[LarryTwohig]

I'm looking to purchase my first gun, but I'm first doing a lot of research since I'm new to this realm. Been a knife guy for some time, but have always secretly desired a firearm, and only recently gave in to my primal urges. I've fired baretta 9mm's on several occasions, but I'm somehow attracted to the thought of owning a Glock. Never handled one, but I can't imagine being disappointed. Gunnies have recommended revos as a first for a newbie, but I think I'm gonna go semi-auto nevertheless. Revolvers just don't do it for me, although I'm not ruling out giving one a shot in the future (NPI). I take good care of anything that I spend more than $20, so maintainance or worn out springs are not a worry, plus once I develop an interest in something I stop at no ends to perfect the skill, and develop knowledge in the area.

Uses would be home SD, range, possible future CCW. Does anybody know how long it will take for the background check? Hopefully not a year! I also believe that here in NYC civilians cannot carry whatsoever... I may however be moving to another state or even country in the not too distant future, and I don't plan on buying a second hangun for a couple years after this first purchase, so the first one must be a do-it-all. Anyway, any good links to NY carry laws, and permit info, are more than welcome!

At the top of my list right now is the Glock 26. Lightweight, subcompact for multiple carry options, affordable ammo, reliable, reputable, and obvious ownership pride. Not too worried about stopping power, but I know that 9mm will get the job done. As far as function, how would this stack up against the full-size baretta that I've fired (sorry, don't recall the exact model)? Further info, general gun recommendations are welcome. Also considering the G27 .40 Cal, but 9mm seems like a better idea for a newbie. Agree? Overall, how do the polymer glocks fair against guns of other weightier materials? I would like to have a reliable sidearm that I don't even notice is there, and that others don't notice either, until I really (but hopefully never) need to use it... and a simple weapon that I can grab from the bedside, and operate in the dark, when the adrenaline's pumping... can you tell I live in a dangerous neighborhood?!

Seems like you've all got a great forum going here, and I'm happy to join the ranks, and be a responsible gun owner. Thanks!

Larry

[cordex]

First, are you fully aware of the gun laws governing you in NYC?
I'm pretty sure you have to get a special residence permit to even store a lawfully owned firearm in your home. Not sure how easy it is to get. I'd look into those laws very carefully before I bought a firearm of any sort. I think carry is pretty much out, unless you happen to be extremely wealthy and willing to grease your path with cash.
Secondly, I have long been a proponent of small caliber long arms (read: .22 LR rifles) as a first weapon. They're easy to learn on, cheap to shoot - which doesn't mean you'll save money, it just means you'll do a whole lot more shooting - and can be used to learn good shooting techniques. However, since it appears you have an urgent interest in defending your home, I would suggest a shotgun, probably in 12 gauge. This gets around the "residence permit" that you'd have to deal with for handguns. But before you chuck a shell into the chamber and stick the shottie by your bed, keep in mind that the shotgun is not as "point and click" as some would have you believe - it requires skill to become proficient with and the shot pattern doesn't spread out much at home defense ranges. Still, it's a heckuva lot better than a handgun if it comes to having to use it. Remember also that even birdshot will fly straight through drywall, if that's a concern. (I remember a younger and more foolish Cordex and his pal who would cut down small trees with 12 gauge birdshot at close range ... way too close)

9mm will do just fine if you do your part. Then again, so would nearly any caliber in the hands of a skilled shooter. Practice, practice, practice. And be safe, too. It wouldn't hurt to get some professional instruction.

edit:
Keep in mind that a Glock has no manual safety. As a new shooter, that might be a concern (heck, I've been shooting for a few years now and I like the safeties that my 1911 provides me). If you pull the trigger and there is a round in the chamber, it will go bang (or so Glockies tell me). This can be a good thing, or a bad thing, and only you can decide that. I like having the manual safety that I can sweep off, but that's just me.

[David Park]

First of all, NYC laws are very restrictive, so it may be a question of what you are permitted to own, rather than what you prefer. Here's an introduction to the laws:
http://www.packing.org/state/index.jsp/new+york+city

My first gun was a SIG 9mm. If you know what you want, then ignore the people who say "buy a revolver" or "start with a .22". The G26 is my favorite Glock; I plan to get one myself eventually. I've shot the G26 and G27 side by side and they're fairly similar as far as recoil (relatively mild), so unless you prefer a .40 caliber I'd stick with the G26. One nice thing about the baby Glocks is that you don't have to worry about buying expensive pre-ban magazines. Glocks make me a little nervous for concealed carry, but that's not an issue for you right now, and as long as you get a good holster that completely covers the trigger guard it's not really a problem.

