Gun Advice (looking to buy a pistol)

[DirtyD]

I'm game to shoot. If someone doesn't mind, I'd like to see some of the pistols y'all shoot.

[blackweb]

Originally Posted by DirtyD I'm game to shoot. If someone doesn't mind, I'd like to see some of the pistols y'all shoot.

The

http://www.bullettrapinc.com/

will let you test fire weapons.

[Crimson600+HP]

A Smith and Wesson SD9 VE is a good weapon. It is a glock 17/26 clone, which is heavily regarded as the standard among 9mm striker fired pistols. Glock even sued S&W on the design for copyright infrigment and won. Best part about it, they can be had brand new in the $350 range (which is easily $150 less than its Glock brother).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbWIE...w&noredirect=1

[blackweb]

Originally Posted by Dan12GT I know we have some fellow gun enthusiasts and a police officer here that know their stuff about guns so I thought I'd ask here. I would like to add a pistol to the home arsenal mainly because of ease of use and size to make it easy to hide / lockup. I don't need a bunch of large guns so I figured a pistol would add a good dynamic. Anywho, I am not looking for anything fancy at all. I don't know much about pistols but have shot a few here and there. I don't need a cannon either, just a cheap reliable gun. Preferably light so my wife can learn it too yet can get the job done. Looking for suggestions since I know nothing about pistols. Maybe in the $100-150 dollar range? Thanks!

I own the Glock 19 Gen 4

http://us.glock.com/products/model/g19gen4

The most popular and highest rated self-defense weapon in America. Well balanced, easy to fire, reload and clean with excellent safety features. I got mine at Cabela's in allen. I use Hornaday Critical Duty 135 grain ammo

http://www.hornady.com/store/9MM-135...Critical-DUTY/

You cant go wrong with a G19 for self-defense. I think you should revise the amount you want to spend upward considerably for safety and quality resons. However, if you want to spend very little, a .38 revolver would be in order.

[El_Tortuga]

Gun fitment explained:
http://www.corneredcat.com/article/c...-on-a-handgun/

[GunsUp]

Danny do you want something that in an emergency situation your wife could use as well?

[pohnjarker]

damn good list Josh

I agree with what's said about going and renting or getting with friends that have something for you to try and get a feel for.

i bought my first gun without touching it and i didnt like it so i didnt shoot it. since then, i only buy something i've shot and know that i like it.

good luck

[fordplay]

Don't listen to lolvtec , if he was for real that desert eagle would be a .50 Cal like mine. One thing to remember about a glock, it's Tupper ware .. and the grip to barrel angle is different from 99.9% of all other handguns, it's designed to pull from a holster and fire from the hip. If you hold it straight out you have to break your wrist at an unnatural angle, every other pistol has the same angle as if you make a gun with your thumb and first finger, that's the angle they take. Glocks have also been chastised for their weird balance and blocky feel, no external safety (don't even start with the trigger safety bs) and the inability to shoot lead rounds, reloads, and the tendency for the .40 Cal to explode.. but you know other than that it's great.. you will also notice lately police forces are starting to drop the Glocks also. Even the broke city of Detroit is getting rid of their Glocks. Handle and shoot everything you can before purchasing. Then shoot every weekend and take the concealed pistol class , even if you don't plan to carry.

[lolvtec]

Originally Posted by fordplay Don't listen to lolvtec , if he was for real that desert eagle would be a .50 Cal like mine. One thing to remember about a glock, it's Tupper ware .. and the grip to barrel angle is different from 99.9% of all other handguns, it's designed to pull from a holster and fire from the hip. If you hold it straight out you have to break your wrist at an unnatural angle, every other pistol has the same angle as if you make a gun with your thumb and first finger, that's the angle they take. Glocks have also been chastised for their weird balance and blocky feel, no external safety (don't even start with the trigger safety bs) and the inability to shoot lead rounds, reloads, and the tendency for the .40 Cal to explode.. but you know other than that it's great.. you will also notice lately police forces are starting to drop the Glocks also. Even the broke city of Detroit is getting rid of their Glocks. Handle and shoot everything you can before purchasing. Then shoot every weekend and take the concealed pistol class , even if you don't plan to carry.

If your grip is correct glocks feel and work just fine

& if they are so awful why did one of the more conservative local police departments just approve their use? (Dallas) & I have two .50ae desert eagles that I everyday carry in matching shoulder holsters.. for her pleasure.

[03MachMe]

Originally Posted by lolvtec If your grip is correct glocks feel and work just fine & if they are so awful why did one of the more conservative local police departments just approve their use? (Dallas) & I have two .50ae desert eagles that I everyday carry in matching shoulder holsters.. for her pleasure.

