New to guns

[Silver-Dollar]

Researching pistols to purchase. This will be for learning and home defense for the wife and me. I do not want to purchase a $1000 firearm. I plan of using a ton of cheap ammo for practicing and some better stuff for home defense. Eventually, I would for us to get our CWPs. Once she is comfortable with it, I may step up to a 45.

Based on what I have seen, I am leaning towards a Glock 19 because how easy it looks to maintain. Plus, 9mm ammo is cheap. My only concern would be the wide grip for the wife.

Any suggestions and comments will be well received.

[csikx]

Glock 19 is an excellent choice. Check out the 4th Gen Glock 19. It has a couple new features. Most importantly it has interchangeable back straps, which will make it easier for your wife to grip.

The new Gen4 has several new features designed to satisfy the most demanding consumers. It is based on a full size G17/G22 MBS (multiple back strap) frame with a reduced short frame trigger mechanism housing. The multiple back strap system allows the user to change the circumference of the grip to fit their individual hand size.

The grip has three options; a short frame version, medium frame or large frame that are easily changed and secured with a single pin.
The grip angle of the GLOCK “Safe Action” Pistol is not changed by back strap modifications. This ensures that the shooter does not shoot high or low when modifying the back strap or when shooting with a different GLOCK Pistol.

http://www.glock.com/english/index_pistols.htm

[Matts94Z28]

Glock is a nice gun, I love my 23. It is a simple gun. The Springfield xd line rivals the glock in many ways, especially in comfort. Your best bet would be to shoot a few different guns and see what you like. If it were me I would go for atleast a .40cal.

[csikx]

Your best bet would be to shoot a few different guns and see what you like.

Good advice. Although I hate to recommend them, check out ATP on College Park Road and 17A, behind The Hot Spot. They have tons of guns you can "rent." That way you will know what fits you and your wife best removing any guessing.

[minytrker]

I'm buying my wife a Sig Sauer 232 .380. She has not shot one yet but I have shot my friends and I think she will like it. Its a very good balanced gun and has a good grip on it for a smaller pistol.

[Shane361]

Had a Glock 19 as my first gun and had it for many many years till about a month ago. Now that I have my Smith and Wesson M&P 40 I will never own another Glock. I am looking to purchase a 9mm M&P for range time due to ammo cost. Go to ATP and put them both and more in your hand and see what feels good. Once you put the M&P in your hand you just might be sold like I was. -Shane

BTW...I'm a Small Arms Instructor in the Navy also so if you need any tips just ask. Know your 4 safety rules by heart and the 4 conditions of readiness and you cant go wrong.

[minytrker]

Glock is a nice gun, I love my 23. It is a simple gun. The Springfield xd line rivals the glock in many ways, especially in comfort. Your best bet would be to shoot a few different guns and see what you like. If it were me I would go for atleast a .40cal.

Most women, hell alot of men would hate to shoot a sub-compact .40. Most are not that comfortable to shoot, the cheaper ones are even worse. If you shoot someone at point blank range a .380 hollow point will still get the job done.

[1iron]

I would stay away from the gen 4 glocks. The 9mm XD is what I would recommend. It is easy shooting with most practice loads and the defense loads are very good.

[csikx]

I would stay away from the gen 4 glocks.

Why is that? I know they did a recall on the spring, but they have always worked flawlessly for us.

[Sean]

My wife likes our Bersa THunder .380. It fits her hand well. I dont mind it, but I dont plan on carring it.

[Carlrx7]

for home defense id recommend Springfield armory XD45, shoots very good and hold a shit ton of ammo to finish the job.

for concealment i purchased a Glock 36 (45 auto as well) its just a tad over 1inch thick.

lots of woman prefer a small revolver to put in their purses.

ultimate home protection is my mossberg 500 pistol grib shotty

-Carl

p.s. one of these makes for a great early warning system.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5f/Dog_attack_(USAF).jpg/220px-Dog_attack_(USAF).jpg

[MonteC]

I would stay away from the gen 4 glocks. The 9mm XD is what I would recommend. It is easy shooting with most practice loads and the defense loads are very good.


