First Handgun - need advice

X1

 

Be careful using 12 gauge 00 Buck. It will go thru drywall fairly easily, especially in the 3" magnum version. A better choice would be high base No. 4. Indoors close range aimed like a rifle there should be little spread, keeping the pellets on target with sufficent penetration without overpenetration in a home defense situation and cause higher trauma than a single handgun caliber hit.
Other than that, I could not agree more than what others have posted, try out as many guns as you can, go to a range, rent some, ask around, ask to "test drive" what people are shooting. If anything us "gun people" love to talk about what guns we have/shoot/own. Take a class, meet some of the people there. Once you get more familiar, then you can make a more informed choice.

 

Sure it does, that's not what I was saying. What I was trying to say it that pointing and aiming a shotgun has a much higher probability of hitting your intended target than a handgun.

 

I'd never load my shotgun for home protection with a slug or 00 buckshot. Drywall wont' stop much but it's less likely to kill someone in the next room than a 9mm or .45. And no, I'm not going to jump out of bed guns blazing but if I did encounter an intruder in my home I'd rather take my chances of stopping him with a 12 guage from the top my stairs than shooting a pistol in dim light. And, I doubt turning on the lights and waiting for my eyes to adjust before drawing a precise bead on guys chest with my .44 mag is a very realisitic opiton.

And, yes I have my CCW and I've taken hunter safety and I know how to shoot every weapon in my home and shoot them well.

 

i have a mossberg 500 12 ga. for home defense, my .357 mag. snub nose revolver for concealed carry, and s springfield xd 9mm full size (4") for desert plinking.

i'd say thats a pretty good combo, but im kind of wanting a compact .45 1911 to carry also. maybe a kimber, but they are very pricey.

but if your looking for a good all around reliable pistol, i would have to jump on the wagon and say glock or xd .40 cal

 

First of all you most likely will not confine yourself to one handgun. You will eventually own a .22 of some type, a revolver, and an automatic. But for a first pistol, my recommendation would be one with great safety and versatility. Consider a Ruger Blackhawk .357 single action revolver. I prefer the shorter barrel length of 4 5/8" length. This would be a great first handgun. You would be able to shoot .38s which are fun, cheap, and have very mild recoil, while having the versatility of switching to the more powerful .357 round all in one handgun. They have great triggers, and the single action would allow you to focus on developing your skills without waisting a lot of ammo. A very reliable, versatile, and fun gun to have. Good luck in your choice. You have a much fun ahead of you.

 

http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot3.htm Read on page 2, "Bird Shot as a Defense Load"

Yes, 00 buck will penetrate farther than #4. But you know what? It'll also actually do damage to the intruder, which is the point. If you want to load with #4, have at it, but that's not something I'll be doing.

 

I was raised around guns and was always taught to respect a gun. That being said when it came time for my first purchase I choose a revolver(S&W 66 357 mag.). A revolver is a great first gun. They are safe & they are easy to clean. Just my .02

 

Not trying to insult anybody but some of y'all have some really bad advice. For the OP, you didn't say how much shooting experience you have, but if you don't have much and if this is your first gun, please do NOT listen to the people telling you to get a 40, 45, or even the .357 sig. I'm not a professional or anything, but I've got enough experience to say that starting off with a big caliber is going to be a sure way to become a really bad shooter. Those 3 calibers above have higher recoil than a standard 9mm or .38 special and if its your first time shooting you will definitely develop a flinch and bad technique.

It's not flashy or "cool" but I'd go with a 357 revolver with a 3 to 5 inch barrel. If you get a 357, you can start off with low power 38's, some of the cowboy loads for the 38 have barely more recoil than a 22. You have a wide variety of ammo to choose from, anything from a light bullet to a heavy 357 load, you can shoot shot loads, anything you want. A revolver will actually conceal fairly well if you have the right grips for it, and they are as simple to
operate as it comes, just pull the trigger.

As for what you'll use it for, well, if you're worried about bear attack, not much that is portable is going to help you, unless you go with a 454 casull or something similar. Definitely a bad idea for a first gun. Home defense, go with a fragmenting bullet for safety if you're worried about it punching through a wall and hitting somebody else.

All in all, do what you want and buy what you like.

