If price is an object, this is the Hi Point .40 Smith & Wesson 4-1/2" at $146.21 with a LIFETIME transferable warranty. www.hi-pointfirearms.com
Posted on 11/28/2008 10:36:17 AM PST by scottdeus12
Hello fellow freepers, I have a question to ask. I've been recently looking at some hanguns - specifically the Glock 23 and 27 and also a Taurus (all .40 cal). I'm looking for a home-defense weapon and I'd like to have the versatility to carry it as well. I love the feel of the taurus, but the smaller Glock is nice because you can conceal it easily.....
Does anyone have any suggestions?
Good choices.
I selected a G19 for its versatility and less expensive, easy to find (so far) ammo, which means more practice. The 40 not so much.
YMMV.
If price is no object (which, if you are looking at a Taurus you are just about there) consider one of the new Kimbers, or a Kimber Crimson with the laser built in.
Both Glocks are nice guns. However their chambers DO NOT fully support the .40 cartridge, which can be an issue. (Google Glock and Kaboom.)
Take a HARD look at the S&W M&P and the Springfield XD before making your purchase. Their grips can be modified and they’re not quite as blocky as the Glock.
Bottom line is you really can’t go wrong.
John
PS-Wait, yes you can. Avoid Taurus like the plague.
PING
Personally, I’d go with the Springfield XD-40. Better made than the Glock, IMHO.
Can you only afford one?
I’d stear clear of a 1911 unless you are dedicated. A glock is lower maintenance, cheaper, and generally more reliable. I’d suggest a .45 though.
Get the Glock, and I tell you why.
The Glock is a well made pistol. Also very important, there is a company “Advantage Arms” that makes excellent .22 cal. conversion kits so that you can go to the firing range all day long without going broke. Shoot the Glock with the conversion kit first until you thoroughly know the weapon and then replace the slide with the regular caliber.
I don’t know about you, but I can’t afford to shoot .40 cal. ammo for the entire day, but I can do it with .22 ammo and still have fun.
XD 9mm compact with thumb safety....
Keep in mind you have a bout 2-3 options for safetys on the XD, if you are an occasional shooter, thumb safety is the way to go, IMHO.
I have an XD, have shot glocks.. both shoot about the same. IMHO, XD has the advantage of being a recent design and adding features people want/need.
Go to a gun show, and look around. Keep in mind that guns are like religion, so you will get some strong opinions....take time to make your own.... I always ask the reasoning behind when a person recommends a gun....you will be surprised at some people’s answers....
LEAD wadcutters and double charged rounds go KB.Urban myth
See if you can find a 45 ACP revolver-they use moonclips to handle the rimless auto cartridges,but the minor hassle is worth having “six for sure”in a highly effective round with little potential for over penetration if you live in a congested area-reloading with a moonclip is faster than with a magazine.I have an S&W Model 22-4 with Pachmayr aftermarket grips.Firing more than six rounds in a home defense situation is unlikely unless you’ve pissed off an outlaw biker gang or something.Ashotgun with a pistol grip and a short barrel(legal length of course)like the Mossberg 500 Persuader is also great as a home defense weapon.#4 Buck is good as is 00 Buck.
“Can you only afford one?”
At the moment yes. Are you suggesting one for each hand (LOL)?
I bought a really nice .380 Bersa sometime ago and I would highly recommend it. The problem with the larger caliber weapons is the kickback. I used to have a Beretta 9mm but couldn’t hit the side of a barn.
Having said that I still come down on the side of a good revolver. And if you want to really get someone’s attention a .357 will get the job done and you can practice with .38s.
There is a huge downside of the semis and that is that you have to be ultra careful to make sure that a round is not in the chamber when you unload it. And when you do load it you have to insert the magazine and chamber the round and pray there is no jamming. With a revolver you simply pull the trigger.
Now if you insist on an automatic, the Ruger Bull Barrel .22 is amazingly accurate, has no appreciable kick-back. And if you fit it with a laser sight, I guarantee you the bad guy isn’t going to walk away. Three in the head and they are dead. It is easy to load the magazines, ammo is dirt cheap and easy to use. Just keep it clean like all weapons and don’t shoot yourself in the foot.
And above all, check to see if a round is in the chamber when unloading. I can’t tell you how many times that has jumped up and nearly bit me. That’s why I recommend the revolver for home protection.
PS;Stay awat from taurus and the Glock 27-I owned one in 40 S&W and it didn’t handle the reoil well.I regularly shoot 44 Magnum so I’m not recoil shy,but the pistol is just too small for 40.If you must have a 40,buy a Springfield Armory XD-inexpensive,reliable,and handles reoil very well.
I have a Glock 23 - very happy with it and it is easy to maintain. Only objection is the lack of an external safety, but once you become familiar with it the trigger safety works very well. If you’re not familiar it does take a lot of practice.
