im looking for a perfect all-carry, self-protection pistol. im actually considering a 9mm supercompact revolver type pistol...if there would be any.

i need expert advice/opinions as to how i should be proceeding with this..do i buy bnew or used gun? are there preferred brands for this purpose? what are my best options?

tnx.
allan

Welcome to the forum accastil. Rules are simple, be nice and join in.

Many of us carry a light 38 snubby. It will go in a front pocket and dissappear. I carry mine in an Uncle Mikes pocket holster. a speed loader goes in the other pocket along with my pocket knife and a bottle of nitro in case I vapor lock. With a cylinder full of 125 grain Speer Gold dots it's a potent package that is instantaneous to get into action and there's no clips, safety's or anything else to worry about.

My 2 cents.

__________________
Bob from Idaho

For something small a 38 Soecial is hard to beat IMHO. Personaly I feel that any small short barrel weapon such as this is lacking in performance, consequently I use mine as a back up to my primary weapon a full size 1911 or N-Frame S&W. Although some times a small Snuby all by itself is just the ticket.

How much shooting experience do you have? If you are new to shooting I would suggest some sort class to get you exposed to shooting. Also you might be able to shoot a few different types of handguns. Then you can figure out what works best for you.

That's good advice. The smaller size handguns require more skill to shoot well.

The smaller guns are certainly more difficult to shoot. I can still shoot expert with my Glock 27, but my scores are always a few points lower than with my duty Glock 22. That small package and the ability to conceal come at the price of recoil, and without a grip extension on the baby Glocks, loss of room for my little finger.

Many different variations, depending on your specific wants and needs, but the 38 Spcl. is hard to beat.

I use a Glock 26. Taurus has shown some 9mm 5 shot snubbies with a shorter cylinder but I havent seen one in the flesh. S&W and Ruger have made some 9mm snubbies also. This makes sense to me as the 9mm gives good performance in short revolvers, better than 38 spec.

Ditto on all the previous advice. Whether you buy new or used, both has advantages and disadvantages. New, leaves no question as to condition and comes with a warranty but is the most costly. Used, requires determining the condition and comes with a limited/ if any warranty but is less costly. Would not hesitate to purchase a used handgun providing it is in good condition. Amazing how many handguns are purchased by people who do not intend to use them so they are stored in the nightstand and when finally sold show little use. Would suggest that whatever handgun you decide on, that you select one that fits your hand comfortably. Some shooting ranges offer rental handguns and it would be a good idea to shoot several handguns to see how they handle before deciding to purchase. Just my take on this.

I've settled on the Glock 27 in .40 S&W.....with holster, fits very nicely in my right front pocket which offers easy and fairly quick access. In my area, we have to be very careful that none of the firearm is visible or can be seen. One example was a person washing his car windows while filling up with gas, which raised his shirt enough that a woman saw the gun handle and called the police. He lost his CWP permit. So, to reduce that risk, I carry it "deep" and have found the front pocket allows me the best/quickest access....but others may disagree.

__________________
DOK

Actually, so am I. Been looking for that thing for 3 decades now and still have not found it.

Unless you are cornered into the subcompact/snubbie world, I'll offer you this. Get a mid sized gun that is very easy to shoot, amost never fails in any way, is cheap to buy ammo for, is cheap to reload for and easy to carry. This way you have a great and versatile gun that will treat you well. After a while you can decide if you need something different. Though there are others, I would suggest the Glock 19 in 9mm.

__________________
Against the wind...

While you are trying to figure out which is the very best self defence pistol,get a little 38 Speial snubby to carry,in the meantime.
You will never have to decide whether you will take it,as you may have to,with a bigger gun.
When you finally decide on your favorite gun,the little 38 will be an ideal backup.
Frank

__________________
Frank

I always liked some of the what's in your wallet ads on TV for credit cards. Here's what's in my pocket.



Here's a pix of my buddies 40 Smith in a Taurus Millennium next to my snubby. It's a nice little gun, but won't disappear in a pocket like the little Taurus Ultra-light snubby, plus I can count four buttons on just the side shown. He finally ended up with a Charter Arms snubby simular to my little Taurus for a carry gun.



Bottom line is there's lots of guns you can carry, but will you. If you have to use a holster then a gun is a lot harder to conceal. If it's of any real size then it's a lot harder to conceal. What I've found that it doesn't take long for a carry gun to become a burden unless it's simple, light and it'll fit in a pocket or pocket holster. To get to that point with an auto your about limited to 22, 25 or a 380 and It's hard to compare those to a 38 chucking 125 thru 158 grain plus P hollowpoints.

Learning to shoot a small revolver is just plain simpler than the learning curve for an auto and frankly I think it's a safer weapon to carry loaded, but that's just me.

__________________
Bob from Idaho

I agree with Bob, a small frame 38 or .357 is easier to learn, has no safety, mag release to learn. If you get a .357, practice with 38s until comfortable trying the heavier recoiling 357s I like 1911 autos but day in and day out, it's a compact ,357 revolver and a speed loader

The perfect handgun is light and small enough that you will ALWAYS carry it and never realize it's there. It will fire a heavy .50 caliber hollowpoint bullet at 1000 fps so so, a bullet that will expand every time and never overpenetrate -- with absolutely zero recoil. It will be accurate enough to shoot the wings off a fly at 50 yards. In other words, the perfect handgun doesn't exist. BUT...

You can find one that's perfect for you. Standard advice is "get a .38 revolver", and it's good advice -- but it may well be all wrong for you. What you need to do is find a range with a broad selection of rental guns, and try out every size, action type, and caliber of handgun they have until you find one that suits you. Don't allow anyone to talk you into a magnum if you're not comfortable shooting it, and don't let anyone convince you that a .22 is worthless, either. Remember -- if you find yourself in a situation requiring a handgun, any gun beats no gun as long as it's reliable and allows you to make fast, accurate hits. If you are not comfortable, confident, and competent with it, it's better left at home.

Hey Bob,
Tell me more about the Taurus Millennium. Academy has the Millennium Pro in either 9mm or 40 for only $299.99. I see that it also comes in a 45acp. Am really thinking about it. I don't need it but when has that ever stopped any of us before?
Thinking a nice back-up weapon in the 9 because of the mag capacity,around the ankle.
Greg

__________________
'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.

NRA Life Member

if you dont live in cali then get the judge! taurus made a revolver that can shoot 45long colt or .410 this gun will take on any challenge even bears!

I found this at a pawnshop in Denver, I couldnt resist, .22 mag does some damage up close, accuracy falls fast with distance.

__________________
1978 '94, 10/22, Stainless Mini 14 , Russian Mosin 98