Ok time for a new toy!
I need some advice I looking for a new toy in 40 or 45. I don't want to break the bank but I what something dependable. The reason I not looking for a 9 is a few cop friends said the don't have the stoping power of a 40 or 45. I want to use it for target shooting and home defence. any advice would be great.
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My advice may not be expert advice, however, consider this. If you are wanting a gun that you can target shoot with and are considering cost to be a major issue then you might consider a 9mm. They are considerably cheaper to shoot than a .40S&W or a .45acp. No, they don't have the "knockdown" power of a .40 or .45 but you can get specialized defensive rounds in 9mm that make up some of the difference in the "power" gap between a 9mm and .45.
But, if you still want an inexpensive .40 or .45 I would look into guns like CZ and the EAA Witness lines.
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kickertkd,
I agree with rldowns3. While a 9 doesn't have the stopping power of a .40 or 45 the most important thing is being comfortable with what you are shooting. In my mind that means practice, practice, practice. 9mm ammo is a little cheaper and you can get some very reliable 9's for relatively low cost. I used to shoot tactical pistol matches and shot a Ruger P85 with tritium sights in night matches. Folks laughed at my choice but it worked for me and I won matches with it. I love my little ruger and keep it next to my bed. I have practiced with it so much that I don't have to think about how to operate it. I guess my point is, don't rule out the nine, much more important to have confidence in what you shoot, whatever that may be.
"Practice is the best of all instructors."
Publilius Syrus0 -
i have an older series 70 colt in 9mm. a 9mm loaded with hydro-shocks at body mass is devastating. 0 -
have you considered a wheelgun? a good 6 in. in .357 would serve both your purposes fine, and is a more reliable idea for home defense. but sounds like you want an auto....so its just my humble opinion. 0 -
Ruger P90 in 45 or P 91 0r P 94 in 40 S&W, Rugers are one of the most dependable guns out there and good used ones can be had for around the $300 mark or less 0 -
In a study of one shot kill ratios both the 9mm and the 45 had scores in the low 90's. only a point or two of difference between the best 9mm cartridge and the best .45. I don't remember which had the very very slightly better numbers. A .357 mag with 125 gr. jacketed hollowpoint had the best of all (yes including whatever big bore you're thinking of) at 96% one shot kills. Turns out a fat slow bullet does not always the best wound channel make. Velocity, energy, and mushrooming play very big parts.
The best 9mm cartridge was far better than the worst .45 cartridge, so don't go around thinking that the ".45 ACP" stamp on the side of your weapon is going to kill. The cartridge, bullet performance, and placement mean much more than caliber.0 -
I'd get a .45 if I were you. A base model H&K USP.
If your budget won't handle that do what gskyhawk said0 -
I go back and forth between revolvers and pistols. But, like a few other posters stated, the Ruger is not a bad choice. I have a Ruger and a Sig, both in .40 S&W. The Sig is great, but I still like to shoot the Ruger P94 in .40. You can't beat the price and mine is more accurate than people led me to believe it could be. I'd rely on it with no doubts. Some folks don't like the recoil. I have smallish hands and don't care for recoil than anyone else. With Hogue grips on my Ruger, it shoots great and the recoil is no problem. 0 -
ditto on the ruger P series.
Or, shotgun news and the gun list have adds for the argentine contract colt 1911's for around $400. It's a real colt. It may have been made in Argentina, but it was made on colt machines, and that makes it the real thing in my book. And just consider all the upgrades that can be done to it.
why chase the game when the bullet can get em from here?....
Got Balistics?0 -
If you do not want to break the bank and you want new I would look at the witness line of hand guns in both .40 and .45. If you are looking at used I would still look at the witness as well as the SIG P-220 and the 1911 series of hand guns. My 2 cents. [8D]
Greg0 -
You are talking about 2 different critters here, target shooting for fun, and home defense. A 12ga is the best weapon for home defense, in my opinion, that is.
Like others have said here, do not rule out the 9mm. When you take into consideration how many rounds your mags will hold. With the different types of ammo you can use, so to be "comparable," the number of rounds might come into play at some point. If you have to have a pistol for home defense, a 357 wheel gun will work very well.
The gene pool needs chlorine.0 -
I want to thank everyone for the advise. The reason I was not thinking of the 9's was the stoping power, however I did not take in to account the type of ammo. Now that I think about the the local PD choice is a Glock 17, and SWAT teams love the MP5. I think for the price a 9 might be the way to go, so what would be a good 9 and what would be the best home defense round for it?
on a side note I know shotgun is the best home defense gun but I want something to target shoot with and one day carry, I am however thinking a nice 12 or 20ga with a 18in barrle would be fun too. I know nothing about shotguns except when you rack it, it get attention.0 -
Look at the P series Ruger handguns in 9MM. Reliable, reasonably priced and made in the USA. I have both the P89 in 9mm and the KP-90 in .45. Never a problem with either.
Worry is the interest humans pay on the debt of miscalculation.0 -
I had a Ruger P-Series in .40 S&W, and the thing was so bad that I could throw rocks by hand more accurately. I tried a .40 S&W Beretta, and same thing. The .40 S&W is, as has been stated in print in one of the prominent gun magazines, "an inherently inaccurate round." ON THE OTHER HAND....I had a Ruger P-Series in 9mm, and that sucker shot beautifully right out of the box. I also had a Ruger P in .45ACP, and it was almost as good as the 9mm. My advice: Get a Ruger in 9mm. or a .45ACP Ruger. They're out-of-the-box accurate, extremely durable, reliable, and won't cost you an arm and a leg. 0 -
Get a Beretta 92. For 9mm.
If you have smaller hands get a Beretta 92 Vertec.
If you can't afford that get a ruger P series.0 -
I would suggest a Taurus PT92 if you are on a budget and want a very reliable 9mm.
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I have a Ruger P90 and a EAA Witness both in .45 auto and the Witness wins hands down. I find that the Ruger is inconsistent (maybe its the guy behind the trigger). I'm a fan of the .45 auto and I'd consider nothing less for target or self defense. I picked up my Witness NIB at the last show for $300. If that's what your looking to spend then that's your ticket. I hear that the Wonder Finish as very durable.
Vipereater0 -
I have a Ruger P90 and a EAA Witness both in .45 auto and the Witness wins hands down. I find that the Ruger is inconsistent (maybe its the guy behind the trigger). I'm a fan of the .45 auto and I'd consider nothing less for target or self defense. I picked up my Witness NIB at the last show for $300. If that's what your looking to spend then that's your ticket. I hear that the Wonder Finish as very durable.
Vipereater0 -
OK I'm thinking I'll go with a ruger 9. The prices can't be beat. any suggestions on which one? By the way how does the ruger compar to the s&w sigma? I thinking that I don't want the poly frame again, not sure. Anybody know a ruger dealer in philadelphia pa? 0
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