Para, Taurus, or Ruger?

[Soul TKR]

Hey guys, I'm in the market for a defensive gun to have at home. I work graveyards and the wife being at home by herself is leaving me with uneasy feelings, with no way to defend herself. Currently my work gives me some nice discounts on these 3 brands. I also get a discount on Benelli, but the wife said she'd feel a lot more comfortable with a pistol/revolver than a shotgun so...

Just curoious what gun you'd recommend from these 3 brands and why?

side note... I'm fairly new to firearms so try to use lingo that a kindergardner would understand

[NotEnoughGuns]

Ruger GP100 Or maybe even SP101 for a revolver or a P series pistol
Rugers are built like tanks and just plain work.

[IrishPirate]

depends on what specific gun you're thinking of, and in what caliber. Much more goes into buying a gun than the manufacturer. What specifics are you looking for? that would help nail down what to go with and what to stay away from.

[Uriah02]

If you were gonna drop the cash for a Para you could get a Kimber...

[Soul TKR]

depends on what specific gun you're thinking of, and in what caliber. Much more goes into buying a gun than the manufacturer. What specifics are you looking for? that would help nail down what to go with and what to stay away from.

well I suppose you could look at this thread as not only "which brand" to go with but I'm also sort of looking for recommendations on a gun. Like I said, something reliable, defensive, and that the wife could handle if she needed to. This is all new territory to me so I'm open to suggestions...

If you were gonna drop the cash for a Para you could get a Kimber...

Are Para's any good? The research I've done on the web there's a lot of people saying they are crap...? Which is another reason I started this thread. Any validity to that?

I don't get a discount on Kimber's that I know of. Having my manager look into it... but the 3 brands I listed I know I do. And trust me, its a worth while discount...

[UserM4]

I'm not really a Taurus fan but I've heard good things about the PT1911.

[Sinixstar]

Ruger GP100 Or maybe even SP101 for a revolver or a P series pistol
Rugers are built like tanks and just plain work.

I have to agree here.

Taurus and Para both make some good guns, but they make some junk as well.
Ruger generally has a pretty high level of quality and reliability. On the whole - they're a better brand than the other two.

[Crazed_SS]

Ruger.

[Sinixstar]

I'm not really a Taurus fan but I've heard good things about the PT1911.

I've got one (PT1911) with several thousand rounds through it - and couldn't be happier. Excellent guns. One of the best values in the 1911 market by far. It's a shame they're not rostered.

[Sinixstar]

I wouldn't rule out something like the Ruger GP100 series.

http://www.ruger.com/products/gp100/models.html

Something like the GP-141 might be a decent choice. .357 mag with a 4.2'' barrel. Gun's got good weight, but still short enough barrel to make it easier to handle. Can load it up with .38spl's to make it easier to shoot to start with, and step up to the .357s as the comfort level improves.

I've always thought revolvers are good defensive choices for people who aren't as well versed in handgun shooting. I find they're simpler for people to use, and more user friendly. I think semi-autos tend to require a bit more knowledge and skill to really use effectively. There's a bigger learning curve involved I think.

[Soul TKR]

Ruger GP100 Or maybe even SP101 for a revolver or a P series pistol
Rugers are built like tanks and just plain work.

I've had quite a few people mention the GP100...

you guys think the 1702 would be a good choice?

http://www.ruger.com/products/gp100/models.html

I've got one (PT1911) with several thousand rounds through it - and couldn't be happier. Excellent guns. One of the best values in the 1911 market by far. It's a shame they're not rostered.

what's rostered?

[Soul TKR]

I wouldn't rule out something like the Ruger GP100 series.

http://www.ruger.com/products/gp100/models.html

Something like the GP-141 might be a decent choice. .357 mag with a 4.2'' barrel. Gun's got good weight, but still short enough barrel to make it easier to handle. Can load it up with .38spl's to make it easier to shoot to start with, and step up to the .357s as the comfort level improves.

I've always thought revolvers are good defensive choices for people who aren't as well versed in handgun shooting. I find they're simpler for people to use, and more user friendly. I think semi-autos tend to require a bit more knowledge and skill to really use effectively. There's a bigger learning curve involved I think.

now that's funny! I posted basically the same thing as you like 2 seconds later

wasn't aware you could shoot different caliber sizes...? interesting...

[Sinixstar]

now that's funny! I posted basically the same thing as you like 2 seconds later

wasn't aware you could shoot different caliber sizes...? interesting...

You can shoot .38spl in a .357mag but not the other way around.
They're both .357 bullet dia, but the .357mag has a longer case length.
1.29 for the .357 vs 1.15 for the .38

The .357 operates at about double the internal case pressure than the .38 special. That's why you can shoot the .38 in a .357, but not the other way around. If you dropped a .357 round in a gun designed for .38 - you're potentially going to have some catastrophic problems.


Oh - and 'rostered' means it's on the CA-Approved Handgun roster.
If a gun isn't on the CA approved list - it's considered "less safe". That means they can't be sold retail to non-special people (LEOs and Exempted persons). You can still get one PPT, and you can still have them if you bring them in from out of state, but dealers can't sell them directly.

[Quiet]

Speaking of Rugers...
Turner's sale

Ruger GP100 (4") .357Magnum for $499.98
Ruger P95 9x19mm for $329.98

[nowhere]

+1 for the ruger. I would also suggest a .38spl revolver if it's for the wifey and home protection. revolvers will never jam


I've had couple of para's and they were both bad experiences