A gun for brand new owner.

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kennjen

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Hello all,

New member..old lurker...first post...Again...hello !

I'm a future pistol owner, as I'm currently in process for a permit. So, naturally, I've been trying to chose my first gun. It's complicated by the fact I live in a "communist state" (LOL), NY. Wanted to know what you guys thought about it.....

Here are my criteria, in order of importance:

- Must be reliable and accurate out-of-the-box
- Accommodate my not so large sized hands.
- Accommodate multi use (Home defense + fun + IDPA)
- Ownership pride / Fun to own : Fusion 1911, looks nice for the price.
- Cost : 600$ for just a gun is ideal. I have up to about 1200$, however...
- If high capacity gun -- then a model with pre ban magazine OR one that is not loosing too many rounds
- Being able to run in SSP in IDPA is sort of a plus, I guess....

Because of the 10 round limit, I really don't feel like having a gun, which I can only legally load up to 1/2 capacity. (like SA XDM 9mm with 19 round capacity) Although, if we are losing only 2~3 rounds by going to 10 round limit from full capacity OR if pre ban mags are available, I suppose that's ok.....

I have very little preference for caliber. I have shot few gun rentals and felt that I can handle .45 just fine. (I'm 250#) 9mm maybe preferred only due to cost. I'm willing to go to larger caliber, if I really like the gun. In some cases, larger caliber makes sense, because I'll give up fewer rounds, when I go to 10 round mag, as opposed to doing that in the same model in 9mm.

Here are my list of guns that are currently in the running :

-Sig p220 (10 round of .45)
-Sig p226 (pre ban mag available)
-H&K hk45 (10 round of .45)
-H&K usp (Probably .40 due to availability of pre ban mag)
-Glock various flavors maybe g19 (pre ban mag available, but don't like grip angle...)
-SA XD .45 OR SA XDm .45 (if it ever comes out)
-Some brand name 1911 in .45 or 9mm.

They all have advantages/disadvantages. Some can run in SSP @ IDPA. Some are cheaper. Some have high cap pre ban mag available. Some are prettier than others. Some have high pride of ownership. (Glocks have zero. LOL) But all are dead reliable & bet your life kinda guns.

So, in the end, could you give me your 2 cents in :
- What would YOU get ?
- If I limit myself to 1911s in 9mm or 45 What brand/model would you get. (keep cost and reliability out of box in mind.)
 
I'd say go with a 9mm because you can practice more with it. Like someone here recently said, more software than hardware. That being said, probably the HK P30.
 
With your $1,200 limit, you can have 2 nice pistols with that money.

I believe a Rock Island 1911 in .45 is around the $400-450 mark. These are great pistols, many good reviews on here about them. They are interchangeable with Colt parts, if that tells you something (I actually think they are made on old Colt machinery).

9mm will be cheaper to feed. Your state's 10 round capacity law will really throw a lot of options out the window, unless you don't mind getting 10 round magazines or whatever for the gun.

Take a look at the EAA Witness. Base models run around the same as a Rock Island 1911, but their more "match" type pistols are excellent shooters. I own a base model Witness in .45 and love it. Accurate, and I believe they all come with factory 10 round magazines.
 
sig p239 in 40 and firedragon for a 9mm conversion barrel-ported or not for around $185; sig in the used $600-650 range. same mags and slide spring. try for the DA/SA with the de-cocker. 40 for SD and makes major for IDPA. 9mm for inexpensive practice.
suggest taking the left over $ and buy re-loading [perhaps Lee 4 hole] equipment.

good luck
 
HK45 or Glock 20/21/29/30 (45+10mm). If you are limited to 10 rounds, make those rounds as big as you can.

I really like the feel of the Glock 36 as well, the new single stack .45. It holds 6+1 one rounds, is uber lightweight, and I find it to be extremely comfortable.

If the new polymer guns don't do it for you, get a Sig220 or a 1911.
I don't like the DA/SA of the 220, but I would be interested to try one with a DAK trigger.

I have medium to large hands.
 
Hmmm..

Thanks much to responses. Some off the cuff replies ...

I've looked at Rock Island. Seems like a nice option. Is it considered dead reliable out of box tho ?

EAA Witness : hmmm.. Gotta look at this. CZ copies ? Witness seems to be 18 rounder...

HK p30 : Love the gun... hate to lose 5 rounds. :mad:

Firedraggon ? : Never heard of it...hmmmmm...off to google.

Thanks again guys. Let me know if there are others to consider.
 
If you have smallish hands, I'd stay away from a double stack .45 like the XD. It'll likely be too bulky for you.

An XD in 9mm will have a slimmer grip and is a very fine choice. Very reliable and accurate out of the box. And, as a new gun owner, they are super easy to break down for cleaning.

Personally, I shoot my 1911 a lot more than the XD .45; but the 1911 platform does tend to be finicky. It's an awesome platofrm for somebody that wants to tinker.

So, I shoot the 1911 for fun and carry the XD for self-defense. Before I had the 1911, I shot a lot of IDPA with the XD and was very competitive.
 
