First handgn, need some help deciding

[Quadkid]

Hey, i got my CCW recently and am looking at getting my first handgun.

Right now im looking at the CZ P01, XDm, and PX4, all in the 9mm variety.

I went to my local gun shop (local as in 2 minutes down the road) and tested out the XDm and PX4, but in .40 since thats all they had to rent. I liked shooting the XDm, its real light and the pull is easy. But i also liked the Beretta, it fit my hand better and i liked the SA pull (F model).

Without testing out the CZ, im torn between the PX4 and XDm. Any input on the two? Should i hold out till i find somewhere to try out the CZ or will i be disappointed compared to the others.

Im looking for something with a 4-5" barrel, lightweight, rail for toys, EASE of maintenance, and RELIABILITY. Ill mainly use it for target shooting, but also a nightstand gun. I dont plan on carrying.

Thanks
Sean

 

[Mello]

Unless there is some time pressure on you that you have not disclosed, I'd take my time in exploring the options before buying. Your purchase will cost many hundreds of dollars for the gun and more money for ammo, and cleaning equipment.

Enjoy the search handle the various guns, see what feels good in your hand.

 

[Quadkid]

no real time constraint. Ive been to local shops and Cabelas often enough to get a feel for most of the polymer 9mm's. Ive also been poking around here, reading old threads, trying to pick up info.

I guess my real concern is the reliability factor. I havent been around guns long enough to know what the quirks are of various manufacturers.

 

[JCDenton]

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/40995

this seems to be along the lines of what you might consider.
if i got a cz it'd prolly be this.
i also agree with taking your time and doing research.

 

[David E]

Of those guns, the XD-m is by far the simplest and easiest to shoot.

Get the XD-m !!

.

 

[CTPistol]

I like my PX4 much better than my XD.

Look for the subcompact soon.

 

[rdrancher]

Should i hold out till i find somewhere to try out the CZ or will i be disappointed compared to the others.

Well, since you've narrowed it down to three but have only checked out two, I'd wait. The P01 is also a fine shooter.

rd

 

[SHusky57]

I have the PX4 and love it. The XD was my second choice but the PX4 won out for these reasons

1) This is probably the most important: ergonomics. The PX4 just felt the best in my hand.
2) Sight picture. The PX4 sights were just easier to acquire for me.
3) I like the Beretta's external safety/decocker. This is a matter of preference, but being my first CC pistol I wanted more safety rather than less. Some argue that it's over-complicated, but switching off the safety is just a part of the draw as far as I'm concerned. If you aren't capable of flicking a thumb safety, are you really capable of intelligently using your firearm to lawfully defend yourself? It's not much different than a 1911, other than the fact you flick it in the opposite direction.... but if you start on one system and that's all you know, it's not hard to get used to.
4) Trigger. Beretta makes great triggers, period. The more you shoot the gun, the better it gets. So smooth.
5) Capacity and mag-price. 17 and 20 round mags are running about $20 (If you get the MDS ones, they are the official supplier of Beretta just without the Beretta name on the mag). 100% functional and reliable. For the money you save on the Beretta (they run about $500 around me, while the XDm's run between $600-700), you could buy 5 extra mags and some practice ammo.

The PX4 is the most accurate pistol I have ever shot.

The XD would be my pick if I could not have a Beretta.
I really, really like the XD. But the PX4 was, and still is, unlike anything else I have ever held.

Try to rent one of each. Don't worry too much about gunshop commandoes, they are both good guns.

I remember at one gun store, this retail commando was telling me about how much Beretta sucked and how HK was so much better. They are both good guns, but the Beretta trigger is just incomparably better than the HK trigger. I don't know what he was talking about, especially since HK runs about twice what Beretta runs.

 

[shotgunjoel]

Px4.

 

[jpalmer24]

I purchased my first gun recently also. And my choice was the S&W sigma series .40cal. So far so good a great weapon light weight and also comfortable to carry. The only issue that I ran into out in MS, was that here there is't any ammo for my .40 cal. So i'm looking into purchasing online. Other than that it was a bang for the buck!

 

[Quadkid]

thanks for all the feedback guys. My roommate and i are thinkin of goin to the gunshop later today, ill let you guys know what i think in more detail.

That is true though, except for a couple guys most of the people working at the gun shops are excessively biased. Its almost worst that chevy and ford salesmen.

 

[lvcat2004]

I have not shot a PX4, but it felt very wrong in my hand, thus I did not like it.

I own a CZ75B and XDM and XD subcompact all in 9mm. I love my CZ and love my XD's. I don't think you can go wrong with either of them. Everyone loves their CZ's, but I've heard of some dissenting opinions regarding XD's and Berettas. Once you join the CZ family, you're always a family.

I carry my Keltec or XD subcompact, but if I had more freedom in what I can wear, I wouldn't mind carrying any of them. If I HAD to choose one, I would probably get the CZ. Once you go CZ, you never go back.