New to Handguns: Pistol Overview?

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cm_bushman

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Oct 22, 2012
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Hello all, I'm a shooter whose entire life has been caught up in rifles and shotguns. Now I'm branching out into handguns, for both recreation and peace of mind at home.

The sum total of my handgun experience comes from a weekend when I was around 9 or 10 years old shooting a Ruger .22 (loved it) and a .357 S&W (I thought it broke my wrist and deafened me at the same time). Now that I'm older and much more familiar with firearms, I'd like to look into a handgun to be my one-and-only (as money allows).

I was thinking a .357 revolver, simply because of it's versatility and reliability. I know more about calibers than I do models, however, so I'm really looking for opinions there. I've heard Ruger and S&W are still pretty good. I would also consider something in 10mm, .45ACP, or anything you guys thought was the "cream of the crop" under $1000. I'm partial to steel frames, and I hear great things about CZ, as far as cheaper autos go.

I know I'm casting out a wide net, but I'm really looking for an overview of what you guys think is best for my needs.

Edit to add: I'm not worried about concealed carry, and I'm looking to reduce recoil as much as I can without sacrificing performance or getting a handgun that weights as much as a rifle.
 
The big question is "what do you want to do with the handgun?"

Good 'ol shooting fun? Revolvers are great handguns and .357 is a great gun. Autos are fun as well, but chew through the ammo quickly if you let yourself go.

Home Protection? Think of pass-through and stopping power.

Personal Carry? Lots of options there as well, you really need to carry for a while to find out what's best for you. You're more likely to leave a big, heavy gun at home.

I alternate my carry between a S&W .38 snub nose and a S&W M&P in .40 S&W. The .38 is my "dress up" gun because it's lighter and easier to conceal while the .40 comes around the farm and into town on more casual/working trips. The .40 sleeps in a handgun safe by my bed for home protection as well.

I have a Ruger MK III .22 auto that's a blast to shoot (and cheap) and since the grip angle matches my .40 is great for getting time on range without blowing the budget.

My $.02
 
I was thinking of overpenetration, and that does concern me with a magnum, but I live out in the boonies so I'm really just buying it to have a good handgun. My father in law has a few small Taurus .38's, a couple of Jericho's, and a couple Beretta 92's. His father has a King Cobra from way back, but I don't think it'll ever be shot again, it's more of a collector piece now. I'll have to shoot with those a bit to see what I like, but I just like the idea of a nice beefy .357 mag with it's power and .38 option for plinking.

I've heard a 6" barrel is optimum for all-around use, does this wash with you guys? That seems pretty long. I have a small frame, so I'm not wanting a 5lb. gun.
 
Do you reload or plan on reloading? If so, a revolver makes it alot easier to collect brass. I would advise starting with a revolver anyway, and the S&W 686 is a good one. I'm concerned about your statement of the .357 breaking your wrist though. I wouldn't call the .357 a heavy recoiling handgun in anything but a lightweight snub nose. The muzzle blast is deafening so always wear ear protection. A 45 automatic is just as difficult to manage as a .357 in my opinion. Another advantage of a .357 revolver is the ability to practice with .38 Special ammunition to reduce cost, recoil and noise.
 
As far as calibers, don't get caught up in that. Major improvements to ammo have been made just as recently as the last 5-10 years.
The old FBI tests that show how a 9mm performs to a 45 acp are out of date. No, I am not saying a 9mm will perform better balistically than a 45 but the gap is much closer than what it used to be. Same goes for all the calibers, the gap has narrowed.

Here are my suggestions as to the type of guns you said in your post you are looking for.

For a revolver, I would go with S&W over Ruger if the price difference does not bother you. Ruger is a great company and they build revolvers like tanks. Great value for the money. Although S&W revolvers seem a little more refined to me. They have a little better trigger out of the box imo and they are less clunky.

IF you are looking at .45's then check into Kimber 1911's. You said you like steel frames and nothing is more iconic than the 1911. You will hear every recommendation under the sun as far as brand. Really it's hard to go wrong if you stick with a reputable manufacturer.
Also 10mm's are a fine caliber to shoot from the 1911 platform. But it will be hard to find one under $1000. Check out Fusion Firearms for a nice 10mm.
For a non 1911 type .45 the Sig P220 is a fine weapon.

For anyother caliber in a steel frame the first place I would start looking would be Sig. CZ's are also good guns for the money. If you are looking for something to conceal look at Kahr Arms. They make fantastic little guns.

That should get you started on some nice guns with steel frames.

missed your edit. Here is what I would get then If you are looking for a steel framed gun with little recoil. You can get a DA/SA trigger or the DAK trigger. I prefer the DAK
http://www.sigsauer.com/CatalogProductDetails/p226.aspx
 
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cm_bushman said:
I was thinking of overpenetration, and that does concern me with a magnum, but I live out in the boonies so I'm really just buying it to have a good handgun. My father in law has a few small Taurus .38's, a couple of Jericho's, and a couple Beretta 92's. His father has a King Cobra from way back, but I don't think it'll ever be shot again, it's more of a collector piece now. I'll have to shoot with those a bit to see what I like, but I just like the idea of a nice beefy .357 mag with it's power and .38 option for plinking.