Agree and disagree with this. The grip thing is not true. I'm promise you my grip is just fine bit when I put the glock out I have to angle my wrist to have it line up correctly, where as with my Springfield as soon as I push put it's flat and ready to fire. Some people just have a different grip angle than others. That is why I carry a Springfield rather than a glock every day. I have no problems with flocks and they are as reliable as guns come so I agree with you there. Our department doesn't issue the duty weapon so we have the freedom to choose what we want but ill say more than half of patrol carries a glock. Swat is issued glock 9mm. They are very dependable and will always go bang when the trigger is pulled. And if you need an external safety then you need to get better at handling a weapon. I have no real safety on any of my guns, just the grip safety on the Springfields.

[fordplay]

Lolvtec I was just joking. I carried mine once.. once.. After 2 rounds you have to re adjust. Fun but not practical, as for the grip you have to train your self to an unnatural angle, it's just the fact. But it's a good hip fire while retreating gun. As for why do most police forces use it? Cost.. it's cheap, from an engineer stand point the glock is a sloppy mess, I mean a colt 45 is also, if you shake it and it's doesn't rattle something is wrong, but the glock was designed to be cheap, And light. I want better tolerances and no cost cutting when my life is on the line

[zsommer79]

Always been a fan of Sigs myself. Shot a lot of good guns and for some reason always find myself carrying a P226 and P220. Bachman Pawn sells the "Factory reconditioned" ones and if you know what you are looking for you can find some almost new guns sometimes a at fraction of the cost of the new.

[El_Tortuga]

Originally Posted by fordplay Lolvtec I was just joking. I carried mine once.. once.. After 2 rounds you have to re adjust. Fun but not practical, as for the grip you have to train your self to an unnatural angle, it's just the fact. But it's a good hip fire while retreating gun. As for why do most police forces use it? Cost.. it's cheap, from an engineer stand point the glock is a sloppy mess, I mean a colt 45 is also, if you shake it and it's doesn't rattle something is wrong, but the glock was designed to be cheap, And light. I want better tolerances and no cost cutting when my life is on the line

This engineer thinks Glocks are marvel. The simplest solution is likely the best one!!! Simple design and very tolerant of nasty conditions. One of the design features I love is how low they barrel is = less muzzle flip. I'm recoil sensitive to the point of opting for a compensated version of my gun.

Not exactly a classic beauty. No doubt, heck mine even has the pig nose. But I think its dead sexy:

"Glocks are good, Glocks are great, Glocks are better than chocolate cake..."

Seriously, grip and comfort matter more to me than than brand or features. As it works out, my 23C fits me perfectly and the angle feels perfect. After doing my initial research, I was interested in a Springfield Xd until I shot a buddy's. Heavy and uncomfortable to me. But that's why we have choices. Buy the gun that fits you and learn how to shoot it. Do this, and you likely won't go wrong with any of the main stream choices.

[lolvtec]

Originally Posted by fordplay Lolvtec I was just joking. I carried mine once.. once.. After 2 rounds you have to re adjust. Fun but not practical, as for the grip you have to train your self to an unnatural angle, it's just the fact. But it's a good hip fire while retreating gun. As for why do most police forces use it? Cost.. it's cheap, from an engineer stand point the glock is a sloppy mess, I mean a colt 45 is also, if you shake it and it's doesn't rattle something is wrong, but the glock was designed to be cheap, And light. I want better tolerances and no cost cutting when my life is on the line

If you have to adjust your grip after every two shots you are not in a position to give gun advice to anyone, period.

I do gunsmithing, which means I am constantly breaking down and rebuilding firearms to refinish, repair, upgrade, modify, tune up, etc. Glocks are the easiest handguns to completely detail strip and reassemble, nothing else out there even comes close. With machines simplicity equals reliability, out of all the police trade in Glocks I've handled (easily the most abused guns) not a single one has failed a function check.

03machme.. regarding the grip angle, I acknowledge that it is different but once you adapt your grip a certain way the glock feels natural and all other handguns become more controllable as well.

For the record I don't consider myself a tier 1 tacticool operative, but I've shot a lot of guns andshoot quite a bit more than most people. I'm more than willing to go with any of you to the range.

[TurboZ]

I have a police issue Glock 19, gen 3 I think. I bought it used for about $300, its a 9mm. It had its entire police service with no cleaning done, previous owner ran 500 rounds through it in maybe 10 years, never cleaned it once. I bought it, ran 2500 rounds through it in 6 months, then finally cleaned it. The firing pin looked like it came out of a drum brake system it was covered so bad in gunpowder. I never once had a single misfire or failure to feed. Not one single problem. There are plenty of guns out there that will do the job just fine, but I carry my glock with me daily, and I would easily trust my life with one over any other gun out there. I've had different small caliber handguns, jam, ftf, etc. on me at the range, I've never had a glock jam or misfire. EVER. And it doesn't matter what kind of ammo you run through it, cheap or good shit, they will always fire, never jam, and never clog up. Just something to think about.