Just a couple handgun?

[TJHell]

My dad says that we can get a handgun. Condition is that I have to order it online and line everything up. Since I'm kinda the gun guru in our family, he lets me have my way with his wallet when its time to fill a slot in the safe. We dont own any handguns now. We used to own a Taurus PT-99AF. My grandpa sold us the gun about a month ago and we already passed it to a different family member. I hated it. When I would pull the trigger it shot about 1/2 the time because it would not pull back all the way. I know I was pulling it hard enough, I cranked on it when it didn't go. What could this problem be ? Could I be pulling the trigger to the side too much? No one else shooting the gun has had this problem.

But, now to the real issue. What should we get for our first(real) handgun? The options that cross my mind are: XD, XDM, GLOCK, 1911, USP, or a Five seveN. Anyone own one or more of these handguns? Any imput would be greatly appreciated. Especialy about the 5.7 x 28mm round. If we got a conventional handgun round I would like to stay away from the 9mm. Either .40 S&W, or .45 ACP. Price aint so much of an issue because we see guns as an investment peice. If you buy it then go broke, you can always sell it for around puchase price. (Mabey even a little bit more).

I was interested in a Five seveN. (If we got a Five seveN we would have to get a PS-90 so it wouldn't feel lonely.) We already have a FS-2000 made by FNH and I love it. My dad wants a Kimber 1911.

We own a couple rifles, have a safe place to store it, and are trying to become a member at the local gunclub. They have a nice indoor pistol range(I dont know if they'll let us shoot a 5.7 x 28mm round there.

Just thought I would get peoples opionion before I would take the plunge into holy matrimony.(With the gun I mean) (Wait would this be leagal?)

My last post was a disaster so Ill try not to step on anyone's toes.

 

[10-Ring]

If it's your dad's $$ and he wants a Kimber -- get a Kimber. I'm sure that the number of handguns you own will grow anyway!

 

[Oro]

I was going to say get a 1911 - so since that's what your dad wants, just do it!

If you can get an older one (pre-schwartz safety) used, it will be more desirable in the long-run. If you can find one that says "Klackamas" on the receiver, that's basically collectible so jump on that.

Other good 1911's would be a Colt or any well-built Caspian. Most of mine are gunsmith-built Caspians and they are great.

 

[chris in va]

I haven't really seen much of a value increase with the FN 5.7. It was around $1000 when it came out, still about that now.

I'd look at a 1911 if you want something that you can hand down to the younger generation.

 

[SigSauerIsBetter]

Agreed, Taurus' are junk.

The 1911 is a great handgun and there are several manufacturers. The Kimber is one of my favorites, I have shot the Colt and liked that one too. The Kimber would be the collector edition, I believe.

I have glock and sig sauer, obviously I like my sig.

 

[Hostile Amish]

1911 or Glock. I suggest a Smith and Wesson 1911, or Kimber, whatever is your preference, and a Glock 19.

 

[magstang1]

The 5.7 is a great shooter. Very little muzzle flip, and very accurate. You can just about forget reloading that cartridge though.

 

[AKElroy]

Agreed, Taurus' are junk.

I have a 20 year old PT99AF that has thousands of rounds through it with ZERO FTF's. Both my wife & I qualified for our CCL's with it; I still have my 2" ragged hole qualifying target on the wall of my garage. Other than it being perfectly reliable & accurate, I guess I can see your point. Not. By the way, I am not a "cheap gun" hack; I own dozens of high end pistols. That Taurus works as well as the best of them.

 

[Kevin77]

Agreed, Taurus' are junk.


Spoken like a true gun snob. I have a Taurus 1911 and it is every bit as good as any other 45 i've shot including Kimber.

 

[omegaman]

take a look at S&W M&P .40 or .45

 

[Lucky]

Maybe a gun for a whole family would be a .38spl revolver. Get a pre-lock S&W and it's not going to lose value. .38 is cheap to buy and there's nothing hard to learn about the gun. Buy a Dan Wesson and shoot .38's out of it if money's really no object.

It's pretty well accepted that the gun is irrelevant to the practice you put on it, and part of that requires ammo. (also dry-firing a revolver is easier - heh).

Shooting .45's is just painful on the wallet. Rifle calibers used to cost that much not long ago.

.45 is a horrible choice for 1st pistol. Ask me how I know. Do it again I'd get something that had a .22 conversion available.

 

[Brian Dale]

My dad wants a Kimber 1911.

Your Dad wants to buy a Kimber 1911 for you guys to shoot?
You have our blessing.

If he wants one, then it's hard to go wrong by doing just that. I suggest that you start with a full size pistol with a 5" barrel, and get a good .22 conversion kit for it. Kimber makes one, and the Marvel unit has a good reputation. That lets you get a lot of practice in without the distractions of noise and recoil.