Lots of good possibilities exist for your consideration. Thing of it is, no one but you can make the decision. So get to a range that rents guns, bring your friends who own guns along, and start running some ammo through some likely prospects. Narrow your choices, run some more ammo, and take your time. A concealed weapon should be perfect in every way; and to figure that out, you have to be patient and give a lot of prospects a trial run before making a final decision.

To paraphrase old Smokey the Bear, only you can decide what gun to carry. You can't get that information from the advice on the internet ... even from a well-meaning board like this one.
 
Searcher :
Agreed on me making the decision. I'll do that once I narrow it down some what.

I know that you guys are more experienced (x > zero=me), so I'm asking for help to narrow my selection down and perhaps pointing me to guns I don't know about.

Bang bang : EAA witness looks great. I always liked CZ. Nice price point too... I can't find 10 round cap guns tho.
 
Find something that just fits/fills your hand perfectly (go to stores and hold a lot of pistols)...you definitely do not have to blow your whole budget on just one gun. Save money for ammo and accessories (like a holster or small safe). If the right gun for you happens to be a .45ACP and you've budgeted right then you could always get a .22LR. That's even cheaper to load than a 9MM.

As far as brands or manufacturers, you can get really subjective answers on here. Perhaps you should find what pistol feels good in your hand and just do a search here to see what posters have said about their experience(s) with said pistol.
 
Bang bang : EAA witness looks great. I always liked CZ. Nice price point too... I can't find 10 round cap guns tho.
Click to expand...

I'm looking at my EAA Witness manual and it has listed:

9mm-Full Size- 10 rds
9mm- Compact- 10 rds
.38 Super- Full Size- 10 rds
.38 Super- Compact- 10 rds
40SW- Full Size- 10 rds
40SW- Compact- 9 rds
.45 ACP- Full Size- 10 rds <--- I have this one.
.45 ACP- Compact- 8 rds
10mm-Full Size- 10 rds
10mm- Compact- 9 rds

I am under the impression that factory EAA magazines are as listed above.

You can also get a .22 Conversion for the .45 ACP Witness.
 
Because of the 10 round limit, I really don't feel like having a gun, which I can only legally load up to 1/2 capacity.
Click to expand...
I don't think you need to worry about that; the magazines packaged with the gun will be capacity-limited for your state, to comply with sales law.

Have you thought of revolvers? I think a nice .357 with 4" barrel would cover a lot of your requirements.
 
Berreta Px4 storm, Smith M&P, Glock 17, Fnp9, Czp01, Springfeild XD, FN hipower, or Any Sig. 9mm be my choice in all.
 
someone may call me crazy but...based on your criteria, not so big hands, like the 1911 style, low cap etc, i'd recommend a springfield emp in 9mm.
 
New Gun Owners

Love it. I'm there to teach proper firearm safety. As an NRA Certified Range Safety Officer, I love newbys, especially female shooters. Females have been in the MINORITY of self-protection for far too long. Rather than being silent victims, females are now asserting themselves, especially on the range as they learn. I love it! Cliffy
 
Kennjen, to answer your question or Rock Islands, With my 2 "tacticals", and a couple of friends RIA's (I think 5 more). Not 1 malfunction at all out of the box. Shoot accurate, no feeding problems. We shoot together almost every week. (but) we all shoot the same ammunition, we purchase by the case. 230 gr. FMJ or TMJ. Good luck!:)

PS. Welcome to THR
 
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Thomas : Thanx again. I've been reading up on Rock Island on another 1911 forum and it seems to have good reputation. It's not pretty'ed up like some others, but seems to be good Bang for the buck and reliable.

I see on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_Island_Armory_1911_series they produce 9mm 1911. That actually maybe work for me.

Revolvers : Yes. I love them too. I grew up drooling at colt pythons and .44 revolvers. They have their own beauty. I may go for these as an second gun. I do want an automatic as a first gun, however.
 
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KennJen, Sarco is the way to go right now on RIA's. Also on Gunbroker look for Bellshire Hardware, they list them 20-25 at a time. Bought both of my Tacticals from them. (the only one at the time with the FS Bi-tones). Also yes i'm a Colt Revolver Guy. Got 2 Colt OMM's, and a Diamondback. Shoot them all the time. Range night 2 times a week. No Pythons "yet". Good luck on your choice.:D
 
Downsize

If you're not used to shooting, you may get into the nasty habit of flinching when you shoot that .45, and "untraining" yourself from that may take a while.

Someone above suggested an inexpensive .45 (Rock Island). I'd maybe get that and a .22 pistol to build muscle memory and train your trigger skills.
 
Thomas :

Went to a Sarco site ! This place is a gem. I was always fascinated with hi-power as well and I found a FM hi-power there, which seems to be a good shooter too. (Pre-ban hi-cap magazine to boot)

For these prices I can buy hi-power and a 1911 for a price of a glock !!

P.S. I don't know if you can tell, but I rather have some thing that is a bit different from every one else....
 
Up date if any one is interested....As of now, my smaller lists is :

FM hi-power. $300
RIA tactical $400
Glock 19 $500
Hk45 $1000
p30 $900

I really want a hi-power... I wish I could find a cheap charles daly hi-power. Oh well, I hear they take up to 6 month to process permits, so I got a while to think about it.....
 
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