Tara shoots a Springfield XDSC 9mm. she loves it.

[Sean]

I want a mossberg 500 soooo bad.

[LadyInRed]

Tara shoots a Springfield XDSC 9mm. she loves it.

Love my XD. Went to ATP and shot a few different guns to get an idea and feel different grips. Will most likely end up being my carry gun when I get a CWP.

I can also shoot the Springfield XD40 subcompact with no problem or really feel much of a difference.

[WWhittle]

I wouldn't get a Glock for my first pistol either. With the weird grip angle, nothing else would ever feel right after it. I personally like the M&P. Same simplicity as the Glock but not as ugly and doesn't have the weird grip angle. It also comes with 3 backstraps for different sized hands.

[WWhittle]

I'm buying my wife a Sig Sauer 232 .380. She has not shot one yet but I have shot my friends and I think she will like it. Its a very good balanced gun and has a good grip on it for a smaller pistol.

I have a 232 and it shoots awesome. One of my more accurate pistols and it conceals great.

[1iron]

Why is that? I know they did a recall on the spring, but they have always worked flawlessly for us.

Recoil spring, Ejector, trigger pull, and my brother in-law says they are still seeing issues. He is a glock Armorer and tactical instructor. I trust his judgment on this.

[csikx]

Recoil spring, Ejector, trigger pull, and my brother in-law says they are still seeing issues. He is a glock Armorer and tactical instructor. I trust his judgment on this.

Not saying you shouldn't... Although, our department has experienced the exact opposite. I trust our armorer's, as well.

[BigdaddyDupree]

anyone have any experience with beretta? i have a beretta cheetah model .380, nickel finish n all that jazz. would this be a pretty good carry weapon? its a comfortable gun.

[gearmesh, inc.]

So far the only good thing going for the Generation 4 Glocks is the shorter reach to the trigger than the Gen 3s. That and the larger, reversible mag button. Unfortunately, most of the Gen 4 trigger pulls run about 1 to 1-1/2 lbs heavier than the Gen 3s. Even when you polish up the internals and swap out to the 3.5 lb connector, the Gen 4 platform still runs about 1lb heavier on trigger pull than a Gen 3 with the same internal work.

The S&W M&Ps do have a shorter reach to the trigger than the Glocks, so smaller hands will prefer one of these. The Springfield XD has a reasonable reach to the trigger, too, but they put some hellacious recoil spring weights in them compared to other guns of the same caliber. My wife had an XD9 service model for a while and she could shoot it very well, but it was hell for her to rack the slide with her limited hand strength. If your wife has decent hand strength, the XD probably won't be a problem, though. They do fit the hand rather nicely, so don't count them out until you try one.

We traded her XD in on a 9mm 1911 and boy is she mean with that one! Way easier to rack the slide compared to the XD, and her group sizes cut in half! I put a short reach trigger in it for her with some slim grips and it fits her small hands very well.

Money wise, it is hard to go wrong with a Glock, M&P, or an XD. You get a very reliable weapon in the $500-$600 range. Stop by ATP and shoot their rental guns to see what fits your hands the best. The neat thing about rental guns is that they are hardly ever cleaned, so you get to see how reliable a model is despite their dirty un-kept states.

As far as the Glock grip angle difference goes, it is more pronounced on the full size models. The midsize and baby versions do point more noticeably muzzle lower than the full size ones. I carry a baby Glock 26 when it's sweating weather, and it points just like my 1911 .45 for me. In contrast, a full size G17 points to the moon, and it only holds 2 more rounds than the better pointing midsize G19.

All in all, if you are only going to have one gun for home defense and concealed carry duties, it is hard to beat the midsize Glock 19. It holds 15 rounds in a package that is barely larger than the 12 round M&P9 compact, yet hides just as well in an inside the waistband holster. The trigger pull on a Gen 4 can be lightened to about 4.5 to 5 lbs after a polish job and a 3.5 lb trigger connector with no loss in ignition reliability. A box stock Gen 4 trigger pull is about 6.5 to 7 lbs.

