Posted: 1/28/2004 11:57:43 AM EDT
|
I'm turning 21 on valentine's day and will be getting my carry license. I was looking at a sw99 in .45 and wondered if this would be a good choice. The only handgun I currently own is an old bodyguard airweight .38 5 shot and I'm wanting more capacity and a .45 I have about 800 dollars I've been saving for a long time for this day and wanted all the input from the gurus here before I made any type of move. |
| If you have $800 to spend, why not buy a HK USP45/USP45C, or a Sig P220. I have the SW99 in .40S&W and while it is a nice gun and shoots well, my HK USP40 shoots better and has less felt recoil. You should be able to pick up a NIB SW99 in .45 for about $500-$575 anything more wouldn't be worth it. Also if you are going to use this as a CCW gun then you may want to consider a compact model. The HK USP45C would probably suit you better than a full size SW99. I carry a HK USP40C for CCW 365 days a year in a in the waist SOB holster. What other .45 caliber guns have you looked at? Have you looked at the Kimber pistols? You can get into a nice Kimber Pro Carry II for under $800. You may want to find a range that you can try out/rent a few different guns before you jump in and buy. The SW99 pistols are good shooters and if you purchased one it wouldn't be a bad choice but their are better guns out there to be had for up to $800. |
| Thanks katoic I hadn't even though of the HK. I was hoping this thread would bring suggestions like the ones you gave. I had mentally dismissed HK because I had looked at the USP tactical and it was way out of my price range. I will look more into these weapons though. Thanks very much for your reply. |
| macho99957...Out of all my guns which is quite a few, if you said you can only keep one, I would take my HK USP40C for the simple reason that I can use it both as a on duty as well as off duty gun. Although the favorite in my collection is my Kimber Custom TLE RL II. I have had the opportunity to try a lot of different pistols in my day being a LEO, not saying I am a expert in any way, but HK and Sig top my list of guns to recommend. |
|
Lots to think about here macho99957. For me, even the Compact H&K is too bulky, especially in out long, hot, humid summers here...but I know guys who carry full size 1911's every day. Some of it depends on your normal dress and whether or not you are willing to sacrifice some style and, perhaps, comfoft to carry the bigger gun. If you work in an office environment, that is much different than working in, say, jeans and boots, etc. You have enough saved to get pretty much anything within reason that is out there and practical as a carry handgun (ok...not a Wilson or an Ed Brown, but...). I would continue to research this for a while and maybe try some other guns before making my final decision. The small Glocks are excellent guides as a size/efficiency coefficient, even if you don't particularly want one of them, assuming you want a higher capacity gun. Best of luck...and no matter what you choose, train with it. |