 

Well, this is just silly. "Don't go for a big caliber... get a .357" Also, some of us (like me!) find .38 special much more difficult to shoot than 9mm, .40, or .45. It helps if I'm shooting 38 out of a 357 instead of out of a 38 revolver, but I still find my .40 much easier to shoot.

I also do not buy the idea that you need to start on a .22. If you're a child, yes. If you're a full-grown adult male, no. You have plenty of muscle to handle a typical modern firearm.

Now, I do have a .22 pistol for range practice, because I can shoot it longer and the ammo is cheap. .22's are great, I just do not buy the idea that you need to start on one. That's silly.

Caliber is all about personal preference. Try a bunch of different guns, and find what you like.

 

Oh, and to everyone talking about penetrating walls: Here's my deal on that. ANYTHING you shoot that will kill somebody WILL penetrate walls. Interior walls are weak.

You need to be sure of your target before shooting, and aware of what is behind it! These are basic rules of firearm safety. I don't care if you have buckshot, JHPs, FMJs, slugs, whatever. Expect anything you shoot out of a firearm to penetrate walls, and plan accordingly.

Now, I will say that using hollow points and buckshot is a good idea, but not because it won't hit your kids in the next room - expect that it will! What it won't do (or is less likely to do) is travel another mile and hit your neighbor.

 

Quoted for truth.

 

Well, like I said, there are a million different 38 loads, and I have yet to find a 40 or 45 that has as light a load as a light 38 cowboy. I never said "start with a 22", my point is that if you start with something big and don't practice enough, you'll develop bad shooting habits that are very hard to break. It's way easier to learn to shoot correctly than it is to try to correct bad habits that you start with. For learning, nothing beats a revolver, and getting a 357 gives you the chance to start small and work your way up to heavy without getting another gun. I know some say that extended shooting with 38's in a 357 chamber will hurt the gun, but that's most likely after years of use and tens of thousands of rounds. In the end, I said exactly what you said at the end, get what you like.

 

Everybody reacts to a given load and caliber differently. I don't mind the "snappy" recoil of a .40, which is different from the stronger recoil I get out of a .45, but a lot of people feel completely differently. Also, the gun used is a variable. In short: it all depends.

Shooting .38 is not necessarily any easier than shooting a different caliber, it all depends on the gun and load involved, as well as what somebody likes. Go out and buy a 1911 and a .38 airweight. Which one has more recoil?

Also, my girlfriend hates shooting .38 special, but 9mm suits her just fine. Everybody's different. You like .38 special out of a .357. That's good for you, but the OP may not.

I'm getting irritated, here, because you're assuming that .38 special is an easier caliber to shoot than others. I'll take anything else over .38 special any day, because, like I said, to me the recoil feels pretty harsh, despite trying several different models and loads at the range.

Also, I don't buy the idea that revolvers are better. The mechanism is simpler, but semi-autos are not exactly complicated. Again, personal preference.

These mantras folks like you have are just plain nonsense. Some people do find it easier to learn on a revolver. I personally found it easier to learn to grip a semi-auto properly, and so starting on that was easier for me.

 

Alrighty then. I had to comment because some guys think a shotgun can clear a room with one shot...

 

Kingston, you're right.
Don't try to fight the flood of misinformation that is TacomaWorld.
Most 23yr olds are right, no matter what age, wisdom and experience others may have.

 

You always know how to come in and be even more of a raging dick on a given thread than I am. Thanks for that.

 

I am the sheepdog.

 

people need to do some basic patterning.
Hang a 24inch square of paper at what you think is a typical home-invasion range....15 feet?
shoot it and see what coverage your shot makes.
You'll probably be surprised.
I'd guess less than 12 inches.

 

I shoot a Sig P-229 DAK in .40 for work...not my favorite gun but its nice. I have owned a XD-40, it was nice, felt good, shot good, good safety features. I currently own a Taurus P-24/7 Pro Sub Compact Stainless in .40. Great little gun for fun shooting and i carry it concealed as well. I have shot a S&W M&P .40 and a 9mm. Both are fantastic shooting weapons IMO. My next pistol purchase will definitely be an M&P .40.

Go to a gun shop with a wide selection of guns and touch and hold the ones you find interest you...you'll be able to decide which ones feel good in your hands and are comfortable for you. Go to a range that rents guns and shoot a few different models. Grab a pistol magazine and read the reviews. Make an educated purchase, buy your cleaning kit with it and you'll be happy!