Ok ok before I get beat down more; it will be for home defense and target shooting. I have ideas of what I’m looking for.
Handgun recommendation
- Thread starter 53' Stude
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Shield Plus. Highly recommended.
Carry, HD, training, etc. It's an awesome product from SW
Carry, HD, training, etc. It's an awesome product from SW
With your intended use of, of target shooting and home defense, I would also highly recommend 9mm over .380.
Since you aren't interested in concealed carry, you can get a full sized 9mm, and it will be less snappy than any .380. Every .380 I have ever seen are compact, which means that it is going to be snappy, even if it is essentially a shortened 9mm. A full sized pistol will take out some of that snap.
I have a Browning .380 that was my fathers, and as others have said, I can also attest to the ammo being more pricy and harder to find. When ammo becomes hard to find, .380 will be one of those that disappears quickly. There are also fewer options. If it wasn't for the sentimental attachment to my father's pistol, I would have sold the .380 a long time ago.
The M&P Shield Plus is a great choice. It is very reliable, and also very popular.
Since you aren't interested in concealed carry, you can get a full sized 9mm, and it will be less snappy than any .380. Every .380 I have ever seen are compact, which means that it is going to be snappy, even if it is essentially a shortened 9mm. A full sized pistol will take out some of that snap.
I have a Browning .380 that was my fathers, and as others have said, I can also attest to the ammo being more pricy and harder to find. When ammo becomes hard to find, .380 will be one of those that disappears quickly. There are also fewer options. If it wasn't for the sentimental attachment to my father's pistol, I would have sold the .380 a long time ago.
The M&P Shield Plus is a great choice. It is very reliable, and also very popular.
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- Nov 19, 2020
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Very happy with my HK VP9SK with Trijicon RMR RDS. Not inexpensive but robust, reliable and accurate. Compact enough for concealed carry. I have over 4K rounds through it with nary a failure. I have used 115gr, 124gr, 147gr target and self defense rounds. Feeds and fires everything.
https://shop.leadchunkers.com/handg...uns/spg-xd-mod3-osp-9mm-10rd-4bxddg9101bosplc
a cheap good gun. real cheap
a cheap good gun. real cheap
And real good. I have one.
Then it starts to depend on your budget and your preferences. There are tons of all metal 9mm pistols available used, and plenty of polymer frame pistols as well.
If you get a chance, shoot a few friends’ pistols and see how they fit your hand, how you like the sights, and how you like the action.
For example, an M1911 pattern 9mm will have a great trigger and a long sight radius, but is not the most convenient to carry. Some of the SA/DA pistols don’t always have great trigger feel.
CZ first recommendation.
Ruger
Glock
Any good 1911
I cannot in good conscience recommend a new SW anything. I have bought two new, both duds. One is the only gun I ever got a full refund on.
Ruger
Glock
Any good 1911
I cannot in good conscience recommend a new SW anything. I have bought two new, both duds. One is the only gun I ever got a full refund on.
9mm for ammo options, availability and cost. .30 Super Carry for need/want to buy something other than a 9mm. .380 if you just want to spend more money and hunt more for ammunition for whatever reason.
Your LGS should have multiple options to see how they fit your hands as all said. Obviously can't shoot them but you can get angle, trigger etc.
For me I tried multiple H&K's and my hands/thumb just didn't work correct for the slide release, safety etc.
Only a month away at this point and they have many vendors and all the options on display (no firing pins) so you can fondle them to your hearts content. Being in PA they can also set up for your local dealer, possibly with show discount.
For me I tried multiple H&K's and my hands/thumb just didn't work correct for the slide release, safety etc.
Only a month away at this point and they have many vendors and all the options on display (no firing pins) so you can fondle them to your hearts content. Being in PA they can also set up for your local dealer, possibly with show discount.
You have an echelon too correct? I have not seen the mod 3. the price is very attractive
i have 2 "mod 1" xd pistols. love them.
interesting how the mod 3 specifically is marked hs produkt, and the xd and xdm just say "Made in Croatia".
Yes. There are a few variations of it. Originally offered with 10 and 13 rds mags. SW then introduced the 15 rounder. All needs covered. Great trigger for a defensive pistol.
https://www.budsgunshop.com/product...th+&+wesson+m&p+9+shield+plus+13rd+9mm+pistol
https://www.budsgunshop.com/product...th+&+wesson+m&p+9+shield+plus+13rd+9mm+pistol
That's an oddity. SW are among the most reliable pistols out there (I'm a Glock guy)
Old revolvers and most of the old iron you would be correct.
But the first gen Bodyguard .380 and a lot of revolvers sold in the teens had real problems.
From pins coming out while firing to triggers completely locking up those guns were complete garbage. The revolvers had mangled forcing cones, huge cylinder gaps to triggers that were near unmoveable.
Now it looks like BG .380 2.0 is having some issues as well: https://smith-wessonforum.com/smith...uard-2-0-issues-some-potential-solutions.html
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I can't speak for S&W autos as I own and carry revolvers only since retiring from active LEO duty. But I can say without a doubt that S&W quality with regard to their revolvers is abysmal. Pick a category, barrels not clocked straight, fail to fire (with factory ammo), MIM internal parts breaking, finish issues etc. I carried and trusted my life to S&W revolvers (still do, but nothing produced after 1970) and I'd buy a Taurus revolver before buying any Smith.
@Pablo @Greenbeforeblue
My comment was related to Semi pistols. I have no experience with the newer revolvers, but I have read about the technical issues users with them.
My comment was related to Semi pistols. I have no experience with the newer revolvers, but I have read about the technical issues users with them.
That's why I mentioned Bodyguard .380ACP.
My buddy had a Shield in .40SW. Other than failures to feed and soft primer strikes, it only failed to fire around 10 times.
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