General shooting handgun

[lamarw]

No, a General officer or even retired General officer would have his military issued side-arm. He does have to pay for it when he retires, but the cost is nominal.

The OP mentions he has large hands, and a Beretta 92 would probably be the perfect pistol for him.

There are plenty of nice used one on GunBroker that would be of great value. You can find plenty of police trade-ins. I know of one seller who currently has one on GunBroker for under three hundred dollars. I have purchased at least a dozen firearms from this seller, and every purchase has been a great experience and wonderful deal.

[Wyosmith]

One expense you will want to embrace is a good reloading press, powder measure and a powder scale. Getting into reloading is going to be well worth all the cash you'll spend up front. If indeed you are going to fire 500 rounds a month the reloading equipment will pay for itself in only 2-1/2 to 3 months.

Buy your dies last when you make up your mind as to what caliber you want to load.

[Alpena]

I'd say it be a draw between a Sig p226 9mm or a Glock 17. My father has Sig p226 that he's had since 1991 and it's ran like clockwork through thousands of rounds. The trigger is amazing and crisp. If I were looking for a gun with your guidelines I'd choose the p226. Of coarse there's always the Glock 17 which is your basic no thrills but always reliable gun, which you can never go wrong with now that the Gen 4 is out. Just my 2 cents.

[ImnOkie]

Count me in as another CZ75 fan. You can get them in a 22cal for cheap practice or step up to a Match Target. All of them are accurate and reliable.

[sigarms228]

A LOT depends on your preferences and what works best for you. As others mentioned by far the best way to choose is to try out whatever you are considering assuming you have basic skill set in pistol shooting. If not hire a qualified instructor for at least one range session to help you with proper grip, sight picture, and trigger control.

Then do you have a preference for hammer fired or striker fired?? Poly frame or metal frame? Safety or not safety? Price range?

I have tried pretty much everything out there that is commonly available. My choices for full size 9MM that work best for me. The P226 and HK P30 are long proven extremely very top tier reliable and durable. The VP9 is new but HKs have a reputation for extreme reliability and durability. There are also several compact pistols I own that also work extremely well as range/HD pistol such as the SIG P229/P228, SIG SP2022, and Walther PPQ.

SIG P226 -- hammer fired metal frame no safety
HK P30LS -- hammer fired poly frame with safey
HK VP9 -- striker fired poly frame

[Worc]

Lots of different models could fill this role and depends on what YOU end up liking the best.

For me a Sig 226 sounds about perfect. Other models that I like would be the HK P-30/L, Walther PPQ, Stery L9-A1/M-A1. More models would be the Beretta's 92 and Storm, CZ P-07 or P-09, FNH FNS or FNX, HK USP, P2000, or VP9, Sig 229, M11-A1, 250, 2022, or 320, Spinx SPD's, Walther P99AS.

[dwhite]

If it's something you are only looking to use for home defense
a 20 to 12 gauge pump shotgun with an 18" barrel would be
a LOT more effective. Would cost a lot less too.

Just my humble opinion.

All the Best,
D. White

[SpareMag]

Why the high monthly round count? Are you going to be doing competitions? If so, that may affect the decision.

I assume you are aware of the ballpark cost of shooting 1K rounds per month ~ $20/50 rounds of 9mm = $40/100 = $400/1000.

Your basic Glock19 can handle that load but you may want to think of getting 2 of the same pistol for a backup in the event of failure. This may affect your decision also.

[iMagUdspEllr]

Whichever gun you choose, you should find out what periodic maintenance you have to perform on it and make sure you do it. Every gun will eventually wear out. Guns will eventually need a complete rebuild (i.e. replacing almost every part except for the frame) and eventually the holes in the frame will be too large to properly accept the new parts. So, unless you intend to become an armorer/gunsmith or pay one to rebuild your gun, you should just buy a new gun once you have worn that one out.

A better idea is, since you can afford so much ammo, to just buy two guns. Have one that you will use for home defense and one that you can beat the crap out of with lots of shooting. It is better to not tempt Murphy by using a heavily used gun to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Now as far as which gun that you are going to buy two of:
Being reliable and being able to hit things with it is mandatory.
More rounds = better.
Heavier = better.

Which trigger type do you prefer? SA with a thumb safety? DA/SA? Striker fired?

My vote for the SA would be a STI 2011 (very expensive).
My vote for DA/SA would be a Sig P226.
My vote for striker fired would be XDM.

But, you need to find out which guns you can actually hit things with before you trust your life to it.

[evan090793]

Originally Posted by SpareMag

Why the high monthly round count? Are you going to be doing competitions? If so, that may affect the decision.

I assume you are aware of the ballpark cost of shooting 1K rounds per month ~ $20/50 rounds of 9mm = $40/100 = $400/1000.

Your basic Glock19 can handle that load but you may want to think of getting 2 of the same pistol for a backup in the event of failure. This may affect your decision also.

I am at some point going to get into 3 gun ive got my ar and ill have my handgun soon. I can find 9mm a lot cheaper than 20 a box

[Nathan]

So...9mm is the beginning.

I agree. I said 45, but 9mm is better in so many ways for this proposition.

Cheaper
Easier to shoot a lot.
Lighter
More rounds per mag.
Most of the terminal performance.

