Handgun Insight for the newbie

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Ramrod17

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My father told me when I was growing up that if you have questions about tools, find the oldest man working in the store and ask him.

I wanted to apply this same logic to my first handgun. I have been researching on these forums about handguns and what a good first handgun would be to own. I have grown up shooting shotguns, either clays or pheasant hunting, and have learned the basics of fire arms.

That being said I have never fired a handgun in my life, before I buy one I plan on attending some sort of education/training course to learn the basics.

What has sparked me to consider a handgun purchase is:
1. I live in Sacramento
2. My son just turned 4 months old and that is damn worth protecting

I do currently own a Remington 870 12gauge which I love to death but I would also like a handgun since I live in an apartment and I feel it would be easier to maneuver in this tight environment. Plus i feel knowledge and experience with different firearms is invaluable.

What I have been able to put together about a first handgun so far is:
1. 9mm is recommended due to cheap ammunition cost for practicing and i have seen claims of less recoil
2. A 4in barrel is a well rounded length to learn with.

The manufacturer and guns I am leaning towards are:
Springfield XD
Ruger SR9
S&W SD9

I know comfortableness with holding each gun is a huge aspect of picking a fire arm.

I would like to know your insights on what you think of each of the guns I have listed as far as reliability, ease of use (both shooting and maintenance), and if I am on the right track with the information I have listed. My budget is around $500-$550 on the actual firearm, and most likely will not be purchasing this firearm until probably around august so that I can get the proper training and funds saved up. This will not be a carry weapon, it will be a "nightstand" home defense gun.

Thank you for any and all input.
 
If you're dead set on an auto, go with a Glock 19 in 9mm. They are reliable, easy to shoot, and easy to clean etc. That being said, a for a first handgun a 4" revolver in .357 mag is a great choice, you can practice with .38 special ammo and "load it for bear" with .357's. No matter what ever other handgun you buy you will never regret having the revolver, you won't out grow it and it can be left loaded for years and left untouched and still be ready to go if you need it.
Now that is my recommendation, and I'm a 47 year old 1911 junky, and have been competing with a variety of guns since 1985.

IMHO, Gunsablazin

P.S. I own a 4" .357 and a Glock
 
If you want comfort, step up from the SD and get the M&P, accurate, reliable, sexier than a Glock. Try to find something with night sights and a rail(though most poly guns have rails now) for a light since it's a night stand HD weapon.

Then again since you're not going for carry have you considered any steel guns? Since 9 seems to be your preference, a good Beretta or CZ75 could work.

Also, there's nothing wrong with buying lightly used guns, and you'll probably wanna get a safe/lock/good retention holster since you will have a little one in the house, so finding something for $400ish and using the rest on ammo mags, and other accessories would be good too.

XD is flawless as well, the Ruger is rather new so is the SD so I have no comment.
 
Buy a .22 and learn to shoot a handgun. Handguns are difficult to master and you need to shoot 5000 to 10,000 rounds before you are truly proficient enough to stake your life and your families life on a handgun. Stop in a gun store and price .22 vs 9mm ammo and you'll see that buying the .22 is far more cost effective.

When you can shoot, look for a centerfire pistol. Until you buy your centerfire pistol, you can always buy a used 18" barrel for your 870 and be well protected.

That's the real deal, despite all the "Just buy a (insert brand name here) and you'll love it" comments that you will get in this thread. I might also suggest you take a trip to a handgun range and just observe. Most people can't shoot a handgun to save their life (pun intended). Most of the shooters stand at 5 or 7 yards and shoot groups the size of a cowboy hat. And that's at a range, without the fear and stress of imminent death. The reason they can't shoot, is because they don't shoot enough. They can't afford to (or are unwilling to spend) to shoot enough with ammo at $15 or $20 a box of 50.

As far as a .22 goes, look at the Ruger 22/45 and the Browning Buckmark.
 
Any of those are good choices, what feels right for you may not work for me.
I KNOW there are rental ranges in Sac, go shoot them and find what you like.
Also, a .22 is NEVER a bad investment.
 
I think your right on the money I just bought my wife her first hand gun
And she got the xd 9 mm her first time out she hit
Center mass she switch to one hand and hit bullseye
I liked it so much I went out and bought a xd 40 we got the
Compact what s gun
 
Skip the SD, Get the M&P.

That or get a CZ-75, used the world over.

