1st pistol

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What price level do you need? I can get you set up.

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hi all, the wife and a I are contemplating a pistol for the nightstand. I love guns and so does the wife….what would be a good entry level pistol for home defense??

I looked at Gander tonight and I like the Beretta 9mm just kinda fits in my hand nicely but I don’t know jack about pistols.

I don’t have conceal/carry at this point so this would be a shoot for fun and nightstand weapon.

Any feedback would be appreciated.
Thanks
John

Also… should I look at new or used pistols?

JB, I’d look closely at revolvers for simplicity. I think finding the right pistol is like finding a good rod. You just know when it feels right.

I’ve got the S&W Bodyguard .380 for my first pistol in a long time. Great little carry gun. However this gun is just a little small to shoot for my hands. I’ve been looking for the next step up. Went to Cabelas last weekend and handled a bunch of guns. Found the Glock 26 to be the best for me and my hands, in the price range I was looking to spend.

I’ll let some of the other experts speak to buying used vs. new.

Which Beretta? I am in love with PX4 Storm. It’ll probably be my next pistol. My buddy has a 92FS, and I really like that, too.

Pistols are all about comfort. You need to find what feels good to you. Kooty likes Glocks, but I flat out can’t stand how they fit in my hands. Everyone is different, so handle some guns and see what feels good to you.

Let’s start with the home defense situation first. The chief problem with hanguns is that it is very easy to underestimate how difficult it is to actually hit something with it.

For pure defense firepower a short barrel 12 ga pump is hard to beat because it’s easy to hit something HARD with it. Just hearing a pump gun rack a round will be enough to send most intruders running because even a crazed criminal knows if they take on a shotgun they lose.

Now for sport shooting fun, pistols are great. But these days ammo costs ARE an issue. A 9MM is one of the lower cost centerfire rounds but even at $10 a box its not hard to blow $50 or more for a single range session.

Of course there’s a Catch 22 here. To be able to hit anything with a handgun you need lots of practice. Which = lots of money. Which again is another point in favor of a 12 ga. As the defense gun.

Question: have you thought about starting with a .22 handgun? Learn, enjoy shooting it and do so for at least 75% less cost.

Grouse

Ahh Pistols! One of my favorite topics, and Firearms for that matter.
So many different situations to look at here, but if all you are seeking a pistol for is “the nightstand” then you have a multitude of choices.
To me, nightstand guns serve one purpose; self defense. Like Grouse said, if all you are seeking is a self defense weapon, and you are a first-time pistol owner, then the pistol may not be the wisest choice (but you should still own one ). I’ve owned pistols since I first could, and have owned them for a variety of reasons.
Shotguns are very, very hard to beat in a “home”, and even more so in an urban setting. You don’t want the lead to travel too far, if you know what I mean. Not to turn this into a home defense lesson, but shotguns definitely play a huge role in protecting our homes..for lots of reasons.
As far as pistols go, talk to some friends, go to the store and try on the fit of each pistol- the size, weight, ergonomics are all different. For ease of use and reliability, a small frame revolver is hard to beat in .38/357 calibers. The beauty of the .357 is that you can shoot .38 out of it, which is great for target practice (cheaper-not cheap), and for those who don’t do well with the power of a .357. In this case, a hammer-less .357 Ruger/Smith gets my vote.
If you enter the world of semi-automatic pistols, your choice in guns, and calibers is in your favor. For what its worth, I would not recommend anything smaller than a .380 for your application.
Caliber choice is something that is solely up to you, but look at hard data (ballistics) to make your decision. Simplicity and reliability is huge for me; your weapon needs to function when you intend to use it. I also think that simplicity and reliability go hand in hand, which is why I’ve chosen the Glock line of guns as my favored choice. Glocks, although not pretty, are about as simple and reliable as they come. I used to own lots of handguns, and had one for just about every application, but have dwindled it down to a .40 caliber sub-compact Glock (Glock 27), and a .357 hammerless Ruger. I do carry, so size is an issue for me.

