[Richterscale]

I'm reaching out as a newbie to guns to see what people think a good starter hand gun would be. Forgive me if I'm in the wrong area discussing this. I'd like to target practice occasionally and have for home security. I'd like the gun to be easy to disassemble for cleaning and be reliable (of course). I've been looking at Springfields XD line. The 9mm looks good in terms of money output for ammo but what barrel size? Does it matter in terms of target shooting?

I'd appreciate any advise or recommendations.

I'm in California so that will limit me a bit.

Thanks
Brandon

[M-Cameron]

well a longer barrel will give you a longer sight radius....which in turn means greater accuracy potential. however in any full sized handgun, its not something most shooters are liable to notice.

9mm is a good option, especially if you plan to shoot a lot.

essentially it really boils down to what you like......pretty much any modern firearm from a reputable manufacturer is going to function just fine, so it strictly look and feel.

[Ehtereon11B]

The service length barrel (4") is a good medium for HD and target on the XD line. They make 5 and 3 inch barrels as well. The XD is easy to disassemble, and I find them easier to take apart than Glock. For the most part there aren't many modern pistols that are hard to take apart. The only ones that come to mind are Ruger P series, 1911s, and some new Walthers have a learning curve to take apart.

[gp911]

If you can, go to a range that rents guns. That will tell you a lot right there. I've been surprised a few times shooting other people's guns. I found shooting a 1911 with thin stocks jolted a nerve in my wrist badly, making it too painful too shoot more than 5 rounds without stopping. Meanwhile a 1911 with thicker stocks felt great. Glocks point ok for me but for some people the grip angle is all wrong or the grip is too thick to grip consistently. Sometimes people just prefer revolvers. So if you can, test drive some guns before you purchase one. Enjoy the search & have fun!

[Richterscale]

Thank you...

[smalls]

I'm going to recommend you go to a few shops and hold some guns to help decide what to get

[Deer_Freak]

For the OP's uses a 4" barrel will be adequate. Nothing wrong with an XD either. Just fnding one ar the price you want to pay. Bud's has fair prices on XD's. Ruger P95 is capable and about $100 less.

[Byrd666]

This is a good place to start.

My first advice would be to "fondle" as many handguns as possible. Both semi automatic, and revolver. Get a true feeling for what fits you. Try and shoot some of those that you've handled if possible. There are many ranges around that rent a firearm just for that purpose. A .45acp in one model feels better in live fire than others. The same goes for 9mm, or any other caliber. My 2" Smith .357 mag is my most accurate weapon, but, it's not the one I carry on a daily basis. Nor is it what I have on my nightstand.

As a first handgun, I would recommend a .22lr. Whether it be a semi auto pistol, or revolver. It will give you the opportunity to learn muzzle control, trigger control, sight alignment, and all other basics at a relatively low cost. Consider spending $25-30 for a box of 50 rounds of 9mm or .40 as apposed to the same amount of cash for 500 rounds of .22lr. That's a lot of fun and practice.

If you are dead set on a 9mm, no pun intended, the XD line is a good choice. But than again so are the M&P line, I carry a M&P9c daily ,the Bersa line, the FN line, the CZ line, etc. As far as accuracy goes, most, if not all, modern firearms are, and will be, more accurate than you or I ever will be.

[Richterscale]

Great advise.

[Skylerbone]

+1 on starting with a .22 for learning. There are some that are a bear to disassemble but most can run hundreds of rounds between cleanings and products like Gunscrubber can remove enough fouling to keep disassembly at bay for 1,000s of rounds.

If you're interested in home defense I'd recommend looking in to training, a concealed carry course at the very least. Yes, a carry class as it will focus some time on your rights and, just as important, their limits. Consider the same for every person of age in your home as well. Should a firearm become part of your HD equation, appropriate caliber selection, a good light and a means of securing your weapon while away will all be topics for discussion.

Another +1 for renting if possible. Many of us love to discuss reliability in terms of X number of rounds without failure and we often argue for days. Truth is, most any modern firearm will fire enough rounds to protect you if your aim is half decent. The important things are the ability to utilize what you've bought with proficiency.

