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recommend me a handgun up to $600

Another vote for Glock (with night sites).

Get one that fits your hand and shoot it a lot.

Hard to beat for simplicity and reliability.

I don't like external safeties on a home defense pistol: you don't need to be fumbling with them in the middle of the night.

If you don't shoot very often; just get a S&W 586 revolver with a 4 inch barrel (I prefer the round butt).
 
Have you thought about going out and trying which you like better?

Glock, SIG and H&K are all pretty well equal in quality, reliability and accuracy.

Its the features that differ and some people like some different things. If you like the glock trigger, great, but some people like a DA/SA trigger so thats H&K or SIG.

Do you want an external safety? Then SIG and Glock are out.

If you want DA/SA but no safety, you want sig, or a H&K USP variant without the safety, but no glock.

If you want no DA/SA, no hammer and minimal external controls, you want glock.

Maybe you like a 1911 style weapon, so get a kimber or a H&K USP so you can carry cocked and locked.

Its almost useless for someone to tell you what you want. I like all except 1911's.

I got a glock 26 9mm cause I am on a budget and I liked it. I could have easily gotten a sig 225 and been fine, but I just didn't.

Carry what you shoot well with. You may find you like S&W semi-autos in which case, your weird and need help in the head, but thats your thing.

For quality, most modern guns will serve you. Glock, H&K, Sig-Saur and kimber are in my oppinion the top manufactureres. S&W is good too, but not the same quality.
 
I'm with the Tourist, I dislike Glocks-I actually don't like guns where you can't see the hammer.

My opinion is that the 1911 is the best pistol ever made. I don't have experience with the Norinco though.

Cz makes some fine guns at a very reasonable price, including .40s and .45 ACP.

Sigs and HK are fine guns, but are above your stated price range.
 
The Glock is great and you don't have to fiddle with it to get it to work. And no pain in the ass decocking levers and safetys. "This is my saftey" Hootch BHD
 
Shgeo,

Don't get me wrong, I beleve that a Glock will go 'bang' every time it is needed, my comment was more to aethetics and ergonomics. To me, it's like grabbing a blocky squirt gun.

But this is not a beauty contest. This is about having a functional firearm with you 24-7 when either myself or my loved ones are in danger. Besides, the Federales will confiscate the firearm after you drop the aggressor, anyway. Having them take a Glock wouldn't hurt my collection of Colts and SIGs.

As for the hammer, yes, I like that, as well. However, I believe that Glock's safe action trigger has been tested, and enough years have passed to have faith in the system. Many LEOs carry the Glock.

I still dislike the Glock. I also dislike Pepto-Bismal, galloshes, dental fillings, sweaty work-outs and discussing 'feelings' with my wife. Alas, these all enhance life and safety, so you learn to adapt.
 
I have to go along with those who have reccomended going to a range, renting a pistol there and trying it out. There are so many variables for instance for me a Berretta 92 is just too big for my hand but a Cougar (which looks the same) isn't. The grips in a Glock 9mm and a .45acp are different sizes. Try them out and see whick one suits your needs the best.
 
Originally posted by rdg
Nismo, have you shot a handgun? Now don't get jumpy on me, I want to know how much experience you have is all. Tell me about your experience and what you want a handgun to do.
I've been shooting since I was 5, and I have specific ideas about what works for use in defense, plinking, hunting, etc. Also, if you live in NorCal, I might be able to offer thoughts on ranges and good gun stores where the help acctually knows what they are talking about.
Bob
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Yep, Ive shot things from 9mm Uzis, 45 glocks, 380 autos, 38 spcl. 357 mag,Isreal mil. sniper rifles ect. I currently own 2 rifles- british 303 enfield and a 22 lr bolt action which isnt the best for protection unless I use the 303 and Im gettign attacked by a grizzly bear :)

Basically I dont shoot much, Just want something that I can have thats good for protection(not conceiled carry).
 
Nismo, one thing to keep in mind if it's for home protection is if you live in an apt. or neighborhood with houses close you could easily miss or go through the intruder and hit your nieghbors' house or even an unintended person. I mean if it for home protection only you may want to consider a 12 gauge shotgun with a pistol grip and just some reg. shot and a big patter like an improved cylinder. That way it will pretty much take out any thing in its path and won't be nearly as likely to go through a wall and kill somebody else. This way you won't have to be nearly as accurate either. You'd be surprised how many people actually miss the intended target in the heat of the moment.

