I wanna get into handguns...
 

I've always been a "hardcore" rifle guy. But now I am getting a little interested in handguns. As with all my purchases, I like to research the topic very thoroughly and from all angles. This brings me to my point... I don’t know many brands of handguns to research. If anybody could just list off any brands off the top of their head, it would be great. I don’t need like in depth reviews or anything, just a starting point. Any particularly nice gun that you have or know of, a model might help also.

Thanks.

Try checking out www.thehighroad.org , www.berettaforum.net , www.packing.org. Those three sites have a lot of info and reviews of weapons with pics. The highroad is the best out of all three and youll find everything you could possibly want there. Good luck and be safe.

Smith and Wesson
Ruger
Sig Sauer
Heckler and Koch
Walther
Colt
Kimber
Glock
Desert Eagle

Every single one of those manufacturer's makes some variety of handgun that is spectacular.

Get out and shoot some. You'll find what your looking for.

What are you looking for btw?

Tell us something about being a 'hardcore' rifle guy? What do you like and why?

-bear

edit: Added the 'you' in my final sentence.

Yes,

We need some details, such as:

-price range
-intended use
-simple or complex
-who will use it

and anything else you care to throw in.

Absolutely everything as far as category...
any price (ive been saving up)
multiple use (target, defense...)
simple and complex(ill figure out what i want later)
and i will use it (an average guy in his 20's)


As far as rifles, I'm more into older ones. Among my favorites are my old Mauser(8mm... old WWII and earlier rifle) and my most recent purchase has been another really beaten up SKS which i plan on fixing up and fixing to full auto... I might sell it off when I'm through with it.

Thanks for the help.

Oh.. and I like the Mauser... I guess 'cause I've had it for such a long time (my dad effectively gave it to me when I was 12... and don't worry, I knew quite well as to go about using it safely, and I did) and it has simply grown on me so much.

Go for a 357 mag revolver with a 4" barrel. Simple, powerful, and you can shoot the cheaper 38s out of it too.

Okey Dokey.

Well, then I would probably recommend an all around gun, one that's

- very good and reliable
- shoots a decent self defense round
- shoots relatively inexpense ammo


So I would recommend either a SIG226 in 9mm or a Beretta 92f, also in 9mm.

Both will have hi cap mags available again in September (yay!), and the 9mm is a decent round for self defense but it isn't too horribly expensive to practice with (as opposed to the .45 and .40).

And the SIG and Beretta are top notch when it comes to reliability.


If you are big into history however, you might also consider a 1911. Again if price isn't an option, then especially look at a Kimber.

You'll get a lot of gun, with a smaller mag capacity, but what the hell.

If you are looking to get into hand cannons (after you become proficient with a smaller caliber, of course), I heartily recommend the .41 Magnum. The are accurate, much less obnoxious than a .44 to shoot, and will do everything a .44 can and more.

...:eek: You might want to be a little careful on the full auto part...

If you want to stay cheap and reliable, try Ruger P series. I have one that is extremely accurate, and is fun to shoot. Considering the price, it's well worth it. (about $325 new)

If you don't live in California, you can get the mags that hold 15rds (9mm).

just one note.. Dont do the full auto on your sks.. they are fun guns to shoot and you can drag em though the mud.. but why take the chance of being caught with a full auto? That and home brew full autos can be REALY dangerous. liek filing down the sear.. not EXACTLY fully auto kinds as soon as you pull the trigger it emptys the mag. you cant stop it. not very safe..


that and full auto is a waste of rounds IMO, unless you have a REAL reason to have a full auto ( like i donno libans breaking in your house to steal your baby) it makes no sence

If you are looking to get a handgun you should consider Heckler & Koch. If you want something reliable you should check out Heckler & Koch. But if you want something accurate, you should check out Heckler & Koch. If you want the best of the best, then defiantly go with Heckler & Koch. If you want inexpensive, anything else will do.

Full auto converts are stupid for a lot of reasons, but one that most people don't know about is full auto weapons have more then just a sear change. they are designed so the gun will shoot at a specific rate of fire. When you have a ghettofied gun the rate of fire will increase until the gun is empty. That means even less controllable. Do the smart thing, and get the class III license. -$200 is better then pound in the ass prison.

So true. Get the license.

LSD

for a carry pistol, I chose Kel-Tec, my wardrobe just wouldnt' permit anything larger during the summer. As for the winter, Glock all the way baby!!! 9 mil being the best due to low cost of rounds. my best suggestion, go to your local shop, handle a few, see what fits your hands, cause if it doesn't fit your hand, it's likely gonna tear the shit out of your hands.

Well good luck and congratulations on your newfound interest in handguns. You can't really go wrong. Go to the range and rent different makes/models, see what you like. Everybody here has his own bias and there is nothing wrong with that. Time for you to find what you like though. The only way to do that is to dive in head first.

Thanks everyone. I deffinately got what I wanted, and even some models to start off with. It will take a hell of a lot of research, effort, and time... but I shall have a handgun that suits me well in the coming years... perhaps two...or more.

Thanks for the help, everyone.

"my most recent purchase has been another really beaten up SKS which i plan on fixing up and fixing to full auto... I might sell it off when I'm through with it. "

PLEASE DON'T 'fix' it to full auto, unless you want to get a Class II mfg license. That is the fastest way to get a 'straight to jail' card, with a mandatory 10 year sentence and $150,000 fine. If you live in a class III (full-auto) friendly state, visit a local class III dealer and see what they offer. You can get an Uzi for about $3500 or a MAC-10 for about $1500. Otherwise plan on spending >$6500 for larger autos.