[breakerilya]

Hi All,

I finally got my NYC premise license(took me about 4 months and about $450), along with a pistol purchase authorization, which allows me 30 days to purchase a hand gun. Could you please give me a good advice as to what my first hand gun should be and why? This hand gun should is not going to be used to carry... just to keep in the house and take to the range, etc.

Thank you in advance!

[Jorg]

You are going to need to be more specific. Did you want it for self-defense? "Just to keep in the house and take to the range" is really quite vague.

What is imporant to you?
Ease of handling?
Ease of operation?
Ease of maintenance?
"Stopping power"?
Availability of ammo?
Varieties of ammo available?
Accuracy?
Recoil?
Looks?
Connection to famous movie guns?
Innovative or tried and true design?
Guns that are good for small/big hands?
Revolver or pistol?
Variety of aftermarket accessories?
California legality in case you might move there?

There are at least a hundred different factors that affect this very personal choice. If you don't provide any of them, you'll get the same stock answers: .38/.357 revolver, 9mm Glock, some flavor of 1911, maybe a Springfield XD, and someone will suggest a .22.

[.cheese.]

well, one thing for us to consider is, what are your options? I'm not sure what's legal to purchase there. I have a feeling Glocks aren't?

[CountGlockula]

Get a nice Smith & Wesson or Ruger revolver.

.357 SIG or .38 Special caliber should do.

[Jorg]

CountGlockula, did you really just suggest a .357 SIG revolver as a first handgun?

[breakerilya]

a friend of mine strongly recommends a Glock 23 Compact GNS 40S&W... he says get this for now you get something else later on anyway...

Ease of handling, Ease of operation, and Ease of maintenance are most important to me, since I am a beginner.

[Sistema1927]

.357/.38 double action revolver. S&W, Ruger, etc. 4" barrel.

Everyone should have one, and they make a great first handgun for many reasons.

[Johannes_Paulsen]

If you want a semiautomatic, Glocks are great.

Since you're just starting out, I would be partial to a 9mm -- either GLock 17 or 19 (the 19 is more compact, and more carryable FOR ME than the 17, although you need to check them out and hold them to see what fits you the best.) I have spent several hours firing a G19 and loved it. (I would have purchased one, but I wanted a pistol that I could pocket carry if I wanted, and so went with a Kahr MK9.)

I suggested 9mm ammo because if you're just starting out, you should try to get as much range time as possible, and 9mm will be less expensive than, say, .40S&W or .357. At the same time, it is still an adequate defensive caliber.

If you really just want a range pistol for target shooting and aren't concerned about defense, a .22 would be less expensive.

Ultimately, though, you need to go out and "feel" some pistols, and try them out if you want. Some people don't like how the Glock fits their hands. You also might want to check out a Springfield Armory XD if this is the case.

Also see this website: http://www.corneredcat.com. A lot of good information there. The woman who runs the site posts here under the name of Pax and is a moderator here as well.

P.S. "Pistol purchase authorization"??!?? What sort of backward state do you live in????

[springmom]

Oh my. 30 days to choose, huh? Time to get shopping!

What we can tell you is what we like, what fits the hand of each of us, but we can't tell you what YOU'LL like and what will fit YOUR hand. That takes shopping. You have to decide revolver or semiauto; part of that decision will involve whether you can easily "rack the slide" of the semiauto or not (some folks have trouble with that). Revolvers are simple; load the cylinder, close the cylinder, point, pull trigger, BOOM. Rarely do you get a failure to feed (unless you have bad ammunition, although cylinders CAN lock up). They're slower to reload than a semiauto, and they carry less rounds (although some only carry one or two less than a six shooter).

You have to decide how much you can spend (after all that $$$ to get the permits! :what:) If you want a semiauto, you have to decide whether you want a Glock/Springfield XD/S&W M&P, something like that, or some version of a 1911. You're not in a situation where you need concealability, so you can look at compacts if they fit your hand best, but you don't need to.

You need to decide then what fits your hand, what feels best to you. Some people love Glocks; others say that Springfield's XD line has a better grip and therefore a better feel. My first handgun was an XD-40 and it was superb as a first gun.

Which leads into caliber: there are ENDLESS debates about "what caliber is best". Worry about finding the right gun...most any caliber over 9mm or .38 special (for revolvers) will do what you need. If you get a .38 special revolver, make sure it's rated for +P ammunition, given that this is for self defense. You can shoot milder stuff at the range for practice, though.

Have fun. Pick what YOU like, look at as many guns as humanly possible, handle them all (ask before you dry-fire them, though). Good luck.

Springmom

[joesolo]

I would recommend a DAO pistol (maybe a Sig) and not a variant (like a Glock) as a first pistol. Sigs shoot great, work well, etc. I have trouble shooting revolvers for some reason. I think my had is oddly shaped or something so they aren't comfortable. Therefor, I recommend a DAO pistol to start. Whatever you chose, this is a fun thing to shop and ponder. Have fun.