“PS-Wait, yes you can. Avoid Taurus like the plague.”
Why do you say that?
I have a G23 .40S&W and I like it for its relative smaller size and being able to hold a hi-cap mag. Try www.glocktalk.com and ask them what they think.
For the extra “oomph” I carry the 10mm Glock.
Glock 23 or its 9mm counterpert the 19. Taurus is not glock dont let Taurus Koolaid drinkers tell you its on par with companies like Sig or Glock or Smith&Wesson
“... new Kimbers, or a Kimber Crimson with the laser built in.”
How much do these cost? I have seen one, and they are quite nice.....
I can second all the suggestions for the Springfield XD in .40 S&W. I have owned several handguns and it shoots reliably and easily compared to most, plus it is reasonably easy to conceal. It can also be converted to shoot 9mm if you want cheaper practice rounds.
The PT140 PRO is an awesome gun and perfect for concealed carry. The best part is the Lifetime warranty it comes with, you can intentionally melt it down and then mail it back to Taurus and they will send you back a brand new one, no questions asked.
Quite a few of the LEO’s I talk to prefer the Glock in .45 cal and advise against the .40 cal.
My son just bought a Glock 21 SF .45 and it shoots like a dream for me at rapid fire - although I fire tighter aimed groups with my Springfield PX9109L.
Having fired the Glock, I urge you (along with several other posters on this thread) to look at the Springfield XD.
If price is an object, this is the Hi Point .40 Smith & Wesson 4-1/2" at $146.21 with a LIFETIME transferable warranty. www.hi-pointfirearms.com
Man lots of good testamonials for Springfield XD. I was very high on adding one of those. Second choices might be the newish Ruger 9 mm carry (SR9?), newish Beretta 9 mm and the FN 9mm.
How is the XD for accuraccy?
I have an old Ruger P85 which is reliable as anying and fairly accurate - so so. Glocks were okay but not that accurate. CZ and SIGs are like freaking target pistols. Beretta FS 92 also is a target pistol but a bit big.
Glock 23, great sized gun. Great for carry. I am very pleased with mine. Don’t let anyone fool you about “kabooms”. This myth has been circulated for years. Nothing related to Glocks, all guns will fail in the circumstances they suggest it happened.
Get the Glock, practice, and smile.
I have nothing bad to say about Glocks but will probably never own another. Had a .40. Sold it. Doesn’t fit or feel right in my hand.
Now I still have a bunch of .40 ammo...oh well.
IMO, if it don’t feel right in my hand I don’t want it.
It is not a myth. Glock chambers are not fully supported. That is why Glock recommends only using factory new ammo in their guns, no reloads or remanufactured ammo.
Springfield Armory XD 40 is an excellent gun. Almost no recoil, field strips in seconds, easy to conceal, and the gun and its bullets are very affordable. I cannot speak highly enough about this weapon.
With regard to Taurus, I own Taurus Tracker .44 magnum, and I love it. This is one badass weapon. Taurus is the only gun company with a lifetime warranty on all of its weapons. I have never fired a Taurus semi-auto pistol, but I would say that its revolvers are not only better than Smith & Wesson, they are also quite a bit cheaper. I would imagine that the only people pooping on Taurus guns are the sales reps from other gun companies.
If you are looking for an excellent .40 cal handgun for concealed carry, take a look at the Taurus Millennium .40 cal. I just recently purchased the .45 cal edition, and I love it! It was a hard choice between the .40 and the .45, but I am just partial to the .45 myself... It is light, low profile and has excellent accuracy at the range... I recently looked into getting the .40 cal also... It is reasonable too... This past weekend, I saw it for $325 at a local gun show...
Good luck!!
Proud_to_be_an_American
no, one for home and one for carry.
Bob
This is correct and not a 'myth'. A number of police agencies, including the New Mexico State Police, Bernalillo County Sherriffs along with the Georgia State Police and a host of others, are switching to the S&W MP. The previous experiences with KBi is due largely to case failure and overpressure.
The Glock does not fully support the entire case in either the 40, 10mm or the 45. In the case of the 40, this was to facilitate reliability in chambering, however, this left part of the case open to overpressure.
The argument on KBI comes from some blaming the gun for the failure, while Glock blames the ammo for it.
Since bullet seating is most important for the cartridge, and the ammo makers are not 'perfect' all the time, I believe there is a combination of both at fault.
Bullet seating on average is excellent, but there is that minor, albeit dangerous, occurence of a bullet seated too far or too 'loose' and can deep seat in the case as it hits the feeramp. This will cause a dangerous overpressure situation and KBi chance. This issue, combined with the steep feed ramp necessary for the 40+ cartridges in the Glock frames to feed reliably, are causing issues with KBi's.