All that being said, I have a Mossberg 500 home defense shotgun (pistol grip), and a .40 caliber Glock ready to go at all times.
On a side note, if this is the only pistol you intend to own, look into the Taurus Judge. This is a .410/.45 Long Colt pistol that allows you to shoot .410 shot/slugs, and .45 Long Colt pistol ammo through it. Fun for you and your wife to plink with, and plenty effective in times of need with the various load options.

I would vote Glock…Its like the hammer in your tool box no fancy bells or whistles but the dang thing always works as it should. They are very reliable and EASY to field strip and clean. Ive owned many and still do. you can put them through anything and still fire when needed. What ever you get be sure you and your wife know how to use it well and see how they sre to field strip…some guns are a pain in the a$$, and if you want it for years to come it needs to be cleaned…Glock for me but enjoy what evey you get Jay

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So many different situations to look at here, but if all you are seeking a pistol for is “the nightstand” then you have a multitude of choices.
To me, nightstand guns serve one purpose; self defense. Like Grouse said, if all you are seeking is a self defense weapon, and you are a first-time pistol owner, then the pistol may not be the wisest choice (but you should still own one ).

Shotguns are very, very hard to beat in a “home”, and even more so in an urban setting. You don’t want the lead to travel too far, if you know what I mean. Not to turn this into a home defense lesson, but shotguns definitely play a huge role in protecting our homes..for lots of reasons.

All that being said, I have a Mossberg 500 home defense shotgun (pistol grip), and a .40 caliber Glock ready to go at all times.

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I think MNBowhunter has a very good idea with the multi-gun approach, which is what I was also driving at. He also makes good additional points about the advantages of a shotgun in an urban/surburban setting. A load of light shot is devistating at close range, but it will not travel through multiple walls the way a jacketed slug will.

When it comes to handguns, my advice would be to be careful to understand the cost implications of each choice. Don’t be seduced by a .45 auto only to find out after you bought it that even a “cheap” box of ammo is $20 + tax.

The key with handguns is to understand that to become and maintian effective marksmanship skills takes practice. That’s why I’m a big fan of the .22, ESPECIALLY in handguns. It is just so dang cheap and at handgun ranges there is no downside to the .22 as far as simulating the performance of a larger round.

Grouse

John with young kids in the house I would not keep a gun in the night stand or anywhere a kid could get there hads on a gun. I would take a look at a biometric safe, when there are kids in the house you can not be too safe.

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That’s why I’m a big fan of the .22, ESPECIALLY in handguns. It is just so dang cheap and at handgun ranges there is no downside to the .22 as far as simulating the performance of a larger round.

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My .22 pistol always come along with me to the range. So cheap, yet so fun!

I have an 870 that I always just kept handy in case and I completely agree that a shotgun is probably the better option for home defense, but with PJ getting older leaving a shotgun out just isn’t going to be an option for much longer. Not terribly worried about him but when other kids come over….it just isn’t worth the risk.
That is why I was thinking a pistol and a small 1 handgun safe to keep it locked up but close at hand would be a good option for us at this point. That is why I am thinking a pistol would make sense as much for the peace of mind as anything.
I love shooting anything from bows to rifles, I’ve shot pistols and really enjoyed it but just never owned one.

I was at Gander yesterday looking and I believe the Beretta I looked at was the 96. They didn’t have a 9 on hand but they had the .40 and the guy said they are identical. He also said the 9mm ammo is quite a bit cheaper than the .40 cal. If I remember correctly it was right at $650. I looked at a S&W too but it was smaller and just didnt’ feel quite right in my hand, the Smith was about $350 if I remember correctly.

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I was at Gander yesterday looking and I believe the Beretta I looked at was the 96.

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Yeah, the 92 and the 96 are the same gun, but the 92 is a 9mm and the 96 is a .40S&W. Like I said, my buddy has one (a 92). He loves it, and I love shooting it.