[RockyMtnTactical]

Glock 19

[bdutton]

start with a .22. They are cheaper to shoot and better to learn good marksmanship habits.

A Ruger Mark II or a buckmark are little money and very accurate.

[jad0110]

Given the political climate in NYC, I wouldn't count on ANY semi automatic being legal to possess much past the near future. But I don't really know, that's just a hunch as I don't live there.

If that is a real concern, I suggest a 38/357 revolver, for self defense use. They are usually not as high up on the gun grabbers' hit lists, something to consider in NYC. They are also usually more affordable, especially if you can locate a nice used example, like a Ruger GP100.

I usually recommend a 22 as a starter gun, but since this is probably going to be your only firearm, something with a bit more oomph for SD is desireable. Do go to the range and rent as many different handguns as you can. For example, though I like 38/357 revolvers, and 9mm and 45 ACP autos, I never warmed up to 40 S&W. Just didn't feel right to me. So see what works for you.

Plus, a revolver really is a great place to start. The manual of arms is not as complex, and once you master the long double action pull, you should be able to shoot ANY gun well.

Good luck with your decision ... sorry you live in an anti-gun mecca.

[crebralfix]

breakerilya,

You should search this forum for "first gun". You will find many threads that cover this issue.

The people giving the advice tend to fall into these groups:

1) Get a revolver first!
2) Get a 22 first!
3) Get whatever you want first!
4) Get a semi-auto in 9mm first!
5) Get the uber-mega-fireblazing cannon first!
6) Get training and rent a bunch first!

I tend to land in #6, #2, and #4, depending upon the requester. The main thing is to define your requirements and go from there. A really nice competition gun will be very different from a daily carry gun.

[Lonestar49]

...

Then I'd say get a semi-auto 9mm, as it is by far, much cheaper, than 357, 40cal, or 45cal ammo.

Second, sure, a 22 is a great learner/beginner of a gun, but with the long waiting period, just like here in Sunny, phony, California, the wait in-between each pistol purchase is 30days. And with restrictions coming right and left, and gun-bans on max forward as well, I would at least start off with the 9mm, as it is easy to learn, cheap to shoot, will DO THE JOB for Home Defence (HD) and Self Defence (SD), as a 22 can, but the shots must be spot-on perfect.

Not sure what magazine restrictions NY has, but here in Komifornia, we're held to 10 round magazines, max loads. So, with one bullet in the chamber, backed up with a 10 round mag, we have 11 shots, first round, and 10 there-after, as quickly as we can load the mags.

As far as which 9mm, that's open to discussion, but, it should also be the gun that feels the BEST naturally in your hand, to pick up and point to aim, along with what cost factor is part of your purchasing "investment".

And I say investment, because you're gonna learn the rules of safety first, then proper procedure, from proper 2-hand grip, thru trigger pull, thru using those sights to hit tight groups in the C enter O f M ass targets (COM), for your pleasure of the sport of shooting but also, for the occasion, and we all hope it never presents itself, but if it does, you'll be ready to send the lead to where it has to go and do the most damage.

A gun, then guns, become life-long friends that you will hold dear, and the investment, both in time and money, will be fullfilling. Count on that.


Good luck, everyone in here is all ears, and we all have one or more of every gun out there, with good stories about them, and bad ones, and with all the knowledge that will flow out to you to absorb, you'll be on the right road to the right choice, that I know.


Luck,


LS

[skeeter1]

I would normally recommend a .22 first, but not in your case. A .22 is a great learning tool, cheap to shoot, but a home defense round it isn't.

In your case, I'd recommend a quality .357/.38 revolver like a S&W 686 with a 4" barrel. With .38Spl semi-wadcutter, it's great for practice, and the recoil is negligible. You can work your way up to standard .38Spls, .38Spl+Ps, and finally .357 Magnums, all with the same gun. The .357 is certainly enough for HD use, and revolvers are inherently simpler to use.

My $0.02.

[ArchAngelCD]

breakerilya,
My first handgun was a 4" .357 Magnum revolver. You can practice with the less expensive .38 Special ammo and still have the option to shoot heavier Magnum rounds.

There are so many things to consider it's very hard to recommend a gun for someone else. I will tell you one thing, DO NOT spend too much money on your first gun because as you shoot more and learn more about guns you will change your mind about what you want to own and shoot. (Although I would never sell my 4" Magnum)

[crebralfix]

Definitely buy used! You may dislike that first gun for some reason. Also, attend a training class.

elitedealseeker.com
summitgunbroker.com

and, of course, your local gun shop.

