In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.

The best handgun?

KINGFISHKINGFISH Member Posts: 4 ✭✭
edited September 2001 in Ask the Experts
What would be the best handgun for me for personal and home protection?And why?My wife is also interested in getting a handgun.What would be the best for her?
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • BlueTicBlueTic Member Posts: 4,072
    edited November -1
    For You - I would go with a semi-auto 9mm (nice and light, easy to keep on target in tense situations) or any of the special purpose shotguns(12ga double 0 buck)for home. For her the best is a short little revolver (My wife keeps a Colt Magnum Carry 357/38 revolver in the nightstand).They are easy to opperate - point and pull - and with 38's are easy on her hands. She likes to practice with it, but likes to shoot at cans instead of targets (she can actualy see the results).
    IF YOU DON'T LIKE MY RIGHTS - GET OUT OF MY COUNTRY (this includes politicians)[This message has been edited by BlueTic (edited 09-28-2001).]
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • oneshyoneshy Member Posts: 417 ✭
    edited November -1
    If you're considering a semi-auto, a Glock in 40SW more power than a 9mm not much more kick. Glock has been recognized by Guns&Ammo as the best semi-auto in the world. It has no external safety. AS with a revolver, load and pull the trigger. They come in 3 sizes and can carry 15 rd. in the full sized. If a revolver, a 357 by any of the quality man. such as Ruger, Colt, S&W would be fine. Glock also has the best customer service of any manufacturer. A gun writer has an ongoing test of a Glock and has literally tortured it, evrn driving and parking his vehicle on it, has fired 175,000 rd. and it is still going.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • redcedarsredcedars Member Posts: 919 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Dear Kingfish:The "best" gun is the one that fits your circumstances best.I don't recommend semi-autos to beginners unless they are prepared to spend some time practicing. You MUST know how to clear jams well enough that you can do it in near darkness with your hands (hell, your whole body) shaking and your heart racing from adrenalin.Revolvers are much simpler to operate, but you have to be able to hit your target with ANY gun you are using. If your wife will use the gun too, you may need to start out with a .357 loaded with .38 Special ammo, which is typically a heavier gun with a lighter load, less recoil, blast and flash than full-house .357 loads, and easier to control and hit what you aim at. (Better to hit once with a light load than miss 3x with a heavy one.)For beginners, a short (18 1/2") barrel, 12 or 20 guage, is usually what I recommend for home defense. At short range, #7 or #8 birdshot will get the job done, and is unlikely to penetrate walls and hit unintended targets. And it is easy to point and shoot at short range too.Probably most important, study up on the subject. There are many books on self and home defense available. Go to the NRA website (nra.org) and check out the info available there. See if there is a gunshop/range near you that rents guns, so you can try differnt guns.Good Luck.redcedars
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • cpermdcpermd Member Posts: 5,273 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    4" revolver in 357Pump shotguncpermd
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • GunHawkeGunHawke Member Posts: 576 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    My 5 cents (Hey...who took the cents sign off the keyboard?)....I was issued a K-frame S&W 4" as a cop and came to love it. My first date with my wife to be was at the pistol range (Romantic fool, hey?) and she fell in love with my model 19 S&W 6".....I came later.My suggestion is a K-frame in .38 or .357. They come in many configurations and can be personalized to your hand. The .357 can fire the less expensive .38 and can be used for hunting most anywhere in a 6" barrel.
    "They blink an eye or draw a breath before they pull a trigger. I won't!" J.B. Books[This message has been edited by GunHawke (edited 09-28-2001).]
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • He DogHe Dog Member Posts: 51,593 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I agree with the last two posts. If you pull the trigger on a semi-auto and nothing happens you start taking it apart to clear the jammed bullet. If you pull the trigger on a revolver and nothing happens, you pull the trigger again. .357 has the greatest number of one shot kills of any caliber (there are a lot of reasons for this, including that there are a lot of .357's around). Remember too, that if you miss you don't want the bullet going through three walls, the garage and killing the baby next door. You want to stop an intruder and not much more. That makes the shot gun a useful tool for home defense. There are many available parts to trick it out with hand grip, shorter (but legal) barrel, etc. If you go with the pistol, look to frangible bullets like glasers. Federal hydroshocks are also extremely effective with out undue penetration. Do not go for anything smaller than .38 Special. .32's and .380 are just ineffective except a close range or with precice bullet placement which is unlikly in this situation. Whatever you buy, practice with it to be comfortable and proficient.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • leeblackmanleeblackman Member Posts: 5,303 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I'd go with a .45acp, shoot 185gr jhp ammo. And a 12ga Shotgun using birdshot. I find that at close range bird shot is very devistating, it will blow a rabbit into so many shreds you won't be able to tell what it is. And don't get a smaller handgun just because your wife. Woman can handle firearms just like men, my old lady gets discusted when she hears people recommend smaller caliber, lower recoil, handguns for woman. She's a petit little thing and can handle a .45 just fine.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • RedlegRedleg Member Posts: 417 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I recommend the following:Desert Eagle in .50AEColt Anaconda in .44MagThat way, if you miss, you still scared him (and your neighbors) to death
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • gravediggergravedigger Member Posts: 945 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I agree with leeblackman. My wife is also tiny, but she handles a .45 quite well. In fact she shoots it much better than my 9mm. Anyway, go with the 12 ga shotgun. If you MUST have a handgun for self defense, go with a revolver. I personally do not like revolvers, but it just makes better sense.-Marcus
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • lordskulllordskull Member Posts: 16 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I agree revolver. You know it will function.Also recommend shotgun. point and shoot.But if you go pistol, use glazier safety slugs. They won't go through the walls, but when the go into a person the break apart so bad it liquefies their insides.A glazier safety slug is a gel filled slug with little tinny BB's that after entry into the person open up and do allot of internal damage. But when they hit a wall they brake up the same way and the BB's do get to far after that.And one other great thing about a shot gun, is that the sound of a shell racking into a shotgun has a certain effect on people. It scares the hell out of em.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • dheffleydheffley Member Posts: 25,000 ✭
    edited November -1
    You see how many different opinions you get. The reason is, everyone has a different favorite gun. My suggestion, find a local range that rents guns. Try out several different ones and see what fits you best. I would agree that you should go with the most powerful cartridge you are comfortable with. I love .45 ACP's and .44 Mag's.
    Save, research, then buy the best.Join the NRA, NOW!Teach them young, teach them safe, teach them forever, but most of all, teach them to VOTE!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Sign In or Register to comment.