I'm now getting ready to buy my first handgun for personal protection, I was just wondering if you guys had any good choices for my first pistol.

If you havn't had any experience with handguns I would suggest starting out with a 22 long rifle and learn to shoot prior to obtaining a centerfire handgun. You can get a set of small frame guns that are almost identical from Smith & Wesson or Taurus.

My view on a personal protection hand gun is to get a small frame double action five shot 38 special such as a Taurus model 85 or one of the smith j frame guns with a two to three inch bbl. and carry it all the time, with the proper carry permit of course.

A double action revolver requires no safety and the learning curve is fairly short in becoming proffecient. Another factor is size. a larger gun that is left at home or in a car is not very useful.

I carry a Taurus ultra-light 38 special ($280.00in most sporting goods stores) in a front pocket holster (Uncle Mikes Sidekick size 3, $11.00) and it's always there, always there and hopefully I'll never need it.

I practice with this gun regularly and for defense carry 125 grain plus-P jacketed hollow points. This little gun is very accurate out to 15 yards and tips the scales at 17 ounces.

It will carry in a purse or pocket with no problems. The 125 grain hollow points are very effective and the cost allows one to become proffecient at a reasonable cost.

I also shoot a small four inch Rossi six shot 22 double action revolver. Taurus now makes one just like it (they bought jout Rossi). This gun with the same frame size as the little carry gun is fun to shoot and practice with. At ten bucks a brick for 22 lr ammo at most discount stores such as Wally world it does not cost much to become very proffecient with a hand gun.

Anyway anth3112 welcome to the forum and you now have my 2 cents worth.

I like the small revolvers too.... especially the ones that don't rust.

Good question for you... how do you plan on carrying it? Holster, pocket, briefcase, other?

Well, caliber is also important. Many state that the 380 auto is the smallest to go for personal protection. Kel-Tec makes a nice teeny tiny 380 auto that is about the size of a wallet. They also have 32autos that are smaller yet, but that probably is too small of a caliber. The Smith&Wesson family of scandium and titanium wheelguns are great. The .357 scandiums with the 2 in barrels are a real handful with recoil worse than some big magnums, so maybe a .38 Special would be the trick. A little bit bigger auto by Sig is the 239 in 40S&W. It has a full carry package with dehorned edges, DAO bobbed hammer, and im not sure but I think it comes with night sights. Its not cheap though, and its a little bigger than some of those wheel guns.

I too would start with a 22lr semi auto or revolver shoot a couple bricks of ammo, then start looking at 'self defense' calibers.

Here is what I carry and how I carry it. The pocket holster will fit in a front jeans pocket and takes away the outline of the revolver along with protecting it from sweat or wet. It will also go in a back pocket like a wallet, but leave the revolvers handle sticking out a little. In a purse (for the ladies) it protects the gun.

I have the lightwieght stainless ultra-lite model. At 17 oz you hardly know it's there. Most self defense situations are going to take place within six to 20 feet. A weapon that can be instantly available and both accurate and powerful enough for that distance will do you well.

I personally believe that five .358 caliber (38 special +P) 125 grain jacketed hollow points will do the job. Anything much more powerful is can be much harder to carry comfortably and in the case of much more power much harder to learn to shoot.

I would sure recommend taking a CCW course. It's one thing to think about carrying a defense handgun, but another being prepared to use it.

Being an old fella I made the decision a long time ago that my and my families lives were worth more than any fella whom might want to harm me or them. This means that I've decided that, god forbid, I might have to take someone elses life.

That's the decision you have to make when you decide to pack a lethal weapon. If your unwilling to make that decision do not buy a self defense handgun.

If you will notice the revolver with the longer barrel has adjustable sights and with the four inch barrel is very accurate. It's the same frame size as the carry gun, but being a 22 long rifle is very inexpensive to shoot. It is also a bunch of fun to use while becoming a good revolver/pistol shot.

You need to shoot, practice, get comfortable and familiar with your gun of choice. To that end, choosing a revolver over a semi becomes irrelevant. If you're not willing to do those things, you shouldn't have a gun. Your first choice comes down to the revolver or semi issue. What do you like? What feels best in your hand? Personally, I can't stand revolvers, never have...just...yuck, feels wrong to me. You have to make that decision. Overall, a semi is far more concealable than a revolver. They fit the hand differently, so get to a store and handle 'em. From there on, it's caliber, etc. I'd not go below a 9mm or even a .40 in a semi, frankly. There's just no reason given the good quality and minimal sizes of guns today. I have a .45 auto in a package not any bigger than an index card...so there's no need to give up caliber for size. In revolvers, you're going to be choosing between .38/.357 and .44 probably (which is really a .429...always worry when they lie about the size!!)

I would suggest the Desert Eagle .50 caliber....ok..stop laughing because I am kidding. I started out many years ago with a .22 pistol which taught me the fundamentals and responsibility that goes with shooting. Or, you can skip that and get a short .38 Spl that has been mentioned before and start with that. No matter what you get, I would advise you to get intimate with it before you start toting it around or even think about pointing it at somebody in defense.

Anybody can shoot a pistol, but only a handful can shoot one well.

a walther p22 is very very easy to conceal, due to it's tiny grip size.
something ot start with and become comfortable with, before upping in caliber.

I'm now getting ready to buy my first handgun for personal protection, I was just wondering if you guys had any good choices for my first pistol.


You need to start with a double action revolver. I say this with experiance with both semi autos and revolvers. for a beginner It is easier to learn the basics of good shooting with the Double action revolver than it is with any semiauto.
With a semiauto you are dealing not only with learning basic shooting skills, in an emergency you have to remember if there is a magazine in the gun, is there a bullet in the chamber, is the saftey off, and above all keeping your wrist locked so you gun does not jam because of limp wristing it. That's a lot to remember for a beginner in an emergency.

With the revolver you aim and shoot.

I'm a .44 magnum fan but I would recommend a .357 mag. as far as for a defensive caliber. This gives you a range of rounds that you can choose from that is most comfy for you to shoot from mild 38 sp to really hot .357 mags. you could even to deer and hog hunting with the hotter .357 loads at close range.

As another suggestion but not manditory I would also suggest getting a .22 lr revolver. this will let you go to the range and shoot a lot and get really good at dirt cheap prices. I have a Ruger Single Six which is a single action .22lr/.22 mag revolver. Smith & Wesson has one or two double action .22lr revolvers.

When you get really goos at the basics of shooting with your revolver and you actually want to go get a semi auto then go get one and it should be at minimum a 9mm.

For a self defense first gun probably the best choice is a 4 inch barreled medium frame 357 magnum that can also use the 38 special. This is one of the easiest guns to learn on for a new guy. You can start out using the light recoiling 38 wadcutter ammo and then progress to heavier loads. Once you have developed some skill you can move on to a snubby. The snubbies are a lot harder to shoot and starting out with one may dissapoint you. Handguns are a personal choice and if you can find a range that rents guns try a few first to learn your likes and dislikes. If you like the autos, then a Glock 19 is a good choice in 9mm. Also get some training from a qualified instructor. Just my .02.