Making the leap

[dave]

I have never owned before and I am purchasing a Ruger LC9.     Opinions?

 

 

[nick76]

Having never owned before I would suggest you find a place you can rent one and go shoot it.  Once you find a place, shoot several different guns and find one you are comfortable with.

 

There are way too many choices out there and way to many variables.  How big is your hand,  how strong are you, how many rounds do you want to carry, are you concealed carrying it?  How much do you want spend?  

 

Guns are like cars,  they make a million different ones for anyone who could ever want one.   I used to own an LC9 and it wasn't my favorite gun, but the guy I sold it too loves it.  I wasn't a Glock guy, but when I shot the 43 I had to get one.  Just my 2 cents. 

[Jrob78]

The LC9 is a good gun, my dad carries one every day. That said, it's a good concealed carry gun but wouldn't be my first choice for much else. It's small, (can be difficult to shoot well) and has a limited magazine capacity. 

 

What do you intend to do with it? If it's a home defense/nightstand type weapon I would opt for something bigger with a double stack magazine and rail for a light. If you're planning to carry it often then it's a decent choice.

[dave]

Home protection.  The friend who currently has it,  has a concealed carry permit and only buys for that purpose.  (and he's a little fella)  I think I'll go full size.   

[GTN-NY]

Check out Glock 19. Not to big - not to small - it’s just right! Well for me! I carry it appendix all day long. 
It shoots good, not to jumping when shooting, holds a decent amount of ammo (except where I live). I have three. 
I also have two 43’s. Nice shooting pocket pistol. 
I only buy guns for defense. No pretty safe queens for me

[BigAngus752]

I have some experience with this.  If I could give you one piece of advice it would be to try as many firearms as possible, preferably under the guidance of a qualified instructor, and find a firearm that "fits" you.  One that is a comfortable size and has a grip angle which fits your natural point of aim.  You can ask others if they believe a specific firearm is quality or is reliable, but you can't ask someone else what gun is right for you unless that someone is a professional instructor who has watched you shoot those guns.  

[Angry John]

So I would normally agree with test driving every gun to find the best fit, but finding the ammunition for each it getting very hard.  Some things that may help.

1. The more a gun weighs the less the recoil is a problem.  All steel guns are heavier and if your not carrying that around all day better.

2. People have bias and favorites and just like fishing rods and reels some are adimate about their position.

3. Consider a significant others needs if they may need or have access to use said weapon.

Guns to read up on.

Cz 75 models there are a ton

Beratta m92 military sidearm

Glocks because they are hugely popular and available 

Honorable mention Smith and weson 686 or ruger gp 100 in 357 magnum.  Shoots 38 and 357.  This is great for sd, fun at the range and in some areas legal to hunt.  4 inch barrels are very handy I like a 6 for target and hunting.

[gim]

If you don't intend to carry it, a compact pistol isn't necessary.  Get a standard or full size because your accuracy will be much better.  I have found the compact versions to be far less accurate than than a pistol with a 4, 5, or 6 inch barrel and there's no reason to sacrifice accuracy if there's no need to carry it.  Also, the trigger makes a big difference too IMO.  I prefer a more sensitive trigger rather than one that you need to pull a little harder because when I pull harder, my hand moves and my accuracy goes down.

[dave]

Thanks guys, great info.

[FlyingDutchman]

I’m a big proponent of using a shotgun for home defense for newer shooters. 
 

Handguns are the most difficult civilian firearm to become proficient with while shotguns are the easiest. In a situation where a firearm would be needed to be used in a home defense scenario, tensions are high and everyone’s shooting abilities are greatly diminished, especially newer shooters. Combine this with a much lower risk of bullet over-penetration and many will find a shotgun suits them better than a handgun. 
 

Regardless of whichever firearm you procure, I cannot stress enough the importance of continual practice. 
 

Best of luck! 

[GaryH]

If this for home defense consider a Taurus Judge. It covers a couple of the above mentioned. It will shoot 45 colt or 410 shotgun shell. It's a great home defense with the 410 buckshot for a novice shooter. 

As stated above practice practice. Muscle memory in stressful situations can be life saving.

Good luck on your choice.

[Way2slow]

My sister in-law offered to give me a Judge her husband had, he died last year and she had a number of pistols she wanted out of the house.  Her kids took most but there were still a few,  I told her thanks but no thanks, I had no need for it.  Apparently none of her kids did either. 

[NHBull]

Having a gun is always better than not, but small concealed carry pistols are not good for home defense.  A shotgun would be the first choice followed by a full size pistol.  The shield would be a reasonable compromise is you wanted to conceal.

[Way2slow]

Shoot, I keep guns tucked away in all parts of the house so no matter where I'm at in the house, a weapon is only a few steps.  I also actually have ear muffs with them, but come right down to it, if needing one in a hurry, the ear muffs will most likely be left laying there.  I'm hoping it never comes to having to fire a shotgun or pistol inside, it would probably take out an eardrum or two.  I've shot next to a building without hearing protection, and it hurts.