[rock jock]

My first handgun was a Glock. It is an excellent choice for a newbie. Anybody who feels uncomfortable with a Glock is probably going to feel the same with a revo, which, by the way, also do not have manual safeties. If I were you, I would consider waiting till you move out of occupied territory. Your selection and ease of ownership will mostly likely be much improved.

BTW, this post gives me occasion to once again renew my love for Texas. I can go to a gun store today and buy the biggest, baddest handgun I can find and walk out of the store ten minutes later legally carrying it through the most crowded part of Dallas or Houston.

[Don Gwinn]

Cordex is right. The first thing you have to do is learn your laws. There are lots of laws even your local gun dealer may not know, but that's where I'd start (I only recently discovered that my father committed dozens of felonies when he was a dealer here in Illinois, because Illinois has a little-known, almost-never-enforced law against selling cheap pistols with die-cast non-ferrous parts.)

You can also put "New York gun laws" into Google or Wisenut and see what you get. It'll be a lot.

The next thing I'd do is shoot a Glock 17. Then try a 26 and see if you still find it so charming. The baby Glocks are awfully small. They can be more difficult than the full-size to shoot correctly, and frankly the 19 (halfway between 17 and 26) is a better fit than either for most people.

The only exception I've seen to this rule is the Glock 30. I have one, I love it, and I wouldn't trade it for a 21. But the 9mm frame is very different from the .45 frame.

Generally, the only good reason to buy a smaller handgun in the same caliber is to conceal it more easily. Quite frankly, unless you're famous for some reason we don't know about, you don't have much chance of obtaining a carry permit in New York. They exist, but they're usually reserved for the likes of Aerosmith and Howard Stern. The 26 will be lighter and its sight radius shorter than the 19 or the 17, and its grip is shorter which can be annoying. You can add magazine extensions to make the grip longer, but what's the point when you could have had a 19 with the same length? The light weight is no advantage at home or on the range. It only matters if you're going to carry it.

[MJRW]

I would recommend dismissing most of your notions of what you want and getting yourself out to shoot some of these guns. At the very least, go pick some up. Many people find glock triggers to feel odd or the grip angle to be undesirable. One mistake I often see people making is "smaller, lighter, better." Smaller and lighter don't make for better shooters. I've got a 14 oz .380 that is a nightmare to shoot and a 38 oz .357 that is wonderful to shoot. The sub-compact glocks, imo, serve as carry guns that only get shot to practice with your carry piece. For range and home, a larger glock (which is still able to be carried just fine) will serve you better. Longer sight radius, barrel, and larger grip will all prove to be valuable.

[terlingua]

The 26 is a good choice and Glocks are utterly reliable (keep that wrist locked). You should also check out the 19. A little more grip to grip and you can stuff 17 rounds in a +2 pre-ban mag. Gives you a few more options. The 19 would be just a wee bit harder to conceal, but no big deal with the right setup.

[norielX]

As a longtime 1911 guy, I decided to add a .45 G21 to my collection. Just recently, I added a G34 (9mm) to my collection as well. Glocks are wery easy to operate, but you must always remember not to put your finger on the trigger until you are ready to shoot (I know, this applies to all guns). Try out a Glock first just to make sure it fits you and that you can get used to the trigger. What your mind likes and what your hand likes can be two very different guns.

[usnavymasterchief]

MJRW is right on the mark. I own a Glock 23 and a Glock 33. I use the 23 for a house gun and range gun. The 33 is in .357Sig caliber and would not be recommended by me as a first pistol, a Glock 27 in 9mm would be more like it. The 33 is my 24/7 carry piece and it suits me just fine but it definitely is not every man's gun.
Just a little on ultra light high powered guns. I recently bought and sold a S&W Mod 360PD in .357 Magnum. This little J-frame weighed about 12 oz, neat to carry, hell to shoot with full power .357 Magnum loads. I paid $722 after taxes and misc fees for the S&W 360PD, I could not move it for $500, finally traded it at a gun show for another Glock. Glocks of all sizes can be found, if you look hard enough, NIB here in FL for under $500. You can pay lots more for many other handguns but in MHO you can't get a much better handgun for the price.
Oh sure I'd love to own a Les Bauer .45, and hopefully in the near future I'm going to get a new Kimber Ultra Carry II. Again I honestly believe that if you can only own one gun and you stake your life on it, a Glocks the way to go. Yep, the trigger is a little quirky and takes a little getting used to but after 50 or so rounds it will feel OK.
Whatever you get, practice, practice and practice some more, mainly practice with what will be your carry piece. As put by a LEO in another forum, Too many folks get a CCW license, buy a gun, load it up with Cor-Bon JHP's and hit the streets thinking they are all cool and can handle whatever comes up. Wrong, wrong, wrong! Practice, Practice, Practice.
MCPO John USN RET

