Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Common Interests buying my first handgun...suggestions?

You know, for self defense, I wouldn't be lugging around a 357 mag or .45. Why not go with one of those small .22 magnum revolvers? They are light, very easy to handle, and very easy to conceal. Also, the ammo is pretty cheap, and I don't really care who you are, getting hit with a bullet is getting hit with a bullet, you are gonna run away. Now these .22 revolvers aren't too impressive looking, and don't make a huge BLAM when they are fired, but I'd recommend one over a .45 to a beginner any day. My two cents.

I have a large-frame .45 and it does not have a terrible amount of recoil, but it's not very "portable". I've shot a number of small-frame .45's (Colt Officers, AMT Backups, Glock 30's, etc.) and have found them to be just a bit too wild on repititive shots (I like to hit what I aim at every time I yank the trigger). I'd seriously take a smaller-caliber gun (9mm or preferably .380) in that frame-size any day of the year.

I also own a Beretta 92F and I totally agree that it's a pain in the ass to grab onto due to the width of the grip, but not all double-stacked mags are equal; I have a Sig p228 that feels like it was custom-made to my hands and it's double-stacked as well.

If you are really worried about a set of doped-up clowns coming in on you, then a shotgun is still going to be your best bet. A couple of rounds of 00 shot in the torso at short range would put a coked-up Mr. Olympia on the floor and probably in two distinctly sawed-off pieces...

i'm from the old school of rather have a gun and not need it than need a gun and not have it but this doesn't sound like a good reason to buy/carry a gun by itself.

based on the description of the break-ins this is very likely an inside job from someone who works there or has legitimate access to the building/office. the chances of these people hurting someone in their pursuit of equip or info is highly unlikely.

that said, if you're just itching to get your hands on a gun then i'm sure the suggestions will continue to flow. my personal handgun of choice is a G19, but once you get past the personal preference of make and model and some thorough training then you get into the more challenging decisions-- what ammo to use.

.380ACP is a decent stopper for the person who doesn't want a lot of blast and recoil, but I agree with the general idea of "go try some out". If you can handle a .45ACP, then by all means, get that, in a pistol with as long a barrel as you can reasonably conceal. You'll get better overall performance than a super-short barrel will yield, and you should be able to aim a little better with practice.

Hi, if your looking for a gun to help give you peace of mind though not wanting to embark on the pseudo persona of Charles Bronson - Clint Eastwood may i suggest a model?
Have you ever heard of the Bersa Thunder .380 ACP? This particular model has all the characteristics you may be searching for. Im about to purchase this semi automatic myself. Every gun magazine has nothing but positive feedback. Best bang for your buck....soo to speak.
It's light,realiable and easy to maintain and operate.Weighs only 20.oz which makes it ideal for quick easy concealment ( btw check your state regulations about holstering a gun on your person ).
That's just the tip of the banana split. There's soo much more favoring this dual action Bersa.If your interested here are some sites. Do your own search. I promise you'll not find one bad comment about this gun. I think it would feel your needs nicely.
handgunsmag

another site " target="_blank">http://www.geocities.com/bersa_thunder/index.html] geocities.com/bersa/homepage</a>

Im heading to Academy this coming weekend where it can be had for $218.00. You should read up on it. I think you'll be surprised and impressed. Oh not that looks matter but its a looker as well.
May i say one last thing before i post off. - once you pull a gun for protection, your intentions should be clear and nonwavering. Never defend yourself and think , "i'll just scare the person away"- always draw with the realization and acceptance of knowing you may have to take this person's life. Your only recourse that comes along with the responsiblity of owning a gun is truely understanding the reason that drove you to buy it in the first place.

(((( Lost my younger brother who was about to graduate from high school. Murdered with a high powered rifle. Someone he knew from high school decided along with some friends that they would take his dads deer rifle and go out shooting signs. Out and drunk they came across my brother who was out just cruising around ..shot both my brother and cousin along with a friend. The friend survived only because he was very over weight. --- In court his riding buddies took a plea and confessed that he had said " i want to shoot them , see what it feels like " )))) Guns are not killers people are killers.

That article had 125 rounds or so run through that gun. Next to nothing when it comes to handgun testing. I would want to see a real toture test of 5,000 to 10,000 rounds or so to demonstrate the machining & engineering quality of the weapon. I will rest my life on nothing less.

Last time I tried a brand new Bersa product, round #5 out of the gun had the slide come flying off the gun & down-range at the indoor shooting center. Most embarrassing, I thought. So after all the shooting stopped & the range master had everybody step away from the booths, I went out & picked up the misc pieces of the Bersa & re-assembled it in the manner described in the manual. Everybody back to the booths, the first round saw the same event repeated to much applause from my fellow shooters followed by great laughter & geering as I again retrieved the errant parts.

That's when I turned in the new Bersa & bought my new Smith & Wesson - on the spot.

I know the day I turn 21, I'm going out and by a Springfield .45. If you want reliability that will get you through a war and back and keep on pumping out the lead, the 1911 is a very good, if a little dated choice.