Hello from a complete NEWB!

[blackbok]

Hello all,

I am very new to this world, so please bear with me. I have been trolling around for some time, but figured it was time to join in. I have minimal shooting experience 9shot an SKS, M1 carbine and a 1911 about 6 years ago, thats it).
I just went into my local gun store today to get my safety cert., so I am ready to buy. Now, let me just say I am not an idiot, but I am an idealist. I have a picture in my head of my first handgun, and it is probably not what everyone here will tell me I should get. I have read the advice on revolvers, don't want one. I have heard that a .22 is a good place to start. I just don't have the money to be upgrading. That said, I'll give you guys an idea of what I am looking for, and then you can tell me where to go from there.
I am looking for a gun that is fun to go out to the range with, easy to shoot, clean, and not a lot of recoil. I am thinking 9mm. Home defense is always a thought, but it is not my primary reason for the purchase. I can always get a 12 guage for that. My first tought was a Glock 19. After reading about their "safety system" though, and talking with the guy at the shop, I think I'll saty away for now. He suggested a sig (don't know model) which he said shared a lot of the features of the Glock, but with a safety. That was a little pricey for me at over $900. I figured I should go to the range and get some trigger time obviously before I plop my money down on anything, though.
i guess I am just looking for a bit of direction here. And I know everyone and his mother has made a "what should my first gun be" post, so i apologize, and add one more!

I was looking at Ruger's site, and they look like nice guns, how do they rank?

Thanks,
NEWB

 

[cosine]

Woohoo! First reply!

Welcome to THR!

Okay, down to business: You've been lurking for some time. Trolling means to stir up hard feelings and discord on Internet forums through inflammitory posts.

Now, down to real business:

You'll find that you have just opened a can 'o worms with you're opening post. Many people love Glocks, and others hate 'em. Like you said, go get some trigger time with the guns you are interested in purchasing. Go with what is comfortable for you when you shoot and with what you will be comfortable handling with regard to safeties and such. Just remember, you are the safety when you're handling any firearm. Strictly follow the four rules, and you should be fine handling any gun.

Edit: Hmm, this Glocks versus Sigs post could seem like trolling, yeah? It's a major can 'o worms. Glock discussions always become very passionate.

Just joking. Enjoy being here.

 

[taliv]

welcome

nothing wrong with glocks if you follow the four rules. the 'safety' is not a magical device that will prevent bad things from ever happening.

none of the REAL sigs have safeties either. check out a model 226 or 228 or 229, depending on what size you're looking for. they're much cheaper than $900. You can get them used from www.cdnninvestments.com (download the enormous catalog in pdf format) for less than half that. (sometimes close to 1/3rd)

 

[HRLRDR22]

welcome....Ruger's makes some good guns...you didnt specify which ruger you were looking at though..... Glocks are nice but as you said the no safety..i have one and have no problems with it...just make sure you shop around and feel the guns in your hands...if you can go and rent from a local range

 

[Lupinus]

best two all around calibers are the 9mm and 40S&W. Both are good for defense, accurate, and reasonably inexpensive. The 9mm is a bit cheaper with a bit less recoil but is also a bit weaker, the 40 is a bit more expensive (though still reasonably prices) with a bit more recoil and is a bit better for SD. Best all around would be 9mm, you can go FMJ or LRN for target practice and hollow points for SD and be ok, but if you want more SD I'd step it up to the 40S&W.

As to gun I'd go to the range and rent a few. Before going with a clo....mean glock make sure you fire it and compare to a more 1911 style griped pistol, 1911 and pistols with similer grips are much more natural for most people. The Springfield Armory XD is an excellent pistol availble in both 9mm and 40S&W, Ruger P-Series are also good and both are reasonably priced and can be found for under 500, XD is a bit more but if you shop around should find one under 500 also.

Also if you are willing to spend a bit more on ammo a good old 1911 can't be beat. SA makes good ones and if iron sights don't bother you their GI model is in the 500 range also.

 

[PlayboyPenguin]

Hmmmm...you do not want a revolver so that takes you outside of my realm of preference and comfort. I would have suggested a nice .357 Ruger GP100.
http://www.ruger-firearms.com/Firearms/FAProdView?model=1705&return=Y

or a if you like single action (I love them) a new Vaquero
http://www.ruger-firearms.com/Firearms/FAProdView?model=5108&return=Y

As far as a 9mm pistol I personally just put money down on a Taurus PT92.
http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?model=92SS&category=Pistol

 

[rust collector]

I'm a rifle guy, but enjoy shotguns and pistols as well. I have an EAA witness full size pistol in 9mm and enjoy shooting it. Since I bought it, the czech CZ-75 and similar models the witness was patterned after have become available, and certainly bear looking into. The ergos of the Walther P99 are nice, and there are rafts of other 9mms out there waiting for you to try them. Ammo is cheap and the guns generally won't abuse you.

Some will work for you better than others, so the advice to try before you buy is right on the money.

 

[Hellenistic Riot]

EDIT: idiocy.

 

[GoBrush]

First of all you have already determined to go with an Auto.

Couple of things to think about.

