New pistol recommendations

[krshunter]

OK, I think I'm in the market for a new pistol. I'm not settled on caliber or type. Will be my first real handgun that I intend on keeping. Looking for suggestions from any and all. Found a Colt Double Eagle Mk II/Series90 here in town in excellent condition for $525. Don't know that I want to go that steep for a used weapon. Like a Ruger GP100 in .357 mag too and don't know much about anything else. If an automatic I think I would like to stick with either a .45ACP or .40 S&W. and prefer the .357 in a revolver. Let's here from all of you. Maybe someone even has something they are getting ready to part with. Thanks all.

krshunter

[TreeDoc]

In my opinion, if you're looking for a 1911 style 45ACP I'd avoid the Colt and look towards a Springfield, Kimber, Para Ord, etc. Colt hasn't made a 1911 of the quality/workmanship of the others for years, they're sloppy guns comparatively. In the competitive shooting arena Colt is all but gone.

GP100's are great guns, S&W 686's are too. They're both inexpensive to shoot.

For a lifetime auto that ISN'T a 1911 style maybe a Glock 22, a Springfield XD40, or the 45ACP version of each. I'd do a .40S&W myself.

Hey, did you ever trade off that Weatherby? I have an XD40 still!

[earschplitinloudenboomer]

There is a milsurp available, quality handgun, cheap. Check boards for a CZ52. Read up. $100.00 buys a lot of gun. Available from AIM, SOG, J&G, MGS, etc. Gun is C&R.

[BILLY D.]

HEY PARDNER

THERES ONLY ONE GUN A COWPOKE NEEDS, A 45 COLT IN A RUGER BLACKHAWK. DISPATCHES DEER, TAKES CARE OF VARMINTS AND MAKES A TERRIFIC CAN OPENER. LOL IT'S BETTER THAN A 44 MAG WHEN HANDLOADED AND DOESN'T BEAT YOU UP AS BAD. I KNOW IT'S VERY SIMPLISTIC AND PLAIN OLD VANILLA, BUT IT GETS THE JOB DONE. AS A WOODS AND JUST A PACKING GUN IT CAN'T BE BEAT.

NOW IF YOU ARE TALKING CCW, THATS A WHOLE NEW BALL GAME. YOU DON'T NEED A GUN THAT SHOOTS 1" GROUPS AT 50 YARDS. 4" AT 25YDS IS PLENTY GOOD ENOUGH. IF YOU HAVE TO DEFEND YOURSELF IT WILL BE A LOT CLOSER THAN THAT I CAN GUARANTEE YOU. YOU DON'T NEED A TIGHT SLICKED UP RACE GUN FOR THAT. JUST REMEMBER IT HAS TO WORK....EVERY TIME. OR YOU BETTER BE REALLY SKINNY AND FAST OF FOOT. FOR MY OWN PREFERENCES I LIKE A SMALL REVOLVER FOR A CARRY WEAPON. 357 MINIMUM. I'M A LITTLE GUY AND CAN'T PACK A BIG PISTOL. NO MATTER WHERE I PUT IT IT STICKS OUT AND I LOOK LIKE A PREGNANT PHONE POLE. WHAT EVER YOU DECIDE TO BUY FOR CCW SHOOT THE HECK OUT OF IT. FIND IT'S FAVORITE AMMO AND STICK WITH IT. 100% RELIABILITY IS PARAMOUNT.

HAVE A GOOD ONE BUD.

[Lycanthrope]

If it's going to be a keeper, you can't go wrong with a 1911 style gun in .45 ACP. Kimber's are very accurate and you can modify a 1911 to your heart's desire.

[buckhunter]

For a first HG a 357 is the way to go. You can learn to shoot it with light 38 special wadcutters then as time goes by you can increase to 357 loads.

As far a which one I would stick with a SW Model 66, 19 or 686. I use a 66 with a 6" barrel for just about everything except CCW.

Rugers are just as good. The GP100 is a awesome weapon.

I suppose what it comes down to is which feels the best to you. Keep us posted.

[Hawkeye6]

krshunter,

The first thing I would do if I were you is figure out what you want/need the gun for. That will go a long ways towards helping figure out what type or model to look for.

