I have yet to buy a handgun but would like to very soon. I want something versatile so I can use it for home defense, some concealed carry and just target shooting in general. I'm trying to stay around $500-$600 so my wife doesn't shoot me with it... Im leaning toward 9mm but know some people feel pretty strongly about more knock down power. Is carrying a full size handgun every know and again ridiculous or do I need compact?

I carry a full size almost daily. It takes some dressing around sometimes, but is doable.

Might look into some compact double stacks. First that comes to mind is the m&p 9c but there are a number of them on the market.

I like Springfields XDM, XDs

Most like Glocks, like holding a brick unless you have big hands

some like Sig

some like Smith and Wesson

9mm is great, ammo is cheap and "carry" ammo is pretty deadly.

Go over to Bass Pro or a local gun shop, look at, fondle everything. See which fits YOU and WIFEY, most have interchangeable "back straps" to fit hand size.

You should have no trouble staying at your budget

STAY AWAY FROM THE CHEAP STUFF !!!! anything under $400.

If semi auto doesn't work, there are a ton of sweet .38/.357 revolvers out there too.

^^What Buzz said^^

X2 he covered it very well. Find what fits and run over to bullet trap in Plano or find someone on here that will let you put a few rounds through one.

I'd recommend going to a place where you can view/handle several pistols. Check out the Sig 320 compact, Springfield Armory XDm Mod 2 and XDS, and Glock 19 and 43. Chances are you'll like one of those. I'm a Glock and 1911 fan myself but I don't recommend the 1911 to people unless they are already familiar with them - especially if carrying concealed which with a single action means cocked and locked.

The only limitations with carrying a full size pistol is it does drastically limit how you carry and usually the type of clothes you wear to conceal it. That's less an issue with a compact. The pistols I listed above are compacts or sub-compacts and would be good all around. My personal favorite of that group would be the Glock 19. People either love or hate Glocks, I'm part of the love them crowd. A 2nd Gen Glock 19 is one of my favorite pistols and I'm a .45 man mostly.

Earl

Doesnt matter what caliber really as long as you are confident with it and protected.
I made the big mistake of buying a full size pistol and switched it for a compact carry pistol soon after.

The compact does it all especially if it has the capability of bigger magazines.

When I want a full size gun I just pull out the 8 round mag and stick in a 10 round mag and I have a full size weapon for my particular brand.

For resale value and for your own benefit dont go cheap. Buy the best you can afford since it may have to safe your life one day.

All great feedback guys. Keep it coming. I'll take all the info I can get for something like what Bigfoot said... May save my life one day.

as time goes by, I have started to look more at a revolver for defense because the chances of it malfunctioning are almost nil. with a semi auto, which may have sat for months will "probably" not malfunction but the chances are greater in my opinion.

If you do get a semi, commit yourself to learning how it works, inside and out. I "try" to at least once a month, drop the magazine, rack the slide, ejecting chambered round. wipe off all oils, lightly re-lube, work the slide vigorously, load it back up and store it.
Even better, go shoot it'

Most semi autos have a suggested break-in period, around 300 rounds before they are considered "reliable"

Revolvers, not so much.

I have 5 semi's and 4 revolvers, love them all

as suggested, take your wife to Bullet Trap or the Frisco Gun Club, they both have rental guns you can shoot when you narrow it down.

I'm no expert, this is for sure but I have been doing this for a long time and just know, what I know. works for me

just some stuff to think about.

I would also take a look at the Sig P320 compact. But there are lots of good options in your price range. I would go to Bass Pro or Academy to look around and maybe even go to a place where you can try them out for real.

Single stack for a carry gun. Double stack for HD and range use.

Glock 19
Sig 320 compact
X d in whatever their mid size is

You are going to get a lot of opinions on this subject and there is no better place in Texas than this forum for good advice. Buzzaw laid it out pretty well. I am primarily a revolver man (with the exception of the model 1911) The .357 is hard to beat IMO. The FBI ran a test some years ago in regards to stopping power at close range, indoors. The .357 magnum edged out even the .45 ACP and was way more lethal than the 9 mm and several others. Just some food for thought.

