Now I need to pick one off the list.

[TH3180]

After doing a ton of reading and handling a lot of guns in a few different shops. I have had some offers on this board from people that have said "when I get a list they will let me shoot some of there guns". Life is crazy right now, hopefully I can take some people up on that offer in the next month or so. Like I said in the other thread. I want something full size. I have no plans to carry this gun. I will use it for killing paper, plinking and maybe steel shots and the Thursday night deals at BPR.
As you can see from the list I am leaning towards a 40S&W. I really don't have a good reason why. I guess it seems like the next thing to buy. I already have my three .22lr and one 9mm. Good, bad, lets hear it sound off. Once I get the list down a little farther I will be talking to ThunderJohn about what he can get and when.



-Sig P226 40S&W

-Springfield XD(M) 40S&W

-Armscor 9mm 1911 Tactical (With the $50 of smith work from Ryan at Bill's in Robbinsdale)

-Armscor 38 super 1911 ( I think this caliber sounds fun, I really don't know much about it)

-Glock 22 RTF2 (I will only buy one if it is the RTF2)

-Smith & Wesson M&P .40S&W

-Beretta Px4 Storm, Full Size, .40S&W

[gyrfalcon]

Sig P226 40S&W ...First one... you picked it subconsciously.

[TH3180]

Sig P226 40S&W ...First one... you picked it subconsciously.

When I first wanted to get a handgun I went to Cabellas and looked around. The P226 was the 1st gun I held that felt right in my hand.There were other guns that I liked, but the P226 was the 1st. Then my Grandpa gave me his old Colt revolver and the P226 got put on the back burner.

[JJ]

CZ75b 40S&W?

That would be on top of my list.

[Cadet]

anything but a .40 short and weak.

[macphisto]

Yeah, if you can't articulate a good reason for going with .40, maybe you shouldn't. I was in your position, didn't think it through, and now I've got an XDm 40 that I wish was a nine.

[gyrfalcon]

anything but a .40 short and weak.

.500 short & weak?

[TH3180]

Yeah, if you can't articulate a good reason for going with .40, maybe you shouldn't. I was in your position, didn't think it through, and now I've got an XDm 40 that I wish was a nine.

Why don't you like it?
How much do you want for it?

[TH3180]

CZ75b 40S&W?

That would be on top of my list.

That one wasn't even on the long list. Time to start some more research. Thanks for the tip.

[xd ED]

Yeah, if you can't articulate a good reason for going with .40, maybe you shouldn't. I was in your position, didn't think it through, and now I've got an XDm 40 that I wish was a nine.

Yep, Tim, you should figure out the caliber thing re the .40 S&W
I've got an xd 40 I wish was a 45. A 9 will give you more capacity and similar, if not equal ballistics; 45's even more thump.

[JJ]

Oh and I would tent to agree on the 40. There is only one good reason for a 40, and it involves working for an ammo company that manufactures a lot of 40 and has low demand on the factory seconds. Much lower demand than 9 or 45. Otherwise there is no way 40 would have been my choice when I bought a Witness.

[rugersol]

I will use it for killing paper, plinking and maybe steel shots and the Thursday night deals at BPR.

Get a 9mm!

If yer using factory ammo, price out five 50rd boxes of whatever ya like, in each caliber ... apply the difference to more 9mm ... that's how many "free" rounds ya get, every five boxes.

If yer handloading, bullets are 2/3 to 3/4 the price.

One thing ... that Armscor .38 Super ya listed ... presuming it's otherwise a fine pistol, it'd be no big trick to get a 9mm bbl fitted to it ... worst case, ya'd hafta swap a recoil spring, too.

There's another thread about the STI Spartan ... I put a link in there of a purdy good review of 'em ... here's a 9mm for $630 ... http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=216474431 Shooter's Connection is a good place to deal with. Supposedly the frame, slide, and bbl are from Armscor ... but all the rest of the parts are STI, and assembled in Texas. Here's Chuck's page of the same gun on his website ... http://shootersconnectionstore.com/STI-Spartan-9mm-P1589.aspx

[Seismic Sam]

I have to agree about the 40, particularly comparing cost of ammo and capacity in the mag. A lot of people on CZforum.com have had 40's, and compared to their 9mm and 45 CZ clones the 40 pretty much ends up as doorstop.

Unless you reload, stay away from the 38 Super. Ammo is expensive, may be hard to find, and real 38 Super ammo has that dinky little rim on the case that "kind of" headspaces on the barrel mouth. If you do reload, use 9x23 Winchester ammo in an EAA match with a 22# spring, and you'll have a blast.

And BTW, they do have 9mm drop-in barrels for P226's from Bar-Sto, but they cost $200 and lead time is 3 months or more.

[TH3180]

I should have put in my OP. I do reload I got into it not to long a go. If I am reading all this right. You guys are saying if I want to bigger then a 9mm. I should skip the 40 and go right to a 45? I want a 38 super, but I think that is something that will come later in life. I know at least a few of the guns I listed I can get in a 45.

[rugersol]

You guys are saying if I want to bigger then a 9mm. I should skip the 40 and go right to a 45?

Not me.

Nothin' wrong with a .40. But if there's no intention of using it for anything other than paper or steel, why pay more for bullets?

If ya want a .40 'cause ya think it'll stop a bad-guy better than a 9mm, then get a .40. But that's not what ya said ya wanted it for.