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I have an 870 that I always just kept handy in case and I completely agree that a shotgun is probably the better option for home defense, but with PJ getting older leaving a shotgun out just isn’t going to be an option for much longer. Not terribly worried about him but when other kids come over….it just isn’t worth the risk.
That is why I was thinking a pistol and a small 1 handgun safe to keep it locked up but close at hand would be a good option for us at this point. That is why I am thinking a pistol would make sense as much for the peace of mind as anything.
I love shooting anything from bows to rifles, I’ve shot pistols and really enjoyed it but just never owned one.

I was at Gander yesterday looking and I believe the Beretta I looked at was the 96. They didn’t have a 9 on hand but they had the .40 and the guy said they are identical. He also said the 9mm ammo is quite a bit cheaper than the .40 cal. If I remember correctly it was right at $650. I looked at a S&W too but it was smaller and just didn’t’ feel quite right in my hand, the Smith was about $350 if I remember correctly.

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Given the situation with having children in the house, I would agree that it is harder to safely secure a shotgun in a way that still makes it easily accessible.

For your needs, I would say look very hard at .380 and the 9MM. Now that I’ve suggested those cartridges, someone will inevitably suggest that the .380 lacks “stopping power”. To this comment I always suggest the same test: Let me shoot you with a .380 and we’ll see if your opinion changes.

I can assure you, if the worst case happens and you ever have to actually use the gun in a defense situation, the criminal on the receiving end will NOT be left thinking, “Gee, I’m glad I got shot with something that lacked knockdown power.” The .380 has PLENTY of punch at home defense range, even a .22 packs a massive wallop when you’re talking about ranges of 20 feet or less.

The 9 MM isn’t a bad choice, I’m simply saying that you shouldn’t feel that you need a 9 simply for the power. Your wife may like the 380 better because of the reduced recoil or she may not, everything will depend on her preference and the actual gun chosen.

I would really suggest that the .40 and .45 are not good choices for you. The combination of the added cost for ammo and the additional recoil that you and your wife may not appreciate are deal-breakers in my mind. Even though I reload, these days I wouldn’t even consider a .45 considering the horrifying price increases for the bullets and powder. I almost suffered a conniption when I looked into an ammo case a few months ago at some of the premium .40 and .45 loads with prices of over $40 per box! Yes, that’s right, these boxes of ammo would have been over $50 per box out the door. Yikes.

Grouse

Whatever you use consider the real possibility of pass-thru’s hitting neighbors. That is why my nightstand gun uses frangibles so I dont shoot the neighbors defending my turf.

You may have already seen this but here is a post with lots of good info.

What caliber do you prefer for conceal and carry?

Another thing to keep in mind if the gun is for both you and your wife you will want something that fits both of you & that may not be easy to do. Also down the road if you do get a C&C permit you will want something that is comfortable to carry.

Here is some good info that BK posted…….

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I was going through this process a few years ago.

I bought a auto 380 for the fw. It just seemed to complicated for her if it didn’t feed correctly and just loading or unloading it.

She can handle a revolver much better. Speed is good, but accuracy is deadly.

All weapons have a trade off. Great conceal guns are terrible for plinking guns…good plinking guns are much harder to conceal…in my humble opinion.

Really comes down to your priorities.

9mm are less expensive

40 cal has more of an “impact” on your foe.

45’s are awesome, but with 13 rounds in a mag they are just too heavy for me to carry comfortably.

Shorter autos are better to conceal (don’t forget weight)

Longer barrel revolvers are better for plinking.

357’s get into the heavy frame, but in 4 or longer inch barrel, they get a little heavy and bulky to carry. But there is the convenience of shooting the less expensive .38’s and wad cutters for plinking.

Some of the above can be over come my how you are going to carry. The under arm holster will hold a larger frame revolver comfortably, but concealing it under a tee shirt is a problem.

Guess what I’m saying is don’t over look the holster and how you plan on carrying the weapon when making a cal. barrel length decision.

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I have a S&W model 915 great for home protection and plinking but not so great for C&C. I am looking for a C&C gun and I think I have it narrowed down to the Glock Gen 4 26 or the Kel-Tec P-11 but I still have some more shopping to do before I make up my mind.

