Time to buy a gun ... again

[mike c]

is there a revolver that takes 9mm ammunition? (so we as a family can share ammunition)

looking at getting a smith & wesson revolver "for the wife" (but is actually mine as a panic gun)

i'm also looking at a walther automatic pistol ... for myself "for show"

tips and advice?

edit: wow, didn't know revolvers cost this much ... if its about 1k USD locally, i might just buy that one pistol.

looking at model 64 and model 67 of smith & wesson ... of course, i'd prefer the shiny finish as opposed to the black finish.

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Category4_750001_750051_757767_-1_757751_757751_image#http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryOnlyResultsDisplayView?useFilter=1&top_category=757751&parent_category_rn=757751&beginIndex=0&langId=-1&storeId=750001&filterResults=766186,766332,775508,766346,765431,764935&pageView=image&catalogId=750051&pageSize=&categoryId=757767&identifier=1284971904849

 

[Matt34]

9mm revolvers never caught on for a couple reasons, one being that the 9mm cartridges are rimless which means you need clips to position and remove the rounds in the chamber.

http://jamesazacharyjr.blogspot.com/2009/06/smith-wesson-model-940-9mm-revolver.html

I'd stick to the more traditional .38 or .357 revolver rounds.

 

[Nugu]

Or maybe a .22 LR revolver. The can make things just as dead plus you can shoot things cheaper. Can be had used for under 100$ + cheap ammo.

 

[ChrisFox]

Always found it's best to go to a shooting range that will let you try out multiple models. Try them all. Find out which one feels best in the hand. When I was shopping for my carry piece I ended up with a model that I didn't even look at to begin with, the Glock 27.

 

[bandphan]

Id definitely go with a revolver. I wouldn't want the gun going off unless there was a couple of foot pounds of pressure squeezing the trigger. I use to keep her's loaded with shell shot which had an effective range between 15-20' and a 20-24" spray. Depending on the caliber distances change and spray gets tighter.

 

[lsiberian]

I like the Glock idea, but I also suggest carrying non lethal means too. In some situations it's better to use mace or something like that. Especially if you have multiple targets.

 

[majorloser]

Mike, I'd just teach your wife how to handle a semi-auto or just buy her a 357 revolver. My wife carries a 380 with no problem (it's a 9mm short).

I'm not sure how easy it is for you to get ammo over there. But 9x19mm Parabellum is pretty much a world wide standard. Again, not sure what's available over there, but there are some decent guns that came out of Czech like the CZ series handguns.

Is this a home defense or carry weapon? If you're looking for easy of use and effective home defense, look at a Remmington Model 870 Tactical in 3"-12 gauge. Has ghost ring sites and easy to use. Add a tactical flashlight with strobe effect and you have a very effective (and intimidating) weapon that is very intuitive to use.

http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/shotguns/model-870/model-870-express-tactical.aspx

 

[majorloser]

9mm revolvers never caught on for a couple reasons, one being that the 9mm cartridges are rimless which means you need clips to position and remove the rounds in the chamber.

http://jamesazacharyjr.blogspot.com/2009/06/smith-wesson-model-940-9mm-revolver.html

I'd stick to the more traditional .38 or .357 revolver rounds.

Yeah, the moon clips were a real PITA. The only advantage was they acted like a speed loader once they were pre-loaded.

I'd post a picture but the Government doesn't let us look at firearms at work. I wonder why...

 

[GlocksRock]

Mike, I'd just teach your wife how to handle a semi-auto or just buy her a 357 revolver. My wife carries a 380 with no problem (it's a 9mm short).

I'm not sure how easy it is for you to get ammo over there. But 9x19mm Parabellum is pretty much a world wide standard. Again, not sure what's available over there, but there are some decent guns that came out of Czech like the CZ series handguns.

Is this a home defense or carry weapon? If you're looking for easy of use and effective home defense, look at a Remmington Model 870 Tactical in 3"-12 gauge. Has ghost ring sites and easy to use. Add a tactical flashlight with strobe effect and you have a very effective (and intimidating) weapon that is very intuitive to use.

http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/shotguns/model-870/model-870-express-tactical.aspx

The CZ-75 is a nice gun, I've shot a few diff. CZ pistols and liked them quite a bit, but I still carry Glocks as my main carry pistols.

 

[majorloser]

The CZ-75 is a nice gun, I've shot a few diff. CZ pistols and liked them quite a bit, but I still carry Glocks as my main carry pistols.

I agree. I carry a Glock 32. Just not sure what Mike can easily get in his neck of the world. He can probably get some Chinese knockoffs, but Czech guns were so much better made.

 

[j_garcia]

Mine came with her own .38 She carries mace though, since concealed weapons are not permitted in this part of Ca. They are in the area of California we are moving to though

 

[majorloser]

Mine came with her own .38

Mine came with a 30-06 but that needed to be revised just a bit.

 

[James NM]

Mine came with her own .38 ...

Mine came with a pair of 38's (D cup).

 

[j_garcia]

Mine came with a pair of 38's (D cup).

Mine too

 

[JerryLove]

is there a revolver that takes 9mm ammunition? (so we as a family can share ammunition)

In no instance do revolvers and semi-auto's use the same round. The difference in the loading mechanism requires a different shape.

