What is the best 9mm auto pistol for HD?

[visaveteran1 33]

I saw a few posts for the Glock 27, that's a .40 as far as I know, not a 9mm. I have one that I customized to look a little better and put night sights and had some trigger work done to it.

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Since you mentioned a 9mm, my brother has a Sig Sauer P226 that is a shooting machine and I would prefer that for in the house as I can shoot it more accurately than the Glock 27. The Glock 27 is a sub compact and is strictly for concealed carry, in the summer. The Sig may be a little bit above your 650 limit though.

Funny you should mention the Sig 226. I know of some all German Swiss Police trade-ins in very good condition for $579. Their large heavy guns but I must say I have a hankering for one. I wouldn't touch a New Hampshire Sig...but all German...yeah buddy!

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Bad things do occasionally happen in good neighborhoods - just less frequently. Protecting yourself isn't about the odds, it's about what's at stake.

I think for some people guns are a hobby. I have a buddy down in PA that has thousands wrapped up in a custom Weatherby rifle that he uses for long range competition shooting. I couldn't imagine putting that much money into a rifle myself. I know a few peeps that had to borrow money to pay a few bills though when they went gun poor by buying these GI Joe type rifles...AR 15's, AK 47's, etc.. along with enough hand guns to outfit a small army. It's like crack cocaine for them.

I don't do much hunting anymore and I'm down to four guns including the wife's 22. auto. They don't do much of anything these days other than collect dust.

[visaveteran1 33]

As Gary has mentioned, the other go-to gun(s) are 38 revolvers.....which are double actions and for what they would be used for (for the wife....and for whenever we in Illinois can CC), that fits the bill better.

I've owned two revolvers, an old Colt Detective Special and a Ruger SP101 snubby. I hated the Ruger...too heavy for a 5-shot gun and had a poor trigger. I also made the mistake of buying a hammerless model, so I couldn't go single action. I just couldn't hit with it. The Colt was a good shooting gun with 6-shots but it was nickel-plated. I learned what a nightmare cleaning an old nickel gun is. You can't use any solvents with ammonia in it. Anyway, I sold it and good riddance.

I wouldn't say I'd never go revolver, but I'm not very excited by them. And speed reloading takes some skill.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

I've owned two revolvers, an old Colt Detective Special and a Ruger SP101 snubby. I hated the Ruger...too heavy for a 5-shot gun and had a poor trigger. I also made the mistake of buying a hammerless model, so I couldn't go single action. I just couldn't hit with it. The Colt was a good shooting gun with 6-shots but it was nickel-plated. I learned what a nightmare cleaning an old nickel gun is. You can't use any solvents with ammonia in it. Anyway, I sold it and good riddance.

I wouldn't say I'd never go revolver, but I'm not very excited by them. And speed reloading takes some skill.

There's a bunch of vids on youtube about that S&W I posted on here, and it fields strips in seconds. It's one you can beat the ####### out of and have np's with it. It also comes with an extra clip.

[visaveteran1 33]

I think for some people guns are a hobby. I have a buddy down in PA that has thousands wrapped up in a custom Weatherby rifle that he uses for long range competition shooting. I couldn't imagine putting that much money into a rifle myself. I know a few peeps that had to borrow money to pay a few bills though when they went gun poor by buying these GI Joe type rifles...AR 15's, AK 47's, etc.. along with enough hand guns to outfit a small army. It's like crack cocaine for them.

I don't do much hunting anymore and I'm down to four guns including the wife's 22. auto. They don't do much of anything these days other than collect dust.

Guns are an investment as well. Guns never go down in value. They're like owning gold. An old Colt firearm from like 1834 just sold for $900,000 plus...a record high for an American gun. Old M1s I could have bought for $20 back in the early 1960s go for $1000 and up for nice ones. Some several thousand.

Buying guns is one of the few good investments right now.

Edited December 24, 2011 by visaveteran1

[visaveteran1 33]

There's a bunch of vids on youtube about that S&W I posted on here, and it fields strips in seconds. It's one you can beat the ####### out of and have np's with it. It also comes with an extra clip.

Yeah, I hate gun makers who only give you one FFing mag. Sig does this and their mags cost a small fortune to buy. Kel-Tec also one mag. I think Beretta is the same. In fact it seems more and more makers are going one mag. What's next...paying extra for grips?

[SuperDuper! 230]

The safe may take seconds to open when there's no threat, but what about under immediate pressure? Plus there's noise involved in opening the drawer and messing with opening the little safe door. And, if it's mechanical, it can fail. It may be necessary but less than ideal, tactically speaking.

I agree. In a high stress situation, the biometric safe will work against you. Just keep your gun in a drawer, loaded, by your bed. And you will be able to defend yourself and your family. Better odds, and dumb proof.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

You guys must live in horrible neighborhoods!

I live in a small midtown home, built in 1938. I have no picket fence, just lawn and flowers; my backdoor is cracked open all night so that my cat can come and go as he pleases, and the only annoyances I experienced since 2001 when I bought that home is a couple of Jehova's Witnesses -- young man in white shirts and ties -- who show up about twice a year and want to convert me to Presidential candidate Mitt Romney's religion.

Ahh . . . living in a small California beach town, surrounded by old Ladies in even older Craftsman homes.

Lots of sunshine but no crime. Better than any gun.

Hey, here's a thought: if you put the money you spend on guns and ammo into saving instead, you eventually will be able to move into a better neighborhood and enjoy life more!

Hey, here is a thought. It was small California beach town where a whacko walked into a beauty salon and capped a bunch of innocent people just a couple months ago. Who knew you needed to carry a gfun at the beauty salon in a safe neighborhood? Someone used a cell phone to call good guys with guns, but...too late.

