Personal Firearm - Suggestions?

[Pilot123]

My wife and I are thinking of getting 1 or 2 handguns for personal protection (under the bed, in car for traveling, etc). Does anyone have any suggestions on what would be good to get and from where? We are currently in Pensacola. Also, does anyone know much about the concealed handgun courses/permits in Florida?
We appreciate the help. Thank you.

 

[Lawman]

What is you and your wifes experiance with firearms up to this point, Specifically handguns?

 

[Pilot123]

She has none and I've shot sharpshooter on the M9 and also fired a Glock 9mm several years ago.

 

[scoober78]

If home defense is your primary purpose...which it sounds like it is...

I would strongly suggest a nice, inexpensive pump shotgun. There is no finer home defense weapon. If you continue to feel that you would like a more portable "in the car" weapon, take some CCW classes together and get a pistol for carry purposes. Pistols require much more time and effort to maintain the ability to sucessfully defend yourself.

In either case, take whatever you get and go to the range....both of you. Without some effort on both your parts, no weapon is a good home defense solution.

 

[Pilot123]

What kind of pistol would you suggest for carry purposes?

 

[Lawman]

What kind of pistol would you suggest for carry purposes?

Really depends on your everyday style of clothing and body frame. I can get away with a full size automatic under a sweater and coat in the winter but I dont stand a chance of it in summer clothes. Really for total concealability you cant beat a snub noze revolver. They work in the easiest way possible and they work every time. Chances are if your doing something where you couldnt conceal a snub revolver you couldnt get away with concealing anything else either. Some people will argue that capacity is an issue with a revolver (5-6 rounds vice 7-8) but reality of the matter is a round or two wont mean much in a 5-10 foot fight for your life situation.

 

[scoober78]

I carry/used to carry (long story) a Glock 19 and am a fan of many Glock pistols, BUT.....

The real question is what pistol would you carry? My rules are simple.

1. Nothing that produces less energy than a 9mm.
2. The handgun I am most proficient and comfortable with.

There is no, I repeat, no substitute for being comfortable and proficient with a weapon. Many, many handguns would get the job done in different hands, but you and your wife's are the ones that matter. There is no one size fits all solution.

Since you don't know what you want, it sounds to me like you are proficient with nothing. Go to a range where you can rent firearms and spend an afternoon shooting what they have. When you have shot every pistol there, find a way to shoot some more. Shoot revolvers, sub-compacts, full size weapons etc...shoot 9mm, 45's, .40's, .45 LC, .357...

Many companies make good handguns...Glock, Smith and Wesson, Sig Sauer, H&K, Walther...but the bottom line is, for any of them to be effective, you and your wife have to become good CCW shooters...and that is the real comittment. You must shoot, drill, learn and repeat to be most effective...A handgun is a very effective, but not simple solution to your security.

 

[A4sForever]

...My rules are simple.

1. Nothing that produces less energy than a 9mm. ...

Is that why the Mossad carries and uses suppressed .22's???

 

[insanebikerboy]

Is that why the Mossad carries and uses suppressed .22's???

So true, but they are a lot better of a shot than your average Joe!

 

[A4sForever]

So true, but they are a lot better of a shot than your average Joe!

There's a reason: Practice .... practice .... and that's what escapes most.

 

[feddoc]

There's a reason: Practice .... practice .... and that's what escapes most.

To the OP....
...and practice some more; not only shooting, but drawing from concealment. You might be able to shoot a gnats butt at 50 paces, but if you aren't fluid and well versed in the draw, you may suffer as a resut.

I really like this little fella'...10 rounds of .45ACP, accurate and a bit more concelable than my full sized Kimber.

 

[xmid]

There's also a big difference in a suppressed .22 Beretta being used as an assasination weapon vice self defense... I wouldn't have a problem walking up behind a guy and popping him in the back of the head a few times with a .22, but I doubt even Mossad would want to defend themselves from a few angry and possibly armed Palestinians with that...

 

[jride200]

I would strongly suggest a nice, inexpensive pump shotgun. There is no finer home defense weapon.

I've always believed the universally recognized sound of a pump shotgun alone would be quite a defensive weapon.

JR

 

[scoober78]

^^^^^
Doc...like your avatar. I ran into those a few years ago when I helped my older neighbor drag a deer out...no snow, he needed a hand. I laughed and laughed and laughed until I saw him use it. Works slick as hell. No joke.

 

[NozeMan]

There is a guy up in Milton who runs an excellent CCW course. A friend and I took the class from him about 6 months ago and I learned quite a bit. Very knowledgeable and can point you in the right direction as far as what weapon might suite you best.

Also, try a searching around on a forum like GlockTalk (for starters). These topics are covered constantly. I wouldnt just walk into a gun shop, like Jays on Garden ST, and as them what they suggest. All of thier sh!t is overpriced, but they have a good selection.

Glocks are outstanding all around weapons. They shoot well, are rugged as hell, dependable, and can be had for $500 or less. Academy Sports up on N Davis has several models for $500. Jays for example has them listed for 560 on up but they "can" get you a deal for 500.