The Glade 4.0

I am looking to get a 9mm pistol mostly for self-defense, but also to take target-shooting with family. I was leaning towards a Sig Sauer P226 (so in the sub-$900 category) but I cannot find any unbiased reviews that compare hand guns.

And I am fully aware of the apparent hypocrisy of this action based on my posting history of anti-gun, so I would ask that you please just consider me converted.

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I'm a fan of Glock's offerings.

However, for self defense, you may look into a heavier caliber. 9mm doesn't have a lot of stopping power, and a FMJ round can overpenetrate and hit something behind your target.

.40 ACP, .45 ACP and 10MM are better self defense rounds. The .40 ACP is probably the best bang for the buck, if you pardon the pun.

The best thing you can do is go to a local gun range that offers rentals to see which pistol you like best. Feel is important, as is fit. Some handguns have a thicker grip due to the size of the round, or the way they're stacked in the magazine. Different guns will also have different recoil and controllability.

If you look at Glocks, you'll see that there are generally 3 different frame sizes. There's a full size 9mm, the 17; a compact 9mm, the 19; and a subcompact 9mm, the 26.

There's a bunch to consider when shopping for a personal firearm, and really the best way to find out what's best is to go down and try some out.

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Holy shitsnacks!

I'm going to go pro-Glock as well although the Sig is really nice Glocks are known to be the kind of gun you want for self-defense. Might not have cleaned it recently, might have kept it someplace where dust and who knows what gets into it - it will still feed and cycle anything you throw in it. If you want an external safety - Glock is not for you.

As for 9mm Glocks can handle +p and +P+ and with some hollowpoints over-penetration of a human target isn't a concern (so long as you hit them in the torso and if you don't then just about anything will over-penetrate). Get Glasers (for SD use) if you're worried about going through walls.

Two other reasons I suggest a 9mm (at least to start)
1. Cost
2. Recoil and less of it

I mention those two in the plus column because both can be factors to not go to the range and practice. Buy some cheap Federal rounds or even some aluminum cased crap (Glocks will cycle anything) and get the fundamentals down. When you feel you're good and set put some of your SD loads in so you experience and get some practice with what you will be shooting when the time counts (hopefully the time won't ever come). You don't rise to the challenge - you fall to your level of training. If you've shot a bunch before and don't care about recoil or cost too much - go for the largest caliber you are comfortable with and can control.

First though before you settle on anything - make sure the firearm feels comfortable in your grip and as closely matches your natural point of aim as possible for your price range. (Glocks have unique set angle of grip that lots of people love and a few people it just won't ever work for them).

Go to a rental range and put some lead down range with various models you like.

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"...but there exists also in the human heart a depraved taste for equality, which impels the weak to attempt to lower the powerful to their own level and reduces men to prefer equality in slavery to inequality with freedom." - De Tocqueville

I do plan on test firing some guns, but I'd like to develop a list of guns to try out at the range. So far I hear Glocks, I'd like to try a Sig, what else?

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The Beretta 92FS is very nice smooth and accurate while being a pretty attractive gun.

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"...but there exists also in the human heart a depraved taste for equality, which impels the weak to attempt to lower the powerful to their own level and reduces men to prefer equality in slavery to inequality with freedom." - De Tocqueville

Stay away from Hi-Point

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"...but there exists also in the human heart a depraved taste for equality, which impels the weak to attempt to lower the powerful to their own level and reduces men to prefer equality in slavery to inequality with freedom." - De Tocqueville

Is this for carry, or for home?

I'd suggest a revolver. The ultimate in reliability. A .357 is great for stopping power with magnum loads, load it with .38 and it's great (and cheap) for practice.

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"Dress cops up as soldiers, give them military equipment, train them in military tactics, tell them they’re fighting a ‘war,’ and the consequences are predictable." —Radley Balko

I've been test firing pistols researching what I want. I've owned clocks and Smith and Wesson products.

Sigs- overpriced IMHO for the percieved quality. Ergonomically I did not like the sig in 9mm. I felt the action was smooth but I did have a failure to feed and one stovepiped round on the one I tested. I can't place the blame on the brand on the whole, but in thousands of rounds from my flock I never had an issue.

Glocks- goes bang every time. Its a decent reliable pistol but isn't pleasant to shoot for me.

Beretta 92- girlfriend had one and shot it a few times. Liked the way it handled a lot. Both her and the pistol tbh.

After looking at 9mm for a.while I decided to try a 1911 model in. 45 . That's my next purchase.

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A man who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself. ~ John Stuart Mill

If you're lucky, you can find a Colt Python in .357 MAG.

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All the cool kids have a Webley.

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"...but there exists also in the human heart a depraved taste for equality, which impels the weak to attempt to lower the powerful to their own level and reduces men to prefer equality in slavery to inequality with freedom." - De Tocqueville

Back when I shot occasionally, I found fit was extremely important. There werre a lot of guns I couldn't fit my hand around comfortably (relatively big, but not huge hands). My favorite for feel and fit was a Browning 1911 .45, WWII vintage owned by a buddy. My hand fit comfortably around it, the kick was bearable, and I usually hit the target. The cost of ammunition is high on ..45s though. If you are going to practice regularly, Find a 38 or smaller.

