Going to buy my first handgun, recommendations....?

[wcoats]

I'm going to be turning 21 in about 3 weeks and have been trying to decide what to purchase as my first handgun. It will primarily be used as a range toy, and I'm probably going to get 9mm because it's big enough to be more fun than a .22 but ammo isn't as expensive as some other options. (so more range time for my $ )

My price range can go a little over $500, but I would like to stay under that if I can still make sure to get a quality firearm. A local gun shop has Glocks and Springfield XDs for about $500. I've never fired a Glock, but have heard good things about them. I've never shot an XD, but have shot friends XDm's in both 9mm and 40, both of them were a blast to shoot.

So my question is which would people recommend, a Glock or and XD? Also what other handguns would you recommend that can be had for $500ish or less?

Thanks for any help!

 

[Mike J]

Glocks & XD's are both good guns my advice would be to find out if there is a rental range in your area & try to rent & shoot both if possible. I have an XD-40 & like it a lot but you are the only one who can decide what will work best for you.

 

[1-UP]

Think long and hard about getting a 9mm or any other centerfire before a .22. Big difference spending $.25 a bullet and $.02 a bullet, especially if you need to work on accuracey.

If you have to get a 9mm, I recommend a CZ75, although the Glock and XD are both fine choices. Make sure you TRY the Glock before you buy it though - a lot of people don't care for the ergonomics on the Glock (myself included, nothing against the gun though).

 

[BluesDancer]

I would personally recommend a used Beretta 92FS, but only if you have bigger hands. I got one as my first gun and I couldn't be more pleased. It's a pistol that is built to last, especially if you change out some parts (e.g. recoil spring, guide rod) for better ones.

Having said all that, I think that the best idea is to go to your local gun shop and hold different guns, and use that experience to help you choose a piece. The gun has to feel comfortable in your hand. For that reason I would not buy gun online until after you have actually handled the gun in person, otherwise you could be headed for a real disappointment. \

Have fun searching and tell us when you made a purchase!

 

[wcoats]

Well, I'm not planning on a .22 because my friend that goes with me to the range just about every time I go has a Ruger mark III that I can use whenever I want to get cheap .22 practice in. Also if I buy a .22 pistol first a while before I can afford to buy another handgun.

I have held a few Glocks and an XD at a local gun shop, but am still unsure which I like better. I like the idea of getting to fire a particular gun before I buy one, does anyone know of a rental range near Raleigh NC? Also how much does it normally cost to rent a handgun to try out?

Thanks for the help so far!

 

[skwab]

coats there are a ton of options in that range. I agree with blues - the 92fs was my first handgun - still have it, still love it, and it's one of those that you'll keep forever - to me it's a classic piece. But other than that, the Glock 17 or 19 would be great, the Glock also becoming one of those classic, albeit utilitarian, designs that you can keep forever. The XD is nice and a lot of people swear by it (never shot one myself), the M&P (I have 2) is another polymer framed semi that is great to shoot. Many 9mm offerings from CZ which I highly recommend.

Find what you like and get it. Would it be best to rent and try? Sure. Is it vital? No. I bought my beretta having only held it before purchasing. I bought 3 CZs online without ever holding them because no one around here carries them and I kept reading such great things about them on THR - and they're great. Good luck!

 

[Jbabbler]

You can get a GREAT used or surplus firearm for $150-$350 and have plenty left for ammo. Ammo is the big ticket item with any firearm. It easily dwarfs the purchase price in a matter of months. Since you are new, I'd get a 9mm so you can practice cheaply and find ammo easily. If you plan on carrying it everyday you might consider a smaller 9mm like a Kel-Tec PF9 or P11.

If you really want to save some dough and shoot cheaply you can buy a surplus Polish or Hungarian police gun chambered for 9mm MAK for <$200
A surplus unissued FEG PA63 will run you around $139 and is easy to carry/cheap to shoot/great defensive rounds available.


A Polish P64 (Walther PPK size) can be had for $149 (also easy to conceal/cheap to shoot/great defensive rounds available)





A CZ82 in 9mm MAK will run you around $189



If you want an amazing, full sized Sig 9mm you can get a Sig P6/P225 surplus German police gun in 9mm for $349 at JGSales. This gun runs $700+ NIB in America

 

[wcoats]

I haven't seen any CZ handguns in any local gun shops. How much does a CZ in 9mm run? I've heard great things about CZ rifles, and have gotten to shoot a CZ rifle in .223, I really liked the crisp trigger pull on it. Are their handguns also know for having great trigger pull?

