Handgun Forum banner

new pistol

2K views 13 replies 8 participants last post by  oldnbald 
#1 ·
No experience, want to find a compact pistol, with external safety and DA, I understand Bersas are like that, any others?
 
#3 ·
I've heard the bersas like to jam. Hearsay though. On the other hand I've heard nothing but good things about Walther and they should provide you with those options. But have to say A snub nose DA .357 may be the way to go. If you are worried about the scary magnum factor, you also have the option of shooting .38's through it.
 
#5 ·
I've heard the bersas like to jam. Hearsay though. On the other hand I've heard nothing but good things about Walther and they should provide you with those options. But have to say A snub nose DA .357 may be the way to go. If you are worried about the scary magnum factor, you also have the option of shooting .38's through it.
Never owned pistoles, just revolvers, Now I have a Ruger SP101 .38/.357 2.25 barrel, but seats in my night table. I'm looking for something easy to carry, and Came across a K9 in 40sw but the trigger was so light and not having safety......
Somebody familiar with the CZ Rami? I understand is DA/SA and have external safety. Looking for 9mm
 
#6 ·
I too have been searching for the same type weapon so I can tell you want I have seen so far. I actually own a Bersa Thunder Concealed Carry .380 that classifies as a subcompact - very reliable weapon. It has a decocker/external safety that allows you to decock the hammer once you chamber a round and then acts as a safety that must be moved to the fire position before you can engage the trigger. So with that done your first shot is DA, and all subsequent shots will be SA - unless you stop and decock. Now beyond that, Kahr just recently added a safety to one version of their PM9 to meet MA and CA requirements - and that is a true DAO (double action only). It is a nice 9mm, but it may be very, very difficult to find a PM9 so configured. In 9mm you can also check out the Taurus 709 and Sccy CPX-1. The Sccy is also a true DAO with an external safety, and I believe the Taurus is similar to my Bersa where the first shot is DA and subsequent ones are SA. Hope this helps. Except for the Kahr I have mentioned fairly inexpensive handguns. Good luck.
 
#7 ·
Go to a shooting range that rents pistols by the hour, and try everything that you can afford to rent. Then buy the pistol that was the most comfortable and controllable in your own hands.
Our comfort areas and needs are different from yours, so our recommendations are almost meaningless. Recommendations should only be used to choose between two (or more) pistols that fit you well, and they have validity only about reliability, not personal fit.
I strongly suggest against getting a compact pistol as your first. Smaller pistols are hard to learn, and difficult to use effectively and well. Start with a heavy, full-size pistol and learn technique. Then you might want to "trade down" to a compact or smaller.
The key to success in the process of learning to shoot defensively and well is practice. Practice, practice, and then practice some more. Go slowly and try for smoothness. Speed comes only with extensive, slow, smooth practice.
 
#8 ·
Go to a shooting range that rents pistols by the hour, and try everything that you can afford to rent. Then buy the pistol that was the most comfortable and controllable in your own hands.
Our comfort areas and needs are different from yours, so our recommendations are almost meaningless. Recommendations should only be used to choose between two (or more) pistols that fit you well, and they have validity only about reliability, not personal fit.
I strongly suggest against getting a compact pistol as your first. Smaller pistols are hard to learn, and difficult to use effectively and well. Start with a heavy, full-size pistol and learn technique. Then you might want to "trade down" to a compact or smaller.
The key to success in the process of learning to shoot defensively and well is practice. Practice, practice, and then practice some more. Go slowly and try for smoothness. Speed comes only with extensive, slow, smooth practice.
I owned revolvers for more than 16 years, are pistoles so much different besides trigger pull??
I have to recognize that the light pull and no safety spook me a little.
So far I like the PPS for easy carry, and the Beretta subcompact for fit and amount of rnds and manual safety
Lived in New Jersey and have no problems to carry a revolver, but here in Florida, if the temperature is 85.....Thanksgiving is around the corner
 
#9 ·
Single-action semi-autos are much easier to shoot accurately and effectively than double-action revolvers. Reloads are easier and quicker, too.
It won't be long before you are comfortable with the idea of a light, crisp trigger pull and a mechanical safety device. All it takes is practice to achieve comfortable familiarity.
Have fun!
 
#10 ·
I will have to agree with what Steve said....you can read all you want on the web but there is no substitute for actually shooting any firearm...you may find out the hard way the gun you thought was exactly what you wanted was not that at all...its all about what works best for you and not what the crowd is telling you to do...If you had the cash, and could lay out 6 different similar guns from different makers, and then shoot them all, I can guarantee one or two would stick out as shooting and feeling the best....thats a good place to start, although as you shoot more you may become enlightened and start requiring different things from your gun....
That being said, going with what you want in your original post, I would take a look at the S&W M&P compact, nice gun for not alot of money....made in the USA, lots to like about it.:smt1099
 
#11 ·
The idea of no external safety scared me as well, until.... I bought a DOA S&W M&P 40. The trigger safety is actually a very safe feature. For example, you can have a loaded mag in it and if the unwanted situation arrives all you have to do is slap the slide back. If that is too much time for you then you can probably trust the DOA trigger safety with a chambered round. Cops across the U.S do. The nice thing about a trigger safety (Glocks, Smiths, and Springfield XD's) in concealment there shouldn't much interruption with the trigger so it should be trustworthy. Go try out some Glock's XD's, M&P's, and others in compact format and find what fits you best. You may find your aesthetic desires are not needed.
 
#12 ·
MonsterB;211607there is no substitute for actually shooting any firearm...[/QUOTE said:
I wish there was a way to try out any number of holsters by actually carrying them before buying. I already have two of five I have purchased that I know I don't want any more. Never heard of a holster rental service, and so many holsters to choose from... Maybe there is a market niche to be filled???:smt1099
 
#13 ·
I wish there was a way to try out any number of holsters by actually carrying them before buying. I already have two of five I have purchased that I know I don't want any more. Never heard of a holster rental service, and so many holsters to choose from... Maybe there is a market niche to be filled???:smt1099
I was talking about guns and not holsters but I hear what your saying....holsters s uck imo, more times than not you get dissapointed...I have tried a bunch and my fav is still a tagua owb that i got for less than 50 bucks....looks great, super high quality, doesnt mark the gun, holds it securely, and best of all its the only holster that lets me forget the gun is there its so comfy...
 
#14 ·
One more option would be the Rock Island Armory .45. One of the major gun auction sites has a GI Standard for 379.00 "buy it now" price, and if you use that option, they will pay shipping. Do a search for RIA and look for pistols listed from Bellshire guns. They may not be as pretty as a Smith or Kimber, but they work just as well. I have an RIA Compact Tactical, and it's a great little gun. Also, their customer service is AWESOME!
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top