Debate Handgun types.

[tazdevil]

Hey all, need to have opinions, have read some, but noticed a huge level of bias without supporting proof. I am considering getting a Sig P226 as my "first" gun (wife got a Beretta 92 as her first gun-I get to actually use it for now). The debate lies between these 3 though: The Sig, Glock, and S&W mp. Personally I'm not a big fan of plastic guns, nothing against those who like them, but I like the extra weight of the more all-metal types. Tends to help me hold the gun steadier-noticed that shooting my wife's Beretta 92. I know Sig and Glock have a strong reliability consideration on their side.


Second debate is 9mm versus .40? Economically, I know 9mm is the cheaper to shoot, as well as lower kick etc. I've had people say "9 is too small for home defense, I know people shooting the enemy in Iraq/Afg. with 9mm's that shot them 5-6 times and they were still coming." I do ask them if they realize what type of round the military uses-received some very interesting responses (I know they use FMJ's). After telling them they were required to use FMJ's, not HP rounds, they retort with "9mm HP still can't stop anyone" or some other comment of the sort. Personally, someone breaks into my house, the 12gauge is the first thing I'm grabbing anyway; you can still miss, but it makes one hell of a baseball bat if worse came to worse. That, and if I miss with the 12-I won't kill my neighbors.

[thunderoussilence]

IMHO 9mm hollowpoints will work for home defense as long as it is hitting your target repeatedly.

Good luck on your decision.

[1911fan]

This has to be the single most debated set of questions on the internet.

Here's the simple and short,

Get what works for you. I don't care if the "experts" say that you need to have a G226 with Remingchester Golden Talon ++++P++++ super grenade .60 cal ammo, If you can not hit what you aim at with that gun, then its no better than a squirt gun.

If you like and will carry a heavier gun, do it.

If you can hit with a 9 and not with a .45, then get it,

The purpose of a firearm in a defensive situation is to make the other guy leak from holes he was not born with. Your job is to install those orifices for him.

[JoeH]

Buy the Sig in 9mm. There, wasn't that easy?

[mmarino]

my first gun was a beretta 92fs and i also had a lot of reservations regarding polymer pistols, but once i started carrying the beretta is heavy and bulky. i got a glock 19 at first i wasnt crazy about the grips on it but now with practice i have gotten use to it.dont know anything about the sig, but the glock 19 is great not too big not too small lightweight ang good mag capacity and i still yet to have a malfunction and/or hear anyone that has had a malfunction. if you go with glock pick up a g19 gen 4. the M&P is still on my short list of guns to buy this year. as far as caliber is wathever you feel more comfortable with i personally like 9mm is not terribly expensive when going to the range and when carrying and at home i load +p hollow point ammo in it.
but the best advice that i got (from this forum) when i started to look for a new pistols was go to the range and rent or borrow the the guns that you are thinking of purchasing and shoot them, then get whatever felt best in your hands when shooting

[LarryFlew]

The right gun and right caliber are the ones you shoot the best. Missed shots don't stop anyone and good hits in any caliber will have some effect. Agree with shotgun being fist choice.

[diskdoctr]

The right gun and right caliber are the ones you shoot the best. Missed shots don't stop anyone and good hits in any caliber will have some effect. Agree with shotgun being fist choice.

I agree with this. As for the type of firearm you use to send those rounds at your target, there is nobody that can make that choice for you either. If you are not a fan of plastic go with the Sig. If you plan to carry it daily for long periods of time the plastic pieces will be lighter. Good luck on your choice. Give us a range report on your final choice.

[PhilaBOR]

What they said.

My take on the caliber debate:

If you carefully pick a good modern (designed in last 10 years) 9mm personal defense round, it will be plenty lethal. A bad 9mm round (147 grain FMJ comes to mind) will have significantly diminished effectiveness. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrostatic_shock#Hydrostatic_shock_as_a_factor_in_selection_of_ammunition

On the other hand, with a .45 or .357 magnum, it's hard to pick a round that isn't effective. A 1911-M1 shooting hardball is a man stopper.

But the 9mm has 8 or 10 rounds left when the .45 slidelocks.

YMMV

PS: I carry .40 or .357 Sig, good mag capacity and good stopping power.

[PhilaBOR]

PPS: I love my M&P .40 Very reliable, comfortable to shoot and followup. The M&P .357 sig is also reliable and good ergonomically, but more flip.

[goalie]

As long as the caliber you are using can penetrate enough to hit vitals, you are doing ok.

In the end, you still have a handgun.

[gyrfalcon]

In the end, you still have a handgun.

[45Badger]

This has to be the single most debated set of questions on the internet.

Here's the simple and short,

Get what works for you. I don't care if the "experts" say that you need to have a G226 with Remingchester Golden Talon ++++P++++ super grenade .60 cal ammo, If you can not hit what you aim at with that gun, then its no better than a squirt gun.

