PPS or PPK for a 1st gun?

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Have you looked at the 9mm Springfield xdm 3.8 Or the xds. My preferences would be a Springfield glock or Sig in 9mm or larger. 9 is great for cheap range Ammo and varieties of defenses rounds.
The xdm have a tiger and grip "safety" plus a sound indicator and sticker indicator which are nice on polymer semi guns and nice I'm the dark.
 
Originally Posted By: hansj3
.....An lcr if you are going to abide by the recommendation for a revolver.

+1
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Originally Posted By: NateDN10
I felt a lot better about guns with a manual safety. It's extra training for me, but if through some serious lapse on my part one of the kids got their hands on a loaded gun,

A safety being on, on a loaded gun found by a kid is zero reassurance. You shouldn't even consider the possibility that a kid could get to your loaded gun. If you can't assure yourself of that...empty it and put a lock on it and throw away the key (and the gun)
 
Originally Posted By: R80RS
Originally Posted By: hansj3
.....An lcr if you are going to abide by the recommendation for a revolver.

+1
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Nothing wrong with a Smith Airweight.
 
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When S&W was having issues with the USA made Wathers, My LGS recommended the Bersa 380 to anyone looking for a pocket 380. This was before the Ruger and other 380's hit the market, though. I like the Bersa CC version with the sight rail, but not really a good home defense choice.

Full size 9mm, Don't forget the CZ75 or Browning Hi-Power.

(Personally, 7-Shot 357 S&W with a 4-6" barrel in a quick vault near the bed would be my choice if I could only have one handgun.)
 
The PPK is late 1920's technology, basically a downsized Walther PP which debuted in 1929 and was made smaller in the early 30s.

The PPK is heavy and will have less "knockdown power" with a 380 versus the PPS in 9mm. If you must go with the older design, I would recommend the PPK/S which gives you an extra round and a slightly bigger grip as it uses the PP frame but the PPK slide and barrel. But for much less money you can get a Bersa Thunder 380 and have something very similar.

As other mentioned, there are other affordable Teutonic alternatives. Sig makes a classically styled 380 (SIG 232) you could look into.
 
Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd

OP, you and I both live in Fayetteville, and I'd be happy to let you try some of my firearms some time to see what you like.

Thanks Jason, for the gracious offer and the tips on gun shops.
I appreciate it much and will PM you about trying out some of your guns someday.
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Just to add some more facts to the general course of thread:

- we have no kids
- so far, most ppl recommend 9mm vs 380
- lots of recommendations for full size 9mm vs compacts / sub-compacts: again, just in case it was missed. I do have small-ish hands; will i still be ok with a full-size 9mm?
(I know again, the best way is to actually handle the guns, but just wanted to add that in case some of you missed that info)
 
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Originally Posted By: 97tbird

Just to add some more facts to the general course of thread:

- we have no kids
- so far, most ppl recommend 9mm vs 380
- lots of recommendations for full size 9mm vs compacts / sub-compacts: again, just in case it was missed. I do have small-ish hands; will i still be ok with a full-size 9mm?
(I know again, the best way is to actually handle the guns, but just wanted to add that in case some of you missed that info)


No kids...great. For sure 9mm over .380. For me 8+1 (sub-compact Shield) is fine for HD and carry. Right now I am am using the 442 for carry and HD. I have a De Santis pocket holster which is extremely concealable. I also have a .45 1911 Commander LW and two other Colt full size .45 1911's. Which are both capable HD firearms.

I previously carried a S&W .380. Just outgrew that one.
 
Originally Posted By: goodtimes
I wonder if I am the only one that all this scares the H out of them. People walking around, people I don't know at all, with .380 weapons, wondering if they are effective enough. Totally scares the H out of me, makes me want to stay near home, which is not freedom like I used to have in my book.


Please do. Especially on election day
 
As previously mentioned, there is not a best all around gun. I have a .380 for when i cannot conceal a larger pistol. Its better that the gun you leave at home in that situation.

I am concerned with ammo for the .380. I worry that expanding ammo will not have sufficient penetration.

I carry my .380 with fmj. I just don't see a .380 penetrating clothing and a person and going through and through to hit someone else. That would be a worry with FMJ rounds in 9mm power or in larger powered calibers.
 
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Originally Posted By: Alfred_B
There is also Polish P-64 that is very similar to a PPK in size and looks. It is chambered for the more robust 9x18 Makarov rounds. Quite cheap and very reliable.

http://www.waltherforums.com/forum/pp-tp-series/16516-ppk-p64-similarities.html


While a cool gun to own, as a self defense weapon i'd have to go with something newer and more reliable. Those are not big but not as light weight either as newer SD guns.
 
