thinking.."what could", as when ya least expect it, ya be bleeding...educate yer azz...(and there is NO..Graduates...in firearms..just like the old saw.."there are old pilots, bold pilots, but no old, bold pilots....(same as me 51 years on motorcycles..never brag.."I aint fell down/crashed yet"..just means it aint happened yet!

[Karsten]

From researching the net it looks like the Ruger LCP .38 is the most dependable of the bunch...I also like the Kel-Tec P-32 .32 for its weight factor..9.4 loaded vs 12.0 loaded...Opinions and thoughts please! Al

Be sure and check ammo...the Ruger LCP is a .380 and not .38...big difference. .380 is a 9MM Short round and iffy at best for SD IMHO.

Keltec P-32 is a .32 caliber and not much larger than a .25 ACP but last I checked were pricey.

The S&W 637 comes in around 15 ounces but it doesn't feel like it.

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/w...layErrorView_Y

You might want to look at a .22 Magnum Revolver as well...Most had 9 round cylinders and a 22 Mag has good stopping power....Flies fast, breaks up on impact and thus causes minor damage that can't be fixed without major surgery.




Karsten