[EvgeniBG]

HK USP45 Tactical - just perfect for a guy with large hands.

[sigpro2340]

Glock 17 or 19 would be my first choice.

If you're an un-experienced shooter, the Springfield Armory XD series are also a smart choice, due the pistol having a grip safety.

Both suggestions are ultra-reliable and easy to maintain pistols.

[454 Super Redhawk]

well nobody has brought up the S&W M&P 9mm, or the Ruger SR9. Both great guns.

[shooter1911]

Here in a month or so im looking to get a target/home defence handgun in either 9mm .40sw or 45 acp. I know nothing about different types of handguns other than the ones ive borrowed and used. What would you all recommend as a good home def/target gun. I will be shooting the crap out of it prob 800-1000 rounds a month so it must be durable.

I would strongly suggest a .22 semi-auto of your choice until you learn a lot about hand guns and shooting. If your numbers are accurate on your round count per month, you are about to spend in the neighborhood of $450 a month or about $5400 per year depending on chosen caliber, and unless you reload. If you reload you will find out you will be hard pressed to find enough pistol powder to support your habit at those numbers.

Buy some bricks of 22s, if you can find them, and shoot shoot shoot. In the mean time start renting some guns to see what caliber, platform, and make and model you want.

I sure wish I could support a shooting habit like that.

[Water-Man]

M&P 9 Full Size or Glock 17.

[Sight Unseen]

There are so many choices it would be hard to suggest just one or two. But my choice in your price range would be likely a Ruger SR9 or Glock 17.

On that note, I agree with everyone who said to rent some handguns and see which one suits you best, also 9mm is your best bet.

[evan090793]

Originally Posted by shooter1911

I would strongly suggest a .22 semi-auto of your choice until you learn a lot about hand guns and shooting. If your numbers are accurate on your round count per month, you are about to spend in the neighborhood of $450 a month or about $5400 per year depending on chosen caliber, and unless you reload. If you reload you will find out you will be hard pressed to find enough pistol powder to support your habit at those numbers.

Buy some bricks of 22s, if you can find them, and shoot shoot shoot. In the mean time start renting some guns to see what caliber, platform, and make and model you want.

I sure wish I could support a shooting habit like that.

Ive shot lots of rounds out of handguns so im not that inexperianced ive always borrowed the guns though and never really paid attention to them much untill recently. Ive been shooting since i was 5 so im not an idiot. Ive got over 10 rifles and shoot every weekend. Its a moot point for 22 cause i cant find it in my area havent been able to for about 2 years now.dont know it would help or not but these are the guns i have experience with.
Non descript 22 revolver
Ruger mark 2
S&w 9mm
Ruger sr 9mm
S&w snub nose 38
Taurus 44 mag revolver
Taurus 1911
Springfield xdm 45
Also i should add that i use ammoseek and usually find a hell of a good deal on stuff which is houw i can afford to shoot 700 a month. I dont make a lot of money lol

[shooter1911]

Ive shot lots of rounds out of handguns so im not that inexperianced ive always borrowed the guns though and never really paid attention to them much untill recently. Ive been shooting since i was 5 so im not an idiot. Ive got over 10 rifles and shoot every weekend. Its a moot point for 22 cause i cant find it in my area havent been able to for about 2 years now.dont know it would help or not but these are the guns i have experience with.
Non descript 22 revolver
Ruger mark 2
S&w 9mm
Ruger sr 9mm
S&w snub nose 38
Taurus 44 mag revolver
Taurus 1911
Springfield xdm 45
Also i should add that i use ammoseek and usually find a hell of a good deal on stuff which is houw i can afford to shoot 700 a month. I dont make a lot of money lol

I'm sorry if I offended you by recommending shooting 22s while you gain more experience, but in your original post you stated

I know nothing about different types of handguns other than the ones ive borrowed and used.

This tells me you are not an idiot as stated above, but rather you have done some shooting, but admit you don't know much about various handguns, because once again as stated above, "you never really paid attention to them".

So now you are running around the internet looking for suggestions on a target/home defense weapon. Once again I am truly sorry if I offended you, but my advice still stands. Get a 22 and shoot, shoot, shoot, and oh yes there are 22s available these days if you look around. At the same time try to get some experience on what's available in the market. In other words start paying attention to what's out there these days so you can figure out what you like. Nobody on this forum of any other forum can tell you what you like.

My advice was offered in good faith. If you don't like it, don't take it, and I won't be offended Good Luck

[Brotherbadger]

At that price range? probably a Glock 17.

[usnr2003]

Look at an FNS-9 or FNX-9. I prefer the FNS for my carry pistol. Both quality firearms for the price.

[10mm4ever]

If 9mm........Beretta 92FS, CZ75, SIG226 or XD9
If 45acp......1911, SIG220, HK45 or XD45

[herdman]

Beretta M9/92FS would be my vote.

[Colt46]

Compact or subcompact will be easier to carry(not that you want to do that) and or use in a defensive setting. The amount of ammo you put down range would suggest 9mm for cost. Use premium SD loads and you won't give up much to the .45

[evan090793]

Thanks for the advice everyone i ended up getting a killer deal on a brand new m&p 9 for 450 even. I really like it feels great in the hand and seems pretty accurate. Its very easy to field strip