Advice please!

[RustneckNW]

So, my wife and I are getting our CWP's for each other for Xmas, which means I get to (finally) buy a handgun! I figure someone out there might have some input about what's on the market right now... I'm thinking about a 40S&W, but I don't have a ton of $$$.
I've been thinking about the Ruger 944, but there are so many choices out there!! Anyone have any ideas?

[Grizzly95]

I have a Ruger P94 and a Taurus PT140 both in .40SW and they both shoot great.

[KillBilly]

So, my wife and I are getting our CWP's for each other for Xmas, which means I get to (finally) buy a handgun! I figure someone out there might have some input about what's on the market right now... I'm thinking about a 40S&W, but I don't have a ton of $$$.
I've been thinking about the Ruger 944, but there are so many choices out there!! Anyone have any ideas?

Look at the Steyr M40A1. It runs about $399.00 last I looked. Steyr is a very reputable weapons manufacturer and now has a factory in Georgia. I had one in .40 Cal. but traded it for a rifle. It is a very comfortable weapon and works great for concealment.   The other good option is a Taurus 24/7, they go for between $369.00 and $400.00 at impact guns.

[Sagedawg]

Id look at the Springfield XD. Also you can get them in 45. Good luck.



  Sage

[RustneckNW]

Anyone heard anything about the Smith & Wesson Sigma's?
Or, how 'bout this... any recommendations on what to stay away from??
Anyone ever shot a Bersa or a Hi-Point?
I kinda like the look of the Beretta Storm, but they may be too pricey...

[Coasthunterjay]

Look at the Steyr M40A1. It runs about $399.00 last I looked. Steyr is a very reputable weapons manufacturer and now has a factory in Georgia. I had one in .40 Cal. but traded it for a rifle. It is a very comfortable weapon and works great for concealment.   The other good option is a Taurus 24/7, they go for between $369.00 and $400.00 at impact guns.

ILL 2ND THIS

[WildlifeAssassin]

springfield XDm 40 cal, 16+1

[MuleySniper]

My cop neighbor bought a Kahr not too long ago. It "felt" like a nice gun, I have no idea how they shoot. He really liked it. He got it pretty cheap from Mary's Pistols in T-Town.
MS

[snagglepants]

Anyone heard anything about the Smith & Wesson Sigma's?
Or, how 'bout this... any recommendations on what to stay away from??
Anyone ever shot a Bersa or a Hi-Point?
I kinda like the look of the Beretta Storm, but they may be too pricey...

I own a Hi-point c-9 as well as an older Bersa .380acp.  I can tell you that they are both very nice guns.  Don't let the price or the bad mouthing you read about hi-points scare you off.  Most people online that dump on hi-points have never even shot one.  Granted, if I could have afforded more at the time, I might have bought something else, but it is a solid, reliable american gun with a lifetime warranty.  I will say that all of the guns you are mentioning are full-sized and although not impossible, they are more difficult to conceal if you are looking for a strict carry gun, especially if you are shorter (like me)   Also, if you are interested, I have a posting right now with a 9mm hi point up for sale or trade....just a thought

[MHWASH]

In my opinon a conceled weapon = a small weapon! I highly recommend the S&W 642 in .38. Very concealable and easy to shoot. I can put mine in my pants pocket.

[cackle]

 

I find I leave my gun at home alot because it is just to big to carry all the time

[Antlershed]

I owned a S&W M&P .40 but it was too big to carry. I sold it and bought the Springfield XD sub-compact in .40 and I can carry it pretty easily. It is closer to about $600 though if I remember correctly.

[Bscman]

I have an XD-40 Service...great weapon.
The sub-compact is easy enough to conceal, but it's awefully small for a snappy .40SW...especially for your wife to shoot. I agree with some of the others--if you get something too big, you'll find yourself wanting to leave it at home.

The sigma is something to steer clear of, IMHO.
It's reliable, and functional, but has a terrible trigger. It's one of the "jokes" running around most of the pistol forums online. Think of it like you would a Remington 770 rifle...okay for the "weekend warrior who doesn't know better."