I've heard a 6" barrel is optimum for all-around use, does this wash with you guys? That seems pretty long. I have a small frame, so I'm not wanting a 5lb. gun.
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Overpenetration is going to be an issue with almost all handgun calibers. Heavy, slow moving projo's dont like to stop too well. A 5.56 AR will penetrate less drywall than a 9mm,45,457, etc. handgun due to the light projo dumping the majority of its velocity as soon as it contacts something.

Im an hk-aholic, so I will be quite biased when it comes to purchasing advice. Basically get what you shoot well and like. For a great price and fantastic trigger, look no further than a walther ppq. However, if you want a manual safety, thats not the firearm for you...
 
If you're looking for something for concealed carry, I keep the Glock 32 with me and its served me well for a long while ( just like most things from glock). For a "Night stand" firearm though, I keep a 1911 made by Kimber chambered in .45 ACP. It's a really amazing gun, but it's way too bulky to carry around anywhere. Even the Glock 32 gets in my way from time to time. If you're looking for something to carry every day, you probably need to make sure it's comfortable on you, or you're just not going to want to carry it all the time.
 
8 shot 357 Smith and Wesson. I'm a big fan of this: http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...75660_775655_757896_ProductDisplayErrorView_Y
170133_01_md.jpg
It's not quite super short snubby, but it is a hefty 37 ounces or so. Recoil will be fine with it. It's not gonna break your wrist being an all steel frame. Not like shooting a .357 out of a polymer frame LCR. At 37 ounces, it weighs almost as much as my full size steel CZ (38.1 ounces). If you lean towards the 357, I would go this route since it's a Performance Center model with an action job and a few other things.

Ruger SP101 is nice too, but doesn't get you 8 rounds in the cylinder.

CZs...you think they're budget, but you can get some nicely customized ones from the CZ Custom Shop in Arizona starting around 800 bucks going past 2k easily. I recommend a CZ Shadow or a CZ 75 Shadow if you don't like full length railed dust covers. This will cover your 9mm. You did mention having access to a few Jerichos. If by Jericho you mean the Jericho 941 (known more commonly as the Baby Eagle, Baby Desert Eagle or Uzi Eagle), than shoot those. They will have an identical grip angle to the CZ 75 line of guns and have a similar trigger when comparing to an unmodified CZ. If the 9mm is what you decide on, then consider the CZ's I mentioned since they are what the Jericho was modeled after. The 941 was my first hand gun.

And just a bit of history, the 941 is named because the original gun from IWI/IMI came with a conversion barrel from 9 mm to .41 action express.

I'm partial to steel frames too, but having said that for .45 for 1000 bucks, I don't think you can compete with an HK45. Opening a can of worms here, but I just don't think you can get a reliable 1911 for 1000 bucks. That leaves you with polymer 45s and the HK45 is best IMO. Yes, twice the price of a Glock, but it actually has the ergonomics of a 1911. It doesn't feel like a 2x4 in your hand like a Glock does. EDIT: Actually, a CZ 97b fits the bill for a steel .45 that's reliable and under 1000. EDIT number 2!: For what it's worth, the HK45 recoils pretty lightly being a polymer frame gun. I don't know if it's the recoil buffer that's on the guide rod or what, but it was pretty tame to shoot when I owned one. Super reliable gun.

Only .45 revolver I know of from the top of my head is a Smith and Wesson 625 JM. JM after Jerry Miculek. Should run you under 1k too.

10mm..., I got nothing for ya. No experience with the 10mm other than it's what the .40 always wants to be but fails. :P
 
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And just because he's damn cool, here's Jerry and his revolver. It sounds so crazy when he reloads. It almost sounds like the audio is out of synch, as if he was shooting faster than could be recorded. hah

[youtube]lLk1v5bSFPw[/youtube]

I dunno what scares me more. Jerry with a revolver or Jerry with an autoloader.
 
That is a broad net to cast, and it is near impossible to tell what is the best fit for you without more information. You have experience with a few models, what do you like about them? what don't you like? Concerns like "stopping power" and "over-penetration" between service calibers(9/40/45/38/357 etc) don't mean much outside of arguing for fun. You want a model that is affordable in a caliber you are comfortable with in cost, perceived need and recoil, and then try it out and see if it feels good. Some formal instruction and an open mind can also be beneficial, and can help you develop a technique that fits, and help you gravitate twards the best firearm choice for you.
 
He did ask for opinions, but it's true. The best advice is always heading to a LGS to try different makes and models, if at all possible. Or, if you have friends that have different guns, ask to try them. However, he's in the boonies, so that may not be possible for him.

Since he's in the boonies, I'd def go 357. If confronted with dangerous wild life like a bear, I'd def prefer having a 357 over something like a 9mm.

