handgun question (shooting, sport, purchase, magnum)

[j1n]

I'm curious if any of you handgun enthusiast here might answer a question(s) for me...

I'm buying a handgun for home defense and for shooting at the range for fun. My wife is looking forward to shooting too, so I need to take that into consideration.
I will be buying either a 9mm, 10mm, .40, or a .45. In your opinions, which would be the best combo for the uses/needs I've mentioned.
Also, is any certain caliber ammo significantly more or less expensive than others?
Thanks

[kbg]

The 9mm. without a doubt so get the new Springfield XDm a Glock 19 or if you want something a little more compact, the Glock 26. You can buy FMJ 115gr. 9mm. ammo for half of what you would spend on anything else for the range but high quality defense loads will be about the same for all you mentioned.

Happy Shooting!

[swagger]

The 9mm would probably be a good fit. But why not get two? Get yourself a .40 or .45, and get your wife a .32 or even a .22. Kel-Tec makes a nice little .32 that's easy to shoot, reliable (as long as you keep it clean) and small - my girlfriend likes to shoot it, and the only other gun she didn't have a problem with was a .22 revolver we rented at a range once. The recoil from my .40 is too much for her.

[Bail_Khan]

Certainly don't get the 10mm.

[monkeywrenching]

Originally Posted by j1n

I'm curious if any of you handgun enthusiast here might answer a question(s) for me...

I'm buying a handgun for home defense and for shooting at the range for fun. My wife is looking forward to shooting too, so I need to take that into consideration.
I will be buying either a 9mm, 10mm, .40, or a .45. In your opinions, which would be the best combo for the uses/needs I've mentioned.
Also, is any certain caliber ammo significantly more or less expensive than others?
Thanks

go to a range. alot of ranges will have pistols that you can rent. you can find out yourself what firearm and what caliber that you and your wife like the best.

[shadowwalker]

9mm or 45. Use hollowpoint ammo for defense and use regular ammo to practice shoot. More available ammo and sizes than the other two choices. Pistols I dunno just research them. I really don't like a gun I have to trust my life on that isn't a revolver. More to go wrong with a semi-auto.
For what you want I would consider a 357 magnum revolver. You can use either 38 special or 357 magnum ammo. Large difference in the cost for the use and 357 really packs a whallop on the recieving end. Revolver is easier to keep clean and more dependable when you really need it. Easier to use for the first time user and safer.

[LaoTzuMindFu]

Originally Posted by j1n

I'm curious if any of you handgun enthusiast here might answer a question(s) for me...

I'm buying a handgun for home defense and for shooting at the range for fun. My wife is looking forward to shooting too, so I need to take that into consideration.
I will be buying either a 9mm, 10mm, .40, or a .45. In your opinions, which would be the best combo for the uses/needs I've mentioned.
Also, is any certain caliber ammo significantly more or less expensive than others?
Thanks

My advice would be for you and your wife to first visit the range and rent/shoot many of the guns they have there and decide which one works best for you.

Then once you decide on the gun that feels comfortable to you, you can make your purchase.

I also suggest that you not take into account the price of bullets for home protection. Hopefully, you will never have to use them but one or two boxes should be plenty. For "fun" shooting at the range, you can just purchase some of the reloaded ball rounds at the range for cheaper than buying new ammo.

[Pilot1]

9MM is great because ammo is less expensive and it doesn't have the recoil of the .40 or 10MM, but is still a very good caliber for self defense. Go to a range where they rent guns and try out some. I prefer the CZ line of pistols, but also have H&K's, Sig, Browning, etc. Many people like Glock and the G19 is a great choice as is Springfield Armory's XD-9.

[rifleman]

First: ditto on everyone's suggestion to go to the range. Cartridge choice: given its other uses, the 9mm is probably the best compromise. I carry a compact .45ACP, but it does kick a bit for a woman user, and I'm experienced.

Its most admirable that you are "Hoping For The Best, But Planning For The Worst!". Our current little socio-economic "sitch" isn't going anywhere good any time soon, and it may well spawn more drug-driven home invasions, burglaries, sidewalk stickups (to which I say "Never bring a knife to a gunfight, buddy!") or thuggo threats. It may also spawn some food riots, which tend to follow on naturally after the nationwide truck transportation strikes, collapse of a lot of large retail chains with subsequent wide-spread unemployment... and on and on. You get the picture.

PS: google a blogger named "FerFal" and read his thoughts, though very lengthy, about preparedness. Wow! You'll thank me, and him, for pointing out this insightful stuff.

A military cartridge chambering (i.e: 9mm or .45ACP) is always wise. Ammo should be available everywhere for a while. Look into surplus ammo supplies. Buy a good gun cleaning kit. And then, visit the range at least once a week for 6 - 8 weeks to get really familiar with the sidearm. Then at least once a month, shoot about 40 rounds per visit. Clean the gun after every visit, not because its that necessary, but to gain a real knowledge of how to disassemble, reassemble and function-check your firearm. Start in with a close target (≈ 5 yards), move on out to a max of about 30 yards. Learn to shoot quickly, and from a couple of different stances, including using your weak hand. Most defensive shooitng will be at <15 yards. If possible, find an outdoors location to practice in realistic situations. (Wear hearing protection, always, when practicing).

The 9mm has very manageable recoil, esp. in one of the high-capacity handguns. My recommendation, as a gunsmith and practical shooter? The Springfield Armory XD-M, which carries up to 19 rounds. There are also good offerings from Glock, Beretta, H&K and the new Smith & Wesson M&P. Purchase additional magazines so you have a total of 3. Buy a good ballistic nylon holster and belt with mag pouches. Learn how to disassemble it quickly and properly.

Finally, you may also wish to get a truly ultra-small super-hider gun such as one of the venerable 5-shot Smith & Wesson "J" frames (titanium) in .38 Special, NOT 357 Mag (too violent, too much penetration in a building, too loud!), or in the new .327 Mag or the older .32 H&R Mag (6 shots!). Both revolvers are available from either Ruger, S&W or Charter Arms. Or check out one of the new Ruger LCPs in .380, another low-recoil round but a bit marginal as a man-stopper. Though I certainly wouldn't like to take a couple of those rounds at close range to my chest or head! Owweeee!

And then ditto on the necessary cleaning stuff specific for that particular gun, plus a holster (check out Kramer in Tacoma, WA. Wonderful!), mag pouches, extra mags, at least 1000 rounds of ammo for each cartridge type (2500 is better), and then practice. Practice. Practice. and then go practice.

BTW, look into the later purchase of one of the compact pistol-cartridge chambered long guns such as the Beretta CX4 Storm, or Heckler & Koch (H&K) USC, carbines, both available in 9mm and .45ACP. Very good defensive gun, light, can be fitted with a good red-dot, laser or optical sight. Also, low-recoil, and appropriately menacing-looking, and fun to boot! And consider, at least, a very basic cartridge reloading setup to ensure you'll always have a supply of ammo.

Have some fun, and good luck*. Any other questions, don't hesitate to ask. PS: the prices on all of this stuff are only going to go up from now on.

(*Consider joining the NRA. Don't let the "new agers" take away your rights!)

[j1n]

thanks for all your responses. 9mm it is. but I will take advantage of the ranges...renting and trying different things out.