General newbie request for handgun experience, opinions

[gunny2]

Looking to buy a handgun for home defense. I've fired guns before (veteran here) so not totally clueless and have been doing research and watching some videos; also went to a gun shop to handle a few. Where I'm at:

- I want a smaller gun as I have smaller hands (so for ex. the Glock 19 and similar are out). Smaller and lighter is better.
- I'm pretty set on getting a 9mm, though for the right gun I'd be OK with a .380.
- I don't care if one gun is a bit more than the other, but not looking to go much over the $500-600 range.

Here's my short list right now:

CZ 75D
Glock 43X
Sig Sauer P365
S&W MP9 Shield
S&W MP Shield EZ
Springfield Hellcat

The Ruger 57 also intrigues me as a different kind of option. It's a little bigger and heavier than I'd care for, but the 20 rd mag and very low recoil are appealing.

 

[beag_nut]

Ruger EC9s. Can't get much smaller, and it's 9mm. And a warranty service unmatched, even though they don't spell it out.

 

[jmr40]

Smith makes good enough guns, but I'm not familiar with those models. I do have a couple of Smith M&P pistols but they are bigger than you want.

I have the standard G43, but the Sig 365 is the one that gets carried the most. In fact, we have a 2nd one that my wife carries. I shoot enough that I don't have any issues with multiple different gun designs, but my wife just needs/wants to know how to operate one. We chose the 365 for simplicity, she can shoot mine if necessary. If we were carrying 2 different pistols and for some reason she had to use mine it wouldn't be good.

The Glock is a very good pistol, but the Sig wins for me for several reasons. It is only a tiny bit larger than my G43, but holds 10+1 with standard magazines and I have a couple of 12 round mags for it. I've shot 1911's my whole life and I like that style safety. The Sig is available with, or without a 1911 style safety and ours both have the safety. When carried in a holster I don't mind a Glock style gun with no manual safety. But for carrying in a car console or nightstand use I really like the option.

No experience with the Hellcat, but by all accounts, it is very competitive with the Sig. But for me the Sig wins due to the safety.

 

[jmr40]

Someone else typing at the same time suggested the Ruger. Not a bad choice at all, especially if on a tight budget. Those also come with a safety. I had one and liked it, but sold it to finance the 2nd Sig. My wife was carrying the Ruger until we decided it best that we both carry identical guns.

 

[MoscowMike]

I really like the Sig P365. I shot it, the Hellcat and S&W Shield at the same range session and it fit my hand better, so that's what I bought. If you can find a range which rents guns I would recommend trying several to see which works best for you, both feel and accuracy.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Ruger EC9s. Can't get much smaller, and it's 9mm. And a warranty service unmatched, even though they don't spell it out.

Ruger LC9 Max! pocket to IWB to open carry!

 

[bearcreek]

CZ 75D
Glock 43X
Sig Sauer P365
S&W MP9 Shield
S&W MP Shield EZ
Springfield Hellcat

The Ruger 57 also intrigues me as a different kind of option. It's a little bigger and heavier than I'd care for, but the 20 rd mag and very low recoil are appealing.

For a newbie, the Glock. Simple, reliable, no safety.

 

[jrmiddleton425]

A self-identified handgun newbie cannot go wrong with an M&P Shield.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Colt 1911 Royal Blue!!!! carry in style!

 

[Mark_Mark]

or go cheap and get a Tisas for $300

 

[LiveLife]

Welcome to THR

home defense ... veteran ... went to a gun shop to handle a few

... want a smaller gun as I have smaller hands ... 9mm ... not looking to go much over the $500-600 range

What is the ultimate objective of any firearm?

To hit the intended targets fast and repeatedly until they are neutralized (That's what my drill Sergeant told me). And when I shot USPSA matches, we held practice range days where we brought our other guns (carry/home defense guns) and ran the same match stages with surprising results.

Pistols we thought would shoot better didn't always produce faster stage times or greater accuracy. And the same pistol produced different results for different shooters.

Since these pistol comparisons, whenever someone asked me what pistols they should get, I always recommend they not just handle but ACTUALLY SHOOT as many pistols and choose the one they could shoot fastest and most accurate.

And to pick out the pistol that has the best "natural point of aim", I have them close their eyes and aim/shoot at multiple dots on target at 5-7 yards.

Starting out with pistols that shoot to natural point of aim and allow you to shoot fast and accurately may likely provide you with better shooting pistol as parts break-in.

 

[.308 Norma]

I want a smaller gun as I have smaller hands (so for ex. the Glock 19 and similar are out). Smaller and lighter is better.