Don't discount the Gen 3 Glocks until your wife tries one. While they do have a little longer reach to the trigger for small hands, watch your wife shoot one while standing over her shoulder. Look to see if the centerline of her wrist is inline with the centerline of the gun. If she has to reach around the grip to get a good purchase on the trigger, then the grip/trigger reach is too long. A wrist centerline that is not behind the centerline of the gun will encourage limp wristing which may cause cycling issues. The muzzle will tend to recoil up towards the 10 o'clock position for a right hander and cause the ejected brass to hit her in the head and/or drop a hot one down her shirt and burn the girls. When the wrist centerline is behind the centerline of the gun, the muzzle will recoil properly up to the 12 o'clock position and send ejected brass over the shoulder or off to the side.

[Carlrx7]

good thing i have womens hands! lol

[minytrker]

I have a 232 and it shoots awesome. One of my more accurate pistols and it conceals great.

I shot my friends the other day who is a Federal Marshall and carries it as backup and concealed on his off time. His is actually a 230 and hasnt been cleaned since he bought it new. It was one of the smoothest pistols I have ever shot and it was filthy. Most other pistols would not have fired at all being that dirty. I am picking up my 232 tomorrow.

[gearmesh, inc.]

Here's a nifty little powerhouse load for the .380 that will feed in most any .380 gun. It's the Corbon Powerball. Another feature I like is they cannelure the case so that bullet setback is prevented when the same round is repeatedly chambered.

http://www.shopcorbon.com/Glaser-PowRBall/380-Auto-70gr-PowRBall/PB38070-20/600/Product

[KRYPTONITE]

Dont get no better than a HK .45

[REDRAGTOPRS]

I too would stay away from Glocks, due to their unnatural grip angle (different from any other handgun for the most part). As far as your price range goes, I would stick with Springfield XD or XDM (the newer version), or Smith and Wesson M & P (military and police issue). There are better guns out there, such as H & K, Sig Saur, Kimber, etc, but those are around the $1,000 mark, if not more. The two of you should go to the range, and shoot as many firearms as you can, until you find one that YOU are comfortable with, so that YOU will be accurate with your shooting......Everybody has a personal preference.....

[KRYPTONITE]

you can get the H K .45 for around $925 to $975 last time I checked......thats a well balanced gun

[04ctd]

if your wife is tiny, the Glock "double stack" magazines will be too thick for her.

ATP had a Kahr 9mm that was a great fit for my wife. was prolly single stack.

my wife favors a .380 during christmas season, put in pocket, in case purse is grabbed.

you have go to ATP & let her shoot at least twice,
she will be overwhelmed by the choices there.

i usually go look at long guns & let the salesman talk to her, that way we are not confusing/contradicting each other, and she can make up her mind, go shoot it,


go home, think it over, read some reviews,

go shoot it again, then make a decision.

never make a big $$ decision without sleeping on it.

guns are diff'n't for girls than for men.

[98nbmz]

http://www.armslist.com/posts/156988/denver-colorado-handguns-for-sale--kahr-lady-k9

[WWhittle]

I have 2 HK's, one .45 and one .40C- I love both of them but still like the M&P better.

[minytrker]

Just shot my new Sig 232 .380 today, put 250 rounds through it. At 35 feet I shot out the whole center of the target. It is one of the smoothest shooting pistols I have ever shot.Going to pick up some more rounds tomorrow so the wife can shot it this weekend.

[94FormulaBird]

http://www.palmettostatearmory.com/1552.php
Khar cw45 $350 tomorrow only

[94FormulaBird]

http://www.palmettostatearmory.com/2505.php
Also Springfield xd .40 or 9mm 3in or 4 in... $350

[94FormulaBird]

I have to work in Columbia at 4..I'm prolly gonna shoot to be up there at 2 so I can look at some guns...can prolly work out some transportation if needed

[bambooi]

All this makes me want a 232. Ill take the ss with nite sites.

