Moonman
Member
Knew,
I'll have to give them a try.
I'll have to give them a try.
Small semi-autos
- Thread starter Janet L.
- Start date
Shoot these side by side
GLVO,
Buffalo Bore 150 grain Full Wadcutter,
Hard Cast, Low Flash.
868FPS and 261 lbs energy from 2" barrel
14" to 16" of penetration in human flesh.
Easier shooting than their +P loads.
Full Caliber sharp bullet edge for full sized wound channel.
The above and DPX 110 gr +P. It will be obvious the BB will have more recoil. Reason: bullet weight.
Next, put both thru calibrated 10% Vyse. At 868FPS, velocity would be about 16% less than the DPX, yet bullet weight is 36% more.
I have shot DPX over the clock and in Vyse, from my 642. We also tested it out of a 640, expansion was to .595 thru 4 layers of denim. Penetration was 13.65". The 642 was .540 expansion.
I am not going to argue which is better. I have never shot anyone with anything.
Moonman
Member
GAVO,
Lots of people in the ground, put there by LEO'S and others with a 38 Special 158 grain lead round nose bullet.
We've come a long ways, but you being a EMT, know most gunshot victims do survive.
Amazing the punishment the human body can take at times and still survive.
Lots of people in the ground, put there by LEO'S and others with a 38 Special 158 grain lead round nose bullet.
We've come a long ways, but you being a EMT, know most gunshot victims do survive.
Amazing the punishment the human body can take at times and still survive.
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Cannot find The Shield anywhere!!
I am in south FL I've called gun stores pawn shops Internet and even went to the Suncoast Gun Show today. No Shields anywhere. SW website says available in Spring 2013. What is the deal? Should I keep waiting or just get the MP 9C?
I am in south FL I've called gun stores pawn shops Internet and even went to the Suncoast Gun Show today. No Shields anywhere. SW website says available in Spring 2013. What is the deal? Should I keep waiting or just get the MP 9C?
Moonman
Member
Becman 432,
Demand, Demand, Demand.
S&W really did their homework in designing the SHIELD.
It was one of the most successful launches of a new firearm.
People were ard still are GRABBING THEM OFF THE SHELVES.
S&W has been extremely busy on their production.
Now a Paniced Public is joining the fray for firearms purchases.
Be pacient, instant gratification just doesn't work here, good things take time.
Demand, Demand, Demand.
S&W really did their homework in designing the SHIELD.
It was one of the most successful launches of a new firearm.
People were ard still are GRABBING THEM OFF THE SHELVES.
S&W has been extremely busy on their production.
Now a Paniced Public is joining the fray for firearms purchases.
Be pacient, instant gratification just doesn't work here, good things take time.
Badkarma 1
US Veteran
Hello Janet, and welcome to the forum.
Besides the 3913, you may want to look at the SIG P239, and Springfield EMP. I've had all three and they a work extremely well, accuracy is downright scary, and recoil depends on the pistol and load. The EMP has the least recoil, the Smith is next, and SIG last due to its higher bore axis. But I wouldn't call it detrimental to good shooting.
And I think Federal reintroduced the 125gr. non-+P Nyclad round (or "Chiefs Special load") expressly designed for snubbys. You might want to give then a try too. Dale
Besides the 3913, you may want to look at the SIG P239, and Springfield EMP. I've had all three and they a work extremely well, accuracy is downright scary, and recoil depends on the pistol and load. The EMP has the least recoil, the Smith is next, and SIG last due to its higher bore axis. But I wouldn't call it detrimental to good shooting.
And I think Federal reintroduced the 125gr. non-+P Nyclad round (or "Chiefs Special load") expressly designed for snubbys. You might want to give then a try too. Dale
walkin' trails
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Go ahead and give the Shield a good hard look. Of all the sub-subcompact 9s on the market, that one appears to be the most comfortable to shoot and probably has a trigger better than all of the others. As far as concealment goes, start shopping on the net and see what the custom gunleather crafters are offering for women. You may find that you need more than one holster to match your wardrobe, and that's true for us guys, too. Sig now offers the little single action 9mm (938 I think) which might be a good alternative. I haven't found one 380 that I thought I could live with for very long, and wouldn't force one on my wife, either. If she wants a small gun, she can put forth the effort to become proficient with a J-frame or a little nine, or something else (anyone carrying a pistol should be willing to put forth the effort to become proficient.).
Poodle Soup
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Just threw some money down for a bersa thunder 380 over the weekend. Girl friend handled one at a gun show and at a gun shop and said "Thats the one" She wanted something with a safety and something manageable recoil wise. Its a pretty nice shooting pistol we put 60 rounds or so through it and I was impressed. Rethinking about a small semi auto to replace my Jframe with now. (Jframe rocks my wrists to hard which are messed up from work)
mtheo
Member
My sister's husband and two boys are very much into military rifles and handguns. My brother in law bought my sister a Smith model 37..... under the logic that a .38 is bare minimum defensive carry. He is very much about "nothing but a .45" I can't say I've ever seen him actually carrying. Generally if he has a gun it is under the front seat of his vehicle in a gun rug.
