Current Events > Any advice for a guy looking to buy his first gun?

(+) Yeah! (+)

I'm looking for a handgun. Missouri laws are super relaxed on guns so it seems like it's as easy as just buying it. Main purpose would be just in case of home invasion.

There has been some very suspicious activity at my apartment lately. Multiple people I don't even know knocking on the door asking to hang out. This guy asked if we had games and if we had drugs and shit. Another guy came over and asked basically the same thing trying to hang out. A lady asked me how many people live in our apartment.

Just overall weird shit. Enough to make me think I should have some kind of deterrent to home invasion. Tips?
---

.44 magnum
---

Do you plan to carry it?
To accessorize it?
How do you feel on the power/capacity debate?
Budget?
---

Asherlee10 posted...

A lot people enjoy Glocks as their first handgun. Something like a Glock 19. If you are on a budget, don't be afraid of getting a used gun from a reputable dealer. They have lifetime warranties.

Bottom line, you want to choose a firearm that you feel comfortable with. Don't go for a heavy caliber just yet.

Side note: What city are you in? I'm currently in Missouri at the moment.

Kansas City. I'm not in the ghetto part but I'm close enough to it there's some sketchy activity.
---

You should go to the board "@The Range" and ask for help
---

Get a .22 pistol.


It'll be super easy to handle. No recoil. Barely any noise. Lightweight and can carry a lot of shots in it. Easy to conceal. List goes on.


Higher caliber guns aren't gonna have any of the above perks. They have high recoil and if you fire one shot and miss, you're going to be disoriented and deaf.
---

If you are happy to send some extra money on quality, look at the SIG P226. This gun is unbelievably sexy:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/41/SIGSauerP226.JPG

A more affordable alternative is a Beretta M9 (does everything you want a gun to do but with less class).
---

Asherlee10 posted...

Something like a Glock 19.

This ain't a bad choice.
9mm with a rail is good home defense, put a solid light/laser combo on it. Also a larger magazine if he wants.
Plus he can carry eventually.

TC, if it's strictly home defense, AR15 is legit the best option.
---

Anarchy_Juiblex posted...

Asherlee10 posted...

Something like a Glock 19.

This ain't a bad choice.
9mm with a rail is good home defense, put a solid light/laser combo on it.
Plus he can carry eventually.

TC, if it's strictly home defense, AR15 is legit the best option.

Why wouldn't you go with a combat-shotty if you're going with a long barrel gun.
---

Anarchy_Juiblex posted...

Do you plan to carry it?
To accessorize it?
How do you feel on the power/capacity debate?
Budget?

Maybe in my car rarely but never on me.
I may look to accessorize in the future.
Honestly Im about 50/50. I think if using a gun you should plan to be accurate. However I'd prefer a little more capacity in case of multiple intruders.
I don't know what's realistic but I'm thinking maybe like 500? I'd go up if that's low.
---

YookaLaylee posted...

You should go to the board "@The Range" and ask for help

Will check this out.
---

Steve Nick posted...

Why wouldn't you go with a combat-shotty if you're going with a long barrel gun.

Capacity, recoil, weight, followup shots.
---

Asherlee10 posted...

They have lifetime warranties.

For the original owner
---

Steve Nick posted...

Get a .22 pistol.


It'll be super easy to handle. No recoil. Barely any noise. Lightweight and can carry a lot of shots in it. Easy to conceal. List goes on.


Higher caliber guns aren't gonna have any of the above perks. They have high recoil and if you fire one shot and miss, you're going to be disoriented and deaf.

Is .22 enough power to stop a full grown man? I'm wanting something I won't have to go Rambo with.
---

Just get an ar pistol with a brace, they're about 500 on the cheap side.
---

Bazooka
---

Anarchy_Juiblex posted...

TC, if it's strictly home defense, AR15 is legit the best option.

No. Plus he lives in an apartment. Jesus christ don't listen to gamefaqs for this advice
---

Tropicalwood posted...

Just get an ar pistol with a brace, they're about 500 on the cheap side.

Not to mention an nfa item.

The ignorance is astounding
---

MrDrMan posted...

Steve Nick posted...

Get a .22 pistol.


It'll be super easy to handle. No recoil. Barely any noise. Lightweight and can carry a lot of shots in it. Easy to conceal. List goes on.


Higher caliber guns aren't gonna have any of the above perks. They have high recoil and if you fire one shot and miss, you're going to be disoriented and deaf.

Is .22 enough power to stop a full grown man? I'm wanting something I won't have to go Rambo with.

I mean if you're going into a firefight, you'll want something better. But if someone breaks into your house and you grab a .22 and start shooting them, yeah, it's gonna stop them >_> It may not one shot kill them or critically injure them in a single hit, but it's still gonna hurt a lot.
---

moose_knuckle posted...

