Pistol Shopping

I'm way to British to be in this thread lol. 🇬🇧

I've always (and still do) wanted to go to a firing range and try out some guns.

Have to travel to another country if I want to do it 😒

Ps I've been watching this guys channel for 3 years now. He literally experients with every single gun available. There should be a vid for every gun owner out there 👍🏻

youtu.be...

My wife and I both have a S&W Shield (version 1.0) in 9mm for EDC. Would definitely recommend.

originally posted by: tjack
If you haven't, try to find a range where you can rent and try them all. One will probably stand out as your favorite for reasons your eye cannot anticipate.

I was at my closest range not long ago, there pistol inventory was completely picked over, almost had nothing but Glocks. I am looking to try one a little farther away I've heard good things about.

originally posted by: ManBehindTheMask
a reply to: SleeperHasAwakened

I really really love my Smith & Wesson M&P Shield in .40 even comes with a built in green laser, and is nice and compact, packs a punch and its a great shooting sidearm

Looks very nice! I definitely am interested in a dot site or one of those holographic ones. My right eye vision ain't that great. Not sure how I feel about thumb safeties.

originally posted by: AutomateThis1
Meh, on most of that list. Have you actually held or shot any of them?

Out of that list the P226 is the only one I'd buy. I don't like striker fired pistols. Hammer fired is the only thing I'd ever carry as far as a pistol goes.

I would second the notion about the Canik TP9. Out of all the striker fired pistols that's the one I like the most.

If I could sway you to go hammer fired, again I would say go with the P226. Navy Seals did a heck of a lot more than torture tested them and were happy with it, and if it's good enough for special forces it's good enough for you.

I actually prefer the Beretta M9A3. Awesome trigger, smooth action, slide slides like hot butter. I've put thousands of rounds through mine and haven't had a single malfunction. Overall I like the M9s and 98s.

Check out the HK 45 it's a pretty nice gun, and if you're dead set on striker fire the HK VP9 is a pretty sweet shooter.

I could do a better job of recommending you a gun if you could give me more information.

Is this a daily carry? Holster selection could be difficult or easy depending on the gun.

originally posted by: AutomateThis1
Is this for around the home?

Exactly, home defense, not intending to carry.

originally posted by: AutomateThis1
Is this for a SHTF situation?

If I'm slinging it out at home, presumably we're in SHTF mode

originally posted by: AutomateThis1
Do you live in California?

No, Connecticut, which isn't much better. This is why I dialed down the mag capacity, most of these are 15/17 IIRC, but in Connecticut they limit size to 13.

originally posted by: AutomateThis1
Do you want single stack or double stack? Magazine size can vary from six to eight rounds to 12/15/17 or 20+

Likely won't need to be double stack, as per above,

originally posted by: AutomateThis1
Do you want to be able to put aftermarket sights on it? Lights? Lasers? I honestly don't care about lights or lasers, but to each their own. Just know that aftermarket sights and lasers will limit you on holster options.

YES, thanks for raising this, definitely would like to put a holo sight on it, which I see Sig Sauer has some sick ones.

originally posted by: AutomateThis1
If this is for home defense or SHTF I'd suggest a "pistol" like the Scorpions or such.

Lemme know. I'd rather suggest something that works for you and is what you want than have you get a thread full of opinions.

Good questions, thanks, yeah should have been more specific in my criteria:
* for home defense
* can't/won't need large capacity mags
* would like to be able to add aftermarket sights

originally posted by: Notoneofyou
Give the Canik TP9SFX a peek.

Absolutely love it, and hard to beat for the price.

I couldn't agree more! I have the SFX, the SFX Elite and SFX Whiteout edition. Each has been shot regularly and I haven't had a single FTF or FTE yet. Super accurate, insanely crisp trigger, decent sights. You just can't beat them for the price

Oh for home defense, I must not have read thoroughly. If I was just going for home defense I would get a full frame .45 (if not worried about collateral damage in other rooms), a Remi 500, or a PCC like an AR9, Ruger PC9, or Keltec Sub 2000. 9mm in hollow point has less chance of collateral damage than a lot of other rounds.

Have not used a Canik or Stoeger but they look like affordable full frame 9's based on a good design from the Israeli military.

We’ve got a couple Sig P320’s. They were our first pistols we selected after going to a local range and trying various 9mm’s. While I’m not a gun fanatic, I have to say that I LOVE them. I certainly haven’t shot anything as accurate as that, my grouping is pretty remarkable for someone who has had as little time in a range as I have.

It’s also awesome to be able to change the frame/slide within seconds. When we got the first one, they only had them in a dessert sand color, which my wife hated (she wants everything black) and for $40 you can buy a new frame and pop it on with little effort. I dig the dessert sand slide with the black frame.

I can certainly see why it’s the choice of many LEO/Servicemen.

Read your post and then read this on yahoo. Hope this helps.

"The Glock pistol has become a favorite among law enforcement and it now accounts for upwards of 75 percent of the police handgun market, and in recent years it has become favored by every elite unit in the military."

www.yahoo.com...