 

[wcoats]

I'd probably preffer to stick to standard 9X19 instead of the 9X18. I can pick up a box of blazer brass 9mm for about $10 a box of 50, so I figure that will be my source for ammo.

I like the looks of that Sig P6 in 9mm. I've heard good things about Sig, I've shot a Sig in 45 acp, not sure of the model tho. Any other sugestions of milsurblus handguns in 9X19?? Also, any thoughts on where I could pick up a police trade in Glock, and if that would be a good option?

Thanks!

 

[tprice]

Glocks and XDs are well made, but try them before you buy one. I never bonded with the striker fired pistols, and have stayed with guns that have a hammer (1911, SIG P226, revolvers).

If you just plan on shooting at the range, a 9mm is a good gun to get - cheap ammo. I love revolvers for range time too. You tend to take your time since you only have 6 or 7 shots, and with the longer barrels you get more pleasing results I picked up a used Smith Model 19 for 300 at a gun show and a 686 for 500 at a shop.

My 9mm is a Beretta 92FS. Got it for $500 back in 2000 with hi-caps. I continually claim I hate the gun, and go months without firing it, but when I do I curse because the darn thing just is so accurate and reliable that I can't ever find an excuse to trade it in for another!

 

[basicblur]

YMMV, but the Glock grip angle never worked for me.

My main CCW is an XD40SC-if I had it to do over again, I'd probably get the 9mm, hopefully for less muzzle flip (the 40 recoil doesn't bother me).

Don't know what size you're thinking about (probably longer barrel?), but the XDSCs are very accurate for such a short barrel, although they are getting a little on the thick side for CC if that's in your future (although your NC CC laws really suck).
I also like the grip safety of the XD. You'll hear lots of folks whining 'bout not needing any safeties, but remember Plaxico -we also had a local retired cop have the same thing happen to him.

As a newbie, conventional wisdom says when holstering an XD, place your thumb on the back of the slide as you holster-this will prevent accidental slide movement and will remove the web of your hand from the grip safety.

You might also consider a Taurus Millenium Pro?
Taking a step down in quality-I knew as much when I bought mine, but there is a lot to like about the Taurus, which conviced me to take the plunge (got a second generation-they're now up to 3rd generation).

Got a friend that bought his first auto-he checked out a lot of mine and I tried to steer him to the XD, but he ended up with a Millenium Pro.

'Course, I'm leaning toward CC with most of my choices.

Wecome to the gunowners' club!
Now...read anything by Massad Ayoob you can get your hands on!

 

[Jbabbler]

The Sig P6/225 above can be had for $349 from JGsales and would make an excellent carry gun. It's a single stack and will be 100% reliable with any ammo you force down it;s throat. It should be a strong contender for you. They won't be around long at that price. A surplus Glock 22 or 17 can be had for around $350 at most pawn shops around my neck of the woods. They are mostly 1st or 2nd Gen but that doesn't matter since the grip can be swapped easily down the road. Another great option is the Steyr M9-A1. These can be picked up at Dunns for around $399 right now. They'll be gone soon though since Steyr quit exporting them to the US. I have 4 Steyrs and they are by far my best shooters.

Good luck with your search and don't make a hasty decision. Check out the numerous online sellers and compare prices.

 

[Jbabbler]

Oh, and don't rule out the 9x18 round just yet. I can buy 50 rounds of ball ammo for $9 at the local Army Navy stores or at a number of places online. I carry a P64 everyday with CorBon Pow'r Ball 9x18. It punches with 1340fps/286ft-lbs with a chamber pressure of 23,000 PSI. .

 

[wcoats]

I'm not planning on CC, so something on the larger side of things would probably be better for shooting targets. That Steyr M9-A1, looks really interesting, but I know nothing about the gun, I'll have to get on google, and read about it

I've shot and XDm before and really liked it, other than being a little smaller, and having a few less rounds in the mag, are they any differences btw the XD and the XDm??

 

[Philo_Beddoe]

I have owned the following pistols in 9mm

Star ultra star
beretta 92 f/s
glock 17
ruger P95
S&W M&p
cz 75b omega
cz 75b SA

I have shot xd's.