Anarchy_Juiblex posted...

TC, if it's strictly home defense, AR15 is legit the best option.

No. Plus he lives in an apartment. Jesus christ dong listen to gamefaqs for this advice

This is why I'm not rushing into this. I'm going to research this for a while before purchasing.

I live in an apartment with relatively thin walls. One miss and someone could be killed.
---

moose_knuckle posted...

Tropicalwood posted...

Just get an ar pistol with a brace, they're about 500 on the cheap side.

Not to mention an nfa item.

The ignorance is astounding

It's not an NFA item, it's just a pistol with an arm brace which the ATF confirmed is not an sbr.

Your ignorance is astounding

Fuck, the one time they claimed they were an sbr was when you put them on your shoulder, which was reversed because you aren't modifying the weapon by using it differently.
---

Go someplace where you can rent guns to shoot at their range before you commit to buying. Key things to look for is ease of readying the pistol if you plan to keep it in a safe condition and ease of being able to quickly place accurate follow-up shots if necessary. Or if it's strictly for home defense, a shotgun (preferably semi-automatic for follow-up shots) loaded with 00 buck may be a better choice as penetration through walls is not a typical concern even if they are paper thin.
---

MrDrMan posted...

Is .22 enough power to stop a full grown man? I'm wanting something I won't have to go Rambo with.

its a fucking gun
---

Steve Nick posted...

MrDrMan posted...

Steve Nick posted...

Get a .22 pistol.


It'll be super easy to handle. No recoil. Barely any noise. Lightweight and can carry a lot of shots in it. Easy to conceal. List goes on.


Higher caliber guns aren't gonna have any of the above perks. They have high recoil and if you fire one shot and miss, you're going to be disoriented and deaf.

Is .22 enough power to stop a full grown man? I'm wanting something I won't have to go Rambo with.

I mean if you're going into a firefight, you'll want something better. But if someone breaks into your house and you grab a .22 and start shooting them, yeah, it's gonna stop them >_>

What I mean is I don't want something if I shoot at someone will they be able to shoot back.

You're right though. I'm probably underestimating how fast gun fire will change someone's mind. What I'm worried is someone coming in drugged out their mind and becoming Superman with those .22 bullets.
---

The main selling point I was trying to make for the .22 though is, the vast majority of time that people are firing high caliber guns or rifles, they're doing so with fancy headsets and eyewear in well-lit rooms at targets. If you take away all that shit, these guns are a SEVERE shock to your senses to shoot otherwise. Especially if you've never done it before.

A .22 is much, much lower power and won't produce that same shock effect when you fire it.
---

Mandasnake posted...

MrDrMan posted...

Is .22 enough power to stop a full grown man? I'm wanting something I won't have to go Rambo with.

its a fucking gun

I know this is going to sound dumb but 50 cent got shot 9 times. People have survived more than that.

Just because it is a gun doesn't mean it will always have enough power. I just wouldn't want to risk return fire.
---

MrDrMan posted...

Steve Nick posted...

MrDrMan posted...

Steve Nick posted...

Get a .22 pistol.


It'll be super easy to handle. No recoil. Barely any noise. Lightweight and can carry a lot of shots in it. Easy to conceal. List goes on.


Higher caliber guns aren't gonna have any of the above perks. They have high recoil and if you fire one shot and miss, you're going to be disoriented and deaf.

Is .22 enough power to stop a full grown man? I'm wanting something I won't have to go Rambo with.

I mean if you're going into a firefight, you'll want something better. But if someone breaks into your house and you grab a .22 and start shooting them, yeah, it's gonna stop them >_>

What I mean is I don't want something if I shoot at someone will they be able to shoot back.

You're right though. I'm probably underestimating how fast gun fire will change someone's mind. What I'm worried is someone coming in drugged out their mind and becoming Superman with those .22 bullets.

If you want to change off the idea of a handgun, just get a combat-style shotgun(shorter barrel, different sights/stock, etc. Basically made for indoors combat). Load it but don't pump it, keep it somewhere easy to get.

Then if there's an intruder, just one pump and anything you shoot with that -will- be destroyed in an instant. You won't miss with it. They will NOT survive. It will stop them. It's literally a point and shoot gun.

Shotguns are cheap too.
---

I'll have to look into that as well.
---

Tropicalwood posted...

moose_knuckle posted...

Tropicalwood posted...

Just get an ar pistol with a brace, they're about 500 on the cheap side.

Not to mention an nfa item.

The ignorance is astounding

It's not an NFA item, it's just a pistol with an arm brace which the ATF confirmed is not an sbr.

Your ignorance is astounding

Says the person recommending an ar for home defense in an apartment
---

Mandasnake posted...

MrDrMan posted...

