First time pistol owner! Where to get gear?

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TheHighRoadDude

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First time pistol owner! Edit: With range trip

Very very proud to announce that I got my first pistol today! The lucky new member to my family of guns is a Springfield Armory XD9.
100MEDIA95IMAG0312.jpg

I got it on a trade, and was kind of hoping for a XD over a M&P. Simply because I do not like the way you field strip the M&P with the little tool. Which is besides the point. What I am really interested in, is were I should go "shopping" for spare mags? Also, anyone know of some good deals on 9mm? And finally, the holster that came with it is for inside the waist, and I want to get a right handed hip holster, any suggestions?

Thanks guys you are the best! :D

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Made my way to the local indoor shooting range, and got to put some rounds down the barrel! I put 125 rounds thru it, and it ran flawlessly! I choose a creepy clown target and a silhouette target. My walls in my apartment were looking a little bare, so I did some classy College Kid Decorating :rolleyes:

Here is the Silhouette Target.
-The shots to the head were from pretty close, I'd guess 7 yards. Taking my time.
-The Chest shots were from 12-15 yards, and at a fast pace.
1119111119a.jpg

Here is the Clown Target. Same thing as above, took my time on the head from close. Fast paced body shots from 12-15 for fun :D
1119111119.jpg

Yes I know that I'm knew to pistol shooting, but I'm trying to learn quick. I definitely need to get a feel for the trigger, and find a grip that really works good for me. I know this isn't the best groups you guys have ever seen, but its not what I was really concerned about on my first trip out! Thanks for looking
 
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Take your time-if history's any indicator, folks will be running stuff on sale around Christmas/New Year-think I got some magazines from Midway on sale last Christmas?

AFA ammo, I usually buy my practice 9mm at WalMart (Federal is $10.97 box).
I usually have to scrounge the usual suspects for SD ammo as they're often out of stock.
Last I got for the best price and only $10 shipping was from Tactial Defense Solutions, but you have to jump when it's in stock, and their shopping cart seemed to be a bit hinky when I tried to add multiple items, but I finally got it to work.
I've also purchased SD ammo from Kyle's Gun Shop and Ammunition To Go, but it seems they've edged their prices up a bit, and my shipping from TDS was cheaper.
Never bought from SGAmmo.com, but got 'em bookmarked-looks promising?

I usually stick to Gold Dot, Winchester Ranger T, or Federal HST for my SD ammo. You might also check any police supply houses in your area-they can be hit or miss AFA price.

When buying ammo online, it sure helps if you can find some buddies to split shipping, or if you get 'em a good deal, maybe make 50 cents a box or so off 'em? It really helps bring the price down.
 
was kind of hoping for a XD over a M&P. Simply because I do not like the way you field strip the M&P with the little tool.
Click to expand...

Not sure what your dislike was - the M&P is dirt easy to field strip. You don't need anything specific - just "something" to push down the little lever inside. A screw driver, punch, rifle bullet, stick, etc will all work. A lady could probably do it with just her fingernails. You don't really need a specific tool.

Anyways, back to the topic at hand :). The best deal on factory 9mm right now IMHO is the Aguila 124grn rounds at AIM Surplus. They've got them for $9.95 per box ($9.50 per box in quantity IIRC). They're fully reloadable brass cased, and they are STOUT loads. I shot some of them at a recent IPSC match and they chrono'd at over 150 power factor out of my M&P 9L (most normal practice fodder comes in between 125 and 135).

For magazines - first place I always check for magazines is CDNN Investments. They don't always have the mag I'm looking for, but if they do, then their prices tend to be very good. Barring that, MidwayUSA is very good and usually DOES have everything. Of course, just doing a search around the net (like with Google Shopping) you can find things cheaper on a case by case basis. Just check the ratings for the merchant you find and make sure they're not too bad.

As to holster - I'm pretty sure you've got a polymer/kydex holster on that case aside from the leather one. It's on the top left side of the case in the picture. That will do you find for right now IMHO. It's probably at least on par with the Fobus and Uncle Mike's type holsters.
 
