I need help again

[Guest]

Ok guys alot of you helped me in the rifle portion however, now I need help with the handguns part.

All of you who have read my thread in the rifles portion knows what I am looking for and what I need.

I need a reliable, easy reloading, easy firing, and somewhat accurate handgun. Price is no option. I have done some research on my own and have concluded to the baretta, 45, or the 9mm. However, I know you guys are the smart ones about all this stuff. So I need your help in determining what to get. I will be buying 2 handguns. But I need to know what to purchase first. Thanks for the help.

[C.G.]

Originally posted by SKILMATIC:
Ok guys alot of you helped me in the rifle portion however, now I need help with the handguns part.

All of you who have read my thread in the rifles portion knows what I am looking for and what I need.

I need a reliable, easy reloading, easy firing, and somewhat accurate handgun. Price is no option. I have done some research on my own and have concluded to the baretta, 45, or the 9mm. However, I know you guys are the smart ones about all this stuff. So I need your help in determining what to get. I will be buying 2 handguns. But I need to know what to purchase first. Thanks for the help.

There was a thread not too long ago asking about the same. Since I cannot find it, in a nutshell:

As one member pointed out, buying a handdgun, is like buying underwear, one cannot choose it for your. Best advice is go to a range that rents handguns or find people that would let you shoot theirs and try as many as you can (in different calibers) before you make your purchase. It doesn't make sense to buy a gun that may be accurate that doesn't fit your hand, or is in a caliber that you can't handle.
Try any of the major manufacturers: Glock, Beretta, Sig-Sauer, CZ, etc, they are all built well and will do the job. Personally, I like Berettas and Sigs; Beretta barely fits my hand, Sig fits better and has a better trigger(Glock doesn't fit at all), but the Beretta is easier to sight for me. I shoot well with 9mm, fairly well with .45 and not so well with .40 and I haven't tried .357 Sig. What I am trying to tell you that one man's ideal hand gun may be the pits for you and vice versa.

[gunnm619@aol.com]

Well you were asking for something in the tactical department. Research on handguns that are used in the military, not just the US Military but the world over.

IMO the greatest would possibly be the HK Mark23, or HK Tactical...but those are not sold here. You can take a full size HK USP and make a tactical minus the threaded barrel. Check out the following: HK USPs, Sig p220-p226-p228, any Glock, CZs or clones, Browning hi powered, Springfields TRP operator, Para Ordnance 1911s, Wilson Combat 1911s, Kimber TLE. I personally dont like Berettas. Dont buy a gun until you shoot it. Buying and not shooting is like buying a car with out sitting inside and test driving it. If money is really no object, Wilson Tactical Elite for me, $3500+.

[Guest]

The only 45 I know of that Beretta make are the Cougars but I thought they were not going to import them for a while at least.

If price was no object, I would personally get a Kobra Carry. That is one beautiful weapon.

http://www.edbrown.com/cgi-bin/htmlos.cgi/00321.1.951883739554499460

I like the third one the best. I the regular Kobra with a bobtail would be my dream but its not available in CA.

[Guest]

Oooohhh those were nice guns in that link. How much were they? Also how much are gun ranges and to rent and shoot multiple guns?

[C.G.]

Originally posted by SKILMATIC:
Oooohhh those were nice guns in that link. How much were they? Also how much are gun ranges and to rent and shoot multiple guns?

It ranges widely; once, in SoCal by Seven Flaggs, I shot about eight or nine rentals, stayed there about three hours and including re-loads of different calibers, it was little over $50. Other places I've been, charge $5 to $8 per gun. Check locally and remember it is a small investment in comparison to actually buying something that you can't shoot very well.

[Guest]

Hey thats not bad at all. I am going to do that. Thanks buddy

[gunnm619@aol.com]

Yah just know that some stores dont have a wide variety of guns to rent. Some stores have less than 20 guns, revolvers and autos. Only a few stores will have a good 100 rental guns. And some rental guns are not sold in Cali or offered to civilians.

[C.G.]

Originally posted by xGONZOx:
Yah just know that some stores dont have a wide variety of guns to rent. Some stores have less than 20 guns, revolvers and autos. Only a few stores will have a good 100 rental guns. And some rental guns are not sold in Cali or offered to civilians.

And one more thing; rentals are often not maintained very well, loosely fitting slides, dirty, trouble ejecting etc., not necessarily indicative of what a properly maintained handgun would be like.

[ligamentum flavum]

also, bring a friend with you if you rent. a lot of ranges won't let you rent alone for fear that a lone renter may commit suicide. sounds morbid, but it's true.

[rkt88edmo]

Hey Skilzy,

Since you are poised to spend a boatload of cash on some firearms, I would HIGHLY suggest that you allot some funds to training. You can do this before you buy your guns. Your experiences training may have a significant affect on your opinion of what you would like to own and may keep you from having buyer's remorse.

I don't think you've posted yet where in CA you live, but if you haven't heard of frontsight.com and their facility outside of Las Vegas, you might want to check them out. There are certificates available to make training there cheaper. I sell them, as do many others on the net.

Getting training will improve your shooting by leaps and bounds. Alternatively, please read this very thought full suggestion by author/Shooter John Ross:
Defensive Firearms Advice for Those With No Experience

http://www.john-ross.net/newbies.htm

[saki302]

Price is no object?

I would suggest:

Heckler & Koch-
USP Expert, USP Elite, P7M8

Les Baer (any pistol- all 1911 type)
Wilson Combat (any pistol- 1911 type)

Sig Sauer P220, P229 (if it fits you), P226
and if you can find two, a Sig 210. (I say two as I call dibs on the first one!!!).

Where in CA are you? The L.A. Gun club has some of the above for rent. For a Les Baer or Wilson pistol, I doubt you can rent one- just shoot a random high quality 1911 (Kimber, etc.), and figure the ones I mentioned will be better, tighter, and have lighter triggers.

For training, Front Sight is fairly close and convenient. Almost all their instructors carry Glocks, which work well, but lack the 'rich man' look.

The Berettas are nice guns, but not very 'special'. They're a fine duty weapon, but a little large for what they do (15 round cap.). Not good for 'gun snobbery' hee hee

-Dave

[Guest]

For a Les Baer or Wilson pistol, I doubt you can rent one- just shoot a random high quality 1911 (Kimber, etc.), and figure the ones I mentioned will be better, tighter, and have lighter triggers.

In the Bay Area, Reed's indoor range (101 at San Jose airport) has a Les Baer Thunder Ranch special for rent. Very nice looking gun. Since the rental price is $25 per hour, I've not shot it yet. Not that the rental price matters much, when renting large-caliber revolvers (.454 Casull or .500 S&W), the cost of ammo for a range session can far exceed the rental fee for the gun itself.

[Guest]

I live in San Diego gentlemen. BTW I will be receiving adequate training by the good boys in the marines and the national gaurd. I have lots of friends in both. Not to mention both of my parents are active duty NAVY and I just got accepted into the air force academy. I will be taught feild strategies at camp pendleton. I will learn marksmanship, maintenance, and etc. at MCRD.

But any other help will be much abliged. I cant learn enough about this stuff. Thus has everything to do with the security of this nation and my personal welfare. Please teach me all that you know. You can call me a sponge.