Handguns I'm Looking At

[gunDriller]

When I shop, I often spend 6 months window-shopping before I buy.

Especially if it's a new subject area, like handguns.

These are the firearms that caught my eye.

9 mm & 357 mostly.

Comments welcome. Not looking for anything fancy, just a gun that shoots bullets, emphasis on reliability & safety (shooter safety, that is.)


After thinking "long barrel" for awhile, it's wierd looking at firearms with a 3 inch barrel.

Now I understand why they need fast-burning powder (just got some "Lil Gun" powder, which burns a little faster than W296, a magnum pistol powder.)

Stuff I already have - I've been collecting 9 mm brass. When it's mixed in with other brass I'm picking up, I pick up the 9 mm too. Wasn't planning to re-load ... but I wasn't planning to re-load rifle bullets either, and now 80% of what I shoot are re-loads.

http://www.tombstonetactical.com/catalog/kahr-arms/p9-pistol-9mm-8rd-stainless/
$556 Kahr P9 9mm

http://www.tombstonetactical.com/catalog/glock/31-pistol-357-4.5in-10rd-black/
$499 Glock 357 Sig

http://www.tombstonetactical.com/catalog/glock/31-pistol-357-15rd-4.5in-black/
$499 Glock 357 Sig, 15 Round Mag

http://palmettostatearmory.com/review/product/list/id/1578/category/27/
Springfield 9 mm $400
"For those of you that don't know Springfield armory purchased the soul import rights of this Croatia HS 2000 9mm and changed the name to what everyone now knows today as the XD9. It's the exact same weapon even the parts are interchangeable just with the name change to the XD9. In other countries this weapon is still imported under its original name as the HS 2000."

http://palmettostatearmory.com/review/product/list/id/21640/category/27/
S&W 40 SW $380

http://palmettostatearmory.com/review/product/list/id/1067/category/27/
Kahr 45ACP $335

[Shami-Amourae]

Glock 19 or 26.

If you want 357 sig, consider getting a Glock 20 or 29. These shoot 10mm, but you can also buy barrels that shoot 40 S&W, 357 sig, and 9x25.
http://www.lonewolfdist.com/Detail.aspx?PROD=1012&CAT=241
http://www.lonewolfdist.com/Detail.aspx?PROD=1013&CAT=241
http://www.lonewolfdist.com/Detail.aspx?PROD=1016&CAT=241

(http://www.lonewolfdist.com/Detail.aspx?PROD=1016&CAT=241)10mm is a good high power caliber for hunting. The Glock 29 basically lets you have a gun you can conceal carry and downgrade to a softer shooting bullet, or swap out a heavier barrel for bigger power. It's a cool package.

[milehi]

I just picked up a CZ 75D Compact in 9mm. It's very nice even though I haven't fired it yet. From your list, I have the XD 9 Service. I liked it so much I also bought the Compact. My favorite however is my HK USP Compact in .40

[Jewboo]

http://www.tombstonetactical.com/catalog/kahr-arms/p9-pistol-9mm-8rd-stainless/
$556 Kahr P9 9mm



I carry the Kahr P9 with factory night sights and added Crimson Trace. Today instead I would go with the new single-stack 9mm Glock G43.

http://stwww.recoilweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Glock-43-Glock-Smyrna-GA-2-670x447.jpg

Both are tiny enough to conceal carry in a front pant pocket holster wearing cargo shorts in the Summer.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_phpSrGJNGmI/TLxutozaHcI/AAAAAAAAAes/1OsljWFm3zQ/s1600/hands1.jpg

http://2cooltoolz.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/nemesiscomparo.jpg

[Shami-Amourae]

I'd prefer the Glock 42 over the 43. The 42 is more controllable and even smaller, even though its in .380 ACP. You'll feel very little recoil, and have a small package. If you want 9mm, it's best to stick with the 26/19/17 series since they are all compatible with another magazine-wise.

These guns are more of backup guns, but I think the Glock 42 is perfect for women and older people.

[Jewboo]

I'd prefer the Glock 42 over the 43. The 42 is more controllable and even smaller, even though its in .380 ACP. You'll feel very little recoil, and have a small package. If you want 9mm, it's best to stick with the 26/19/17 series since they are all compatible with another magazine-wise.




http://blog.gunlink.info/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/G26G43G42.jpg
G26
G43
G42


G26 is double-stack 9mm and too fat to hide in a pocket holster
G43 is single-stack 9mm and still flat enough to hide fine in a pocket holster
G42 is puny .380 for limp-wristed girls best carried in a purse

:)

[madfranks]

.380 is puny? It'll kill you just as easily as a 9mm.

And really, if a super-concealed weapon is your goal, the G42 by virtue of being smaller and slightly thinner, is easier to conceal. I wouldn't want any of them as my primary weapon, but to carry in the front pocket wearing slacks, you can't beat it.

