Need Help Choosing First Pistol

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PipSqueak said:
Not new to firearms or pistols, however this will be the first one that I have owned after recently being approved for an unrestricted pistol permit. I am hoping to find something that's practical for concealment, yet isn't compromised in it's shooting ability by it's size (I want to be able to fit my whole hand on the grip). I also want something with a manual safety since that is what I have trained with and I do not like the feel of a bladed trigger safety or a hinged trigger. I know that with the market shifting to favor striker fired pistols, those are becoming less of a common feature in current models. DA/SA is fine, but if it is then I would rather just have a decocking lever instead. I'm hoping to find a nice striker fired model since the trigger will always have a consistent pull. Also the newer stuff is usually lighter, which facilitates carrying.

These are my desired features:
- 9mm
- Compact size (or at least a full grip)
- Manual Safety/Decocker
- 10+1 capacity (more is illegal where I live)
- Optics ready (preferably with suppressor height irons available for co-witness)
- Accessory rail for light
- Would like aftermarket upgrade options for future tinkering

Does this exist?

The closest I could come up with that met all my needs was an Sig M18 MS with Carry X slide for suppressor height irons. I also like the looks of the Sig P228/9. I'm sure that my options are going to open up significantly if I look at more DA/SA stuff. I know there are some things I will have to make concessions over, and that's okay. I would greatly appreciate any suggestions or knowledge that anyone is willing to share. Thanks!
Click to expand...

Sig P320 compact
PRO: Available in 9mm. Compact size. Manual safety available. 10-round magazines available. Optic-cut slides available. Accessory rail available. Lots of aftermarket parts. Single-piece trigger with no trigger safety device. Lighter. Widely available and inexpensive. Not a terrible trigger for a striker gun.
CON: Manual safety is a bit of an afterthought like many versions of striker-fired guns with manual safeties.

Beretta 92 compact
PRO: 9mm. Compact size. DA/SA with either safety/decocker or decocker only at your preference. 10-round magazines available. Optic-cut slides available. Accessory rail available. No trigger safety device. Very soft shooting.
CON: More expensive. Grip is fairly large in circumference vs. its height. Optic-cut slides are probably harder to find. Gun is overall harder to find.

Staccato C
PRO: 9mm. Compact size. SAO. Optic-cut slides available with suppressor-height iron sights included in the optic-cut model. Trigger is arguably best in class. Accessory rail. No trigger safety. This gun above most others in its size has a reputation for accurate and easy shooting well out of proportion to its small size.
CON: Very expensive and currently very difficult to find since Staccato is focusing on C2 production. Magazines are available in 10-round variety but it's an Officer's frame 1911, so the default magazine is 8 rounds. Optic-cut slide is a substantial upcharge on the already-expensive gun.
 
For a first handgun, I favor something big and heavy with a long barrel. Some pansies don't like to carry a big gun, but I'm the real pansy that doesn't like to fight with a stubby plastic-weight weapon with high recoil velocity and a short sight radius. It sucks. Give me a big-ole boat anchor with a huge TV screen and a soft shooting cartridge that still comes out of a long barrel with plenty of effectiveness. It's easier to figure out how to carry that than it is to figure out how to win a fight with a tiny, lightweight gun loaded with a hot cartridge and bad sites.
 
My first thought was a G43X but it doesnt jive with your desires. Im kinda liking the new S&W CSX but its even farther away from what you want!

My first pistol was a Ruger MkII Target followed by a hi-point 9mm. Still have the Ruger but the HP went bye bye real quick.
 
DA/SA with decocker:
CZ PCR;
CZ P-01;
Grand Power P1 with decocker;
Grand Power P11 with decocker;
Beretta Px4 Compact;
Beretta 92FS Compact;
Taurus TH9C;
FN FNX-9;
Walther P99 AS;
Walther P99C AS;
Canik TP9 DA;
Magnum Research MR9.
 