I picked up my M&P to have at least ONE polymer pistol that I could wear while my own Wee ones were still wee-ing on this one.

XDm is a fine pistol, I just detest things sticking off the back of the gun (the cocking indicator in this case... I know it's cocked... I chambered the round myself!) The Swag that comes with it can be a good cost savings to some people, to others the extras are just more "stuff" in the way while we get our preferred holsters and other accessories.

Typical Glocks run forever, if you are smart enough to grip them properly. I managed to shoot one just this last fathers day, last one before that was a gen 2 back in '95 and I have the slide bite scar still. So I'll credit myself as being 50% of the required IQ to own one. ;)

Honestly though, for a first-handgun, I tend to gently prod people towards revolvers. my favorite one being the SW Model 10, (the original M&P)

.38 special was fine for the feds till they had to shoot through car doors, does admirably for self defence and is easy on the wrist for plinking in volume.

Used Police issue model 10's will run you $200-300 and will be the sort of gun you'll be proud to use to teach your grandkids handgun safety.

Ruger Redhawk .357's function well (barring the rare transfer bar issue, I still own no guns with a transfer bar myself) Ruger Vaqueros or Blackhawks are excellent as well, all under $500
 
Those aren't bad choices, but you did leave out the Glock in my opinion (and I wouldn't rule out a revolver for a bedside weapon). You mention a tool for the job, well, in defensive handguns where simplicity and reliability are important, the Glock is THE tool in the mind of many. I have several of them in different calibres and sizes. Not pretty, but they go bang every time. More accurate than you would think too. At least two of the three weapons you listed are analogues of the Glock.

The G19 is the best all around 9mm in my opinion, but if you are never going to carry it, I'd look at the G34 or G17L. Longer barrels, they hit harder and are more accurate (the 17L is a very accurate piece, no reason to think the G34 wouldn't be similar). I can shoot the longer pistol faster too. Glocks work great out of the box, the only thing I'd change are a set of night sights.

Whatever you go with know that your son will be able to operate whatever you get at an age younger than you would expect. All the reasons the make a Glock a good idea also make it dangerous in the wrong hands --it is easy to use. Look into one of those digital bedside keyless gunsafes for whatever you go with.
 
IMHO, if you are going to buy one handgun, then get the one you need (not a .22). My first handgun was (and still resides on the night stand) a Ruger SP101 in .357. It doesn't get any simpler than a revolver. Aim and pull the trigger. It also serves as my carry gun.

If you aren't going to carry it, then I suggest a S&W 686+. They are awesom guns, and the extra weight helps manage the recoil.

If you have your heart set on an auto loader, I'd consider something in .45 acp. It is a far better man stopper in a HD situation. Slower bullet = less overpenetration. The ammo isn't to bad, though 9mm is certainly cheaper.

If you have your heart set on 9mm, then good luck, because I don't own one and have no real advice to give. You may want to consider an all metal gun. The extra weight will help with follow up shots, and if you aren't carrying it, then there is no need for a light weight gun.

Good luck.
 
The manufacturer and guns I am leaning towards are:
Springfield XD
Ruger SR9
S&W SD9
Click to expand...

Any of those would work well for your purpose. Go to a gun shop and see which one fits your hand the best. This isn't a small detail, it's important to your ability to aim and handle the weapon. Grip dimensions and angles vary from one model to the next. Find one that's a "natural pointer" for your hand; the one that seems to naturally align itself on a target when you raise it to eye level. You can't go wrong with any of the three.
 
Ramrod,

Not many Firearms Instructors will recommend a semi-auto for a new shooter, since a rock steady and well trained hand/wrist is necessary for the gun to function without malfunctions. A medium framed revolver such as the S&W model 19 is a good first choice, having the option of .38's for the range and the .357 for self defense, but if you're set on a semi-auto, the Glock 19 would get my vote. Good luck!;)

LD45
 
This is ALOT of good information, thank you so much for the quick and informed response. I see quite a few of you recommending a revolver for a first handgun. I will definitely look into this because as many have said "it doesn't get any easier". I just found out that my 102 year old aunt (who has now passed away) had a very old school pearl handled revolver. If a 100+ year old lady can make it go bang im sure I can figure it out. Ill look at the same brands for revolver and include glock as well. Thank you all again.
 
