# Una's Handgun Suggestion Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 1, 2003, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unas-handgun-suggestion-thread/185637 "2003-07-01T19:24:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unas-handgun-suggestion-thread/185637/41 "2003-07-03T08:10:50Z")
I think the NFA has a category for \>.50 caliber weapons that’s seperate from destructive devices, although I’m not positive. ---
**Author:** ![Tomcat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Tomcat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tomcat)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unas-handgun-suggestion-thread/185637/42 "2003-07-03T09:28:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Padeye \* > \*\* > **Tomcat** No need to debate the virtues of the Walther but I’m seeing none of those problems with mine. Thanks for the tip on the barrel extension, I won’t bother buying one. I’ve got the optics mount and am looking for an appropriate red dot and next year I may get a Gemtech or Craig Wheatley can for it. > > You’ll be happy with the Mk II a many are. It’s a good gun but ordinary. Take a look at a Browning or even the Ruger 22/45 before you buy. \*\* Yeah, maybe the long barrel is 90% of my problem, jams, twists and all. But it has caused me enough frustration that an ordinary gun is what I’m looking for. I haven’t seen 22/45’s here, only MkII’s. Although I am thinking of getting a CZ .22 (! Imagine that!), but for some reason they are just as expensive as the competition. Thanks for the tip. Back to the OP- Here is a North American Arms [.380](http://www.naaminis.com/380.html) that a friend got and likes. He got the clip grip extensions too for his larger hand, but you might not need that. These people also sell an ultra-concealable line of revolvers (even in the new .17HMR) that I want to get one day. 5-shot single action revolvers that you can have with you **anywhere**. As posted earlier, I’d rather have a .22mag than nothing at all. My brother has had one for 10+ years now and loves it. It even fits into the small key-pocket in Levi’s! And yes, it has saved him from being mugged twice in Miami. Even though it is small, people recognize what it is when it is a foot from their nose. I’ve shot it twice and found it very accurate at 25 ft. But for a larger ccw, I am thinking about something like this hammerless [S&W .357](http://www.smith-wesson.com/Products/Firearms/airlitesc/m340pd_163062.htm). -Tcat ---
**Author:** ![DougC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@DougC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DougC)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unas-handgun-suggestion-thread/185637/43 "2003-07-03T09:43:39Z")
- - - You can still buy 10-gauge ammo “pre-loaded” in the US. It’s used for goose guns, if I remember right–long-barreled bolt-action shotguns, usually a 3-shot magazine. Maybe not exactly “off the shelf”, but it is still sold… 8 gauge, I dunno. I have never seen any new in regular gunshops. ~ ---
**Author:** ![Lizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@Lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizard)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unas-handgun-suggestion-thread/185637/44 "2003-07-03T13:04:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DougC \* > \*\*- - - You can still buy 10-gauge ammo “pre-loaded” in the US. It’s used for goose guns, if I remember right–long-barreled bolt-action shotguns, usually a 3-shot magazine. Maybe not exactly “off the shelf”, but it is still sold… \*\* Oh, it’s off the shelf all right. The 10-gauge got a big boost a few years ago when shooters were forced to switch to steel shot in a lot of places, since you need bigger shot sizes in steel to get equivalent effectiveness to lead. I see 10-gauge shells for sale in Wal-Mart all the time now. ---
**Author:** ![radar\_ralf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b2d939/32.png) [@radar\_ralf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/radar_ralf)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unas-handgun-suggestion-thread/185637/45 "2003-07-03T13:45:57Z")
Dang, I guess I mis-stated myself again. I should have said, “the largest **modern** centerfire rifle cartridge **chambering** ”. Again, I apologize for the confusion I may have caused. **GusNSpot** : You raise a good point about the older, heavy-caliber “elephant guns.” I’m not sure where we stand on those. Perhaps they are in the category of “curio and relics”? I am sure one of the more knowledgeable members can help us out on this one. ---
**Author:** ![Necros](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/necros/32/11086_2.png) [@Necros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Necros)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unas-handgun-suggestion-thread/185637/46 "2003-07-03T15:12:02Z")
**Anthracite** , thank you so much. I’ve bookmarked this thread, and am definitely going to follow your advice. **radar ralf** , oops. Guess I should read a little more closely next time. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![montana\_cricket](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@montana\_cricket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/montana_cricket)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unas-handgun-suggestion-thread/185637/47 "2003-07-03T20:37:58Z")
As a female who disliked–nay, hated–guns for a long time, I can honestly say that I _love_ to shoot now. I have several, both handguns and long guns but as Echo23tc said earlier, I truly adore my Browning Hi-power 9mm. It’s fun to shoot, it’s accurate, it’s reliable and when echo loads my shells, he gives most of them lighter loads so the infrequent times that I get to go shooting, my hand doesn’t hurt. Take it slow with the girlfriend. I liken target shooting to flyfishing–it’s such intense concentration that when I’m done, I feel very relaxed. As I say to the folks at work after a day of target shooting, “I had a blast”. Pun intended! ---
**Author:** ![montana\_cricket](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@montana\_cricket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/montana_cricket)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unas-handgun-suggestion-thread/185637/48 "2003-07-03T20:51:42Z")
And I should also mention (since the OP specifically mentioned a smaller caliber due to recoil) that my 9mm really doesn’t recoil much at all. I was shooting last weekend and in comparing a Ruger .45, a Blackhawk .45 and my hi-power, the hi-power was more like shooting a .22. It’s awesome! ---
**Author:** ![radar\_ralf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b2d939/32.png) [@radar\_ralf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/radar_ralf)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unas-handgun-suggestion-thread/185637/49 "2003-07-06T13:59:56Z")
Because of this and several other threads here in SDMB-land, I have decided to start a thread in MPSIMS about info that shooters/reloaders might be interested in having. Please join me there to share any interesting info you have. ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2003, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unas-handgun-suggestion-thread/185637/50 "2003-07-07T02:35:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Panzerfaust \* > \*\*A good all-around pistol, for me, is the SIG-Sauer Compact P229 in .357 SIG. Stopping power, concealability, accuracy, and reliability. > > But, then again, if you ask my any class of firearm, I’m probably going to respond with a Sigarms model, 'cuz my brand loyalty extends to the lower regions of fanboy-ism. \*\* Seems like we are about the only SIG fans…like I said in the original OP, I don’t own any, but my dad does. I asked him and he said he has no Beretta auto’s any more. But he has a few SIG’s now. He mainly collects pre-WWI autos, and shoots mostly revolvers (15K rounds/yr) but he has several current autos for his ccw stuff. ANd SIG is his current favorite. And he has the Kel-Tek .32 and thinks it’s a great little gun, bought the Kel-Tek 9mm and didn’t like it (it might have been a .380, a lot larger frame than the .32 whatever it was…it was sold.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unas-handgun-suggestion-thread/185637.md?page=2)