[10-Ring]

As a 1st gun, you could do worse. I'd go w/ a 19 over the 26 only for the more comfortable grip & slightly longer sight radius. Plus, I like 9mm because the ammo is cheaper & I can get more practice in w/ it.

[wanderinwalker]

The Glock is not a bad first handgun. One of my friends got the 19 as his first gun. I do believe he carries it everywhere he goes. I personally shoot a 17 and a 26. For target work, pistol games, and making other people look silly at the range, the 17 gets the call. The 26 is nice, but I don't/can't carry, so it is also only a range toy. Right now I am looking to move on to steel framed 1911/.45s, but the Glock still has it's place. You really can't go wrong.

[Skunkabilly]

Glocks are great guns but I don't like the ergonomics. I don't mind the trigger everyone seems to hate so much. IMO they need better sights and the grip angle is funky but I certainly wouldn't feel underarmed with one.

I can't my normal high thumbs grip without it hurting.

[zorba]

A Glock 19 is an excellent gun to start with. As far as not having a manual safety, you need to learn to keep your finger off the trigger with any gun. I don't like guns with too many levers, switches, etc. If you develop good safety and handling habits, a Glock is fine. As far as the laws in NYC, you will not get a CCW and if you do get a permit, it will most likely be for premise only. I live in upstate NY in a gun friendly county so it was not hard to get my CCW. You mentioned that you may be moving, do it as soon as you can and make sure to check out the gun laws in the state your going to.

[gbelleh]

My very first firearm was a Glock 26. I liked it, but sold it a few years later. I agree with those who say to go and shoot as many different guns as you can, only then will you learn your personal preferences. Many people like Glocks, many don't.

[LarryTwohig]

Thanks for all the solid advice... I didn't realize that you couldn't get a pinky on the g26... that could be annoying! I'll look into the 17, as well as the 19, but it'll be some time before I can actually own one!:( darn NYC laws! did a bit of reading on packing.org today, and it sounds VERY frustrating:banghead: anyway, I'll keep doing my research and visit some stores, but most likely I'll have to wait till I move... somewhere where civil liberties are not restricted, and somewhere warm.

LT

[DonGlock26]

The baseplates of the G-26 mags can be replaced with a finger extention that is very popular with Glock owners. If you are not going to CCW, then get the G-19/G-17, which ever fits your hand better. The only upgrade you need is night sights later on.

[David S]

EACK!!! all this talk of glocks.........yeh yeh, of them all, i like the 19 the best. I shot a 17 alot, and its a good gun, DAMN accurate, but the 19 is a good cross between accuracy and concealment.

but please, if you are in the mood for a Glock, just go ahead and commit to it and get urself THE polymer frame gun. The Walther P99...........i think others on this board can back me in saying, its a Glock and alot more...

[blades67]

I'd recommend the Glock 19 over the 26. The smaller grip and shorter sight radius of the 26 can hinder accuracy for a new shooter.

[Quintin Likely]

I was looking into a Glock for my first handgun as well...the 19 looked awful tempting, at least until I handled and pointed it. Since this is gonna be my carry gun eventually, I didn't like the Glocks, at least the double stack ones...they felt rather brick-like and bulky with the double stack magazines. The tiny magazine release didn't sit well with me either, felt like it had a lot of travel before the magazine ejected.

I've fallen in love with my Sig P239 though. :)

[SB1]

I am a big lurker here as I am learning about owning a handgun and the responsibilities along with one. Being a NYC resident and recent applicant, I can tell you where I am with the process.

First you should get help with the application process. the questions are tricky and implied and very easy to overlook basic answers which will kill your app early. There are several services out there that will help with the paperwrok packaged with training and range time pending approval. Look around.

