Predicament-Help

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Dave21

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Hello everyone, I'm new to THR so forgive me if I'm not posting in the right place, or if there is a thread for this already and I've started a new one; placing me right in the newbie category. :rolleyes:

With that said I've got a predicament. :banghead: I have experience shooting pistols and revolvers and enjoy pistols more, just personal preference. I am hoping to buy my first semi-auto this April come my 22nd birthday and have narrowed it down to 3 choices. These are my choices based on price, reliability, and personal preference. I am looking at the FNH FN 40 USG in 40S&W, Springfield XDM 4.5" in 40S&W, and the Springfield GI Mil-Spec 1911 in .45ACP. I have shot both of these calibers....just not with these makes and models. My problem is that the ranges near my house don't have these specific models for rent so I have no idea how they shoot, feel, etc. I don't want to buy one just to end up hating it. I have fired my friends XDM but it was in 9mm. I doubt that the 40S&W round will change it much but want to make sure. At the moment I'm leaning towards the XDM just because I've fired a version of it. Thanks for the advice, and stay safe!
 
word is the .40 is "snappier" but my cz 40 is very manageable and man do I love that gun. Coming from a guy looking for his first semi I would suggest a glock. You already saw my other post and I have a few brands under my belt but I trust my life with the glock everyday at work and reliability/accuracy wise you just can't go wrong. The gun does what you tell it to do when you tell it to do it. NEVER have I had a malfunction.
 
TWO DIFFERENT BEASTS
a 9mm and a .40 look close to the same,
but shoot very different.
Click to expand...
Amen too that. One of my most favorite pistols is my Kahr K9, its a dream to shoot...I tried out a friends K40 .....Wow, it was a completely different animal..I hated it.
 
Yep, 9mm and .40 do feel different. Most places have Glocks in 9mm and .40, you could always rent those and get a feel for the difference between the calibers.

In the end though, as a friend of mine just recently realized himself, there comes a point of diminishing returns when renting and having to buy expensive range ammo. One option you have is to buy your first gun used. If it turns out you find something down the road you like better, you can trade it for a small loss or sell it yourself and perhaps break even.

Most of us who turn into gun nuts end up moving to something different shortly.

Buying used might take a while longer, but I think the last new handgun I bought was about 15 guns ago.
 
Thanks for the replies everyone, I have fired a 9 and a .40 and know they're different, I just wasn't sure if the difference would be noticable in the same type of gun, the xdm. I guess it will be and I might not like it. I'll check out the Glocks and start calling ranges farther from home...hopefully a range has them available for rent. As far as buying a used gun...if that's what I end up doing....what are some tips and advice to avoid getting 'burned'? Thanks again
 
I have a XD .40 Tactical, the 5" version, and I find it pleasant to shoot, BUT I have shot the 9mm, and the recoil is noticeably less with less muzzle flip.
 
One thing you might consider is the cost of ammo...in that regard, a 9mm is hard to beat. Personally, my collection has both 9's and 45's, but not a single 40 cal.
 
My head would say XDM, but my heart would suggest the SA Mil Spec. You won't have any trouble shooting either caliber accurately.
 
Just when did revolvers become something other than a pistol? I personally like the term handgun better, but if you do use the word then revolvers and semi-autos are BOTH pistols . . .

Anyways, if you're just shooting for fun, I'd personally look at something in 9mm instead just for ammo costs - plus, 9mm recoils less than .40S&W or .45 ACP so it's easier to shoot better for most people.

That said, the Springfield 1911 will likely hold it's value very well. I'd give it a try - if you don't like it, you can likely sell it and get enough back to try out the XD if you want. Not to mention that this year is the 100th anniversary of the 1911. While I wouldn't by a commemorative model specifically, I must admit that owning one manufactured in 2011 does hold some appeal :).
 
I was in the exact same boat as you a year ago. I went with the FNP 40, love it, and I haven't looked back. (Except to buy a Kimber Custom II). My FN is flawlees, and runs like a champ. Personally, I'd go with the FNX, but I have a lot of trust for the whole FN line of firearms.
 
Personally I would go with the FNP 40. or FNX, whatever, they're the same, they rock.
 
Pistol: a handgun whose chamber is integral with the barrel

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pistol

Whereas in a revolver the chamber is separate from the barrel in the cylinder.
Click to expand...

Merriam Webster is the only dictionary I could find that agrees with that narrow of a definition.

