First Time Handgun Buyers Advice...

The PS is the polymer small frame witness that has been selling at a very affordable price lately.

Sounds like the one you've been looking at. Good gun.

 

From experience I found service size pistols useless and a waste of money. Something universal like Ruger SR9C or S&W M&P 9c are far better for money spent. Another pitfall is compact pistols with single stack magazines, useless.

 

PS. MY top pick would be Glock 29 with spare .40S&W barrel.

 

I'm highly starting to eye ball the "Smith & Wesson SD9 VE 9mm" & which can be found new for under $400, or the "Ruger SR9C 9mm" which is a bit over $400 brand new & both have everything I'm after!!!

 

An SD series should be right around 300. I wouldn't go more than $320 otd.

The trigger has much to be desired though compared to have fired options.

LEO G22 trade ins can be had for around $325. Carried a lot but not shot.

I still say give the Witness a go. You will be nailing clovers much faster and sooner.

 

(That was retail off of there site).

Cant a gunsmith do a trigger job on most firearms, or would that not be worth the cost? Trigger pull is something that will weigh my decision since it will see a lot of range time.

The S&W SD9c is definitely rated higher then the EAA Extreme & comparable in price. Actually its being touted as equal to or better then its counter Glock.

I'm also always gonna concider looking for good quality used guns.

 

M&P Shield $359 + free ship to your FFL. Palmetto State Armory.

They also have the Kahr CM9 for $299

 

As I said, the only decision now is whether I want full size (M&P Shield), or a compact SD9c.

 

I suspect this is a typo, but the Shield is not a full size gun.

Is there an SD9c?

 

Yep sorry, & I ment the SR9c

 

If you are looking at the SR9c wait till around Black Friday or Christmas. I will bet you can have one for sub $400. If you go to slick guns and search you can see some of the prices that a new one will go for.

It's an awesome pistol, it is my EDC and it just feels right in my hand. Accurate, soft recoil, it is probably my favorite pistol. If it fits your hand, it will not disappoint.

 

If you care about the trigger, stay away from the cheap S&W pistols. The trigger is dreadful and can only be made somewhat less dreadful. The SR9c is a fine gun, mine has thousands of rounds through it with nary an issue and a decent trigger...

 

I know they make a spring kit that reduces the pull from 10 to 7, but with that aside, would it be worth the $ of doing a trigger job to?

 

A lot of M&P talk & no Ruger which was my 2nd pick.

So how would the Ruger 9e, SR9, or SR9c stack up?

 

I don't think I've ever heard much negative of the SR series. Seems everyone likes them, I can't recall hearing anything bad about them besides a few troubles when they first came out. The 9e is new but just seems like a less polished SR9 but still good where it matters, time will tell. I don't think you can go wrong with either a S&W M&P or a Ruger SR so it's all what you prefer.

ETA: The M&P has much more aftermarket support. I wish more companies would offer SR aftermarket items, but as it stands customization is pretty sparce.

 

If I got the M&P, is it worth the effort of getting a DIY trigger job, OR, paying a gunsmith do it at a fair rate?

 

Let Me Know!!!

.. Woops, didn't realize I asked this before. reguardless my VA drivers license will be here SOON!!

.. Can u guys do me a simple favor & tell me if u run into any used sales of the Ruger SR9, 9E, or SR9C? Also the S&W M&P, S&W SD9ve!
Thank You!

.. I'm still taken back from all the help received on this board & I thank u all so much for doing so!! Is there a paying member option for this forum, & if so, what are the requirements??

 

I just purchased a Ruger SR 9 E, their economical version of the SR 9. Great value IMHO (should go for $350) and based on one range session of 150 rounds, 100% reliable. The trigger is quite different than the Smith M&P. Also my opinion on the M&P trigger is leave it alone, it improves with shooting. Also Smith has improved them in the last year or so, probably due to all the complaining.

 

I have a fully modified Jeep Cherokee XJ that's a weekend warrior rock crawler that I built myself, so yes i'm highly mechanically inclined & would most likely do the trigger job myself after much research. I've got about $14k invested in he jeep & have done all the welding & fabrications myself.

I mention the trigger based on what i've read & at some point, i'm gonna keep challenging myself & if I can become part of a "shooters club" then id want to modify that trigger. No biggie tho as i'm kinda just spinning my wheels now, waiting for my license, & then i'll go see what fits the best in my hands & go from there.

So is there any gun clubs or some form of team or single competition that I'd gain access to by becoming a member?

Last, I may stretch the budget a bit but i've got $1k saved up for this & the 2nd half is saved to buy a well versed riffle, (prob a 308) that's capable of a 500 to 1000 yd shot! (but ill save that for another thread!)

 

I'd take a lot of that with a BIG grain of salt.
A lot depends on your intended use of the gun - fer example, the primary purpose of all mine is SD, so I don't futz with the trigger in order to eliminate possible legal ramifications.

I also tend to shoot differently than most folks on the 'Net - if I have to use my gun for SD, you have to ask yourself if you're really going to be sqeeeeezing the trigger, riding the sear, yadda yadda yadda. I prefer to practice using a "controlled slap", as should I ever find myself fighting for my life, I'm betting that's how the trigger is going to be manipulated.

Many folks recommend you do a "1,000 round trigger job" on any gun you get before even thinking about doing anything to the trigger - this probably goes double (or more) since you said this was your first handgun.

Finally, don't forget what Ayoob sez about light triggers:
A light trigger pull is, more than anything else, a crutch for bad trigger technique.

'Course, if you're planning on the primary purpose of the gun to be target practice, have at it with the trigger!

 

Slickguns has the (new) SR9E for $307 just 2 days ago. Also a Glock 17 for $399 with night sight (used).

If you still want a Barretta, there are 92S used from Italian police trade in for $289 just 1 day ago.


Good luck on your search.

 

I have the .45 acp, it is a good shooter and never jammed.
.

 

The only bad things you can say about the Ruger SR pistols are the most minor of complaints. When I had my SR9c I didn't like the loaded chamber indicator (something fixed on the 9e), I didn't like the thumb safety as it is rather unnecessary with a tabbed trigger, I didn't like the finish as the SS slide came out after I bought mine, I didn't like the magazine connect but didn't know I could disable it with a u-tube video.

All minor issues. Many of which I learned the work around after I sold mine. Trigger is very good for being budget pistols and should be equally as good on the 9e. Very reliable with GOOD ammo, as the only malfunctions I had in mine were ammo related. Was a pretty accurate pistol too, and I didn't even touch the sights. If the make the 9e in a compact and SS slide, I'll probably get one of those.

 

Rather than make a $400 mistake why not find a range to rent some guns and try them out? It worked for me. Before I bought my XD9 I was eyeing a Sigma. But first I went to the range and shot the S&W .40, XD40 and Glock 22 (range only had all 3 in .40). The Sigma felt really loose and had horrible accuracy, the Glock shot whereever I pointed it but my feelings about it were so so and the XD felt great in my hand but accuracy was so so. In the end I picked up an XD9 tactical and love it. My only regret is I dislike reloading 9mm I would have preferred .40. Since then I have owned a Glock 17 and gave it to my father in law. It just never felt right in my hand. It just reinforced my original decision. Go shooting!