Is .22 enough power to stop a full grown man? I'm wanting something I won't have to go Rambo with.

its a fucking gun

Real life isn't a video game. People can still be standing after being hit with small arms. A .22 round that isn't through the head or heart of a large-build man is asking for return fire.
---

I mean, if you're an experienced shooter, sure, a .45 is gonna have a lot more stopping power in your hands.

My advice to TC was partially based around the fact that he's a gun newbie, and he needs to know how fucking loud and disorienting those hand cannons are.

Comfort and ease-of-use definitely should factor into the decision.
---

Steve Nick posted...

I mean, if you're an experienced shooter, sure, a .45 is gonna have a lot more stopping power in your hands.

My advice to TC was partially based around the fact that he's a gun newbie, and he needs to know how fucking loud and disorienting those hand cannons are.

Comfort and ease-of-use definitely should factor into the decision.

What's the middle ground? Glock 19?
---

MrDrMan posted...

Steve Nick posted...

I mean, if you're an experienced shooter, sure, a .45 is gonna have a lot more stopping power in your hands.

My advice to TC was partially based around the fact that he's a gun newbie, and he needs to know how fucking loud and disorienting those hand cannons are.

Comfort and ease-of-use definitely should factor into the decision.

What's the middle ground? Glock 19?

Pretty much all of the higher calibers, even 9MM, are super loud. But you can find some fairly low recoil guns in a decent caliber. I've shot a lot of different handguns and the recoil ranges have been pretty wide. I've shot .45s with almost no recoils, and .45s that almost flew out of my hand. But they're all gonna deafen you one shot into the engagement.

I'd really recommend you just test out some guns and shoot a few.
---

moose_knuckle posted...

Tropicalwood posted...

moose_knuckle posted...

Tropicalwood posted...

Just get an ar pistol with a brace, they're about 500 on the cheap side.

Not to mention an nfa item.

The ignorance is astounding

It's not an NFA item, it's just a pistol with an arm brace which the ATF confirmed is not an sbr.

Your ignorance is astounding

Says the person recommending an ar for home defense in an apartment

Why are you in a thread about guns if you're so ignorant to their laws and functionality.

First off, you were claiming a pistol brace is an nfa item, it isn't.
Second, a shorter barrel means your muzzle velocity will be a lot lower than what the military uses, which is the whole reason 55.6 will penetrate body armor.

So why don't you go buy a gun and learn a bit more about them and their laws instead of going into threads about them and claiming to know everything while knowing nothing at all.
---

Take some classes and go from there. Try stuff out at ranges. Running out and buying something like that without any hands on would be silly.

MrDrMan posted...

Asherlee10 posted...

A lot people enjoy Glocks as their first handgun. Something like a Glock 19. If you are on a budget, don't be afraid of getting a used gun from a reputable dealer. They have lifetime warranties.

Bottom line, you want to choose a firearm that you feel comfortable with. Don't go for a heavy caliber just yet.

Side note: What city are you in? I'm currently in Missouri at the moment.

Kansas City. I'm not in the ghetto part but I'm close enough to it there's some sketchy activity.

Where in KC
---

Get a compact size 9mm. The reputable name pistols that are compact size hold 15 rounds per magazine, and the lighter weight with easier handling will make it more favorable than a full size.

Also, be ready to shoot at least 1000 rounds down the range to get proficient with it.
---

Steve Nick posted...

MrDrMan posted...

Steve Nick posted...

I mean, if you're an experienced shooter, sure, a .45 is gonna have a lot more stopping power in your hands.

My advice to TC was partially based around the fact that he's a gun newbie, and he needs to know how fucking loud and disorienting those hand cannons are.

Comfort and ease-of-use definitely should factor into the decision.

What's the middle ground? Glock 19?

Pretty much all of the higher calibers, even 9MM, are super loud. But you can find some fairly low recoil guns in a decent caliber. I've shot a lot of different handguns and the recoil ranges have been pretty wide. I've shot .45s with almost no recoils, and .45s that almost flew out of my hand. But they're all gonna deafen you one shot into the engagement.

I'd really recommend you just test out some guns and shoot a few.

What if I were to get a suppressor? Or is that a bad idea?

You're right I'll go test some out on my off day or something.
---

MrDrMan posted...

Steve Nick posted...

MrDrMan posted...

Steve Nick posted...

I mean, if you're an experienced shooter, sure, a .45 is gonna have a lot more stopping power in your hands.

My advice to TC was partially based around the fact that he's a gun newbie, and he needs to know how fucking loud and disorienting those hand cannons are.

Comfort and ease-of-use definitely should factor into the decision.

What's the middle ground? Glock 19?

Pretty much all of the higher calibers, even 9MM, are super loud. But you can find some fairly low recoil guns in a decent caliber. I've shot a lot of different handguns and the recoil ranges have been pretty wide. I've shot .45s with almost no recoils, and .45s that almost flew out of my hand. But they're all gonna deafen you one shot into the engagement.

