Handgun recommendation wanted.

DO NOT over look SIG SAUER pistols. A fine reputation and my SIG P 229 fit me like a glove. Get one from a big name maker that YOU like and can operate well. kevinl
 
Just to keep piling on, my first handgun- in basically your situation was a Ruger GP100 4" barrel .357 and I have never regretted it. It's versatile, dependable and basically foolproof. Described to me as the "chevy truck" of handguns. It is however, a little large and heavy to try to carry- at least for me.

And this leads us to my last handgun purchase, a hammerless J-frame S&W in .38+P that came with Crimson Trace laser grips. To me, this is the ultimate personal defense gun. Light, easy to shoot, and no need to look for a sight picture- ever. It turns out to be way more accurate then I expected and the laser will help make you a better shooter when you practice with it (because you can watch your point of aim as you squeeze the trigger). Some people will tell you that you don't need to aim in most defensive (close-up) situations, but I really like the security of the laser telling me where my round is going to go even when I don't have the time to aim in the traditional way.
 
If you aren't into guns, and aren't going to be into them, then a standard 4 inch barrel .357 is a great way to go. I personally like the Ruger GP100. Very overbuilt, easy to shoot, will last a lifetime. If the magnum noise and recoil bother you, fill it with .38s. I have my wife practice with .38s and load it for self defense with 357's. Federal 125 hollow points. In a high adrenaline situation, you won't even notice the noise or recoil.

If you are starting to like semi's, for self defense, it's hard to beat a Glock. I like the G23 in .40 SW. Just as good a man stopper as the .45acp and .357. Very simple, durable, and no safeties to mess around with.

Those are my 2 favorites.
 
Do you want to carry it around town with you or just use it for home defense? I ask because I would recommend a very small gun for EDC, as others have said, I'm no expert, but if you don't have it on you, it doesn't provide much security. I really like my ruger lcp because i don't even notice it in my pocket and you can sleep on the side where it is without discomfort. No one has ever noticed it (to my knowledge). Ruger also makes a revolver in a very small size, the lcr
 
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Revolver in the caliber of your choice. 38/357 gives you the option of moving up in power if you want to. Since you don't shoot much, revolver is best for "security". If you pull the trigger and it goes "click", then you just pull the trigger again...with a semi, you would have to rack the slide to clear...if you practice it can be done quickly, but if it is just going to be shot occasionally, revolver is the way to go for you....just pick the caliber.
 
I'm in the .357 revolver camp, you can shoot .38's out of it for practice and load it with .357 rounds for protection since it packs enough wallop to put a threat down. As stated, revolvers are a simple design, very reliable and extremely easy to use and maintain. Get a 4' to 6' barrel with a bit of weight to it to cut back on recoil.
 
I concur with the revolver voters above but I would caution: If you have grandchildren about, having an unloaded automatic stored in a locked, different place than its loaded magazine is an additional layer of safety that is more quickly employed than an empty revolver.
My SD revolver is in a lockbox by the bed. Control of the key is a concern when the kids are around. (Once or twice a year)
YMMV
 
I would say 4" (you can go to 3" but I would strongly advise no less then that) Revolver in .357 mag. I like several Taurus, Ruger, and Smith & Wesson. I say 6 rounds minimum. With them you can take it with you in the woods and load up snake shot, or keep it around the house with 38 +P or .357mag (depending on where you live/what you prefer) for defense.

If you want semi-auto then look into the many 1911s out there or a Glock 9mm of above.
 
Only reason I'd ever have a semi auto is if I was in a war.
I've never liked semi autos except for the 10/22.
When I was a kid we hunted and a semi auto was considered a waste of money, power and accuracy.
Of course technology has done some wonders and all arms are a bit more spiffy, but I'm a revolver guy for life.
.357 is a doozey and should cover most bases.
I prefer .44.

me - 2 cents
 
i would say take a look at S&W "J" frame snubs, in .38 special not .357 mag, the .357 snubs are difficult to shoot/control without lotsa practice, with non +P rounds a .38 snub can be handled by most anyone and ya can get by with less prractice, probably would do whatever it is ya need to do also.

if ya want an auto i say glock 17 or 19 9MM, easy to use and shoot, holds lotsa ammo, very reliable, SIG, kahr, berretta, colt 1911, again all good, but its hard to beat a glock.

my favorite is the poly frame kahrs in 9MM, the P9 or PM9, the P9 might also be an excellent choice, the PM9 is imho the top edc pistol around but due to its small size it does require more practice, the P9 though to me shoots like a target pistol, they all have great triggers, and all of mine have been 100% reliable, very accurate, small, lite easy to carry pistols, the steel frame kahrs are good too but are imho just a bit too heavy (ie the K9) i prefer glock 26 to the K9 FWIW.
 