Some things to consider:

As a general rule, the more compact the pistol, the more difficult it is to manually cycle the slide. I remembered this before buying my wife her second pistol.

Never choose a pistol for a spouse/significant other, see above for why. If there are two of you, consider the needs of all involved if you share one, let each choose their own if buying for each.

Budget for a good safe or quick access box. Can't stress that enough.

Spend $60 or so on a bright flashlight. Even my 4 year old knows not to touch that one, the other dozen Maglight Minis are for play.

Consider other non-lethal options such as pepper spray in case the first home invasion you experience is a big, drunk, unarmed and confused guy who thinks you're in his house. A room with a phone and reinforced lockable door is always money well spent.

Plenty more considerations but that might get you started.

[PabloJ]

If you ever see one try to handle old Glock 24 in .40S&W. Low profile adjustable rear sight and long slide with about six inch barrel. Exceptional combat weapon in every way.

[Plan2Live]

If you are a newbie as you say you are, I would suggest you seek out an NRA Certified Pistol Instructor and take a Basic Pistol Course before you buy anything. The Instructor will walk you through basic pistol theory and explain the fundamental differences between the the three action types and striker versus hammer fired. They will also teach you the basics of grip, stance, site picture and trigger control. All of this information will go a long way in helping you decide on a handgun that fits your criteria. Going to any online source will just expose you to an abundance of brand fans and very little substance. A Basic Pistol class should run you around $75 to $85 but may save hundreds in the long run by not choosing the wrong gun based on someone else's brand preference which is based on someone else's brand preference.

[otasan56]

I'd recommend a .357 revolver, seeing how you are in 10-round limit CA.

[powder]

Join the NRA and get to one of our Pistol Intro. classes. It's the cheapest and easiest access to experienced shooters with decent advice.

2nd on the .357 revolver: the .357 Magnum revolver also safely shoots .38 ammo. which is more affordable for learning/plinking, get your safety aspects down into a habit, and move on to semi-autos when more comfortable.

[1911 guy]

Go to a shop with a large selection of different guns. Pick a spot on the wall and thrust the gun out from a high ready to shooting position. The sights should be roughly at point of aim up and down. Don't worry too much about left and right, as this is a function of positioning the pistol in the web of your hand.

If you do decide on the XD, I'd recommend either the 4 or 5 inch and load it with premium ammo for home use and hardball for range use.

[el Godfather]

I would disagree with the .22 learning route. I dont see any benefit in that. If you must why not air pistol. Dont waste money on .22 unless target practice is prime objective.

My recomendation would be a quality 9mm that you practice with and would last you the life time- why ptactice on something cheap and when you get good with it move to a more expensive pistol and not only start practicing with it again but also lose money on the cheap pistol bought.

Thus, buy quality firearm and practice with it. If you get good with it will be good companion for a long time.

Here are my recommendations based upon your two primary concerns- home security and target practice.
A) If CCW is not a concern then: Sig Sauer X5, H&K USP Expert or CZ 75 TS.
B) If CCW is a concern then: Sig Sauer P229 SS Elite, Beretta 92fs inox or H&K P30L.

Cheers!

[meanmrmustard]

Cz75 and its clones.
Walther PPQ

But, for someone just starting out who wants a 9mm, why not get a pistol that is charge and forget.

Glock 19

[Deer_Freak]

In the end everyone buys a 22 for practice. I prefer revolvers and DA/SA pistols. So I bought a Heritage SA for practice. Using CCI mini-mags for my calculations. I get 200 rounds of practice for the price of 50 rounds 9mm FMJ ammo. In just a few thousand rounds I have recovered the cost of the 22. So why not buy the 22 first? In the beginning is when the OP needs to shoot a lot of rounds to build his skills.

When one does the math with bulk ammo the 22 pays for it's self a lot faster.

[Skylerbone]

I wouldn't call my .22s cheap and I've never lost money on them because I've never sold them. $15 in bulk .22 ammo will wear out most any shooter mentally if they're practicing as they should.