Second, it is expensive to apply. You need to get money orders totalling over $320 dollars. I know it was more but not much more. It is non refundable. If you are not approved that money is gone.
You must go down to NYPD HQ and pick up the paperwork. You must also HAND deliver the paperwork, when completed. Make time from work as it takes a while. (3+hours waiting just to get fingerprinted and drop off everything.)

Third CCW is impossible. Impossible. Impossible. Without being rich, famous, political figurehead, victim of serious crime from repeat offender or carrier of valuables daily, YOU WILL NOT GET A CCW Permit. If you really need one you need to get a lwayer involved and that costs money too. Couple that with low approvals and it's not very cost effective.

Did you know you can't go to a gun store or range without a permit? So any homwork you do needs to be done here-like me.
If approved you only have 30 days to purchase your handgun. That purchase needs to be inspected by the NYPD. Also their is an interview with a NYPD officer for background.

I submitted my application on January 3 2003. I don't expect anything from them until summer. The law states you must get a final answer from the city within 6 months but if you don't who will you complain to? It has been a very tedious process and you must be patient. If you have a record, even a poor driving record, chances get even slimmer for approval so take that into consideration. I have never been arrested, never victim of a crime, no sealed record of an actions when I was a minor, no moving violation in seven years. I am married and have never had a police officer need to come to my house. With all that I put my odd about 60/40 of my being approved. I am very inexperienced but I am willing to learn and put forth the energy it takes to preserve a right given to me as outlined by my forefathers. If we do it right and with responsibility, maybe we can change some minds one at a time....... good luck and if I can help leave me a message.
BTW this is my first post. But not my last. I have been trying to soak everything up from the good people in ths forum. Used to read the TFL daily. Miss it.

[Sean Smith]

Insane New York laws aside, Glocks make OK first guns. The first gun I owned was a Glock 23, though I'd shot other handguns before. I'd start with a Glock 19, though. 9mm is cheap to shoot, has moderate recoil, and is effective for self-defense with good ammo. And the compact Glocks seem to have the best ergonomics of the bunch. The guns are simple, rugged and dependable.

I'd also give serious consideration to a CZ-75B. They are a spectacular value.

[roscoe]

If I lived in NYC I would get a 9mm Kel Tec Sub2000. Legally, of course, it is a rifle, but since you can store it folded, you could keep it concealed by the bed, yet quickly unfold it and chamber a round when you need it. Since it is as short as a long gun can be, it is a pretty good compromise for home defense. And out of the longer barrel, 9mm is not to be sneezed at.

[Beorn]

The Glock 17 has been my first semi-auto. I love it. I am a larger guy, so the size thing never really mattered.

I resisted getting one for a good 15 years because of the lack of an external safety and (this may sound stupid) no external hammer. I always liked firing single-action with all my wheel-guns. I have since gotten over the hammer thing. The safety deal is still an issue (though not too pressing since I DID buy the Glock).

Could you maybe compromise and get a mid-sized Springfield Armory XD? The come in 9mm, .40S&W, and .357SIG. I would avoid the .357SIG as a first caliber. AND they have a grip safety that the Glock does not have.

Just a thought:)

[LarryTwohig]

Well, after doing further research, and especially after reading what SB1 had to say, looks like I'll be holding off on my first gun for a while :( I feel like I'm living in some kind of totalitarian state! Anyway, even though my record is clean, looks like it'll take forever to even get just the permit. Might as well hold off till I move... since I could be blowing a lot of money if I move before I receive approval what a disappointment!:banghead:

[dairycreek]

But I am really not sure that they would be all that great for a first gun. With no manual safety how you handle the guns becomes of paramount importance. As others here have said over and over again - keep your finger off the trigger!! Discipline your gun handling and you will like the Glock a lot. If you don't they can be a downright pain in the ---. Good shooting;)

[SB1]

My post was not meant to discourage you. I felt it necessary though to realize how tedious the permit process is to make sure it is what you want to do.

I sent you a PM with some info. I hope it helps and good luck with your decisions/moving.

[Blackhawk]

Welcome to THR, Larry! :D

Glocks are fine guns, but I'd recommend fondling, handling, and dry firing a bunch of makes and models before buying any gun, presuming, of course, that you have to buy before you can shoot.

If not, I recommend the above plus shooting any make or model you're considering buying. There must be ranges not too far from you that rent guns.

You may get lucky and find the perfect handgun for you without ever having shot one first. In my experience, that would be very unusual.

Good luck! :D

[LarryTwohig]

thanks for the info everybody!