The chances are greater in some of the older Glocks than the newer ones.
The Springfield XD is fully supported, however, they do not have the 'use and abuse' history that Glock has.
Just got rid of my Milleneum 9mm. Liked the model but got mine before they produced other calibers.
I’m partial to .45 but also leaning more towards revolvers right now.
But one thing is that I’m just not good enough reloader to reload .40 and 9mm. .45 is better for me.
Oh, yeah... and the Sig Sauer P220 is another winner!! The Sig and the Taurus are my two carry sidearms... you can’t go wrong... Many people will not recommend Taurus because of the bad press it gets from Glock owners, but as an owner of both, I like the weight, grip, kick, and accuracy of the Taurus just as much as the Glock... I just didn’t have to pay as much for it! :) Also, I personally like my Millennium just as much as my Sig... They are both very reliable firearms... So, don’t let anyone sway your opinion before you have to opportunity to decide for yourself if Taurus is for you... :)
Glock or Ruger should be considered, without a doubt. But take a look at the Smith & Wesson's, too!
I have the Sig P229. Great piece, but hard to conceal. Nothing better than the trust 12 guage for home defense.
I have a Kimber Ultra Carry for warmer times of the year when thinner clothing won't totally conceal the Glock. The Kimber is a bit pricey for most people, but it's a great firearm. The best thing you can do, IMO, is go to a range where you can rent the types of guns you are looking at purchasing. Most of them will be in conditions of obvious use, so you can get an accurate idea of the weapon's performance after significant wear.
“How is the XD for accuraccy?”
I haven’t fired one yet...plan to rent one if my gunshop has it, will let you know. Think you could pull up on the internet some opinions from users.
The orignal poster talked in terms of home defense and we don’t know if there is a female shooter in house as well, but a big 1911 may not be his best tool. He might be better off with a revolver firing a .38 cal HP.
Have been reluctant to get away from the full-szied 1911 but now pretty much believe the “plastic” in .45 cal is better for carry purposes. My baby is a one-owner 1970’s Colt Commander 9mm but the XD may be in my future.
Regards,
First off, there are some serious shooting and reloading pros on FR so I’m a bit shy of offering advice.
Your first reloaded round is the most expensive, they all get cheaper after that!
I’ve got a single stage press that works fine. I’ve also got a turret that I’ve never set up and don’t know if I will.
I wish I had a progressive press having once used a friends but I don’t. However I have learned how to do batches of hundreds by doing each step by the hundreds instead of all at one time. Also, at any given time I may have hundreds of cleaned and primed brass just waiting for powder and lead and if all I want is 50 or so, great.
Do yourself a favor and get your primers now. I buy by the 1000 and I’m still small time compared to some on FR and others I know. There’s talk of expiring primers someday so you’d want regular ones now. This is also another reason I’m trimming down to just a couple calibers instead of many. I’m just not skilled enough to do 9 mm and .40 justice on reloading. .38/357 and .45 is much more forgiving.
No tv while reloading. No smoking. No drinking. Care on visitors. Radio only, if that. No room for distractions when loading powder. None.
Oh yeah...carbide dies. More expensive but worth every penny more.
If you ever get into a self-defense situation, the gun you want to have in your hand is the one that feels right in your hand, and that you've practiced with so much it's practically all reflex.
If it’s for home defense only, I recommend a pump shotgun loaded with 00 buck.
For carry, your options are good. I like the Glock 23 but I usually carry a 38 snubbie.
Range time is it. Run a bunch of various ammo types through whatever new gun you buy. You’ll find out that some species perform better than others and you don’t want to discover this when you really need the piece.
I own a .40 Taurus PT100 in stainless I bought 16 years ago. I’ve fired at least 2500 rounds through it and have yet to have a misfire or jam with either FMJ’s or hollow points. It’s also been quite accurate and easy to disassemble and clean. It’s a spinoff of the Beretta 92 (both were produced in the same factory in Brazil). I also have a SigSauer 220 which is an excellent piece but a little more pricey. Taurus’s warranty makes it a win/win situation.
I have been in love with my G27, but I will soon be in the market for a hammerless Ladysmith ( even though Im a guy ).
Its the trigger pull for me.
Buy what feels most comfortable to you. Its going to be what you shoot the most, so comfort counts bigtime.
1. Most accurate at 20 feet.
2. Single shot kills perp.
3. Easy concealed carry in shoulder holster or on hip.
4. Smooth action.
5. Easy load. Reload.
6. Can handle load variations.
7. Price NO object.
Your thoughts?
Look at the S&W M&P models. I think you’ll like them a lot better than the Glocks. Glocks aren’t bad, but the M&P is replacing Glocks in many police departments around the country.
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