I’ve been shooting every now and then for the last 20-ish years and I’m a decent shot. I’ve shot a handful of different pistols, rifles, and shotguns. Leaning towards getting a pistol, not totally sure what I’d get. It would be for home/self defense but I like to go to the range sometimes. I’m considering:
- Some sort of 1911
- Ruger LC380 (is it even possible to get a CCW in CA?)
Any thoughts/recommendations?
Opinions are going to vary a lot
Now, I shoot 1911 a ton. It’s my favorite handgun, period. My main carry gun is a 45, though not a 1911. But I can’t say it’s an ideal choice for a first time owner. Don’t get me wrong, it’s the kind of gun that you can enjoy the rest of your life, at all skill levels. So if you’re only getting one and don’t care about the early stages of learning, it’s a solid choice.
But it is a bitch to learn on. They’re just so heavy and they kick middle hard. It’s an awkward gun for a newb, imo. Once you get used to it, it’s great though. Not sure where your experience level is, you might have already shot enough to be used to something like that.
Me, if I was picking a starter gun, there’s actually a new one out there. The Ruger RXM. It’s a glock clone, 9mm. It’s affordable, but doesn’t sacrifice anything to do it. The damn things shoot like a custom setup right out of the box. The trigger is just so smooth, with a fast return. That makes is a dream on the range. It’s got this modular design that’s going to allow you to customize easily (once there’s time for the market to build for it). It’s set up for optics out of the box, it’s compatible with a lot of glock parts. And it is just a pleasure to shoot.
No bullshit, I’m considering selling my beloved ruger p90 so I can get one. I’ve got thousands of rounds through the p90 just the last few years, and I’ve had the thing since the late 90s. That’s how impressed I was with the RXM. The p90 is like an extension of my body at this point, and I still shot better with the RXM.
Now, if you’re looking for something more concealable, the lc380 is definitely a solid piece. 380 is generally considered the bare minimum defense round, and it is easy as hell to shoot. However, I’d also take a look at the Ruger security in 380 if that’s where you want to go round wise. They shoot fairly similar, in my limited experience (borrowed only, so no long term usage), and the security is a new model that has some nice features. Worth comparing in person to see which one fits you better.
Keep in mind that there’s 9mm versions too, which will cut back the recoil and the higher weight means it’ll kick less than a gun with a polymer frame
That’s true. I always forget that there’s 9s. Mainly because I’m not a wimp ;)
Bad jokes aside, I do usually forget about them because in my head 1911 = 45, and anything else is not “really” a 1911. Which I know isn’t accurate or useful, but it’s one of those old man habits that aren’t worth fixing lol.