Hit rk and dunhams yesterday... Saw many 9 mm i was interested in. Not looking to spend a fortune. May go with a s and w easy slide or sig or glock.... Mulling it over. Home defense not carry.

Best of both worlds. Glock 48 mos with a shield ams 15 rd mag. Put a streamlight tlr sub 7 light on and have the option for a red dot. Carries like a dream yet 16 rounds at your disposal with an enormously bright light.
I hate the idea of having multiple pistols for multiple purposes for defense, unless theyre the same format. Even having two different brands that have different angled grips can throw a guy off. I went from Glock to Sig and back to Glock. When I switched to Sig, it took a bit to not be staring at the back of the slide when I punched out. Back to Glock, and my grip felt weird.

Thanks for your input... I had several 9 mm until canoe tipped over

For home defense, a short barreled 12 gauge pump is my preference. In the dark and without my glasses I may as well throw a handgun at an intruder. Everyone knows what the sound of racking one in the chamber of an 870 is and it typically reminds them of somewhere else they need to be.

If your going to run the shield arms 15 round mags , it is recommended you upgrade to the shield arms mag release

Glock uses a poly mag and poly mag release

shield mags being steel have been known to wear the poly mag release quickly


if your not looking to conceal it , full size guns shoot better

if the goal is shots on target in a given time the full size takes it every time.

then it comes down to what fits in your hand and presents sights on target with your grip.

pick a point and get your grip , focus on that item or point , close your eyes as you push out open when all the way out, are your sights lined up when you open your eyes.


then you may want to leave the option open for an optic they can be a little bit of a learning curve to switch to but they do make faster& further possible

I am currently looking at the Smith and Wesson Equalizer. Comes with 10, 12, 15 rd. mags and a Maglula loader. Supposed to be very easy to rack. Also can put optics on it. Grip safety but can also get a thumb safety option if you want. Most I have seen are under $500. Worth a Google search for sure. Very high review ratings.

Moosetrot

Handled one last night in gun store.

home defence -shotgun with buckshot-vehicle carry shotgun with buckshot-concealed carry sig p365 macro

could say AR or shotgun in the house which are you better with both have different benefits.

when your not in MT carrying something big in the truck is good but not something you want to be leaving in the truck overnight

and while where I live walking to my truck with a shotgun in hand any time of day is not an issue it is nice to be able to discretely move your truck gun with no one knowing what that bag is

so finding something that fits in a standards duffle bag is nice.
a little smaller yet even better

I would say a short easy to handle long gun with light for HD and a full size very shoot-able pistol also with light for more urban suburban
and whatever long gun you like for rural where your more likely to take a shot at a coyote or woodchuck than human threat but more range might be more better

I would suggest a Smith and Weston MP 2.0, 9mm. I has a 18 degree handle same as a full size 45. It comes with 4 palm swells to modify to your hand. Can get with or without safteys. Believe 2 mags come with purchase. Use ball ammo for plinking. The pistol approx $550. Federal Punch accuracy for personal protection only $18 a box.

Already had a 1911,like a smaller grip.

Bought the wife an EZ slide, has a safety, easy to rack, perfect for her to carry. We also use the shotguns for home defense

Home defense guns need a light regardless of type. Don't want to accidentally shoot a loved one. One example of this was a man heard noises grabbed gun and went to investigate. He shot the intruder in his kitchen killing him. When the light turned on it turned out he killed his son that came home from collage early and didn't call and let him know. A light would have took care of that.

I would go full size for your needs easier to shoot and more rounds

Look into S&W SD9/SD40VE-cheap and shoot well.

If you go the AR/shotgun route, make sure you grab a sling for it. You won't want to set it on the ground if you need your hands for something else.

only a handful of 1911s take lights well

there is definitely a difference in ability one handed with the other holding the light.

a second light available isn't a bad idea , but a weapon mounted light lets you shoot the gun better while still having light.

Have,had

maybe the SD9 2.0 because they made updates to the trigger , I haven't tried one of those yet but the
SW40F, SW9F, SW40C, SW9C, SW40V, SW9V, SW40E, SW9E, SW40VE, SW40GVE, SW40Ti, SW357V, SW9VE, SW9P, SW9G, SW380M, SW9M
are basically all the same 1994 tech and HORIBLE trigger

I got started shooting action pistol on a 40F it was the double stack handgun I had at the time.
the trigger was around 12 pounds it caused issues , then I broke it and upgraded to an Apex trigger it was better but , there are more shoot-able guns out there that put more user features and rounds in the same outside dimensions

sure you can get the SD for 300 but for 450 you can get an M&P and get more gun , that shoots better and has better accessories availability.

the SD is the gun you buy when all you can afford is 300 and a box of ammo and you need A gun to fit that price point.
there have been improvements made handgun feature and function in 30 years

there are a lot more options when you have a little more money and intend to train more to be better.

I totally agree on the sling.
and likewise a holster is a very good idea for any handgun

there's only 4 handguns I would trust with my life a colt m1911 a s&w m&p shield a Taurus raging judge and any type of short barreled shotgun such as a 18 inch 10 gauge sxs or a 12 ga pump 18 in

Picked up a Glock 31 in 357 Sig a week or so back. Been looking for something for my oldest daughter to carry while up in the woods. Full sized and shoots really well and Been finding ammo fairly close to home. Own several Glocks and they aren't the prettiest but all shoot well and go bang every time. Found this one a sportsman warehouse in their used counter. Pulled it about and it had never been fires. Buddy of mine runs all Sigs and he swears by them and I do like how they feel and shoot, mother in law just got a Smith H-cat but forgot to bring it out last time she was here. I have a couple Rugers SR9 full size and it shoots nice (wife's) and I have an friends ( he passed away shortly after I got the pistol from him) LC 9 compact. Long terrible trigger pull and not the most accurate but getting better with it.

I absolutely could not agree with this any more than I do! Close range,in the dark, NOTHING beats the ol 12 gauge!