For example, are you planning on using it for personal protection? Home vs. carry? Hunting? Plinking? Competittive target shooting?

The answers to those questions could point you in various directions -- revolver vs. semi-auto -- choice of chambering, etc.

[Catfish]

I`ll tell you up front that I am a wheel gun fan.............. That said I bekieve that you wound be best served with a .357 revolver for a fist centerfire handgun. It has enough knock down for deer hunting and you can fire .38 sp. ammo in it for cheap practice ammo. It really give you 2 guns in one, one for defience or hunting and one that you can shoot cheaply to become familar with your gun.

["yote"]

Billy D, I would agree, Except I got my 5 1/2" SS blackhawk in
.44 Mag. That's because I already had a Marlin 1895 in 44 Mag.
I think that the 44 Mag is more flexible and more available.
K.I.S.S. (keep it simple stupid.) IMHO.

[bulletpusher]

The Ruger Blackhawk in .45 Colt is as flexible as the .44 Mag. and with Cowboy Shooting so much in voge these days .45 Colt ammo is available just about everywhere with loads that can handle just about everything.

The .45 Colt has been stopping everything that walks on this Planet for a long time and will still do the job. The .45 Colt can be loaded up to do anything the .44 Mag. can do and do it just as good and in many cases even better.

This old cartridge has been around a long time and is still triving.

Don't get me wrong, the .44 Spl. and the .44 Mag. are outstanding cartridges and can do things that rifle shooters think are impossible.

Its just the .45 Colt is a better more versitle cartridge in my opinion. To each his/her own.

JMHO
Bulletpusher "BBRSSC #1"

[krshunter]

Well, I've been doing a little bit of thinking and here's what I've come up with. I want something that I can go out and have fun shooting, something I can keep around the house or in the camper trailer when camping or hunting, something for personal protection out on the trail or in the woods. I know that doesn't narrow it down a bunch. I will not be hunting with a handgun. At least not now. I'm not looking for something to knock down a grizzly bear either. Maybe a black bear, cat or person if I had to. Something that carries nice and I can take out to the range and play with.

As far as a revolver goes I really like the GP100 and have seen some nice S&W's. Heard good things about them too. I'm leaning the way of a semi-auto though and have read good about the CZ, Para Ordanance, S&W, H&K and Walther. I have held the CZ and the Walther and like the way they feel. Held both in a .40 S&W. Don't like the way a Glock felt or looked. Might be a good pistol but I don't think I could get used to that. Anyway, keep the suggestions coming. Thanks guys

[BILLY D.]

KRSHUNTER

45 COLT WILL DO "D" ALL OF THE ABOVE. THEY ALSO ARE AVAILABLE IN DOUBLE ACTION.

AS TO THE GLOCK.... LIFES TO SHORT TO OWN AN UGLY GUN.

I AM NOT A RUGER SALESMAN. BUT MINE WENT WITH ME EVERYDAY WHEN I WAS RIDING FENCE. IT WAS RAINED ON, FROZEN, BAKED, SANDBLASTED AND BEAT TO HELL AND IT NEVER FAILED ME WHEN I NEEDED IT...... AND I STILL USE IT.

[LoneWolf]

KS, Take Tree Doc's advise and go wrap your hands around a Springfield Armory XD40. Out of all the different pistols I looked at and touched, the XD felt like it was made for my hands. I bought the XD9, only because of cheaper shooting and lighter recoil. I plan to get my wife hooked on shooting with this thing. Plus, from what I read about the harder hitting 9mm factory loads, I think it would do the trick as a carry weapon too. I picked mine up for $408 plus tax, new.

[Montana Cowboy]

Howdy Krshunter
My opinion/ vote would be for a .357 mag for all the reasons listed already. One thing not mentioned is that if you were unable to protect yourself because you had been incapacitated your wife/ girl friend would be able to handle a revolver much easier than a auto. I'm not saying that women can't handle a semi auto it's just that some women are not mechanically inclined and a revolver is easier to operate for them. MC

[gregarat]

.357 is probobly the most versitile.

It has great power for defence, if you get one with over a 6"barrel you can even take a deer. Pluse the fact that it can shoot cheap .38 ammo makes it a good plinker.