Read up on Glocks. The 23 sounds perfect for your needs.

Perfect price range, right in the "sweet spot". :thumbup: For that price or only a slight stretch on the upper end you can pretty much get anything that you want, as long as you consider used guns as well (which is a good idea).

Also, Don't limit yourself to .40S&W only, consider the equivalent gun in .45ACP as well. Most models in .45 are only slightly larger than the 9/40 counterparts. Recoil or larger rounds is something people bitch about often, but most compact guns in .40S&W have a snappier (more) felt recoil than the same guns in .45ACP anyway. Besides, with the proper technique, any adult male or female can shoot extremely well with any common caliber and not even give much of a thought to recoil.



- S&W M&P (see my avatar pic, I love mine)
- Glock 23
- Springfield XD


This group you will probably have to find used.
- Sig 239
- Sig 229
- H&K USP40 Compact
- H&K P2000 or P2000SK

Those are only the basics from the popular brands. Do some research to see which have the features that you want. They're all quality guns so don't eliminate anything as a possibilty until you've shot it (preferably) or at least handled it a few times at a shop.


Glocks don't have grip safetys. XDs do, but they're small and you can't feel them. The same goes for 1911s, they're there but after shooting one you realize they're useless but that it being there is really no big deal.

I agree with ^

I wouldn't even consider a 40, there is nothing a 40 can do that a 45 can't, Ina similar package. When I buy a gun I always consider how easy ammo would be to scavenge in an EOTW situation (I know, I'm crazy) but if **** really went south 9mm and 45 are going to be more plentiful than 49 and some odd calipers like 5.7/10mm etc. that's not to say I haven't bought some off caliber guns (I've had a gun in nearly every caliber there is!) but I always try and keep one handgun and one long Gun on hand in a plentiful caliber (my favorites are .45 in a 1911 platform or USP 45 and an ar type long gun in 223/556

Now with all that being said, in your price range, I would recommend glock all day. I've owned a ton of them and NEVER had an issue with any of them... Plus they hold their value like crazy, I just recently sold one for a 25% PROFIT! Haha, admittedly I don't have a lot of trigger time between the other common brands mentioned above, however everything dc2.2 suggested have got to be good if he is recommending them, he knows his guns and is picky as hell ;)

If you want to spend more I say go with a USP, steve has a tactical in 45 and its Hands down the nicest gun I've ever fired (besides my 1911's :) )

Couldn't have said this any better I have owned a sw mp in 40 also shot a few other handguns in 40 and the felt recoil sucks the follow up shot always took too long for me at least. I find myself much more comfortable shooting guns in 9mm and 45 acp so dont limit yourself at just shooting 40sw try a few others befoe buying

We've had the discussion about calibers before and we are in agreement for the most part about which calibers function best for what jobs, except that I'm a huge fan of 40s and I wouldn't choose anything other than .40S&W for carry (excluding 1911s which are .45 by nature and .380 which would be for pocket or backup carry). The thing about .40S&W that is appealing to most people is that you get velocity and weapon capacity similar to a 9mm with a bullet diameter and weight that's closer to .45ACP, and you get that in a firearm that is usually the exact same size as the 9mm version. 45 is always a step up in size with every gun in a model lineup and you always lose capacity, but then again you get a larger and heavier bullet. It's really all about trade offs and preference, so that's why I always say to go shoot every caliber and gun that you can. People obviously like different things and sometimes they don't know why they don't like something, just that they don't like it.

In my opinion .40S&W is the best of both worlds and is a damn good compromise. The fact that it's a good option for carry is only supported by the fact that the DHS uses .40S&W exclusively. It has been slowly taking over local law enforcement too. There are many local departments that will not allow 9mm, .45, or any caliber other than .40S&W. That kind of demand proves both that .40 is doing something that the classic popular and plentiful choices of 9/45 can't do and that it's not a round that's going anywhere anytime soon, so it's more than a safe choice for stocking up on and being sure that it will be easy to find post-SHTF if that's what you're concerned about.

deflip: About the USP (what cmr076 mentioned)... something that should be mentioned which proves that you really do need to handle or shoot each gun before ruling it out completely is something that I've said before on here many times. I love H&Ks. I think they're incredibly smooth shooting guns and they're badass looking too. However, I could never own one as a gun that I would carry or otherwise "run hard" (like a competition gun) because of the magazine release. I had an injury to my right thumb about 6 years ago that prevents me from extending it completely. It's slight, but it's enough to make me have to loosen my grip and rotate the gun to the left in my right hand in order to drop the mag. From the pictures of the guns you'd never realize that it is a longer distance than any other gun, but in person it's very different. Another example is that Glocks just don't "point" for me. It takes actual effort to align the sights once I come up on target with any Glock I've ever handled. Are they crappy guns? Nope, just don't fit my anatomy. Handle and/or shoot as many as you can before deciding on what to get.

