Re: Specific Gun Reco for Ca Guy (warning LONG)
There really are lots of questions that need to be answered first. If anything, the subject of firearms is as diverse as flashlights, computers or cars. We established gunnies need to know what your expectations and needs for the firearm are.
What do you want the handgun for?
Self-defense for home,
Self defense for concealed carry (If you live in a CA county that issues permits),
Both home and concealed carry self defense
Range/target practice/plinking
Handgun hunting large game or small game
A hunting/fishing/camping backup (bears, cougars)
A combination of some or all the above?
How much do you intend to practice and/or shoot the handgun recreationally? Have you ever fired a handgun before, more than one kind? If so, did you like one more than another? Would you consider, or do you plan on, owning more than one firearm to eventually meet more than one need? Do you know firearms knowledgeable individuals that could help you practice, or even if they're unfamiliar with your choice, at least operate most any firearm safely until you have sufficient skill? (It sounds as if you do...)
These all have direct bearing on what type of firearm might be best for you. Perhaps it's not even a handgun that best suits your needs. Perhaps you have needs that can only be met by more than one firearm...
CA has the "approved handgun list" which means the mfg. has to submit to all sorts of safety, trigger, and drop tests, and has to have a certain minimum of safety features. Of course anyone who has more than two firing neurons in their skull knows this is really just CA's way of trying to hinder and limit handgun ownership, but I digress. There's still plenty of choices available so far, and if you find your "must have" handgun is not on the approved list, used guns made and sold before the list went into effect are still legal for sale as consignment through a dealer.
If you plan to practice frequently, (at least several times a year) and/or use the handgun recreationally at a range or on legal land of sufficient size and emptiness, the list of recommendations is endless. There are many, many, quality handguns, both revolvers and autos, that will be suitable for target and self defense use if you plan on taking the time to practice and familiarize yourself with the firearm. Gun people may debate the qualities of various manufacturers and models, but from a choice of top-tier makers, any selection should be fine from a quality standpoint: Glock, Ruger, Sig Sauer, Smith & Wesson, Colt, Walther, Kimber, Springfield Armory, Kahr, CZ, Baretta, Steyr, Taurus, (And I haven't mentioned them all) are all fine brands with different offerings.
If you are inspired by recent events, (Katrina 9/11 etc.), or just by "normal" crime, and see how easily social order can break down in a widespread or local emergency, and feel a firearm might be a prudent investment. However, you don't plan on becoming a "gun nut" who will practice regularly beyond a minimum required to be safe, and have some chance of hitting your target in a basic defensive situation, I do have some pretty concrete ideas. (Practice and becoming a "gun nut" is preferable from a skill and safety standpoint, but I wish to be realistic with what type of buyer you may be.)
Handgun:
For the "buy it, shoot it once-twice, and store it at home until an emergency" kind of owner, I'd recommend a mid-sized 3" or 4" barreled .357 Magnum revolver from Smith & Wesson, Colt, Ruger, or Taurus, probably in stainless steel since you won't be cleaning it frequently . It is extremely easy to operate, simple to load, and accidents are les likely since the user can see if there are rounds in the cylinder immediately, whereas ammunition in an auto with a magazine is "hidden", and can even still be loaded and fire with the magazine removed. (A common and tragic mistake.)
Also, if kept loaded, as it ought to be if kept for defense, all the springs and parts are at rest. The position of the trigger and hammer are no different on a fully loaded revolver than an empty one. All you need to do to fire a loaded revolver is pick it up, aim, and pull the trigger. If you're not going to get a significant amount of practice, autos often have safeties and catches that could hinder or confuse the user in an emergency if they're not intimately familiar with their operation to the point of reflex in an emergency. There are autos with no external safeties, such as Glocks, Steyr, and the Walther/Smith & Wesson 99, other than a special "safety" trigger, but the trigger pull is generally lighter than a revolver, and are somewhat more accident prone with an under-educated owner.