My sister wanted something light and compact to cary in her purse. she carried the model 37 for a few years. She described the range practice sessions as miserable and unsuccessful due to the recoil. Finally one of my nephews had an "ah ha" moment. After taking her on a new gun shopping trip she settled on a SIG P232. While it is not a small .380 it works perfectly as a purse gun. Even after her husband stoked it with hot hollow points she says it is a pleasure to shoot. Her targets are testimonial.
My sister wanted something light and compact to cary in her purse. she carried the model 37 for a few years. She described the range practice sessions as miserable and unsuccessful due to the recoil. Finally one of my nephews had an "ah ha" moment. After taking her on a new gun shopping trip she settled on a SIG P232. While it is not a small .380 it works perfectly as a purse gun. Even after her husband stoked it with hot hollow points she says it is a pleasure to shoot. Her targets are testimonial.
Tomkat
Member
Janet,
There's been a lot of good input for you to consider. I will provide my opinion. First, some have recommended 380s to you. I don't disagree with these recommendations in light of newer ammo that is superior to older 380 ammo. However, based on my own experiences, many 380s, because of the platform in which they are fired, have much more recoil than some 9s.
Keep in mind that everybody is constructed differently. One person's most stout recoiling pistol may be tame to another person. You could actually have 3 people of the same size fire 3 different guns and have each of those people honestly tell you that a different gun of the 3 has the most felt recoil.
The designs of the newer "slim 9s" are very advanced and the manufacturers have done a good job. I speculate, given the opportunity to try several, you would be able to find one that meets your criteria. Be patient and continue to carry what you currently carry. Hopefully you will find enough people willing to allow you to try their pistols that interest you until you find the one that works. If you lived near me I would be able to meet you and let you shoot about half of what has already been recommended. Try to make that happen through gun clubs/ranges in your area. I often see people on a variety of boards recommend renting guns at ranges to try. I think I would probably have to drive 1,000 miles to find some place that even rents guns at all to the public, let alone specific guns I wished to try. Good luck in your quest. You appear to be going about it in a thoughtful and reasoned manner.
There's been a lot of good input for you to consider. I will provide my opinion. First, some have recommended 380s to you. I don't disagree with these recommendations in light of newer ammo that is superior to older 380 ammo. However, based on my own experiences, many 380s, because of the platform in which they are fired, have much more recoil than some 9s.
Keep in mind that everybody is constructed differently. One person's most stout recoiling pistol may be tame to another person. You could actually have 3 people of the same size fire 3 different guns and have each of those people honestly tell you that a different gun of the 3 has the most felt recoil.
The designs of the newer "slim 9s" are very advanced and the manufacturers have done a good job. I speculate, given the opportunity to try several, you would be able to find one that meets your criteria. Be patient and continue to carry what you currently carry. Hopefully you will find enough people willing to allow you to try their pistols that interest you until you find the one that works. If you lived near me I would be able to meet you and let you shoot about half of what has already been recommended. Try to make that happen through gun clubs/ranges in your area. I often see people on a variety of boards recommend renting guns at ranges to try. I think I would probably have to drive 1,000 miles to find some place that even rents guns at all to the public, let alone specific guns I wished to try. Good luck in your quest. You appear to be going about it in a thoughtful and reasoned manner.
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Thank you for some very good input.
A lot of folks have had good things to say here.
Tomkat, I hadn't thought of the grip shape/ barrell axis issue. My 6'2", 250# mentor once had a little 9x18 FEG PA63 that on account of the shape of the grip and blow back mechanism had a percieved recoil about like a 3" scandium frame .44 magnum. (If there is such a thing?) He passed that one on pretty quickly. Of couse the double action trigger pull on the thing was so heavy (25, 30# maybe?) it would make my hand hurt just dry fireing it!
The other day I locked in a Beretta Nano for a couple weeks, pending this weekends gun show, 'cause I do want to at least to handle a Shield before buying a small 9. The trigger pull on the demo Nano they had at Cabella's was very long, but also very very smooth without a hint of stacking - Easily the equivalent of my old 25-2 in double action mode. Too bad there is no way on God's green Earth I could conceal that critter. . . It's too big to even fit in my purse. . .
A lot of folks have had good things to say here.
Tomkat, I hadn't thought of the grip shape/ barrell axis issue. My 6'2", 250# mentor once had a little 9x18 FEG PA63 that on account of the shape of the grip and blow back mechanism had a percieved recoil about like a 3" scandium frame .44 magnum. (If there is such a thing?) He passed that one on pretty quickly. Of couse the double action trigger pull on the thing was so heavy (25, 30# maybe?) it would make my hand hurt just dry fireing it!
The other day I locked in a Beretta Nano for a couple weeks, pending this weekends gun show, 'cause I do want to at least to handle a Shield before buying a small 9. The trigger pull on the demo Nano they had at Cabella's was very long, but also very very smooth without a hint of stacking - Easily the equivalent of my old 25-2 in double action mode. Too bad there is no way on God's green Earth I could conceal that critter. . . It's too big to even fit in my purse. . .
My wife picked out a Kahr PM9, she said it's not to big and not to little, just right. She does have trouble with the slide but it will losen up some and she'll work with it. As long as you start out with a loaded chamber you shouldn't need to work the slide anyway. She also has a Colt D.S. that she shoots pretty well.
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