First Handgun for Personal Defense

Atomic_Dog9601 said:

I would prefer something higher capacity with good availability of aftermarket and factory parts.

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Glock 17 capacity 17+1
Springfield XD 9mm capacity 16+1
S&W M&P Shield 9 capacity 7+1 or 8+1

You listed two double-stack and one single-stack guns.
I suggest you hold a double stack S&W M&P 9 2.0 for a feel of the grip. If comfortable, add that to your list. I have one and really like it.
Capacities: full size, 17+1
Compact, 15+1, or 17+1 with mag sleeve (supplied with the gun).
Sub-compact, 13+1, or 15+1 with mag sleeve.

Multiple barrel lengths are available for each of the three grips sizes.

If possible, shoot all of them at a store with range or with a friend, before deciding. The difference in grip angle may make a difference to you; for me the Glock was not comfortable but the S&W is very comfortable.

My FiL has a full-sized Springfield something-or-other that has a grip safety. He doesn't like it that much (doesn't fit his hand well), but it works just fine.

I have a Glock22/17 and a S&W M&P. They are both good pistols. I like them both. I'd have to shoot them side-by-side to pick a winner.

CZ75's and their clones are my favorite genre of service pistol.

Whichever good service pistol fits your hand best and points best for you will be the right choice.

I’m unabashedly a fan of Springfield firearms. That said, Glocks are “extremely” reliable handguns!

However, as you are not very familiar with handgun shooting, try shooting the Glock prior to purchasing! With my admittedly minimal experience with a Glock 9mm (uncertain of model).....I observed a couple of shooters having “stovepipe”/feeding issues, while having no issues with my Springfield. Once their problem....”limp-wristing” was diagnosed, they began to have success with the Glock.

So, my concern primarily is, with the difficulty in getting sufficient ammunition for lots of practice....make certain that you do not have difficulties with your chosen handgun prior to purchase!

While this may not be well received by you.....you may consider a quality, double-action revolver! They are nearly foolproof in the hands of the inexperienced! Yes, limited rounds downrange (usually 5 or 6), but, 5 or 6 almost guaranteed ......beats the heck out of a jammed semi-auto, which requires a clear head in a time of stress to get the firearm back into the fight! JMO memtb

Staff and others will usually suggest that you take a training class or two to familiarize yourself with various handgun types before a purchase.

A general statement from an excellent trainer is:

A thought for today from John Holschen:
Amateurs think (or talk) equipment,
Students think techniques,
Masters think tactics!

Glock 17, 45, 19, 19x, 26 and 34 all can use the 17 magazines, and they're cheap. Parts are everywhere. Customer service is good. Reliability is as good as anything.

I've tried others but trust Glocks to work.

What you first want to do is decide the main roll that the gun will be used for. You don’t want a big gun if you plant conceal carry.
I have several handguns. Some are tools and others are toys. I like my toys.

Glock 17 and the Shield are good choices.
Which fits you hand better? Shield is slim for my liking.
Glock 17 is concealable, Shield probably be a little easier.

If someone says a Glock 17 is not concealable that means for them; they may be either unwilling or unable to dress to conceal it.
Unable (for example) would be because most of the time they wear work clothes and have to tuck in their shirt.
Unwilling (for example) doesn't want to wear a untucked shirt when they could, or doesn't want the effort of a belt & holster.

Smallest pistol I carry is a Glock 19/23 and I carry it walking the dogs, casual bicycle ride, shopping, wherever.
In this pic I've got a Glock 35, grip length is same as a Glock 17, holster with forward cant keeps it from printing even if I lean forward a bit.
Loose fit shirts with a print, pattern, plaid, are conducive to concealment and I'm in summer clothes, as usual.

Have to find what fits your hand and naturally points the best. Then think about the trigger. Then ability to conceal and draw quickly. Then, train like you’re life depends on it. It’s not the firearm that will save your life. It’s your situational awareness, and operation of the firearm that will save your life.

Atomic_Dog9601 said:

(I've shot 9mm before and know what to expect in terms of kick.)

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Atomic_Dog9601 said:

3.) S&W M&P Shield 9.