[1997b4c]

if you are both new to guns start with a large frame gun. from my experience its much easier to get comfortable with a large gun than a small frame gun. i bought my sr9c last year and imo i like it much better than my glock. mainly because the two diff clips the long clip which basically makes a compact gun easy to shoot yet snap in the short clip and it's easy to tote around.

[CoppertopT/A]

New to them aswell. Went to Academy for the black friday sales and picked up a Taurus PT640 for 289 out the door. No sales tax and almost 200 dollars off normal price. I am on the fence with Taurus, I have some friends that stay away from them and some that love them. The sales person said that there is a life time warranty with it and is transferable if sold.

Im all giddy, after having my cwp for over a year I now have something i can conceal.

[04ctd]

i think Taurus used to be cheap, but it has came around, esp if you read a few gun magazines, they like the last few years of Taurus's

we went here today:
http://www.missionessentialusa.com/cgi/commerce.cgi?display=home

had some screamin deals,
but we just shot my son in laws guns:
here is my target, i hope Gerald is proud of me:
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b170/04vrscb/Fix_it_till_its_broken/IMAG1273.jpg

that's a .380, .9 & .45, was all we had to play with.

[minytrker]

New to them aswell. Went to Academy for the black friday sales and picked up a Taurus PT640 for 289 out the door. No sales tax and almost 200 dollars off normal price. I am on the fence with Taurus, I have some friends that stay away from them and some that love them. The sales person said that there is a life time warranty with it and is transferable if sold.

Im all giddy, after having my cwp for over a year I now have something i can conceal.

I would never carry a taurus, no way I would want my life to depend on that cheap of quality of gun. It would be fine for target practice but thats about it. I shoot hundreds of rounds and try several brands of ammo in any pistol before I'll even carry it. I shot right at 500 rounds and 6 differnt types of ammo through my new sig 232 with zero problems. I have no problem carrying it now.

[gearmesh, inc.]

we just shot my son in laws guns:
here is my target, i hope Gerald is proud of me:
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b170/04vrscb/Fix_it_till_its_broken/IMAG1273.jpg

that's a .380, .9 & .45, was all we had to play with.

Sweet! How far out was the target?

[LXtasy]

New to them aswell. Went to Academy for the black friday sales and picked up a Taurus PT640 for 289 out the door. No sales tax and almost 200 dollars off normal price. I am on the fence with Taurus, I have some friends that stay away from them and some that love them. The sales person said that there is a life time warranty with it and is transferable if sold.

Im all giddy, after having my cwp for over a year I now have something i can conceal.

That is a nice compact gun. I too was going to purchase one while down here in alabama. But not being a resident of this state prohibited me from doing such a thing

[MonteC]

Sweet! How far out was the target?

3 feet.

[04ctd]

I would never carry a taurus, no way I would want my life to depend on that cheap of quality of gun.

that's what I am saying, the taurus' USED to be low quality, but not anymore.
they are pretty much rated top notch now, read current magazine articles on them.

as word of their reliability & upgrades spread, their prices will creep up.

you gotta realize everyone was on the "i love glock" train before, but most folks are getting off, after the novelty has worn off.

buy what is best in your price range, and get comfy with it.
get it tuned & tweaked if needed (Dale at East Coast seems to have a handle on 1911's)

Sweet! How far out was the target?

the gut shot are at 25yds, for familiarization with the guns
that flyer was second round out :(

head shots were at 50yds, with a little better breathing control.

[04ctd]

3 feet.

i KEEL you!

[gearmesh, inc.]

head shots were at 50yds

:hail: Dat's a baaaad man!

I bet you meant to say 5 yards or 15 yards?


At today's IDPA match, we had a neat course of fire that was shot while using a walker! On the buzzer, we had to keep our weak hand on the walker, draw and shoot strong hand only to engage two perp targets about 12 feet away. Two body shots on each target had to be done first before a follow up head shot to each one got performed. Six shots total were required. I got lucky enough to smoke the two perps with the 6 shots from the holster in 3.11 seconds! All hits were in the no penalty zones of the targets. Hoorah!

That ought to teach those young whippersnappers not to mess with an old man with a walker! I just hope I'm that fast when I am at the age when I really do need a walker!