Bersa is a true underdog...and often passed over.
In reality, they make great pistols that don't require much break-in. They like to be CLEAN, but for the price they are hard to beat. I have a Bersa Thunder in .380 that will be my carry pistol when I finally get my permit in the mail...lol.
I'd easily trust my life to it. Light, small, easy to conceal. They're a great choice, IMHO....if you don't mind packing a .380. Read the forums and reviews--they get great marks.

The Smith and Wesson M&P is decent, as is glock. Either of these, plus the XD will be equally reliable and of the same overall size and weight. Find the one that is most comfortable for you...and you can't go wrong with any of the above. There is a $50 rebate right now on the M&P....the 9c would be a great CCW choice, IMHO.

Personally, I'm a DA/SA kind of guy. I like alloy frames, and I don't like striker fired pistols much (most have aweful triggers).
Single action is more fun at the range as well...

The top of my list would be a CZ Rami or CZ-75 compact, Magnum Research baby eagle (Steel, not poly!), or Sig 228 or 229.

Taurus revolvers are pretty decent...just handle the one you're buying first--some have some timing/lockup issues. They usually aren't big issues, but if you're spending your hard earned money, why settle with "just inside spec.?"
Their auto's are hit and miss. You'll either get a lemon or get a real winner. They are reliable when they work right, and their PT145 (45acp) is very comfy to shoot.
The manager at the gun counter at my local Sportsman's Warehouse summed it up well. "They're a great gun to have two of...one to shoot, one for parts."
I don't like their plastic magazine catches. On the plus side, they have a lifetime warrantee...

KelTec is about the same...
You might get lucky and find a keeper...or a fixer-upper. The newest ones have the quierks worked out, though. They finally re-designed the trigger (no more short stroking like the LCP), and added a metal magazine catch. They are hard to shoot accurately and are snappy, though! But that all comes from their size.

Keep in mind 40S&W is running $13-15 per box. 9mm is can still be had at walmart for $8.97 per box, and most shops it's still $10-12. You can get blazer aluminum 9mm for $7.50 per box online if you look hard enough. The more you can afford to shoot, the better off you are...and with some of the new high quality 9mm +P, you can get *near* .40S&W performance for your carry ammo.

In most shootings, there isn't enough time to find the sights--it's often instinctive. They also say it takes ~1,500rnds to become sufficient with a given handgun, and 1,000rnds per year to remain sufficient. If you can't afford the ammo, you won't get the practice. If you can't hit what you aim at, what good is a bigger caliber?

9mm is 20-30% cheaper, which means 20-30% more practice. It'll also be easier for your wife to shoot! Also remember...The smaller the pistol, the snappier the recoil!!!
My girlfriend hates shooting my full size XD-40. She even has a hard time shooting by buddies XD 9mm sub-compact...but she loves shooting the Bersa. She's accurate with it, it fits her hand well, and best of all...she enjoys shooting it.

Tons of choices out there, and it's tough to pick a "bad one" these days.
Your best bet is to find a local range that will rent you a few pistols, and try a few calibers and makes...find what you like and what you are accurate with.
There are a few ranges in my area that rent pistols for under $10 each + cost of ammo. That's much cheaper than spending $500 and realizing you hate your new investment!

Last but not least, don't rule something out just because it's too big--do a true comparison.
The M&P, Glock, XD, CZ, SIG, etc all come in different sizes from sub compact, compact, service, tactical, etc. They all make tiny concealed carry versions, up to full size versions of the same design. So don't rule out a glock because it's bigger than the M&P you're looking at...go find the smaller model glock, or vice versa and make a true comparison!!!

[RustneckNW]

Thanks for all the advise and responses! I gotta say; I love this site! It's great to see so many fellow outdoors nuts willing to help each other out!
As to my gun search... I think I'm gonna drive myself crazy looking for the "Perfect one" for me...
I think I'll spend some time down the street at the Bullseye!

[Antlershed]

I forgot to add another reason I got rid of my M&P....the firing pin is VERY picky about what ammo it likes to actually make go bang. I had about a half box of ammo that my M&P would not make fire. The primer would be dented, but no bang. Sent it back to S&W and it was within their specs. If I have to rely on a pistol saving my life, I don't want to be wondering whether or not the dang thing was actually going to go off. 

