I just registered to ask this question as I do not have anybody to ask (family or close friends). I turned 21 a month ago and can finnaly buy a handgun. Having wanted one sense I was five and having been in situations where it could have been a great help I have decided to buy one for self protection. I will practice some but I dont see this becoming a HUGE part of my life. I want a gun I can buy use every now and then when I go to the range but keep on my person and in car in my day to day life. Price and size are both HUGE factors. This has brought me to look at the Bersa Thunder .380. I do however understand it doesnt have much stopping power. I will have at most 350-400$ to spend. I also want something I can hide fairly well so I do not scare people everywhere I go. Im nervous about a revolver because it only has 6 shots and takes longer to reload when compared to having an extra magazine already loaded. Does anybody have any advice, info about any specific gun that comes to mind?
Welcome to G&G !
IMO the Bersa .380 you mentioned is an excellent gun for you. The gun is reasonably small, not to pricey, not too much for a beginner to handle, and a decent autoloader. It's a good choice.
Don't be concerned about "stopping power" right now. Buy a gun that is easy to handle. A Ruger SP101 revolver is a good choice too; although you'll find the Bersa easier to hide.
A surplus Makarov pistol in 9x18 mm is an alternate to the Bersa, but I'd choose the Bersa first.
Your location is a big factor to consider when purchasing a handgun.
Apart from that a wheel gun is a perfect choice for a first gun.
A .357 is a good man stopper and you can use .38 specials to practice with.
If you practice with a speed loader there's no reason you couldn't reload as fast or faster than an auto.
And as for capacity if you gotta use more than 6 shots 4 more probably won't make a difference.
I have a Bersa .380 ACP Duo Tone and revolvers. Check out the Bersa, mine has been great. A revolver would be nice but if you don't feel comfortable with one go with a self loader.
First off, a revolver would be the best choice here. You said you don't want to have to worry alot with the gun. I add that a SP101 would be an excellent choice in the manner. They are quite reliable, and come with a lifetime MFG warranty. Also, if you need more than 6 shots for protection there might be a bigger issue.
I also support the .357 caliber as you can use .38 until you get more familar with the gun.
If you have a semi-automatic like others have said in that price range I would look at the Bersa. If you could stand a total of $500, I would look at the springfield xD 9mm or 40 cal.
In North Carolina, you must go to your local Sheriff's office and appy for a pistol permit. You must then wait about 5 days to get it. If you want to conceal this firearm, you must take a class and pass the test for a CCW (CONCEALED CARRY WEAPONS PERMIT). Otherwise it is illegal to carry it concealed like you are wanting. Classes start at about $100 and the permit it self is an additional $90. I would suggest checking at a local community college as they do offer the class for about $60-80.
Chris is right about the permit process. Keep in mind that the paperwork has to be filled out at the sheriff's office. You are not allowed to take it home and bring back a completed form. Permits usually cost $5 each with a maximum issuance of five permits at a time.
The CCW class is a good idea for familiarization with the laws and for the purposes you describe. My local range offers classes as cheap as $75 or so, others I have seen are well over $120. Look around to find a decent price and at the community college system as Chris suggested.
For the budget that you have, I would have absolutely no problem with the Bersa Thunder. I own a .380 duotone. It is one of the best firearms purchases I have ever made. For price, quality, ease of use, cleaning, concealed carry, and maintenance, the Bersa is hard to beat. Look on bersatalk.com for more info from Bersa owners.
My only advice on the Bersa is to stay away from after market magazines. The two I have purchased don't work well. They feed OK, they just don't stay in the pistol like they should and tend to drop out of the mag well. I bought another factory magazine and no problems.
Since this will be your first handgun, I would suggest a revolver instead of a semi auto until you get familiar with it. Semi autos are more complicated, and I know of many instances where inexperience and semi auto equals disaster... particularly when a semi auto user removes the magazine and thinks the gun is unloaded, not knowing that there is a possiblitiy that there is still a round in the chamber.
My choice for self defense is the old Smith & Wesson 5 shot .38 special. It's small enough to conceal easily, and has good stopping power with +P loads.
YOU HAVE TO GET A PERMIT BEFORE YOU BUY A HAND GUN!!??!?! Thats pretty !!!!ed up. Im not going to go on a liberal bashing rant because i lean towards the left on a lot of things but WOW...... The government really does try to control every aspect of our lives.
Chris is right about the permit process. Keep in mind that the paperwork has to be filled out at the sheriff's office. You are not allowed to take it home and bring back a completed form.
Troy this depends on which county you are in. Cumberland allows you to complete it at home which is necessary as it requires a "Character Witness" signatory. So much for being a law abiding citizen they want to make sure you aren't an !!!!!! too! They also require a thumbprint on the back of the permit to basically ID you due to a case of a man obtaining permits under his brother's name.
__________________ Commen Sense and Critical Thinking are an absolute joke in today's society. Yes I am talking to you!
Can you legally go to SC, buy a pistol and bring it back to NC? Or is that a no no?
Also remember that ALL handgun sales in NC now are required to obtain a pistol permit even those between two individuals. This is due to straw sales and I would advise it also for the legal implications; if the gun ended up in a crime and got traced to you.....
__________________ Commen Sense and Critical Thinking are an absolute joke in today's society. Yes I am talking to you!
I'd suggest you NOT consider caliber, or manufacturer at this point. I'd have you go to as many gun shops/gun shows, as you can get to and handle everything you can get your hands on. You'll find a few that "feel right" in your hands. Those are the ones you want to pursue. The handguns that I prefer may feel very awkward to you. When you find a frame that "feels right", the manufacturer probably makes it in multiple calibers. THEN you can decide what caliber you want to use. If it doesn't feel right, you won't shoot it enough to become proficient with it. If you're not proficient with it, don't carry it for protection.
The biggest hand cannon made won't do you any good if you're not proficient with it.
__________________
NRA Life Member
Freedom has a flavor the protected can never taste
USMC RVN Jun '67, - May 69
Hello room, i am new to the site ( just found it, this is my first post!!)
to gregory: i am on the same page with jay... dont hesitate to be VERY picky with the weapon, not to be extreme but this could be a life altering decision, since you are purchasing something you are trusting with your life! I would recomend something relatively simple but very reliable... no matter what people will say, knowing *Exactly* how you weapon works and all of the working parts is very important to self defense and maintenance/cleaning. if you have decided you def. prefer semi auto i would at least try out the feel and weight, as well as shooting some of glock's weapons... such as Glock 17x9mm, and Glock 22 9mm these are two Very reliable guns, you dont have to worry about jamming, you dont have to worry about cleaning or maintenance nearly as much...(unless you are obsessive like me!!) but more importantly, its a light weight, very reliable, *VERY few actual working parts*, and very easy to learn ... no double action or any of that stuff to learn.
besides a revolver you dont get much more reliable than glock ... great beginer gun. i also love sig sauer, and bersa is a good choice... but like jay said no matter what any of us say or recomend buy what feels right in your hand ... buy the gun that your finger wants squeez the trigger every time you look at it!! haha
to: Jay.... phantom? jump? either way Semper Fi. i have been a Marine for 5 years and a Recon Marine for a little over 3 of those five years... I Love it! (1st Marine Div. Echo Company, 1st Marine Recon)
Any way thanks everyone for putting up with my input haha... what ever the out come i think you will make the right decision for you and be happy with it gregory!
"I shall never quit.
To quit, to surrender, to give up is to fail.
To be a Recon Marine is to surpass failure" Honor, Perseverance, Spirit and Heart.
