new gunner lookin for advice

[tommy_gunn]

I am kinda new to guns. the only experience I have had is in the military with the M-16. I would lke to get all your expert opinions on what is a good caliber to carry, and a good gun to shoot it from. I am currently considering a Glock 23 for everyday conceal, and a beretta 96. Both are .40 S&W. Are these good choices? My necessities are personal protection, practice, and pleasure. I am a big guy, so I think recoil wouldn't be too much of a problem, but I will let you decide that, as you are the experts. Thank you in advance for the input.

Tom

[WillBrayjr]

Both Glock and Beretta make excellent firearms. I suggest taking a strong look at this .40S&W combo: the Sigarms P-226 and P-239. Get a few different boxes of premium HP ammunition to see which shoots the most accurate. Federal Hydra-Shok, Speer Gold Dot and Hornady XTP are very good rounds that hit hard. If you don't have a cleaning kit, please visit: www.otisgun.com They have superb products, excellent customer service, and a lifetime warrenty.

[IZinterrogator]

I have owned both. The Beretta 96F is a great pistol. I had an Inox one with Hogue grips and it was accurate and dependable. The only way I ever made it hiccup was by rapid-firing over 70 rounds at once, but it still went into battery, just more slowly. The Glock was the most reliable "garden-variety" pistol I ever owned. Never had any failures in it. I would suggest that you look around for a 2nd generation G23 because the finger grooves can be uncomfortable if your hands are not the ones they used to decide where the grooves should go. Your best bet would be to rent a G23 w/ grooves at a range and try the fit out for yourself. If it is comfortable, go with the 3rd generation style. I now own a Beretta 96G-SD that I traded the 96F in for. If you are planning on using it for the range and HD, it is set up for the job. I bought it while I was home on leave and didn't have a chance to shoot it, but all of my friends say it is outstanding and that I am missing out. Of course I have to caveat everything I have said with my experience may not match others' experience and YMMV, etc.

[omegapd]

Of the two you mentioned, I'd go with the Glock. I'm not a huge fan of the Glock because of the trigger pull (the Beretta's is much easier to master) but I think it can be concealed better and it's a point and shoot gun, so you won't have to second guess with safeties, etc.

[AUG]

I would advise against a 40 caliber. Ammo is more expensive and any stopping power gains are minimal.

Originally Posted by omegapd

I'm not a huge fan of the Glock because of the trigger pull (the Beretta's is much easier to master)

I have found just the opposite to be true. The DA/SA guns are the hardest of all handguns to master.

[XavierBreath]

I would agree with AUG.

If you have to have a defensive carry pistol now, go for a 9mm Glock. I cannot believe I just said that! It's true though, the Glock pistol is rock sold reliable, and the round gives you a bit of capacity to compensate for your beginning marksmanship skills. If you can find a Beretta Centurion (shorter 92FS) it also makes an OK carry pistol.

Either learn with that 9mm Glock, or get a .22 pistol to augment your training. Train towards marksmanship and rapid hits on a paper plate. It is not the recoil of larger calibers that usually throw off newer shooters, it's the noise. The .40 is loud and snappy, quite different from most calibers. It also costs significantly more.

As you progress, and can keep a double tap on the plate at 21 feet no matter what with a 9mm, then consider a .40 or a .45. You will give up some capacity for a more effective round, but you will have the skill to keep that round effective. No round will be effective if you cannot hit that plate.

[FirstFreedom]

You said personal protection - home defense or carry?

And get a .45 if you're not recoil-sensitive, as you said. Bigger hole. CZ 97B is a good start. The Beretta ain't a bad gun either. Glocks aren't too bad, but way overpriced for what you get. Springfield XD or Steyr M better choices in plastic wunder9/wunder40s. Would also recommend a Sig P 226 or Sig P220 ST in full sized pistols.

[rkc]

if you liked the Beretta in the military, the 96 is a good gun but LOTS bigger than the Glock. for carry some of the guns recommended are pretty darned big. Between the two, the Beretta will give more pride of ownership and has superior safety featrues. That means a lot to some of us. The glock works and has a trigger you really have to stay on top of for safety. To own and enjoy, the Beretta. To get down and dirty, the Glock!

[rkc]

oops
also, First Freedom is on the money- the Steyr is good but the XD 40 a tremendous piece for the money.

[rellascout]

The XD is nice but at $299 a the Steyr is the best value out there. If you want a 9mm you can get a M9 for $249.99. Both these prices are from CDNN. Both are very accurate with a consistant smooth trigger pull.

I would not buy a Glock in 40. The chambers are not supported like the Steyr. As I understand it the Glock 40's are modified 9mm designs. The Glock 9's are great guns. For CCW look at the Golck 19.

Rellascout

[D.S. Brown]

If you check my sig line you'll see what I use.

Carried a Sig 220 in .45 Auto for years. GREAT GUN! I moved to Texas from Massachusetts. Thought Sig was a little big for concealed carry for me. I'm 5'8" tall. Bought a Glock 23 and experimented with different weights of loads for practice and defense. Settled on 180 grain Gold Dots for their performance and 180 grain practice fodder because that is the most common and most available and least likely to be downloaded, unlike a few of the 165 grain defensive and practice loads out there.

One of the reasons I own four Glock .40's has largely to do with commonality of training. All four of my Glocks are set up for self defense applications. I use Trijicon nightsights on them with 3.5# connectors in combination with a NY1 spring. This gives me a good consistent trigger pull (albeit a little heavier) with fast reset and great accuracy. Like I said my prefered load in any of them is a 180 grain Gold Dot. Anyway this commonality of training allows me to transition from one gun to another with no degredation of performance. In fact right now my G27 is in "up at bat" this week.

However long story short is that I think the G23 is a great all around gun that is capable of accomplishing quite a few missions effectively. It is really my all time favorite handgun. In it you have awesome reliability, decent concealability, and excellent firepower, (13+1 rounds ready to rock), and another 13 if you keep a spare magazine, and you should. Please whatever you do choose quality.

Just my thoughts.

Best,
Dave