Handgun of choice for target practice?

Hand guns are tricky, without constant practice it is a deteriorating skill. Just owning a hand gun will not equate to sucessful home defense. You need to go to the range and practice at least twice a month. Shooting 10 rounds because your previous 9 rounds didn't hit will likely be a very very hard self defense case make!

1: Get a good quality .22, get fundamentals training from a pro, train on your own twice a month, make sure your groups are small and stay small.
2: Buy a good biometric hand gun speed safe, I recommend speedvault.
3: Then invest in a good quality firearm of a stronger calibre, don't cheap out on chinese imitations. Good brands are sigs, glocks, ruger, cz, springfield, smith and wesson, jericho. (there are a few more but can't think of them right now)
4: Calibre doesnt really matter, but get a calibre you are consistantly accurate with.
5: Get aftermarket grips and sights that correspond to your hands and eyes.
6: Buy quality bulk ammo, it is important that you train on the same ammo that you will potentially use given a self defense situation. Do not buy bulk ammo for training and then assign quality ammo for self defense, really bad idea. If you train on bulk ammo use bulk ammo in self defense.

THe only part I might disagree on is sights....night sights are strongly recommended for any self-defense gun....in my opinion.
 
THe only part I might disagree on is sights....night sights are strongly recommended for any self-defense gun....in my opinion.

Chances of this weapon being fired anywhere other than a range are near nil. I would likely spend the few bucks on a laser sight, money isn't really an issue. For me, it's more a matter of a reliable, easy to handle weapon thats available in an instant, even though it'll probably never be used. A weapon that I could teach a reluctant wife to know how to use, just in case.

His point of using the same weapon & ammo for practice as you would plan to use should something happen is a good idea as well as going to the range a couple of times a month to stay fresh.

Yes, I've been shooting before and enjoy it, but its not one of my primary hobbies. We have had a couple scares, nothing actually happened, but the home alarm went off full blast at 2am and the racing heartbeat that goes with it gets you thinking... "what if there actually was someone in the house? call the cops and wait a half hour to die? or would even the threat of a "I have a gun" warning, the sound of the slide cocking and the sight of a laser sight be enough to scare them off? The politically correct posters will make comments like "you want it for sport shooting, right?", yes, of course I do. I'm not some maniac that wants to go off on a rampage or fire carelessly into the night, shooting a fleeing criminal in the back.

I look at this country, a legal system thats failing the law abiding and I can't help but make sure that I'm not a victim.
 
Chances of this weapon being fired anywhere other than a range are near nil. I would likely spend the few bucks on a laser sight, money isn't really an issue. For me, it's more a matter of a reliable, easy to handle weapon thats available in an instant, even though it'll probably never be used. A weapon that I could teach a reluctant wife to know how to use, just in case.

His point of using the same weapon & ammo for practice as you would plan to use should something happen is a good idea as well as going to the range a couple of times a month to stay fresh.

Yes, I've been shooting before and enjoy it, but its not one of my primary hobbies. We have had a couple scares, nothing actually happened, but the home alarm went off full blast at 2am and the racing heartbeat that goes with it gets you thinking... "what if there actually was someone in the house? call the cops and wait a half hour to die? or would even the threat of a "I have a gun" warning, the sound of the slide cocking and the sight of a laser sight be enough to scare them off? The politically correct posters will make comments like "you want it for sport shooting, right?", yes, of course I do. I'm not some maniac that wants to go off on a rampage or fire carelessly into the night, shooting a fleeing criminal in the back.

I look at this country, a legal system thats failing the law abiding and I can't help but make sure that I'm not a victim.