[Alabama21]

As others have pointed out, the cost is not the gun.... It is the ammo.

Over time the amount of money invested in an firearm is quickly eclipsed by what you put in it.

The cheapest ammo is .22, the cheapest centerfire ammo is 9mm.

[Kiln]

The XD series is great and backed by Springfield's lifetime warranty. I prefer the XDM over the XD but it is more expensive, my preference is solely based on minor differences like the grip, no trigger pull for takedown, and higher magazine capacity.

My favorite 9mm is the CZ75B. It is by far the most accurate handgun I've ever owned and the steel frame helps keep the recoil very low in comparison to any of the polymer guns I've owned (XDM's and a Glock). Biggest downside is that the warranty is only 5 years. I know that 5 years is a considerable amount of time but I am a sucker for lifetime warranties.

All of this is assuming of course that you're stuck on 9mm. If this thing is going to double as a defensive weapon then this is probably the way to go.

My recommendation is that you buy a Ruger MK3 .22lr pistol and train with it first and then grab a centerfire pistol later on unless you're intending to use it for defense along with the range use. If not then the .22lr will teach you all of the things you need to know about how to shoot but without breaking the bank.

[meanmrmustard]

If the OP DOES go .22, then I suggest the Ruger SR22.

It mimics a service style pistol, and is very reliable with all but the junkiest ammo. There are now threaded barrels available for compensation or suppression.

That being said, for defense, I'd have no qualms loading the SR up with Stingers: can't imagine the BG who takes Stingers COM and keeps rollin'.

IMHO

[Kiln]

If the OP DOES go .22, then I suggest the Ruger SR22.

It mimics a service style pistol, and is very reliable with all but the junkiest ammo. There are now threaded barrels available for compensation or suppression.

That being said, for defense, I'd have no qualms loading the SR up with Stingers: can't imagine the BG who takes Stingers COM and keeps rollin'.

IMHO
I always suggest the MK3 because the steel frame negates almost all recoil. Not to mention that it is a time proven design that requires very little maintenence to keep functioning with amazing reliability.

The SR22 by comparison is an aluminum slide with poly frame. Long term durability is questionable, with plenty of complaints about slide peening and broken takedown levers all over the web, the verdict isn't in yet on whether they've fixed all the issues.

[meanmrmustard]

I always suggest the MK3 because the steel frame negates almost all recoil. Not to mention that it is a time proven design that requires very little maintenence to keep functioning with amazing reliability.

The SR22 by comparison is an aluminum slide with poly frame. Long term durability is questionable, with plenty of complaints about slide peening and broken takedown levers all over the web, the verdict isn't in yet on whether they've fixed all the issues.
Mines a 2012 model, with 5000 or better down range. I'm guessing those issues are of earlier models.

I've experienced no shortcomings myself. I prefer it to the Mk series, mainly due to field stripping and the fact that I can practice with a pistol that closely mimics my service arms. Also helps that it is the most reliable .22 I've owned. I do like the Mk series, but its not close to those weapons that I carry in form or function.

[Spade5]

I bought a $40 pump up air pistol at Academy last year that shoots pellets just to practice in my back yard. I have a good backstop and can shoot up to 45 feet which is just where I want to be.

The single shot load, pump then shoot cycle tends to make me think every shot counts. The gun is close to the weight of a "real" gun and the sights are about the same. It is convient too because I don't have to go any where. Just set up the target and pop a few when the urge hits me.

I also agree with the 22 auto as a great learning tool. I had a Ruger years ago and it would drive tacks at 25 yards off a rest. I couldn't do that freehand but it was fun to shoot and didn't cost that much to shoot even when you consider the cost of the gun. I had fits breaking it down to clean it but it was a great gun.

Whatever you decide on. Learn to handle the firearm safely and practice. Don't be fooled by what looks good or that bigger is better. To me the biggest consideration is how the gun feels in your hand. I would be willing to bet that more gun fights are won with skill than with speed or caliber.

