Seeking advice for home defense handgun.

You consider a gun that is pure perfection when it comes to functionality and dependability as "garbage"?

Look... It's REAL simple...

The OP didn't say he wanted something "pretty" to look at. He wants good, solid, dependable defense weapon.

The Glock is light, tough, super dependable, and designed to last through MILLIONS of rounds, with only basic maintenance.

Used by more police and military than any other single pistol.

Garbage??

Hardly.

This guy needs a gun that needs very little maintenance and is simple to clean. To him it is going to be tool.

Its like telling a rancher to get a Mercedes to work the field because it looks good.

Get the work truck first, then if you get bit by the gun bug, get you a Sig.

Jesus h christ

Precisely!

Everything is a trade off.

More stopping power = more difficult to shoot, and usually more expensive ammo.

Exactly what I was saying. A few different words, but same common sense.

I still think they are garbage, and I am a vet who has fired almost everything ever made, in many countries.

Especially for a new shooter. Beretta fits like a glove, Glock feels like it is a trigger connected to A shoe.

I am curious, and no offense here, are you a cop?

Also, which militaries use them en masse, and I'm not talking about only elite units, but Armies?

I'm very partial to the Glock. They're reliable, durable, accurate, easy to clean, and the parts and accessories are cheap and plentiful. If you're concerned about the recoil, definitely go for the 9mm G17. 9mm is the cheapest defensive-caliber practice ammo right now and will give you the most range time for your money, but it's plenty powerful for personal defense while keeping recoil low. .40 and .45 are lots more expensive and harder to control.

Last Edited by peckerhead on 02/03/2012 11:36 PM

sound advice thanks. I'm not a big guy at all. 5'6.5 and small hands.

Is there any realistic risk of a 9mm round not stopping someone compared to a .40?

9mm hollow points are just about as good as .40 cal hollow point.

The price of the 9mm and .40 cal self defense hollow point rounds are about the same, 9mm slightly cheaper.

But target ammo for 9mm is much cheaper then .40 cal stuff.

If you will do alot of shooting with the gun go with a 9mm but if the gun will just be for self defense then go with a .40 just because the hollow points for those rounds cut deeper, and make bigger holes.

thanks

It will just be for defense but I'll be practicing with it a lot since it will be my only gun and I am inexperienced.

If you don't mind a revolver I would go with a Taurus Judge you can use 410 shotgun shells or 45 long colt rounds

not if you pull the trigger until the mag is empty.

It's starting to sound like the G17 is a popular choice for low recoil and cheap ammo.

Should I consider a laser sight at all?

lol

If your going to go with a glock check out smith & wesson sigmas almost identical to the glocks except the s&w have a heavier trigger pull and they are half the price of a glock.

Again, training. 2 in the chest + 1 in the head = no threat.

Any caliber above .38

I'm a firm believer that you are going to pretty much deter any assailant with just about any size round if you pop three into their chest...

Naturally... larger calibers are going to cause more damage.

My carry is a Glock 26.. 9mm. Typically carry Federal HydraShok JHP rounds... use to carry Hornady TAP rounds. Both have some pretty nasty ballistics... hopefully I never have to use them on someone but I wouldn't carry if I weren't willing to defend myself.

And no... I'm not going to get into an argument with those of you out there that proclaim the 9mm round won't drop someone. Yes, I know many of you have a hard-on for the .45acp... and that's fine.

Reliable? Same quality?

If your worried about the 9mm...

Watch this.

[link to www.youtube.com]

And a laser/flashlight combo would be nice...

But, a 9mm will bounce off a windshield.

Sometimes its nice to have Penetration Capability.

Options...

Check out the M&P 9mm. Has more of a 1911 feel to it. Very reliable.....

This is a salient point. 9mm practice rds are much cheaper and very common. 9mm is okay for self defense.


The Glock trigger and overall feel takes a while to get used to, or at least it did for me, coming from carrying a 1911 for many years.

This?
[link to www.smith-wesson.com]

How do the rest of you feel about this one compared to the g17?

Yes I have the s&w 9mm that I used for my armed cleet training and I have put well over a 1000 rounds threw it and it has never once jammed. As far as quality yes they are good only bad thing is they come with a real heavy trigger the 9mm comes with a 7 or 9 pound trigger while the glock comes with a 5 pound trigger. If you get one just ask the gun shop to put a diffrent trigger pull on it they will probably do it for 20 bucks. You should be able to pick one up for around 250 for and the 9mm and .40 are the same price

Last Edited by patdeez84 on 02/03/2012 11:59 PM

Agreed,for example a desert eagle is nice and has good penetration, but will probably ring your ears for three days afterwords and at close range, is overkill.( If there is such a thing)

Assuming they come into your house( so they are not in a car)

Even assuming they are wearing a vest( that is what this drill is designed for).

The ones in the chest ( or vest) will incapacitate them momentarily, or send them backwards.

Enough time for the kill shot.

That is what the one in the head is for.

They are still going down.

Mind you,this is all in rapid succession, with confidence and accuracy, and with practice.

Most importantly the intestinal fortitude to keep firing, or even fire to begin with.

They are nice though...

Might have to pick me one up.

Yep, got the wife one. It wont jam and she will not miss.

Besides, it's fun at the range.




Last Edited by Chrit on 02/04/2012 12:03 AM