[cackle]

I have an M&P .40 also but never had a problem with it not fireing

[cohoho]

In my opinon a conceled weapon = a small weapon! I highly recommend the S&W 642 in .38. Very concealable and easy to shoot. I can put mine in my pants pocket.

Reason I bought one also, it's all about concealment.....  A carry gun that you can actually carry......  Rounded edges no hammer and nothing to get caught up on.... Add the upgrade and get the laser grips, great shooting little gun...  If not for concealment, then get a Kimber, nothing else will compare. 

[jeff100]

I'm a big CZ fan, IMO they're one of the best values in handguns today.  The CZ 75 Compact in 9mm is a very compact yet high capacity firearm, very concealable.  The CZ75 Compact in .40 cal is what I carry but it's larger than the 9mm because of the pressure of the larger caliber.  Both guns are all steel.  CZ's are both SA/DA and one of the few DA guns that can be carried cocked and locked.  My other carry gun is a Taurus snubby in .357 magnum.  Taurus is also a excellent value in handguns and quality is first rate.  The Taurus mod 817 is a 7 round snubby .38 +P revolver.  Taurus also has a lifetime warranty on their firearms.  Bersa is another great value in handguns and their Thunder series are a good choice for a small concealed carry gun.  Ruger's new SR9 9mm is awesome IMO.  I've owned (and still own) many Ruger firearms and they are also a great value in a firearm.  The Springfield already mentioned here is one of the best deals in handguns right now, but they're larger handguns and not as concealable as others mentioned.  If you're a big guy, no problem.  If you're a small woman, I guess it goes in the purse.  My advice to you and your wife is to go to a range that rents handguns and shoot a few to see what works for both of you before you spend your money.  The .40 caliber can be a handful in a small gun depending on what load you're shooting and how light a handgun you're shooting it in.  A .38 special or 9mm might be a better choice for your wife without sacrificing anything in lethality...

[rasbo]

I got my wife a ruger sp101,5 shot 357 no thumb bar .wont jam,fits in my pack pocket.its a deed doer.

[RustneckNW]

The plan is to get her a 9mm or .380, since she's very petite, and I'm still eyeing the 40s&w, 'cause I'm, well... much bigger than her! Although I am tempted by the price difference with the 9mm; gotta stretch those $$$... And that round will do the trick still!

[snagglepants]

I read a very interesting article once about stopping power and basically it was proven that 9mm, .40sw & .45acp all have about the same percentage of one-shot stops.  With that in mind, I would probably go 9mm.  .40 is a fine round, but it is very snappy even in a full sized, heavy gun.  If you want something small, I would probably stay away from .40 becuase the recoil will be terrible.  If the recoil is bad, you won't want to shoot it much, and then you won't practice enough with it for carry purposes.   Just a thought...

[boneaddict]

Well if you ever get a chacne to do a side by side comparison.  Take three milk jugs frozen with ice and then shoot each one with those three rounds or calibers.  You be the judge.  THen if you are really bored, take a .357 and do the same. 

[uncoolperson]

springfield 1911, they have a cheaper model that runs about 500

or two charter arms revolvers, small and concealable... and they make a pink one (my wife likes all her pink guns).

[jeff100]

As I've said before, I carry and shoot a .40, love that caliber and shoot it well.  But unless you're going up against bad people wearing body armor, a 9 mm is perfectly adequate.  Unless whacked out on drugs, the human nervous system is very susceptible to hydrostatic shock.  Proper choice of a good expanding bullet is more important than caliber, within reason....and the nine is probably one of the cheapest calibers to shoot making practice cheaper, which means you can afford to practice more.  None of these calibers are worth a damn if you can't hit what you're aiming at.

[7mag.]

It all depends on the individual. I carry everywhere I go and I carry a Kimber full size .45 with a 4 inch barrel. Concealment can be an issue some times, but you just have to think ahead a little. You need to shoot all the weapons you are looking at before you buy. I have been sold on a weapon until I shot it and then I didn't like it at all. Some handguns just don't fit my hand right. There are several places that you can shoot used handguns before you buy.