What handgun should I purchase?

[calamaridog]

Originally Posted by ducktapeguy

I like the HK. Not a big fan of the .40 caliber, it's not as big as the .45 and not as cheap as 9mm, so I don't see a purpose. With the price of ammo nowadays, I'm thikning about picking up a .22 just so I can afford to shoot it.

You don't see the purpose of .40 as personal protection ammunition?

similar accuracy as 9mm
more energy than any 9mm loading and many standard .45 loadings
notably superior stopping power over 9mm
used by the vast majority of US law enforcement agencies
still works in double stack magazines

So basically, I don't see a purpose to anything you said

[calamaridog]

Originally Posted by NoHandleBars

Out of these, what do you think? The lightest, smallest one of would be the Walther. This will be for carry\personal protection, open and concealed.

I would be looking for something in .40 and I would shoot as many guns as you can. Just because company X makes a good gun, doesn't mean it's the right gun for you. If you can, put some rounds through different mfgs and models before deciding.

My example would be that while HK's are very good guns, and well made, I don't like the way they shoot and would NEVER consider buying one.

[spressomon]

I just picked up a Kahr PM .45 with Tritium sights. Ran 150 through it Saturday and it is very nice to shoot given such a small and light form. I bought it mainly for carry-ability and as such I think it shoots very nicely. If I was going to use it as a main shooter I'd want a larger and heavier frame. But I was not beat at all after 150...like I thought I might be.

And with some of the high performance off-the-shelf +P loads you can push 1100 fps (not quite that in my short barrel).

[calamaridog]

Kahr makes a nice compact, but I have not shot the .45

[RiggerFJ80]

Originally Posted by NoHandleBars

The other would be a bigger gun...one that not many people own, but have heard it is a FANTASTIC gun, and extremly accurate.

The Baby Desert Eagle:
Which is by no means a "baby".

I had a chance to shoot the semi compact in .40 S&W the other day. It's really a nice little gun. Very well made and balances nice. If I had the money I would add it to my arsenal.

[chukardog]

mtncruzer, nice looking shorthair in your avatar!!

[TX80Fan]

You should give some consideration to Springfield's line of XD's, as well as a Kimber...my .02

[EnriqueAutana]

Originally Posted by Trevor

You came to the wrong forum for a serious answer.

Originally Posted by Pighead

Handgun?

Hilarious!!!!!

[lunyou]

I now have a .40 S&W 1911. I must say that the ammo isn't that much more expensive than the 9mm Luger ammo my wife's CZ shoots. Like $3/100 rnds more. Not enough to not buy a certain caliber because of price.

Do I like the .40? I don't know, I know I like it more than the 9mm. I am still searching for a single stack 1911 in a .45 ACP.

lunyou

[White Shark]

Originally Posted by Landpimp

for me there is no choice.........it would be the HK USPc 45 and keep the S&W 38

love the USP's got a dozen or so.....

shoot the Walther.....it works fine, same with the Baby Eagle.....would not own a Taurus myself

x2

I'm with Landpimp on this one as usual. If Dieseldog hasn't posted up, I'll go ahead and give you a x3 on his behalf. He's on the same page too.


..

[EnriqueAutana]

Well, personally I wouldn't buy any of those guns. I have a Glock 23 and I love it, I carry it on me everyday and trust it with my life. I also have the H&K P30 and it's an amazing handgun, my wife loves it and it's so easy to control. And I have an H&K P2000 in .357, Excellent gun. But Glock all the way...

[venpick]

get a .357 revolver if your only going to own one hand cannon. its more accurate over longer distances than the semi autos, and it can drop and elk with magnum rounds, and just the percussion will knock you opponent on his ass for the 3 shots you miss in your home envati0n exchange.(statistically speaking) nuff said.

