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Well, it has been a few months since my license arrived and I am now seeking a new pistol for the "winter months". I have been carrying my Bersa 380 lately because it is easy to conceal in the warmer months of the year. I have a couple of other pistols (9mm & .38) , but I am wanting to buy something new with a little more power behind it. I am by far no gun expert. I know a little about makes and models, but not as much as I would like to. (The most important thing I believe is that I am really accurate with the guns I have shot)....but getting to my point, I am interested in any information anyone has to offer on a really good shooting pistol that has a comfortable feel. I live in Galveston County, so If you know of any shops/dealers within a 60 mile range (excluding Texas City...I am familiar with these stores, but interested in looking at other places as well.
Thanks,
Heath

Did i mention I am looking in the price range of $500-$800 ?

I am sure someone with more experience can help better than I can. I am a .45 fan, but because of a little health problems I have had to go down to a a 9mm every now and then. I have really been impressed with the Winchester Ragers 127 grain +P+. According to some they are just as good as the 357 sigs? Maybe someone will know a ranger that will allow you to rent or shoot some before you buy. Let us know what you get.

I got the opportunity to shoot a .45 one day and was really happy with my performance with it. I had always been told that a .45 was "too big for a little lady," but this little lady rather enjoyed it. Despite warning from a few misguided souls, the gun didn't rare back and knock me in the head.

It actually shot like other guns, only with a little more bang.

I would recommend shooting before you buy. Either shoot a friend or relative's .45 or rent some different ones at a local range.

(I shot a Kimber, but it's a tad bit out of my price range.)

PRODEFENSE off NASA 1 has some kimber ultras for about $680 if I remember right. They also have quite a few other guns for decent prices.

I know a few people on this forum have one, I'm sure they will chime in.

I don't know much, but I prefer to carry a gun of the same method of operation all of the time.

If I carry a standard DA/SA semi auto in the summer, then I will only carry the same type of action in the winter.

Training, stress, muscle memory, are all terms that come to mind.

FWIW:

I think 38spec. or 9mm rounds are both excellent self defense calibers.

Most Americans are into the "bigger is better" line of thinking, and that's certainly their right, but I think for the great majority of American firearm owners a larger round is simply unnecessary.

I will agree that if you have a population of "drug-crazed Moro Native's" lurking in your neighborhood having a 1911 Colt 45 would be a plus...

For me tho, I would consider a change of location.

For the rest of the bad guys or threat situations if you will select a good defense round the 38 spec. or 9mm should be more than adequate.

I think it's more about your ability to put your rounds where you want them than the necessity of having a larger projectile coming out of the barrel.



For my needs I have found that the S&W Airweight Bodyguard or the Sig P239 are more than adequate. I do not feel "undergunned" with either, and especially with the addition of Crimson Trace Lasergrips I have complete confidence that IF I point the red dot at center mass of the threat and pull the trigger then shortly thereafter a round hole will indeed appear at that spot.

I'm not talking about the needs of a professional leo, or someone in a related field where confrontation is a potential on any given day.. I'm referring to the average pistol/revolver carrying citizen..

I firmly believe that if the average person maintains "situational awareness" and uses common sense the potential for a life threatening confrontation is reduced to almost nil..

If indeed "Murphy's Law" catches up to you in a convenience store or potential car jacking then I still feel the smaller J-frames and Sig P239's of the firearms world will be more likely to be available for your personal defense than the larger, heavier firearm you left at home....

I think getting the 38/9 of your choice and practicing until you are competent with that firearm offers you as good a chance at personal defense as any larger caliber firearm.

But, I'm an old semi-senile gentleman and this is just my opinion.. What works for me might not satisfy you.


Best Wishes,

J. Pomeroy

Commonality is important if it's gonna be a CCW, like txinvestigator said. The Sig 239, and Kahr p9 are some to look at.

Walther P99c .40

Flame on.

If you get with Elgato in Texas City He would probably let you shoot a couple of his. He has quite a collection and is a great guy to boot. Extreeeeemly knowledgeable.

PX wrote:FWIW:

I think 38spec. or 9mm rounds are both excellent self defense calibers.

Most Americans are into the "bigger is better" line of thinking, and that's certainly their right, but I think for the great majority of American firearm owners a larger round is simply unnecessary.

I will agree that if you have a population of "drug-crazed Moro Native's" lurking in your neighborhood having a 1911 Colt 45 would be a plus...