My 5'1" wife has pretty "small" hands, and she loves her Smith M&P Shield EZ .380. Our daughter, (who is not much bigger) loves her Smith M&P Shield EZ 9mm. I like my Glock 19 a lot and think it's just the right size for EDC. And it could be pressed into service as my home defense handgun. But I'm 5'10" and wear "large" gloves - which are too small until they stretch some.
Anyway, welcome to THR!

 

[Jim Watson]

Smaller and lighter is better.

Home defense? HOME defense? Where the weight and bulk of a gun on your belt or in your pocket is not a factor?
If so, "smaller and lighter" is NOT better.
If you can get a firing grip on a CZ75, then get one preferentially to those dinky plastic things.

And see if you can get a look at a Glock 17 or 19 with none of the interchangeable backstraps installed, it will feel a good bit slimmer.
I don't know how they ship them and I don't know if a gun store clerk will be up to date, but it is worth a second look.

Failing that, maybe a P365XL with a long enough butt to hold a 12 shot magazine and a long enough barrel/sight radius to improve the hits.

A friend is over the moon for his Shield Plus; more shots than the standard without a great increase in butt size over the base model.
Still a hideout gun that I would put low on my list.

Me?
I have medium-small hands, but my House Gun is a Sig P226, just within my grasp.
My S&W M&P would be a bit more comfortable, but it is set up for IDPA SSP and I would want to put a duty trigger back in it for self defense.
My CCW is a Ruger LC9s but not what I would pick for static home defense.
My preferred "shooter" is a 1911 type for IDPA ESP. Jeff Cooper said the 1911 really was suitable for small hands. My protege is talking about shifting from a Glock 34 to a 1911oid, although she does quite well with the Glock

 

[Deus Machina]

Seconded, if it's never going anywhere but the house and range, smaller and lighter is not better.
The size and weight of the gun doesn't affect the size of the grips. Find a big heavy one (within reason) that fits the hands that will hold it.
The ammunition, not the gun, affects the recoil. There are far too many cases of someone buying something "small and light so the missus can handle it", and only getting something that resists recoiling less so ends up snapping her wrist back with a horrendous flash and bang.

That said, of that bunch, none of them are bad, but most are going to have some snap and bark to them. That's what comes with a small gun. Find what fits her hands and she can shoot well, but there are some good options in your list already.
I can only speak firsthand about the CZ 75D, and absolutely adored it. It's probably the biggest one on your list, but that (and its design) lead to lower perceived recoil. The grip area is smaller than the others, though, so make sure everyone involved can manipulate it. Aside from that, it fit my 'medium' hands like it was molded for them, but I do have relatively long fingers. The distance from grip to trigger is longer than many; people with very small hands overall or cocktail-sausage fingers often complain.

Try it out if you can. If you're used to wrestling with Glocks and military-issued Berettas, you're likely to fall in love.

 

[gunny2]

For a newbie, the Glock. Simple, reliable, no safety.

? No safety? Why would that be a desirable feature?

Home defense? HOME defense? Where the weight and bulk of a gun on your belt or in your pocket is not a factor?

Weight and bulk of a gun will always be a factor for me. The more comfortable I am with it, the better.

Anyway, appreciate all the replies! I'm definitely looking to go to a range and try what they have. There's one not too far but they don't have very many avail to try and only one or two of those I'm looking at. There's one with more options, but they're a lot farther away so it may be awhile before I get there.

 

[gunny2]

Seconded, if it's never going anywhere but the house and range, smaller and lighter is not better.
The size and weight of the gun doesn't affect the size of the grips. Find a big heavy one (within reason) that fits the hands that will hold it.
The ammunition, not the gun, affects the recoil.

I thought it was both? Though I wonder how much diff there would be between various models.

I can only speak firsthand about the CZ 75D, and absolutely adored it. It's probably the biggest one on your list, but that (and its design) lead to lower perceived recoil. The grip area is smaller than the others, though, so make sure everyone involved can manipulate it.

Thanks - it's just me. A smaller grip area is probably in my favor.

If you're used to wrestling with Glocks and military-issued Berettas, you're likely to fall in love.

I'm not used to anything! It's been a really long time since I've shot. The handgun we qualified with in the service was a Glock but I don't remember which.

 

[nettlle]

The only gun I own on your list is a CZ. I can assure you that you will not be disappointed with a CZ.

 

[Deus Machina]

? No safety? Why would that be a desirable feature?