If yours is like most apartments I've lived in you have maybe two entrances only, main door and patio. Windows depend on what floor. Usually the bedrooms are at the back and if not on the ground floor not so much of a problem. I guess you could look out your bedroom door to the entrance door and could tell if the patio was forced. Either way load the 870 with #9 shot and if you have portable alarms on both doors you should be able to use what you have easily. You would be shooting toward a wall/door at the entrance leading to a hallway, and toward a patio with plenty of room to make a miss practically harmless considering tempered glass, outside wall is probably pretty solid. In other words you should be very capable with the 870 you know in a break in where the family is in bed and all you need to do is cover the hallway and one door. Get a handgun if you want one but my handgun is for getting to my pump shotgun, I'll never see 65 again so I want the odds on my side.
 
You are on the right track, good for you. 9mm autos and .38 or .357 revolvers are both good starting places. And as you know, the "feel" of the weapon in your hand is highly personal, therefore I cannot possibly tell you which models to get. Though I will say that in autos, I prefer all steel and in 9mm, the CZ-75 and Browning HiPower in particular. Both feel very natural in my hands ... don't own one, yet, but I may have to rectify that one day. The Springfield XD feels good in my hand, much better than a Glock, but I've never been a consistent with them.

As for wheel guns, well, that is my first passion. They just "do it" for me, I don't know how else to explain it. They point very well for me and I can always get hits on target regardless of my shooting angle or grip. They function just as reliably fired from odd angles with imperfect grip as they do standing upright at the range. Not knocking autos, but I will say that I've often been successful in inducing jams with what I'd call a "limp forearm and forearm", not necessary a limp wrist as it is often described. Again, not knocking them, it is just something to consider. Each platform has its pluses and minuses, and what each of us has to do is weight those pluses and minus and pick the platform and specific model that best maximizes all the positvies for our own priorities.

For home protection, I keep a 4" S&W 686 plus .357 at my bedside in a Gunvault quick access safe (I have a child as well), loaded up with .38+P lead semiwadcutter hollowpoints. Easy to shoot and plenty effective for a handgun. Though my home is open enough that the shotgun is a viable option, assuming I can safely retrieve it. Regardless, I'll be doing the minimum of room clearing to get o my son's room, which will then become the safe room until the police arrive.
 
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I see quite a few of you recommending a revolver for a first handgun. I will definitely look into this because as many have said "it doesn't get any easier".
Click to expand...
A number of folks now recommend a semi-auto for new shooters.
'Course, a lot depends on how capable the person is (if you're not strong enough to rack?), but some of the advantages for new shooters are generally lower recoil, lower bore axis (and less muzzle flip), easier reloading, etc.

For some folks revolvers as a first gun still make sense, but it may be time to rethink this bit o' 'conventional wisdom'!?
 
Some good advice so far and some from folks that think everyone should own the same guns that they do.

Living in Sacramento you MUST have a Rent-A-Gun commercial range somewhere nearby or within reasonable driving range. I very strongly recomend that you invest some gas and ammo money to get to one of these places and try out all the 9 semis and .38/.357 revolvers they have and MAKE UP YOUR OWN MIND! ! ! ! ! We are NOT you. Only YOU can decide on what you should buy.

Good suggestions not withstanding they are only that, suggestions. You still need to actually try some guns to satisfy yourself that you're making the right choice.


Some feedback on your original three directions from myself.

The XD's are actually pretty decent guns to shoot. I've only shot a .40 myself but it was overall as nice or nicer than a Glock IMO. Sort of fugly looking but the targets and bullets don't care. The trigger feels "Glock" like. And for a striker fired gun that's not bad at all. Darned nice in fact.

The Ruger SR9 was another nice gun to shoot from the grip standpoint. But the trigger is TERRIBLE ! ! ! ! It has a very non linear build of pressure to movement. I shot it well but only because I only had some paper facing me down which was far enough away that a paper cut in retaliation was unlikely. It's not the sort of trigger that I would want to use in a competition. And if I were not willing to compete with it I sure as blazes would not want to defend myself with it. Sad really as it's a really nice gun that is hamstrung by a bad trigger. Now if you were willing to spend a bit on some aftermarket trigger springs and stuff for a "trigger job" then perhaps you'd have a real winner. Once I was able to shoot "through" the terrible trigger feel the gun delivered stirling groups. All in all I don't know if it was the grips or the barrel quality but the groups I shot with it were tighter than some other guns.