1. Buy a full sized auto less recoil and easier to learn how to shot well.

2. I like to buy guns that Law Enforcement or military puts there trust in.
it doesnt have to be a glock sorry glock fans.

My list would include Sig, Beretta, Smith and Wesson, Kimber.

If you dont want to go broke I would suggest a good look at Beretta. They are high quality guns and if the US Military puts their trust in them they cant be to bad. I have 5 friends that have them and they shoot very well and have not had any problems.

If you can afford a little bit more cash go with the Sig you should be able to pick a new one up for less money than the shop you went to.

Once again Sig is carried by many Federal, State, Local law enforcement as well as Special Forces. In my mind worth the extra money.

If you want to check out pricing check out on line aution sites.

Good luck and welcome

 

[Farnham]

Welcome to THR!

Come over to the Dark Side of the Force, get the Glock.

Less expensive, just as accurate, easy to shoot well, easy to maintain. Keep your booger hook off the bang switch, and they're safe as Nerf balls.

S/F

Farnham

(I also love the 1911 platform, too...and the Sigs...and SAA's...)

 

[f4t9r]

I will give you my opinion on 9MM
The way to go is SIG P226 , I recommend them alot because they are just a great gun. Yes plenty of other good ones out there. This is one of the best !!
A great gun for a beginner because its very easy to operate.

 

[PlayboyPenguin]

I would also suggest the Kimber .45acp Pro Carry II if you are willing to switch to a .45 caliber.
I love mine.

 

[cidirkona]

TROLLING?!?!?!

eheheh j/k

Buy anything but a Jennings.

Wait - buy EVERYTHING but Jennings.

-Colin

 

[PlayboyPenguin]

TROLLING?!?!?!

eheheh j/k

Buy anything but a Jennings.

Wait - buy EVERYTHING but Jennings.

-Colin

I was cleaning out one of the storage buildings the other day and I found a Jennings .32 little black auto in the bottom of a box sealed away in an airtight container. I vaguely remember a friend giving it to me to hold so I would loan him $50 many years ago. He never paid me back by the way. I gave it to my sister to keep in her nitestand (after having it checked out). I told her if she ever had to fire it to kill them with the first shot since you will probably not get a second or third out before it jams.

 

[Waitone]

Since you've just started down the road of poverty and noise, you might consider a used pistol. Find a gunshop that you feel comfortable in and talk to knowledgeable personnel. If you even whiff BS walk out and go somewhere else. It is gratifying to have a new gun but after one session at the range it is no longer new. Take the savings and put it into lessons or more ammo. I would also suggest spending time investigating ammo prices. Cheapest by far is .22LR. Next level is .38 spl and 9mm. Third level is .40, .45, 41, .380, .44. Ammo price directly impacts you practice. Without practice, a gun is merely an expensive paper weight.

Good shootin' and keep us posted.

 

[XLMiguel]

Welcome -

Good to see you're doing your homework. As you may have noticed, there's no shortage of opinions . . . .

First bit of advice is take a basic pistol course and find a range that rents handguns, and try a few on your short list before you buy anything. There are plenty of links in the library to various Mfrs, so you can do a lot of research online, but eventually, it's a matter of what feels good to you and what you can shoot well. Enjoy!

 

[Kentak]

I would recommend a 9mm for your first gun. In all but the smallest guns they are controllable and make it easy to concentrate on learning the fundamentals of shooting skills. The ammo is available everywhere and very cheap. I suggest Winchester value pacs at Wal-Mart for basic paper punching. At the same time, with premium personal defense rounds, the 9mm is perfectly adequate for that purpose.

I'm not really sure why you decided you didn't want a Glock. It's not any less safe than a revolver--you pull the trigger and it goes bang. If you don't want it to go bang, keep your finger off of the trigger. That is true of *any* gun, no matter how many safeties it has hanging on it.

But, I won't try to change your mind. My recommendation is that you look for a classic S&W 9mm auto. They are a traditional double-action auto, and have a decocking-safety lever. Just to be clear, I'm not talking about the newer model SW99, which does not have a safety lever (The original SW99's did have a decocking button though).

Anyway, welcome to the forum and good luck and good shooting.

K

 

[OldShooter]

My .02

Howdy Blackbok,

Your post has prompted me to join this forum as well. I've been lurking as you have for quite a while. Anyhoo -

I grew up with a collector for a father. I've shot almost every kind of gun imaginable from matchlock to flintlock to cap & ball to Maxim machine gun to Thompson 45 "Tommy Gun" to M-1 Garand to AR-15. I've shot pistols dating back to the 16th century!

For pure pleasure - I've always been fond of the Ruger Blackhawk single action 38/357(but it's a revolver), and John Browning's 1911 automatic.
I own just a few weapons now, but they are the ones I love to shoot.

If I were to recommend a starter pistol for anyone, I would recommend a 1911 style pistol. The 1911 platform is widely copied and well proven.

I would not approach the shooting sports with the idea of "buying something small" with the intention of "moving up" later. Get what you want. After all, it's a signifant investment and a tremendous responsibility. Shooting a firearm is serious business.