I find it curious that so many people are recommending a .357 Magnum revolver to a non-handgun kind of guy with zero experience.

To my mind that is a pretty hot load that would require a fair amount of practice and training to master. If you are not prepared to do that, then I would look elsewhere.

I believe if you are going to load it with .357 Mag rounds, you should practice with .357 Mag rounds and even in a heavy stainless revolver that could be a tough call for an older person.

That said I would recommend a Glock 19 without hesitation. Or a Glock 26 - even better for concealment if you plan to carry it a lot. The 26 is a fantastic little gun with some extension pads on the mags.

If you only plan to keep the gun next to your bed, then, yes, by all means consider a revolver. However, a semi-auto, and a Glock in particular, is FAR easier to carry than an all-steel revolver.

You dont even need a holster for a Glock, just shove it into your jeans and you can walk around with it all day (only do this with the chamber empty). Try doing that with a revolver! Plus with a revolver you would need to carry one or two extra speedloaders. Carrying a spare mag in a sheath is a lot easier.

Other advantages:

A G19 offers 15 rounds against the 6 of a revolver. And a Glock can easily handle +P+ rounds (I recommend Cor-Bon or Winchester SXTs in 115 grain).

The beauty of a Glock in particular is that it offers the high capacity and compactness of a semi-auto, with the simplicity of a revolver. Just shove the mag in, rack the slide and blast away! No external safeties to worry about - just like a revolver.

And Glocks are ultra-reliable, tough as nails, accurate as anything and, I believe, easy to shoot.

(I forgot to mention why I recommend the 9mm Glock. Although I am a .45ACP fan myself, the 9mm is more practical because ammo is much cheaper. If you own a handgun you should practice with it and you will be far happier buying 9mm ammo than most other calibers with the possible exception of .38 special. Especially if you are retired and on a fixed income. Also, 9mm is always available, its the most common round on the planet. I believe with the right ammo (two mentioned above) the 9mm is a more than capable round. Shot placement is a lot more important anyway, and an easily controlled round will be easier to shoot accurately that a super hot calibre like a .357 Mag.)
 
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I also would recommend the Glock 19. It's reliability is second to none, It is not a high maintenance gun and the 9mm caliber is adequate. Someone new to handguns can master it in a relatively short time.
 
large capacity guns are not a necessity for civilians. police & military are usually the only people needing lots of firepower. with the new 38 ammo one shot incapitation is certainly expected. revolvers can sit loaded for 20 years or longer & perform 100%. no safeties or buttons to push , just pick up & squeeze.the smaller 38's can be carried unnoticed & are light & comfortable.i've owned & used most big boomers made , my current b.o.b. is a colt detective special with the newer speer load made for 2 in. barrels. will penetrate 9 in. of ballistic gelatin. [takes 4 in. to reach heart]
 
"Basically self defense in an emergency type situation should it ever arise."
Are you sure a pistol is what you want? If so I'll be another vote for a 38 revolver. If not I would say a 12 gauge pump.
 
It’s good to see that you are doing a little research before you walk into the store. I am going to recommend taking a course or two that is similar to the NRA basic pistol course. There are also basic Personal Protection in the Home Courses as well that are not very expensive and worth the time and money in my opinion.

I am not going to recommend a revolver but that is mainly because I have moved away from them myself… note that does not mean one of them might not be the best choice or a better choice then something that I am going to recommend. It is just my preference.

Also, I am recommending semi-autos because I really don’t think there is that much more of a learning curve and for me the pros outweigh the cons (at least for me.)

I chose the 9mm cartridge because it is one of the cheapest to shoot and practice with and most readily available (at least in my area.)

Sig Sauer P226 9mm: The P226 is extremely reliable and for the most part has a proven track record…which always makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. When firing the pistol the first trigger pull will be in DA (double action) mode which means you will have about a 10lb trigger pull, after your first trigger pull each consecutive pull will be a SA (single action) trigger pull which is approximately 5.5 lb pull. It also has a de-cocker that will allow to you to safely drop the hammer without having hold it and squeeze the trigger to drop it if you need to for any reason. It is fairly simple to use and easy to disassemble and clean (in my opinion of course.) It is also very accurate and has a decent magazine capacity. It will also be more expensive than anything else I list.

