Guys need some honest help
- Thread starter bfdast
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Mainsail
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The question you asked will get you pretty much the same answers you would get if you had asked, "What gun do you like?"
For what you are actually asking, I suggest the Sig P320. You buy the gun like any other handgun, then you can change the size of the gun, and even the grip circumference without using an FFL again. You can have one gun in full size, compact, and sub-compact all with the same serial number. One gun that works at the range, for carry, AND sized for you and your wife.
For what you are actually asking, I suggest the Sig P320. You buy the gun like any other handgun, then you can change the size of the gun, and even the grip circumference without using an FFL again. You can have one gun in full size, compact, and sub-compact all with the same serial number. One gun that works at the range, for carry, AND sized for you and your wife.
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silversnake
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I second this. A short barrel K-frame is easy to conceal and much more fun to practice with than an airweight J-frame. Great all-around choice.
Among the options you mentioned I'd take the 642, it's a gun you'll never have to leave the house without. If you want an M&P I'd get the M&P9C, unless you really need .40 S&W. On limited funds though the lower cost of 9mm might be a good thing.
gman51
Member
If you are sort of limited on spendable cash then I would get the 9mm. It costs dang near half as much to shoot and with special self defense rounds available it would do you a good job. So for range and defense the 9mm would be the ticket IMO.
I have one 45, Kimber Ultra Carry II with Crimson Trace, and I really like shooting it. But I seldom shoot it simply because of ammo costs. it is my nightstand go to gun.
I think the M&P Shield 9mm would be a good all around choice. But you sure want to shoot one before plunking down the money for one. You or your wife may or may not like it. $320 seems like a good price.
I have one 45, Kimber Ultra Carry II with Crimson Trace, and I really like shooting it. But I seldom shoot it simply because of ammo costs. it is my nightstand go to gun.
I think the M&P Shield 9mm would be a good all around choice. But you sure want to shoot one before plunking down the money for one. You or your wife may or may not like it. $320 seems like a good price.
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photoman
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mustangman
Member
This is a solid choice in your price range. Glock 19ish in size, and 16 rounds of cheap to shoot 9mm.
For an extra $30 they also offer it in all black with fiber optic sights.
Good luck, and happy and safe shooting with whatever you decide.
Where do you think the scummers go to score the really good stuff?
Your neighborhood.
Besides, there are junkies everywhere.
I wouldn't buy an M&P40 until you actually shoot one. The recoil is noticeably stouter than the 9mm.
Since you mentioned being on a budget I'd drop the Shield from consideration altogether and consider a M&P compact (either 9 or 40, again wouldn't buy a 40C without shooting it) because a C model will take the corresponding Full Size magazine. So you only need the one type of spare magazine. I currently own a 9FS and a 9C for just that reason.
All that said if I had it to do over again I'd sell off every thing (excepting guns I've bought in private sales) and buy a Glock 19. My rationale is that the 19 really covers both the FS & and C niches adequately and the standard 19 magazine is legal in Colorado. That said I'd take too much of a hit if I sold off my M&Ps (especially since I can't legally sell most of my FS magazines) to buy a Glock and SWMBO would hang me.
For a budget carry/home defense, check out the EEA SAR. I've linked the link from slickguns below. For $245 you get a good reliable handgun.
EAA SAR B6P Sarsilmaz Compact 9mm Luger 3.8" Barrel 13 Rounds Polymer - $244.95 shipped | Slickguns
EAA SAR B6P Sarsilmaz Compact 9mm Luger 3.8" Barrel 13 Rounds Polymer - $244.95 shipped | Slickguns
Just throwing this out there & I may get booed but consider the Taurus PT 111 or 140 G2. They are a budget gun but I was thinking (tempted) about one because the reviews seemed pretty good, they're easy to conceal, the ones I've held felt pretty decent in my hand...& I have large hands...& you can get them in 9mm or 40 S&W. Under $250 in most places, less in some.
I'm not crazy about striker fired guns but this one is a true double action pistol, with second strike capabilities & a 12 round magazine.
Just a thought.
Wayne
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ditto on this recommendation. I owned one for 2 years and found it very reliable. Used they go under $300. It's guts are a copy of a Glock, it's size is almost exactly the same as G19.
Small enough to carry, and cheap enough that you can spend a few $$ on an Apex trigger kit.