Did I ever mention that I love a 1911? I can't quite shoot a plastic gun that good! Dem .45 holes are a lot nicer to look at than those littler 9mm holes!

[04ctd]

wife saw a 3 gun match on TV while I was feeling fat & lazy after turkey day, and channel surfing.

she is all excited about that now!

does Trader world have their sked online? would like to come watch!

[minytrker]

that's what I am saying, the taurus' USED to be low quality, but not anymore.
they are pretty much rated top notch now, read current magazine articles on them.

as word of their reliability & upgrades spread, their prices will creep up.

you gotta realize everyone was on the "i love glock" train before, but most folks are getting off, after the novelty has worn off.

buy what is best in your price range, and get comfy with it.
get it tuned & tweaked if needed (Dale at East Coast seems to have a handle on 1911's)




the gut shot are at 25yds, for familiarization with the guns
that flyer was second round out :(

head shots were at 50yds, with a little better breathing control.

I dont care what a magazine says about any gun. I only base my experience from first hand or I'll take a few close friends word who are big into guns if they have first hand experience. I gun shop all the time and actually held a taurus on Friday, it was not even close to top quality anything. It was a .380 they had in the same cabinet as a Sig 238, night and day difference. If there are quality taurus pistols I have not seen then them. I have never had ANY gun store recommend them either for that matter.

[gearmesh, inc.]

wife saw a 3 gun match on TV while I was feeling fat & lazy after turkey day, and channel surfing.

she is all excited about that now!

does Trader world have their sked online? would like to come watch!

They don't have any info online that I know of for the bi-weekly Wed nite action shoots at Trader World.

There is a pistol action shoot event at Trader World every 2nd and 4th Wed nite starting at 7pm until about 9-9:30. Get there by 6:30 to have time to register. Or, you are welcome to just watch to see if it would be something you would be interested in. It just costs $10 for 3 courses of fire, sometimes we get 4 courses in. Bring your own holster, gun, ammo, eyes, and ears. Round count is usually between 40 to 75 rounds. It all depends on how many shooters show up and the complexity of the courses of fire for the night as to how many rounds get shot.

Shooting while moving and utilizing cover are routinely practiced. Sometimes, the lights will be cut out and you will be shooting utilizing a flashlight. I assure you, after shooting one of these action shoots, you wont want to waste ammo ever again shooing from a single booth lane during normal range hours.

There are outdoor matches available to shoot on the 1st through 4th Saturdays of every month either locally here at Palmetto Gun Club, or at Mid Carolina Rifle Club just south of Columbia. These outdoor matches cost $15 for the match fee and you will get to shoot 5 different courses of fire. You don't have to be a member of either club to shoot these Saturday matches.

[bwelch]

I dont care what a magazine says about any gun. I only base my experience from first hand or I'll take a few close friends word who are big into guns if they have first hand experience. I gun shop all the time and actually held a taurus on Friday, it was not even close to top quality anything. It was a .380 they had in the same cabinet as a Sig 238, night and day difference. If there are quality taurus pistols I have not seen then them. I have never had ANY gun store recommend them either for that matter.

I have owned three Taurus guns now. I had a used pt111 for my first gun seven years ago and I never once had a jam after tons of rounds. My current taurus is a 24/7 40 cal and I have yet to have it miss fire. The trigger pull isnt the greatest.

[Silver-Dollar]

We stop by Bass Pro Shop outside Birmingham of Friday. We looked at a few but didn't get a chance to hold any. She has her heart set on a .38 non-revolver type. Now it is time to schedule rental time. Just need to get a sitter for a few hours to do it.

[snakeplissken]

Went to the gun show today and looked for a Sig 232 but all I saw were 238s. I met a guy from Southeast Shooter Supplies based in Summerville that I will probably do some business with. His website is www.southeastshootersupplies.com

[CoppertopT/A]

i need to head down there p238 are hard to come by up here.

