Pistol of Choice

I know less about guns than I do about coal.
However, for the first time in my life, I believe I want to own a gun.
I think I want to get a good, untility type pistol. Mostly self defense, some target shooting.
I thought I would put the question to you guys:
If you had to pick one reasonably priced ($300-400) pistol to own, what would it be?

I do plan on taking all the necessary safety and gun use classes because owning a gun sounds pretty serious to me.
It's just that not owning one nowdays sounds even worse!
I appreciate any insight you experts can share with me.
Thanks,
-Len

Hard to beat any Ruger handgun for the dollar, and they are made in the U.S.A.

Bk

Lots of questions left unanswered about how you plan to use the weapon. Will you carry it? concealed? home defense? There are so many options that it makes a liberal squirm! You should find a profesional in your area and make an informed decision after handling and using various firearms. If you are not going to buy multiple guns you need the best one for YOU, not the best for us.
Without more info and I am not a profesional, I would look at the new 3 inch Taurus Judge. It fires 3 inch .410 shotgun shells and a couple other "normal" pistol rounds. Some of the pistol rounds are light for target shooting. The defense loads available in .410 are deadly at close range.
Have fun picking one and enjoy the classes.

Kevin

Hi Len,

The first thing I always tell anyone looking to get a gun is to think about what you want to do with it. When I brought my first Taurus I choose the 38 revolver because it was a basic gun for home defense; there is nothing fancy about it. It doesn't have a lot of range but you don't need that in a home defense scenario. That’s usually close in; you just aim at center mass. Nor do you need a large magazine capability. My revolver has 5 shots which will mess up anyone's day. I also had young children and although we keep our guns and ammo locked up in a gun safe I wanted something that wouldn't go off if it got dropped and had a hard trigger pull. The Taurus fit the bill. It's also small so I can carry it concealed with no problem. I'm currently in the market for a 9mm for my use. Check out this website. It will answer a lot of your questions.

http://www.internetarmory.com/handgun_defense.htm

Once you’ve decided on what you want to do with the gun check out the manufactures’ websites and see if something strikes your fancy. Then, before you buy, go to the local range and see if they rent guns and have that brand available. If at all possible shoot it before you buy it. I have a friend, a small woman, who insisted that the 357 Magnum was the gun for her. Ha! She could barely pick it up let alone successfully fire it. You should also be able to assemble and dis-assemble your gun by yourself. My husband has a 9mm which I cannot dis-assemble - my hands are too weak - therefore I don’t shoot it without him with me at the range. It’s his gun.

I'm glad to hear you are planning to take some educational gun courses. In my opinion everyone in the house should take the classes. We make it a requirement when the kids turn 14. Of course by then they are very familiar with the guns and know that guns are not toys. That doesn’t mean they get the combination to the safe but they all go shooting with us and of course clean the guns they used. Education is the best way to avert tragedy. Good luck, I hope you find your gun. Lisa

I agree with all who say talk to professionals & take any courses you can. If you want the best home defense weapon, my opinion is to buy a 12 gauge shotgun. They are well within your price range & easiest weapon to use for home defense. If you want to concealed carry, that's a much tougher question.

If you are looking for some kind of Semi-auto pistol for home defense I would recommend glock(very reliable) Personally I picked up a Steyr M9 from CDNN in texas. I think I paid 383 transferred but there is no tax where I live. It is very similar to a glock but much more modern. Reliability is key. Hi points are ridiculously cheap(110-140) and I believe they are made in Ohio. They have a lifetime warranty and from what I hear you can mail your weapons back to the manufacturer directly in the mail without a dealer as long as its direct to the manufacturer for repair or whatever. Rugers are high quality and inexpensive.

Yo Due
Just go get yourself a 12ga single barrel. Done deel, no regisahoin no hassle and it gets the job done, also more kid frendley. A child may play with a pistol more so than a heavy shotgun.
Ray

Hi Len,
Start out with all safety training etc..

The first pistol to build your shooting skill with is the RUGER MK II or Ruger MK III .22 LR.
The Ruger .22 LR pistol is built like a tank.
Buy a used Ruger and shoot it until it is second nature. 1,500 - 2,000 rounds of cheap ammo.
At this point you can sell the Ruger or keep it for fun and practice.
I never feel under gunned with a Ruger .22 LR and laser grips. You will hit your target every time.

For home or personal protection I use a Ruger Bisley revolver and or a Taurus Tracker in .45 COLT.
The revolver will always go BANG if you need it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruger_MK_III
RS

I am a 1911 pistol guy. The fit, form and function of this design is the benchmark for all designs that followed.

Take your time, rent some of the types that interest you at a local range, shoot them, evaluate each and choose the weapon that has the most natural feel.

Everyone will have a different opinion right down to the minutiae, the consensus will agree, however, pick a caliber worthy of your goals.

Edit : For home defense, you will want some tritium night sights. Get this option at the time of purchase you will thank me later. Don't forget a weapon grade light either, this too will spawn a separate debate over whether it should be attached to the weapon or held in your free hand. You be the judge, it's your life.

If looking for a basic defense weapon look hard at the ruger sp101. very good gun for the money. can be concealed and has plenty of knockdown power. Probably a lot cheaper than a semi.

If you are looking for self defense weapon and are not gun savy or practiced...YET... then I think a double action revolver in say a .357 caliber is best. nothing to slide,click,switch on or off just point and shoot. no shells ejecting ect. the very lightweight ones "airweight" are usually made of titanium. Taurus has nice ones and a great feature is the "handcuff style" little key that locks the gun if there will be little children around. note: leaving it locked for safety is not a good idea as time is the key factor to saving one own's life in a gunfight.

my pick for the more savy is the P226 sig nail driver...

Poconoeagle wrote:If you are looking for self defense weapon and are not gun savy or practiced...YET... then I think a double action revolver in say a .357 caliber is best. nothing to slide,click,switch on or off just point and shoot. no shells ejecting ect.

The Ruger SP101!!

http://ruger.com/Firearms/FAProdView?mo ... 8&return=Y

My pistol of choice is a Les Baer 1911 Thunder Ranch Special. It is set up for fighting, it is accurate, it is extremely reliable and it will do the job. That being said... handguns suck. The only thing they are good for is to fight your way back to the rifle that you should have never put down in the first place.

Mike

PS- Sure Fire light in non-shooting hand

PPS- I did not see the reasonably priced restriction, probably a Ruger of some sort. The .357s are great, but revolvers take far mor practice to be good than does a semi-auto. I would stay with a semi in 45 ACP.

Len, I can't believe being a Browns fan has not called for protecting yourself until now.

Complete Heat wrote:My pistol of choice is a Les Baer 1911 Thunder Ranch Special. It is set up for fighting, it is accurate, it is extremely reliable and it will do the job. That being said... handguns suck. The only thing they are good for is to fight your way back to the rifle that you should have never put down in the first place.

I beg to differ! I do most of my hunting with a handgun. And if you saw me you would know that I was not starving to death.