[Furncliff]

I reload for my center fire pistols, but I still practice more with my .22 pistols. It's cheaper, there is less recoil and noise. Some 9mm and .40 and ,45 acp handguns have .22 conversions. One good example is the CZ 75b with the Kadet .22LR Conversion.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8325/8120576761_df7bea3fe9.jpg

This is not the least expensive way to go but it has some advantages. You will be shooting both your practice .22 ammo and centerfire ammo (in this case 9mm) with the same frame. The weight is about the same, the grip is the same and the controls are in the same place. The change over takes 15 seconds.

CZ makes quality firearms, these are all steel and pleasant to shoot, field strip for cleaning is simple and quick.

Food for thought.

[Kiln]

Mines a 2012 model, with 5000 or better down range. I'm guessing those issues are of earlier models.

I've experienced no shortcomings myself. I prefer it to the Mk series, mainly due to field stripping and the fact that I can practice with a pistol that closely mimics my service arms. Also helps that it is the most reliable .22 I've owned. I do like the Mk series, but its not close to those weapons that I carry in form or function.
The SR22 may turn out to be a very durable gun...or it may not. The reason I won't buy one yet is that it hasn't been on the market long enough to find out. I've yet to hear of one that has hit the 40,000+ round mark like many of the MK series have done with basic maintenence. For instance my MK3 has over 15,000 rounds through it and looks brand new, where the SR22's are showing wear at half that round count.

That may just be because it is aluminum though, I've heard that aluminum wears much differently than steel. I don't know because I've only owned two aluminum framed guns (aFEG PA63 and Canik C100 which I got yesterday and haven't fired) so I am far from an expert on them.

Not trying to spit on your gun because I definitely see the value of a small trainer that emulates other combat guns. If my Walther P22 hadn't been such a piece of junk I would still have it and be using it for the same purpose you've given your SR22. The good news about the SR22 is that it is convered under Ruger's lifetime warranty if anything should happen to it. That alone should be reason enough to pick it over the Walther any day of the week.

[meanmrmustard]

^^^true, but you don't have one, Kiln. I'm no expert, on anything really, but I can vouch for the SR gun. No peening, no extra wear in places that it shouldn't belong. With a thorough cleaning, I'd be hard pressed to prove mine used.

I do not trust the FEG PA63, due in part to hotter 9x18 loads and KBs experienced by folks I know.

You talked me out of the P22, and for reasons I needed to hear. The SR22 has that covered, and I suppose I will consider myself lucky among many others I converse with who own and trust it.

As stated, I like the Mk series, but it has a niche that the SR22 fills much better.

[Kiln]

^^^true, but you don't have one, Kiln. I'm no expert, on anything really, but I can vouch for the SR gun. No peening, no extra wear in places that it shouldn't belong. With a thorough cleaning, I'd be hard pressed to prove mine used.

I do not trust the FEG PA63, due in part to hotter 9x18 loads and KBs experienced by folks I know.

You talked me out of the P22, and for reasons I needed to hear. The SR22 has that covered, and I suppose I will consider myself lucky among many others I converse with who own and trust it.

As stated, I like the Mk series, but it has a niche that the SR22 fills much better.
Yup, you're 100% correct, I haven't owned an SR22. I may at some point in the future, especially since I just learned that there is a company (Twin Tech Tactical) making aftermarket takedown levers for it which seems to be one of the only real issues with them.

I haven't had any problems with my PA63, it has functioned flawlessly for me but I only have a couple hundred rounds through it so far. Not sure how many have been fired through the little thing honestly but so far so good.

[bikerdoc]

One good example is the CZ 75b with the Kadet .22LR Conversion.

Highly recommend.

[meanmrmustard]

Yup, you're 100% correct, I haven't owned an SR22. I may at some point in the future, especially since I just learned that there is a company (Twin Tech Tactical) making aftermarket takedown levers for it which seems to be one of the only real issues with them.

I haven't had any problems with my PA63, it has functioned flawlessly for me but I only have a couple hundred rounds through it so far. Not sure how many have been fired through the little thing honestly but so far so good.
I do not recommend the Buffalo Bore +P in that platform.