Looking for first handgun.

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SVTOhio

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I'm looking to purchase my first handgun and cannot decide on what I want. So in this thread try to "sell" me what I should buy. I'll include my uses and guild lines.

-something that can be used for CCW but will get its most use open carry (around the farm, shed hunting, around the house.
-prefer made in USA
-prefer no polymer but not completely against the idea.


My experience with handguns is limited but I have shot the following
Liked: glock 26, glock 19, sig 226
Dislike: ruger lcp, s&w body guard, s&w m&p 40

No experience with revolvers but the gun I keep coming back to is a Ruger sp101 3".

Sell me something, budget 5-600$. I've been reloading rifle for several years so I will probably reload for this aswell.
 
The SP101 is a good choice given your criteria. What size gloves do you wear and how merry are your mits?

A Sig 229 would be good too since you like the 226, but a bit easier to conceal.

A three inch 686+ from S&W might work too if you don't mind the size.
 
-something that can be used for CCW but will get its most use open carry (around the farm, shed hunting, around the house.
Click to expand...

CCW handgun and hunting don't generally go together.
 
The 3" SP101 is a great little gun, but I prefer the 4.2" because of the adjustable sights and the standard fiber optic front sight that makes for a sight I can actually see. I want my weapons to shoot to point of aim so I always prefer the adjustable sights. Slightly longer, very slightly heavier for CCW but I believe it makes for a better all around weapon.
 
460Kodiak said:
The SP101 is a good choice given your criteria. What size gloves do you wear and how merry are your mits?

A Sig 229 would be good too since you like the 226, but a bit easier to conceal.

A three inch 686+ from S&W might work too if you don't mind the size.
Click to expand...


I wear extra large gloves.
 
Manny said:
The 3" SP101 is a great little gun, but I prefer the 4.2" because of the adjustable sights and the standard fiber optic front sight that makes for a sight I can actually see. I want my weapons to shoot to point of aim so I always prefer the adjustable sights. Slightly longer, very slightly heavier for CCW but I believe it makes for a better all around weapon.
Click to expand...


Part of the reason I was looking into the Wiley Clapp edition due to the added adjustable sights.
 
Glock 23/32/22/41/19/17/34/35. The 41 is my most lustful Glock for the moment. The 23 is the staple of my CCW fleet.

What area of Ohio are you in?
 
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That is such a hard question because guns are so subjective as to comfort and style. Since you are not keen on polymer how about a Browning High Power? I think it's a classy reliable platform that is similar to a 1911 and very flat for carry. Personally I carry either a J frame revolver in my pocket or a 3" revolver on my belt. (and sometimes both)
 
What a coincidence! One of my friends recently got interested in getting his first handgun. He shot and handled a whole bunch of them. In the end he chose... a 3" Ruger SP101 in 357 magnum. He has mostly shot 38's out of it and likes it very much. It is not too large to CC (though a bit on the heavy side for my own personal CC preference).

My friend has small hands and the SP101 fits them well. I have XL hands and I can still shoot it just fine.

If you want one handgun to do more than one job, it's going to be a compromise. I would much prefer a medium or large-frame revolver for target shooting or holster-carrying. SP101's are a little smaller, but my 4.2" SP101 with nice big adjustable sights would do that pretty well for me. But for CC I find it a pain in the rear to carry anything much larger than a snub 38 (and a light-framed one at that).

My friend found the 3" SP101 to be a good compromise for the different things he wanted to do with it. You probably would too. It is hard to go wrong with an SP101! If you decide to get something smaller to CC and something larger to tote around in the woods, try holding a Ruger GP100. My FiL has huge hands like mine and that thing feels great in them! He owns a bunch of centerfire handguns; the GP100 is the one he is most accurate with.
 
Thanks for all the kind responses, and I'm happy too see the praise for the sp101. I'm thinking a trip to the gun store my be happening soon to at least put my hands on one.
 
Good idea, and essential. I also wear XL gloves and find the stock grip on the SP101 to be WAY to small. There are full size grips available though from Badger, Hogue, Crimson Trace, Eagle, and a few others.
 
