do you guys have any suggestions? im looking for one (handgun) i can keep on me at all times. ive been into franklins here in athens quite a few times but i havent seen anything that sings my name, you know what i mean? not to mention the fact im still learning about guns and what is best for which situation, etc. etc.
essentially im looking for a small handgun with stopping power. i know a 9m hasnt got that. of course reliability is a must-have. you guys know what i mean.
I personly carry a para ord in.45acp but that is just my preferance. you cannot go wrong with a glock or an xd in .40cal great accuracy good on stopping power
Opinions about handguns are like rear ends... everybody you know has one. I have one too but, it isn't worth much. And let me tell you why.
Ultimately it will be YOU who has to pick the weapon. The first thing I'd do is to consider cost. If the amount must be within a certain range, then you can immediately eliminate all the weapons costing over that amount.
Then, you have to decide what size of firearm you want. Will you wear it concealed or can it be a regular sized firearm? Now, you've narrowed them down to size.
Your next consideration would be caliber. There is a lot of debate between the .45 and 9 mm. My experience with combat troops was that they would trade in their 9 for a 45... even when they had to pay for it. In my mind, that kind of resolved that issue in my mind... But, then Maj. John Plaster recommended the .40 S&W cartridge as superior to both the 9 mm and .45. Why? The 40 S&W would travel at close to the speed of a 9mm while delivering the comparable wound ballistics as the .45.
There are a LOT of other calibers... some even more powerful - like the 10 mm. But, their usefulness is questionable. AND, if someone were holding a family member hostage and you shot them with a 10 mm, wouldn't that be enough power to kill your family member also? Over-kill in a caliber can be a problem.
After you've considered the cost, the size and the caliber, you've got to consider how much time you'll spend getting to know your weapon. If you'll stick it in a safe or a drawer and shoot it twice a year, I'll save you a lot of time. Stick with six beans in a wheel and buy a revolver. Semi autos require that you spend a little bit of time learning how it works and how to use it. Even changing mags can be a daunting task if you're in a real life SHTF scenario.
The next consideration is to look at the cost and availability of mags, ammo, and spare parts. You can buy a cheap gun for $150 and then pay huge amounts for things like magazines ($30 or more in many cases) and at the end of the day, have more invested than if you had gone for a medium to high end pistol. Check into the cost of ammo and mags at the very least. This is your most important cost comparison before laying out your money. If you can't find spare parts, magazines, and common caliber ammo, you are only investing in an alligator (something that will eat you out of house and home on the incidentals.)
After you've gone through that process of elimination, you have to check out the weapons that interest you the most. How do they feel? Do you like the sights? What kinds of accessories can you buy for it?
I went through all of that and for me personally, the picks came down to this:
Glock 23 (.40 cal) for reliability and weight
Ruger P91 (I think the 91 is a 40 cal) in .40 cal. for price and reliability
Kimber 45 for reliability, ease of learning how to operate, and superior sights
Where my picks ended up may not be where you end up so, do your homework first and then ask for feedback based on the choices you come up with.
if you are looking to find cheap and reliable i can recommend the cz52 for under 300frn you can have a accurate sidearm and 1000rnds of ammo I have one and it is ugly but it is accurate _________________ "America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards."
- Claire Wolfe, 101 Things to Do 'Til the Revolution
Actually we probably need a thread on which guns to consider in each price range.
1moreround is right. For around $300 you can buy a CZ52, holster, cleaning rod, and extra magazine along with a thousand rounds of milsurp ammo.
The round is a bit small but, even level II body armor will not protect against the fast moving 7.62 x 25 round. AND, if you don't like the round, a simple barrel change is all that is needed to make a 9 mm out of it.
"essentially im looking for a small handgun with stopping power. i know a 9m hasnt got that. of course reliability is a must-have. you guys know what i mean."
I do know what you mean! But if you have or get a 9mm, try some 147 grain bullets. They will stop.
Cordially
CDJ _________________ A ship in a harbor is safe, but that is not what they are made for.
I own a few hand guns,but the one that is with me at all times is a Walther P99 in 9mm.It is very accurate,and light.The back straps on the grip are also interchangeable so you can fine tune it for your hand.It also looks cool,olive drab frame with a black slide.
One more thing to think about is while caliber is important ,marksmanship is equally if not more important.If you can put the round where it needs to go it will be effective.With that said I would still love to have a .500 S&W. _________________ Amendment II (1791) A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.
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