Next Pistol

Mwhittington · November 12, 2016, 04:46 PM

I have a Springfield xd-9mm and love it.

I'm looking for another pistol - something that I can carry in the car but that is also fun to take to the range and let my son shoot along with the Springfield.

any suggestions?

just curious if most people would suggest getting another 9mm or a different caliber

thanks

Targa · November 12, 2016, 05:47 PM

A .45acp 1911 is tough to beat for a fun range gun, makes you feel like a better shot than you actually are as well

. I would also look at a S&W 686 or Ruger GP100 revolver, just to much fun and you can shoot from wild .357mag to mild .38spcl.

BigJimP · November 13, 2016, 12:40 AM

If you want a semi- auto I would probably stay with a 9mm.....since you have a poly double stack....you might look at something in steel or stainless ( Sig, a 1911 in 9mm , etc). Single stack guns might suit a young shooter better...

Revolvers are fun ...something in a 4" barrel in .357 mag & you can shoot .38 spl in it too...( S&W model 19 or 66, or 686, or 27, 28 or 627....) are all good options...

Depends on budget ..and what you like.

TXAZ · November 13, 2016, 12:42 AM

What's your budget and hand size?

marine6680 · November 13, 2016, 03:41 AM

What do you mean by "carry"? That can mean many different ways and methods.

9mm is an excellent caliber, but you can branch out if you want more diversity.

Are there any guidelines we should take into consideration?

There are a wide range of pistols available, and the suggestion list will get long in a hurry without some criteria to narrow things down.

Targa · November 13, 2016, 09:05 AM

Quote:

What do you mean by "carry"? That can mean many different ways and methods.

Good point. OP, If you actually intend to carry on your person, my advice would be to disregard my previous suggestion..

.

Mwhittington · November 13, 2016, 10:02 AM

by carry i really mean something that I can have in the car - not on me so sorry for the misunderstanding

my hand size is medium but my son has a much larger hand and he is 16

i would say budget around $500 if possible

would like to stay with semi-auto for now

thanks

Mwhittington · November 13, 2016, 10:03 AM

a friend suggested a Tauras PT 111 - any thoughts on that one?

Rock Hammer · November 15, 2016, 10:57 PM

XD-40......

XD- 45......Be versatile

joe sixgun · November 15, 2016, 11:32 PM

The PT111 is a great gun at a great price. The Gen 2 holds 12 rounds and fits medium to large hands and is also concealable if you wish. My 111 G2 is my EDC. I don't leave home without it. Check one out.

raimius · November 16, 2016, 01:07 AM

1911s are a classic choice. No collection is complete without one

.
A Glock 19, is of course, a great pistol well. (Although I have trouble presenting it level, after years of the 1911 grip angle.)

An nice wheel gun is also popular. Something like a GP100?

ritepath · November 16, 2016, 07:10 AM

My "car" gun is the PT111 G2...it's a great budget pistol that's reliable and accurate.

I actually like it so much I find myself carrying it when I could be carrying my Shield or 220.

The manual safety is a plus if you want to load it and hand it over to your kid with the safety on. Unlike all the operators, I still believe a safety isn't dangerous, and learning to use one isn't a handicap.

jackstrawIII · November 16, 2016, 10:00 AM

I'd stick with 9mm. Without descending into a caliber war, they're all "close enough" to each other that I'd stick with one type of ammo at this stage in your collecting. It just makes life way simpler.

Regarding which gun, the CZ P-01 is about as great a pistol as you could hope for. It's got a non-plastic frame, which in today's markets sticks out (in a really good way). If you want to stick with polymer, the Walther P99AS is a great gun too. Either of these guns are small enough to stick in a vehicle console or whatever, but yet provide full grip and excellent controlability/accuracy.

PatientWolf · November 17, 2016, 12:27 AM

My "car" gun is my Kahr (see what I did there) PM9. It actually fits in a couple places that my Shield doesn't.

If you are looking for something slightly bigger in a 9mm, you might want to look at something like a Sig P320 or 2022 or the Tristar L-120-all very different guns. The Sigs are lots of fun. The Tristar looks like a nice gun for a value price. Although I have handled one of those, I have not shot it. I believe it is stainless, so might be less of a concern if it sits in the car during temperature changes.

Another option would be 3rd generation S&W 9mm, like the 3913 Lady Smith. Lightweight, easy to conceal and can sometimes be found at a bargain price. The only negatives on that would be parts might hard to find and for me the safety works opposite many other guns.

If you want to move up to .45, a commander sized 1911 is not too bad to hide and lots of fun to shoot.

There are lots of good buys on used .40s right now. They seem to be less popular. Although I like them as well, I do tend to lean toward the 9mm or .45.

