my first gun...

ok so since i just turned 21, i can finally own a handgun in the state of wv and get my concealed weapons permit. hopefully ill have one in the next couple weeks. i've narrowed it down to a s&w .40 with a 4" barrel or a .380 ruger or kahr. i need something that i can carry on me so its gonna be light and small, but i want it to be a good self-defense weapon. im leaning toward the .40 but im still looking. what do you guys think?

 

Shoot all the different guns you are considering, then pic which is most comfortable to you. To me caliber is based on preference, yes there is a difference, but for defense I think 9,380,and 40 is fine.

 

Glock 36 .45 acp. Stopping power that can overcome adrenaline.

 

.40 is a good round with good* stopping power, but they are snappy. The barrel of the pistol rises after each shot and is something to get used to. I LOVE my glock 23 nice med size frame and very reliable. Or you could go to the model 27 with a compact frame. Shoot them all and see what works best for you! Good ole Wisconsin no CCW here

(I am a glock fanboy)

 

wow i like those glocks, but they seem heavier and longer than what ive been looking at. are they still pretty each to carry around/conceal?

 

I love me XD9, very comfortable to carry and easy to shoot. Very similar to the glocks. I just prefer the way it fits in my hand.

Proper ammo and a well placed shot will stop damn near anyone.

 

I am happy with my Glock 36. Its super small and packs a punch. It's tiny. In the palm of my hand you can hardly see it.

 

I just bought an XD .40 Subcompact. I love it. Shoots nicely with a very low recoil compared to other 40's I have fired. I was told that you can't go wrong when you buy an XD or a Glock. They are both excellent choices. I went with the XD because of how it felt in my hand. I chose the subcompact becuase it conceals easily. Like mentioned by someone else, just go try a few first. But for a conceal carry I would go with a .40 with whatever round your local police department carries. That way if you have the unfortunate event of having to use your firearm to protect yourself and the case goes to court the victims lawyer can not say that you were carrying a round hotter than needed for self defense, you were carrying exactly what the police carry. In my case, I carry HydraShocks, a little spendy but that's what the police in my area use.

http://www.springfield-armory.com/xd.php?model=2

This is the holster I got for it, cheaper version of the one I really wanted but I've bought so many holsters that I am now trying the cheap before I buy the nice one as I have probably $400 in holsters I don't use. I have to wear a dress shirt at work so this holster makes it possible for me to tuck my shirt in over the gun, works perfectly.

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/ZAA829-33.html

 

10mm Glock 29. The 10mm is the 2nd most high powered semi-auto handgun round that is commercially available. It is less common that .45 and .40, but it's making enough of a comeback that I'm able to buy target ammo at Academy for the same or less that .45 rounds.

The Glock 29 is a compact model that is easily concealable, highly accurate, and comfortable to shoot.

 

Second only to the .50 Action Express

 

Find the gun you are comfortable with then get a good holster it will make all the difference.

 

Absolutely! Everyone has an opinion on which caliber/ gun to get, but the most important thing is that you're comfortable shooting and carrying it.

 

i plan on getting a conceled weapons lisince as soo as i can!

 

Yeah, but I think you've got a little but of a wait there bud.

 

That is odd.

 

Damn, you just turned 21 and now your thinking about it. I had my decision made on my first handgun before I turned 21. I actually knew what I wanted at 19, but that was for Grizzles.

Caliber and Model are all up to you, but if your looking to conceal & carry, I personally think you should stay away from glocks and springfields, due to the fact that for me they don't conceal well. I have a springfield xdm-40, I wouldn't carry it because it's a fairly thick gun due to its capacity, and doesn't conceal well on me. But I I'll post you a link to what I would get for carrying.



340PD HiVIZ

 

This is my full sized 9 duty model 16+1



Hard to take a picture of myself, sorry. Not as well practiced as the girls I know.

 

Yeah that'd conceal real nice like