[minytrker]

I am real lucky, happen to have one of the biggest gun stores in Texas 20 mins from me. They stock over 3,000 guns and beat every other gun stores prices. They have a whole displace case of P238's and have every model in stock. I think they are $549. I paid $549 for my all stainless P232 the other day. Also everyone is paid salary or hourly no commission so you dont have someone trying to sell you the gun with the biggest commission like a lot of places.

[WWhittle]

I am real lucky, happen to have one of the biggest gun stores in Texas 20 mins from me. They stock over 3,000 guns and beat every other gun stores prices. They have a whole displace case of P238's and have every model in stock. I think they are $549. I paid $549 for my all stainless P232 the other day. Also everyone is paid salary or hourly no commission so you dont have someone trying to sell you the gun with the biggest commission like a lot of places.

$549 is a good price for the 232

[bambooi]

$549 is a good price for the 232

Buds gun shop quoted me 620 for a SS w/ nite sites.

[gearmesh, inc.]

i need to head down there p238 are hard to come by up here.

I tried the P238 a while back, but I couldn't get it to run reliably enough for me. About 4 to 5 rounds out of 100 had issues.

I had always been leery about reliability when it comes to these little pocket semi-autos, but I figured if Sig was offering one, they probably had the bugs worked out of it. That ended up just being wishful thinking. After actually owning one for about 500 rounds worth of shooting and trying different things to get it to run reliably, I traded it in on a Glock G26 that I know for a fact will run when you absolutely need it. Everything I did to the little P238 to get one issue fixed just created an issue with another function of the feeding cycle.

After having my hands on a little pocket pistol to study firsthand why they tend to be rather finicky, I can't say I can really trust any of them. There is hardly any mass to the slides of these little guns so action timing is primarily dependent on spring tensions. Of course, we all know that springs age and relax over time, so there will always be the question of if it will really run when you need it to. Larger guns with more mass to their slides are a whole lot more tolerant to varying spring conditions.

In my opinion, if you want a super reliable lightweight pocket pistol, stick with the ultralight 5 shot revolvers. When loaded they come in around 18 ounces and they will go bang everytime. The only fat part of their width is across the cylinder, while the rest of the frame is pretty slim. Having one in the pocket just looks like a set of keys for the most part.

On the subject of the P232, it is a reliable platform worthy of the Sig name. It is big enough to have enough mass to its slide to make it inherently reliable. The sad thing is, it is just as big as some of the smaller 9mm guns out there, so why not step up to a 9mm if you are not recoil sensitive?

[bambooi]

I tried the P238 a while back, but I couldn't get it to run reliably enough for me. About 4 to 5 rounds out of 100 had issues.

I had always been leery about reliability when it comes to these little pocket semi-autos, but I figured if Sig was offering one, they probably had the bugs worked out of it. That ended up just being wishful thinking. After actually owning one for about 500 rounds worth of shooting and trying different things to get it to run reliably, I traded it in on a Glock G26 that I know for a fact will run when you absolutely need it. Everything I did to the little P238 to get one issue fixed just created an issue with another function of the feeding cycle.

After having my hands on a little pocket pistol to study firsthand why they tend to be rather finicky, I can't say I can really trust any of them. There is hardly any mass to the slides of these little guns so action timing is primarily dependent on spring tensions. Of course, we all know that springs age and relax over time, so there will always be the question of if it will really run when you need it to. Larger guns with more mass to their slides are a whole lot more tolerant to varying spring conditions.

In my opinion, if you want a super reliable lightweight pocket pistol, stick with the ultralight 5 shot revolvers. When loaded they come in around 18 ounces and they will go bang everytime. The only fat part of their width is across the cylinder, while the rest of the frame is pretty slim. Having one in the pocket just looks like a set of keys for the most part.

On the subject of the P232, it is a reliable platform worthy of the Sig name. It is big enough to have enough mass to its slide to make it inherently reliable. The sad thing is, it is just as big as some of the smaller 9mm guns out there, so why not step up to a 9mm if you are not recoil sensitive?

I have a 26, but I'd like to get a 232 also after all the good reviews in this thread.

[WWhittle]

I tried the P238 a while back, but I couldn't get it to run reliably enough for me. About 4 to 5 rounds out of 100 had issues.