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Striker fired with thumb safety:
Taurus G3;
Taurus G3C;
Ruger Security 9 (ok, it's hammer fired);
Ruger Security 9 Compact (same);
Walther CCP M2;
S&W M&P9, EZ, Shield, etc., various models;
Grand Power Q1 with thumb safety;
Grand Power Q1S with thumb safety;
Sarsilmaz SAR9 Compact.
 
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PipSqueak said:
These are my desired features:
Click to expand...

You missed the one essential that almost everyone misses...points naturally for you and fits your hand. All the other features are secondary to is the point of aim and point of impact naturally fitting for you and does it fit your hand. You'll need to handle three or four pistols of different grip angle and reach to trigger to learn this.
 
I have the Sig P365 and have found it to be quite a good carry gun.I wasn't so sure about it not having the manual safety,but I'm now glad I bought it without the safety.I also have a P320 Compact 45 without the safety,and have found it to be one of the pistols that I shoot my best with.I have an M17 with the safety and it's my general use pistol when I'm not worried about concealing it.The 320 series guns are large enough to make them hard to conceal,where the 365 can be well hidden in many different ways,especially with the ten round magazine.My main carry pistol is a S&W Shorty 40 from the Performance Center,and it's just a great gun.It's a little bulkier than my 365 and it's a SA-DA.As nice as it is,I find myself going with the smaller,lighter P365 more and more.A P365 with a manual safety checks most of the OP's boxes,it's not too expensive,and it's a small pistol that shoots like a large one.I can for sure shoot the 320 better,but the 365 isn't far behind.
 
Just get a GLOCK!

Spend money on a good holster!

Buy some Training!

Buy sone Self Defense insurance!

you will be SET!
 
You're going to have to compromise. I'd suggest a shield plus for that. Really a Taurus g3c isn't all that bad and if op must a keep tinkering trigger removes the safety blade.
 
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why should you get a Glock for your 1st gun? Because, it’s the most popular gun and everyone need to learn to operate it. in a battle field pick up, it’s going to be a Glock and AR. Learning to operate, clear, and clean is essential.
 
The M18 can be fitted with a more compact grip if desired.
To really carry a gun, it has to be easily concealed. As an armed citizen, you aren't obliged to ride to the sound of the guns; in fact, you probably should not.(If you do, make damned sure you know who is what.... )
A really small gun, on your person, is a lot more useful than a dream gun, mit light and optic, home in the safe.
Think really hard about a 365, or the XL grip model.
Moon
 
Once again I thank you all for the great responses. I'm seeing a lot of great options here with quite a bit of variety and some frequented suggestions. There's a gun show coming up this weekend that I'm attending and I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for several models. Hopefully after handing some and possibly getting to dry fire some I'll have a pretty good idea of what want to end up with. It's unfortunate that there are no ranges in my area that allow customers to rent pistols to actually try before buying.

Here are my top picks so far:

Sig: - P365XL, P229, P239 SAS, M18/P320C
CZ: P-01 Omega, P-07
FN: FNS 9c
Springfield: Hellcat Pro
HK: P2000, P30
Beretta: PX4cc, 92xRDO
Staccato: c

Also after finding out about striker control devices for Glocks, I have more confidence in their potential safety during holstering and may actually consider going with a compact model from them also.

Thanks again for the help and warm welcome from this community. I'll update in the near future about what I've decided to purchase if anyone is curious.
 
hso said:
You missed the one essential that almost everyone misses...points naturally for you and fits your hand. All the other features are secondary to is the point of aim and point of impact naturally fitting for you and does it fit your hand. You'll need to handle three or four pistols of different grip angle and reach to trigger to learn this.
Click to expand...

What to people typically look for in a natural fit in your hand? Does it just feel right?

How about a natural point of aim, could someone please elaborate on this further?
 
You dont need a striker safety thing with a Glock. That'll just put you at greater risk.

You need an extra quality holster and belt.

Take your time holstering, and then just leave the Glock in its holster. I dont even take mine out at night.

After a shooting, if your nerves are wrecked, clear the pistol to holster it. Or holster it with the slide locked back.
 
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