New guy - Michigan - Deciding on first handgun

[GoBang]

I'm a newbie to the board and a newbie to handguns. I'm married, have 2 kids, and work as a data analyst.

I'm deciding on my first pistol but am 85% convinced I want a Kahr in .40 S&W. While I would love to get a premium model in the future, my first purchase would be either a CW40 or one of the new CT40s.

I also plan to run 180gr ammo in it, unless that presents some kind of a problem for Kahr guns (in which case I'd use 165, nothing lighter).

I realize this is a lot to decide when I haven't fired one of them, but I *am* a data analyst, after all!

So hi everyone. I hope this begins a long run of ownership of Kahr firearms.

[berettabone]

Welcome.................40 cal. is my favorite caliber to shoot, but not everyone likes it, due to the snappiness of the round. I would suggest that you go, if possible, and try out as many firearms, and calibers that you can find. You wouldn't go and purchase an automobile without test driving it first. You need to find a comfortable, shootable firearm for you. I own 9mm, .40 cal. and .45 cal....the recoil of .40 cal. can be pretty snappy, depending on the firearm, but a lot of .45 shooters will tell you that .45 has less recoil than .40. If you have a local place where you can handle numerous firearms, semi's, revolvers etc., you'll find something that feels right. We all do Most of us, more than once There is a segment of people out there, that regret their first purchase, because they didn't take their time, and check out many different firearms. Get ahead of the learning curve. The more you can see and feel, the better your decision will be. If you don't have anywhere close, try to find someone you know, who is an owner, that can steer you in the right direction.

[kerby9mm]

Hi there Go Bang. I'm in Michigan the Livonia/ Farmington area. How about your location.

[GoBang]

Thanks berettabone. I have a shop/firing range near my place of work and plan to try some guns there if I can. I want to be able to conceal carry.

On the other hand, I'm balancing that with the reduced capacity of a single-stack gun. So between capacity, size, and power I landed on 180gr .40 S&W. It's simply not in my nature to choose what "feels right." It's my nature to make a decision with logic and then work until it's perfect.

I have no doubt I can become competent - or better - with any caliber I choose. Snappiness? Pain? It'll just make me work that much harder to perfect my accuracy and control.

[GoBang]

Hi there Go Bang. I'm in Michigan the Livonia/ Farmington area. How about your location.

I am currently in the Lansing area, and I have lived in Ann Arbor and in South Carolina, previously.

[RevRay]

Beretta had some good advice worth considering. There's nothing wrong with logic ... certainly I would never be one to suggest there is. And I would suggest that it makes very good sense to look for a gun you're comfortable with. It certainly makes more sense than picking one you're not comfortable with. In fact, it could downright dangerous.

[GoBang]

Beretta had some good advice worth considering. There's nothing wrong with logic ... certainly I would never be one to suggest there is. And I would suggest that it makes very good sense to look for a gun you're comfortable with. It certainly makes more sense than picking one you're not comfortable with. In fact, it could downright dangerous.

Thanks RevRay. I will heed the advice from both you and Beretta. It's certainly not my intention to be the dangerous one. I have two kids. I don't want to be the one who - if required to - can't place a shot in the right spot or endanger any innocent bystanders.

I've had some pretty damned good accuracy with a rifle, but I know pistols are a different beast. I'll start with 180gr .40, and if I can't comfortably accomplish what I want, I'll consider another weight/caliber option.

[h2ohhh]

Logic and research aside, many experienced shooters will tell you the single most important thing is how the gun feels in your hand. Glock makes a reliable gun but feels horrible in my hand compared to a Kahr, for example. Likewise, if you have normal sized hands you will discover the grip on a CW-40 leaves your pinkie hanging off the end, whereas a CW-45 enables you to get all fingers on the grip. And the .45 IS softer shooting than the .40. Be sure to do some touchy/feely and if possible, some shooting before you buy.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

[GoBang]

Logic and research aside, many experienced shooters will tell you the single most important thing is how the gun feels in your hand. Glock makes a reliable gun but feels horrible in my hand compared to a Kahr, for example. Likewise, if you have normal sized hands you will discover the grip on a CW-40 leaves your pinkie hanging off the end, whereas a CW-45 enables you to get all fingers on the grip. And the .45 IS softer shooting than the .40. Be sure to do some touchy/feely and if possible, some shooting before you buy.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

Good points. My hands are somewhat large, although I have thin fingers. I like the better conceability of the CW40 over the CT40, but I do want something I can get a solid grip on. If I moved to .45 I'd probably run 185gr for the improved velocity (although the bullet density would concern me).

Ultimately, I hope I never have to use it in a defensive situation.
If I do, I hope I have the firepower to deter the attacker.
If I can't deter them, I hope I have the firepower to end the confrontation.
And I hope I never, ever have to kill someone to do it.

[DavidR]

There is a segment of people out there, that regret their first purchase, because they didn't take their time, and check out many different firearms.

That's me. My first semi-auto was a Glock 27 (compact 40 caliber). The grip was too short and stubby for my hand and the recoil was too much for me. I hated shooting it. Lost some money on trade-in but live and learn.

[b4uqzme]

Welcome GoB. Congrats on thinking it through. There's a lot of good advice above.

[b4uqzme]

Your analysis/logic is correct...40 is a great choice. Just one most of us are hesitant to recommend to a first time shooter. Many find the recoil off-putting so definitely try one out (or a similar .40 if the Kahr isn't available). I know I'm repeating the others but we cannot stress that enough. The fear is that, if you don't like to shoot it, you won't practice enough to become proficient.

Otherwise, owning guns is a journey. Some of which is trial and error. Some of which, to your point, is training and persistence. It's not the end of the world if your first gun doesn't work out. Just trade it in and try another. Or like many of us...just keep buying more and picking your favorites.

Protect your family, be safe, and have fun!

[berettabone]

I leave shooting .40 cal. to full size firearms. I also leave shooting .45 to full size firearms. They are a handful in smaller frame firearms. I have a tendency to be overly analytical myself, but comfort and confidence are very important. Whatever you choose, welcome again to the world of firearms and self preservation.

[GoBang]

Thanks for all the advice, guys. There are a lot of subjective views on caliber/ammo, and my preferences (as they are) are based entirely on academic analysis. So take my views with a huge grain of salt. Also, don't laugh at me too much.

.45 is really designed to work out of a 5" barrel. Dropping to 4" or 3.5" is a pretty big hit on the velocity. And .45 already is a slow ammo. So for the smaller guns I believe 185gr is the best choice.

As for .40... My perspective then, is that if I'm already down to 185 then I may as well keep the extra round, thinner gun and cheaper ammo and shoot 180gr .40S&W which was designed to shoot out of shorter (4") barrels to begin with. Even dropping to 3.5" is only a minor hit to velocity, and the heavier (than 155/165/etc) bullet will travel slower-enough to allow most/all of the powder to ignite behind the bullet before it exits the barrel. The heavier bullet has a greater density, and should offer better penetration. And lastly, most people claim that heavier bullets (for caliber) result in less snap to the recoil (just more "push back"). That sounds like a good option for getting quicker follow-up shots.

I have nothing against 9mm. It's not even "off the table" for me. It just seems to me that if I'm going to have a small, lower-capacity gun on me then I'd better make sure each shot has the most potency possible (or reasonable).

[RevRay]

And here I thought all you wanted was something that would Go Bang.