Underdog

My first thougthts would be a Charter Arms revolver in .40 S&W, the Pitbull, or a Stoeger Cougar 8040 or 8045. You might be able to get a Glock 23 for about $400, or a used .357 Ruger Revolver. Look for an older Speed Six in .357. If you aren't afraid of the fauna too much, then a 9mm, such as a Stoegar 8000 or a Ruger LC9 might do the trick, or the Glock 19.

The Beretta/Stoeger Cougar is also a very nice handling gun and because of its extra weight would be a very nice nightstand one. Is the grip on the Compact smaller than the grip size of the Glock 19?

IF CC signs this bill, that will be the end of his political career.

If you have small to medium hands, the Beretta 92 grip and trigger distance might not be comfortable for you. If you want one, then you won't go wrong, but you might want to get the 92A1 and make sure it has the upgradeable sights. If you are going the route of wanting a hammer-fired pistol (since you were interested in the FN pistols), you might also consider the Beretta PX4 Storm or Stoeger Cougar 8000. Based on your seeming criteria, I would certainly check into the Stoeger 9mm. It has 15 round magazines (good for NJ) and is quite nice and really accurate and it can be found at a very nice price point. You might also want to consider a CZ 75B over the Beretta 92, or one of the other CZ variants. The 75B seems to fit my hand a little better. Another option would be to find a Taurus 92. They are a very good pistol as well.

The FNX and FNP lines are good pistols and highly accurate, supposedly US Made (but maybe just assembled), and they are high quality polymer pistols. I think the added ergonomics are worth the upgrade to the FNX over the FNP, but an FNP can usually be found at a really competitive price. If you get a FNP, I would consider finding a USG model that would enable you to carry cocked and locked (if you wanted that capacity). Both have really nice and smooth triggers and I enjoy having a hammer action. If you were ever able to carry you could keep your thumb over the hammer when holstering. The magazines are sometimes hard to lock into them and need to be pushed forward to lock in place, and it is easy, especially with the FNP to move the decocker safety switch off safety (if carried cocked and locked) and to go too far and thus decock it as well, instead of just making it ready to shoot. Neither of them has 15-round magazines for NJ, and you cannot even get an FNX unless you get the high capacity magazine modfied, as not even a 10-rounder is made. The FNP does have 10-round magazines, and also, I believe that there is a compact FNP 9mm that might have 15-round magazine. Also, it probably wouldn't be a concern to you, but you cannot completely breakdown one without sending it to FNH to do it for you, as it is only serviceable by the factory. They are hard to find holsters and other accessories for them, as they aren't that popular. Other than that, I really love the feel of one of these guns in my hand and would love to have one. If I didn't have a problem with the 15-round magazines, I would definitely have an FNH-9. If you don't mind the .40 S&W round, you might want to get the FNX-40, instead. And, it will have magazine commonality with the striker fired FNS-40 that is suppose to be released next year. The FNX-9, however, will not. And, the FNP and FNX 9s do not share the same magazines.

Does it make it long enough to feel like a full-size gun?

It won't fit on the synthetic stock, or a wooden one that doesn't have the cutout.

Does anybody have experience with the Hogue overmolded stock?

I don't get it. Do these dealers think that we the patrons have attitudes. When I get some other specialized sporting equipment, etc. I am not treated this way. If he is making money off of me over a transfer for something he doesn't have in stock and has little inclination to get, he deserves less business than he would otherwise get.

I don't really mind the .40. I notice the difference, but it isn't that bad. It might be because I learned with that one first. The 9mm is just more comfortable.

Hard or impossible to find for the GEN 4.

Skylands Sport Shop has moved out of Newton to Agusta. It is now just passed the NJ State Police and in the same complex as the Agusta Post Office. It is larger now and seems to be quite nice. However... I went out of my way to stop at the store and buy some sundry items to support the store and checkout the new setup, and as usual, the owner, Cliff, had an attitude and didn't give me the time of day. Previously I had gone and inquired about ordering a specific gun, etc., and he wasn't really interested in locating for me what I wanted and its not like he had a lot in stock to offer as an alternative. I don't get it. Why wouldn't help me locate what I wanted and indicated that because it was a new item he probably couldn't get it and left it at that. I suggested that I find it, then, and have it sent to his store. Again, he so much as said it wasn't worth his time. He was complaining about his lack of buisness to me, a paying customer, and how little he made off of the transaction. He wanted me to essentially pay more than full-price, etc. for his service (many others locally are cheaper with transfers), and yet he didn't take the extra steps to make me feel he cared about what I was looking for. His transfer fees are higher than others, as I have said. So, if he is not making a lot on the order, at least he is getting me as customer and I would pickup some targets, hunting items, ammo, etc. as well when in the store, and word-of-mouth recommendation... but NO. And, if he treated me nice, maybe next time I would purchase that gun he had behind the counter for $700. On quite a few occasions, his wife was helpful and interested in my business and attempted to locate what I wanted, specifically, but not him. I felt he could have cared less. I may not be back, as I have other options and its out of my way now that he moved.

