What type of hand gun should I buy?

Question

I dont want to spend more than 700$ but I want to get the best gun I can get.

Answer 1

You can get just about anything you want.

I would go with a Glock 19 and spend the rest on mags and ammo.

Answer 2

Well honestly with 700 dollars you can pretty much buy whatever handgun you chose, its just a matter of picking the right caliber for your needs. h**l you might even have enough money left over to attend a safety/basic handling type of class. which i highly recommend if you wish to carry concealed, and are not familiar with handguns.

Good luck and grats on taking accountability for your own safety.

Answer 3

If you plan on intensive training and concealed carry, you'll want to look at slab-sided autoloaders, not too big and heavy but not too small, either.

But that's for people that are really going to work at it. If you're just going to take it to the range once a month, and leave it home for defense of the household otherwise, then a revolver is the logical choice. And here, I'm going to put aside my biases (I really like 44 Special and 45 Colt) and suggest one of my least favorite chamberings: 357 magnum, and a barrel length of about 4", certainly not shorter. Something along the lines of Ruger's GP100 would be a good choice.

Answer 4

That's about right for getting into the upper classes of reliable handguns. Makers like Sig, H&K, there are some with great handguns below the set spending level: S&W, Ruger, CZ, FN, Glock.

What are you looking to acheive with this handgun? Concealable, target, hunting???

Answer 5

.357 mag.

Answer 6

Start off with the basics. You already have a shotgun, so no need to rush on getting a handgun.

Get a Ruger 22/45, Browning Buckmark, or similar .22lr pistol and practice, practice, practice. Then, when you can hit ten rounds consecutively in the middle ring, you're ready for your first centerfire handgun.

Your first centerfire handgun should be 9mm by the way. Cheap ammo which means you can practice more often and be ready. Most first time handgunners buy the most expensise gun they can afford, like a Kimber, without thinking about the expenses involved in properly maintaining a high level firearm. Most of all though, they don't think about how much .45ACP ammo costs these days.

Start of with a Sig Sauer P226. Everyday, the U.S. Navy SEALs, Federal agents, and numerous law enforcement agencies including the Texas Rangers, Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Michigan State Police to name a few, trust their lives on their P226's. Shouldn't you?

Answer 7

Both Glocks and Berettas have been around for a long time and are quite well made and have a lot of good feedback.

If you're willing to spend a little more money, a Sig Sauer is also an excellent buy.

Answer 8

Sounds like you need a 9mm Glock.  There are three model available:  The full-size G-17; the compact size G-19; and the sub-compact G26.  All these models are well within your price range.  

Glocks are user-friendly, rugged, dependible, accurate and high cap.  As a gun safety rule keep your finger outta the trigger guard until you are ready to shoot.  The Glock's only external safety is that little lever you see ahead of the trigger.  As you depress the trigger you automatically depress this safety and your Glock will go "bang," everytime.  Don't throw any gun into a desk drawer or purse full of clutter unless it is unloaded or secured in a holster that covers the trigger.  Always carry in a holster that does cover the trigger.  How hard is that?

Finally, sign up for a gun-safety course and if you can, get your CCW.  With the 9mm always use quality defensive ammo for defense.  Stay away from the FMJ and subsonic rounds for defense.  The best defensive 9mms are the 115 to 127 grain jacketed hollow-points from any of the major ammo makers.

Good luck.

H

Answer 9

Depends how much you will train/practice. Unless you are quite familiar with your handgun, I would not recommend a semi-automatic like a Glock. A revolver is simple and safe for a beginner. You could buy a nice one for $700, chambered for .357 Magnum which will also shoot a less powerful and less expensive .38 Special round.

Answer 10

I suggest that you make your first handgun purchase a .22.  My preference is for revolvers, but a good quality full-sized semi-automatic (such as the Browning Buckmark or Ruger Mk II or III Standard Model) will do if you prefer the flat-guns.

Another argument for a revolver is cost.  With quality being equal, revolvers tend to be considerably less expensive than semi-automatics.  And most cheap semi-autos are not worth the price.

If you chose to ignore my advise on the .22 handgun, your best buy would be a good condition used S&W medium or medium-large frame revolver.  Something along the line of a Model 19 (the Perfect Packing Pistol IMO), a Model 66 (the stainless version of the M-19) or M-686, or even a Ruger GP-100 would be good choices.  All are .357 Magnum revolvers, which means you can use light .38 SPL loads for practice and familiarization.

Doc

Doc

Answer 11

Taurus PT 1911. Retails for right around $700. I know where to get one for $600 though.

Answer 12

700$ you can get pretty good ones. I suggest a (Glock.)

Answer 13

The question is too vague to really nail it down. A hand gun is much like a shoe, and has to be comfortable in your hand.

As for the brand, there are a ton out there. some of the finer ones are Glock, H&K, Sig Sauer, Springfield Armory.

And for the guy who thinks a Kimber is high mainenence, nothing could be further from the truth. The 1911 style pistol has served american soldiers for close to 60 years. It is still used by specilal forces operatives. As far as police, the 1911 is used by LAPD's SIS (fancy name for the hard chargers). I own many handguns and pistols, by several makers. A 1911 takes some training to use, but is by far the best shooting, most dependable type of firearm on the market. Let remember that it was designed in the late 1800s and went into military service in 1911. The Kimber is a good producer of this type of a gun. I also think that if you are going to get one hand gun, get a uniform trigger, and in .45 cal. I like the .45 cause it still makes a bigest wound of the autos. You would more than likely never need more than 3 or 4 rounds to defend yourself as a civilian, but the .45 packs a lot of power in a small package. The .45 is still available in military bulk, and pretty cheep compared to a .40, or some of the revolver cals.

I subscribe to many magazines that test guns, and the Springfield Armory XD, had been dominating the striker fired polimer frame market, 3 years running. Striker fired means one uniform trigger pull with little training to master. This does not mean Glock sucks, they are all fine guns. Handle them, and chose the one that fits your hand best. I think that 700 is plenty to get a great gun with a boat load of ammo.

PS. I bought my first Kimber in 1996 for $550, and I have several thousand through it with no trouble. It is a no frills 1911, and it is a true warrior's work horse.  A basic Kimber, or Springfield Armory  1911 will be 600 to 800, but can be the last gun you will buy.

PS I carry a M&P .40 on duty as a police officer. It too is a fine gun at a resonable price.

Good Luck.

Answer 14

One that kills... not too heavy and not too big incase cops see it in your pocket