Need advice choosing a handgun

Hello, I am trying to decide on my first handgun and need some advice. ( well I had a .22 when I was growing up) The primary reason for the purpose is home protection and something to have in the truck on road trips/camping out off the beaten path. I currently have a shotgun I occasionally hunt with but its a little large for my wife if needed for home protection in a tight condo.

We have been shooting a few sig's, glocks, and springfield pistols at a local range and liked pretty much something about each ( all full sized). We are looking at one gun that both of us can shoot. I know that complicates things a little but wife is not ready for 2 handguns quite yet. The big question is the caliber, we like both the 9mm and 45. Both of us shot pretty decent groups at 15 yards with both and might be leaning a little to the .45 but am a little curious if the 9mm might be a better bang (pun intended) for the buck. Shooters at the range seem to recommend the .45 for stopping power but not sure if the is ego or fact. If the 9mm really has insufficient stopping power why do so many police carry 9mm?

Sorry if my post is not 100% clear but I guess I need some advice on what caliber most would consider for home defense and punching holes in paper.

Thanks,
Brent

 

personally for a first gun you can go wrong with the standards like the Glock, Smith and Wesson M&P, and the Springfield XD....i would buy a compact and then you can get a full size mag and run a grip adapter so you can have a compact grip to carry concealed and a full size grip for the range or leaving it on the nightstand like this\/ this is my M&P9c with a regular compact mag and a full size with the x-grips adapter

 

45 has more energy, so yes it has more stopping power. that being said, shot placement is the most impotant factor. a center mass shot on someone with a 9mm, they are still having a bad day. If the wife is ok with a 45 (does not pull the shots off in anticipation of the recoil) then 45 may be the way to go (only real downfall is less rounds than an equ sized 9mm).

For 45, I suggest a full steel frame, this will lighten the recoil a bit over a polymer frame. If its going for your wife, a single stack is probably a good idea (slimmer grip). The best steel single stack 45 I own would have to be a Sig P220...it is a beautful gun. (Make sure you try it out at a range before you buy though, a gun I love you may hate)...1011 are great as well, but I like the feel of the Sig, and the SA/DA...1911 is SA only.

If you want the 9 for more rounds, then start looking at any of the big companies, as polymer wont recoil too bad, XD, Glock, Etc....basically, go to a range a LOT, try them all out and see which fits you both.

 

i wanted the stopping power of the .45, with the low recoil of a 9mm, so i wound up going with a .40 s&w round. try it, i think both you and your wife will find it easy to shoot, and a nice compromise between the two rounds. personally my wife would never be able to handle a .45, and she has no problems shooting the .40. i have to say i really love this round.

this is my first handgun, an FNH P40. i really took to this gun the first time i shot it, and it's still my favorite handgun.



i also like glock, walther and sig sauer.

good luck with your decision.

 

Thanks for the replies guys. Have not tried the .40 yet but it's on the list. We have been to the local range 3 times in the past few weeks and have tried quite a few out so far and am still admittedly undecided. She is pretty good with the .45 but I did notice on her 2nd bag of .45's she did pull a bit and her accuracy went down but not terribly. Not totally sure if this would happen with the .9mm as well because we did not switch back. I think it was just fatigue after putting a few boxes down range.

Another factor I am considering in the equation is cost of rounds. Like you already pointed out placement is key. So we both need to work on accuracy so we will be spending a few$ on rounds.
Where do you guys buy your ammo? That will not be a huge factor in what I by but it will play in to the equation for sure.
Thanks

 

x2 40 S&W is a great round (good comp between 9mm and 45).

 

For price, 9 is by far the cheapest. 40 adn 45 are about equal in price. I reload so I have not bought rounds for a long time. But I beleive cheaper than dirt still has good prices...other may be able to chime in here. Midway has good sales once in a while.

 

Depends on your style

 

if you are stuck between the 9mm and .45 check out .40s&w or 10mmAuto. maybe a 10mmAuto for you and a .40s&w for your wife. they are the same bullet but the 10mmAuto casing is a little longer giving it a little more umph! or both of you buy something in .40s&w to keep the ammo purchases easy. the price of ammo for the .40s&w is between the 9mm and .45. a good cheap .40s&w is a sig sauer sp2022 around the $450 range.

 

Go to the range and shot a lot, find which one you like it.

Buy it

 

Thanks for the info Robert!
Should mention I am in California so Clip size is irrelevant as laws only allow 10 rounds.

 

Yeah were only at 4 trips total so we have a way to go...

 

Problem is I have too many other expensive habits to have such style now

 

walmart....they are the cheapest by far unless you place a large order online....last time i bout 9mm from walmart i got 50 rounds of full metal jacket for about 10$(very recently)

 

Glock model 23.

Shoots accurate, simple design, easy to break down, reliable. If the wife is a little iffy with the .45 then this is a great choice. Load up with hollow points and you have a very effective home defense weapon that is easy to handle with plenty of knock down power. Not the prettiest, but definitely one of the better weapons out there.

BTW. Glock 23 is a .40S&W mid-size

 

I've got a XDM 9 for home defense. The large advantage of the XDM is the adjustable backstrap. Meaning there are three different size grips. I've got the smallest installed on my gun now for the Mrs. She loves it.

 

the M&P has that too...and iirc the Glock now

 

Everyone has different opinions but for what its worth,

I love glocks, as others firearms. I trust my life with a glock I have never pulled the trigger and it go click...

I've seen torture tests on glocks, I've even tortured a G17 to an extent, it never failed.

Thats why I carry a glock.

 

1911's are my favorite. They are for people who can handle some weight. They are in no means a light firearm. Of course there is always the stanby of the good ole " Dirty Harry 357."

 

I gotta tell you, the .45 will go thru your wall easily and kill a neighbor. You said tight condo, right ? Take lessons, know how to shoot, keep VERY secure if kids are in the home and try not to shoot innocent neighbors.