Camp/Off Road Protection

Looking to buy my first hand gun. Its primary use will be for camping/off road protection. Any recommendations? So far I like the XDs and Glocks. Still trying to decide what caliber to go with as well.

 

It doesn't matter what we think....
Hold and shoot as many guns as you can.... what ever feels best is the gun for you.

 

Honestly, I can't really tell much of a difference between the ones I've shot. S&W, XD, Glock. The only real difference I notice is the caliber. This is the reason why I ask for recommendations. I'm looking for the best bang for my buck. Provide some suggestions and I'll go out and shot em.

 

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/guns-hunting/48014-my-first-gun.html
Maybe this will help. Not sure. I didnt read it. Just the first few posts.

 

I like glocks, but everyone has different opinions on guns. I own plenty of different guns, and I've carried plenty of different types on duty and off duty, but if I had to pick one gun to take with me on a deserted island, it'd be a glock, hands down. To me, they're like the Toyotas of the handgun world. They're extremely simple, rugged, and reliable. Most Glocks are made up of 34 parts, and that includes the magazine. If you were to count just the major components that made up only the gun, it would be 29 parts. Anyone with half a brain and a diagram can completely disassemble and replace any part they wanted to without having to send it to an armorer or gunsmith.

I've beat the shit out of my glocks. I've shot tens of thousands of rounds without cleanings or lube (Training guns. Not carry guns). I've used them in rain, dropped them in mud, sweated on them, performed thousands of holster presentations, performed thousands of malfunction drills, and they just keep on running. The only thing that's broken on me was the locking block pin and the trigger spring. One Glock 17 in our department went over a million rounds before the frame developed a small crack. We sent it back to Glock and they replaced the frame with no questions asked. BTW, They weren't impressed with 1,000,000+ rounds.

When it comes to caliber I generally suggest picking the largest caliber that you're comfortable with. If you can shoot a .45acp just as accurately as a 9mm, then by all means, get the .45acp. But if you're hands down more accurate with the 9...you know where I'm going with this. A hit with a 9 is better than a miss with a .45.

 

Great post/info. Rep

 

Thanks for the information. I'm definitely going to hit up the shooting range to pin point what caliber I shoot best with.

 

Thanks for the info. To answer your question: Anything and everything. From idiots to wild animals.

 

It's more likely that you're going to get attacked by a biped than a quadruped. I'd worry more about tweakers than a mountain lion.

 

learn to shoot and have proper survival techniques.. it wont matter what caliber you have!..go with a 9mm...smaller, more easily concealable, more control, ammo is cheaper, get the right model with the right magazine and you'll carry a greater capacity other then the standard 10 rounds (not legal in cali tho)..

let me know when you go to the range...i been thinking about something myself

 

Revolver...SW K or L frame...3 or 4 inch barrel.
Much smarter.

 

I've got a Glock model 21 (.45 Auto) and I love it. I'm pretty sure one shot will take down any man/animal that gets physical with me. I'd say go as big as you feel comfortable shooting.

 

1911

 

Who me???

 

X1

 

I hate to rain on your parade, but generally that's not the case. There's a huge misconception about caliber and stopping power. If we were to talk about statistics and ballistics, then the .357 magnum would be king, and it is, when it comes to a fight stopper. But that doesn't mean squat unless you're delivering good, accurate hits on your target. In my experience it took more than a few rounds to put down the bad guy. Between another officer and myself, we delivered a total of 6 rounds into our target. Two in his upper left shoulder, one in the left arm, two through the right lung, and one through the heart. We were both using .45ACP. That BG was still in the fight at this point, and he was able to return fire and run to cover/concealment where he expired shortly there after. The goal is immediate incapacitation. Unless you have a computer shot (brain) then more than likely you're going to have to fire multiple rounds. A rifle is a much better tool to end a fight early.

 

FuriousGeorge A total post count of 8 and 3 of them were here and very well spoken. Way to go. Thanks for your input here.

 

Thank you, Sir. I guess I'm more comfortable posting here since I know more about guns than Tacomas. I don't own a Tacoma yet, but I've already learned a lot more than I could of just by browsing the toyota website. Great forum!

 

Wow... I would have thought different. If after that many rounds, the bad guy still had the power to return fire and run for cover, why choose a .45ACP over 9mm? It sounds like the final out come would have been the same with 6 rounds of 9mm as oppose to .45ACP. I would think everyone would be more accurate with a smaller caliber, not to mention it being much cheaper to shoot.

 

It also depends on sub-compact vs. full-size, what type of ammunition you're firing (hollow-point, "range ammo", etc.). My XD-9 sub-compact jumps like crazy, as do the Kel-tec .380's. My caliber of personal choice is the .40... not too small, not too big, though again it depends on above factors as well.

Look at $$ and availability of the different calibers as well...can't stress that enough. Before the "gun craze" started late last year, my .223 ammunition for the AR-15 was .26-.30 cents per round, but not anymore! I think you can pick up a 100 rd value pack of 9mm at Wal-mart for $10-15.

I think someone else mentioned a rifle being better, and that's true. I'm assuming you are looking for something that can be concealed?