[Qosin]

Does anyone know of a good gun (handgun and rifle) forum? I'm thinking about buying a handgun and I'd like to do some research and get some opinions.

On a related note, what quality of handguns would be in the $500-700 range? The last thing I want to do is buy something off brand and low quality for an item of this importance.

 

[buddy8771]

I'm also in the process of researching a handgun purchase. I am looking the Springfield xD series. They are in the price range you listed. Seem to be very high quality and they are comfortable to hold.

I'm awaiting responses as well because I need some more sites to do some reading.

 

[fadlan12]

Lots out there, AR15.com is one of the biggest and diverse (kinda like this place).

 

[Joe Caringi]

Glocktalk.com

1911forum.com

thehighroad.org

You're in a fine price range. I think all the polymer frame guns (Glocks definitely; XD's; S&W M&P's, etc.) are in there. STI Spartan would be a 1911. I think that the vastly superior metal framed German engineered guns (with sarcasm; Sigs and HK's) are going to be a little higher.

 

[fadlan12]

Check out Buds guns shop. I have purchased 3 or 4 guns from them (online shipped to your FFL), they have great deals.

 

[Qosin]

I was looking at the Springfield XD series as well, but I'm not sold on the grip safety idea. Could anyone say how strong of a grip someone would need to be able to fire?

I plan on keeping anything I get in a safe I already have, but if a child got a hold of a gun with a grip safety like the SA XD would they be able to shoot?

My 4 year old doesn't know how to take off a standard safety but he does know how to hold a gun.

 

[fadlan12]

Yes, you have to assume they will be able to shoot it. Keep it in the safe, or get one of those keypad safes for next to your bed.

 

[Qosin]

Yes, you have to assume they will be able to shoot it. Keep it in the safe, or get one of those keypad safes for next to your bed.

Unless the gun is with me it will always be locked in a safe without question. Things do happen, nothing would give a 100% guarantee he will never get a hold of it.

My concern is that he would unintentionally turn off the safety just by holding it like he does one of his Nerf guns. I want every security measure I can get.

 

[Baatfam]

Unless the gun is with me it will always be locked in a safe without question. Things do happen, nothing would give a 100% guarantee he will never get a hold of it.

My concern is that he would unintentionally turn off the safety just by holding it like he does one of his Nerf guns. I want every security measure I can get.

Always assume that any child will be able to get past any safety, intentionally or unintentionally, unless it has a key or a combo...
And even then, do be too cocky. Kids are smart.

 

[fadlan12]

The other thing is train your children right away about gun safety, Gun proof your kids. You are correct that the chances are at some point he/she will come into contact with a gun.

 

[kman458]

I have 3 xd's and the safeties are really not child proof. They are like the ones on the 1911's in that when your hand is in position to fire it you can. The only thing might make it hard for a child to fire it is the tr***** safety. You have to have your finger across the tr***** when you pull it to get it to fire. If a little finger is off to the side it might or might not be fireable. Like others have said you never rely on just the safeties to keep the kids from firing them. First thing is to lock the guns up where they can not be got to and the second thing to do is to teach the kids gun safety.

 

[Qosin]

Always assume that any child will be able to get past any safety, intentionally or unintentionally, unless it has a key or a combo...
And even then, do be too cocky. Kids are smart.

I may have been unclear. I don't believe anything can absolutely keep kids away from the dangers of a gun. However each step I can take to try and prevent them from getting or using one will lower the chances of something happening.

A safe is one step, keeping it unloaded would be another, a tr***** lock another and the safety on the gun itself would be another.

If the grip safety on the XD doesn't function as well as a normal gun safety in regards to children that is one step less in trying to protect them.

In short, I know nothing can 100% protect children, however that will not stop me from taking the steps I can to try.

Good advice on the teaching of gun safety. I talk with them often about it already.

 

[RUBZERK]

Xdtalk.com
Usacarry.com
Thehighroad
Pafoa.org

 

[PhilB]

$5-700 will buy you a wide variety of good handguns. Pretty much anything from any reputable manufacturer will be well built and reliable enough.

I generally recommend the highest caliber that you are *comfortable* shooting. A hit with a .22 is better than a miss with a .45 (but a hit with a .45 is better than either).

