My dad is getting a pistol for his birthday and I'm looking for opinions on what kind to buy. Semi-auto or revolver? What caliber? He is also getting his CHL.

If he's getting a CHL, he needs to at least qualify with a semi-auto, otherwise he's restricted to a revolver only. From there on he just needs to find out what he's comfortable with.

Revolvers can be gotten at a smaller size than most compact and sub-compact semi autos. Which is good for this area as it is hot most of the time, and shorts and t-shirts are the order of the day, makes concealing for some a little bit of a challenge. But like HWY MAN said comfort is the largest consideration, then caliber, then the ugly one, cost! If he likes revolvers, then being restricted to only revolvers for CHL is no problem. But taking the class with an auto gives him options down the road.

Call me at Bass Pro if you would like some pricing.
972-724-2018

Ask for the gun vault.

Dan

Hey guys I appreciate the help, I'll be sure to let know. I had no idea if you take the test with a revolver that you would limited to that in what you could carry. I have one other question. Do you need a CHL to keep a gun in you're truck?

As long as you can legally own a firearm and keep it completely concealed, you may.

Does that mean if you dont conceal it, its okay? Just curious

It must be concealed in the vehicle, not on the body, unless you have a CHL.

HK 9mm

I'm not going to take sides on caliber preferences, in my opinion just about any caliber will do.

H&K makes some fine pistols.

Yes they do... I own the HK45 USP Tactical and it is a great gun. However it is HUGE and would be harder to conceal on a person. If it is just for his truck, then he would be fine with it. Good luck and let us know what you go with.

He was wanting a 9mm, but I'll get to check out the hk's. I was just on their site and I think he would like them. I'll let you what he ends up with.

Taurus makes some of the smallest carry conceal weapons...my wife carries the .40 and it can't be seen when strapped to her ankle under her jeans.

Get him a Kahr, all black, PM9.

Very compact, well made, DAO auto!

I've been carrying one for over three years and for its intended purpose, wouldn't accept anything else.

Thanks for the suggestions, we are going to go one day this week so he can pick one out. He said he wants to stay around $350, is that reasonable? I was thinking they were a little more expensive than that, but maybe he can find one at a pawn shop or something.

YOU CAN DEFINITELY GET A TAURUS .40...1 *SS WHIPPIN COMIN UP!!

Hmmm... does Desert Eagle still make a .44 mag. Provided you could conceal it, and draw it, it might make some folks lose bowel control. Make a decent hog gun too.

get him a walther p99 the perfect semi-auto!!!! i also think one of the best!

highpoint and if he dont like it, its cheap enough he can throw it away...lol...

I would recommend qualifying with a Semi-auto just to keep his options open. For carry, a small j-frame-type revolver would work. How old is he? I ask because racking the slide of a semi-auto might be a problem with some older folks (arthritis).

We went to cabelas today and he picked out a Smith & Wesson Sigma 9mm. Cant wait to go to the shooting range with it.

You're right on that one!!! My son decided he was going to do Dear Ole' Dad a big favor and take my even older 1911 in for a great new "Custom Job" for my Father's Day present this year. Well, he paid big bucks to have everything done exactly according to what his favorite gunsmith recommended. Gun looks fantastic, and shoots extremely well. All in all, a great improvement to my favorite pistol. EXCEPT FOR THE FACT, that I can no longer jack the first round into the chamber without someone else's help. (Reckon the guy that kicks my door in at 3AM would mind waiting while I get my wife to help me put that first slug into the chamber?) I've told my son that I never had a failure to feed with the old lighter weight recoil spring, I thing he can take it back to the gunsmith and replace that new fancy "Heavy Duty Failsafe" spring with the old one very soon. The quicker, the better!!!

Get him a whisker biscuit

Glock 19