ZL1SS

iTrader: (4)

Alot of good info has been mentioned. My personal choice for a handgun is a Springfield XD-9 in 9mm with a Surefire LED tactical light. One big thing on the 9mm is that the ammo is MUCH CHEAPER than the larger rounds. If you want to go to the range as often as I do it just makes sense. Don't listen to anyone who says that a 9mm won't stop someone as that's total BS. One shot from a 9mm will drop someone the same as a 45. It's all about where the shot hits. I also own a lot of bigger guns like a 12 gauge, S&W 41 magnum, 357 magnum but out of all of them I would pick the 9mm if I was defending my home from an intruder. It's just a super reliable pistol that feels perfect in my hands.

youguessit

Wonder why you say taurus is no good. Have a 1911 taurus (.45acp) and never had a problem with it. outshoots my beretta 92fs (9mm) any day of the week. It is much more accurate.

APG12

iTrader: (25)

Any major manufacturer (glock, s&w, colt, taurus, kimber springfield, etc.) in 9mm and up will suit you just fine. It all comes down to personal preference.. whatever feel good in your hand.

za355tx

iTrader: (108)

Yeah maybe if you're just a little guy People who say that...tend to be on the smaller side and are mad that they personally can't handle one. Yes maybe it would be impractical for the average sized guy, but when you're 6'5" 230 lbs like I am, handling a .44 mag is no big thing. I meant exactly what I said...wield the biggest gun you can comfortably carry and shoot...which for me is a .44 cal DE. It's not impractical for someone with some strength and size.

Besides...with a round like a 240 grain .44 mag, all it takes is one, lol. Anywhere you hit someone they're going down and not getting back up unless it's after a lengthy hospital stay where you're insides are put back in place.

Texas Heat

iTrader: (9)

Well im pretty much set on the Springfield XDM .40, shot an email to a gun dealer buddy of the family to see what kind of price he can nail down for me.

CRAGER

I've shot an XD 9mm and shoots like a dream, but it was a full size and not good for carry.

I have a Glock G23 .40 compact and shoots ok and I bought a Glock G36 (olive drab) subcompact slimline .45 after shooting a Glock 36 .45 subcompact that shoots great.

There is no need to worry about shooting your own junk when carrying, just get a nice holster that covers the trigger like this one:


I have a coworker that has a Glock G19 9mm that he swears by, more so after it saved his life when a carjacker tried to kill him but my coworker ended him. 9mm is just as deadly.

Plenty of great guns out there, you just need to try a few out. Also if you carry, subcompact and slim is the way to go. IMHO there's range guns and then there's carry guns.

~ Craig

Tex7387

iTrader: (1)

Lots of good advice in here. I'm a big 1911 fan, but for home defense I prefer my .12ga w/ buckshot. As far as the 9mm debate that seems to be arising here, yes you have higher capacity, and with the right ammo you can certainly be deadly, however from personal experience, I met a guy down at the shooting range who had been shot 9 TIMES by a 9mm, saw several of the scars. So just something to think about.

Good luck on your choice OP

Greed4Speed

iTrader: (7)

My advice. Go to a range with a large selection of rentals. Pay the rental fee and go through as many as you want. Just because it feels good in your hand doesn't mean it is accurate, reliable, or doesn't have bad recoil where you'll anticipate it and make it inaccurate. Also pay attention to ammo prices. If you can't afford to practice with it, then get something you can. All the 9mm hating is BS. A .45's stopping power is a moot point if you are inexperienced from lack of practice and miss your target.

I CC a SC XD40, my wife has a Sig P239 in .40. I like them both. For true home defense, a shotgun is best. Don't have to be as accurate, easy to shoot from the hip, and less likely to travel through walls. Whoever said that fine motor skills go out the window when the **** hits the fan is right. Once adrenaline starts pumping its hard to work fingers so keep the thing loaded and ready. I'm sorry, but people that have guns for home defense and then keep them unloaded and locked up are in for trouble if they ever have an intruder.

onspeed

iTrader: (3)

+1 on sig.

p226/229 (same gun, 229 is the compact version iirc), are awesome. .357 or .40mm, barrel can be switched in a minute.

i personally don't like those striker/double action only pistols like the glocks and etc. granted, i've only shot the cheaper models... but the heavy trigger pull sort of hurts accuracy imo.

