Handgun reviews?

[JeepFreak21]

My wife and I inherited a 22 mag from her grandfather. It's a Smith and Wesson 48-4 and I guess you can get some decent money for them. After we go through the 1500+ rounds we got with it, we're probably going to trade it in for something we like a little more.

My question is... what's the best way to choose your first handgun? Does anybody know of a good review site/magazine? I'm not interested in a bunch of people saying, "HK is the best." or "I love my Sig." without giving some details as to why.

Thanks,
Billy

PS... the 48-4:

 

[karstic]

Jeepfreak go to a local range that rents guns and start trying them out.

BTW hold onto the S&W, it will oly go up in value.

 

[JeepFreak21]

Jeepfreak go to a local range that rents guns and start trying them out.

BTW hold onto the S&W, it will oly go up in value.

That's what we figured we'd do... I was just hoping to narrow it down a bit before I get there (since it's $10 per rental and you have to use their ammo.)

You're not kidding about the S&W going up in value... it's more than doubled since my wife's grandfather bought it new in '84.

Billy

 

[mylt1]

what are you gonna use the gun for? ccw or just home protection?

 

[CRASH]

That's what we figured we'd do... I was just hoping to narrow it down a bit before I get there (since it's $10 per rental and you have to use their ammo.)

You're not kidding about the S&W going up in value... it's more than doubled since my wife's grandfather bought it new in '84.

Billy

You can come shoot my Glock anytime, I reload, so I've got plenty of ammo.

 

[XgeekstarX]

just go to your local book store and check out their handgun magazines. they are always full of reviews.

 

[JeepFreak21]

what are you gonna use the gun for? ccw or just home protection?

Recreation as well as home security. Also, my wife will likely be carrying a gun at work in the near future, so it will be used for practice.
Billy

 

[JeepFreak21]

You can come shoot my Glock anytime, I reload, so I've got plenty of ammo.

That'd be awesome. Which model do you have? Where do you shoot it?
Billy

 

[JohnX]

If you plan to use it for any kind of defence, I wouldn't bother with anything smaller than a .357...caliber wise. I would also skip the 9mm...not very hard hitting. The 9 does have a big advantage in price of ammo, which means you can practice more.

I am in love with my Springfield XD .40 S&W BECAUSE...
1. I can still afford to practice with it.
2. It has very good stopping power.
3. My wife can shoot it without breaking her wrist. She is pretty tough though.
4. The safety in the grip....I feel completely comfortable carrying it ready to shoot, without being afraid of an "accident"
5. The firing pin protrudes out the rear...easy to tell when it is cocked...even blindfolded
6. It has a built in "button" on top which shows if a round is chambered...again, even when blindfolded.
7. Sights are accurate.
8. It is comfortable for ME to hold. I can point and hit a milk jug from 25 feet without using the sights.

 

[5-90]

Being as you're in the epicentre of all this "no guns" nonsense (Sacramento,) I'd have to temper my suggestions. Also, since your wife my end up carrying for work, it would be useful to know if it's going to issue or a personal piece, and what's going to be issued, if anything.

Considering I've shot damn near everything out there, I fell a bit qualified...

First, keep the Smith. Even neglecting value, it's hard to get a good .22 anymore, and it's a LOT cheaper to practise with a .22 than with a full calibre. You can keep basic marksmanship going that way.

Second, how large are your hands, and your wife's in relation to yours? Important question - if you can't get a good grip on your sidearm, you won't feel comfortable shooting it, and confidence will decline slightly. Maybe not enough to notice, but enough to cause trouble when you really need the thing.

Third - forearms? More for your wife than yourself - but forearm strength helps to handle recoil with any wheelgun, and most autos like to be held nice and solid to load that follow-up shot. Limp-wristing an auto is a great way to get a jam.

Especially for home protection, I'd not get a 9m/m - too much danger of overpenetration and secondary injury. Better with a .40 or a .45 - what platform depends on what you feel comfortable with. While I grant that I've got relatively small hands, I've never felt comfortable with a "double-stack" anything (ammo forms two stacks in the magazine, staggered,) for daily use. Oh, I can shoot them - I can shoot damn near anything I can get my hands around - but I just don't "feel right" with the double stack. Some .40's and most .45's come in single stacks, which lets the thing grow out of my fist, rather than my holding onto it.

If you'd like to get some advice, do feel free to PM me - answer the questions I've posed, and expect more. I never really did believe in "issue" firearms - it may make sense from the point of view of accounting - and logistical train - but if I'm going to have people hang their hopes on a sidearm, I want it to be one they're comfortable with - and that means matching the sidearm to the person...

5-90

 

[riverfever]

I'm going through the same thing right now. I have been doing research for several months now and this weekend I take a 3 day CCW course. I'm hoping to make a purchase on Sunday. I talked to a bunch of people (most notably Phil "ECKSJAY" from here). Guns and Ammo put out a special handgun buyers magazine. I got it sometime in December. I found that to be very informative. The cover was red.

 

[JeepFreak21]

Being as you're in the epicentre of all this "no guns" nonsense (Sacramento,) I'd have to temper my suggestions. Also, since your wife my end up carrying for work, it would be useful to know if it's going to issue or a personal piece, and what's going to be issued, if anything.

She will definatly be issued a piece. I think she'll have a couple to choose from. It would be ideal for us to get the same model she's issued. I don't think she'd be able to shoot her issued firearm at public ranges... which leaves me out in the cold.

