Another first handgun thread...

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jcalys

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I've been lurking around the forum for a while and seen that this thread in various forms comes up every few days, so I figured I'd take my turn.

I just got into guns a few weeks ago after my buddy took me to the range with him. My friend's gun that I tried was a Taurus MillPro 9mm. I'm pretty sure I want to go with 9mm, as I'm on a fairly tight budget and ammo is cheaper. The main use of the gun will be at the range for fun, but will also be my "nightstand" protection. There is a possibility it could be for CC but that that would be 6mos or more down the road after I'm proficient. By the time I decided to CC I could probably afford smaller dedicated carry pistol if needed. My price range is $600-700 max. If it were cheaper it'd be better.

I went to another range to rent and try out some handguns on Sunday, I tried:

Sig 229 9mm: I really liked this gun. My first DA/SA gun, and it was so much better and smoother that the DAO on my friend's Mil Pro. I think I could afford this gun used.

Kimber Pro Carry II (.45): Like I said, I'm new to this, but I loved the SA trigger on this gun. The added recoil from the .45 didn't really bother me at all. Maybe I could afford a cheaper Kimber used? Info on other 1911's in my price range would be appreciated.

S&W Model 500 (4-inch): Yep, this was the fourth handgun I ever shot, and it was a blast (literally). The guy behind the counter convinced us to try it and gave us five rounds free. Five rounds between three of us was plenty. The recoil was serious, but not nearly what my mind had played it up to be. It's out of my price range, clearly, but I liked it a lot. Besides at close to $2 a shot I could only shoot it on paydays.

Glock 21 (.45): This was the last gun I tried, and it was after the 500, so my perception may have been a off. First, shooting it was like a water pistol (not because its polymer) after the 500. The trigger was much better than the Taurus. It also seemed to come back on target really quickly for me. I'm not crazy about the looks of Glocks at all, but I could afford one new probably.

All in all I think I liked the Sig best, but they are pricey. I also think I want a DA/SA or SA trigger (Although I didn't mind the Glock trigger). I've been hearing a lot about the Sig P6/225 for under $300, which would save me a good deal of money. As I understand the P6 was German cop gun. The holster wear doesn't bother me so much, but can I expect the famous Sig reliability and accuracy on these older Sigs?

Any thoughts on these guns and other guns that I should shoot or look into before making a purchase? Also seems like a lot of people like CZ's around here. Any models to look into/stay away from?

Thanks
Jimmy
 
Welcome, you might consider a CZ 75B in 9MM it is
DA/SA as well as having a thumb safety if in SA/cocked
mode. It's all steel and the slide fits inside the frame so it
has a lighter slide in relation to the frame weight = controllable
recoil, and a design said to aid accuracy.

THe SIg P6/P225 seems to be a good value for the money
the only limit being it is a single stack/8 rd mag. capacity

I'm not familiar with the Taurs Mil Pro and not a fan of
Glocks but that's just me.

Best of luck
 
If you liked the Taurus 9mm and Kimber 45 maybe you would like the Taurus PT 1911 it is a 1911 style pistol with a lot of extras for $ 400 $ 600 or a Smith & Wesson Sigma in 9mm or 40SW it is Smith & Wessons version of a Glock and right now they running a rebate were you pay about $ 300 for the weapon and two magazines and then you get a $ 50 mail in rebate and another mail in rebate for two free magazines so you get the weapon and four magazines for about $ 250 and then you have money left over for ammo.
 
Thanks guys. Any thoughts on the Beretta Px4? I want to try it next time at the range, along with the G19, a XD, CZ, and a M&P.
 
I'm in the same boat as you and have yet to find a gun shop/range that even carries CZs in my area. However, I think I may have gotten over my abject terror of the G19 (due to its lack of an external safety) after a stern talking to from a few folks...:D So I guess i'll just have to get both. :evil:
 
XD

Witness Elite Match

Springfield Mil Spec

no particular order

9MM is by far the cheapest to shoot, especially if you reload.
 
I don't like the Px4 but thats just me. I prefer the XD to the M&P or a Glock, I love my XD45.

Those are all fine makes considering the price, just do what you're doing now. Test fire them, see which one you like the most and get that.
 
Read carefully, choose wisely..

Quote: Thanks guys. Any thoughts on the Beretta Px4? I want to try it next time at the range
---------
...

Yea, stay clear of any Px4, any caliber, as you're gonna get a crap-shoot of a gun, in that, either straight-out-of NIB or some 300-1000 rounds later and have a better than 50/50 chance that your gun, like many others, as well as my Px4 40cal, and 9mm's are not immune to this "acknowledged problem of Trigger-Sting from Beretta", and it is very painful, per shot, in cold weather, but as my gun has developed it in any temp weather.. 6250 rounds and the gun is just 1yr old as I type.. So the problem gets worse with round count..

Beretta's official fix: "wear a shooters glove, like the pros's if it develops.."

And you can be like me (not really) and be the only person in So. Calif wearing full-fingered thin black cotton gloves, during spring and summer and fall, and the few real cold days we get in Winter, all the time, especially if you plan on ccw..

Stay clear of any Px4 my friend, this is your fair warning..

Once you own one, and get the on-going trigger sting, you own it, and Beretta is not gonna hear your pleas to fix it.. Many of us have tried, and we're somewhere back on a back burner, as they try and find out what's wrong with the Sub-compact Px4's they said they were gonna release last Xmas 07.. and they're still not out (on-going delays) and I wonder why?.. STING!!!


Ls
 
Are the triggers on Glocks/XDs/M&Ps all considered DAO? Also would the triggers be the same on the compact versions compared to the full size?

Thanks
 
So what fits your hand the best so far? I wouldn't jump into a purchase yet, feel and shoot as many guns as you can first.