I'd really recommend you just test out some guns and shoot a few.

What if I were to get a suppressor? Or is that a bad idea?

You're right I'll go test some out on my off day or something.

you're not getting a suppressor man. that's ridiculous lol

also probably illegal
---

Suppressors are legal in Missouri I already looked into it.
---

I think that'd be a lot of extra work, maintenance, and cost. Doesn't seem wise.
---

Steve Nick posted...

MrDrMan posted...

Steve Nick posted...

MrDrMan posted...

Steve Nick posted...

I mean, if you're an experienced shooter, sure, a .45 is gonna have a lot more stopping power in your hands.

My advice to TC was partially based around the fact that he's a gun newbie, and he needs to know how fucking loud and disorienting those hand cannons are.

Comfort and ease-of-use definitely should factor into the decision.

What's the middle ground? Glock 19?

Pretty much all of the higher calibers, even 9MM, are super loud. But you can find some fairly low recoil guns in a decent caliber. I've shot a lot of different handguns and the recoil ranges have been pretty wide. I've shot .45s with almost no recoils, and .45s that almost flew out of my hand. But they're all gonna deafen you one shot into the engagement.

I'd really recommend you just test out some guns and shoot a few.

What if I were to get a suppressor? Or is that a bad idea?

You're right I'll go test some out on my off day or something.

you're not getting a suppressor man. that's ridiculous lol

also probably illegal

If the SHUSH act or HPA passes, it wouldn't be hard.
---

Steve Nick posted...

I think that'd be a lot of extra work, maintenance, and cost. Doesn't seem wise.

Lmao yeah that would be getting a little too James Bond.
---

Basically, imagine you're getting home invaded, you can have 3 options available to you:

A. .22 pistol, quick firing, no recoil, no hearing impairment/shock. But persistent invader may continue even after being pierced by a round. May take follow-up to bring them down.

B. 9mm-.45 - Super loud, high recoil. Higher time between shots. You're gonna want to hit your first couple of shots with this because you're going to be thrown out of whack by recoil and loud sounds. On the plus side, it'll also be scaring the living shit out of whoever is intruding. If you hit, they're probably gonna be critically injured, but depending on situation, you may need decent aim.

C. Shotgun - Harder to conceal/handle in tight quarters, super loud and super high recoil, but it's literally just point and click combat, you shoot them and they're done.


There's your pro and con.

I don't want to make it sound like I'm shitting on high caliber handguns. Police kill people with them all day everyday. They're good weapons. Just a little hard to handle.
---

Tropicalwood posted...

moose_knuckle posted...

Tropicalwood posted...

moose_knuckle posted...

Tropicalwood posted...

Just get an ar pistol with a brace, they're about 500 on the cheap side.

Not to mention an nfa item.

The ignorance is astounding

It's not an NFA item, it's just a pistol with an arm brace which the ATF confirmed is not an sbr.

Your ignorance is astounding

Says the person recommending an ar for home defense in an apartment

Why are you in a thread about guns if you're so ignorant to their laws and functionality.

First off, you were claiming a pistol brace is an nfa item, it isn't.
Second, a shorter barrel means your muzzle velocity will be a lot lower than what the military uses, which is the whole reason 55.6 will penetrate body armor.

So why don't you go buy a gun and learn a bit more about them and their laws instead of going into threads about them and claiming to know everything while knowing nothing at all.

I didn't say the brace it self was, but an 'ar pistol.' That being legal with the brace is a relatively recent change, and good luck finding one. Either way, ridiculous for the stated purpose.
---

moose_knuckle posted...

I didn't say the brace it self was, but an 'ar pistol.' That being legal with the brace is a relatively recent change, and good luck finding one. Either way, ridiculous for the stated purpose.

>Good luck finding one
$200 for the entire lower with brace.
---

Tropicalwood posted...

moose_knuckle posted...

I didn't say the brace it self was, but an 'ar pistol.' That being legal with the brace is a relatively recent change, and good luck finding one. Either way, ridiculous for the stated purpose.

>Good luck finding one
$200 for the entire lower with brace.

You can't buy a pistol length upper alone without it being nfa far as I know
---

Just get a paintball gun
---

Listen to Steve Nick. Don't worry about how loud the firearm is. If you have it use it to defend yourself you won't even notice the bang.

If you are only going to use the firearm for home defense then get a shotgun. If you want to carry it also the go with a 9mm pistol.

Shotguns to look at are Benelli Nova and Remington 870. Some good pistols are CZ P10c, Glock 17 or 19, Sig P320, or Smith and Wesson M&P 2.0. My preferences are the Benelli nova and the CZ P10c.
---