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What you can "expect in terms of kick" doesn't depend solely on the cartridge or "caliber." My 9mm Sig M11 A-1 doesn't "kick" as much as my 9mm Glock 19 Gen 5 because it's bigger and weighs more. On the other hand, my Glock 19 is easier for me to conceal and carry because it's smaller and weighs less.
Both my wife and our oldest daughter carry Smith M&P Shields. However, my wife's Shield is only a .380, while our daughter's is a 9mm. That's because my wife struggles with arthritis in her thumb joint and firing very many 9mms in a small package like a M&P Shield hurts her. However, my wife does fine with her larger and heavier 9mm Sig P239. But again - her P239 is harder for my wife to conceal and carry.
All that said - I really like my Glock 19 Gen 5 for concealed carry, and I like having my full-sized, Smith 1911 .45ACP on the bottom shelf of my nightstand.

The Shield is a great gun but it is not the easiest gun to shoot.

I agree with several others. Get your hands on all of them and see which one feels and points the best, If possible find a range that rents them and take them for a test drive. You'll know which one is for you after that. I went the harder route and purchased several before I found "THE ONE"...but that's OK cuz I have a nice collection going now.

I personally ended up with the Shield Plus with a 10 and 13 round mag as my go to EDC.

Excellent advice above!.......Whats your long game? Down the road you might consider a Oregon Concealed Handgun License (CHL). So take a class, test shoot your short list. Choose knowing after 500 rounds you might want to change something. Then take a tactical class from a quality instructor that covers malfunctions, other situations and just enjoy the sport. Many ways to get there. And yes we usually wind up with a collection- its all part of the journey.

In Florida we have the advantage that it seems every man 55 or older wears a Hawaiian shirt. The big tell is a grown man wearing a fanny pack.

My EDC is a S&W Shield 9X19mm with the (8) Rd capacity magazine. Yes I have other handguns but the Shield's size, caliber and capacity are adequate. If you by chance have the opportunity to read or acquire Tom Givens book tilted: Concealed Carry Class The ABCs Of Self-Defense Tools And Tactics (Gun Digest Books) Do so its an excellent reference.

I'm sixty plus years old, been shooting in some form all my life, considered myself a fair shot with a handgun until recently when I took my first defensive pistol course. Long story short I couldn't hit squat with that 45 I've been haulin around while under the pressure of moving, identifying targets, time limits, clearing jams and mag changes. Came home and got out my TX 22 and ran thru some of the exercises on my range. Got a ways to go but at least I'm staying on the paper now. I realize now it's not the gun so much as it is awareness, technique and practice that may save my life.

Of the 3 you listed I prefer the G17.

If I was buying my first pistol all over again and knowing all I know now, I'd be looking for a G19.

It's just small enough to easily conceal and big enough to shoot like a full size gun. This is great if you only have 1 gun and need a do-all pistol.

Best advice (as previously stated) is to get to a range and rent several and be honest with yourself about intended use.

There isn't a real benefit to having a smaller HD gun so A full size pistol is generally a better option. While you can conceal a G17 for CC the smaller guns are generally a better option. there are many more comfortable and easier to hide options available (like the 19 or 26)

It's a good idea to find a size and capacity that matches your goals and then shoot a few offerings from different manufacturers and pick the one that you shoot well and feels good.

Agree with everyone, try them.

My best advice as a dude in the internet: boring and typical and normal and common are probably good things.

If you're just starting out with handguns, I would go mainstream. All your choices are great, so there's no real wrong answer. Of the list, I'd go M&P 2.0 or Glock Gen5.

But it's tough, so many options at so many price points...

Striker vs hammer
Polymer vs metal
Safety vs no safety
Small vs medium vs large
9mm vs .40 vs .45 vs 10mm
... And so on.

Handguns are very subjective and like others have said you should try to find a store or range that has multiple makes and models in stock to check out.

Having said that, here is my 2 cents: I would go with the Glock 17 Gen 5. The Gen 5's have been vetted by extensive testing and proven to work. They are great guns, most parts are drop in, and they have lots of aftermarket support. Magazines, holsters, sights and everything else are easy to find and usually in stock. It is also an extremely easy gun to learn to work on. I would give it a hard look.