Id definitely go with a revolver. I wouldn't want the gun going off unless there was a couple of foot pounds of pressure squeezing the trigger.

You can use a revolved if you prefer, but your reasoning is false. Trigger pull weight and length are independent of the style of firearm. Both revolvers and automatics can be either heavy or light.

The only difference based on limitation is that a revolver cannot be "self-cocking"... This only comes into play on the 2nd + shot, not the first, and is possible (but far from universal) on semi-autos.

I like the Glock idea

Glocks tend to have large handles and can be difficult for people with small hands. I recommend vary strongly trying several rentals to see what she's comfortable with.

BTW: The classic mistake with handguns for women is to get a light weapon. A firearm with less weight has more recoil for a given ammunition. The classic examples are the small .380s. They tend to hit the hand hard for such a small round and, as a consequence, the person who got it because they didn't want to lift a heavy weapon doesn't fire it because they don't like the kick.

Similarly on revolver-vs-semi-auto... an automatic distributes recoil over a longer time (as the slide moves back) and so, generally, hurts less at a given weight / caliber.

Finally, remember that longer barrels kick harder (again at a given weight / munition) because the bullet spends longer in the barrel with the charge applying pressure.

9mm is common, a bit weak, and generally easy to handle.
For those that won't balk at the increase in kick: I find the .40 and excellent round capable of penetrating light barriers (car doors) and still killing their target.

.357 is a .40 round with a reduced bullet size and so higher muzzle velocity. A good round, especially at distance: but I prefer the .40.

.45 is a great man stopper if there are no obstructions: but it's a slow round with a lot of drop at distance and a tendency to be blocked / deflected by minor obstructions. If you are thinking Glock and have no trouble finding the rounds: you might consider the .45GAP over the .45ACP.

The 10mm and .50 rounds are obviously terrific at killing things: but do kick hard, and require large weapons to hold a significant number of rounds.

If this is not a self-defense weapon: consider a .22 or .25

 

[j_garcia]

I understand that 10mm rounds are harder to get now. At one time law enforcement were using 10mm and are now commonly using .40? When we move up there, we will both be getting .40s so we can use the same ammo also

 

[mike c]

i guess i put in too little info ...

this would be home defense. "we" won't be bringing this out as i do not trust my temper

9mm's, .38's, and .45's would be easy to get ammo (it used to be that .45's are police and military only)
but i think my gunrunner (i mean the person who does our gun papers) can do anything and even offered 7.62 automatic long rifles

glocks are also available but are like hotcakes (always out of stock)

s&w's are really common for revolvers.

my dad has dual berreta 92F's and my uncle has a berreta 92f as well (among others) my dad has an ammo cache i can keep getting from, my uncle has many fancy ammo (buck shots, hollow points, yada yada) that i can maybe play with.

i'd like to buy a famous (therefore reliable) brand so would like to skip the unknown brands.

my dad has toasted his trashcan just touching the trigger. (that would be in between the arms and legs) i think he kept using the trashcan to keep as a reminder.

 

[m-fine]

I understand that 10mm rounds are harder to get now. At one time law enforcement were using 10mm and are now commonly using .40? When we move up there, we will both be getting .40s so we can use the same ammo also

10mm never really caught on because it was too powerful for self defense and police work, with high recoil and over penetration risks. You don't want bullets that can penetrate a target and remain lethal, or to penetrate multiple walls.

The FBI developed the .40 S&W with it's namesake to specifically adresses the shortcomings of 9mm (too weak), 10mm (penetration), and .45 (lower mag capacity) for law enforcement purposes. Much of their criteria and testing would also be relevant to personal defense which is why .40 became popular rather quickly.

As for getting something for your wife, keep in mind her physical capabilities and skill level. Lighter guns are harder to control, and some styles of autos including Glocks are well known for "limp wresting" jams. No way I would give a Glock .40 to my wife. If it will not be carried, a mid size revolver may fit her hand better (womens models like lady smith especially) and they are far more tolerant of lower skilled users. Other auto's like a classic Sig 229 might be heavier than a Glock, but they can also be more tolerant. Still not as simple as a revolver.

If she is a novice, I would lean toward a .357 revolver, and start her off with .38 special rounds. You can then move up to more powerful +P .38's before going to .357 and .357 +P all in the same gun. If she is not comfortable with the increased recoil you can always stick with one of the lighter loads.

 

[m-fine]

9mm's, .38's, and .45's would be easy to get ammo (it used to be that .45's are police and military only)
but i think my gunrunner (i mean the person who does our gun papers) can do anything and even offered 7.62 automatic long rifles

What country are you in?

Of your choices, .45 is a great defense round especially if you do not need to carry it. Recoil can actually be easier than 9mm because it is more of a push than a snap.

 

[Seth=L]

.22s work great for in home defense for several reasons. They are small, they're accurate, they're quiet, and they kill just as good as anything else. Because of size they are easy to aim and shoot with. They also don't kick very much, making it easy to hit the same target repeatadly. With a high capacity clip you could squeeze off several rounds very quickly. This has a similar affect as a shot gun, however a kill is more likely with the .22 because the rounds are larger, and typically go were you want them (instead of scattered like a shotgun).

As an added bonus, they're cheap to fire, so practicing should never been an issue. The guns themselves are also significantly less costly.