(Then buy the Kimber)

Ha ha, kidding, just stating my personal preference.
 
Go Sig P229 in either..9mm or 40cal

Quote: Sig 229 9mm: I really liked this gun. My first DA/SA gun, and it was so much better and smoother that the DAO on my friend's Mil Pro. I think I could afford this gun used.
------------
...

Hey Jim,

Wow, sorry about not responding in full but when my eyes caught the "maybe a Px4".. I went into give him the facts mode.. and forgot about what you may want besides.. Here I can help also.

First, about getting a used Kimber 1911.. Well, "plenty of those Used-For sale and from all my reading the goods and bads of them, there is a reason most of them Kimbers are used, look good, in fact real good, is that the owners had a beef with the gun and Kimber.. It's tempting, as the SAO triggers are the best, but IF you go 45 cal, at least get a minimum 4" or 41/4" barrel one. 3" barreled 45's demand perfection, all the time, anytime, and are unforgiving of any little timing error or grip error.. jams.

About the Sig P229 9mm.. That was my second handgun, and now has some 2000 perfect rounds out her without any failures, just 100%. I might add, that when my Beretta Px4 40cal started giving me constant trigger sting, it has 6350 rounds, flawless, and I thought was the softest shooting 40cal out there until the sting issue forced me to make a choice..

And I got a used Sig P229 40cal, and to my amazement, it shoots JUST like my P229 9mm.. It is a much more balanced, softer recoil, shooting 40cal than my Px4, and it's more accurate, especially in the quick follow-up shots, and mine has some 3000 flawless rounds, and is a forgiving one hand shooter, unlike any 3" Kimber 45.. fyi. I know this because I own a 3" Colt Defender 45 and it, too, demands "perfection" or else.. jams, unlike both my Sig P229's which have never had a jam with either 2-hand grip or 1-hand grip..

As far as disassembly, inspection, cleaning, and reassembly, you won't find an easier, IF not, the easiest guns to disassemble/reassemble than Sigs..

On the flip side, 1911's take "patience" as they are tricky, unforgiving of little mistakes, and really not fun to clean, disassembly/reassembly wise, until far up the road of learning how it's done, with acquired technique.. unlike a Sig one can do blindfolded..

Of both the Sig and Kimber, used, as far as price range, both will be 450 -600 buck range, for a good one.


Personally I would strongly urge you to seek out a nice used Sig P229 9mm or 40cal, both shoot the exact same, and I have both as mentioned.

9mm is gonna be the least expensive ammo to buy and shoot, 40cal next, and 45 the most.

Hope this helped.


Ls
 
With a Glock 9mm pistol, you'll also have the option of getting 33 round magazines for it! This'd be nice for a nightstand "anti-zombie" package. :D

In the G19, it comes with two 15 round mags (unless you're in a 10 round limited commie state); and you can also throw in the G17 magazine if you like, with 17 rounds.

If you want a smaller 9mm Glock, try testing out the Sub Compact G26 at the range! Rent it! It has a shorter grip, so not everyone likes it, but others say they LOVE it! You can also get a grip extension for it, if it's too short. The G18, G17 and G19 magazines fit in the G26, as well. ;)

To learn more on the Glock, check out www.GlockTalk.com forums! Ask questions and learn!

If interested in the Glock 21 in .45 ACP, then also check out the Glock 21SF model, which has a reduced grip size! It's shorter from front to back. Some that hate the "hump" on the Glock like the SF models! The other SF model is the G30SF Compact-sized .45 ACP. Hopefully they're going to come out with other SF models in other calibers; I'm personally hoping for a G20SF (10mm, standard size).

The "hump" is there because GLOCK put a hole in the rear-bottom of the grip so Austrian soldiers (that's who the Glock was originally made for) could put their finger inside and grab the magazine out, in case it ever got jammed in the field, in combat. So, it might be hated by some, but it has a reason as to why it's there! ;)

There're quite a few people that simply heat the Glock grip up in the back (obviously when its unloaded) and press it down to reduce the hump on their own. You can send it to someone to get it professionally done, as well.

Glock also has models in .357SIG, .40 S&W, .380 (not available in the U.S. due to not meeting import specifications), and the 10mm Auto (or .40 Magnum, as I call it... it's POWERFUL (more so than .357 Magnum) when using DoubleTap rounds).
 
My suggestion is to keep trying different guns and see what you like. My local indoor range just charges one rental fee to try as many of their rental guns as you like, so try 'em all. There are also some fairly objective resources on the web, such as Gunblast.com (http://www.gunblast.com/) and gun tests (http://www.gun-tests.com/), with some good information out there. Take recommendations, including mine, with a grain of salt. There will always be someone who thinks a certain gun is the best thing ever, another will say its a worthless piece of junk. That said...I have had good experience with a CZ75 in a double action/single action pistol, and for a revolver a Ruger sp101. There is a lot to be said for a revolver as a first handgun, but do some research, shoot a bunch of 'em, and get what you like best. Good luck!
 
glock 19 browning hi-power ruger p series sigma are better good i had one the dont jam id say glock 19 try it
 
If you like the Kimber, the cheapest price I have seen is at www.kygunco.com . The Ultra Carry II for $669 plus shipping. Add in FFL transfer fee and you are right around that $700 mark. I am teetering on the edge of pulling the trigger on this one. Excuse the pun!!!!!!!!
 
45ACP is cheap too.. You can get a RIA 1911 for pretty cheap, a ciener .22kit for 200$ and a decent amount of 45 and a lot of .22lr with your budget.

or, RIA 1911 + 1000-1500rds of 45ACP for your budget.


http://www.kygunco.com/Scripts/prodView.asp?idProduct=348
RIA_fs.jpg


Not bad for 360$.
 
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