KirkV Posted February 17, 2009 Report Share Posted February 17, 2009 Hello everybody and let me start by saying I am a real novice with handguns. I am looking into a gun for home protection as well as occasional weekend practice shooting with my neighbor. He was a ex California PD and I go to the range with him now and again to shoot my rifles and muzzleloader. We went to the local gunshop and my neighbor was saying the glock 40 or 45 cal would probably be a good chioce for me because of reliability. The gun guy was trying to steer me towards a Springfield Arms model that I cannot tell you the model of but was slightly more exspensive. What can you guy's that deal with pistols tell me for some insight? Thanks Kirk P.S. what do you think of the ammo situation? If I buy the 40 or 45 should I buy lots of ammo up front or wait and see if it comes down? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoosierbuck Posted February 17, 2009 Report Share Posted February 17, 2009 The Springfield was probably an XD. They are quite popular. I have Glocks, myself, and never have shot the XD. Glocks are not pretty or "cool." They are combat and duty weapons that just work, all the time, every time. Hard to beat a Glock for that reason, IMO. Use decent ammo if you are going to rely on the gun to save your life. You don't cheese it on hunting ammo, don't cheese it on PD ammo. Practice ammo is another story. .40 is a good compromise between power, magazine capacity, and recoil. HB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluelund79 Posted February 17, 2009 Report Share Posted February 17, 2009 If it was a Springfield Arms he was steering you towards, was it a 45? Never seen a SA-XD that cost more than even a used Glock! I have a XD in 40cal, and find it alot of fun to shoot and nice for a PD weapon. The only thing I can say is handle as many as possible to see which one fits your hands the best and which ones are simple for both you and your spouse to handle. My wife is on the smaller side and can handle the 40 with minimal problems...Good luck in your search. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PotashRLS Posted February 17, 2009 Report Share Posted February 17, 2009 If it was a Springfield Arms he was steering you towards, was it a 45? Never seen a SA-XD that cost more than even a used Glock! I have a XD in 40cal, and find it alot of fun to shoot and nice for a PD weapon. The only thing I can say is handle as many as possible to see which one fits your hands the best and which ones are simple for both you and your spouse to handle. My wife is on the smaller side and can handle the 40 with minimal problems...Good luck in your search. I agree totally. I have the SA XD .45acp tactical and LOVE it. I shoot it with my neighbor who is a sheriffs deputy and he likes it as much as his Glock. He was thinking of getting an XD himself in addition to his Glock. However I outshot him with his own weapon the first time I touched it. He still doesn't let me forget it. Let us know what you decide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m gardner Posted February 17, 2009 Report Share Posted February 17, 2009 The Glock is a pretty much indestructible pistol that isn't fussy about where you take it or how you treat it. The only reason I don't have one is that they point high for me. The 2 most important things in a self defense pistol are 1; that it is reliable and 2; that it naturally points at what you are looking at because I can guarantee that in a high stress situation you will be looking at the threat and not the front sight. Go handle some different pistols and take your PD friend with you. Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strut10 Posted February 18, 2009 Report Share Posted February 18, 2009 If you find that the ergonomics of the Glock suit you.......buy with confidence. Glocks are as indestructible and they go off EVERY TIME you pull the trigger. I absolutely trust my life in a fight to a Glock. As for ammo........buy as much as you can find/afford NOW. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoythunter37 Posted February 18, 2009 Report Share Posted February 18, 2009 No offense to ur cali PD friend, but I havent heard anything good from glocks. The guys at the PD that I work at they all say they wouldnt ever buy one for themselves. One of my buddies got one about 6 months ago and he has already had to replace three parts on it. If I were you (I dont have one) go with the XD. I have shot a couple and they are nice. But thats just me I am not an expert by any means but I thought I would share my opinoin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strut10 Posted February 18, 2009 Report Share Posted February 18, 2009 ............. I havent heard anything good from glocks. Nothing, huh?? You don't get out much, do ya?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoythunter37 Posted February 18, 2009 Report Share Posted February 18, 2009 Nothing, huh?? You don't get out much, do ya?? LOL ok my bad. I do take that back my fault I should have rephrased myself when it came to that. I have heard of some good things. But the people that I know that have them seem like they are havin some kind of problems or workin on them. I myself have only shot two of them. And TO MY OPINION I DONT LIKE THEM. Just me. Sorry next time I will rephase what I say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HUNTINGMAN Posted February 18, 2009 Report Share Posted February 18, 2009 I have not seen anyone say anything about the smith & wesson M&P's.I love the one I have and would buy another one of them over any glock I have shot any day,at least the smith has three sets of backstraps to adjust to hand size and feels like a pistol and not like a brick like the glock does in my hands.Although I have heard a lot of good things about glocks I just dont see it myself,but I am just a bowhunter anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