[lunyou]

.357 revolver is a great suggestion. Typically they hold 8 rnds(or is it 9?) and you can also shoot .38s out of it so you can practice without the dreaded recoil throwing you off. Also the .38 isn't a bad home defense rnd especially if you live in a tight neighborhood or apartment complex where wall penetration is a problem.

lunyou

[ducktapeguy]

Originally Posted by calamaridog

You don't see the purpose of .40 as personal protection ammunition?

similar accuracy as 9mm
more energy than any 9mm loading and many standard .45 loadings
notably superior stopping power over 9mm
used by the vast majority of US law enforcement agencies
still works in double stack magazines

So basically, I don't see a purpose to anything you said

I guess we just have different priorities. The way I look at it is:

Similar accuracy as 9mm, but about 35% more expensive in my area (it's been going up so fast I haven't compared them in a while)
More energy and stopping power than 9mm, but still not as much as .45
Don't really care what law enforcement agencies use, since I don't shop with them, but I think they've used all 3 calibers at some point?
They all work in double stack magazines

Again, those are just my opinions, I'm not saying they're right or wrong. If I wanted to shoot paper targets, why pay more for the .40? If I was strictly thinking of self defense ammo (stopping power and energy), I'd go with the .45. If the .40 was almost as cheap as 9mm, then maybe I would think differently. To each their own

I'm pretty sure the .357 revolver usually only holds 6 or 7 at the most. A 9 shot .357 would be pretty interesting.

[spressomon]

The .357SIG caliber is interesting: Essentially a 9mm mag/+P cartridge that does allow you to load and shoot custom loads with similar ballistics as std 9mm ammo when you want lighter/cheaper loads in semi-auto configuration.

[CJF]

Originally Posted by ducktapeguy

I'm pretty sure the .357 revolver usually only holds 6 or 7 at the most. A 9 shot .357 would be pretty interesting.

Don't know about 9, but here's an 8:

Product: Model 627 - 4"

Curtis

[venpick]

the .357 magnum and 357 sig however are not the same round. a .357 magnum will shoot .38 caliber bullets but the 357 sig wont. 357 is a great choice if your only going to get one because you can plink away with the .38 rounds fairly inexpensively and with not much kick and then when it comes to pure stopping power ( IE it will drop and elk ) the .357 magnum rounds go KA BOOM. faster fps than the 9 or 45 and as much force.

[ontherox]

Go xd40 and be done!

[carboncycles]

Just to really piss with ppl...HK P7M8 if you can find one at a reasonable price

[CJF]

Originally Posted by venpick

the .357 magnum and 357 sig however are not the same round. a .357 magnum will shoot .38 caliber bullets but the 357 sig wont.

Claim (I have no idea if it's true) was that .357sig can also shoot 9mm (not .38).

[lunyou]

Originally Posted by CJF

Don't know about 9, but here's an 8:

Product: Model 627 - 4"

Curtis

\
That is the exact gun I was trying to find.

lunyou

[phrogg4evr]

Originally Posted by Trevor

You came to the wrong forum for a serious answer.

Well, I don't know. A good holy wayer and garlic mix in that baby might protect you against vampires. I mean, it worked for the 2 Cory's.

Won't work too good against werewolves or zombies though

edit:

I carry a 1911 in an Alessi or Nossar IWB for the winter, S&W Mod 36 in the summer, ankle or pocket holster

[Landpimp]

I forget(its early) if its 40 or 9mm but with HK if you have a 357 Sig you can just buy a new barrel and shoot 9mm or 40(I forget which, thinks its 9mm) but you must change the barrel. CDNN actaully offers a package with 2 barrels

Originally Posted by CJF

Claim (I have no idea if it's true) was that .357sig can also shoot 9mm (not .38).

[phrogg4evr]

Originally Posted by Landpimp

I forget(its early) if its 40 or 9mm but with HK if you have a 357 Sig you can just buy a new barrel and shoot 9mm or 40(I forget which, thinks its 9mm) but you must change the barrel. CDNN actaully offers a package with 2 barrels

It's a .40 to .357 swap or vice versa.

Can do the same with Sig and Block, HK says it's not "authorized", but doesn't mean it can't be done . All you gave is a .40-ish brass necked down to a .357 so the frames and mags are quasi-interchangeable with either or, no workie with the with 9mm.

Swap the barrel, use the same mags and you are ready to roll You can get the barrels via OEM or go to Bar-Sto or some other barrel manufacturer.

I did it with my P229, was a nice shooting round, but the .357 Sig is 'spensive so I don't shoot it very often

This is right from the Sig Sauer FAQ:

Q: Can I convert my 9mm SiG to .357 SiG or .40SW.

A: Unfortunately you can’t. Due to the design differences between 9mm and other chamberings. Changing between .357SiG and .40SW is easily completed in most cases with just a barrel change(239-357/40 also requires a magazine change).