Need Advice On First Gun.

So I plan on buying my first hand cannon within the next few months, problem is im debating ether to get a 1911 or a 357. S&W. Give me your advice.

reply to post by Surtur


Do you really need to buy a gun?
Who are you going to shoot?

Got to give us more info than that, man

What made you narrow it down to those 2? What will you be using it for? Conceal and carry? Home defense? Plinking at the range? Farm/ranch pistol?

If this is your first pistol, you cant go wrong with a .22 and practice, practice, practice.

My advice?

Take a gun safety course.

and,

Never use your Gun.

Originally posted by homeslice
reply to post by Surtur

 

Do you really need to buy a gun?
Who are you going to shoot?

Stupid...how 'bout someone trying to inflict bodily harm..? But that would never happen in this day and age, huh..?

Well it's going to be more for concealment and home safety I forgot to say, I want something that's going to drop someone in one shot and not jam on me. I've had bad experience with my fathers 9mm Russian pistol, my worst fear is having someone kick down the door and my firearm jams on me.

reply to post by facelift


If only everybody had guns then we would all be safe.

reply to post by Surtur


Full-size 1911 .45 caliber. Mine was a Springfield brand, and it was the best gun I ever owned. Super smooth and nice. I dream of one day buying a tricked out Kimber brand, but my vote is definitely the 1911.

Your answer would depend on intended use.
Your considerations indicate that power is important to you.
A larger caliber may have rounds which are harder to come by if TSHTF.
Having never owned a firearm I cant advise model however type consideration should align with its intended use.
The only guns I use are finger guns and when I pull those bad boys out you know I m having a good time on the dance floor.

If you're looking for versatility, I'd get a shotgun. cheap and plenty of ammo of different types. slug, buckshot, etc.

.22 caliber is good for accuracy, being quiet, and having a #load of cheap ammo

for pistols

.45 is pretty expensive, same with .357 mag. 9mm is definitely the cheapest, good for close combat, accurate, and most guns like the 92 beretta or glock 17 can hold 17 bullets in a single mag. I'd look into reloading ammunition yourself too.

Originally posted by Surtur
Well it's going to be more for concealment and home safety I forgot to say, I want something that's going to drop someone in one shot and not jam on me. I've had bad experience with my fathers 9mm Russian pistol, my worst fear is having someone kick down the door and my firearm jams on me.

You shouldnt discount 9mms. Honestly Id rather have 15/20 medium sized HP bullets with medium recoil than 7 large bullets with heavy recoil. Really once you get off the first shot with ANY bullet, they are going to be shocked that theyve been shot, and youll have all the advantage with whatever gun you are using.

If you want a one shot thing, get a shotgun I guess. Or if your the type to brag about how big your pistol is ( ), get a .50.

revolvers are best for a beginner easier tounderstand and master the mechanics ( fewer things to go wrong;easier to understand the function and safety condition.).

.357 has outstanding stopping statistics; AND awful muzzle-blast/flash and recoil.Its a great100yard hunting round.

I carried and am trained with a .45 acp 1911. It is my choice; but I can deal with a failure to feed or failure to eject immediately. I know just removing the magazine may still leave a round in the chamber I can't see.and the gun may not be "unloaded".

The question wasn't "stupid": I am very pro firearms; trained and I realize the situation necessary to create a 100% legal self defense shooting situation happen so infrequently; I will probably not pursue a ccw ( now that its legal here in my state). You can't shoot someone for taking your T.V. or keying your car...Only to save your life.

I've had experience with many 22. pistols, but they just don't suit my fancy. I want something that's going to do more bang for my buck something that's going to save me when the SHTF. I have plenty of experience with assault rifles so that's not my worry, it's the little things I'm worried about.

Originally posted by homeslice
reply to post by facelift

 

If only everybody had guns then we would all be safe.

Lets ask the two most prolific pacifists in the history of man, shall we?

and he that has no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.- Jesus

Among the many misdeeds of the British rule in India, history will look upon the Act depriving a whole nation of arms as the blackest. - Gandhi, in "Gandhi, An Autobiography", p. 446

mmhhhhmmm...

reply to post by METACOMET


Jesus... HA.

And Ghandi was NOT referring to private ownership of guns, but to the British Government's refusal to enlist Indian troops into the WW1 war effort.

Its not like he was telling everyone to run out and buy a gun.

