A gun for brand new owner.

[harmon rabb]

I'd suggest a 9mm simply because 9mm ammo can still be found without too much difficulty and because it's so much cheaper.

Anyway, with $1200, you could get two nice guns. If I were you, I'd get a 9mm (sig, glock, springfield, etc., it doesn't really matter, get what fits your hand and what you can get a good deal on) and a .357 revolver. That would leave you with an autloader that shoots the most common round for autoloaders and a revolver that shoots the most common rounds for revolvers... and for home defense, you can load the revolver with .357 hollow points and have at least as much power as a .45.

Just my $.02

 

[Norinco982lover]

XD .45 Compact. Mine came with 3 of the 10 round compact mags...of course I bought it used tho. Go for it if you can find one.

~Norinco

 

[mljdeckard]

All of the guns you have suggested are great, I'm going to nudge you towards a 1911 for a few reasons. They are actually well-sized for people with small hands. Remember that when they were designed and issued, the average American male was significantly shorter than now, therefore the hand size was smaller. I've known several ladies who handle full-size 1911s without a problem. (Including my mother.) There are two different sizes of mainspring housings (the rear of the grip of the pistol) and the trigger can have different sizes as well if it's necessary.

The capacity limits of the Clinton era AWB was one of the major factors in pushing the 1911 back into fashion. Like you say, what fun is 19 rd capacity if you're limited to 10 anyway?

We will argue for days (decades actually) over which is the best round for....everything. Having carried 9s, .40s, and .45s, I'm back to 230 gr .45 HSTs, and I don't see myself changing. There is subtle difference between real-world effectiveness of any of these rounds, but few would argue that the biggest one you can handle is going to be the best. You have already said you shoot and like the .45, so why go down?

For practice, you can use a .22 lr conversion kit. I use a Ciener for my 1911, and it lets me practice until my hands get tired without spending hundreds of dollars in ammo. They run about $250. You can get a good 1911 AND this kit for the budget you are talking about.

For brand, there are many good ones in the price range you are talking about. I would recommend staying away from brands that use non-standard 1911 parts. (The SIG 1911s come to mind.) There is a big world of upgrades for 1911s, but only if your gun can fit them. RIA, Taurus, Springfield Armory, Colt, etc all make great pistols in your price range. FOR ME, I use a Kimber Custom II I bought about 5 years ago for $630 NIB, and I use it for everything. When I say everything, I mean, if my commander would let me, I would carry it to war tomorrow. I conceal it, open carry it when I'm out in the woods, shoot .22s with it at the range, teach new guys to shoot with it. Some guys scream about Kimbers having problems, mine hasn't hiccuped. I don't remember the last malfunction I had with it. Kimber sells several times more 1911s than the competitors, so the lemon rate may appear high, until you compare it to the actual number of units sold. A few of my friends have switched to Kimber after shooting mine, none have regretted it. Also, they are made by your boys there in Yonkers.

 

[bigtim6656]

i would say to start out a 9mm. I would stay away from the 1911 for a first gun. I am on my third and am still unsure if i am ready for the cost and work. I am getting a glock 21 soon. But it is wide. I would say the g19 would be good but any of your list would be a great gun.

 

[c919]

how about a S&W M&P? have you looked into those? very versatile and really reliable & accurate.

 

[Noxx]

I wish I could find a cheap charles daly hi-power

No you don't.

I bought a Daly HP on the cheap, and it seemed fine at first but after a few thousand rounds it revealed itself to be sort of a piece of crap.

Now it's the gun I let people shoot at the range when I don't want them handling the guns I like.

 

[kennjen]

Okey dokey...

I was going to leave this alone, until I got my gun. But since I got a nice host of replies, I thought it would be rude to just leave it alone.

Some replies to comments made. I'm not going to answer to specific people, because some opinions were echoed twice or more...

1) "GO try out some guns"
Yup I agree to do this. However, I'm just attempting to narrow down choice while my permit is in process.

2)"GO get a revolver" & "Go get a .22"
I understand your reasoning of why I should. But, since I have a 4 letter reason for this being the only gun I will ever purchase, I have to get a multi use gun.

For a second gun (if possible).....sure...I would love a ruger .22 or sp101. Actually, I'd REALLY like sp101.

3) "there are no 100% reliablity".
Close to it as possible. I hear many Glocks, xd, and sigs with "I have not had any failures what so ever with this gun. Well, one time slide got stuck open, but my finger was on a ....." That's what I want. I'll take Six sigma or close to it.