I think the reason dhs/govt. agencies are switching over to .40 (and this is gonna piss you off, so kisses in advance :inlove:) is because a .40 has the stopping power of a .45acp (almost) with nearly the capacity of a 9mm, making it perfect for someone who isn't a great shot. The Leo's I know qualify and thats the extent of their shooting... If they got in a fire fight with the broadside of a barn, the barn would walk away unscathed... Enter the .40, they have more shots (9mm style) with nearly the stopping power of a .45 which means they can take fifteen shots, miss with 14 of them, and still put the target down (maybe not the case with 9mm)... The biggest compromise is how snappy the gun is, that why I write it off altogether.

I can hit a target 8/8 times with my 1911 or Steve's usp-t (ask him, he was getting annoyed) if I picked up your m&p40 I may hit 1/15... So I agree with you, shoot them all and pick what suits you best... If you didn't have the thumb issue the usp would probably be your dream gun, but in your situation you have to write it off as a practical gun to own.

40 is cheap too, especially compared to .45... We all know how our govt is with cutting costs ;)

This is a good read: http://ammo.ar15.com/project/Self_De..._FAQ/index.htm

my wallet was lost/stolen , along with my CCW permit, do i need to go through all the steps again to get it replaced? it's a pain in the ass to do so.

thanks guys. I went to the gun shop and held a bunch to narrow my selection. i hate the grip safety on the XD's, and the glock 23 feels like a toy. that and it had a double stacked grip which felt really uncomfortable. but i fell in love with the Sig p250 full size. it just felt comfortable. plus its compatible for left or right which is great cuz im ambidextrous. i went with .40 cuz its the best of both worlds. bigger than the 9mm, but holds more rounds than a .45. recoil is not at all a factor.

I believe so, this happen to one of my buddys and he had to go through the whole process again. Just don't cc until you get a new card.

hehe obviously...as tempted as i am my brain says no.

Ugh this is going to suck! thanks tho

IMO the sig p250 and the sig sauer 9mm are two of the most comfortable hand guns out there, the grips are just perfect in your hand and it's a very practical size

Yea it does suck, my buddy had his truck broken into down philly, stop to grab something to eat was only in the store for 15 minutes. someone pop his door lock, took his wallet and his bag which had his glock in it. Most likely will never see that again.

yea i just wish people would have the decency to at least take the cash and/or credit card and leave the rest behind....but i guess that's wishful thinking in this city.

Not untill it's used in a crime at least

Its reported stolen, only way they will know if its his and used in a crime is if its recovered. since its reported stolen and if they do recover it as long as the serial number has not been messed with he can get it back.

This is one of many replies from GunLawyer001 about the subject of carrying with a lost LTCF"

"There's an argument that failure to produce the original license upon "lawful demand" (whatever that is) is a violation of the UFA, which by default is a 1st degree misdemeanor.

§ 6119. Violation penalty
Except as otherwise specifically provided, an offense under this subchapter constitutes a misdemeanor of the first degree.

The opposing argument is that § 6122 "otherwise specifically provided" the consequences of failure to produce the license on lawful demand, and that's the adverse presumption at the prelim.

I haven't seen this addressed by any appellate court. But in the face of uncertainty, you should go with the safe course, which is to make a copy of your LTCF, keep that copy at home, and carry the original. If circumstances prevent you from carrying the original (for example, if it's confiscated by anyone other than the issuing authority), THEN you start carrying that copy. You can't be held liable for not showing what other cops unlawfully seized from you.

If you "lose" the original, you should notify the issuer, because someone has ID proving that they are you. Send a certified letter advising the Sheriff/PD of this fact."


So basically, just report it stolen and/or ask for a replacement. You shouldn't have to go through any bullsh*t at all. In Berks, I would just walk into the firearms department at the courthouse and ask for a replacement. They'll print it out in a few minutes. They might charge a few bucks for the new card though. In fact, I changed addresses recently and I still have to go get a new LTCF. I'm sure the process is the same.

If the gun is used in a crime he will never get the gun back. I'd go as far as to say that even if it's recovered without being used in a crime he'll never get it back. The gun will be destroyed, probably without even notifying the owner. There are tons of cases where people get their firearms seized and they have to hire layers and spent lots of money just to get them back. This isn't just people who are guilty of something either, I mean people who are wrongly arrested, have their rights violated, are involved in a justifiable self defense shooting, etc. Once their firearms are put into evidence, they might as well consider them gone. That's why you hear about people owning really nice guns but carrying "tupperware" like Glocks, M&Ps, etc. because they're cheap and compared to a $3000 1911, they're disposable.

I know a few people that have gotten guns back after being stolen. But I do agree with you on firearms being seized illegally and not being returned(philly). I know it can go either way pretty much. I know someone who had a pistol taking and got it back 5 years later because someone said he was showing it in a road rage situation, which he was not and he did have a ccl. Currently right now one of my dealer friends had a large amount of guns stolen a few years ago, they are still sitting in police custody til the case is over with then they will get them back(including machine guns/sbr/suppressed weapons).

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/...8F584766FD.jpg

bought this yesterday

Nice, what's the specs on it

Just a colt 6920 MOE.