What handguns do you own or have you shot?

[BowhunterNJ]

So what handguns have you all owned (present or past) or shot that you liked and would recommend?

I know a lot of it comes down to individual fit, feel, and preference.

 

I'm waiting on a few permits and will be purchasing a few handguns in the near future.

I have my eye on probably an SA 1911 in .45 and a Glock (not sure what model) in 9mm. Might look for a .22 semi as well, not sure on the make/model yet.

[CJ3a]

It is a good idea to get a 22. The bigger guns will tired you. The glock is a nice gun but if you are just punching paper there are better guns.

[BHC]

Many handguns I shot, to name them would take too much typing....I own two Glocks: 23 & 27, I carry the 27....At work we carry H&K USP

[BowhunterNJ]

Thanks CJ3a, I'm using one permit for my dad's .22 revolver, but would also like a semi auto to plink around with (cheap and fun).

The others are just to have really...I'm not 100% on the Glock yet, but I really liked the SA 1911 in .45 when I shot it. Haven't narrowed down on an exact SA model yet, but I'll do a bit more shooting and settle in on something!

 

BHC, nothing stood out amongst all the ones you shot? Nothing felt like a "must own" type of gun, just the two Glocks?

[BHC]

Glocks I got many years ago, I really like them for off duty carry, plus at the time my dept. had a small very limited list of what we could carry off duty. I guess my the handguns my father left me....Colt Stainless (wheel gun) .357, Ruger BlackHawk, Browning (Belgium made) .380

[Haskell_Hunter]

I just got a Glock 23 Gen 4.  Love it!  Feels good, shoots a .40.  Solid gun.  

 

I am considering a Glock 42 because it's tiny and shoots a .380.  But I'm the on the fence with the tiny Glock and might instead get a S&W Model 36 (1970s cop show nostalgia).

 

Sigs are nice but like to be wet.

 

I considered a 1911, but each manufacturer is very different.  Some are complex guns that are fussy and others are workhorses.

 

You might want to sign up for an NRA pistol course and talk to the other shooters and the instructor.  The course itself is great on its own, but the classroom experience and possibility to shoot other guns there makes it all the better.

[CJ3a]

The sky is the limit on a 1911. Look around for a used Les Baer. I have one and in the end it save me alot of money. Instead of messing around with alot of cheap guns I end up with one great one.

[Hetley75]

I have a H&K 9mm and 40 cal. And a KIMBER custom cdp pro. I do really like the KIMBER but just love the way those H&K shoot. Very easy to handle also

[MackofallTrades]

Recently picked up a Ruger SR9c in stainless.  I really like it.  I didn't shoot the full size, but it didn't feel as nice in the hand.  On a positive note, if you get the compact, you can still get a 15 round mag with an extension to give it a full size grip (unless Christie signs the 10 round mag limit).  Cost is fantastic if you shop around.  Mine was $409.  One negative is that there aren't as many aftermarket parts when compared to the Glocks and others.  There is a company that makes triggers and springs if you want to do a little low level customizing.

 

 

The Ruger "warranty" is fantastic if you ever do have an issue. 

Edited May 30, 2014 by MackofallTrades

[BowhunterNJ]

Not big into compacts myself, since I have no option to carry here.

Definitely love the Kimber line...the price tag gets a little steep, but I don't buy handguns often, so I can stand investing in one or two.

That HK is nice Hetley...I think I like the look of that over the Glock!

[Hetley75]

Matt I've shot glocks also. In my opinion the H&K shoot smoother. But it's all a matter of preference.

 

H&K 40

H&K 9

KIMBER cdp pro 45

[BowhunterNJ]

Beauties! Very nice!

[Bucksnbows]

I own two revolvers on more or less the opposite side of the spectrum.  One is a blued S&W .22 and the other a stainless .44 mag.  I'm looking at a semi-auto .40 full size since, like you, can never CC in this state, and found a few I'm interested in.  Love the Sigs, but those and the H&Ks are on the high side of my price range.  Have shot and very much like the S&W M&P .40 which may be my next handgun.  The .44 was for bear and mountain lion protection when I lived in CO, but I now want to scope it for whitetails in PA.    

[Haskell_Hunter]

If thing out of state, there are a few (NH being one) where you can hunt with your gun or carry it as a side arm while bow hunting. So don't think you'll never have a need for concealed carry. Once you leave the nanny state of NJ, you might want to conceal carry.

[Bucksnbows]

If thing out of state, there are a few (NH being one) where you can hunt with your gun or carry it as a side arm while bow hunting. So don't think you'll never have a need for concealed carry. Once you leave the nanny state of NJ, you might want to conceal carry.

 

PA where I deer hunt allows handgun during rifle season if you have the necessary permit.  I think their permit is good for 3 or 5 years and available at town or county agents.  If I ever scope my .44 mag, I'll worry about getting that permit.  I've lived in several other states that did allow CC, but have never gotten a CC permit.  When I lived in Colorado, I open carried when hiking in the mountains with a shoulder holster.  Of course for mountain lions, the old joke is that if attacked, you pull your handgun, place it under your chin, and pull the trigger so that it eases the pain because the big cats attack from behind and silently most of the time.  

 

But having one made me feel safer as CO also has black and grizzly bears on top of the big cats.  I lived outside Boulder where it was mostly mountain lions.