re: Recommendation for handgun-first time gun owner

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Can't go wrong with the Glock 19 as everyone is suggesting. Its a full sized 9mm and Glocks are extremely easy to take apart and put back together for cleaning.

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The Glock 19 is technically considered a compact vs. the full-size Glock 17. I own a 17 Gen4 and love it, but the frame is a little large for most woman to grip effectively.

ETA: If you’re going to go with a recoil-operated pistol (as opposed to a revolver) I think Glock is the ticket. If, God forbid, your SO needs it she doesn’t have to worry about a safety. Just rack it and pull the trigger.

That said, there’s no excuse for someone having to fire a pistol in that type of situation without being familiar with it. If you buy any firearm and keep it around for use in an emergency without spending time at the range, you are asking for tragedy. If it’s worth buying a firearm for defense, it’s worth spending the range time.

One other comment. I think flashlights work better than lasers in a home defense situation. A 600-800 lumen light will blind someone in the dark, and they do a surprisingly good job of helping you get on-target quickly at close range. In a home defense situation, you aren’t likely to be more than 10-15 feet away honestly. Added benefit of actually knowing who you’re shooting at...