Originally Posted By: goodtimes
I wonder if I am the only one that all this scares the H out of them. People walking around, people I don't know at all, with .380 weapons, wondering if they are effective enough. Totally scares the H out of me, makes me want to stay near home, which is not freedom like I used to have in my book.


Are you suffering from hoplophobia? You might want to see a counselor or therapist.
 
Originally Posted By: goodtimes
I wonder if I am the only one that all this scares the H out of them. People walking around, people I don't know at all, with .380 weapons, wondering if they are effective enough. Totally scares the H out of me, makes me want to stay near home, which is not freedom like I used to have in my book.


Don't forget 67% of homicide victims are killed by someone they know.
 
OP:
First, definitely go with a 9mm over a .380 for a HD handgun. Ammo will be much cheaper which will allow you to practice more. Practice is important!
Second, I understand the desire to go with compact/subcompact due to smaller grip size, but the reality is that a full size is a better choice for HD. Longer sight radius, higher capacity, etc... And while some full size hanguns are generally too large for someone with smallish hands (Beretta 92, HK USP) due to their wide frames and long trigger reach... there are others which will fit or can be configured to fit someone with smaller hands/shorter fingers. That is where I would look.
I would highly recoomend taking a good, hard look at the HK VP9 and the Walther PPQ. Interchangeable grip components should mean you can find a configuration that works for you. Strong plus: they are both German-made
wink.gif

I own a PPS and while it is a good choice for CC (it is thin, easily concealable, and a freaking tack driver for such a small gun), it is probably not the best choice for a dedicated HD handgun.
 
Originally Posted By: Al
As a first handgun you should consider only wheel guns. Like the Smith 442 air weight.

I am speaking as a pistol instructor. But again..just an opinion.


Revolvers are a good first gun. Airweight revolvers are not. You will flinch and learn bad habits with an airweight due to the massive recoil. A 4 inch barrel steel frame revolver is the way to go.
 
Originally Posted By: AZjeff
Your priorities are: German made, thin, looks good. Not sure what any of these have to do with home defense. .380 would not be most people's choice for an HD pistol if one can choose from scratch. And why choose a pistol with 7/8 round capacity? And why choose a pistol with a non-conventional mag release? Yes you can learn it but when you decide on a bigger pistol for HD and this one for carry you have 2 different operating systems.

If thin and small are non-negotiable at least look at the Glock 42/43 pistols. If you're serious about home defense seriously look at pistols with 2x the capacity of these. Keep in mind smaller pistols take more practice and the felt recoil is higher.

Buy the Walther to admire and appreciate the Made in Germany stamp and (CC someday) then buy something that makes sense as a home defense weapon, take some classes and shoot the snot out of whatever you get.


Lots of good info here. Semi auto pistols take practice. Small semi auto pistols take even more practice. I have a Glock 42 .380 that has never ever jammed in my hands. I have let a bunch of new shooters shoot it and it jams in their hands 80% of the time. Nothing is wrong with the gun, its the persons technique (or lack thereof) that causes the jams. Take that small G42 out of their hands and put a full size Glock 17 in their hand, and they have no jams or problems with a full size gun. Small guns are much less forgiving, and are generally much less reliable in an untrained persons hand. For this reason alone, you need to abandon the idea of a cute and small pistol for home defense.
 
Originally Posted By: goodtimes
Originally Posted By: stchman
Originally Posted By: goodtimes
I wonder if I am the only one that all this scares the H out of them. People walking around, people I don't know at all, with .380 weapons, wondering if they are effective enough. Totally scares the H out of me, makes me want to stay near home, which is not freedom like I used to have in my book.


Sounds like the liberal media has effectively brainwashed you.

In MANY states besides CA millions of people carry concealed and crime rates are very low. I live here in MO and I know lots of folks that carry concealed and you know what, I feel very comfortable. Criminals don't like armed areas, that's why they target "gun free" zones.

I bet the folks that were at that San Bernadino area hearing gunshots probably wished they had something to protect themselves.

Since concealed carry permits have become more mainstream in the USA, crime has dropped significantly. Is it 100% attributable to CCW holders, no, but it is not 0%.

I don't get brain washed. That's an excuse. I know what I know. Now I worry about strangers all over, everywhere, with a killing machine on them, before I was not. Who knows what state of mind they are in. My freedom has been taken away and there is no doubt about that.


Florida has the most concealed carry permits in the nation. Out of every 19 people you see, one of those people has a concealed carry permit. 1 person in 19. And that is a good thing. That scared guy from California's head would explode if he visited Florida with all those icky guns everywhere.
 
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