Shotgun?

Don't start that. It's a whole different topic.

Understood. A pistol takes much much more practice to be proficient with is all I was thinking.

Why not .40? I have a sig P229 that is the best handgun I've ever owned. Of course what ever you decide, shoot it first. See how it feels in your hand, not just empty but with a full magazine. You have to love the feel and action to love the gun.

Personally, I'd stick with 9mm or .45 for a semi-auto. Cost and availability of ammo is the primary reason. I'd also add .38spl or 357mag if including revolvers.

Caracal Pistols - YouTube

LOW bore axis for the win!

Or a 1911. YES!

I'm with mreid, I have a Ruger, a couple S&W's & 3 Sigs........Hands down, my favorite is my Sig Sauer P229 in 40 cal.

Additionally, 40 ammo is more available here, 9mm is not.

1973 911 T MFI Coupe, Aubergine

Steve

Its been my experience that 9 and 45 are the first to go with any sort of buying panic hence I went with the 40. A bit snappy through a composite but nothing major. M&P is my favorite for your price range but also consider the SP2022. Never liked the Sig until I tried one in 40 cal.

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Very interesting! Most reviewers seems to like it.

My SIG SP2022 had problems and SIG couldn't fix them. Traded it for my Glock 23. But all my other SIGs have been flawless. I was suggest a P239 in .40. Then you can swap in a 9mm barrel if you want. You can get the +1 mag extensions now so it will carry 8+1 rds. It's the most accurate SIG I own and very ergonomical. My P220 and P226 are the most comfortable in my hands, but not the easiest to conceal.

If you want to go with the SP-series SIGs, I'd get the SP2340. Mine was flawless, but my SP2022 was not.

Here's a low bore axis . . .

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ellum_1586.png

I don't think you buy Sig for tupperware. If you want polymer frame there are better choices. But fwiw I've shot p220, p225, p226, p228 and found them to feel better than any other handguns. I own p225 and p226 both in 9mm and have no complaints.

field strip it and reassemble it in less than 45 seconds.

I did watch a couple at the range once she was 5'2" 110# and he was 6' 200+ and was angry at her since sh kept using the 1911 in 45 acp vs some plastic wonder 9mm

He said the the 45 acp was too much for her and kept trying to get her to use the plastic pistol.

She was doing better managing the recoil of the 1911 vs plastic pistol. the bore axis was 1/2 lower on the ancient 1911.

LOL, Caracal just recalled ALL of their 'C' pistols for an unrepairable design flaw.

http://www.caracal.ae/new/Caracal%20C%20-%20Update%20Recall%20Notice%20-Sep%2013.pdf

You send them your gun, and they send you a refund (or another Caracal, if you naively think lightning never strikes twice).

I have a S.S. Smith & Wesson semi auto in 40 cal. and love it. Bought it used at a gun show it was a police turn in. Nice looking, good feel to the hand and accurate and reliable. But my best advice I can give is whatever you end up with you have to practice......practice.....practice shooting it. Both you and the wife. In my opinion operating the gun has to become second nature, you need to know everything about its operation without thinking about it. I say that because if you ever get in a panic situation you don't want to be thinking about where is the safety, did I rack a round in the chamber etc. you just need to be fluid. Hopefully you are never in that situation. Enjoy and be safe.

Double your budget, you each need one.
The one your wife likes won't be the one you like.
Jim

The smaller the pistol, the more difficult it is to shoot accurately. Look for something midsized, probably with a single stack magazine and a 3-4 inch barrel. Nice visible sights and/or a laser would also help. Good lock on your search.

Truer words were never spoken. You can't run fast enough to give me the S&W Sigma my wife has, she wouldn't use my Ruger P90 for a wheel chock.

I haven't been in the market for a "cheap" 1911 for a while, but there should be some sub $500 ones out there.

If you are looking to go to the range with your wife, you may want to give the Ruger SR9C a look. It is a compact 9mm, bigger than the LC9 and smaller than the full size SR9. It comes with two magazine sizes the larger is a 17 rounder that makes it more fun at the range, less thumb busting loading the mag.