Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion The Water Cooler Reommendatios for a compact pistol

Depends on what you look for in a gun. It got its start made by IMI, so Isayeret is buying locally at least... and if you're standing 7 feet away from someone you desperately need to put a big hole in, you're probably not going to be worried about a gritty trigger, a coarse sight picture, unmanageable recoil, muzzle flash that takes away your night vision and an ear-splitting report.

I'm not often in that position, so it's just a big glorified hammer to me. After a box full of ammunition and a satisfied grin about how much big bang you just made, you get brought down to earth by the fact you've just stretched out your ligaments for a grouping you can get from an autoloading shotgun with slugs.

Bren R.

50AE is $31.00 for 20 rounds right from Magnum Research themselves.

.500 S&W from Midway is all in the $40-$45 dollar range... with the standard bullet loadings being boxes of 20 and the "hunting" bullet (Corbon, etc) loadings being boxes of 12.

Bren R.

I keep an aluminum bat by my bed for unwanted visitors. (I prefer the ring they make when hitting bone over wood). The handguns and riffles are out in the open for anyone to use, if they can find the ammo. My kids were taught how to shoot along with gun safety at a very early age so I don’t worry about them using poor judgment. My 14 year old boy can shoot a pop can off a branch standing without a rest at 100 yards with his 30-06. I don’t hide or lock up the booze either. I just teach the kids what it can do to you if consumed in excess (by example). They have no desire to be an idiot so they don’t sneak the booze and they don’t feel the desire to “play” with any of the firearms because they can use them all, very well.

Rick, the 40 is a great caliber for auto and with hollow points, will put down whatever two legged varmint you hit in a way that they won’t be bothering you anytime soon. I shoot a Beretta in that caliber (pre-ban, Israeli made). My other pistol is a Ruger Super Red-Hawk 44 mag with a 7.5" barrel. I take that with me when I venture out in the bush for bear protection. If a big griz decides he wants to eat me, I'll just use the 44 on myself.

A buddy of mine has a 600 Smith with a 4” barrel. Loudest, most obnoxious thing to shoot I’ve ever held. I think they are for men to buy who feel some need to compensate for something…… Why anyone would want to fire anything larger than a 44 mag is behond me.....

Could this be why? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFJjaj7pXsA&feature=related

I am not a handgun expert. I don't even own a handgun, just a couple of my father's shotguns that have high sentimental value for me. Personally I don't really see a need for handguns, but I was raised to respect and understand firearms and to respect the rights of others to own them. While I know how to handle a shotgun, I've shot just a handful of handguns in my life.

With that disclaimer out of the way....

One of my father's friends used to own a Walther PPK that he'd occasionally bring out when we'd go hunting. That's the same gun that James Bond uses, if the name sounds familiar.

It's been a long time, but I remember that it was a really slick little gun. I have no idea if they have problems or are junk, but I just remember that it was very small, very easy to handle, and was really fun to shoot. I enjoyed it a whole lot more than my dad's Colt .45, or another buddy's .38 revolver. I've always thought that if I ever decided I needed a handgun, that it would be the one I'd research.

Just my $.02 on the subject.

Rick, I'm in Illinois too. I've always just had my FOID card for the shotguns. Do handguns work differently in Illinois? Do we have any concealed & carry laws here? I've never really thought about it but have alwys been curious. This thread has re-spakred that curiosity and I figure that you would probably know!

No Peter there is no CCW here in IL. Handgun laws here are more strict, and illegal in some cities, than are long guns.

I had the pleasure of shooting my neighbors Red Hawk. It was a darn good shooting revolver, I would love to have one.

Ruger Redhawks (and the single action Blackhawks) are nice revolvers... especially the older ones.

I've had a chance to shoot quite a few of each.

Bren R.

Now that I have a couple of nice compact handguns I am now looking to pick up a nice .22 to plink with. So far my candidates are the Rugar MKIII, the Browning Buckmark and the Beretta Neo. Any other suggestions are welcome.

Rick, you've rounded up most of the usual suspects and personally I'd go with ye old reliable Ruger, especially this one .

Suppose that I should also mention one of my favorite law firms, Smith&Wesson, and their 22A .

Then, since I'm fond of Wolverines, the Olympic Arms can be looked at.