For night stand / plinking handgun take a look at a S&W .357 magnum. No nonsence point and shoot always goes bang reliability. You can plink with .38 special rounds. Load for drop dead power with a nickle jacked personal defense round. Best of both worlds. I find most females prefer the simplicity of a revolver. Especially if left handed like myself.

Let me know if you want to shoot one. I have a couple models.

-J.

Im in the market too. I am going with a glock or a s&w XD. Mainly because i have shot these guns and they fit me well. Start holding a few and see what fits you best.

I will agree a glock is a no brainer here when it comes to reliable and easy to take apart.

You get what you pay for. BUY NAME BRAND. Stay away from guns like Kel Tec, HiPoint, Tarus. Go with the big dogs.

As for caliber. I am choosing to get a 9mm. Cheaper to shoot, and really all it takes is ONE good placed shot and your target wont be moving at you anymore. Most of my friends who are officers have switched to 9mm as their duty guns now. Cheaper to shoot, and all the need to do is put one good shot into someone and they are done for.

Actually, my bro-in-law has 3 Hi Points (9 mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP), and aside from being butt ugly, they have been great guns, especially considering the price. I have heard that tear-down is a PITA, but other than that, they are solid. Plus they have a lifetime warranty. They’re not my cup of tea, but they are not bad guns!

I’m not saying they are HORRIBLE guns, just you get what you pay for. If you maintain them well, it shouldn’t be an issue.

When it comes down to it, and your life depends on it, I would rather have the extra $$$ to put into a name brand gun that is reliable in almost any environment.

To each their own though. When it comes down to it buy a gun that fits you the best!200$ or 500$…

If you want drop dead reliability, always choose a revolver! That being said, I believe the root of this conversation was home defense. You can’t go wrong with a Taurus Judge – period. Lifetime warranty and the simple mechanics that NEVER let you down. The plus is shooting shot loads that won’t blast your neighbors, close range reliability in hitting what you’re aiming for, and with a double action trigger, there’s no need to wonder if the safety has been disengaged! Point, pull, over and done!

Any other choice would be better for plinking so save some pennies and get a “shooting” gun to practice with. Good advice on the 22’s but if you go with a revolver for home defense, get a revolver to practice with too. You need to be familiar with what’s in your hands if you expect to be effective.

Nothing makes me feel safer than having a Judge nearby. It’s a revolver…… something so simple it’s almost impossible for it to mechanically fail you! When I compare close range, fast action/reaction accuracy and effectiveness, I own nothing else (in a handgun, that is) that’s more dangerous than that Judge is. There’s a reason it’s one of the most popular guns to come along in decades! They’re not plinksters. They’re not “a day at the range” shooters. They’re a home defense handgun that will more dependably mess someone up than anything else available. And at +/- $500.00….. It’s cheap insurance!

In regards to a judge… I have shot a few different models. the one thing I noticed is the hard trigger pull. I did not like the fact you had to pull hard to shoot the gun. I ended up cocking the hammer every time I wanted to shoot it.

Not something I wanna think about when the scenario comes up where I need to use it. That is why I lean towards a glock. You have one safety to worry about and that safety comes off as soon as my finger touches the trigger.

Well, if you’re just out shooting and trying to be precise using the double action, I can see where the pull is a little harsh. But throw some spent casings in the cylinder once and pretend you’re in a close range, right now situation. I’m no Hercules…. in fact my hands are small…. but I can click through 5 rounds no problem.

Two weeks ago that Judge was all I had to use to try and dispense of a red squirrel. I had the cylinder loaded in “home defense” mode, in which my last two rounds are 45LC’s. With the distance of the shot and such a short barrel, the 410 loads were only scaring it. Once I got into the 45LC’s, I thought to myself, “Yeah…. this oughta be a joke” but lo and behold, that’s when I blew it right outa the tree! I’ve learned my trigger pull and it’s effects on my shooting and my hammer is bobbed so mine cannot be cocked. It’s tough to make a concentrated shot but I stand by my choice for a heat of the battle situation. You’re not trying to hit anyone 20yds away. Up close and personal….. just aim and pull, pull, pull! No problem when that adrenaline is running!