[breakerilya]

thank you all for your suggestions, I really appreciate it...

there are so many restrictions in NYC... I think more so than in Komifornia :)

you can purchase one hand gun every 3 months, plus you need to get a purchase authorization which takes up to six weeks to obtain and the request for a purchase authorization must be printed or type written describing the make, cal, etc.... the application itself had to be actually type written (what a pain in the...).... I also had to provide a letter from employer, 3 character reference letters from individuals who I know for 5+ years and who are citizens, and a whole lot of other nuisances..... but no hassle or fee will ever discourage me from exercising my constitutional rights

ohh also for any handgun in excess of 4, you have to provide 2 pictures of a safe (opened and closed) and a copy of a bill of purchase of a safe... go figure

[Lonestar49]

...

WOW :eek: 3 months wait, plus the BS paperwork on top of that.. I would suggest, again, getting a 9mm, as I explained before, and now you have confirmed my worst fears. That, like Komifornia, NY limits guns to 3 and after that, and the 4th on, you MAY have to get neutered as well. I mean, they must stop the testosterone drive that must be behind every gun purchase, and of course, after any illegal use of any gun.

Hold on to them.. ;)


LS

PS.. if you haven't already, take a read of my posted thread "How it all started", here in this forum, as it was you that inspired me to write my story.

Also, for CCW, and for 100% reliability, if you can fit it in your budget, I would suggest highly, a Sig P229R Carry 9mm, either NIB (new) or a Factory refurbished one, which will look and be, all new parts wise, a new gun at half the price.

Thus far with mine: 1650 rounds.. no jams, no failure to feed, no failure to fire. So easy to break it down for inspection and cleaning, it's pure heaven. Of those 1650 rounds, around 100 have been various weights, and makes, of different Jacketed Hollow Points ammo, as well.

Just 100% all the way around.

[azhunter12]

Get a CZ82 or 83. AZhunter

[breakerilya]

I have a Florida non-resident CCW license and plan to get one in PA or NH which would allow me to CC in almost every state that allows CC.... also, to be on the safe side I was thinking of buying firearms and storing them in other states as an insurance policy in case NYC laws get even crazier... if they go further with gun control here, they might force me to move to a gun friendly place

[10-Ring]

1st gun, 30 days to choose & a novice...you've hit the trifecta for gun ownership! Since you will be learning on this handgun, I would recommend something simple, reliable w/ decent accuracy. I would also recommend something relatively inexpensive to shoot so you can spend more time at the range so you can develop good habits & technique.
I would recommend a nice 4" wheelgun from S&W or Ruger -- something in 357/38 so you can practice w/ 38 special at the range for inexpensive practice & still have your magnum rounds for HD. If you have to have a semi auto, I'd recommend a 9mm Glock -- either the 34, 17 or 19 and maybe picking up a 22 conversion kit so you can shoot inexpensive 22lr from the same gun
Good luck on your quest!

[ADKWOODSMAN]

breakerilya
I'm also in NY and have had my conceled cary permit since 1968 when they were real CC. Now, many judges are stamping them Hunting, Fishing, target shooting, etc. and getting away with it. What is your county?
RDH

[6_gunner]

Get yourself a S&W model 10 or model 15 depending on whether you like fixed sights or adjustable. If you have no preference, I'd recommend the 10, as they're ususally a little cheaper.

[kellyj00]

very glad I don't live in NY. $450 for a license to just buy a gun?

Talk about a pain in the neck.

[surjimmy]

If this is a gun you are not going to sale later I would say a Taurus 38/357. If you have little experience stay with a revolver. Do Not get an semi-auto, to much can go wrong. I said Taurus because it's a outstanding gun but no resale value, but any name brand will suit your needs. Ruger, S&W, or Colt. Just stay away from auto's till you have more range time.

[Lonestar49]

Quote: If you have little experience stay with a revolver. Do Not get an semi-auto, to much can go wrong. I said Taurus because it's a outstanding gun but no resale value, but any name brand will suit your needs.

Just stay away from auto's till you have more range time.
----------------------

I never owned a Revolver, or Semi auto pistol, and started off with the Beretta Px4 40cal, and thought I had bought an Elephant gun, for months.

But, Reading first, the Rules of safety, passing that written test, calling the local range and making an appointment with a range officer to learn how to shoot my new gun, along with, after the lesson, he showed me how to clean it. And I continued my reading (the owners manual) along with buying "snap caps" and making sure when I practiced loading, cycling the slide, etc, trigger pulls, etc., all with 5 snap caps.

And yes, the gun scared me, and I would not leave it loaded at night for a couple of months. And yes, at first, when I did get past the fear of the unknown, I did not chamber one at night. But with each range practice, cleaning of the gun, more reading in here, and just becoming "familiar" with my new gun, and what it could do, and what it could do IF I did not follow the simple rules, along with my own "house rule", that now, and for a long time, if any of my guns is in a holster, then it IS loaded, chambered, and in one case, locked and cocked, and I feel very comfy, but it was a learning process.

