I am interested in purchaing my first handgun and am looking for some advice. I have fired several including Colt 45, 9mm Beretta and a Glock I think it was a 30. Thoughts?

If you have to have a handgun you want one that you are comfortable with and you want to choose your ammunition well and test it to ensure function. As long as you are comfortable with the firearm and can use it under stress any caliber is fine as long as its used with a premium reliable jacketed hollow point of modern design.

Personally out of that list I'd choose the glock. If it was a G30 then you have ten rounds of .45acp and no manual safeties to fudge with in the dark under stress at 3am.

Remember that you're probably not going to use this firearm in the daylight so pair it with a good reliable flashlight and train on how to use them properly together.

True. But if I were to purchase the handgun, what is considered most reliable and accurate?

Don't be worrying about accuracy too much. No combat ready handgun will do less than 5" at 25 yards from ransom rest.

If you want the most reliable handgun its going to be a smith and wesson pre-lock revolver and for home defense you'll want it in .357magnum loaded with gold dots.

If you want an autoloader then a glock is always going to be the most reliable (don't listen to oneformula when he gets on this thread) and the 1911 is always going to be the easiest to shoot accurately.

But srsly any modern large frame handgun made and adopted for military or police use is fine for all uses. That means any glock, any XD, any SW M&P, and if you are willing to train that extends to virtually any proven 1911 or Beretta 92FS etc...

Your living situation may dictate a different type of ammo (like fragmented stuff for apartment dwellers) or a different type of gun all together. I know people in texas who have ranch homes with many many acres who keep loaded lever action rifles in 30-30 for home defense. In their case though "home" is about about a square mile. You may live in a cardboard box and only need a pointy stick... I don't know. But rifle or pointy stick training is far more important than the tool at hand.

Thanks buddy. I appreciate it.

I could be a 12 year old girl who just watched CSI and Big Trouble In Little China and decided to become and internet expert on firearms today.

was going to recommend a .357 mag revolver but figured you'd get to it sooner or later.

One little thing about semi-autos....
They suck in close. Real close. If bychance you happen to be in a fight up close and you jab the muzzle up against someone before firing, in all probability the slide was pushed back and the gun won't fire. Some semis are much more prone to this than others. Some aren't affected at all (like Lugers). But most Browning action pistols won't work if the slide is pushed back an 1/8th. Obviously revolvers aren't affected by this and will fire even if pushed hard up against the target. A Double action only hammerless is even more reliable in up close although a bit harder to shoot accurately.

get a revolver. Fill it with frangibles.

put a handgun generally. why? long guns are VERY hard to use in close quarters and moving from room to room unless you have LOTS of training in doing that... which almost no one ever gets

<ul><li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H47QlGq3zQ4">and a Phased Plasma Rifle in the 40 Watt Range</a></li></ul>

They're badass too.

use a light load in the house, like a 95 grain silvertip, and you can't go wrong. a glock or any other semi-auto is good as your second or third purchase, but for home defense, first time owner you'll be in great shape....make sure you go to the range and fire about 500 rounds through it to get a feel for how it handles....or a 12 gauge remington 870 pump....if ya just wanna spray up the place....8^)

The gun is dead stone reliable, heavy enough to shoot comfortably, and a great stopper with full-power 125 gr .357 loads. The version with 2" barrel and bobbed hammer also makes a great carry handgun after you get some good experience and a concealed carry permit.

<img src="http://www.snubnose.info/images/sp101_2inch_350.jpg">

a lot of kick and flash, and if ya miss you'll wind up killing your neighbor....8^)

Last year I lived in an apartment where a frangible bullet would be prudent. Today I wouldn't hesitate to use full power loads, but my nearest neighbor's home is 100+ yds away. Flash might be an issue for a follow-up shot at night, but I doubt if most would notice the revolver's kick in a self-defense situation. BTW: I do have a Ruger SP101 in the nightstand, loaded with Federal 125 gr .357 magnum.

I also hunt with a Freedom Arms .454 Casull. Muzzle flash from the Mag-na-ported revolver is significant, and the 1800 ft-lb muzzle energy is 3X the muzzle energy of the .357 Mag. I certainly feel the .454's flash and kick on the range, but I've never noticed either when hunting.

carry capabilities are irrelevant

a lighter load is prudent, almost anyone will be amp'd up if they're in a situation where they need to use deadly force to defend themselves, so put most of the odds in your favor, less recoil, less flash and better control....imho

i have my 60-9 in my nite stand loaded with 95 grain silvertips, very effective round....hope to never have to use it that's for sure....

it can be a great self defense weapon

and fires the big 45 ACP round which is great in close. The only strike against the .357 mags revolver is the gun itself has no significant history.

high cap, easy to shoot, low recoil, "cheap" ammo, easy to clean, gun is relatively cheap (really cheap used), great warranty.

Everyone should own a 17