It is great to be back on. I hope this is the right spot for the post. Looking to purchase a new hand gun and wondering the opinions ( I know you got em) of everyone for a new hand gun for home defense and range shooting. I was looking at a Kahr Arms MK 9 but not sold just yet. Cheers and thanks.

I would use a Glock 19 (this what I have) or an S&W M&P9c or M&P Shield 9mm.

ETA: I plan on getting Shield as soon as I can find one, they're difficult to get now. I will not be selling the G19, I'm keeping it too.. just sayin'.

I have a Glock 34, just a range version of the 17, uses the same clips and is 1" longer. I think a 9mm is going to be as cheap as you can get for a shooter and protection. Although I understand that Kel-Tec has a new .22 Mag auto with a 30 round clip, that would be another choice I would definately look at. I .22 Mag hollowpoint is about as bad as a .38 which isn't super bad, but bad enough. I sure wouldn't want to get hit with a .22 Mag hollowpoint.

Pap

I've always liked my 1911A1 Colt .45 customozed by Wayne Novak of Parkersburg, West Va..

Alan Grombacher
RKS#5531
RKCC-CMI-010

Two very different types of guns, to me at least, but you shoot whatever you want at whatever distance at the range; frequently what I may be going to take to the hunt.....like the S&W .44 MAG

While self/family protection in my home has many other criteria like.....within reach or on my body, absolutely dependable, enough energy to shockingly expend within the threat without penetrating walls beyond, and several others that others can elaborate on; S&W .38 and Ruger .357:

I prefer a Glock Model 30 in .45 auto. is Easy to shoot, compact and low maintenance. You can use mod. 21 clips for higher capacity.

The best info I can share with you is to shoot as many handguns
as you can from different makers as possible and in all calibers.
Find the one that fits your hand and is the most comfortable.It's
real hard to beat a Remington 870 with an 18 in.barrel for home defense.I have numerous handguns,but the 870 is my go to for home defense.
Billy Poyner RKCC CM 021
NRA Endowment
MM
SO MOTE IT BE

Good one,Billy; can't be beat.

Plus one on Billy.

I have a 20 ga 870 Express Tactical by the bed. It has a flashlight with a pressure switch on the forearm. The flashlight is as good as a laser... if the target is in the beam, start shooting. It has one in the chamber and 6 in the tube.

A shotgun will not penetrate most walls which is much safer for others in your home.

What Tune says...!
My version: old hunting rifle, 12 ga, barrel sawn down...
Also its "BANG" is much more loud & can disorient much more than a hand-gun !
Ther's another advantage but, sorry, not able to translate...
My 2c

Here's my next pistol, no doubt about it.

Pap


http://www.keltecweapons.com/our-guns/pistols/pmr-30/

Pappy,
Have a good friend that has the PMR 30.Real nice shooter and
accurate (but most of that depends on the driver).
Only draw back,if you don't seat the ammo in the mag real good you
get feed problems and ejection problems.After I showed him how we
use to do the M14 and m16 mags in the Army no more problems!!

Billy Poyner RKCC CM 021
NRA Endowment
MM
SO MOTE IT BE

Yes, the Keltec folks recommend that you tap the mag while loading it every so often. Like all guns, some have problems but are usually minor.

Pap

Cool looking piece. I like the 30 round capacity and the oomph of the 22 Magnum. Sweet!

Can you find one for sale? My Brother has been looking for one for some time.

There was one on Gunbroker that ended tonight. It was at $750 when I looked after reading this thread.

Cool piece, I would add one to the toolbox. Looks fun.

I also like their Sub-2000 9mm, but that's another hard one to find.

Pap

I like my Sig 226 Navy, 18+1 round flush fit mec-gar mag and a surefire x300 ultra make it a pretty good HD gun.

HK P30

Here are some of mine.
SIG 228 9mm, 226 .40, Colt XSE .45 (POS - got rid of it), SIG 220 .45 and SIG 220 Carry .45.





The 228 and 220 Carry are EDC and also used for home defense. The rest are used at the range.

My rule in my home, my daughter's, sister's, niece's and anyone else who has sought my advice when living independently and HAVE to feel safe/be able to protect themselves: if you cannot, in the dark,reach your weapon with good small, intense light wherever you are in your home exactly when you need it , it will do you no good. There are shotguns mounted solidly over the useful side of doors, small, familiar handguns in wall mount Grandpa clocks and yes, Ruger SS, SP101 in several bathrooms; and several others. Too many? Paranoid? Not if you were glad later, EVEN ONCE, it was there. Thankfully, I have an 86 year old mom, 62 year old sister and female friend of 45 years who would all testify to it.

I agree Duke. Is one Randall enough? Get the picture....

Pap

David, what was wrong with the Colt??

I bought the Colt new at a gun show in February 2011. It was back at Colt twice for repairs in the first 90 days, before the gun made it through the first 400 rounds. It never made it through a single magazine without stove-piping and then the plunger tube came unstaked. It seemed to run alright after the second trip to Colt CS and an angry letter, but I didn't trust it. The next time it had a feeding issue, I sold it. This was my first Colt and I was extremely disappointed. I replaced it with a SIG 1911 Fastback, which has never had an issue.

Here is a current picture of part of the home defense setup. I have two SIGs that I carry regularly, a P228 9mm and a P220 Carry .45 ACP. Both are set up with Crimson Trace laser grips. These are kept readily accessible at night for home defense.

The SIG 556 is also set up for the range and home defense with the laser/light fore grip. However, the 556 normally stays in the safe. It came out when we lost power for several days after a hurricane.



I have had three burglaries and one attempted burglary in various homes over the past 20 years. Three of four were at night. I was home three times and a family member was home the last time (in Sept. 2012). They happen quickly and when you are off-guard. I believe a laser grip is essential for a defensive handgun, even more so than a light (which is also important). I may put a laser grip on the P226 in this photo.

One other thing. Whatever handgun you choose should be in a caliber that you and everyone in your home shoots comfortably. In my home, that is 9mm, although everyone can also handle .45.

Thank you everyone for the great post. I agree, the cal. that is agreeable to the user is a big factor. If you cannot properly handle the weapon, you shouldn't have it.

As others have said, it's got to have a light. Got to see it to shoot it at night. Get something with a rail. If glock floats your boat go for it. S&W M&P is a great gun. Or you can go to the dark side and get a railed 1911. I've heard that some of the plastic guns run funky when you put a light on them, try it before you trust your life on it.

I agree, the light should be on there. Most of the problems with weapon mounted lights on plastic framed guns are in .40 caliber.

Here's my CCW, range, and housegun:

Bob, what model Surefire is that? I have a 19 with a rail and that looks like a good setup.

That is the X300 with a DG-11 switch attached to it.

However, I would recommend you get the newer model the X300 Ultra with a much more powerful beam. Mine has 170 lumens, the new one has 500 lumens.

I will be getting the new model eventually, it wasn't out yet when I bought that one pictured above.

No, 500 lumens will not blind anyone, but it sure makes a difference!

Mine is the X300 with 500 lumens. I highly recommend it.

Link for the X300??

Pap

Currently 1/3 off its regular price:

http://www.amazon.com/Surefire-Ultra-Oup...with+500+lumens

Ordered, thanks!!

Pap

F-N 5.7 sits on my nite stand Bersa Thunder is on my wife's side and my wallet is under my pillow and oh yea here is a picture of said wallet.....cannot post picture but it contains a Hi-Standard .22 mag. i love that wallet best pocket pistol ever made . for those who may not know what I am talking about I will try to post a picture