JParanee is prob gonna chime in sooner or later since he's a huge revolver advocate. He's got a couple nice ones.
 
As far as I'm concerned I'd pick a 10mm. I carry a glock 20, and at 15+1 capacity its everything anyone could ask for. I read somewhere that ted nugent took down a cape buffalo with his 10mm. The ballistics say it all.
 
Jastab said:
As far as I'm concerned I'd pick a 10mm. I carry a glock 20, and at 15+1 capacity its everything anyone could ask for. I read somewhere that ted nugent took down a cape buffalo with his 10mm. The ballistics say it all.
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I don't believe Ruger or Smith and Wesson currently produce a 10mm revolver. The SW 610 is kind of a unicorn for most revolver enthusiasts.

I think the most accessible 10mm guns are the Glock 20, Colt Delta, and probably some older steel framed 10mm Smith and Wessons (610 and 1006. 610 shares the name with the revolver as well). New Delta is ~1500.

180 grain 357 and 180 grain 10mm both have similar velocity and similar energy. Right around 675 foot pounds. 357 ammo is more easily available in my experience too. I never see much 10mm anywhere.
 
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I do love 10mm, and namely my 6" 610. I have shot stock revolver in the PSA match up here with it, and the occasional bowling pin match, it is one of my favorites, can be soft with 40S&W or It can crank with my long OAL handloads. It's a N-frame with a 44mag cylinder bored smaller, so it can take all the 10mm can produce and more. If I had to choose a single firearm, especially for a first time buyer, this wouldn't be it, wimpy and rare factory ammo, loud and rude with hot loads, too big and heavy to carry for long. For home defense especially in the sticks, I would pass a hundred handguns to pick up a 12ga or semi-auto rifle. For marksmanship and a fun cheap plinker a quality 22, for defense and service caliber combat shooting I'm an autoloader guy, and prefer doublestack 45s, although a 686 is about as fine a middleweight revolver as you can get.

S7300411-1_zps2ba1ffcc.jpg
 
harkamus said:
8 shot 357 Smith and Wesson. I'm a big fan of this: http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...75660_775655_757896_ProductDisplayErrorView_Y
170133_01_md.jpg
It's not quite super short snubby, but it is a hefty 37 ounces or so. Recoil will be fine with it. It's not gonna break your wrist being an all steel frame. Not like shooting a .357 out of a polymer frame LCR. At 37 ounces, it weighs almost as much as my full size steel CZ (38.1 ounces). If you lean towards the 357, I would go this route since it's a Performance Center model with an action job and a few other things.
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Harkamus, I like your tastes. I'm an auto guy through and through, but a LGS had one of these and I was immediately smitten. Good heft, and the craftsmanship reminded me of a nice 1911. Trigger was incredible and in single action it was the very definition of crispness. I'm going to grab one as soon as the budget allows.
 
alucard0822 said:
I do love 10mm, and namely my 6" 610.
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Wow...you have such a rare gun. Awesome.

kamagong said:
Harkamus, I like your tastes. I'm an auto guy through and through, but a LGS had one of these and I was immediately smitten. Good heft, and the craftsmanship reminded me of a nice 1911. Trigger was incredible and in single action it was the very definition of crispness. I'm going to grab one as soon as the budget allows.
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It's a beauty isn't it? I'm an autoloader guy too, but that 627 just does it for me. It's just got a level of crafstmanship for the price that many firearms don't have, revolver or autoloader. Plastic fantastic seems to be the trend these days, particularly of the striker fired ilk. But you cannot match the feel of a steel framed gun in my mind, just like you can't match the feel of a hammer fired gun. I like my da/sas and my steelies.
 
harkamus said:
It's a beauty isn't it? I'm an autoloader guy too, but that 627 just does it for me. It's just got a level of crafstmanship for the price that many firearms don't have, revolver or autoloader. Plastic fantastic seems to be the trend these days, particularly of the striker fired ilk. But you cannot match the feel of a steel framed gun in my mind, just like you can't match the feel of a hammer fired gun. I like my da/sas and my steelies.
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You and I are kindred spirits. Plastic fantastic has its place, just not in my hands. But that's the great thing about personal weapons -- they're personal.
 
No 10mm for me, except for maybe a glock 20 when going hiking in bear country. Of course as a secondary to a 300 win mag.

OP, what part of the world are you in? If anywhere near me, i'd be down for a range trip. You buy you own ammo though, i had to promise my first born for some 9mm the other day :D:D
 
I wish I hadn't sold my Model 20 in 10MM, If it's versatility you're looking for that model of Glock is tough to beat. A lot of firepower. GP100 or 686 would make for a fine .357 wheel gun. I know it's a 9MM, and some aren't as fond of it, but a CZ75 is a grand pistol, or its bigger brother the CZ97. I'd try and get a plinker of some sort too, in 22LR, like a Browning Buckmark or Mk3 Ruger.
 
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