I would like recommendation on which type of handgun to buy. This will be for self protection (to carry).?

This is a highly debatable point here. How much firearms experience do you have previously?

The most important feature is that it "fits" your hand comfortably. If it feels bulky, you wont point or handle it well, especially in a stress situation.

Stopping power versus over power is another consideration. One poster mentions the 9MM stopping within the body. I respectfully disagree. If you are using a specialty round, such as silvertip, hollow point or Hydra-shok, it will expand with a nice center body mass hit and stay inside, but the general feature of the 9MM is a small and light buller traveling very fast (as compared to the .40 or .45) which will cause little kinetic shock. That is the main reason most departments have dropped the 9MM in favor of the .40 or .45.

Are you something of a gun nut? If you have little practical experience, you would be better off with a revolver over an automatic. If you dont have a lot of range time with an auto, you can get hurt with "slide bite" or just not handle the weapon well.

When you deal in a high stress situation, the body goes into an alarm mode. You develop myopia (tunnel vision) and tend to focus straight ahead only. The blood in your body will focus in the middle of the body and restrict in the outer extremities. You retain simple reflex only, fine motor skills disappear. In other words, you "react" and "not think". You will do only what you have been trained to do ( called muscle memory). In a defensive posture, such as gun fight for your life, you wont even remember what happened at the end. What this means: KISS: Keep It Simple Stupid. Use what you have the least trouble with and what feels good to you.

Go to a range and rent a couple of different handguns. Most private ranges have weapons for rent for a couple of dollars an hour. If that is not possible, talk to friends who shoot and go out with them. Try a couple of different calibers and different types of guns. Some people naturally feel better with autos and some prefer revolvers.

For stopping power, I wouldnt go with anything less than a .38 caliber. The .25's and .32's are cute, but unless you hit a vital organ or the brain, you will only wound or make them mad. .38, .40 and .45 seem to be the best stoppers. A .44 mag looks awesome, but the recoil and size of the weapon is not something you want for personal protection unless you have extensive training and many rounds in practice on a range.

As far as the weapon itself: stick to any of the major manufacturers. Smith & Wesson, Colt, Ruger, Sig, Beretta, etc. Stay away from the lower cost weapons. You get what you pay for and if you are trusting your life with a shot or two, you certainly dont want to have problems.

I hope you can find this useful for your purposes. Get training and LOTS of range time in practice. Take care and be safe.

The best way to find a suitable carry weapon is to go to a range that rents guns and shoot as many as possible. There is a lot of personal preference involved. If price is no option, Glock, H & K, Ruger are excellent choices. Best bang for the buck (pardon the pun) is probably Taurus. They had some issues when they first started making composite frames, but that has been mostly solved and they have a lifetime warranty. Do yourself a favor and stick with a .45. Very few people get up after being shot with one.

Some good carry handguns (of course personal preference applies):

Also, I assume you are looking for a handgun with a 2 to 3.5 inch barrel...since those tend to be easier to conceal...

Glock 26 or 27 (nice, reliable but chunky)

Ruger Sp101 (great snubby but heavy)

Kahr K9 or K40 (very slim but expensive; stay away from the polymer versions)

S&W J Frames (light but less durable than the Ruger SP101)

Kel-Tec PF9 (light and easy to carry but cheaply made)

Walther PPS (slim and new, so jury is still out if it's any good)

Bersa Thunder Conceal Carry (good reviews but a .380 Auto)

For myself, when I was looking for an all day carry piece, I originally was going to get the Glock 26 but felt it was too chunky then I ended up with the Ruger SP101. The Ruger is nice but a bit on the heavy side...works fine with jeans but not shorts. So probably next year, after some more reviews have come out, I'm going to get the Walther PPS, if it doesn't turn out to be any good then I'll probably get the Bersa (will also consider the Kel-Tec PF9 since I'm not a big fan of the .380 auto round) unless I can afford the Kahr K40.

Good luck.

I like my full size Ruger SR9. It is slim but still a full size 4" barrel. I had to by and IWB holster because it is still new. I do not carry concealed but it is comfortable. You may want to look at the Springfield Armory XDs, Taurus Millennium Pros, Glocks, and Kahr. Sigs are great as well. Do not forget about revolvers also.

Hope that helps...

Issac....how about some sources on those "stats." I am a firm believer in providing real stats not ones made up by Sarah Brady and other anti-gun liberals.

Get a 9mm. I like the Sig Sauer P-226.

The reasons I like 9s over .45 or .40:

1. A 9 will stop inside the person you're aiming at rather than going through and hitting someone behind them.

2. You can fit more rounds in the clip.

3. The ammo is cheaper, and in the case of a .40, the ammo is AVAILABLE. It's hard to find .40 ammo sometimes.

Hope that helps.

I wouldn't be to concerned about accuracy. The variance isn't that great between a accurate gun like a SIG or Glock (which is accurate, but not as accurate. But if it's a gun you'll be using for self defense, accuracy won;t matter. Most likely the situation will be occur inside of 5 yards.

I'd recommend the Glock G39 (.45 cal) or if you;re hands are on the small side the Glock 27.

But unless you practice drawing and firing your weapon, you're likely to get into more trouble with the gun than without it.

My opinion is the Sig P226 or P229. But ask a hundred people and most of them will like different handguns.

Pick one from Sig, Glock, Springfield, Kimber, Berreta, Smith and Wesson, FN, Ruger ect. All are good firearm makers (and there are others I am missing). Just find one that fits your hand and feels comfortable and buy that one.

Depends on your lifestyle. Are you at a higher risk? Male or female? how large are your hands?

Personally the sig 226 is a nice gun, but i find that a Barretta 92F feels better in my (large) hands, and I shoot MUCH more accurately when using one. For me, its also easier to conceal.

For me, the 226 is clunky and requires too much conscious thought when aiming.

You didn't say if you were male or female, as a gun carrying chick I LOVE my 5 shot lightweight .38. Fits everywhere, shoots reliably, and very concealable.

Ruger SP-101 revolver in .357 magnum caliber.