I understand....I'm just saying if you ever need a handgun for self-defense, it will invariably be in low light or no-light situations. I have a streamlight TLR as well which when strobe is activated is actually quite debilitating....I feel like that's pretty good self-defense just by itself. lol
 
If you get a 1911, get quality mags, such as Wilson, Tripp cobra, or chip McCormick power mags. In my experience it has always been bad magazines that cause the gun to jam up. 7 rounders have stronger and more reliable springs and feed rounds better in my experience, and actually I have NEVER had a problem in ten thousand rounds plus. 8 rounders I have had problems with, but I admit they were cheap Colt and Kimber 'service/gi' mags.
Also a single action trigger pull or a glock style trigger is superior for/to me. You might or might not like the long First pull on a da/sa.
If you're being home invaded, the instant you realize it happening your hands will be shaking like crazy, and heart beating out of your chest.
It might be more desirable to touch off a 3-4 lb trigger than trying to pull it at 10lbs+
Those kinds of guns (da/sa) were designed for police/security to reduce liability of accidental shot, or European style combat of running around with trigger finger inside trigger guard. (Which is stupid, if you get startled, your finger will pull through the 10lbs) with a 1911 you can still have your finger in the trigger guard, but if you have the thumb safety swept up and get startled and squeeze your hand, the gun will not go off unless you've swept the thumb safety down with your thumb
Caliber, I'd go with 40 or 45.
 
For whatever purpose you are buying a handgun for, think about where the bullets goes if you miss or even after you hit the target. Your home is likely full of people you love who are easily killed by errant or well placed shots that carry throught the walls, floors etc. Advice like "any calibre" or "10 mm" really is not that helpful when you factor in family safety. Consider your choice carefully and consider your projectile carefully too.

As is often mentioned the shotgun is likely the best choice.
 
I own no guns at the moment. I live in a somewhat affluent semi rural area. I have two small children. Police response time to a break in would be a half hour at best.

I'm looking to get a reliable, powerful handgun and a biometric safe.

Leaning towards a good, stainless 1911 in 45ACP.

Input would be appreciated.

You just said handgun and home defense in the same sentance. Your going to jail
 
For whatever purpose you are buying a handgun for, think about where the bullets goes if you miss or even after you hit the target. Your home is likely full of people you love who are easily killed by errant or well placed shots that carry throught the walls, floors etc. Advice like "any calibre" or "10 mm" really is not that helpful when you factor in family safety. Consider your choice carefully and consider your projectile carefully too.

As is often mentioned the shotgun is likely the best choice.

My problem with a shotgun is accessibility in an actual crisis. I'm not sure the legalities of a biometric safe, if someone is, I'm all ears... Running downstairs to get a shotgun, locked in a safe, load it, run back upstairs, doesn't seem efficient in a time of crisis. A biometric in a convenient location with a small arm seems smarter. Input please?
 
I understand....I'm just saying if you ever need a handgun for self-defense, it will invariably be in low light or no-light situations. I have a streamlight TLR as well which when strobe is activated is actually quite debilitating....I feel like that's pretty good self-defense just by itself. lol

streamlightTLR? can you share what this is all about/your experiences using pls?
 
Pistols work well in holsters carried by free people in free lands.

For your situation you won't be carrying the gun in a holster anywhere so that advantage no longer applies.
A compact easy to use long gun makes more sense.

Get one your wife can be comfortable with as well.

Even a 10/22 with a light/ laser and a 25 round mag would be a good tool for your wife and its something she can enjoy target shooting with.
That and a shotgun of your choice would do it.
 
Pistols work well in holsters carried by free people in free lands.

For your situation you won't be carrying the gun in a holster anywhere so that advantage no longer applies.
A compact easy to use long gun makes more sense.

Get one your wife can be comfortable with as well.

Even a 10/22 with a light/ laser and a 25 round mag would be a good tool for your wife and its something she can enjoy target shooting with.
That and a shotgun of your choice would do it.

You're right, but a pistol in a speedsafe next to the bed is fast, handy and ready, they can be fitted with a surefire light/laser.
 
My mistake, have a website or page to look at to reeducate myseld?

This one for starters. Time to practice your own search skills.

And to the OP, I wouldn't get a firearm I had to register or belong to a club to own unless I plan to use that club. A lot.
A cheap shotgun. I'm looking at the grizzly mag for bedside comfort.
 
streamlightTLR? can you share what this is all about/your experiences using pls?

Streamlight is a brand of weapon mounted lights. Mounts right to the picatinny rails on most handguns. Very very bright. I've never actually needed it for anything, but I've tested it out in the dark. If someone looks at this light while its on strobe, they're likely to have a seizure and become blind. Its very intense.
 
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