csualumni21000 Posted February 18, 2009 Report Share Posted February 18, 2009 (edited) Get a glock and get a training class. I shoot 9mm due to less recoil and my wife likes shooting 9 and she does not like shooting 40. The main thing is to get training, software is more important than hardware. If the gun does not point well learn to aim it. It is the fiddler not the fiddle. Edited February 18, 2009 by csualumni21000 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m gardner Posted February 18, 2009 Report Share Posted February 18, 2009 Yes, you can learn to point the pistol, but it takes at least 3000 repetitions before it becomes a natural habit. I always try to get the shooter into a pistol that points well when training them because most won't go through the necessary practice to become totally proficient. Also if all my pistols point the same no retraining is necessary. If I'm in a stressful situation I'll revert to my lowest level of training anyways. So to keep it simple and keep my hide intact I like pistols that naturally point well. I haven't ever talked to anyone who's had any bad things to say about Glock's performance. If you can't handle the 40 or 45 a hit with a 9 is better than a miss with a 45. Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodnottygy Posted February 18, 2009 Report Share Posted February 18, 2009 I own a Glock and love it. I do want to point out that the only safety on it is a trigger safety. It is located on the trigger and will not go off until it is engaged, but if you are a novice as you say that you are, I would get something else. I like the Ruger .45 safety the best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KirkV Posted February 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2009 Thank you all for your insight to my situation. The Glock did seem to be a better fit to my hand than the other and I will be training with my friend with it when I buy it. I also have a offer to go to the PD class out west for free for a week because my friend knows the owner. I will take advantage of this as I would rather be trained right the first time than to pick up bad habits from the start. Thanks Again Kirk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orion_70 Posted February 18, 2009 Report Share Posted February 18, 2009 I dont' own a springfield so I can't say anything about reliability. I recently bought a glock 40 cal. and it feels and shoots great. I bought it for a conceal carry gun so size was a factor. I've really not heard anything bad about glock reliability, pretty much the standard carry gun for most Police Departments, right behind Sig. Having said that, I carried the Sig 45 while I was an officer and highly recommend them. They're pricier, but probably the most accurate and reliable pistols out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strut10 Posted February 19, 2009 Report Share Posted February 19, 2009 ....... pretty much the standard carry gun for most Police Departments, right behind Sig. Actually......it's the other way around. The Glock accounts for about 65% of all duty weapons issued to American law enforcement agencies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnf Posted February 22, 2009 Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 This made my mind up. http://www.theprepared.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=90&Item Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m gardner Posted February 22, 2009 Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 I'd cry if they did that to my Kimber! Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluelund79 Posted February 22, 2009 Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 johnf, good read. However, that guy is dangerous! I am truely at a loss for words after reading that. Great for r and d for Glock, however in the brains dept, that dude is lacking...Guess I'll just better care of my XD and let everything else sort out where it may. Back off the hi-jack, I got the XD because it fit both me and my budget best. $400 bucks NEW otd with the XD gear, couldn't beat that price used these days! That is the XD service model black on black... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubleA Posted February 23, 2009 Report Share Posted February 23, 2009 I think when it comes to handguns, most people will go for what fits their hands better. Weight and ergonomics are huge factors moreso than with the typical long arm. For alot of folk it's the "ford vs chevy" debate. People either like Glocks or they dont. I dont think their reliability is questioned, they have a great track record. As far as being the most popular LE pistol, that's always going to be an economic thing as there is always bidding for the contracts. Look at the beretta M9, is that the "end all" 9mm just because the the US armed forces awarded Beretta the contract. OK, I am done, getting a little off topic Just like in bows of today, there are alot of great ones to choose from in todays market. Get out and handle and try to shoot as many possible makes and models as you can and you will know when the right one comes along as it will point and shoot better than the others in your hands and not someone elses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slider Posted March 4, 2009 Report Share Posted March 4, 2009 I have a Glock Model 27 in 40sw. It's bullet proof!!! Luv it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grady269 Posted March 9, 2009 Report Share Posted March 9, 2009 Glock I have a Glock 19 and love it, only gun I ever bought twice as my original was stolen. I also have the baby Glock in .40 like it as well, actually the full frame and sub-compact frame models have less recoil than the mid-size frame models. If you are super concerned about safety, I would go with a SIG, I like the Glock safety system because there is nothing to screw up in a crisis. It seems like like I see a lot of "USED XD's" not sure why. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnf Posted March 9, 2009 Report Share Posted March 9, 2009 Just got a Glock 19 and really like the way it feels in my hands. I've only shot around 100 rounds through it but I'm already shooting it better than most of the handguns I've had. It's just flat out easier to shoot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted March 9, 2009 Report Share Posted March 9, 2009 Admittedly, i'm not much of a pistol guy, but was thinking of picking one up. How exactly does that glock safety work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnf Posted March 11, 2009 Report Share Posted March 11, 2009 That's one think I'm not real keen on. Definately not a home defense gun if you've got kids in the house. The only safety is on the trigger. If you've got one in the chamber and your finger on the trigger the safety is off. There is an optional internal lock you can get for it I think. That is the only way I would use it for home defense. It is a very smooth shooting gun and feels great in the hand. I really love mine, but will not keep it loaded in the house till my kids are a lot older. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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