 

[wanderinwalker]

We used to own a Taurus PT-99AF. My grandpa sold us the gun about a month ago and we already passed it to a different family member. I hated it. When I would pull the trigger it shot about 1/2 the time because it would not pull back all the way. I know I was pulling it hard enough, I cranked on it when it didn't go. What could this problem be ? Could I be pulling the trigger to the side too much? No one else shooting the gun has had this problem.

If you have this trigger problem, get a 1911. It will basically solve you trying to pull the trigger to the side. Triggers swing to the REAR, otherwise they don't work.

Also, not to be mean, but how old and big are you? I remember when I was a scrawny tweenager every handgun seemed big and hard to handle. Now that I'm a slightly-less scrawny 20-some, they're mostly-manageable.

Anyway, a good 1911 is hard to go wrong with, especially if that's what the guy buying the gun wants. But why buy online? It has to go through a gunshop anyway, so might as well get to know the folks at the store.

Oh, and the suggestion for a good .38 revolver is also another good idea. Or a .357 revolver, which may be easier to find locally, if more expensive. And the .357 will eat .38s all day without a complaint.

 

[MachIVshooter]

Spoken like a true gun snob. I have a Taurus 1911 and it is every bit as good as any other 45 i've shot including Kimber.

Spoken like someone who doesn't know how to appreciate a quality firearm. Taurus guns are functional, but lack the refinement of the weapons they immitate. Fit and finish, smoothness of the lockwork; it's in the details.

Say that a Taurus is a decent firearm, most will agree with you. But try to argue that they're on par with S&W, Beretta and top shelf 1911's, and you just seem naive.

 

[David E]

I'll be blunt and say what others are not:

The SMART thing to do is to actually evaluate the intended use(s) of the gun before buying one.

A 1911, while a good platform, is not a good choice for the casual shooter.

Since you inexplicably couldn't get a Taurus to fire 1/2 the time when no one else had that problem then dumped it within 30 days without bothering to discover the cause, that puts you in the "casual shooter" category.

Since you portray yourself as the family "gun guru," that implies that you are the most knowledgeable and/or experienced gun person in the family.

A FiveseveN is an extremely poor choice as a first or only handgun.

You'd be best suited with a .22 revolver, altho a case can be made for a .357 S&W 686, but you don't list those.

Of the guns listed, the best choice is the XD or XD-m. They point like a 1911, have a grip safety, a loaded chamber indicator, is available with or without a thumb safety and is easy to shoot well.

Despite your objections to 9mm, it is the best choice at this time. Ammo cost is only part of the reason. (.40 costs 40% more per 100 than 9mm, .45 acp is nearly double) If you only buy and shoot a single box at a time, then I suppose it wouldn't matter that much, cost-wise, but you'd still have added recoil to deal with. This would slow down your skill development, if that matters.

 

[Just One Shot]

XD or XDM would be my choice!

Very accurate and reliable.

 

[chuckusaret]

Despite your objections to 9mm, it is the best choice at this time. Ammo cost is only part of the reason. (.40 costs 40% more per 100 than 9mm, .45 acp is nearly double

I recommend Springfield XD or XD(M) and would consider the above recommendation if you are a big shooter.

 

[AKElroy]

Say that a Taurus is a decent firearm, most will agree with you. But try to argue that they're on par with S&W, Beretta and top shelf 1911's, and you just seem naive.

This is quite a bit different then "Tauruses are Junk". I agree with the thought that they are value based, functional weapons, and they are not equal in quality to the likes of an Ed Brown executive target. However, I do think the Beretta copies are every bit as reliable and accurate as their Italian counterparts, and many like me appreciate the frame mounted safety. They are better than what we pay for them, and they fit a very important niche in our joint quest to arm the responsible majority.

 

[ciwsguy]

Check out the Walther P99 and a Sig Sauer 9mm

I'd recommend a 9mm to start with. Both have decockers. Sig is kinda pricey, but is supposed to be very high German quality. I have a Walther P99 9mm and two Glock 9mm's. Personally, I think a 9mm is a good start first handgun. Ammo is relatively cheap (currently average about $12 / box of 50). Any other centerfire handgun ammo is going to be more pricey.

 

[flrfh213]

Taurus will kill you just as dead as S&W Sig Ruger Beretta ect... but don't maintain ANY of them ant they will become JUNK...

 

[ljnowell]

If you are going to use the gun for range use and practice only, get a shiney pretty 1911. If you plan on using it for self defense, get a glock. This isnt a life altering thing, you can get another gun when you want, but the glocks increase in capacity alone makes it a better HD gun, IMO.

 

[yeti]

He who pays the freight picks the gun.

Your dad is paying, he wants a Kimber, buy a Kimber, peace will reign in the valley.

 

[SigSauerIsBetter]

Taurus...

Gun Snob...

LOL!!! My bad guys. Didn't know we had such a sensitive crowd

I don't base my firearm choices on cost, but on reliability and personal experience. I have shot many different handguns (including the Taurus) and looked at the Taurus PT-99 before deciding on a Sig Sauer.

Junk lovers, please forgive me.

 

[cyclopsshooter]

1911 or smith revolver

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Another mention for the S&W M&P.