FNP 9: Similar in format to the P226 in that it has a DA/SA mode, de-cocker, and disassembles almost exactly the same way. It has not been around as long but it is built well (in my opinion), and just as easy to use. It is also accurate and a lot less expensive than the P226.

XD-9: This is a SA (single action) striker fired pistol. Each trigger pull will be about 5.5 lbs. It has a trigger safety and grip safety (both of which I am a big fan of.) It has a loaded chamber indicator that lets you know there is a round in the chamber. It has a good magazine capacity and is also fairly easy to disassemble and maintain. One of my favorite by far.

Glock 17: Similar to the XD-9 it is a SA (single action) striker fired pistol as well. Each trigger pull will be about 5.5 lbs. It has a trigger safety but that is it. Has a good track record and is very simple to use. If you load it and pull the trigger it will go off (what more can you ask for?) It is probably the most complicated to disassemble but not terribly difficult by any stretch of the imagination. I do not like the grip angle very much but I still own them and shoot them. They are very easy to find parts for should you need them as well.

Please keep in mind these are mainly my preferences. I would recommend going to a local range and renting a few once you have narrowed your search down a little and actually trying them out before your make a purchase. You will be surprised at what you like once you have had a little trigger time behind it. Find the largest shop that is in your area with a range and have some fun.

Best of luck,

Output
 
I also recommend a .357 revolver. It's the pinnacle of simplicity, and in that caliber it will handle anything you need it to. Firing it will be fine - don't be intimidated - you just need to practice (like you do with any gun you may purchase). As far as brand, I'd go with a Ruger. They are built like tanks and often are less expensive than other brands. My two cents...

- Mark
 
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WOW! I expected I might get a few replies to this thread, but nothing like what's come down the pike so far! And as a side note I'd like to thank you all for not making me feel like an idiot for being 60 years old and so inexperienced in this area. ;)

Thank you all for the input and recommendations! I've done some thinking and looking on the internet researching your recommendations. Stopped down to the local gun shop a couple of times also. I haven't totally decided yet, but I'm leaning heavily towards a S&W or Ruger revolver. .38 or .38/.357. Perhaps a used S&W Model 10 or 64, but being so darned inexperienced I don't know if buying used is a good idea or not - I wouldn't know how to tell if I was getting a good one or a piece of junk, looks like a real hassle buying/shipping over the internet, and the local gun shop doesn't have any and didn't seem too interested in finding one for me (which I can totally understand).

One thing that took me totally by surprise was the cost of a new handgun. I'm obviously waaay out of touch with reality! Hadn't even looked at prices before I started this thread. Somewhere in the back of my mind I figured I could buy a good new handgun for around $250 - 300! Wrong! That's partially the "geezer effect" - I remember when you could buy a new car for $2500 - 3000, which incidentally was approximately the last time I purchased a firearm. (Also discovered you can't buy a box of 50 .22 shells for $1.09 anymore). :rolleyes:

I've got a couple more questions:

1) I didn't even consider a .22 caliber - should I?

2) New or used handgun? (If used, any recommendations for internet site or dealers within 5 or 6 hours drive from central Iowa)?

Thanks again, folks! Knife people are good people! :D

BTW: I'm NOT dissing Glock or any of the other brands mentioned - it's just that I've at least heard of S&W and Ruger (and Winchester, Remington, Browning, Marlin etc.) ....... Old dog and new tricks comes to mind.
 
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.22 is great for learning to shoot, plinking, and rabbit/snake. It is not the best self defense round, but it's better than nothing. .22 is what I recommend to any new shooter, because the cost is so low for practice ammo. (<$15 for 525 rounds at Wally World)
most used revolvers should work pretty well, unless they look like they were drug behind a truck for a while or freshly fished out of a pond.
the S&W 10 (blue) & 64 (stainless) and their cousin the 19 (blue w/adjustable sights) are all good, solid performers. The 686 is another one to look at (stainless, just a little heavier built than the 64).
Ruger GP100 is also an excellent revolver and used rugers run about 1/2 of what a used S&W will bring.

Look up gun shops in the yellow pages and pawn shops (some pretty decent deals to be had there!) and call them to see what they have on hand and at what price.
 
Your 2 best choices (IMO) are either a Glock model 23 in .40 cal., or a Ruger GP-100 (4", stainless, heavy barrel) in .357 mag.
 
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