I had always been leery about reliability when it comes to these little pocket semi-autos, but I figured if Sig was offering one, they probably had the bugs worked out of it. That ended up just being wishful thinking. After actually owning one for about 500 rounds worth of shooting and trying different things to get it to run reliably, I traded it in on a Glock G26 that I know for a fact will run when you absolutely need it. Everything I did to the little P238 to get one issue fixed just created an issue with another function of the feeding cycle.

After having my hands on a little pocket pistol to study firsthand why they tend to be rather finicky, I can't say I can really trust any of them. There is hardly any mass to the slides of these little guns so action timing is primarily dependent on spring tensions. Of course, we all know that springs age and relax over time, so there will always be the question of if it will really run when you need it to. Larger guns with more mass to their slides are a whole lot more tolerant to varying spring conditions.

In my opinion, if you want a super reliable lightweight pocket pistol, stick with the ultralight 5 shot revolvers. When loaded they come in around 18 ounces and they will go bang everytime. The only fat part of their width is across the cylinder, while the rest of the frame is pretty slim. Having one in the pocket just looks like a set of keys for the most part.

On the subject of the P232, it is a reliable platform worthy of the Sig name. It is big enough to have enough mass to its slide to make it inherently reliable. The sad thing is, it is just as big as some of the smaller 9mm guns out there, so why not step up to a 9mm if you are not recoil sensitive?


I have to admit that my 232 is sensitive to what rounds you try to put through it. It doesn't agree with cheap ammo but any ammo that I would trust my life on, it feeds well.

On the subject of it's size, I somewhat agree but it's still smaller and thinner than most other "compacts" in it's category. With that said, I replaced it with an M&P40C for concealed carry. I came to the conclusion that if I am going to carry a handgun for personal protection, the personal protection part comes first and the concealed part comes second. So, my M&P might be a little bigger, but it goes bang a little harder.
My wife loves the 232 and shoots it very well. I just bought a new Hogue grip for it to make it a little more comfortable for her.

[Silver-Dollar]

Man, there are a lot of manufactures and data out there.

I have been thinking about this more. Since my first priority is home protection, I am thinking along the lines of a .357, .40, 10mm or .44/.45 calibers and full size with a minimum of 9 round capacity.

The conceal part I will look at later.

[minytrker]

I have to admit that my 232 is sensitive to what rounds you try to put through it. It doesn't agree with cheap ammo but any ammo that I would trust my life on, it feeds well.

On the subject of it's size, I somewhat agree but it's still smaller and thinner than most other "compacts" in it's category. With that said, I replaced it with an M&P40C for concealed carry. I came to the conclusion that if I am going to carry a handgun for personal protection, the personal protection part comes first and the concealed part comes second. So, my M&P might be a little bigger, but it goes bang a little harder.
My wife loves the 232 and shoots it very well. I just bought a new Hogue grip for it to make it a little more comfortable for her.

Just got back from shooting a couple hundred rounds, shot my 232 some more along with Sig 229 .357, glock .357 subcompact and the sig 238. I have yet to have a problem with my 232, fired 5 or 6 different brands of ammo, cheapest I could find and one box of high dollar rounds. I couldnt believe how well the sig 238 shot for such a small gun. It shot about like a 22 IMO. I am a fan of .357's and .45's but these little pistols are starting to grow on me. They are so much easier to carry and conceal. My wife also likes shooting them and wants a sig 238, mainly for the way it looks but hey if thats what it takes for her to get into shooting Im fine with that, lol.

[minytrker]

Man, there are a lot of manufactures and data out there.

I have been thinking about this more. Since my first priority is home protection, I am thinking along the lines of a .357, .40, 10mm or .44/.45 calibers and full size with a minimum of 9 round capacity.

The conceal part I will look at later.

If home protection is your #1 priority I would look into a shotgun, especially if your not really familiar with hand guns. In an emergency situation you just have to point and shoot. If you do buy a pistol it takes alot of practice and continuous shooting to stay proficient.