Less training, less to remember under stress.
Modern handguns without manual safeties almost universally have a heavier double-action trigger (pulling it back cocks the gun as it goes, instead of just, click, firing it) and/or a safety built in to the grip or trigger.
Meaning it doesn't actually have no safety, it has automatic safeties. Holding the gun properly is what disables them, and it's hard or impossible to fire it without holding it.

When I carry, my safety is off once it's holstered on me. Fine motor functions go out the window under a panic. If you want a manual safety for the extra step when it's not on you and train yourself to turn it off automatically when you're in control of it, that's entirely a choice for the owner.
Just remember, it's the smallest safety feature, and not to be relied on. Like automatic braking in the newest cars, 99.9% of not shooting something on accident is between head and hands.

 

[Deus Machina]

I thought it was both? Though I wonder how much diff there would be between various models.

Well, in a sense. A particular round is always going to impart the same energy. It has to move the gun before it can move you. Smaller guns and shorter barrels are less it has to move before you feel it.Like a car crash; the same truck hitting a Ford Focus is going to push it more than a Dodge Ram.
For instance, the full-sized, heavy-barreled .357 I used to have shot more gently than my tiny .380. Using .38s (you can do that; same case and bullet diameters, but lower pressure and shorter cases so you can't do the opposite) was more on par with my .22.
A compact featherweight .357 is a different animal entirely. No weight to resist the recoil and a shorter barrel means you're turning more of the powder into light and noise.

One I wouldn't want to carry more than I needed to, the other I wouldn't want to fire if I didn't want a wrist brace and more tinnitus than I already have.

Thanks - it's just me. A smaller grip area is probably in my favor.

I'm not used to anything! It's been a really long time since I've shot. The handgun we qualified with the service was a Glock but I don't remember which.

Well, try one if you can. A bit smaller than Glock grips depending on model, and it fit me far better than any Glock I've held. Everyone's different though.
Heck, if you can, try both the 75D and a full-sized 75 to compare just what some extra weight and barrel length do. For exactly the same reason, they're popular amongst run-and-gun competitors but less so for concealed carry. Not a problem at home though.

 

[theotherwaldo]

I don't have any of the pistols on your list.
The nearest that I have is a G26 and G27.
I qualified for my concealed carry permit with the G27,
I got the G26 when .40 got hard to find.
They are about the smallest pistols that I can shoot adequately with my over-sized hands... .

 

[1911 guy]

Take the .380ACP off your list. It became an obsolete cartridge about ten years ago when the engineers figured out how to make 9mm handguns even smaller than they were before.
A 9mm (except for Hi-Point, which I will suggest you avoid also,) will be a tilting breech compared to a blowback, so there is no recoil difference, but you'll give up bullet weight and velocity.
Has anyone explained handgun fit to you? If not, I most strongly suggest you find someone to help you understand this. Don't make your learning curve harder than it needs to be.

 

[gunny2]

Well, in a sense. A particular round is always going to impart the same energy. It has to move the gun before it can move you. Smaller guns and shorter barrels are less it has to move before you feel it.Like a car crash; the same truck hitting a Ford Focus is going to push it more than a Dodge Ram.

Thanks. I plan to conceal carry rarely at most, but if I do choose to, I want something that is good for that. As you say, tradeoffs.

 

[bearcreek]

? No safety? Why would that be a desirable feature?

Fewer things for a new shooter to screw up. I've seen many new shooters forget that they had a safety and have a mild panic moment when their gun didn't go bang when they expected it to. Also seen them forget to put the safety back on before holstering. Both of those things can range from mildly unsafe to fatal, depending on the specific circumstances.

I can only speak firsthand about the CZ 75D, and absolutely adored it.

The CZ 75D is a great pistol, but it's basically the same size as a Glock 19 (apparently the OP was unaware of that when he wrote his list) and it's going to be pretty much impossible to find one in the $500-$600 range, at least as far as I can tell.

 

[Deus Machina]

Thanks. I plan to conceal carry rarely at most, but if I do choose to, I want something that is good for that. As you say, tradeoffs.

FWIW, I carried my CZ 75D when I had it years back. It's probably the thickest and heaviest gun on that short list, but I still managed it at 130 pounds. You can conceal more than you think if you dress accordingly.
The others would be easier to carry but trade for that.

 

[bearcreek]

I thought it was both? Though I wonder how much diff there would be between various models.

It is both. The larger the gun, the easier it is to shoot, generally speaking. There are 13 year old girls who capably handle Glock 17 sized pistols. It doesn't take big hands.