Basically, a step by step process, and a belief in any learning curve, that I was in no rush to outsmart myself.

And yep, I verify that to myself, or to anyone that is wanting to look at them, and I unload it, and hand it over, wide open, and same deal with any gun of mine, the process is a habit now.. a good one. Always Assume that a gun IS loaded. One of the great Assumptions.

I just think if one is willing to overcome any fear of a unknown, with "a willing to learn, step by step", one can start off with a semi without a problem up the road, and go from little knowledge, to educated, comfy, in 3 months, or less, depending on range time.

I made it, thru 5 now..

But of course, the choice will be his, and his comfort zone, bar-none.

my 2 cents


LS

PS.. just don't start off with a 40cal.. Elephant gun (recoil) .. go 9mm ;) DA/SA (with a hammer you see) if you go semi IMHO

[surjimmy]

Lonestar49, he has to buy a gun within 30 days. What good is it if waits 2 months before he's used to it and not afraid of it? I agree with you all the way about range time and reading everything you can on your weapon. However it's my understanding this is a home defence gun first and then a range gun. In MHO it it always better to K.I.S.S. that way MR Murphy has less room to foul things up, and that's very important when your familey's life is depending on it.

[Lonestar49]

...

Yes, I agree, to a point. 30 days and counting, then, if he did want another gun, 60 days, to be safe, time wise, and that is why I would not go 22, but semi, or yes, revolver. We have no argument there. But my time, may not be his time, he could excel faster, same, slower, dunno really.

And I'm sure we agree, that the choice will be his, but he asked, and I answered, semi over revolver, and you may well be right, for a faster, simpler form of HD/SD within the next 30 days.

I just keep thinking on someones signature that says: "Remember, your best thinking got you where you are today"

And if he has not met trouble, (in my case, none in over 40yrs before I got my first pistol) then there is no rush. On the other hand, if that is the reason, need of urgency, (trouble) to acquire a pistol for SD/HD, then I would say, yep.. K.I.S.S.

I'm sure he found the answer and direction he is going to take in the next 28 days.

I look forward to his report.. as we both agree on this, for the most part (DA a/o SA with a physical hammer) for many revolvers and semi's, and of course, some without.



LS

[StrikeEagle]

.357/.38 double action revolver. S&W, Ruger, etc. 4" barrel.

That's the answer. And in your case, not only are you on a time limit for the decision, but given the climate today, it may well be the only handgun you'll ever have the opportunity to own.

You don't have time for the usual trainers, .22's or whatever. If you make a mistake with your purchase you may never be able to correct it. Stick with name brands... and I mean S&W, Colt, Ruger. Nothing risky that could go either way. (Like a Taurus or Charter)

One thing is certain... no matter how advanced a collector you may ever someday become, given the brightest possible future, you will never outgrow a 4" .357/.38.

[wizard of oz]

:what: Somewhere with worse gun laws than Australia ?

For range and home defense ?

S&W 627. Revolver, 5inch barrel,357/.38, 8 round capacity

or S&W 686, probably 6 inch barrel.

buy new and buy expensive - because of the hoops you have to jump through.
Have fun !

[Sistema1927]

What part of "shall not be infringed" do the politicos in NY not understand?

It must really suck to be a subject in New York.

[Dean407]

Go to a gun shop and handle quite a few. Then pick caliber. 9mm is easy on the wallet as opposed to .45

Check out the Springfield XD series, Glocks, SIGs, H&K.

Whatever you get needs to feel right in your hand first and foremost.

[breakerilya]

thank you all for your feedback! I appreciate it!

any recommendations as to what kind of ear/eye protection, cleaning kits, anything else I might need when I go to the range for the first time?

[Noxx]

Wow, and I thought California was restrictive.

That being said, you can really not go wrong with a 686x4 (or 6) as a first handgun.

[breakerilya]

brought my first handgun home yesterday... ended up getting a G23 w/ night sights :) me so happy :cool:

time to sign up to a range... take some safety and basic courses, etc....

question: what is mercedes benz of the ear/eye protection?

[Scorpiusdeus]

I'd say go with a Ruger GP100 or SP101.

[Mr Kablammo]

Well, I am going to say the first gun should be a Beretta 92 FS or CZ 75 B. Why? Because you can buy .22 kits AND go from 9mm to 0.40 cal by buying a new slide, barrel, and recoil spring. The parts for the caliber swap ARE NOT guns nor receivers so you can have 3-guns-in-1 with the one receiver that is registered (YUCK) with the po-po. This thinking recommends other guns that have similar mult-caliber capability that I may not now know of.