I live in the safest neighborhood in the western hemisphere BECAUSE we carry guns.

I'll bring my own, thank you. If you do not like it...too bad.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Every firearm I own is for hunting and bear protection (S&W model 500) other than a .22 S&W auto for the wife who feels safer with it when I'm out of town.

Some of my guns are for hunting but I do not hunt anymore, many are for the shooting sports I enjoy, skeet, hi-power rifle competition, etc. Some are collectors items for their interest to me.

The gun I carry is for killing people. I carry it to kill people. I wish to be clear about that. It is not for hunting or target shooting or collecting. It is specifically designed to be carried concealed, has all rounded edges so it will not snag on my clothes, tritium night sights, etc. All specifically designed to be carried at all times for the specific purpose of killing people. I do not care about bears or moose or lions, all of which we have here. It is for people. Any questions so far? It is loaded with the most devastating hollow point ammunition I can buy and has enough rounds to make sure anyone shot multiple times will not be repaired by modern medicine. A chest shot will reduce the heart and lungs to pink gruel which can be conveniently poured out at the autopsy. If someone threatens myself or my family I will utilize the laws allowing deadly force and kill that person.

I hope I never need to use it.

Because ANYone here can do the same, without the need for a "permit", our state is the safest in the country.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

There's a joke about a state trooper who pulls over a grandmother. When she shows him her driver's license the cop catches a glimpse of her conceal carry permit..so the trooper inquires as to whether she's carrying any firearms in the car? The polite granny says "Yes, I have a loaded Glock 17 in my glove box. The cop asks her if that's all the guns she has in the car, and granny says, "No, I also have a loaded Sig Sauer 228 he my console." The cops asks again, is that it? Granny says, "I also have a loaded S&W 38 Special snub-nose revolver in my purse." The trooper asks her, "What are you afraid of?"

Granny answers back, "Not a fuking thing!"

I was talking to one of our officers here and mentioned I carry a Kimber Ultra CDP. He had a Glock like most cops. I took it out and showed it to him.

He said "You carry it cocked?"

Of course, that is how it is made to be carried.

"Isn't that dangerous?"

Yes, THAT is the point!

Bad things do occasionally happen in good neighborhoods - just less frequently. Protecting yourself isn't about the odds, it's about what's at stake.

Bob is free to rely on calling other people with guns when he or his family has a problem. I don't.

[kytwell 179]

I carry a Kimber Ultra CDP. He had a Glock like most cops. I took it out and showed it to him.

Any problems shooting hand loads/ reloads out of it? I had a Kimber @ 10 years ago, the reloads would always jam up on ejection. But if I shot the same load out of the Colt Mark IV I had at that time there was no issues.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Any problems shooting hand loads/ reloads out of it? I had a Kimber @ 10 years ago, the reloads would always jam up on ejection. But if I shot the same load out of the Colt Mark IV I had at that time there was no issues.

None at all. It has never jammed with anything and I use cast bullets for practice. I bought the Kimber in 2002, so it should be the same vintage as yours

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Some of my guns are for hunting but I do not hunt anymore, many are for the shooting sports I enjoy, skeet, hi-power rifle competition, etc. Some are collectors items for their interest to me.

The gun I carry is for killing people. I carry it to kill people. I wish to be clear about that. It is not for hunting or target shooting or collecting. It is specifically designed to be carried concealed, has all rounded edges so it will not snag on my clothes, tritium night sights, etc. All specifically designed to be carried at all times for the specific purpose of killing people. I do not care about bears or moose or lions, all of which we have here. It is for people. Any questions so far? It is loaded with the most devastating hollow point ammunition I can buy and has enough rounds to make sure anyone shot multiple times will not be repaired by modern medicine. A chest shot will reduce the heart and lungs to pink gruel which can be conveniently poured out at the autopsy. If someone threatens myself or my family I will utilize the laws allowing deadly force and kill that person.

I hope I never need to use it.

Because ANYone here can do the same, without the need for a "permit", our state is the safest in the country.

My 500 S&W works for home protection also, as does my old Mossberg 500 12 ga. (3" mags and no plug law here in AK ftw) It has those interchangeable barrels along with two stocks...one is a pistol grip, sling, etc... I got that years ago at the drug store for bear protection when I was heavy into sport fishing. That .500 S&W was one of those "I have to have one" thing more than anything. That's one of those cannons that when you fire a shot everyone freezes for a second just to get their ear drums back. Good bear gun also for pack trips and it's a lot smaller than the Mossberg.

Edited December 24, 2011 by Why_Me

[kytwell 179]

None at all. It has never jammed with anything and I use cast bullets for practice. I bought the Kimber in 2002, so it should be the same vintage as yours

Interesting, I think the one I had was a lemon then, because I have a buddy has never had an issue with his and we bought them together on the same day.

[himher 634]

Something a little heavier - say a .44 - and you can get both of the jehovah's witnesses with one shot.....

quote name='Brother Hesekiel' timestamp='1324693772' post='5069655']

You guys must live in horrible neighborhoods!

I live in a small midtown home, built in 1938. I have no picket fence, just lawn and flowers; my backdoor is cracked open all night so that my cat can come and go as he pleases, and the only annoyances I experienced since 2001 when I bought that home is a couple of Jehova's Witnesses -- young man in white shirts and ties -- who show up about twice a year and want to convert me to Presidential candidate Mitt Romney's religion.

Ahh . . . living in a small California beach town, surrounded by old Ladies in even older Craftsman homes.

Lots of sunshine but no crime. Better than any gun.

Hey, here's a thought: if you put the money you spend on guns and ammo into saving instead, you eventually will be able to move into a better neighborhood and enjoy life more!