WstTexas

iTrader: (8)

Trying to keep this on-topic for the OP, but in all seriousness a DE is not a practical everyday carry weapon for 95% of the population. I may be smaller than you, but definitely not average, over 6' tall and over 200lbs as well and strength is not an issue. I have no need to flex my internet muscles. But with that being said, my job allows me to shoot ALOT of weapons, and I based what I said previously from my professional opinion. Your opinion states that bigger is better. Not always the case. Just as I stated in my prior post, we did a bullet penetration test on '64 Impala. No, we didn't have a .44 DE, but I have shot one at the range.

We tested the 9mm, .40 S&W, .45ACP and .357 Sig. Here is how they fared:
Shooting from a 90degree angle, directly at the driver's side door.

9mm: 1 out 10 pentrated door and inside door panel
.40 S&W: 3 out of 10 door and inside door panel
.45ACP: 6 out of 10 door and inside door panel
.357 Sig: 8 out 10 door and inside panel and 3 continued through the passenger door

When needing a penetrating round, such as in my profession, the 45ACP is not top dog, it is the .357 Sig. Sig Sauer P226 DAK .357 Sig is what I carry. Over 12K rounds through it and not 1 jam, stove-pipe or double-feed.

Just trying to show that bigger is not always better, just depends on the usage.

I own weapons in all of the above round sizes. I carry whatever feels comfortable on that day, when I am off-duty.

I was simply trying to give the op an un-biased, objective opinion that can be backed with real-life situtations and proven field testing.

If you feel the need to carry a "Matrix" weapon, so be it. Good luck concealing it unless you are 6'5" and 230lbs, .

Texas Heat

iTrader: (9)

Ok so I was looking more at the XDM .40, and I noticed that it is double action only. Isnt that a bad thing? I thought double action was like a revolver where it basically cocked the hammer with every pull of the trigger.

Correct me if im wrong please, my knowledge of handguns is little.

03Sssnake

iTrader: (20)

Yep I love 1911s, but the price and magazine capacity sold me on the XD 45!

WstTexas

iTrader: (8)

Double Action Only is not always a bad thing. My Glock 33 is double-action only. It just takes alot more practice. To make it simple, the first trigger pull is long and heavier than most. But after the first "bang" you can let the trigger out approximately half-way and you feel and hear a click, resetting the firing pin, allowing you to fire your second shot. It is a shorter pull, but about the same trigger "weight" as the first pull. Or you can let the trigger all the way out on every trigger pull. As I stated before, every gun takes practice, practice and more practice. You can also have the trigger pull altered by a gunsmith to lighten it. Got to shoot a glock 33 with a 2.5lb trigger and it was crazy light compared to my stock glock 33 trigger.

Sorry that is the best way I know how to explain it to someone who hasn't experienced it. Find some friends that have handguns and go shoot some. Everyone is different and likes different calibers, manufacturers and so forth.

Again when stuff hits the fan, you wont notice the trigger pull weight at all. But it can affect your accuracy, if you have not practiced and become familiar firing your handgun.

Tex7387

iTrader: (1)

Yes, Double action only is a PITA and will likely impair accuracy. I know when I qualified for my CHL the only two shots I pulled were at the furthest distance when I had to use the double action on the first shot. However, having a gun that is double action on the first shot, with the rest being single action can be very handy because you don't have to manually pull the hammer back and just can point and shoot with the first round and after that its all gravy.

CajunZ

Get a glock, best thing for the money IMO.....but its all in whatcha like i guess. I have 3 Glocks, 19, 22, and a 21. LOVE 'EM ALL!!

winger4800

iTrader: (12)

Springfield XDm .40

Texas Heat

iTrader: (9)

Love it, but im getting this color scheme:

Tex7387

iTrader: (1)

Generally speaking most 1911's aren't double/single such as Colt and Kimber. Para does make a 1911 that is double/single, but generally speaking 1911's are single action all the time.

WstTexas

iTrader: (8)

Sorry, had a brain fart. My mistake....

thatguy383

iTrader: (1)

I love XD's but good luck concealing something that big, you may opt to get a different one if you decide to carry, have fun shooting the XD though it's a sweet setup