[Nose Nuggets]

Got a new job, moving back home (the east bay) and have a little cash to toss around the place. Why not buy a fire arm eh? But there are so many choices!

I have only shot a few pistols in my time, and only a few of them have more then 30 rounds down range. So I'm not going to use any previous experience to base my purchase on. From what i have read and heard from other gun enthusiasts, the rental guns at most ranges aren't the best source of reliable feedback either.

The good news is, my decision is not all over the board. I have at least a little idea of what i want. I'm almost positive i want more stopping power then what a 9mm can offer, unless someone has some outstanding evidence to the contrarie. So I'm seriously considering something in the .40Cal. A Friend of mine has two USP's a compact and a full size. Both are .40 and i really like how they feel in my hand. The compact is definitely on my list. I'm not a fan of the trigger safety like the Glocks, so those are out. CCW isn't a question because I'm in cali. Its main purpose is for making swiss paper. But it will double as 'home security' (thus the anti 9mm comment above).

Does anyone have any good ideas for places to start? Should i go rent a bunch of pistols anyways just to see which ones feel good in my hand? Any and all ideas are welcome. H&K and Sig are the two that get the most screen time on my computer right now. But I'm not in love with either.

Thanks in advance for any comments.

 

[fatcat]

Full sized USP in .45, is what I would get... Or the Sig in .357. Those are the ones that I like to shoot the most.

 

[Gun-Nut]

+1 for the full size USP .45. This is my favorite pistol in my current lineup.

 

[Nose Nuggets]

whats wrong with .40cal.

do you like the fullsize usp .45 because its slightly larger in phisical size? do you prefer .45 in general over .40? or does the .45 just shoot nicer then the .40.

thanks for the help.

 

[Ducman]

If this is going to be home defense and range use. I would go fullsize.. the extra sight radius will make a difference and the weight will help recoil.

I like the recoil impulse of .45acp over .40S&W in factory loads, but either can be shot fast and accurately. .40 is cheap to buy

I would also look at an XD and 1911.

 

[ORCA]

Another +1 for the USP 45 Fullsize. I prefer the caliber and the fullsize USP drops right back on target. I personally never liked USP Compacts, not enough mass I guess or maybe I'm just used to the Fullsize.

 

[Adler]

Well the XD and Steyr have the triggers like you do not like.

My reccomendations are the Walther p99 or S&W99. S&W has a version of the 99 in 45acp and Samit on here loves his. Or they are more readily available in 40S&W and 9mm

Might I also reccomend the Taurus 24/7 Pro. It has a striker fried DA/SA mechanism much like the walther mentioned above, was the NRA gun of the year, and is available in 9mm, 40S&W, and 45ACP. They also have a 5in tactical model available. From what I have seen they are utterly reliable and much cheaper than a SIG or an HK.


I will say this. 9mm defense ammo has made leaps and bounds since the infamous FBI report of the 1980's and I feel that with good ammo(Speer Gold Dot, Corbons, Federal Hydra Shocks) you can get performance that is more than enough stopping power in the +p format. The problem with 9mm was always that it penetrated great but was too small of a slug going too fast to stop someone in their tracks. And the old JHP ammo didnt retain its weight or failed to expand reliabily. If you look at the new Gold Dots you see that they expand wonderfully and unlike the 40S&W or 45ACP you get less recoil in the same platform and although you cant benefit from the higher capacity a 9mm offers, it is something important to many.

 

[Nose Nuggets]

is there a significant diference in price between the .40 and .45?

damn Adler, you sure make a good argument for the 9mm. And that Taurus just made the top of my list. not only does it sport some sick engeneering, it looks rad to boot.

i had a question about the DA/SA trigger. the text reads "The trigger resets to DA mode untill another round is chamberd". now, it could just be the wording, but as long as there are rounds in the mag it stays in SA mode correct? the only round that needs the full DA pull is the first one?

 

[Adler]

What happens is this. You insert a mag and rack the slide which cocks the action as it chambers the round putting it in Single Action mode. Should you have a bad round of ammunition you simply can pull the trigger which is reset to DA mode to set it off.