For first shot accuracy, the cocked and locked 45 acp is your baby.....
No need to go with the caliber however......
I would reccomend the 1911 colt in a caliber that is standard to them and still can stack 10 rds of powerful ammo.
That is the 38 super caliber....Colt 1911s come in this caliber and they are readily available....
The 38super was intended to penetrate the primitive bullet proof vests of its time....
If you can reload these shells yourself, they are well capable of being loaded up to a major IPSC caliber for comparativbe stopping power, as well as giving you 100 yd accuracy aiming flat at targets....(in their loaded up configuration....not sure about stock ammo there....)
This round is comparable to a 9mm rnd.
They are usually .36 caliber bullets and can be used in both 9mm and 38super reloads....
You will like the recoil and shootability of the 38super of that i am sure....
There are also larger cap mags available for the 45 frame...that extend below the pistol grip...
These give 10 rnd capaciy to a 1911 in 45 cal...acp.
I would think also about penetration of the round you choose because 45s typically dont go through walls well....
The38 sup or 9 mm will penetrate further and may endanger anyone to the otherside of a wall that you may not want to hit....
There is NO ONE gun......nope none....
Think about the use of the weapon, choose the weapon for its duty not the other way round....
Outside in the street id choose the 10 rnds of 100 yd firepower of the 38 super
Comming out of my bedroon to confront soneone id rather be cocked and locked with a 45 acp.
Bullets too are also things which you should consider carefully when buying them....
38 super stock rnd 1100 ft per sec approxholdover about 4-6 inches
45 acp goes 750- 850fpsec.heavy bullet 230 gr i think....for fmj,s the holdover about 9 or more inches....
Load up 38 super to 1300 +/- ft per sec....hold over at 100yd =0

Originally posted by homeslice
reply to post by METACOMET

 

Jesus... HA.

And Ghandi was NOT referring to private ownership of guns, but to the British Government's refusal to enlist Indian troops into the WW1 war effort.
Its not like he was telling everyone to run out and buy a gun.

Right... You can run your circular logic game on it all you want. It's clear what Ghandi was referring to. But, whatever floats your world view... Nice cut & paste job btw.

the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Is this also not referring to the private ownership of firearms? For some reason I have a feeling you think not.

Originally posted by Surtur
So I plan on buying my first hand cannon within the next few months, problem is im debating ether to get a 1911 or a 357. S&W. Give me your advice.

Ignore the idiots who want to debate whether you have the right to possess a firearm. This isn't the question you posed to the forum. Instead, listen to the posters who are asking you how you plan to utilize the weapon.

Home defense? Defense from animals, in case you live in a rural part of the country where large game exceeds you on the food chain. (Anti-gun yahoos never consider that one). How much training and education are you willing to put into your firearm? How much do you intend to spend?

Someone suggested a .22; while I wouldn't depend on a .22 caliber weapon for protection, they are great practice weapons and cheap to shoot. Shot guns provide all around great protection and cost is not prohibitive. I have a 9mm Glock 19 and a .40 cal Walther PPS Slim Line for concealed carry. I shoot often with both of them and both are reliable weapons. I like the Glock for civilian shooters. I consider them the Tomahawks of hand gun...fire and forget. The Glock is sleek, light, minimal externals to catch up on clothing, superior safety mechanisms, minimal moving inside parts, easy to take down and clean. You can't go wrong with the .45 ACP, as someone suggested.

Point is...buy what is comfortable for you. If you're comfortable with your weapon you will shoot often. If you shoot often your weapon will be dependable when you need it. As a poster suggested, do yourself a favor a take a safety class.

And find out what your state gun laws are. Know what your castle laws are. Read up on deadly force.

Good luck

reply to post by Surtur


Purchase a glock pistol, they don't jam; and you can get a laser sight also so you don't miss.

If this is your first pistol and you are scared of jamming go with a .38spl S&W Model 10 or Model 64. Cops used them for years and put plenty of bad guys down with them. You can practice with standard pressure loads until you are accurate enough to try +p loads. Plus, you can find police/security trade in models for about $250.

One shot stopping power is a myth when it comes to handguns. None of them produce enough power to knock a man down or ensure an immediate stop. Accuracy and penetration are going to make more of a difference than .1" of diameter or 200lb/ft of pressure.

Read the FBI report Handgun Wounding Factors and Effectiveness. Also take an NRA Basic Pistol course. Then shoot a few guns until you find what makes you comfortable. Then purchase one and practice, practice, practice. A .38spl to the chest is much more effective than a .45acp round in the air.