For my money the CZ is the best value for the money, they were the most accurate and completely flawless. I hear alot about Glocks reliability, but the berretta, m&p, ruger and cz were all more reliable in my experiance because glocks are really suceptible to limp wristing where the other designs were not so much.

my advice is to go to different gun stores and hold various guns and test them out if at all possible

my only knock on cz is sometimes their triggers need a bit of work, but that isnt a big deal and even with the somewhat heavier DA triggers I was still much more accurate with them then any other 9mm

 

[basicblur]

I've shot and XDm before and really liked it, other than being a little smaller, and having a few less rounds in the mag, are they any differences btw the XD and the XDm??

Don't really know as I haven't done a ton of research, but I know the XDM has a match grade barrel (don't know that it's really needed as accurate as the regular XDs are), replaceable backstraps (the standard XD fits me fine), and takes different magazines than the regular XDs (a major gripe with some folks).
My XD is old enough that it came with the standard blue slide-made before they started using Melonite or ? on 'em.

Don't necessarily discount short barrelled guns for non-competition range work-I think folks make too much of the lack of accuracy due to short barrels.

 

[Jbabbler]

The Steyrs are great shooters. They are Austrian designed and built. They are still sold in Europe but they had some serious distributor/importer problems in the US. If you look on the right side of the gun abopve you can see where a key-lock is located behind the breakdown lever. You can disable the gun for storage easily with that. The trigger safety is similar to other Austrian Tupperware as is reliability. The Steyrs have Trapazoid sights that make them easy to aim but cab be a love or hate thing. You won't know until you shoot it.
Steyrclub.com has tons of info if you're interested.

 

[memphisjim]

glock 19
factory 33 round mags need i say more

 

[Jbabbler]

Don't necessarily discount short barrelled guns for non-competition range work-I think folks make too much of the lack of accuracy due to short barrels

I agree 100% I have an XD40-sub compact that is every bit as accurate as my XD9. Unfortunately I have to constantly steel wool rust off of the slides on both of them for some odd reason. Only guns in my safe that get surface rust just sitting there... Very annoying.

 

[BluesDancer]

wcoats, honestly the best thing for you now is just to go to your nearest gunshop. Chances are they will have XD's there to check out - all my local shops have them, for they are an extremely popular line of pistols. Don't rush into buying a gun though. I did that when I had the cash - I walked into my local gunshop with an itch to buy something that day, and I ended up with something that I really did not like (and it jammed every other shot, to boot - a Sig Pro 2022, 9mm). Take your time with this.

 

[outerlimit]

A lot of people dislike the trapezoid sights on the Steyr. Also, I remember the first time I picked up a Steyr M9 years ago, I couldn't believe how fat it was, especially in the slide.

In addition, a lot of people dislike the trigger and grip angle of the Glock.

I would rent either pistol before buying if you have a local range.

 

[Jed Carter]

Considering your 2 choices I have shot both, but only own the Glocks, and will never own a Springfield Xd (I do own 1911 Springer's). Magazines, accessories, sights are much easier to come by for the Glocks, their magazines are second to none and can be had for $19-25. If you have large hands I would recomend the G17 or G34, if your hands are average then the G19 would be my choice. If you want the original polymer frame pistol get a Glock, if you want a copy get an Xd. Glock has the lower bore axis and will recover from recoil better than the Xd, if you want graphics Xd's got em, everywhere. Other good choices are CZ, Beretta, SIG, S&W M&P, H&K and Walther, with CZ and the M&P the only ones that could be had less than the $500 you have to spend. Food for thought I shoot in IDPA and USPSA pistol matches, I see a lot of Glocks used by competitors, not many, if any Xds.

 

[ainokea]

See if you can find a FNP9, it's another good polymer choice and it's double/single action.

If you want steel frame go with CZ-75. The extra weight makes it a pleasure to shoot.

 

[sheepdog]

...Ruger P95 if 9mm is your choice...you can buy a stainless decocker for about $325....ultrareliable...very accurate...

 

[wcoats]

Ok, I have a few questions. First of all, does anyone have experiance with the Sig 250 in 9mm? I found one for what seems to be a good price,
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/21_28/products_id/411538090
Is that a good price for this hand gun, and would you recomend it? Also, under the action type it says "DAO" does that mean, double action only? I would probably prefer something in single/double.

I also am wondering about the Smith and Wesson SW9VE. It seems to cheap to be a quality fire arm, but if it is, then it would be an interesting option. Also, how bad is the trigger pull on it, sence it's a double action?
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=13283