Personally for myself I have a few of those on your list. My go to carry gun has been the G19 for 10 years. When I taught Pistol and conceal carry I used the G19 as my sidearm. I love the look, weight, feel, craftsmanship, accuracy of the Sig Legion series. The shield shoots better for me than the walther PPS. My revolver .38 can shoot through pockets (Styriker fired guns cannot when pressed against the fabric, goes out of battery).

originally posted by: ManBehindTheMask
a reply to: SleeperHasAwakened

I really really love my Smith & Wesson M&P Shield in .40 even comes with a built in green laser, and is nice and compact, packs a punch and its a great shooting sidearm

It is such a sellers market now, hard to tell what something is worth.
Any ballpark on the average price of this weapon?
Thanks

originally posted by: charlyv

It is such a sellers market now, hard to tell what something is worth.
Any ballpark on the average price of this weapon?
Thanks

Believe it or not Academy Sports has great prices on firearms. The one shown in the pic is a 9 and they currently have it listed at $479.99 with green dot, $499.99 with red dot. The .40 is $499.99 so it would come down to caliber choice and availability of ammo. I stockpiled 9mm so that's what all my weapons are.

originally posted by: Daranini
a reply to: SleeperHasAwakened

Dear Sleeper,

I love my Sig P-365!

My most proficient friend just loves his Sig 365, but like most things, he's got something special model wise.
FWIW I can't stand the .40S&W round but I like my 7.62x25 Tokarev for armor & daily carry 1911LWC.

ganjoa

I have a 30+ year old Smith 669. It's good enough that I have no reason to replace it.

beverlyhillscop.fandom.com...

If it's for home defense I'd say stick with HK. You could go with something like the SP5/k.

SP5



You can use a sling or add a buttstock "brace" to turn it more into a more carbine look.

www.guncritic.com...

Might I interest you in possibly buying a shotgun?

Benelli M2

a reply to: AutomateThis1

TBH my first choice for a home defense item would be Mosberg tac shotgun. Been shopping those too.

www.sportsmans.com...

Like the stock on the 590a model, IIRC 10+1 capacity.

a reply to: SleeperHasAwakened

Those are nice. Mossbergs are usually pretty decent shotguns.

I suggested the Benneli, because it's got a shorter barrel, but mostly because it's semi-automatic. Meaning there's no break action, no lever action, or pump action.

You simply load it, and when ready to fire you pull the trigger. And some semi auto shotguns actually have detacheable magazines instead of a magazine tube.

When it comes to self defense and every second counts you don't want to waste time pulling shells out and reloading a break action, you don't want to have to pull the pump after every shot(or ya might, it is fun, and the sound of a pump action will give most people the runs

a reply to: SleeperHasAwakened

If we are talking home deffense it is 12 gauge all day. I like the kel tec KSG. I have 2 currently. Super short 26 inches long and holds 14+1 full size 12 gauge shells fast as you can pump em.

I run aquila mini shells in mine so I can pack a whole lot more bangs per mag tube. The shorter shells will have just as much knock down punch at short distances on a soft target imo.

www.keltecweapons.com...

youtu.be...

24+1 capacity with the ksg shooting mini shells. You will likely get bored of shooting bad guys before you ever have to think about reloading. Then again if more than 25 baddies are intent on entering your home you probably wont get to shot 25 anyway.

I also like having 2 mag tubes with a lever to switch between the two. It takes some training to get used to but boy howdy once you do being able to switch between slugs and buck on the fly is amazing.

Guess for home defense you could do 00 buck for doing the real biz, and some bird shot for fair warnings. Jmtc

Sorry had to edit to add: "No matter what platform you decide on pistol/shotgun," For home deffens there is no need to realy go with any optic like reflex or red dot. Just throw a lazer on it.

You likely would be engaging targets within 3-7 meters of distance in your home which wouldn't realy require max accuracy. Not wasting your time aquiring a sight picture could save your life.

No matter what you do practice realistically for your environment. If For example I know from my bedroom doorway to the end of my hall is only 12 feet and from the end of my hall way I have 12 feet to the front door and 15 to the dining room, I have no reason to practice shooting beyond 15 feet.

Now you can also practice deffensive concealment and where to position your body in different scenarios within your home, so you know how to watch your head here or that if you neal while rounding a certain corner you cant be viewed from x y or z location. Within reason you can harden points in your home that you find best for deffensive positions such as the right hand side of the inside of your bedroom doorway if a lefty or left side of if you are right handed.

A few ballistic blankets anchored properly between the sheet rock of your homes walls in key positions is a cheep and simple concealed way to increase you homes defenses. When combined with overwhelming firepower and practice you should be able to deffend your castle quite well.

originally posted by: Ahabstar
a reply to: Brotherman

Shoulder rig on that FNX maybe? It is what you have to do if you want to run around with a M9.

Mine (FNX) mounts on my chest rig special holster that contours body armor has a nice lanyard that connects to my shoulder clip with quick release stays so it don’t get in my way firing primary. Great pistol but it’s absolutely a tactical pistol, feels great open carry.

a reply to: Brotherman

Been on my wish list for years. I’m all for hammer over striker. Ran across a couple gently used for an “alright” price, but not a spectacular deal.

originally posted by: Stevenmonet
a reply to: SleeperHasAwakened

If we are talking home deffense it is 12 gauge all day. I like the kel tec KSG. I have 2 currently. Super short 26 inches long and holds 14+1 full size 12 gauge shells fast as you can pump em.

Kel-Tec KSG-25 FTW for home defense.

To the OP, if you're looking for inexpensive reliability, I've become quite fond of what Taurus is doing with their G series. The G3, for example, is a wonderful full size 9mm with a 17+1 magazine included for $260. Check out some of the Youtube reviews... professional shooters have blessed it as on par with the Glock 17 and possibly even a bit more accurate.