First gun purchase. Opinions?

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I can imagine emptying an auto in 3 seconds is alot more satisfying than a revolver
Aside from having to pay for ammo. :D

Once you've become good to very good with a revolver, autos in general should be a piece of cake. Trigger pulls (aside from certain pocket autos like the PPK and clones) are usually lighter than those of the revolver.

A .22 conversion kit is a teriffic item to buy. Allows you to get familiar with the handling and whatnot of your gun with very low recoil and price. A 50rd box of .22LR cost me $3. I don't think I've ever seen 9mm and similar calibers go for under $10 per box, usually more. You can get in a lot of practice for very little money with .22LR.
 
If you want unique, then get a Korth. If you want really unique, then get any gun and get it engraved. Both of these options will cost lots of $$$$.

Instead of "unique", focus on training. What do you want to do? Self-defense training will be very different from the different styles of competitive shooting.

***This is not a Glock advertisement...it's an example. Apply this to other well known guns, such as the 1911 or Hi-Power***

Glocks may be boring...but they work. Some gun people tend to jump on the "new gun of the month" bandwagon. Great...if you have the money and gun collecting is your hobby. But if you want a weapon for serious work, then a reliable and durable firearm is what you need. You don't need a bunch; one is enough. A backup gun (or just another copy) would be great, but if you can have only one for self-defense, then you know what to focus on.

Glocks have many hidden features that you won't appreciate until you take a three day self-defense course. They have rounded edges; this makes them soft on the hands. They are reliable, of course, and group well. Their plastic grips are very durable and there are no screws to back out. Wood grips tend to splinter and chip; the checkering on the Glock is pretty good. The size versus capacity is very good; the Glock 19 gets 15+1 capacity in a compact package that fills the hand.

All this hype about the Ruger SR9, SIG P250, new M&P, etc...it's just hype. The guns don't have long track records. Heck, if you want a long track record, get a Browning Hi-Power or a 1911.

***

I also second the notion of the 22 handgun. They're tons of fun and I go through 10's of thousands of rounds a year. I probably shoot 1/50th of that in 9mm and even fewer 45s. You can practice anything you need to with a 22.
 
keeleon,

It looks like you've decided to try out the CZ75 SP-01...you have chosen well grasshopper!

The CZ-75 line is a great line of handguns, best there is IMO. Owning CZ's, you'll probably get a lot of people saying "oh is that a Hi-Power clone?" this will be a sure sign they know nothing about CZ's! One nice thing, especially if you're just getting into handguns is that they offer a ton of different options. Just about anything you could want CZ offers. Chances are VERY HIGH this will not be your last CZ purchase!

From a fellow Benchmade owner, also with discriminating taste, the CZ fills this niche nicely, not because it's the "in" thing right now, not because it's "new", and not because owning one means you've got a lot of money, but because they are an outstanding firearm - period.
 
Your looking for a little uniquenesss... then the HK P2000 is for you. Its an ecellent gun for carry and for the range. It can be had in both 9mm and .40 S&W and if you look for one possilby .357 SIG as well. It is a great shooter and you will be amazed at how accurate this gun is.
 
WEll, I went to the shop today, and now they jsut have to find a dealer with the 10 round version in stock( though I would gladly take the 19 :) ). I am definitely going to get the .22 kit for it. As I stated, I was not looking for something unique just for the sake of unique or I would have had alot less trouble picking. I wanted quality first, but there are alot of options with quality, and I may as well get something I like instead of something I don't.

Car anologies are brilliant to compare anything. Mustangs, Camaros, Corvettes and Vipers are all fast, quality cars. But if I like what the Camaro looks like over say the Corvette, then I would rather get that, even though the corvette might have more "power" (prices aside).
 
No sense in me dropping a grand on an XD and accessories and then lusitng after something else for the next year.


Yeah, good thinking. I have made an honest attempt to only buy the firearms that I really and truly need, and thats the way to go.

Last count, I have 47 guns, maybe 10 calibers total.

Good luck with your "one gun" plan, dude.
 
Hehe, there is definitely not a "one gun" plan. It's just jsut getting something that will tide me over long enough til I can get the next one.
 