4) "~~suggest 9mm or .40 sw"
I really should stay with those for cost reasons. Although I keep seeing guns I want in .45......

5) Glocks....(G19??)
I like the size, function, and caliber. I even like how it looks, but I don't like the grip. I also don't like the lack of ext safety. We can argue this point all day, but it is MHO, and it's my gun...so there.

6) "You're looking for something unique."
Yes....I've called it "Pride of ownership" and so forth, but that's what I want. Some thing unique....or at least "Neat". HK, Sig, Hi-power falls in to this for me. (I swear, I don't want it just because it's "Expensive"...) But, these are expensive.

cheers

 

[IEGPM]

IMO if your looking to spend about$600 I would go with the S&W M&P. You have your choice of 9mm, 40, or 45. Not to mention it comes with three grips.(Small, medium, and large) It is my personal choice, and active carry gun. Brand new the are around 650. Previously I owned a Glock 23. However, out of the box I out shot myself on the M&P. Honestly, Worth looking into. Not to mention I have never had any form of malfunction on mine.

 

[kennjen]

After getting my permit 2nd qtr 2010, I finally got my gun. So, I thought I report back as promised.

I purchased a :

HK USP compact 9mm !! (used, 500$)

With my money and permit in hand the final considerations were being made to :
-Glock 17, 19, 26
-CZ 75, p-01
-HK p7 (B stock)

I was surfing gunbroker all the time, but was having a hard time finding a gun that I was willing to buy used for the price I wanted (around 500$).

Used guns I was looking for were :
-Hi-power
-HK p2000sk, usp compact

After all this, I FINALLY decided to get a glock and joined GSSF. GSSF allows you to get glocks for around 425$ (g17, 19, 26 and other),when you join the GSSF for 35$. Well, but then, there was a problem. All (3) of the local GSSF affiliated dealer decided that they weren't either going to honor the GSSF program OR claimed ignorance. Basically, refused to sell it to me for that price. So, I called Glock, who manages the GSSF. They promised to fix the issue with these dealers asap. But this left a bad taste in my mouth.

While I waited Glock to fix this issue, I saw this USP compact without a reserve on gunbroker, which I kept an eye on. In the last hour of the auction, the gun was still at 460$. So, I bid and won for 465$. Out the door price was 515$ (shipping, ffl, & every thing).

I have the gun in my hands...but have not shot it yet. But the gun looks to be in good working order. It does have some holster wear, but who cares for the price.

Here is a pic.


You can see the holster wear on the pic, but it's really not that bad in real life. It's just how the light is being reflected.

I'm pretty happy with the purchase. I'm REALLY happy I didn't buy a glock.

 

[JohnBiltz]

If you have a 10 round limit I'd either go .45 or subcompact. I'm not necessarily saying go Glock but if you are looking at a G19 why not just get a Glock 26. I don't see a point in getting something bigger that doesn't hold more rounds and I and others shoot the G26 better than a G19. I don't see the point unless you have shot it decided one shoots better than the other.
I don't see the advantage of a 10 round 9mm. Go for a small 9mm or a .45. I'm not a 1911 fan for your only gun. I've heard it compared to a Ferrari, no one has a Ferrari as their only car. But lots of people make guns chambered in .45.
Test fire your choices before you buy. If you find .45 recoil excessive don't get one no matter what people say.
If I had to carry in NY I'd carry a Glock 26, I know this to be true because its what I carry in Arizona and I have a lot more choices here.

 

[hardworker]

Stainless 92FS. Reliable out of the box

 

[kennjen]

I'm the OP. You guys do see that I purchased a gun already....

Please see 2 posts above.

 

[9mmforMe]

Good purchase Ken...looks nice. H&K have a great reputation and you have yourself a nice first handgun. Enjoy!

 

[KingMedicine]

I have a RIA tactical in 9mm, got it for 460 shipped out the door. Its a great shooter and has had no issues since day one. 1911's can be a little finnicky. I have a fusion 1911, which is by far my favorite gun. But i would rather carry my Sig or Glock in a situation where i need it to be reliable.

If you want a reliable plinker and IDPA gun, i would go with a Sig P226 or Glock. Then maybe move into the 1911 platform after that.

 

[kennjen]

I actually considered RIA as well. I forgot about that. 9mm tac does look nice.

Having said that, the lack of night sights bothered me a bit. I wanted night sights without a mod. (although I hear fusion sights fit ?)