I have a few handguns but wouldn't consider discharging one of them in my house, just incase I had a stray bullet. Just something to really think about. This kind of stuff happens allot.
 
I have had a Glock but had problems with the muzzel flip.I now have a Kimber classic stainless with night sights.It is the best 1911 I have ever shot.You should be able to pick up a used blued one for about 600.00.
I have had mine for 2 yrs and paided 719.00 for it when I got it with out the might sights.My dad got his the year before and his was the same only with adjustable black sights.He paid 539.00.
Now they are going for about 800.00 to 900.00 new.
Better grab one before they go up even more.The local shop has cut down on the nuber of Kimbers they are carrying because the price has gone up so much.They are carrying a few Wilson Combats along with the Kimbers because the Wilsons aren't that much higher.
BTW for about 600 you can get a Walther PPKS,I love the feel of it but not the caliber.
 
Aother Glock vote here. They're ugly as hell, but my model 21 goes bang with a calming regularity. They just plain work.
From what I've seen, more cops seem to carry Glocks than just about any other single brand. They also make them in several shapes and sizes so you can likely find one that fits your needs.

I think the advice to go rent a few at a range and try them out is great advice. That's how I ended up with my Glock.

I'd be wary of the advice above regarding a 12 ga not penetrating. Last I checked most apartment walls are made of two sheets of drywall and some fluffy fiberglas. Most of the 12 ga I've shot will make a nice hole through a wall like that at close range. If you're concerned about overpenetration, frangible bullets like the Glaser Safety Slug are available in most popular calibers, although they are a bit expensive.

These are my opinions, YMMV.

jmx
 
If you want stellar reliability, get a Glock.

If you want accuracy and build quality, get a SIG.

If you want all three, get a USP. :D
 
Hi Nismo, Well I'm going to use your statement of "don't shoot much" as a place to start. I grew up shooting semi-autos, then I got married and had kids. They all know how to shoot, but they don't do it much. In contemplating what type of handgun would work the best for home defense I had to factor that in. Autos are easy to use in many ways, but they require practice, the more the better. They also have a more complicated solution to mis-fire problems. I finally decided on double action revolvers. The reason is the manual of arms is very simple, aim and pull the trigger. If it doesn't go bang, repeat. No problem remembering to swipe the safety off, no springs to take a memory set, no problem with feeding hollowpoints. That was many years ago. I still have my autos and love shooting them, especially the 1911's, but I still rely on revolvers for home defense and have grown to really enjoy shooting them too. I think my email will come up if you click on my name, feel free to email me directly. If you live close enough we might be able go to the range sometime.
Bob
 
You will get alot of different opinions on this question. But you asked and I will tell you to go for the Glock model 23.
 
Two Ruger Mark II 10 shot semi-autos. Less than $250 each and spend the rest on ammo. Yeah, I know, it's only 22LR but if you can't stop it with 20 rounds you shouldn't have messed with it in the first place!
 
Originally posted by mhawg
Two Ruger Mark II 10 shot semi-autos. Less than $250 each and spend the rest on ammo. Yeah, I know, it's only 22LR but if you can't stop it with 20 rounds you shouldn't have messed with it in the first place!
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mess with it? If someone comes into my house and messes with me I dont want to be busy fumbling around with 22s.
 
Don't sell the .22 short. (No pun intended)

Of all the guns I own, there is one gun that my friends won't compete with me for money, even when I let them shoot the gun of their choice.

I hit the best with my 22/45 Ruger bull barrel.

I shoot it a lot. So far, about +4,500 rounds. Most of the 1911s I've shot a lot went 6,000 rounds, but over a lot longer period of time. I shoot the Ruger every time I go out.

You've heard the term 'right between the eyes.' Bad form. The round part of the skull will actually deflect a bullet. I say 'right on the filtrum.' That's the little divot under your nose. Under the cartillage of your nose is just a big hole, then it's a straight line to your brain.

My little Ruger will get there!;)
 
I shoot copper-splashed. I've NEVER had a stoppage.

Clean your pistol, and don't carry .22s loose in your pocket. If your pistol is finnicky about your brand, change brands.

This goes for all defensive pistols. If your gun goes 'clunk' when it should have gone 'bang,' find out why!

There's a name we have at my house for a gun that chokes, we call it "your gun."
 
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