My biggest concern it great grand kids.  Lock boxes or trigger locks would be too slow if you needed one quick so I have to make the access to them difficult and concealed so nosy kids don't find them and never keep a round in the chamber, making most hard for a kid to manipulate.

[dave]

I have always been told that a shotgun is the best for home defense.  I am quite acquainted with shotguns.  I have access to a shotgun and will most likely acquire both.

[Way2slow]

An 870 riot gun makes a great weapon.  8 rounds of #4's and I don't think anyone would walk away from it.  My neighbor was showing me one he bought to only had about a 14" barrel and pistol grips.  Said it was legal because it was just considered a gun.  I haven't checked into it because I already have a couple 870's set up. 

 

[GTN-NY]

I have a a corner safe in my bedroom. It has a shotgun, rifle and pistol. Only time I’ve ever had to go in to it in a hurry was when someone was pounding on my door at 2am. Turned out to be a neighbor of my Mom’s concerned about her. 
1st I grabbed was my pistol. I know the shotgun is the best HD gun but I guess I’m just more comfortable with my pistol 

[NHBull]

9 hours ago, GTN said:

I have a a corner safe in my bedroom. It has a shotgun, rifle and pistol. Only time I’ve ever had to go in to it in a hurry was when someone was pounding on my door at 2am. Turned out to be a neighbor of my Mom’s concerned about her. 
1st I grabbed was my pistol. I know the shotgun is the best HD gun but I guess I’m just more comfortable with my pistol 

Just thinking out loud......if it was a broken window vs a knock of the door, do you think you would have chosen differently?  Just asking....I find my level of alertness has dictated my choice....

[A-Jay]

11 hours ago, Way2slow said:

An 870 riot gun makes a great weapon.  8 rounds of #4's and I don't think anyone would walk away from it.  My neighbor was showing me one he bought to only had about a 14" barrel and pistol grips.  Said it was legal because it was just considered a gun.  I haven't checked into it because I already have a couple 870's set up. 

 

The Remington 870 has been a part of our home defense plan for a while.

Banked on it professionally for a long time and now trust it to keep that up.

My dogs are not fans of our rather routine 'practice' days.

However, IMO it's the Most Crucial aspect of gun ownership.

I certainly enjoy it quite a bit.

Feels good having the 870 at the ready and knowing that any uninvited visitors

will have more than the canine welcoming party to deal with. 

We have a CZ 9mm as well (lives on the night stand).

24 inches from my sleeping face. 

A-Jay

 

[GTN-NY]

2 hours ago, NHBull said:

Just thinking out loud......if it was a broken window vs a knock of the door, do you think you would have chosen differently?  Just asking....I find my level of alertness has dictated my choice....

Hmm... no clue. 
but it it wasn’t just a knock

[Jrob78]

Nothing at all wrong with a shotgun for home defense provided you have practiced with it (same for any home defense weapon) and can maneuver it around inside your house. Shoot it at distances that you will experience inside your house and know what the spread actually looks like inside 10 yds, it will be small. Make sure you can rack the slide under intense stress and make sure you get one that is purpose built with a shorter barrel and a higher capacity than a hunting gun. Practice, practice, practice.

[Way2slow]

I was just looking around me, and think I'm in overkill.  Sitting at my computer and looking at the loaded weapons around me, there's a 38 revolver sitting under the monitor, there's another 38 revolver in a drawer right behind me, there's an AR-15 hanging over the door, a Glock 27 on the work bench behind me and a 22 rifle on the wall behind me, and eight more rifle in a rack on the wall that could be loaded very quickly, and that's just this one room. 

 

My wife keeps saying I need to get rid of some, and the way things seem to be heading, I'm beginning to agree with her.  There will probably be a large reduction in my inventory.  My son wants a couple of them, but he's 50 years old and has no kids of his own to pass them on to.  So, other than a couple of my favorites, most will probably be history within a few months.

Wow, gonna sell my bass boat and most of my motors, getting rid of most of my guns, just gave a friend my go fast outboard motor, haven't used it in a while.  I'm guess that's a pretty good sign I'm GETTING OLD.  Actually done got old.

[slonezp]

Get a full size handgun or a shotgun for home defense. The LC9 is a concealed carry piece.

[dave]

And that is exactly why he purchased it.  Thanks.

[dave]

I bought an IWI Masada today.   Israeli made for law enforcement and military use.  It is slightly smaller than a full size but,  bigger than a compact.  I have to wait my seven days and I pick up next Saturday.   While I was there I saw some really cool short barrel shotguns I didn't know existed.  All Turkish made pumps.  I can see having one as the price is good.