The BEST research is to find a range that rents guns, or a friend with a good collection, and try out a bunch (different brands, designs, and calibers) until you find one that feels good in your hands and that you find hits the targets easily for you. That will be different for each person, and no one else can find or choose that for you.

PhilB

 

[NattyDrez]

The XD is a nice, dependable gun. Same with the Glock.

I personally cant stand the look of either. Plus everyone has both, I want something different.

Im looking at either a 75b, Sp-01 or FNP-9. Theyre out of stock everywhere so Ill have to order it. Theyre both great firearm companies and its nice that you dont see 9/10 ppl with them.

 

[NattyDrez]

Enough about me. IN the 5-700 range, you can find a variety of good handguns including Sig Sauer, lame glock and XD, CZ and a low-budget H&K.

 

[coolatula]

There are usually three main types of pistols for the most part shooters prefer as I see it. They are the DA/SA or DA only,service pistol,tupperware framed types(XDs,Glocks,P95s etc.),the DA/SA,SA or DA only all metal type(Beretta FS92/96 etc.,CZ 75 and variants,Sig 226/228,Taurus 92 copies etc.) and the SA,all metal Colt 1905/1911/Browning and variant types(Colt 1911,Star,Llama,STI,Browning HP,Springfield,Para Ord.,S&W the list goes on and on...).

I like them all to some degree and each has some attributes to contribute,but the ones I always go back to are the SA Colt 1911 style pistols. If you get a good one it is Heaven on earth and no other type of pistol combines the accuracy,ergonomics,pointability,solid feel,workmanship/quality,tr***** feel etc. that a high quality,all metal Browning designed pistol has....no other type period!

It's no wonder that for over 100 years these designs have stood the test of time and are still being used by some of the best trained,most elite combat troops/tactical teams,and best target shooters in the world. When it's all said and done and all the love affairs with departments experimenting with "the next big thing in pistols" is over the BEST always go back to what works and what works is the old stand by,timeless Browning designed or inspired pistols. Not that I'm bias or anything!nfloor

In the $500-700 price range there are many well made,medium priced pistols to choose from most of which have already been mentioned. If this is to be your first center fire pistol then a DA/SA or DA only service pistol would be a good choice.

Remember though quality instruction,range time and knowing your pistol inside and out is far more important than the actual name on the side or type of pistol it is. Never,ever look down your nose at the shooter in the next lane that may be shooting a ancient CZ52,T33,clapped out Llama or Hi-Point as that shooter may be very,very good and may have just decided they didn't want to play the "next big thing" game. Believe me,a Todd Jarrett,Bob Munden or a Angus Hobdell could send 99.99% of the shooters on any local range/shooting match home with their tail between their legs all the while shooting a lowly Hi-point .45! The the person behind the pistol is the true weapon. The brand/type of pistol they use is just their tool of choice.:boink

There's an old saying when speaking of firearms and it goes something like this..."Beware the man with one gun."

Here's a few sites that haven't been mentioned
CZFORUM.COM - Message Board - Yuku
Beretta Forum - Powered by vBulletin
HKPRO Forums - Powered by vBulletin
S&W Forum

The Firing Line

 

[saligia]

The BEST research is to find a range that rents guns, or a friend with a good collection, and try out a bunch (different brands, designs, and calibers) until you find one that feels good in your hands and that you find hits the targets easily for you. That will be different for each person, and no one else can find or choose that for you.

+1



I used to frequent the National Gun Forum among some of the others already listed many moons ago.

Also depends upon what you're looking to use it for. Don't forget to take into consideration the price of ammo as well. I enjoy my 9mm, but the .22 is cheaper for plinking/target practice, so it tends to get the most attention.

 

[92blkSi]

my first gun was a Glock 17 (9mm).... gone through about 15,000 rounds at the range since I got it without a single misfire or jam. Easy to clean and shoot. Ammo is cheap and easy to shoot.

If you want to get a gun you can use at the range often and not spend big $$$ on ammo, look for an old WW2 surplus russian pistol like a Tokarev TT 30/33 or a Nagant M1895 revolver. You can pick either up at a gunshow for like 150.00 beat the crap out of them, and get 1000 rounds of surplus ammo for like 50-75 bucks.

 

[NattyDrez]

Nothing beats a Federal 525 bulk pack of .22 for $25.