The .357 Magnum may sound intimidating or excessive, but I assure you it is a normal and mainstream defensive round, and was commonly carried by police up until autos became popular in the 1980's over revolvers for law enforcement. It is a powerful round, but is still within the limit of what most people can control with a little practice. The .357 is also very versatile, in that .357 revolvers can chamber and fire lesser .38 Special ammunition for practice, or if recoil or sensitivity becomes an issue. Despite the difference in numbers, .357 is really just a slightly lengthened .38 Special so it can contain more powder, and also so it will not fit in weaker .38 Special-only guns for safety reasons. .357 is still a very popular caliber today, and is available at any gun-store or hunting counter across the country.
The downsides to a revolver are the capacity, usually only 6 rounds, although 7 and even 8 round models are available. They are also potentially slower to reload as compared to a magazine change in an auto. However this is countered by the fact that multi-round gunfights in private self-defense situations are extremely rare. There are speed loaders that can carry and put all the rounds into a revolver's cylinder at once available as a popular accessory. And, rapid magazine changes under stress or fire with an auto is something that must be practiced many times before you can expect to be truly efficient. The last downside is that revolvers, or any handgun is on average, is more difficult to hit with than a rifle, carbine or shotgun. The shorter length, and the way they are held, just make this a fact of life, even for proficient shooters. A well practiced shooter may easily be more accurate with a handgun, than a novice with a rifle, but both will still see an improvement with a long arm.
Shotgun:
If it is to only defend your home, and not be carried about, or concealed with a permit, I might also recommend a pump-action 12 gauge shotgun, probably a Remington 870 or a Mossberg 500. There are lots of misconceptions about shotguns, even sometimes from "gun nuts" who ought to know better. Things like "you don't have to aim", "it will clear out a whole room" are utter B.S. Unless you live in an incredibly large mansion, any shotgun load will not spread wider than your outstretched fingers inside most any home. It will also not spread much wider than an individual adult human being inside the longest distance in the average suburban yard. (note: shooting at people outside your home is likely to get you in trouble, especially in CA without very good reason…)
This all means you still HAVE TO AIM. However, despite these myths, the shotgun is an incredibly useful defensive tool, and if you have either the time or the opportunity, to grab one and use it, it is a better choice than a handgun. The power of the load, plus the effects of multiple impacting pellets makes the shotgun extremely effective as compared to most handgun loads. Also, the three point hold a long-arm gives you (two hands + shoulder stock) in addition to the longer barrel gives you a longer sight radius, which on average will make any person more accurate, and more likely to hit their target. (Try quickly AND accurately aiming at things in your house using a stubby pen, then try it two-handed with a yardstick, you'll understand the difference immediately.)
It is a hotly debated topic, but there is also the general theory that while multiple smaller shotgun pellets working in concert are very powerful, individually they are slower and weaker than most handgun or rifle rounds, and less likely to penetrate multiple walls of your house, or worse, your neighbors homes and endangering your family or bystanders.
There are some obvious downsides to the shotgun, it is larger than a handgun, and more difficult to store safely, but still have quick access. (however, products do exist to aid with this, things like the between the seats locking shotgun clamp in police cars are available to homeowners), it can get caught up in tight corners, doorways or hallways, making it difficult to aim or get into action. Also, the longer barrel makes it easier for a close-in assailant to deflect or wrestle away the gun. That being said, I believe the benefits of the power the 12 gauge affords, and the hitability of a long barrel and a stock makes it even out with a handgun.
Whatever you decide, the best general advice is to practice, and look for friends, ranges, stores, classes, or shooting clubs that can help you try different firearms, learn gun handling and safety, and practice, practice, practice.
Here's a few forums you might want to check out:
www.thefiringline.com
www.thehighroad.org
www.glocktalk.com
Some other excellent resources:
www.packing.org
www.nra.org
www.gunownersca.com
www.calguns.net
