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?
The gap between even a compact 1911 and a .380 pocket pistol is pretty wide. They are both automatic handguns, but quite different.
If you aren’t planning to carry, there’s really no reason to pick a pocket pistol sized handgun over something else that is larger and more pleasant to effectively shoot. If you do want to carry (and are able to navigate how to make that happen in CA) a pocket sized .380 is a good option because the size and weight making it easier to consistently carry trumps shooting ergonomics in this situation. Sidenote: While I refer to all of these sub sub compacts as pocket pistols I want to mention I don’t actually advocate pocket carry. It’s stupid, even with those soft pocket holsters. Just get an IWB holster which will be nice and tiny matching the handgun in the ease of carrying.
Putting those pocket pistols out of the running assuming it won’t be carried, the options are still open. At the point you get into the caliber and different operating system arguments. I think 9mm is tried and true. A striker SAO styled pistol is a pretty inoffensive choice. Glocks are popular, but if you aren’t interested in the aftermarket upgrades I think these days there are better out of the box options like CZ P-10s and even the M&P series are better than a stock out of box Glock IMO.
But some people like 1911s or DA/SA guns. That’s your choice. I think for 1911s, Rock Island Armory is still considered the go to 1911 when you don’t want to spend huge money but honestly my information on 1911s lags a bit, they aren’t really my focus. For a DA/SA I’ll again show my Czech bias for the CZ-75 series.
Also, Rock Island Armory has some 1911 models that are chambered in 9mm, and a couple of the double-stacked ones are reasonably priced if you’re willing to look around. One I was eyeing a couple months back was $550, though was iron-sights only
Semi-automatic…
Cz75 sp-01 for full frame
Any of the 9mm cz compacts for well smaller frame
The question is why a handgun if you’re keeping it just for home defense and not carrying it?
Get an AR.
The terminology for handguns is a little wonky, as “automatic” is a long running term for automatically loading, semi-auto pistols. It’s not incorrect to say semi-automatic pistol , but the insistence on saying it is somewhat new compared to historical term use.
I don’t know where you are from, but no one says automatic handgun here in the states. As automatic, is exactly that around here: hold trigger and it mag dumps. Semi-auto is just pointing out it’s not a revolver.
You might not like it, but “automatic” has been a term for semi-automatic self loading handguns. Here is an NRA article written in 2024 repeatedly referring to “automatics”. John Browning himself developed “ACP”- Automatic Colt Pistol cartridges, which were named such at the time, which were used for Colt Automatic Pistols.
Non-Colt pistols have also been referred to by their makers as automatics. A Bauer “Automatic 25” example.. A family of Webley & Scott handguns.
As to use, people still put up listings referring to self loading pistols as “automatics”.
And another listing.
You can buy a 7th edition of book called Gun Digest Book of Automatic Pistols Assembly/Disassembly which was refreshed in 2022 and still kept the name.
And for good measure, this isn’t even a pistol but shows historical willingness to consider self loading as automatic, the Browning Automatic-5 shotgun.
You can disagree if it is a good term, you can use other terms, but it is a thoroughly established and used term.
While I know no one who says automatic pistols, as everyone instantly thinks…well automatic machine gun. It is very interesting to see your links. This is the first time I’ve seen the term used this way. Thanks for the info.
I’m still going to refer to the as semi-auto lol …the anti-2a crowd doesn’t need more metaphorical ammo.
I’m pretty sure I’m not even allowed to say “AR” here in CA
Oof yea that’s true. Then go CZ. Once you go CZ everything will feel like cheap junk
I know multiple people here who own AR-15s, and have shot multiple
They (stupidly) restrict a lot of attachments but the gun is legal here
Or, since it’s home defense: the Remington
680870 (the 680 is a cod gun and idk why autocorrect did that lol) is greatThe only people I know who have them here are vets. Either way I’m looking for something a little tamer, my gf would have a fit if I came home with an AR. I’ll have to check out the 680.
I’m not seeing the 680 anywhere, you sure that’s the right number? Maybe it was discontinued?
Lol gboard autocorrected it to the fucking call of duty one holy shit I don’t even use this phone for those where did it learn ghat
The real one is the 8 7 0, no spaces
LOL ok I see it now. Yeah I would shoot that. Not sure if I want a shotgun for my first gun but I’ll keep that in mind.