Oxford English:
a small firearm designed to be held in one hand.
http://oxforddictionaries.com/view/entry/m_en_us1278379#m_en_us1278379

Dictionary.com (based on the Random House Dictionary):
a short firearm intended to be held and fired with one hand.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/pistol

Collins English Dictionary:
a short-barrelled handgun
http://www.collinslanguage.com/resu...sed=False&action=define&homonym=0&text=pistol

Newbury House Dictionary:
a small gun that can be held and shot in one hand
http://nhd.heinle.com/Definition.aspx?word=pistol

;)
 
I think MW relied on the ATF's definition of a pistol, which is how I've understood the difference of a pistol from a revolver for 10 years or more.

Code of Federal Regulations Title 27 Chapter II Subchapter B Part 478 Subpart B Section 478.11

Pistol. A weapon originally designed, made, and intended to fire a projectile (bullet) from one or more barrels when held in one hand, and having (a) a chamber(s) as an integral part(s) of, or permanently aligned with, the bore(s); and (b) a short stock designed to be gripped by one hand and at an angle to and extending below the line of the bore(s).

http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/tex...iv8&view=text&node=27:3.0.1.2.3.2.1.1&idno=27

And I found the exact citation right here at THR lol
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=480190 post#3
 
mgmorden I was just trying to get my thought out quick, didn't mean to offend anyone or start a debate lol. It's not as bad as saying 'clip' when referring to a magazine though ;)
I appreciate everyone telling me which gun they'd suggest and I'm glad that the guns I've listed have gotten positive comments, but the problem isn't which gun to buy, or which is better....its getting a hold of them to shoot. I've taken ultradoc's advice and decided to make a road trip to the springs where they have an fnp9 and an xdm available at an indoor range for rent.
As far as ammo goes, thanks for bringing that up rangerphil, I hadn't thought of that and will probably go with a 9 for my first pistol. I'll save the .45 for a 1911....it just seems right and going off of what mgmorden says it would be awesome to get a 1911 for the century anniversary. I wish I had more money, but I suppose that's the problem every gun enthusiast encounters.

Thanks so much for all the responses and advice..I'll let everyone know what I prefer shooting after going to the springs tomorrow.
 
Plenty of firepower and ergonomics with the XDm 4.5 with 19 rounds of 9mm. The match grade barrel is a bonus. It would be an outstanding choice as your first pistol.;)
 
Well I went to the range and enjoyed both the xdm as well as the fnp...both I shot were in 9mm. I liked the fnp9 a little more with the option of a single action after the initial double action....my groups were tighter with the fnp-9. I also loved the decocker that acted as a manual safety, and the ability to keep the manual safety on while actuating the slide. I think my first handgun purchase will be the fnp-9...Now I just have to browse for the best prices and grab one. Thanks everyone who helped me with my decision!
 
I own glocks in 9 and 40, and 45, and old s&w model 39 in 9, and a 1911 in .45. If I need a gun for long term fighting such as a breakdown or a war scenario, (don't laugh guys, your dollars will be WORTHLESS in less than a year so the streets are going to get wild,) but anyway, for that I'll toat the full sized glock 45 around. It doesn't jam, puts out lots of power, and is so unbelievably maintenance free and reliable. That said, my daily carry gun under modern and functional rule of law where 99.9% of the time I will never even have to consider actually using my gun, I choose to carry the model 27 .40 because it's light, small, and still powerful enough to do the job. Thank the Lord for my Galco under the shoulder holster, I think belt holsters stink for ccw, so unless I become a cop I'll probably never use one. But anyway, the 9mm is just too weak for self defense.
just my .02 cents
-shoot safely.
 
Sorry, forgot to mention.............. I love 1911's. They are classic, cool, beautiful, and glock guys forgive me, (please forgive me.............) but honestly I think as target guns they shoot better. Something about heavy medal holding the gun in line and on target better................
BUT, BUT, BUT, I do not carry 1911's as a defensive tool even though I own one. Why? Honestly? One round out of two boxes of 50, (that's one in a hundred for people who are good at math) will jam. Very rare, very occasional, but it happens. Plus you have to consider the probability of someday having an accidental discharge when going from condition "locked and loaded with safety on" to "hammer down and stored" every night. Do that long enough, and you'll get comfortable, and you WILL make a mistake. Just ask the army, they know all about that.
Now, the striker fired glocks? no such issue. No hammer to cock, no safety to play with, just pull it and it goes bang, index your finger when holstering and unholstering and it can not go bang. period, simple, safe, for the stupid like me.........
 
Ala Dan...I have fired the pistol before I'll buy it...One last question ( I hope ). I was comparing prices for the fn fnp 9 online and saw ranges from 399 from midwest hunters outlet to $600 from what I can tell the pistols are new and the same, but I don't wanna try and save money buying an fnp 9 for 400 and then end up getting ripped off.. I almost feel like i should buy the more expensive one lol. I'm a first time handgun buyer so any advice would be greatly appreciated.
 
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