Newbe with questions

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07-04-2007, 04:13 PM
motrhead

Newbe with questions

Ok so i am a newbe to handguns, but i have a ccw and am looking for a firearm to use as a carry weapon but also as a stopping weapon while i am camping. I went out today and shot a variety of guns. I shot an XD 40, a Beretta 9mm, a sig, a couple different Glocks (40,45,) and a Glock 23. I have a question i liked the beretta and the glocks but have issues with the safety on the glock, the price on the beretta is a bit out of my price range. The XD i like the feel and the safetys on but when i shot it it shot down and no matter how i corrected it always shot a bit low, now it was a rental gun so i am asking for personal input and opinions on guns simular to the glock and beretta and hopefully an answer for the xd.

Thanks :smt1099
07-04-2007, 04:22 PM
KingAirDriver

Well, for one, the Glock and the XD have very similar safety features. The XD has both a trigger ang grip safety, while the Glock has a trigger only (internals aside). So, if you have an issue with the Glock safety, why not the XD?

As far as shooting low... shoot something else, too! :D Really, you should try to rent as many guns as you're interested in, hold and shoot them all. At the end of the day, get what makes you happy!

Which Beretta were you shooting? The 92FS (like Mel Gibson's in Lethal Weapon), or their new PX4?

I have an XD9 Subcompact and I love it. It's a great little carry gun, and it fit my hand and wallet the best, which is why I bought it. I also have a Beretta 96 (a .40 cal) and it's a nice shooting gun too. They both have been incredibly reliable. I shoot more accurately with the XD, however. As for a couple of other guns similar to the Glock and XD, you should look at the Taurus PT111 and Walther P99 (and it's Smith and Wesson brother). Of all these guns, I'm pretty sure the Taurus will be the most affordable, definitely if you're looking for a NEW gun. I've seen them for $349 around here, where all the others seem to start around $450-500 dollars new. :smt1099

Lastly, if you're going to use it also as a "stopping" weapon for camping, what will you be stopping? People or animals? If you're worried about a big beast, like a bear, closing in on you, you'll pretty much just piss it off on its way to devouring you if you're shooting any of the calibers you listed. :) I'm sure others will chime in, but in threads like these in the past, for a camping gun everyone always seems to recommend a large revolver, like a .44mag, IIRC.
07-04-2007, 04:33 PM
motrhead

The reason i do not like the safety on the Glock but i do on the XD is that we have a 5 year old in the house and i am looking for a gun that has a safety that will be more difficult for him to accidently release. I am not sure what the sig was, I liked all of the guns i shot today, i am just simply asking for input to help with my decision. As far as for stopping an animal while camping i mostly worried about coyote, wolf, or fox. more a safety for the lil one.
07-04-2007, 04:36 PM
JimmySays

Quote:

The reason i do not like the safety on the Glock but i do on the XD is that we have a 5 year old in the house and i am looking for a gun that has a safety that will be more difficult for him to accidently release.

Don't keep your firearm where child has access to it.
07-04-2007, 04:44 PM
KingAirDriver

Quote:

Originally Posted by motrhead

The reason i do not like the safety on the Glock but i do on the XD is that we have a 5 year old in the house and i am looking for a gun that has a safety that will be more difficult for him to accidently release. I am not sure what the sig was, I liked all of the guns i shot today, i am just simply asking for input to help with my decision. As far as for stopping an animal while camping i mostly worried about coyote, wolf, or fox. more a safety for the lil one.

As far as the Sig goes, and someone correct me if I'm wrong, I don't think Sigs come with a safety. They have a decocker to bring it back from SA to DA, but no safety.

Of the guns listed, my vote would probably be for the Beretta 92. It has a decent capacity, has a safety/decocker, and is DA/SA. I've carried my Beretta several times and, even though it's large, if I'm wearing a button up shirt, untucked, it doesn't even print.

Another suggestion is a IMI/Magnum Research "Baby Eagle." I just bought one and it's a really nice gun, and I'm pretty sure they'd be a bit cheaper than a Beretta. They can be found in 9mm, .40, and .45, as well as three different sizes. Mine's a full-size and it's a bite slimmer than the Beretta, but weighs a bit more. They also come in polymer frames. Check out https://www.magnumresearch.com/Brows...+Eagle:Pistols

You could also look at CZ's line of pistols. They make excellent guns. The Baby Eagle is a CZ clone. I know CZs around here are priced pretty reasonably, too! Check out the CZ-75B. It would be most similar to the Beretta. http://www.czusa.com/

Here's my Baby Eagle that you may have seen on another thread or two here:

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...02183Large.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...02188Large.jpg
07-04-2007, 04:55 PM
motrhead

I know the best way to protect the lil one is to keep it out of site out of mind but he is curious and the chance he does find one i want to as safe as possible.
I will look into the cz's thanks. I shot a sig 229. also today and it was nice. Keep the opinions coming please.
07-04-2007, 05:02 PM
JimmySays

If you think you will leave it in a place where your little one will just find it anyway, may I suggest buy the pistol you like and then install a trigger lock. You get what you want and it will be safe for your child.
You should store it in a safe place, let me say again a safe place. That it not a place where your little one has access to it. You might consider a firearms safety class for yourself to protect your little one from an accidental discharge, or maybe just not purchase a pistol. If you are unsafe you will become a statistic like it or not.
07-04-2007, 05:11 PM
motrhead

believe me i have every intention of having the pistol in a locking case and also out of reach for him but i still want to have a back up for that. I also am looking at introducing my fiance to handguns and i want one the is easy for her to tell what is going on with the gun. I am not an idiot and will not put our lil one in harms way but i know growing up i saw a lot of weapons that were locked and "put away" where the kids wont get it. I have every intention of having us take safety courses together. But that does stop accidents. Thus why it is called an accident.
07-04-2007, 06:21 PM
stormbringerr

the sights were probably off on the xd or maybe it was the ammo, my xd is very accurate its a 40 cal. i have a sig 239 in 9mm most reliable gun i own.after you decock the sig it takes 10lbs to pull the trigger, all the shots after the first one about 4lbs
07-04-2007, 06:37 PM
drummin man 627

I have a Taurus PT-92. It is 9 mm. It would be O.K. for thin-skinned critters up tp about 300#s. Bear? No way. The Tauri have a built-in key lock, but if I had a small child in the house I wouldn't depend on it to keep a rug rat safe. I keep it in a locking briefcase, which I also use as my "range kit"(guns, targets, eyes&ears, log book,etc).
This series of Taurus has been around long enough to develop a proven track record, and I trust it to be my S.H.T.F. gun.
When traveling through gater, snake, or bear country, I always have my .357.
As far as the saftey issue goes, your brain is more is more useful than any locking system.
07-05-2007, 09:11 AM
Anxiety.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmySays

Don't keep your firearm where child has access to it.

Nicely put.

I would look into the Ruger line. You should be able to get a 9mm for under $425, depending on where you live. Up here in BFE, ND they run $399 for a P95 in stainless. Since you want some thing that is safe I'd get that. Its got an external safety and a really heavy DA trigger pull, at least for a 5yr old.