How To Choose A Handgun?

[eagle_eye222001]

Being able to hit a basic target is kinda essential.

[Gregorius]

I'd choose my sword over my gun.(technically, the gun doesn't belong to me anyway) It adds the element of surprise, is just as effective with a slightly less risk of actually killing.

But then, I'm assuming I'm not in the same situation as you all are, as the series of thefts in my neighborhood are bike thefts, and intruders are not well-armed.

As to my knowledge, M-16's still come with full automatic capabilities as well as a burst-fire option. The civilian version does not include automatic.

[eagle_eye222001]

Of course there is always the strategy of "Spray & Pray!"

[pat22]

go to a gun show(if there legal where you are) just go around telling the different dealers what your need it for and what your willing to pay. if yr patient you cant go wrong

[Sojourner]

[quote name='Hassan' date='20 August 2009 - 07:39 PM' timestamp='1250811578' post='1953463']
You're a good guy, but you're fighting a loosing battle.

I think anyone who has been shot by this little number...

[img]http://www.investmentgradefirearms.com/images/M16.jpg[/img]


Will disagree that a .22 can't have stopping power. I don't know a lot about guns, but I do remember being told by a First Sergent that the M16-A1 used a .22 caliber round. Although I don't remember how that could have possibly come up in the course of the conversation.
[/quote]
The M-16 shoots the bullet out at three times the speed of a .22 rifle, even an automatic one. So the bullet hits at a higher velocity, which increases its lethality and stopping power. Speed is more important than size in this comparison.

An M-16 also shoots a .223 bullet, which is a 62 grain bullet which means it more hefty, which again plays into the lethality because it is heavier its energy is greater when it strikes. A .22 rifle fires a 40 grain bullet.

My husband is a firearms dealer.

p.s. the M-16s manufactured today are typically automatic/semi-auto/safe. You wouldn't use automatic unless the target was less than 15-20 feet away from you. Farther range and you'd use semi-auto.

Edited August 21, 2009 by Terra Firma

[Sojourner]

[quote name='txdinghysailor' date='20 August 2009 - 08:44 PM' timestamp='1250815491' post='1953498']
A 45 is probably not the best choice if you haven't shot one before. If you're new to guns your best bet is probably a 9 mil, but with some good, high velocity, expanding ammo. that way you get much less recoil, and almost as much stopping power as a more powerful cartridge. The smaller caliber is also easier to shoot well. What do you want, a powerful gun that you can't control, or a slightly smaller caliber that you know you can hit your target with? A shotgun isn't the best because it's too hard to maneuver it in a confined space such as a house.
[/quote]
This is almost exactly what my husband recommended.

[dauntingknight]

[quote name='pat22' date='20 August 2009 - 10:35 PM' timestamp='1250822124' post='1953582']
go to a gun show(if there legal where you are) just go around telling the different dealers what your need it for and what your willing to pay. if yr patient you cant go wrong
[/quote]
NO, don't tell the dealer what your willing to pay have the dealer tell you what the price is and then offer what you want to pay after he has told you the price.

This way there is more bargaining and their chance to swindle you is gone.
I have never been to a gun show but I do know some marketing skills.
Before you buy a hand gun look around and see what other people are selling them for and you have more of a fight to get a better gun for a slightly cheaper price.

Iwould like to go to a guns show though but never had they time o really go to one.

[Sparky]

Since I am headed to school, I decided a while ago that I wasn't getting a gun. almost all of the time I have a knife of some sort, and I also know how to use other types of weapons in limited fashion. Here is the knife I have most of the time:
[img]http://sparkyoutofmind.net/public/crkt_stiff_kiss.jpg[/img]

When it comes to guns though, recently I was looking at a Taurus 24/7 and a HK USP .45 (kinda dropped that one after I found out what it costs). Another on I was looking at was a FN Five-seveN.

[pat22]

[quote name='dauntingknight' date='20 August 2009 - 11:29 PM' timestamp='1250825352' post='1953607']
NO, don't tell the dealer what your willing to pay have the dealer tell you what the price is and then offer what you want to pay after he has told you the price.

This way there is more bargaining and their chance to swindle you is gone.
I have never been to a gun show but I do know some marketing skills.
Before you buy a hand gun look around and see what other people are selling them for and you have more of a fight to get a better gun for a slightly cheaper price.

Iwould like to go to a guns show though but never had they time o really go to one.
[/quote]
the prices are listed on the guns. he/she shows you the one in yr price range and you try to work it down.
savy?