I have also played with the XD platform and they are solid guns. My main gripe with them is that part are not drop in and usually take some fitting. I also had a grip safety break on me which was my final straw with the XD guns.

It is also important to remember that you are not married to a platform. If you buy a Glock or whatever and it doesn't work out, sell it and try something else until you find that magic combo.

Get some training, be safe and let us know what you choose.

It’s a very personal issue, an EDC. Would really like to know how you decided on these three. And of the three, my choice is the G17 in any flavor but it checks all the squares in your list. But I would like to see how you pick up a striker fired weapon first. Does your finger go automatically to the side of the frame or into the trigger guard?

You say you are new to handguns, and you can find a lot of good information on what others have decided to carry or at least what they say they always carry in an online forum. But that is always good to take with some salt.

You can carry any of the pistols on your list. But would you? And why are you focused on capacity and aftermarket items for a carry weapon? Glocks work straight out of the box. They need sights and ammo. And the newer Gen5s don’t even need sights they are good to go.

IMHO, and it will be best to focus on:
1) what you will actually carry 24/7
2) what you can shoot the best with and manipulate quickly
Then focus on caliber and lastly capacity. As you can see I do not put a lot of faith in carrying the best pistol, just what’s best for me. It was stated before and bares repeating, your awareness will get you out of or keep you from getting into a bad situation a lot more than having the right pistol on your hip. Just because you strap on iron doesn’t make you immune to bad things.

I would greatly suggest you look into carry insurance. You will go to jail and you will see a judge during a shooting. You will in a sitting in a cell until you are cleared. And you will still need bail money and lawyer fees. I have both US Law Shield and USCCA.

And how are you going to practice with your new weapon? Ammo is scarce and expensive. Dry firing practice helps you learn your draw stroke and keep your finger off the bang switch. One reason I like my j frames, very easy to practice my trigger control and sight alignment without ammo. And reloads with snap caps of dummy rounds. But several pocket pistols like the G42, MP380, EC9, and Sig 365 do the same, just have to reset the trigger every time.

Good luck in your search, but I wouldn’t sweat too much over it. It’s just a tool, not a personal statement.

Lefty

Atomic_Dog9601 said:

Thanks all for the feedback. Soon as I can get to a range with rentals will get back and let you know what I decide. I am currently in the process of signing up for a conceal and carry & tactical handgun course once my firearm is purchased. Plus I know a great local indoor and outdoor range where I can practice with my new tool. I am definitely going to consider the slim frame but with the larger grip for ease of concealment.

In all honesty. While my job does not prohibit the carrying of a licensed concealed firearm it is certainly not encouraged. But in the crazy world we live in I just want the extra layer of security. Locally police response time averages 10 minutes when we know all to well that most tragedies are over in half that time. If something does happen (God forbid) I will survive to find another job. I will not have my headstone read "He adhered to policy."

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Good for you on getting your CCL and even more advanced training. But if you are very new to guns, I would skip the advance training and just focus on drawstroke, keeping your finger off the trigger, and bring it up to your target. Shooting skills take a lot of reputations to be installed. Better to be ahead of the curve with the basics than jumping into advance skills before the basics are mastered. And most of this can be practiced at home with an unloaded weapon.

Then schedule your advance class for 2022, and kick ass in it!

Here is my take on it. Go with what not only fits your hands the best but also the one that you shoot the best. You can adjust your wardrobe later to properly conceal the firearm. And you are the right track getting some training.

I carry everything from a Kel-Tec P3AT unto a Glock G17 and 1911. I am pretty skinny at 145 pounds and wear size 32 pants. I can still conceal a 1911 or other full size pistols just fine. You just have to dress for what you are carrying.

Again go with what fits you the best and more importantly what you shoot the best.

I started off with revolvers and still prefer them. Their balance and triggers are much different than semiautos.

A full-sized 9mm service pistol is a good choice for HD. There are lots of good ones. Whichever one fits your hand best and you shoot the best.

For CC I strongly prefer a smaller handgun; full-sized ones are better for HD.

If I were to use one of my 9mm service type pistols as my HD pistol it would probably be my Walther PPQ, if you want another nice one to think about...