I believe we have some drug crazed Moro's in this area. I'm not all that sure whether they are Moros or not, but they are definatly drug crazed. I'm told that todays modern defencive rounds stops tjhem pretty good.

Liberty wrote:

PX wrote:
I will agree that if you have a population of "drug-crazed Moro Native's" lurking in your neighborhood having a 1911 Colt 45 would be a plus...

I believe we have some drug crazed Moro's in this area. I'm not all that sure whether they are Moros or not, but they are definatly drug crazed. I'm told that todays modern defencive rounds stops tjhem pretty good.

JMO:

I have been carrying concealed off and on since 1966.. I started out zero knowledge regarding caliber ballistics as you can tell by the pistol I bought as my first firearm.



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Over the ensuing half a century I have owned a pile of pistols and revolvers. I was never able to find a 45cal. pistol that I could actually be comfortable carrying concealed... In a revolver I think the 357mag rd. is super, but again the small S&W (640?) I had was simply no fun to shoot, and I never became accurate with it at all... My wife's nightstand firearm is a (bought new) Ruger Security-Six 357mag.. I think it's a nice "home" gun. (It should hold off the bg's until I get to the High Standard 12ga. pump "Riot" shotgun in the closet.)

So, for me, the largest round that I personally came to appreciate was the 9mm in a pistol, 38 special in a revolver. It is my opinion that in the past couple of decades both rounds have been improved a great deal. Should I carry on the job I would do a great deal of research and carry the absolute best available round possible.

IF I were in law enforcement I might have a different prospective, and therefore might feel the need for a larger projectile in my gun. Whatever the caliber turned out to be I would be very diligent in practice and training, and I WOULD want a Crimson Trace laser product stuck on it someplace.

Everyone's circumstance is different and it's your butt on the line.. What works for me might not work for you.

I will say again tho, the Sig P239 w/CT grips is simply the best pistol I've ever owned.. It is extremely accurate, and ALWAYS reliable... For my personal situation I think my Sig loaded with top quality ammo (I prefer CorBon) I am well armed.. Don't know about your circumstances..

Sorry to ramble.

FWIW, I put 100% reliability at the absolute top of my "list of appreciation" in a firearm. Over a decade my Sig has never let me down, and I have complete faith in it...

Best Wishes,

J. Pomeroy

Just get a 1911 or 3 and be done with it. You'll end up there anyway?

On a serious note, try going to the gun shows and just fondling everything. It's hard to go wrong with most of the guns that are out there. Each has it's own ups and downs, except there are no down sides with the 1911.

PX wrote:

I think 38spec. or 9mm rounds are both excellent self defense calibers.

That is true.

Most Americans are into the "bigger is better" line of thinking, and that's certainly their right, but I think for the great majority of American firearm owners a larger round is simply unnecessary.
I will agree that if you have a population of "drug-crazed Moro Native's" lurking in your neighborhood having a 1911 Colt 45 would be a plus...

The reason I chose 45ACP is because of the stopping power. Plain and simple. "THE ONE HITTER QUITTER".

For the rest of the bad guys or threat situations if you will select a good defense round the 38 spec. or 9mm should be more than adequate.
I think it's more about your ability to put your rounds where you want them than the necessity of having a larger projectile coming out of the barrel.

The reason I didn't choose 9mm is because of the issue of penetration through the target and worrying about where that bullet goes after. You might aim at one target and hit others due to the high velocity round. Plus how many times you read of people being struck multiple times and still moving.

Another issue I have is with friends quoting all these specs about how fast certain bullet travel, 1900ft/s etc. Unless you are aiming at China, it doesn't matter to me. But anyone in my 25 yd radius, the difference in a 9mm and 45ACP hitting them is 0.00000123456 seconds. WHooa, big difference.

Anyway, to each his own.

I agree with txinvestigator use the same action type all the time. I never carry a cocked and locked handgun any more.

Any service caliber will do the job if the shooter does his job. Never count on a one shot stop regardless of what you may believe.

Now for a few suggestions of some good point and shoot type guns. Springfield XD, Glock, Sig, S&W 3rd Generation autos, S&W M&P, S&W revolvers, Taurus revolvers, and most polymer Taurus autos. Selecting a handgun for personal protection is a very personal decision because it has to fit you and your carry style not the other way around.

I wish my CHL said "Pistol Toter's License" on it.

Ahhhh, the days before political correctness and lawyer language on everything.