According to my dealer catalof there is NO difference in price between the 40 S&W and the 45ACP. Just make sure you get the newer 24/7 PRO and not the older plain 24/7 since that was a DAO trigger.

Plus I like the fact that it has Heinie combat sights. I heard that the San Diego Police Dept was going to issue this gun or already is.

 

[Nose Nuggets]

im sorry i should have worded that different. is the difference in price between .40 and .45 ammo very significant?

but i suppose its moot now. the 24/7 Pro is claiming top spot until i get a chance to shoot it and make a final decision. and the .45 version does not have the nice grip, and every forum i see someone having problems with it.

what’s the round limit per mag in cali? does it differ between calibers? i can have 17 9mm but only 15 .40?

thanks again for all the help.

 

[global]

im sorry i should have worded that different. is the difference in price between .40 and .45 ammo very significant?

but i suppose its moot now. the 24/7 Pro is claiming top spot until i get a chance to shoot it and make a final decision. and the .45 version does not have the nice grip, and every forum i see someone having problems with it.

what’s the round limit per mag in cali? does it differ between calibers? i can have 17 9mm but only 15 .40?

thanks again for all the help.

you will be able to have 10 round mags max in california. i have good size hands and the usp 45 full size still feels too big to me. i know orca swears by his i swear by my sigs. i have a p229r 9mm and p226r .40s&w. both are easy to shoot and feel great in my hands. I prefer the larger framed 226 as a carry option. DA/SA on both. The 10lb pull might take some time to get used to, but is very accurate... and the 4lb single action pull makes follow up shots easy.

for ammo prices 9mm < .40 < .45 its just the way it works. i just paid around $229 for 1000 rnds of fiocci .45, so it definitely isn't cheap.

and for what its worth... get a 1911.

 

[Adler]

Taurus has made some great guns over the past 10 years btu people still rag on them for being made in Brazil but they forget the Springfield Armory and FN had guns made their for years. The Taurus factory used to be a Beretta one in the 70's and they have all the old machinery still.

Only complaint I have seen from real unbiased shooters about the 24/7 is that is isnt comofortable for conceal carry in certain locations like IWB.

 

[Nose Nuggets]

well CCW is not something im using to influance my purchase. sadly.

im going to see if i cant find a range around here with one of those for rent.

and whats the deal with driving out to AZ and buying it there.

 

[global]

well CCW is not something im using to influance my purchase. sadly.

im going to see if i cant find a range around here with one of those for rent.

and whats the deal with driving out to AZ and buying it there.

the deal is you can buy whatever you want in AZ. here is the catch... if you don't buy something that is california legal, you will more than likely have a prohibited or illegal weapon which is a felony.

 

[ORCA]

lol well it's a little more involved then just driving to a different state, and unless you have a 2nd home in whatever the target state is, it's not worth doing.

But def try and find a range where you can try these all out. All the local ranges here in Orange County have most of the ones that have been discussed.

you will be able to have 10 round mags max in california. i have good size hands and the usp 45 full size still feels too big to me. i know orca swears by his

Yeah and I gots smaller hands then global. <<No need for smart remarks LOL>> But my first handgun was a gov't 1911, so the larger framed guns are what I'm comfortable with.

 

[Nose Nuggets]

so without an address in AZ i couldent buy a 24/7, sell the illigal mag and then buy CA legal ones?

 

[ORCA]

W/o an AZ address you probably cannot buy a gun in AZ illegal mag or not. Like wise for NV. They've really cracked down on what you need to show to prove state residence.

 

[Nose Nuggets]

so 21 day wait it is.

oh well, i need to find a place to shoot one first anyway.

 

[global]

so 21 day wait it is.

oh well, i need to find a place to shoot one first anyway.

it should only be a 10 day wait in CA.

 

[fatcat]

How long do yall have to wait for rifles and shotguns there?

How retarded is that huh? We dont have any wait yet you dont see people blowing each other away when they got there handgun that day.