Great gun.
Looks like you already received some pretty solid advice from everyone else. The only suggestion I would add is to make sure your budget allows for extra expenses your carry gun will need (e.g., range fees, range ammo, carry ammo, holster (iwb, osb, and/or pocket), cleaning kit, etc). Whenever I pick up a new gun I figure TOC will be about double or more for the first year just due to range fees and ammo while getting proficient with it.
Thanks, I have the cleaning kits, and a free range (part time just is mechanic and behind the shop is swamp. We shoot there every other day) yea it's not my first gun just last one I had to sell do to some expenses that came up. Thanks everyone I like the air weights but with having to go to the city sometimes I am going with something I can reload quicker. I'm not saying my area is safe, I know since I'm a career firefighter and have seen it all. We just don't have the gang activity since it's higher income area. I live however 45 minutes north of New Orleans and I do go there often. I like the shields, glocks and others but I find that smith you an get 9 and 45 and also either will cost me 300-330. As far as ammo my source is reasonable again I know 9 is always cheaper but I was paying $17-20 per 50 for .38 and the 45 is cheaper by a few bucks. I really appreciate everyone's advice. I also like that the shield is compact and not fat like the double stacks. I looked at the compacts but can't find any under 370. Thanks again
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9mm has a few things going for it:
1. Slightly smaller
2. Possibly easier for your wife to handle
3. Larger capacity (however slight)
4. Ammo (online) is around 10-11/box, and good SD ammo is less expensive, as well
.45 is pretty awesome, too.
Whitwabit
US Veteran
you might look on Bud's they have used police S&W pistols usually in good to excellent shape many times below 300 dollars .. add the free shipping your only other cost would be the FFL charge which is usually around 30 dollars .. other sites have used police pistols for around the same price ..
If Bud's doesn't have a variety wait a couple of weeks they usually have more on the way .. you can ask here abut the quality many bloggers have one of those used police pistols ..
Edit : I would stay with a 9mm as the practice ammo is the cheapest ..
If Bud's doesn't have a variety wait a couple of weeks they usually have more on the way .. you can ask here abut the quality many bloggers have one of those used police pistols ..
Edit : I would stay with a 9mm as the practice ammo is the cheapest ..
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Thanks guys yes I check them a lot but now the shield is out, it's between the full size and the revolver with the full size being cheaper. The one I'm looking at is a 40, you can't find trade in 9s seems like. Again if I do the full size next year I'll try to do a compact or revolver or vis versa.
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I travel to some of the largest cities in the U.S. on a regular basis. I drive around their interiors as well as frequently walk their streets. A S&W 642 is my weapon of choice more often not.
The primary reason I choose the 642(or any enclosed hammer snub) is it's advantages in extreme close-quarter scenarios. I'm much more likely to be involved in a car-jacking attempt, a mugging, a physical assault by protesters(I run across them a lot lately) from groups like BLM than I am in some type of unavoidable across the street shootout.
A small auto can be used effectively in these close-quarter types scenarios, but in contact scenarios, it can pushed out of battery, the rearward movement of the slide can be block/obstructed or you can induce malfunctions if you have a less than ideal grip on the gun, which isn't improbable in an actual defense encounter.
Just moderate pressure against the slide of an auto can cause a malfunction as demonstrated in the video below.
With a hammerless snub revolver, it still will function reliably if a muzzle contact shot were needed, during disarm attempts and if entangled in clothing and it can even be fired from inside a jacket pocket. About the only way to stop a hammerless revolver from working in a close-quarter struggle would be to grab and hold the cylinder or get a finger behind the trigger and that is extremely difficult to do in a violent, active defense encounter. It is the hardest gun to disarm form it's rightful owner due to shape and size.
Reloading simply doesn't happen with any regularity in civilian self-defense. The dynamics simply do not allow for it. The fight will almost certainly be settled with what is in the gun. The J-frame's low capacity is indeed a concern, but a single stack auto is scantly any better in that regards , plus you lose the snubs ECQ benefits.
But, YMMV, so do as you see fit. Good luck either way.
[ame]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=re8oMnGbnh4[/ame]
Thanks a bunch I'm sorta in the same predicament as far as where I go. I do like the snubbies and have owned on. It was great and not bad to shoot. I'll check the video out later and look at it more. Thanks again
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