[bambooi]

What company had the 232 for 549? Maybe they will ffl it to someone for me.

[Silver-Dollar]

Something like this?
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/2MS51340-1.html

[minytrker]

What company had the 232 for 549? Maybe they will ffl it to someone for me.

Independence Firearms
6360 Fm 50
Brenham Texas 77833
PH: 979-421-9677
FAX: 979-421-9913

They have have over 3,000 guns in stock, plus ammo, scopes, you name it. Im glad they are so close me but its expensive being so close to them, lol.

[minytrker]

Something like this?
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/2MS51340-1.html

Thats what I would recommend for home protection.

[gearmesh, inc.]

Here's a new one to the market:

Bersa just came out with a single stack 9mm (8+1) that is for all practical purposes the single stack version of a baby Glock that Glock never got around to actually making, despite a strong demand for one. The model is called the Bersa BP9cc. It supposedly sells for around $400 and the trigger action is just like a Glock with its short reset double action only pull. A .40 cal one is due out sometime soon, too, with 7+1 capacity.

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/59360

While the grip length may be a little longer than a baby Glock, the Bersa pistol is about 1/8" to 3/16" thinner. If you put a pinky extension on a baby Glock mag, it would be the same grip height as the new Bersa.

[94FormulaBird]

http://www.palmettostatearmory.com/1785.php

yall need to call and see if they still have this deal

[gearmesh, inc.]

Just got done fondling one of the new Bersa BP9cc pistols at ATP. The one they have is two tone with a stainless slide and black frame. The trigger is actually better than a Glock trigger! It has a nice wide pad for your finger and a short distinct reset point. Pull weight was around 4 lbs if not a little lighter. That sure beats a box stock Glock trigger at 6 lbs. The feed ramp leading into the chambers had a very gentle laid back angle reminiscent of a CZ-75 feed ramp, which is awesome for feed reliability. I counted the witness holes in the magazine and it is definitely an 8 rounder. ATP's price was $419.

The only thing I didn't like was it has a magazine disconnect. I field stripped it to see if I could see how it worked, but a deeper disassembly into the frame parts would be necessary to find out. Most other pistols on the market that have the magazine drop safeties have been able to have the feature taken out, though.

Kahr is going to loose some market share to this little Bersa for sure. It will also peak the interest of those that were holding off on a baby Glock because of its chunkiness. It is going to steal some market share from the Walther PPS, due to it being just as slim and at a hell of a lot better price, too.

There isn't one of these Bersa's in the rental fleet yet at ATP, but I haven't heard of too many complaints over on any of the gun forums I frequent.

[csikx]

Went to the gun show today and looked for a Sig 232 but all I saw were 238s. I met a guy from Southeast Shooter Supplies based in Summerville that I will probably do some business with. His website is www.southeastshootersupplies.com

Thanks for posting that. He has very fair prices. Unfortunately, I don't see that he carries Rugers. Does he have a brick and mortar store?

[snakeplissken]

Thanks for posting that. He has very fair prices. Unfortunately, I don't see that he carries Rugers. Does he have a brick and mortar store?

No, not yet. I ordered a P232 from him yesterday (Thurs) that will be here Monday. I'll ask him about Rugers when I pick it up.

[Tankninja09]

I like My FN 5.7 and My Glock 29's

[Silver-Dollar]

Last week, I had the opportunity to shoot a Kahr K9 and a H and K .40 with a modified trigger. The guy I was with had two H and Ks but he could not used the one because it is a "duty" weapon (federal marshal). The both were easy shooting guns. I found the K9 a bit more accurate.

[94FormulaBird]

not sure if anyone is looking for a hd shotty

http://www.armslist.com/posts/301046/columbia-south-carolina-shotguns-for-sale--mossberg-500-cruiser--pistol-grip-

[LXtasy]

Wife just picked this little piece up today

http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/428759_3324775843552_1393053452_3260752_1465739904 _a.jpg

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/426226_3324769723399_1393053452_3260750_1808336279 _n.jpg

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/425238_3324794844027_1393053452_3260755_1179668485 _n.jpg