[lilfeucht23]

Hi, I have never had a pistol before and me and my dad thought it was about time to have one for the house. I was looking at getting a XD in .45 ACP. First question is are these good guns? Next does it matter that i have not shot a pistol before to get this caliber. Then also which would you choose and why the 4 inch service model or the tactical 5 inch. Thank you soo much.

 

[uglydog]

To answer in order:
I feel the XD-45 is a very good gun, I have one that I carry for duty and it sits on the nightstand when I'm a sleep. I prefer it over a Glock or other polymer pistols as it fits my hand better. Many of the others are also great guns and may be a better choice for others than the XD.
That you have not shot a pistol before is not really an issue but I don't think starting with a 45 ACP is a great choice though certainly not a poor one. I base this on the fact ammo costs for the 45 ACP are among the highest which prevents one from shooting very much. It takes a number of rounds to build proficiency with a handgun, much more than with a rifle or shotgun. The added recoil of a 45 ACP is also not very conducive to learning correct shooting technique which will prevent or at least hinder you from becoming proficient with your handgun.
As for barrel length, I prefer the 4" versions as it is easy to find a holster that fits the gun. When I had a 5" XD-40, there were only outside belt holsters that the gun could fit into, one was very expensive and the other very cheaply made. One could always use the Yaqui Slide type holster but I never cared much for that style. I also felt the balance was a little nose heavy which I didn't care much for. Someone else migh think it balanced fine though, depends on the individual.
My advice is to start with a 22 LR as a first handgun. A decent one is fairly reasonable in price (easily half and close to one third the price of an XD45), ammo is very inexpensive ($10-$12 for 500 vs. $15 for 50), recoil is light which allows you to learn proper grip, trigger squeeze, and reduce the likelihood of developing a flinch, and eventually you will get one anyways if you enjoy shooting handguns. If you decide you don't want to continue with handguns, you will be out considerably less also as you will lose less on trade/resale with a 22LR.
If you insist on getting a centerfire handgun, I would recommend something in 9mm as ammo is half the price of 45 ACP and recoil is substantially less. The XD does come in 9mm though it is a different frame size which is a little smaller than that on the XD45. My best suggestion would be to find a range that has guns for rent. Try out those that you are interested in to get an idea if you even like how it feels and shoots. That way you reduce the odds of getting a gun that you ultimately don't like.

 

[basics]

by all means get yourself a good pistol.. a 22 is cheap to shoot so thats a good gun for you to learn with.. but for home protection may i suggest a 20 or 12 gauge pump shotgun..
load it with bird shot and put as many rds in it as u can.
probably 5-7.. its a vicious stopper for the burgler you are trying to stop. and wont go thru a wall an kill your neighbor or even your dad sleeping in the next room..
we have an modern day clint eastwood here .. totally amazes
me what he can do with pistol or rifle..but his home protection gun is a pump shotgun with bird shot. jmo

 

[john1911]

XD is a fine pistol. I would choose the 5" if I wasn't planning to carry. Recoil from a .45 isn't that bad. You will need to practice quite a bit to become proficient with any handgun.

If it is a matter of home defense weapon, a shotgun is a viable choice. Forget the birdshot unless you plan on being attacked by birds.

I personally reach for my 1911 when something goes bump in the night.

 

[freemonty]

I mostly agree with everyone here on most things. First, .45 acp might be a tough round to learn on. 9mm is cheaper and lighter recoil, and starting on .22 is a good idea if you want to learn well, but requires you to buy two guns if you want home protection (trade-in is a good suggestion). Your best option for home protection in my opinion is the pump shot gun. However, don't expect bird shot to have a decisive effect, but basics was right on about not hurting any surroundings (including people your not shooting at), so what some experts suggest is to have the first one or two shells loaded with shot, 6 or smaller, and if you miss, have buckshot loaded behind that. Without a doubt buckshot is gunna be the best stopper. They say no. 1 has the best wounding ability. Check out this article.

http://www.firearmstactical.com/briefs10.htm

 

[basics]

good advice .. thats exactly whats in my shot gun..[i hadnt read that article]..one thing to know tho..if you open up on a burgler with the bird shot at say 5 to 25 ft..inside your house..dont have much hope that you wont kill him..you probably will..even if you miss and he gets out the door .. you may have broken one burglers will to steal..after he has cleaned his britches .. he may decide theres got to be an easier way to get by..
this assuming you didnt get a clean shot at him in the yard,,
with the buckshot..pity the fool..