For a "general purpose" caliber, I would recommend 9mm, .40, or .45 as a first purchase. Whether your need is self defense or "plinking", you should choose a weapon that fits your hand and your eye. It should suit your style.

If you can shoot some demo guns GREAT! If you can't, don't be shy. Take the plunge! There are many custom gun makers but, Colt, Kimber, Sig, SA, Ruger and Glock make a great firearms. You can't go wrong with the purchase of any of them!

Best of luck!

 

[Gunpacker]

I'm with PlayboyPenguin. My favorite "shooters" are revolvers. I suggest that you give a second thought to the question and look at a .357 Mag revolver for a first gun. You can shoot .38 special target wadcutters for a very light recoiling practice load to learn on. Then advance to full power .38 Spec. 357 Mag rounds will be your graduation test.
My choice-686 Smith and Wesson or Ruger GP 100. Both are strong guns that will last for tens of thousands of rounds without a bobble.

 

[trickyasafox]

again let me echo the welcome your getting

if you like the sigs, look into there CPO program, it stands for certified pre-owned. kind of like buying a used car from a reputable dealer, new warrenty, well inspected, just had a previous owner is all. they clock in about the same price as a glock.

i agree 9mm is a great beginner cartridge. ruger makes some really solid guns, though i have no experience with their 9mm so i can't comment there. whoever recommended cdnn pointed you in a great direction. LEO (law enforcement officer) trade ins are often a great bargin, many times carried a lot and shot very little. some very good deals can be had on them from cdnn.

if you find a reputable gunshop who will warrenty his or her sales, don't be afraid to look at used firearms to save money. if a gun is well maintained most any will outlast the average shooter. i'll also second an older Smith and Wesson auto.

a final thought might be to take a look at CZ . they make some quality solid firearms at pretty respectable prices too.

 

[Firethorn]

Personally, I'm fond of the CZ series. I own serveral and have found them to be 100% reliable, good accuracy, and very affordable.

If you want one that's easy to break down and clean, well, it takes about 3 seconds to break mine apart for cleaning.

 

[dmallind]

Welcome to THR to you both. I'm a newcomer too in the last couple of years and got a G19 as my first gun. Still has more rounds through it than anything I have. Still has zero malfunctions of any kind. Still feels comfy. Still looks great. Still costs hundreds less than a comparable Sig, and has what I consider the advantage of one action all the time any time. I'm not a fan of crunchentickers personally.

Unlike the OP I was persuaded successfully to buy a revolver so I bough a SW 686 at the same time to see which I liked best. It was reliable and well made and everything revolver fans say it is - but I don't like the ergos of revolvers and I don't like the long heavy DA triggers, and not to put a sugar coating on this, I was crap with it

Hence it was sold before it was really broken in. The Glock is still with me. I am sure there are many fine reliable pistols out there for your needs. You'll get people pushing Sigs and CZs and Rugers and HKs and all their favorites - but Glocks are just peachy too. Doubt they are the best for everyone, but they are the best for some. If it feels and points well in your hand, has the features you want and seems like a reasonable value in a quality gun, then buy whichever you like. Don't be put off by the occasional irrational anti-Glockism on here that says they point 8' high, blow up every third round and feel unnatural in any thinking person's hand - it's every bit as cultish as the Glockophiles who think "perfection" is more than cool advertising. Neither extreme is correct. Glocks are instead fine, well made reliable pistols with many valid competitors. Pick the one you like.

 

[PlayboyPenguin]

I'm with PlayboyPenguin. My favorite "shooters" are revolvers. I suggest that you give a second thought to the question and look at a .357 Mag revolver for a first gun.

I second that opinion!!!

REAL MEN ONLY NEED 6 ROUNDS!!!

VIVA REVOLVERS!!!

There, that should start a fight or two.

 

[depicts]

My choice

If you have to have an auto, you might want to look at a Browning Hi-Power or one of it's clones. A used FN Browning might run around 400, and is, worldwide, the most used 9mm. I love several of mine. I also like the new Argintine clone, the shortened "Detective" model of the Hi Power.

After John Browning built the 1911, he sat back and thought about what he could do better, and designed the Hi-Power.

That being said, I still think you would be better off with a .357 Revolver like the Ruger GP 100 with 4" barrel and adjustable sights as a first and maby only handgun. Reliable as all get out. Tough, available, not too expensive, especially used, and maybe as versitle as any caliber evere invented. There are lots of good choices in .357 Magnums, but I really like the Ruger

Great for Home defense, concealed carry in a good holster, and even hunting up to deer size game. Give it some thought. You won't regret it.

 

[blackbok]

Thanks for all of the replies. It's tough being the new guy, especially in a room with so much experience.

Sorry, misuse of my web terms, I meant lurking, no trolling here!

Anyhow, I know everyone has their favorites, and I will only find mine with experience. The Glock safety issue was one I doubted too, figured finger off the trigger, no shots. Just didn't know if inexperience + that system was a bad thing.

I have been looking online at HK USP 9mm... any thoughts? Price? Reliability? Kick?

(Please forgive these specific advice questions, the search function has not been working since my post)