No idea what a S&W SD9 is but the M&P is not a bad gun at all for accuracy or trigger pull. Not a great gun but not bad. The grip feels like it fits most average hands but the trigger is a bit "spongy". But if one can shoot through these things it can certainly deliver some nice results. The one aspect I'm not a fan of for my own competition shooting is the mag interloc that makes it a requirement to slot in a mag to "drop the hammer" during matches.

I noticed that all three of your choices are striker fired guns. You may want to branch out and try some hammer fired guns. Whether they are DA/SA combo guns or SA only guns the trigger pull of hammer fired guns is greatly different from striker fired guns. You may well find that you prefer them.

I know that for myself it's a bit of a comfort when holstering a gun with a chambered round to be able to place my thumb over the hammer so I can feel it trying to move back if anything should happen to foul the trigger during the insertion. On a striker fired gun there's nothing to duplicate this so your first "warning" would be a "BANG!". On my hammer fired guns I'd feel the hammer trying to creep back.

Along these lines I'd suggest you try out some CZ guns. Hammer guns with a choice of all metal or plastic lowers.
 
If, and only if, you have your heart set on a semi-auto buy a Ruger 22/45 Mark III and shoot it until you feel very comfortable with your range scores (about 5,000-20,000 rounds from now depending on how well you master a new discipline)...then grab a Glock 19.

If you were a Wheel Gun Guy (like all 'sane' shooters must be) I would strongly recommend starting with a S&W Mod 642 and staying there.

If Samuel Colt had wanted people to be shooting *semi-autos the "Peacemaker" would have had a slide.
Us "Real" shooters know this.

(*when people mention the Colt 1911 just walk on by, nothing to see here, move along)
 
Of those, I'd go with the Springfield XDm in 45 ACP, 4.5" barrel.

Great guns, even though I don't have one. I shot a buddy's 9mm XDm and I'm surprised how much I like it.

The S&W is a Sigma right? Avoid it. (do a forum search and you'll quickly find that folks get lured into it by the lower price and big name, but that the trigger is horrible)

Ruger SR9 is probably also a great gun; I've no experience with it.

That said, I'm not "the oldest man in the store" so you will want to keep soliciting opinions. ;)
 
Well after reading what everyone has had to say and doing some research here on the internet, I'm pretty much sold with a revolver. It would seem that it would be a good gun to "get my feet wet" in the handgun world. I understand that I need to be the one to shoot the guns to decide what feels best, just wanted to see what everyone thought of the manufactures as far as quality, or any "horror" stories of using a certain gun, or like some have said about opinions on triggers. Thank you all again for sharing the knowledge.
 
I own a SA XD 45ACP, simple to shoot, easy to maintain. It was my first handgun and I had shop around a bit until I found something that "fit". I think that is the key here, find a gun that feels right, practice up with it until the motions are muscle memory and you'll be in good shape.

That being said, having a back up revolver is never a bad idea either.

Good luck with your purchase!
 
You could look around for a used Ruger .357, $500-550 being the budget, and have some walking around money for some ammo. For that price you can't beat that. What I did when I went to revolvers was started in single action, got to know the trigger mechanism.
Then went to double action operating slowly so you get to know that trigger pull. After a while you'll master the double and it'll be a snap.
Just make sure to read the sticky on buying a used revolver and talk to people about what to look for.
 
May I suggest the Sig Pro 2022 in 9mm or .40 S&W? I have nothing against the guns you listed, but for the price, it's hard to beat the poly-framed Sig. It can be had for less than $500 with factory night sights! And it's damn accurate too. And the double action/single action trigger is butter smooth. I've got the 9mm version and it's nails. I took it to an advanced combat pistol class a few years ago. It was brand new, never been fired. I hit steel on the first rapid volley of 12 shots on three targets at 7 yards. It's a good damn gun.

I concur with my fellow posters - go to your local gun range, one that rents handguns. Drive it before you buy it.

You'd test-drive a car before you bought it, right? Same thing applies to guns.

Try before you buy.

And at most gun ranges, the price of the rental will apply to the purchase of a weapon.

All that being said, stick with the reliable brands - Glock, Sig, S&W, Ruger, CZ, Springfield, etc. Don't go pinching pennies on a Taurus or Hi-Point as your Home Defense gun. It may be your last line of defense against a home intruder.

Get trained. Practice, Practice, Practice. Be safe.
 
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