November 12, 2016, 04:46 PM	#1
Mwhittington Junior Member Join Date: November 12, 2016 Posts: 4	Next Pistol I have a Springfield xd-9mm and love it. I'm looking for another pistol - something that I can carry in the car but that is also fun to take to the range and let my son shoot along with the Springfield. any suggestions? just curious if most people would suggest getting another 9mm or a different caliber thanks

November 13, 2016, 12:42 AM	#4
TXAZ Senior Member Join Date: September 5, 2010 Location: McMurdo Sound Texas Posts: 4,322	What's your budget and hand size? __________________ Cave illos in guns et backhoes

November 13, 2016, 10:02 AM	#7
Mwhittington Junior Member Join Date: November 12, 2016 Posts: 4	follow up by carry i really mean something that I can have in the car - not on me so sorry for the misunderstanding my hand size is medium but my son has a much larger hand and he is 16 i would say budget around $500 if possible would like to stay with semi-auto for now thanks

November 13, 2016, 10:03 AM	#8
Mwhittington Junior Member Join Date: November 12, 2016 Posts: 4	Tauras a friend suggested a Tauras PT 111 - any thoughts on that one?

November 15, 2016, 11:32 PM	#10
joe sixgun Senior Member Join Date: March 22, 2010 Location: west michigan Posts: 185	The PT111 is a great gun at a great price. The Gen 2 holds 12 rounds and fits medium to large hands and is also concealable if you wish. My 111 G2 is my EDC. I don't leave home without it. Check one out. __________________ DON'T TREAD ON ME !

November 12, 2016, 05:47 PM	#2
Targa Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2014 Posts: 2,084	A .45acp 1911 is tough to beat for a fun range gun, makes you feel like a better shot than you actually are as well . I would also look at a S&W 686 or Ruger GP100 revolver, just to much fun and you can shoot from wild .357mag to mild .38spcl.

November 13, 2016, 12:40 AM	#3
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	If you want a semi- auto I would probably stay with a 9mm.....since you have a poly double stack....you might look at something in steel or stainless ( Sig, a 1911 in 9mm , etc). Single stack guns might suit a young shooter better... Revolvers are fun ...something in a 4" barrel in .357 mag & you can shoot .38 spl in it too...( S&W model 19 or 66, or 686, or 27, 28 or 627....) are all good options... Depends on budget ..and what you like.

November 13, 2016, 03:41 AM	#5
marine6680 Senior Member Join Date: July 24, 2012 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 4,594	What do you mean by "carry"? That can mean many different ways and methods. 9mm is an excellent caliber, but you can branch out if you want more diversity. Are there any guidelines we should take into consideration? There are a wide range of pistols available, and the suggestion list will get long in a hurry without some criteria to narrow things down.

November 15, 2016, 10:57 PM	#9
Rock Hammer Member Join Date: October 15, 2016 Posts: 38	XD-40...... XD- 45......Be versatile

November 16, 2016, 01:07 AM	#11
raimius Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2008 Posts: 2,199	1911s are a classic choice. No collection is complete without one . A Glock 19, is of course, a great pistol well. (Although I have trouble presenting it level, after years of the 1911 grip angle.) An nice wheel gun is also popular. Something like a GP100?

November 16, 2016, 07:10 AM	#12
ritepath Senior Member Join Date: February 22, 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,419	My "car" gun is the PT111 G2...it's a great budget pistol that's reliable and accurate. I actually like it so much I find myself carrying it when I could be carrying my Shield or 220. The manual safety is a plus if you want to load it and hand it over to your kid with the safety on. Unlike all the operators, I still believe a safety isn't dangerous, and learning to use one isn't a handicap. __________________ There's only one...

November 16, 2016, 10:00 AM	#13
jackstrawIII Senior Member Join Date: July 20, 2016 Location: Upstate NY. Posts: 901	I'd stick with 9mm. Without descending into a caliber war, they're all "close enough" to each other that I'd stick with one type of ammo at this stage in your collecting. It just makes life way simpler. Regarding which gun, the CZ P-01 is about as great a pistol as you could hope for. It's got a non-plastic frame, which in today's markets sticks out (in a really good way). If you want to stick with polymer, the Walther P99AS is a great gun too. Either of these guns are small enough to stick in a vehicle console or whatever, but yet provide full grip and excellent controlability/accuracy. __________________ In God we trust.

November 17, 2016, 12:27 AM	#14
PatientWolf Senior Member Join Date: October 20, 2012 Location: NC Posts: 946	My "car" gun is my Kahr (see what I did there) PM9. It actually fits in a couple places that my Shield doesn't. If you are looking for something slightly bigger in a 9mm, you might want to look at something like a Sig P320 or 2022 or the Tristar L-120-all very different guns. The Sigs are lots of fun. The Tristar looks like a nice gun for a value price. Although I have handled one of those, I have not shot it. I believe it is stainless, so might be less of a concern if it sits in the car during temperature changes. Another option would be 3rd generation S&W 9mm, like the 3913 Lady Smith. Lightweight, easy to conceal and can sometimes be found at a bargain price. The only negatives on that would be parts might hard to find and for me the safety works opposite many other guns. If you want to move up to .45, a commander sized 1911 is not too bad to hide and lots of fun to shoot. There are lots of good buys on used .40s right now. They seem to be less popular. Although I like them as well, I do tend to lean toward the 9mm or .45.