 

[basics]

just a thought. in a sane world you wouldnt have to worry about
any charges being filed against you for the shot outside the house..but we dont live in a world,, i can make much sense of of anymore..

 

[bearhunter7mm]

i am trying to decide if i should buy a smith and wesson highway patroller in 357 mag or colt 1911 in 45 apc.

these are the things i am trying to consider when purchasing.

A,my gun will be used for fun and home protection(have shotgun but swinging my 870 express trap 12 gauge super mag ... well no room at my place).

B,having handled numerous guns today at my possesion acuasition lisence course, the two mentioned were the most comfortable fits for my larger hand while not being akward like those 44mag hand cannons!

C,i am left handed left eye dominant (the sig was terrible to use Rolling Eyes )

D, i am poor lol! Razz Mr. Green

something i was wondering about is if the 38 is cheaper bullets than the 357 mag or 45 acp (pratice made cheap! Very Happy

 

[Roadkill Bill]

If this is the first gun, I too would suggest getting a good .22 to learn on. For about $10 you can get a brick of .22 ammo, and you and your dad can go out and shoot all day. Plus it will drop any soft drink can, clay target, or golf ball dead in its tracks. It can't be beat for pure shooting fun. I like revolvers because they can shoot any type of ammo without ever jamming, but a Browning Buckmark, or Ruger Mk. II or III is a great choice for learning to shoot. Then there is also small game hunting. A .22 is NOT my first choice for home defense, HOWEVER, this was our first handgun purchase when my wife and I were first starting out, and I knew I could empty a 12-round magazine into someone coming into our house or bedroom in just a matter of seconds, and with no recoil, they would be on target.

I also like revolvers for you first centerfire handgun. A new or used S&W or Ruger .357 is hard to beat. You can shoot cheap .38 Specials for practice, and then keep it loaded with .38+Ps or .357s for defense. Depending on what type gun you get, you can also use a .357 for hunting deer sized game, .38s for rabbits, *****, etc. Plus at the range you don't have to chase your brass like you do with an automatic. Alss, a revolver doesn't have a magazine running down the middle of your grip, so most revolver grips feel better in your hand, and point naturally.

Everybody had their favorite autos. I like Glocks. Simply because they have proven themselves in years of use and tons of torture tests. Nothing has beat it yet. Some folks don't like the way they feel. I think that's one of the most important things in picking a handgun. #1 is getting a reliable gun with a proven record, and #2 is getting a gun that feels really good in your hand. Sigs have terrific ergonomics, and if I were getting another automatic, a Sig 220 would rank very high. If it feels good in your hand and aims naturally you will shoot it better.

Also, regarding automatics, a 9mm is cheaper to shoot, but worry about .45 autos and recoil. My wife loves to shoot a .45 and recoil doesn't bother her at all, and she's just a medium sized 5'5" gal. It's all in your mind. If you think a .357, .45, or .44 mag is going to jump out of your hand when you shoot it, it probably will. If you concentrate on SHOOTING, then you will do fine. Most folks who are scared of a .45 have never actually fired one. In a life or death situation things will happen so fast and the juices will be pumping so hard you will not notice recoil, muzzle flash, sound, or even how many shots you fired most likely.

Hey, all this advise and $5 will get you a cup of coffee. It's just my humble opinion, and like rear ends, everybody had one. Good luck, and now I'll leave room for the next guy.

Let us know what you get, and welcome to the fun world of gun ownership and shootin'! (99.9% of us never stop with just one gun anyway! I'm up to 23 handguns, 10 long guns, and I ain't dead yet.)