Help me pick one handgun for 8 years.

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You're asking questions. Thats good.
I'd stick with the .45 because you already have one. Accuracy is better than the 9mm and it is easier to reload. (Another good hobby). I'd pick the Sig 220. I had one that would go sub half inch groups at 25 yards with reloads... and we all know that only accurate guns are interesting. If they still provide a test target with the gun, look around till you find one with a nice cloverleaf or better yet a bug hole.
Two things are most important when you choose a handgun. It has to be accurate and it has to go Bang each time you pull the trigger. Sig does both well.
When you get older and find that your tastes have changed you will look back and feel well served by the 220.
 
Gordy,

I've reloaded both, and 9mm is easier. The case mouths hold up to abuse better and it takes less lever arm force to size.

.45 more accurate? What are you basing that on?
 
CZ-75B was my first centerfire pistol and I am still in love with it. It is simply a dream to shoot and it considered one of the greats for reliability and durability.
 
The .45 does not need the final crimp the 9 does.
If you think the 9 is inherently accurate, imho, you have not much shooting experience.
 
I had the CZ a good while back and suffered from a real snappy thwack from the trigger after each shot. They call it "backlash"...and I am curious, does yours exhibit this? Anybody know what causes it?
 
Puck;

There are a lot of real good suggestions made on this thread. It is damn difficult, if not impossible to recommend a firearm without first knowing something about you the shooter, and your shooting habits.

Once I took the NRA Basic Pistol course and rented a Browning HP MkIII, since at the time I did not own a handgun. I asked my instructor, who had enough NRA training and instructor certifications to fill a large binder, which gun I should purchase. He told me that it was good that I did not yet own a gun, and the gun I rented was a good one, but also try S&W, HK, Sig, CZ, Glock, Beretta, Springfield, Colt, Kimber, etc., etc. In other words, try every quality semiauto pistol you can get your hands on, and find one that is SHOOTABLE for you.

A gun that is shootable is one that is reliable, accurate, fits your hand properly, with a comfortable weight and balance, has a sight radius that is appropriate for the intended purpose, and has good sights and trigger pull. These guns are all reliable and accurate in competant hands, in good condition, with proper maintenance, using quality ammunition. But the other parameters of shootability are the issues you have to work out for yourself. Pick one that you like, then go out & have fun!
 
I would recommend the CZ75b as others have suggested. You should be able to keep the price around $400.00. You will also be able to pick up a Kadet kit for this gun for around $200.00-$250.00. This gives you one gun and both 9mm and 22lr. It will also keep the cost well below the $800.00 and your parents will be happy!
If I had a 13 year old son, I would help him get this setup. Although I believe that everyone's first gun should be a Ruger 10/22. :)
 
decisions.....decisions.....

First, I would begin with the 9mm platform. It is rapidly becoming the worldwide handgun caliber of choice. Ammo is universal, widespread, plentiful, and cheap.

Now, comes the hard part. There are so many outstanding 9mm autoloaders out there. (eyes fixed in glassy glaze, wiping drool from corner of mouth) Beretta, CZ, Glock, H & K, Browning, Ruger, Sig.

I am also pondering the lineup of 9mm's myself. The one at the head of the pack at the moment? Beretta 92.

Shoot as many different types as you can (friends, family, associates, range rentals)

Enjoy the search; the choice is not going to be easy but you should enjoy getting there!
 
Gordy,

It's a shame such pistols as the Sig 210, HK P9S and S&W 952 are hampered by their caliber.

I'll try and get more experience. I would assume your statement comes from the experience of firing nearly identical pistols chambered for both rounds?

Of course you have that experience, otherwise you wouldn't have any basis for comparison.
 
---Under $800
Springfield XD9 ~$400

---A common, affordable caliber (9mm, 45, etc.)
9mm very affordable (especially if you like ammoman)

---A full-size. Don't need\want CCW models.
Yep, it is

---Reliable
How's 170,000 rounds on a rental gun that didn't have a full cleaning for 8 months?

---Reasonably accurate
It's more than reasonably accurate

---Common mags
The XD has inexpensive mags. I don't know if california will allow this loophole, but you can buy XD40 mags (10 rounds) and per the BATF use them in the 9mm, where they will hold 15 rounds. They cost about $20 if you want to try it.

---Good eregronomics
very good. I have big but not thick hands and it fits well. I haven't heard of many who have an issue with it if they have 'meat paws'

---Hi-caps are a non-issue, I live in California
See above. The XD may give you a loophole - especially if you add an XD40 later and mistakenly happen to load your XD40 mags with 9mm and use them in the XD9 ;)
 
Let's not argue in front of the kid Handy.
We know that ugly parents can have one or two beautiful children.
I had the privilege over a 10 year period of owning and shooting and trading almost every handgun made: stock and custom. When I liked one I'd pick up the new improved version when it came out and had alot of fun while I was at it. That's how I came across the Sig that would do a half inch at 25 yards. I have never met a gun that in every feature was perfect for me. That's why my criteria is accuracy and total reliability and the rest is negotiable....a compromise of features for the intended purpose.
The 9 is popular and it is adequate...it "meets code". I wanted to like it but never could no matter who made it...just like the 40 Short and Weak.
A "keeper" for me must always go sub 2 inch groups at 25 yards and sub 1 inch when I want it to. Period. But that's just me.
 
Gordy,

It was the fact that you made your statement "in front of the kid" that prompted me to post.

Sites like this one can be a haven for information, and a curse of rumor and false legend.

You made the bold statement that 9mm is less accurate than .45. I would say that has no basis (in my 16 years of shooting) and in every reasonable information source I've come across.

When prompted to defend your statement, you resorted to belittling my experience. Despite that, there is still absolutely no evidence that 9mm isn't as accurate as every other well designed cartridge. And sense you brought up reliability, the long ogive and tapered case of the 9mm give it an edge in reliability over every other straight wall cartridge, including .45 acp.

If you like .45, great, you're in good company. You don't need to invent "facts" to support this already excellent cartridge.

If you want to site something more definitive than your experience, feel free. I've never found any. But until then, I think you're dissemintating myth as fact.


(I've owned quite a few autos, too. That's how I came to own 3 factory, non custom 9mm pistols that produce 1 inch groups from the bench.)
 
A 1911 type pistol would make the most sense to me and then get a marvel 22 lr conversion for it.
 
I would also recommend looking at Ruger's P series. They have somewhat blocky grips and are better for people with large hands. You can get them in 9 mm or 45 ACP and standard capacity mags are less than $20. If you ever leave CA, you can purchase hi caps for less than $20.
 
You cant go wrong with a SIG 226. I've had mine since Dec and its eat over 1K round with no hickups. It shoots 115gr, 124gr +P rounds flawless. It eats any ammo I put in it. For someone with large mitts the double stacked handle would probably bit you very well.

The Sig will service you well for a long time. Its been 5 months since I have had mine and I still cant wipe the silly smile of my face when I shoot it.


2nd best contender in 9mm is the CZ75B. Its the most bang for your dollar. For 400 bucks your get alot of good features. Its reliable and accurate. It feeds just about anything you feed it. Mags are very common as well as affordable.

If your set on a .45ACP go for the Sig 220
 
It was the fact that you made your statement "I think you are disseminating myth as fact" that prompted me to post.
If large doses of B vitamins don't work, I'd see a doctor.
 
The Baer accuracy results are lackluster. I have P7 test target that is clearly inside an inch. I have also shot an 8" group at 100 yards with a standard P9S and practice ammo.

Mr. Petty seems to be repeating the same unfounded statements you are, then correcting himself with new experience.
 
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