Be careful with the labeling of the smaller than full size pistols. Different manufacturers call them different things. For example with glocks, the 17 is the full size, 19 is the compact and the 26 is the subcompact and they go in that order from biggest to smallest in 9mm. I mention glock because that's what I know but I also know other manufacturers will interchange the subcompact and compact labels back and forth.

That said, it sounds like you're looking for (in glock terms) a compact model. Furthermore, I have a glock 19 and have recommended it for years. It was my starter pistol and it did everything you mentioned for me for years before I bought another handgun. FYI, I had a revolver before that and it never seemed as versatile.

Never seen a break in period mention in my semis manual.

They may not all have a breakin period but my STI, Kimber and Dan Wesson did. I shouldn't have made it sound like ALL did. It would probably be smart to do some sort of break-in, especially if your life depends on it,

maybe the rattle can Glock doesn't need break-in,

Tommy Lee Jones in the movie U.S. Marshals "Throw away that nickel plated sissy pistol and get yourself a Glock." Can't go wrong with a Glock. Right price range, tried and true tested and approved.

Hey Buzzsaw, how many rounds have you put through your Springfields and how reliable have they been for you? Any issues or things you aren't a fan of?

I'm a Sig and CZ75 compact guy.

Marc

Simple advice for what you asked

Get yourself a mid size 9mm

Glock 19
Springfield xd
Sig 320
I would look at the above first

Heres an update guys! I appreciate everyone helping me out with this.

I went to Bass Pro and Academy on Saturday to get my hands on some of the guns you guys have suggested. In all honestly the 3 guns Brother in-law mentioned are at the top of my list. Just have to narrow it down from here.

The Glock 19 I'm a fan of because I know its reliability will not be an issue and the availability of parts for modification etc. I know people say you love them or hate them but somehow I find myself in the middle. I will say that it felt smooth but didn't fit my hands as well as some of the others I picked up.

The Springfield XDM felt well balanced and fit my hands well. I have not heard much about what owners like/dislike about this gun though I'm sure Springfield produces a quality and reliable gun. Also, getting my hands on a full size with a 3.8" instead of the 4.5" barrel built my confidence in being able to conceal it on a regular basis.

The Sig 320 appeals to me for some of the same reasons as the Springfield. I know Sig makes a reliable gun and I really liked the carry size (in between full size and compact is exactly what I'm looking for). I also like the idea of the interchangeability of sigs system. Frames, grips, mags, barrels/calibers are all investments I can make in the future which gives me a handgun that has a lot of variety.

Bottom line is I'd like to know what you think of these 3 guns specifically, especially if you own or have owned one and speak to the pros and cons of the gun. I know it comes down to personal preference. Just trying to get all the info on the table. Again! Really appreciate everyones input.

Love my glock 19 but have also removed the finger grooves, under cut the trigger guard, stippled it, changed trigger spring and safety plunger spring. I love it for that reason, good size, reliable, and easy to modify. Magazines are cheaper than others and it just plain shoots for me.

So I recently got to the range and put 100 rounds through 3 different guns: Glock 19, Springfield XDM and Sig 320. I also brought my wife to put a few rounds through each and see what she thought about each. I was impressed with each of these guns in their own capacities.

That being said, (and I'm sure some will agree and some will disagree) I found one to stand out. That is the Springfield XDM. Love the feel of the gun, the natural safeties built in to the gun and the way it shoots. And on top of that the wife likes it the most of the 3. 2nd in line was the 320. I thought it shoots well and love the idea of the modularity that it provides, however, I found it to be a little harder to put back on target shot after shot and my wife (obviously, without the strongest hands and very limited handgun experience) agreed that it was tough to shoot on target. With the exception of the modularity nothing really stood out about the gun. The Glock was the least favorite as I found the grip to be uncomfortable and slick in the hands. Also, I had a casing get stuck in the slide. I know Glock is known for their reliability but I have seen complaints of this in the Gen 4 Glock 19. Had I shot a Gen 3 this very well may have been different. You hate them or you love them, but I actually found my self kind of indifferent.

Still budgeting and saving for the gun but am glad that I finally got to a decision on which to purchase. Ultimately came down to what gun felt the most comfortable and put the most confidence in me and my wife which is what I will gladly spend money on. Any thoughts THF?

Sounds like you found the one. It's rare that a husband and wife both enjoy shooting the same pistol. Buy it and don't look back. Safe and happy shooting.