I have a Ruge 10/22 carbine with a synthetic stock and I am interested in getting a normal-looking replacement stock, or some kind of recoil pad to make the stock stock longer and more comfortable to shoot. Anybody have any thoughts. I was thinking about a Hogue stock, or some kind of pad if I could find one. However, there aren't any screws or any way to attach it to the stock synthetic one.

It's ugly, though, unlike the Glock.

And they issued you a permit? It's a wonder you even got a permit! Just kidding, my brother went there.

What is the liability factor? Making a .45 ACP more potent?

I wouldn't mind getting another G23 and another conversion barrel, but I would also be just as happy getting another 19 and selling the G23 (as I really do only use the 9mm). And then I would not have to stock both rounds. Though, in a survival SHTF situation, it would give me a gun that could use both calibers, the 9mm (which is everywhere) and the police round (.40S&W) which is everywhere.

If you can find a G19 for about $400 dollars, then by all means, get it. I couldn't find one, used, and I wanted the money to get something else, as well. So, when I found the G23 for $400, I got it. For me, part of the answer to your question would be to get what is available in mint condition if you don't mind getting a used one. But, if you can get it for $400, order two and I will give you $450 for the Glock 19 and you would get for $350.

Another option is what I did. First, get the Glock 23 and then get a conversion barrel and some cheap South Korean maagazines. You have the defensive .40 and the practice 9mm. I have had no problems at all with my GEN 3 G23 and a Lone Wolf conversion barrel. And, if I had it that type of ammo, it would allow me to shoot lead 9mm. And, I have heard I could also get the .357 SIG barrel for it as well if I wanted to for another $100 and that would actually use the .40 magazines. The only thing I have noticed is that if I use the cheap aluminum-cased 9mm it ejects eradically. But, I have not had a problem with the brass and it always goes bang. Then, you can get your stock G19 at a later point and time, as everyone should probably have one (Tea not koolaid). Additionally, you will have an easier time finding a G23 police trade-in than a used 9mm because people don't give them up. I got my G23 mint for $400 and the barrel from Cheaper Than Dirt for $100 and a few 9mm magazines for about $10 each. I use these for practice and keep the Glock magazines unused. The conversion barrel was out-of-stock when I wanted it, but gave my Email and got an Email that it was in stock about 2 weeks later. And, if you decide you don't want it and you don't pay much over $400, then you will be able to get your money back. In fact, I will buy it. The only thing is that I do not like the emblem on the "stock" Lone Wolf barrel. I got it and I don't mind it that much, but I would rather it not be there. I have heard that for about $20 more you can get one that doesn't have it visible when shooting. I would have paid the difference. And, for about $150 dollars you can get KKM barrel and avoid the ugly emblem that takes away from the beautiful and minimalist Glock, anyway. This way, you can keep it stock as a .40S&W for defense and make the minute change at the range to 9mm. You can also get an Advantage Arms .22 Conversion kit which would make a pretty versatile gun. Just be careful not to mix the 9 and .40 ammo and barrels. I have had no problems with mine and have put about 1000 9mm rounds through it. I still think getting a Glock 19 is a good idea, but then you will always have a backup gun with extra versatility in in the .40 S&W as well when you get the G19. I like the G23 and find it so convenient, So much so, that I would have probably gotten the .40 GEN 4 G23 over the GEN 4 9mm if it was available. You can also pickup the 15-round G22 magazines to use in your defensive gun to make it 15 rounds of .40 S&W. You might even get lucky and get a trade-in already with upgraded metal or night sights for not much more. I really like the TFO (tritium fiber optic) sights on mine. My last piece of advice is to look into the Pearce magazine extensions, as they keep my hand in place when I pick it up. If you are going to compete, then I would get the G19, first, and the G23 after that if you choose to.

I really like the Cougar and it feels so good in the hand. I don't own one, personally, yet, but I plan on getting one or the compact 9mm. I am also quite interested in getting on of the 8045 (.45 ACP) guns. That one has the rail on the front, but it is hard to get. If I had the opportunity of either the PX4 Storm or the Cougar, I would probably take the PX4. It has a nice trigger. If you want one, I would contact Jim Flynn in Glen Gardner. He usually has some in stock, as he is a Stoeger Dealer. You can probably get one for a really good price through him.

If you shoot one, be careful where you place your thumbs.

Stopped in there a couple of weeks ago to check it out and was impressed. They had a nice selection of defensive ammo to boot. I'd be interested in hearing some reviews on some of the tactical courses they offer.

Oh, those lousy Tauron semis. Should have stuck with a revolver. I wonder if they would have considered him a youth in this country for statistic reporting,etc.

Thank you, Sir.

http://www.sigsauer.com/MK25/