Or a beginner might be served best by getting a .357 revolver. He mentioned plinking. Can't go wrong with a S&W 686 or so. Go to a gun shop that has a public range. Most of them will have a few rentals for you to try.

and remember when it comes to your family's self defense, "It is always better to give than to receive".
 
I just got an M&P .40, aside from the fact that I thought the trigger pull was a bit much(got a trigger job) love the gun, ergonomics are incredible. I actually bought the gun because it was a good deal and was going to sell it to buy something I really wanted. Now I can't put it down.
 
Although I don't have the age, experience, or collection of many on here, I have owned a lot of handguns. I've owned several .357 revolvers, several 9mm's, a couple .40's, a couple .45's, single actions, double actions, single and double action autos, Glocks, 1911's and probably others I can't think of right now.
It took me that many to find out what I like but it cost me a lot of money.
If I had it to do over, I would go somewhere and shoot as many as I possibly could between now and the time of the "gift".
You will need as much experience as you can get to choose the gun that you will really be happiest with.

And if I could have chosen the right one first, it would have been a SIG P-226.
YMMV.
 
Well, I have shot as many guns as I possibly can for now. I don't really know anyone with a large collection to go shooting with, and it will be alot easier to make friends at the range if I have something to take instead of just showing up and asking to play with people's firearms.

I am fully aware of the money that I am going to have to spend to stay happy with this hobby, and I am more than happy to spend it.
 
Given your list, and only your list, the XD. Why: Because it's most like the Glock of the bunch. Second is the M&P for the same reason.

Obviously, I like Glock. Not because I profess them to be the "best", but because they are simply and the work. Glock's best for me. But, you're buying the gun for you so remember that regardless of what anyone, including me, says.

Getting back on track, I had an XD9Tac and really liked it. Pointed well, seemed well made, good accuracy and it was 100% reliable in 300+ rounds. I just didn't take to the gun. It's not that it was a bad, just decided to stay Glock for the 9mm. So, traded it, still have my Glock 17.

As noted here, don't get a utility handgun (i.e. carry/HD) for novelty or because it's unique or interesting. A utility gun should not bought to be looked at and stroked, but shot. Get what works best for you. Reliability, simplicity and availability of parts should be key considerations. You'll appreciate availability of cheaps parts real quick if/when your gun goes goes down or you want to tweak things.
 
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Revolvers

Ala Dan +1; Revolvers are good teachers; the come from a simpler, stronger time. :D It seems to me that the single-action "cowboy" guns fit the bill when it comes to being unique. I see very few of them on the ranges here in the East. Good luck.
 
You said you like to shoot. You can buy a new CZ75B 9mm and a good supply of ammo for $500. (a little more for stainless) You can hit what you shoot at, and you'll be old when you wear it out. You can spend money on it later and make it special.
 
keeleon said:
I am fully aware of the money that I am going to have to spend to stay happy with this hobby, and I am more than happy to spend it.

Well good for you. There are far worse things you could be spending your money on. I feel the same way. At worst, it's a good time and a stress reliever. At best, I'm spending money perfecting a skill that could potentially save my life one day.
 
Of your list, I'd go for the Baby Eagle. Nice pistol. Love mine.

Buuut... get one that's rollmarked Jericho 941. No particular reason other than it's cool that you've got something moderately unique. Mine is marked Jericho. When I think of the name "Baby Eagle" I just think... bleh.

Same pistol either way though, so I still recommend it regardless of name.


-T.
 
I am so in love with the SP-01! After reading quite a bit about it, and finding out there is a .22 kit for it. There is no other option in my mind. I know I am going to become a CZ "Homer" (I hate that term, but it seems to be popular here), I already practically am without ever firing one. I have kind of big hands so I do prefer the larger over the compact. I held CZ 97 at the store, it's the same frame and size right? My biggest problem now is that my store's dealers only have the 19 round version in stock, and can't find the 10 round version. I hope they find one soon, cause I really want to take it out on Thanksgiving.

Also, I just HAVE to get this stupid thing:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=140172004509&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=004
Talk about unique!
 
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