First, keep the Smith. Even neglecting value, it's hard to get a good .22 anymore, and it's a LOT cheaper to practise with a .22 than with a full calibre. You can keep basic marksmanship going that way.

Problem with that is that we can't really afford to keep the 22 and buy another handgun.

Second, how large are your hands, and your wife's in relation to yours? Important question - if you can't get a good grip on your sidearm, you won't feel comfortable shooting it, and confidence will decline slightly. Maybe not enough to notice, but enough to cause trouble when you really need the thing.

My hands are not that large... maybe small to medium sized. Pretty close to my wifes.

Third - forearms? More for your wife than yourself - but forearm strength helps to handle recoil with any wheelgun, and most autos like to be held nice and solid to load that follow-up shot. Limp-wristing an auto is a great way to get a jam.

I'll have her work on her forearm strength.

Especially for home protection, I'd not get a 9m/m - too much danger of overpenetration and secondary injury. Better with a .40 or a .45 - what platform depends on what you feel comfortable with. While I grant that I've got relatively small hands, I've never felt comfortable with a "double-stack" anything (ammo forms two stacks in the magazine, staggered,) for daily use. Oh, I can shoot them - I can shoot damn near anything I can get my hands around - but I just don't "feel right" with the double stack. Some .40's and most .45's come in single stacks, which lets the thing grow out of my fist, rather than my holding onto it.

I'll definately take note of the difference next time I'm holding/shooting something.

If you'd like to get some advice, do feel free to PM me - answer the questions I've posed, and expect more. I never really did believe in "issue" firearms - it may make sense from the point of view of accounting - and logistical train - but if I'm going to have people hang their hopes on a sidearm, I want it to be one they're comfortable with - and that means matching the sidearm to the person...

Sounds logical to me!



I appreciate your help!
Billy

 

[JeepFreak21]

I'm going through the same thing right now. I have been doing research for several months now and this weekend I take a 3 day CCW course. I'm hoping to make a purchase on Sunday. I talked to a bunch of people (most notably Phil "ECKSJAY" from here). Guns and Ammo put out a special handgun buyers magazine. I got it sometime in December. I found that to be very informative. The cover was red.

Thanks! I'm sure ECKSJAY will chime in.
Billy

 

[BrettM]

with the very little research I've done, one of these days I'll get a Glock 23 .40 cal (maybe a 9 just for the cheap ammo). A friend who was a marine and grew up around a lot of guns got me sold on the Glock for the ability to treat it like crap and not worry.

 

[SCW]

Problem with that is that we can't really afford to keep the 22 and buy another handgun.

I may be more than a tad sentimental, but I'd never let a grandfathers handgun be sold. I finally had a chance to buy a Savage 99 in 300Sav that was just LIKE my great grandfathers (not his though) and I'm still sad that I sold it. I regret every gun I've ever sold but one (a POS Colt King Cobra, don't buy Colt wheelguns!!)

Shoot lots and lots of guns. Start with types, wheelgun or auto. Then slim it down, large bore or medium, doublestack or single. Often new shooters are a little aprehensive shooting a complicated auto until they are more comfortable with shooting in general, if this describes you and/or your wife, try lots of revolvers. Definately start small, no point in shooting a Smith & Wesson .500 and getting a flinch on your first trip that takes years to get rid of.

 

[riverfever]

I was really impressed with the review on the new Springfield Armory gun. It was in that magazine that I told you about and they beat the crap out of that thing. Fired 20,000 rounds through it in 7 months. Did all kinds of nasty stuff to it and the gun never jammed or malfunctioned at all. Here it is:

http://www.springfield-armory.com/prod-xdpstl-service.shtml

I really want one of these but everybody and their brother that I've talked to says that a .357 Magnum flavored revolver will meet my needs much better than any semi-auto. So...that's the way I'm leaning.

 

[JeepFreak21]

I was really impressed with the review on the new Springfield Armory gun. It was in that magazine that I told you about and they beat the crap out of that thing. Fired 20,000 rounds through it in 7 months. Did all kinds of nasty stuff to it and the gun never jammed or malfunctioned at all. Here it is:

http://www.springfield-armory.com/prod-xdpstl-service.shtml

I really want one of these but everybody and their brother that I've talked to says that a .357 Magnum flavored revolver will meet my needs much better than any semi-auto. So...that's the way I'm leaning.

I've always liked what I've seen of the XD series. Definatly going to put some rounds through one before making my a decision.
Billy

 

[riverfever]

Will you let me know your impressions of that gun please? I am going to go with the revolver but perhaps I'll look at a semi-auto down the road. If so, I think it would be an XD.

 

[5-90]

with the very little research I've done, one of these days I'll get a Glock 23 .40 cal (maybe a 9 just for the cheap ammo). A friend who was a marine and grew up around a lot of guns got me sold on the Glock for the ability to treat it like crap and not worry.

Sounds like my Colt M1991A1 - sand, dust, mud, snow - it don't care. Damn thing even fires under water, if you give it a minute to get fully flooded.

I'm not against the Glock design - but the ergonomics suck for me (I've got fairly small hands, as I've mentioned.) The first one they came out with that feels good to me is the compact .45 single-stacker (what model is that, thrity-something?)

5-90

 

[CRASH]

Glock 23, 40 S&W.

The Foresthill range was recently closed, looks like Colfax is the next closest option. I'm going over there for a scouting trip in the next month. These are all open BLM ranges, so it's conducive to personal training with multiple participants.