If you like and will carry a heavier gun, do it.

If you can hit with a 9 and not with a .45, then get it,

The purpose of a firearm in a defensive situation is to make the other guy leak from holes he was not born with. Your job is to install those orifices for him.

What he said. But if you shoot anything other than a 1911 in 45acp, you're a loser

I love my 1911s, but mostly carry a Glock 26 or 19 depending on clothing and my mood. Sometimes i pocket carry a 642 in .38 special. I trust my shooting ability and 124 gr jhps to stop any bad guys I may encounter. If my hands were bigger, I would definitely be a Sig fan. I think they are great guns, but cannot get a good grip.

I'm unimpressed with the M&Ps. Have shot a few, have friends who love and friends who hate their M&Ps. Nothing noticeably better about them than a Glock or XD.

.40 vs 9mm? .40 is an expensive and crappy compromise Too much snappiness and recoil for not enough benefit IMHO. If I'm going to have a service gun, I want a real caliber (45acp ). In small carry gun, I'll take the 9mm for ease of use. 9mm and 45acp have been killing people for 100 years. .40 seems to be working for lots of police and other agencies. At standard self defense shooting distances, they will all do the job if you put enough of them where it matters.

Like I said earlier- "what he said"

[tazdevil]

This has to be the single most debated set of questions on the internet.

Here's the simple and short,

Get what works for you. I don't care if the "experts" say that you need to have a G226 with Remingchester Golden Talon ++++P++++ super grenade .60 cal ammo, If you can not hit what you aim at with that gun, then its no better than a squirt gun.

If you like and will carry a heavier gun, do it.

If you can hit with a 9 and not with a .45, then get it,

The purpose of a firearm in a defensive situation is to make the other guy leak from holes he was not born with. Your job is to install those orifices for him.

What he said. But if you shoot anything other than a 1911 in 45acp, you're a loser

I love my 1911s, but mostly carry a Glock 26 or 19 depending on clothing and my mood. Sometimes i pocket carry a 642 in .38 special. I trust my shooting ability and 124 gr jhps to stop any bad guys I may encounter. If my hands were bigger, I would definitely be a Sig fan. I think they are great guns, but cannot get a good grip.

I'm unimpressed with the M&Ps. Have shot a few, have friends who love and friends who hate their M&Ps. Nothing noticeably better about them than a Glock or XD.

.40 vs 9mm? .40 is an expensive and crappy compromise Too much snappiness and recoil for not enough benefit IMHO. If I'm going to have a service gun, I want a real caliber (45acp ). In small carry gun, I'll take the 9mm for ease of use. 9mm and 45acp have been killing people for 100 years. .40 seems to be working for lots of police and other agencies. At standard self defense shooting distances, they will all do the job if you put enough of them where it matters.

Like I said earlier- "what he said"

I do have large hands- when I shoot the wife's Beretta 92, I have to adjust my grip to get proper trigger placement-my fingers are a little long for that gun. I've heard that about sig's, and that was my first draw to them. I do need to go test fire them though-not going to buy in a rush of "I have to have that" frenzy. I appreciate everyone's opinions thus far on this!

[pastorpaul]

try a sig 2022 in .40. best of all worlds, imho. i carry a 226 in .40 but is heavy so i went back to my 2022.
btw, i am a firm proponent of .40. i shoot it well and so does my wife. but, to each his own as to what "you" shoot best.

[Quasar]

If you won't be concealing it all day a Sig p226 has been a military/police standard for much longer than the M&P and a bit more then Glock. If your used to the 92fs then you'll like the SA/DA operation of the Sigs. Try out the trigger on the Sig p226, they reportedly have one of the best triggers "out of the box". The Glock triggers and grip angle are a problem for some hands. The M&P have good ergo's but lack the long track record of the Glock and SIg while still having the staple gun trigger of the Glock.

I've been looking at the older p226's without the rail. You see them on Gunbroker all the time and are less expensive. Not having actually shot the older p226's I've heard the all German p226's made in the 80's and 90's have a unique feel and balance. It has something to do with how the slides were made in Germany vs the U.S. made slides ( see: milled vs stamped) You can also get a .22lr conversation kit for the Sig if that interests you.

Out of those three fine firearms I would go with a older made Sig p226 and put some wood grips on it. You can find these in brand new condition if your concerned about buying something that has been used.

9mm vs 40S&W? I would go with 9mm for the price of ammunition and less snappy recoil. As stated it is still a handgun and there is no substitute for fast, accurate shots. Competition shooters like the 9mm for the increased practice time they can get in with less fatigue compared to the .45acp. Having a standard caliber for handguns is also easier since you already have a 9mm. Have fun with your choice you really can't go wrong with any of these.