r/guns

I want to get into handguns, but I’m not exactly sure what would fit my needs best. I’ve been big into shotgun sports for years now, and want to branch into shooting pistol (stuff like USPSA). At the same time, I’d like to pick something up that I could reasonably have as a daily carry gun.

I’ve done a bit of research and visited a local shop to hold some stuff and feel it out. The options were pretty limited, but I liked the M&P Shield Plus and the Ruger Security 9. They fit my hand pretty well, are reasonably sized, have magazine sizes that would be good for competition, and had manual safeties (personally prefer those)

I’m planning to visit a range nearby that rents out guns to try a few out, but figured Reddit might have ideas I wouldn’t. I want a 9mm, partially because it’s practical, but mostly because it’s cheap to feed. I’m trying to go for a “jack of all trades” for now, so I can figure out what I like in terms of competition and carry styles and buy something better tailored to that down the road.

I have a recently made 6" Colt Anaconda (AC- prefixed serial number) that I'd like to put a red dot type sight on. I intend it to be a dedicated blacktail hunting gun here in the SE Alaska rainforest. Call it up to 50 yards; I'd rather not bother with any magnification. I have a shoulder problem preventing me from bowhunting until I get the shoulder straight up replaced and this is going to be my interim short-range hunting solution. Problem is that I find the factory sights too coarse for the precision I want, so yes, I'm going to defile an Anaconda with an electronic sight lol. At least it's not a vintage/classic one...

I'm not a 'red dot' guy and trying to look at the options online has been, well, overwhelming. It doesn't help that it seems like whatever search engine I use points me to articles in the online version of hunting/shooting magazines that are basically invariably flattering ads.

So, what would y'all recommend as "red" dot sight for an Anaconda? I put "red" in quotes because I'm open to green as well. Gold/yellow not so much; it blends too well with what deciduous plants we have here in season, even in August.

My priorities:

It must have a fully enclosed emitter. I've heard enough gripes from guys I know around here to know that 'rainforest' and 'open emitter' are not a happy combo

Smaller is better

Cheaper is better- this isn't my main tool for putting meat in the freezer; that's a .270 bolt action running 150 gr partitions. So I'd rather not invest too much in it

Being able to swap batteries without dismounting the optic/re-zeroing it would be nice

One final note: this is not a bear-defense handgun, if that matters for anyone's advice. If I'm in an area where I'm worried about bears (which basically translates to coastal brown bears), I hunt with a .375 Ruger and a 10mm loaded with hot hardcast loads. The Anaconda is intended to be a dedicated deer-popper on low risk (black bear only) islands. So I'm not worried about totally replacing the rear sight with the optic if necessary.

Thanks in advance for your advice!

Things be as they may , I've had a few "cool" guns that i had to sell, (Cetme308, SKS,) back in the last recession. Passed couple of years tho I've been back at it. The whole time I've held onto my Xd 40 and my 870. Got my CC and picked up a 380 Curve. Got into sporting clays and trap a couple of years back, picked up an A400 SA shotgun. And yes I know, the fun to shoot at bbq's KSG. So, now im looking to seriously make a decent purchase.

I have a buslddy that wants to go hunting, so im considering a rifle. Downside is im locked in the Midwest and condemned to straight wall cartridge. 350, 400 Legend or 450 Bushmaster is where my mind is. Oooooooor......

An AR rig. 16" max down to 6.5" (backpack carry). My knowledge here is limited. So buy, straight manufacturer or build? I do field strip and clean my weapons , but having never built a rifle... you get my meaning.

So and opinions or suggestions would be appreciated.

I thought I stumbled across a post (or a comment) about a month ago of someone that created a website to track Optics Planet price changes over time... does anyone have a link to that website?