[Shami-Amourae]

G26
G43
G42


G26 is double-stack 9mm and too fat to hide in a pocket holster
G43 is single-stack 9mm and still flat enough to hide fine in a pocket holster
G42 is puny .380 for limp-wristed girls best carried in a purse

:)
You'll kill faster if you can get more bullets on your target accurately than a more powerful bullet that will have much more recoil. Normally 9mm doesn't have a lot of recoil, but it will with a Glock 43. Most people try to compensate with a larger caliber in a smaller gun. I think you should always fire a caliber for the gun that has minimal recoil. 9mm is my favorite handgun caliber, so don't think I'm saying these things lightly without considering all the factors.

If you're strong and muscular, and know how to handle recoil go with a Glock 43. I'm just being realistic for my body type.

[Glass]

get yourself some .380+P or is it P+ and see how whimpy it is. .357 Sig is pretty snappy. I hear .40S&W is snappy as well but no first hand on that one.

9mm or .45 I reckon.

Anyway some good guns to choose from in that list and the suggested ones. I like the XD a lot. If I could have a bunch of hand guns there would be a couple XDs in there. We got them as the HS2000 and XD's were not shipped here due to licensing. I have seen a couple XD's here recently. All 4.5 - 5" barrels. Great gun, striker fired and IIRC has a split trigger like the Glock.

CZ's. Love em. A lot like a browning hi power which is another awesome full metal gun. Hi power is very heavy though. CZ 75 metal is a bit lighter but not much. Good on recoil with that kind of weight. They don't need to be treated like a queen and can handle a bit of dirt without too much bother. Look at the Shadow. CZ have a couple good compacts as well as some decent poly's

Glock is the default standard though. So many guns, so many parts, interchangable mags etc.

[mick silver]

http://www.ruger.com/img/index/slides/rugerAmericanPistol.jpg (http://www.ruger.com/products/rugerAmericanPistol/models.html)

[mick silver]

here what I carry why carry a girl gun when you can carry a man gun . what do you hide it for .http://www.ruger.com/products/sr1911/models.htmlhttp://www.ruger.com/products/sr1911/images/top.jpg

[Shami-Amourae]

I like Ruger, but I wouldn't get a handgun without a ton of aftermarket parts. You can find Glock magazines everywhere. Aftermarket parts and holsters are literally everywhere.

[madfranks]

what do you hide it for

Carrying concealed is much more of a tactical advantage than carrying in the open. If a thug is going to start shooting up a place and he sees that you've got a gun strapped to your thigh, he's going after you first, and he has the element of surprise. In most cases it's better that others don't know you have a gun.

[hoarder]

I carry mostly for protection against bear, wolf, lion and wolverine. It doesn't matter much if it's concealed or not, as long as I can get to it quickly.

[mick silver]

i Carrying concealed but i like to know i have what it take to stop someone and the gun works

[gunDriller]

I understand shoulder carry in a holster.

But people with the holsters on their waist - how do they do it without wearing suspenders ?

[hoarder]

I understand shoulder carry in a holster.

But people with the holsters on their waist - how do they do it without wearing suspenders ?It's matter of how you're built. As I age and muscles vanish, I don't have as much bubblebutt to hold my pants up, or support much weight with a belt. I seldom wear my shoulder holster because shoulders are not as well designed to carry weight as hipbones. Try wearing a shoulder holster while riding a horse, four wheeler or motorcycle and you'll see how tiring it is.
If you have short arms and long torso like a Mexican, strong-side carry works best. But if you have long arms, your wrist and elbow joints reach maximum bend before you clear leather. That's why I'm a crossdraw man. Another reason to go crossdraw is if you are in and out of a vehicle often, the gun can be deployed from either position without unholstering. If you're sitting in the seat and carrying strong side, where does your elbow go when you draw?

[midnight rambler]

The Glock 29 basically lets you have a gun you can conceal carry

I have a G30 which is the same size as the G29. Suggesting it as a suitable 'conceal carry' gun is a stretch imo.

And fwiw I suggest avoiding Kahr products due to reliability issues.

[gunDriller]

I have a G30 which is the same size as the G29. Suggesting it as a suitable 'conceal carry' gun is a stretch imo.

And fwiw I suggest avoiding Kahr products due to reliability issues.

Enough Said, but it would be great to have details.

Tried a simple search, found these -

https://www.google.com/search?q=Kahr+misfire+defect
http://pistolsmith.com/kahr-pistols/22225-problem-kahr-magazines.html

Personally I find that whole subject - of guns misbehaving, and also of people overdoing it with guns by overloading them - to be very interesting.

I found a shell on the shooting range the other day. Snapped in half down the middle, not length wise but cross wise. Probably a sign of over-pressure but usually there is more to the story.


I probably won't get a Kahr.

With the PSA AR10, I waited about 6 months after an insightful Youtube review, the guy described the misbehavior in enough detail to, well it sounded like the first AR15 I bought.

I waited until there were good reviews for a specific upper, and got that one.

[Jewboo]

And fwiw I suggest avoiding Kahr products due to reliability issues.



I agree. My own Kahr P9 has been reliable probably because I micro-polished the ramp and barrel but there are many misfeed misfire complaints against Kahr on the internet..mostly the smaller frame models.

My Glock G19 was perfect out of the box.