[pat22]

[quote name='Sparky' date='20 August 2009 - 11:40 PM' timestamp='1250826024' post='1953613']
Since I am headed to school, I decided a while ago that I wasn't getting a gun. almost all of the time I have a knife of some sort, and I also know how to use other types of weapons in limited fashion. Here is the knife I have most of the time:
[img]http://sparkyoutofmind.net/public/crkt_stiff_kiss.jpg[/img]

When it comes to guns though, recently I was looking at a Taurus 24/7 and a HK USP .45 (kinda dropped that one after I found out what it costs). Another on I was looking at was a FN Five-seveN.
[/quote]
kimber 1911

[Nihil Obstat]

How about a Desert Eagle?
Best of both worlds: blow a hole through the intruder, the intruder behind him, the one behind him,[b] and [/b]your wall. Tell your neighbours to stay low after dark.

[Gregorius]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' date='21 August 2009 - 12:47 AM' timestamp='1250830036' post='1953662']
How about a Desert Eagle?
Best of both worlds: blow a hole through the intruder, the intruder behind him, the one behind him,[b] and [/b]your wall. Tell your neighbours to stay low after dark.
[/quote]

[Maximilianus]

Although I don't carry I prefer the .45 ACP in the 1911 frame. It provides a simple, dependable, time tested weapon and round.
The biggest drawback with the 1911 .45 is the round capacity which isn't much more than a standard revolver, but a magazine of 7 rounds should be good enough to stop multiple intruders. As for not hitting the nieghbors, that's were practice comes in, practice a lot...or as much as you can, unfortunatley ammo prices have gone up and it has become scarce.

If you want a pistol with a higher carrying capacity and can fit into a smaller frame go with a 9mm.
There is also the .40 SW.

The recoil between these three are not much different so don't let that worry you. Recoil becomes an issue with large caliber revolvers like the .357 and .44 magnums.

That being said no matter what round, firearm or manufacturer you use it's shot placement that counts. So practice.
Oh and safety. It's always good to get some formal training in firearms.


[quote name='Hassan' date='20 August 2009 - 05:08 PM' timestamp='1250806115' post='1953386']
I was taught to shoot by a former Marine Corps sniper
[/quote]

I was taught to shoot by my dad, the Marines just made me deadlier.


[quote name='Terra Firma' date='20 August 2009 - 09:43 PM' timestamp='1250822623' post='1953586']
The M-16 shoots the bullet out at three times the speed of a .22 rifle, even an automatic one. So the bullet hits at a higher velocity, which increases its lethality and stopping power. Speed is more important than size in this comparison.

An M-16 also shoots a .223 bullet, which is a 62 grain bullet which means it more hefty, which again plays into the lethality because it is heavier its energy is greater when it strikes. A .22 rifle fires a 40 grain bullet.

My husband is a firearms dealer.

p.s. the M-16s manufactured today are typically automatic/semi-auto/safe. You wouldn't use automatic unless the target was less than 15-20 feet away from you. Farther range and you'd use semi-auto.
[/quote]

Good post.
I would like to add that the M16 actually shoots a 5.56 x 45mm not the .223 Remington. It's the M16's civilian version, the ARs, that use the .223.

They are similar rounds, but not the same.

Edited August 21, 2009 by Maximilianus

[Sojourner]

[quote name='Maximilianus' date='21 August 2009 - 05:10 AM' timestamp='1250845846' post='1953739']
Good post.
I would like to add that the M16 actually shoots a 5.56 x 45mm not the .223 Remington. It's the M16's civilian version, the ARs, that use the .223.

They are similar rounds, but not the same.
[/quote]
My husband was watching over my shoulder as we wrote.

You are right about the civilian/armed forces distinction with the M16. My husband has several AR's and I'm sure that's what he was thinking of. He also has a machine gun. When we started dating it was in his kitchen, because he had his computer there and he was looking up parts for it. Needless to say, that scared a lot of my friends.

[Marie-Therese]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' date='21 August 2009 - 12:47 AM' timestamp='1250830036' post='1953662']
How about a Desert Eagle?
Best of both worlds: blow a hole through the intruder, the intruder behind him, the one behind him,[b] and [/b]your wall. Tell your neighbours to stay low after dark.
[/quote]


"The fact that you've got 'Replica' written down the side of your guns... and the fact that I've got 'Desert Eagle point five O' written down the side of mine..."



Completely vulgar, but totally hilarious movie. One of my favorites, actually.