I could not even properly complete the trigger pull on the SP101 because (according to the gun store guy) it (assume he meant the stock) was too small for my hand. My hands are only big for a woman, not for a man. I think the shape of the hand might be just as important as the size per se. I ended up with a 686 Plus and changed out the factory grip for a Hogue grooveless one which is a lot better for my large palms and relatively short fingers.
 
I personally think the SP101 is the perfect 'one handgun'. It can be concealed IWB (I just use a cheap neoprene clip-on that works fine), but its real strength is that it is so flexible. You can shoot light .38s for fun, all the way up to the heaviest Buffalo Bore .357 hardcast loads for bear or runaway dump trucks (it is the smallest .357 that can shoot those loads, IMO). It is incredibly stout, so you don't have to baby it - feel free to pistol whip the grizzly if you run out of ammo.

If you shoot the heavy stuff, just put Hogue grips on to prevent your second finger from getting banged by the trigger guard. It has my highest recommendation, and 3" is the perfect length, BTW.
 
Glock 19. Keep it simple. It's not ideal for everything but practical for most things. Many PD wear it open carry. Many CCW holders wear it inside the waistband. High capacity, potent ammo, light weight, nightstand duty, target practice... even though you said you would rather have metal, it's a trade off. CCW an all metal gun is a chore. Also everything is made for it.. holsters, extended mags, you name it. They are assembled in Smyrna GA. Price new is about $500.
 
I could shoot my friend's SP101 okay with the stock grips, but I prefer something that fills my hand better. Luckily there are a lot of different aftermarket grips available for it. These are mine. They feel nice.


7139ec28-578a-4655-be3a-f30a26c85d74_zpsotqeajqm.jpg
 
Revolver:

Ruger SP101 3" barrel.
Ruger LCRX 3" barrel.

Semi-auto: Polymer

Glock 19
Ruger SR9c

Semi-auto: all metal

CZ P01
SIG P229
 
Great question...lot's of folks will immediately respond with their favorites...

Personally, I think the best handgun to start with is a 357 Magnum revolver with a 4" Barrel.

A revolver has a very simple manual of arms...open the cylinder and the revolver is safe, close it and it is ready. If a round fails to fire...pull the trigger again. A revolver can handle a wider range of loads and bullet types than an auto, and with custom grips you can literally fit the gun to your hand for very little cost.

A 357 Magnum revolver will shoot everything from 38 Target Wadcutters up to 357 Hunting rounds that can take a deer, so VERY versatile.

A 4" Barrel is a great all around length.

Learning to shoot properly with a revolver in double action will make you a better shooter when you are ready for an auto.

As to the SP101, it is a very good revolver, but 357's out of that gun is not pleasant for a new shooter, so choose accordingly.

Given your needs, a 4" 357 Magnum Revolver, would fit the bill nicely.
 
SVTOhio said:
Thanks for all the kind responses, and I'm happy too see the praise for the sp101. I'm thinking a trip to the gun store my be happening soon to at least put my hands on one.
Click to expand...
Just be aware, the SP101 is very heavy for its size and I don't like the trigger on it. The trigger in the GP100 is much better. If you are going to buy a 3" SP101 I think you would be better off with the slightly heavier 3" GP100 and you get an extra round bonus. No handgun will do you good if you don't have it with you all the time.

I carry a S&W Airweight J frame in my front pocket daily. @15 oz you hardly know it's there.

M442-2.jpg
 
SVTOhio said:
I'm looking to purchase my first handgun and cannot decide on what I want. So in this thread try to "sell" me what I should buy. I'll include my uses and guild lines.

-something that can be used for CCW but will get its most use open carry (around the farm, shed hunting, around the house.
-prefer made in USA
-prefer no polymer but not completely against the idea. ...
Click to expand...
Well, it is not made in the USA, but considering your choice of forum handles, how'bout a TT-33 Variant.
 
SW Model 66 4" barrel. Maybe not the most concealable, but solid and a pleasure to shoot .38's with. It was my first gun ever and I wanted it to do everything; hunt, HD, carry. I carry it in a shoulder holster because of it's size, but am sure that others carry it on their hip OWB.
 
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