Lots of folks like Glocks. I've tried them, they weren't so comfortable for me, your mileage may vary, which is why trying out a wide range of models is a good idea.

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The U. S. Constitution doesn't guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it. You have to catch up with it yourself. B. Franklin

"A mind needs books like a sword needs a whetstone." -- Tyrion Lannister, A Game of Thrones

Glock and Sig are both excellent brands. I wouldn't worry about either stopping power or overpenetration; 9mm has plenty of the former and is not powerful enough for the latter to be a truly serious problem; it's not a rifle round after all.

The other nice thing about 9mm is that it's reasonably priced for practice; I've always found .40 caliber to be considerably more expensive. Just don't buy hollow point rounds for practice; those are for carry. They also do help with the stopping power and penetration issues.

Revolvers are not bad, but they do tend to be harder to conceal for carry. If you're a big guy that may not be an issue. They are more reliable than automatics, but it's not as if automatics are really unreliable. The Border Patrol held onto revolvers for a very long time because of the desert environment, but later went to Berrettas and then to H&Ks and neither has presented any serious problems. They also require more practice to reload rapidly and hold fewer rounds, but with speedloaders and practice you can reload them almost as fast as a semiauto.

I'd also point out that asking people about guns is almost as certain to start an argument as asking them about church. There are many schools of thought, so don't treat any of them as gospel.

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"Hysterical children shrieking about right-wing anything need to go sit in the corner and be quiet while the adults are talking."

HK makes a real nice pistol too. I <3 my friend's .45 USP.

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Holy shitsnacks!

For 9mm if you aren't going to CC it the various 92fs are pretty great. I have the Vertec model which felt better in my hand than the standard model, but any 92 is going to be a great gun (especially after a trigger job). It is a little huge for concealed carry, imo.

While there's nothing wrong with Glocks, I don't like them much. They just feel wrong to me. My wife carries a Springfield Armory XD9 that feels much better in my hand than a Glock (that's why you try before you buy, though). They're accurate, simple to operate, and pretty inexpensive.

If you asked what I'd recommend for carry, I'd say a Kimber 1911 without hesitation. Recoil is negligible with a 1911, Kimber makes good, reliable, accurate guns that just work every time. They're a bit pricey, but a self defense gun is not something you should cheap out on. If you were looking for a range gun it might be a bit pricey for a first range toy.

HK makes some very nice firearms. I'm also a big fan of the 1911 model which is made by a number of different manufacturers.

I'm carrying an H&K P2000. It's a decent gun but it's got a decidedly unusual trigger squeeze. I don't know if other H&Ks have it, or not, but I don't consider it one of the better features of the gun.

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"Hysterical children shrieking about right-wing anything need to go sit in the corner and be quiet while the adults are talking."

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History of the Condom
In 1272, the Muslim Arabs invented the condom, using a goat's lower intestine.
In 1873, the British somewhat refined the idea, by taking the intestine out of the goat first.

Hop? You looking for something to carry most days or just home defense?

If it is just home...just get a shot gun.

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Raell Kromwell

.357 revolver is my preferred choice for all purpose. I don't really have much use for an auto, since I don't carry.

Shotgun is also nice for home security.

For target practice, I would choose a .22 just because it is extremely cheap to use. Past getting adjusted to a firearm, I don't really feel the need to pour hundreds of rounds thru my defense weapon. Especially since ammo is not cheap for more powerful weapons. I can shoot my .22 all day long without crying afterwards over the amount of money I blew up.

Why the **** is this in Hellfire?

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Ezekiel 23:19-20 

Probably just in case.

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I prefer to think of them as "Fighting evil in another dimension"

I'd assume it was because he thought his previous stance on guns, highlighted by his statement that he is scared of anyone with more than two guns, would lead to flaming. Oh, and guns are bad mmmkay?

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"Dress cops up as soldiers, give them military equipment, train them in military tactics, tell them they’re fighting a ‘war,’ and the consequences are predictable." —Radley Balko

A little of A and a little of B.

Most of the gun owners post in Hellfire whereas I never see a lot of these names in General, Entertainment, Sports, etc.

I am going to get a CC permit. I don't know that I will ever carry it around but it'd be preferable to have the option.

So far I have:
1) Glock (no model recommendation)
2) Beretta 92FS
3) Sig 226
4) Several recommendations for the various 1911s
5) H&K P2000

I appreciate the .357 and .45 advice but I really want to stick with a 9mm for the cost of ammo since I'd imagine I'll spend a lot of time at the range solo + with family/friends.

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I have the Glock 19 the compact version of the 9mm. I really like it. A 17 (fullsize) is a bit too big to conceal well.

Can I ask what made you change your mind?

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"...but there exists also in the human heart a depraved taste for equality, which impels the weak to attempt to lower the powerful to their own level and reduces men to prefer equality in slavery to inequality with freedom." - De Tocqueville

To be honest I have no idea. I am not worried about my safety. I don't plan on carrying it around. I am not concerned about 2nd amendment rights being stripped down. I have spent a lot of time trying to figure it out and cannot for the life of me understand it.

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