Congratulations on a great step and a great purchase. Yeah, looks like you have an included holster. It should help you in deciding what you want. If you intend to conceal-carry the gun ever, I feel like you'll find IWB is much easier to conceal than the hip holster. For me, the hip holsters print too much.

Walmart is your friend for target ammo - and you'll want to get a lot of ammo to get to feel really comfortable with that excellent pistol. BTW, price compare... sometimes Walmart's boxes of 50 actually cost less per round than their boxes of 100. I have found boxes of 250 that were a pretty good deal too.

Please grace us with a range report and your feelings about the experience.
 
Congrats on an excellent purchase.The XD will take care of you and its definetlly a good realiable shooter.I also like the way the XD's fieldstrip.You got a fine handgun sir.

Walmart federal ammo works great and usually cost around $10-11 a box where i live.
 
+1 to MidwayUSA

May be a bit pricier than some other less reputable places, but I order all my extra mags through them and get them FAST. (Like 2 days). Also, I have went with Amazon for some things like holsters and whatnot, just make sure you know what you are ordered as returns can be a hassle.
 
Several have mentioned my online sources

Natchez
Cheaper then Dirt
Sportsman Guide
Cabelas
Powder Valley

Each has good deals on certain items so it pays to comparison shop. Do you hunt or are you looking at getting into reloading?
 
There is a site called pistolgear.com that has a lot of XD stuff. You might want to take a look around over there. Also if you are interested in a XD specific forum you might want to check out www.xdtalk.com.
 
Thanks for the responses everyone! Really appreciate all the support! I think I'll be going to a Indoor shooting range tomorrow and see how she shoots.
 
By thew way, you don't need that tool to take down the M&P, you can do it with your pinky finger. :)

Congrats on your new pistol brother. SGAmmo.com is a great place for ammo.
And like said before, Midwayusa.com is a good place to get gear. And don't forget, you can find GREAT deals on eBay, as long as you know what your doing and looking for. There are some top sellers on eBay that have great, brand new items for a great price.

I am also looking at some XD's, and from what I hear they are pretty good guns. I don't think they would out last my M&P, but thats not the point here. :) lol, just kidding.

Congrats on the new gun, and your quest to finding the right gear to match.

smitty
 
mgmorden said:
Not sure what your dislike was - the M&P is dirt easy to field strip. You don't need anything specific - just "something" to push down the little lever inside. A screw driver, punch, rifle bullet, stick, etc will all work. A lady could probably do it with just her fingernails. You don't really need a specific tool.
Click to expand...

All the lever does is pivot the sear away from the striker so they don't interfere with each other when field stripping. You can bypass having to pivot the sear by simply pulling the trigger in the way that a Glock would field strip (check the chamber before doing so). I read that Smith and Wesson implemented this lever so pulling the trigger would no be required to field strip the pistol since some L.E. agencies didn't want triggers being pulled unnecessarily (I don't blame them). The sear deactivation lever is one 'feature' that sets the M&P apart from the Glock.

I just pull the trigger on my M&P40 when I field strip to save frustration and time. I don't think this is a good reason to avoid the M&P, but you still ended up with a nice pistol.

Midway USA is my favorite online gear store, but I try to only order when I have a coupon code because shipping prices seem a bit high IMHO. I believe Grafs has cheaper shipping costs but in general, products seem to be slightly higher priced.
 
Ditto that ^^^

Most of my shopping is at Midway. Others may have a lower price, but then they get you with shipping.

Last night I ordered a case of Sellier and Beloit 9mm from Cabelas .

The price is 9.99 with free shipping for orders over $99 using a code...

WTHANKS

here's a link

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Shooting/Ammunition/Handgun-Ammunition%7C/pc/104792580/c/104691780/sc/104372280/Sellier-Bellot-Handgun-Ammo/706475.uts?destination=&rid=10&WT.tsrc=AFF&WT.mc_id=k3787

I recieved and email from Midway this morning they are starting a Black Friday sale (except it lasts for a week) the price on the S&B is the same, no free ship as far as I know.
 
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