Looking for First 'Real' Handgun (sub 750$)?

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I thought dry firing a gun in a store was like bad edict?
But yeah. I'm making a list. Checking it twice. Gonna find out what feels....naughty or nice.
:p
 
It is safe to dry fire most any modern gun. Some people are picky about it. When in doubt, just ask if you can dry fire it. Not too hard.
 
Buy the gun yourself first and foremost. A purchase through one person intended for another is called a straw purchase and can lead to some hefty repercussions. Beyond that it's up to you. From your descriptions you want a big bad toy so I'm going to suggest keltec 223 pistol, or a Springfield xdm. Popular enough to have aftermarket upgrades available and a well built gun. Go to a range and rent anything you are considering. Throw a steel framed gun in the mix so that you don't buy polymer and never grow into it. Steel frames have replaceable grips too. For this I suggest an Beretta 92 with cali mags.
 
WestKentucky said:
Buy the gun yourself first and foremost. A purchase through one person intended for another is called a straw purchase and can lead to some hefty repercussions. Beyond that it's up to you. From your descriptions you want a big bad toy so I'm going to suggest keltec 223 pistol, or a Springfield xdm. Popular enough to have aftermarket upgrades available and a well built gun. Go to a range and rent anything you are considering. Throw a steel framed gun in the mix so that you don't buy polymer and never grow into it. Steel frames have replaceable grips too. For this I suggest an Beretta 92 with cali mags.
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Not a straw purchase if FFL and dros done at all steps.
My grandpa will either Dros the gun for himself in AZ and ship to my ffl. Or bring it into the state and give it to me when he comes April for my sister's wedding. 19$ and some forms and I'm good. (I spend a lot of time on cal guns wiki)

Im not willing to risk life long gun loss at age 25 over a 25$ fee.
By that time, the CA 10day wait will be over too :D
 
I just purchased my first handgun, a SW M&P .40. Have not shot, but noticed it has adjustable grips. It also is priced under $700. In hindsight, the lower cost 9mm ammo was probably the better choice. Good luck. PS my favorite pistol add-ons are the laser sights.
 
Interesting.
It seems as though this statement
"Abramski then deposited the check from his uncle, transferred the gun to his uncle (lawfully, using an FFL in his uncle’s state, which differed from his own), and received a receipt in return." Should read "unlawfully, using an FFL in his uncle’s state, which differed from his own"
Seems kinda like BS as everything was done as written by the law.
He was the legal owner of the gun for X amount of days, then sold it to his uncle via FFL and background checks.

Finding a FFL to play ball should be interesting. I think that guy got nabbed for a technicality of "lying is a federal offense". Using his LEO ID which no longer was valid.

The simple solution I guess for me would be for my Grandpa to mark "no" on question 11a. Instruct the AZ FFL to ship it immediately to my FFL with a lovely Happy Bday gift note, and Vuala.


EDIT**

So I just had a very interesting and confusing conversation with my coworker whose husband is a LEO about this subject.
I guess more research and questions need to be answered.
Off to calguns!

Thanks for bringing this to my attention.
 
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Spartan

Blind Justice

While STI does make most of its guns in Texas, the Spartan series are their low price intro level gun and they are imported from the Phillipines. Every thing else comes from Texas
 
Or bring it into the state and give it to me when he comes April for my sister's wedding.
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Interstate transfers are illegal unless done through an FFL dealer. Your grandpa can hand it to a dealer, and they can transfer it to you after the needed paperwork, but he can't just hand it to you. I think you get that, but was not sure by your post.

The only time it is legal for someone to go to another state and take possession of guns is if someone died and left them to you. Then you can go pick them up and drive them home. Otherwise, the transfer must go through a dealer in your state of residence.

Just talked to a lawyer a week ago about this.
 
460Kodiak said:
Interstate transfers are illegal unless done through an FFL dealer. Your grandpa can hand it to a dealer, and they can transfer it to you after the needed paperwork, but he can't just hand it to you. I think you get that, but was not sure by your post.

The only time it is legal for someone to go to another state and take possession of guns is if someone died and left them to you. Then you can go pick them up and drive them home. Otherwise, the transfer must go through a dealer in your state of residence.

Just talked to a lawyer a week ago about this.
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Yeah,
Thats what a meant.

We would both go to the FFL.
 
Real handgun? I suggest you find a range that rents guns and actually shoot a few ... shoot many; buy one.
 
The one thing I hate about forums: most people don't actually read an entire post for comprehension. They will see one thing, and it will erk them until they can only comment on useless and superfluous drivel. So people will see "real" gun... And they will not be able to focus on the post, only whatever thought first popped into their head.
 
M&P 9 or 40
XD 9 or 40
CZ 75B 9mm
Ruger SR 9 or 40 or 9E version x2
CZ SP101
Smith SD VE buy one of each 9mm and 40 cal
Beretta 92 9mm or 96 40 cal version
Stoeger Cougar 9 or 40
Sig 250 buy one of each 9,, and 40 cal

Honestly with your budget I would try to get 2 "budget" guns versus 1 "real" gun.IMO
 
So
Thanks to all of the replies on this thread. Gave me a lot to think about. Especially the straw purchase thing.
Turns out it what I planned would be legal to 4 out of 9 Supreme court justices.
Almost enough. Yet in the end, kinda moot. My decision can be had in CA.

Any who, have you guys ever thought about or posted one of these threads with a gun in mind that you wanted, but secretly your intentions were seeing if a poster could bring a option to light that you hadn't considered yet. Or maybe the could persuade you to something else?

Well this was one of those.

My guns are toys, not tools to me. I don't hunt. I'm not military. I don't pathologically fear for my life everyday and think someone or something is out to get me. So my need for something "Useful" is essentially zero. If I'm gonna die, statistics tells me it will be in a car accident. Can't shoot my way outta that.


So my SECOND "real" handgun, I believe will be a Used P226.

My FIRST, Will be a Desert Eagle :D


I thoroughly investigated all the options I liked presented by you gentlemen.
The FNX, P226, XDs. And Walthers. Trying to convince myself they were the better options. But you know what? Every day I would always end up reading or watching a video on a Desert Eagle.

The Heart wants what the Heart wants.


Annnnnnnndddddd

All of this was rendered irrelevant, as my girlfriend decided she wanted to move in together.
So.
It will have to wait that much longer till we are firmly on our feet.


LONG LIVE THE D'EAGLE :fire::D:what::neener::evil:
 
STI International Spartan V = 5 Bbl. or the IV 4.25 Bbl.
are 1911 clones built in Texas and come in 9x19 which
will be cheaper than .40 S&W or .357 Mag
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The Spartan is actually an Armscor made in the Phillipines to STI's specification. The STI Spartan V in 9mm would be a darn good choice. I have the STI Trojan in 9mm, which is made in Texas, and it is an excellent range gun, but a little over your price range.

The Springfield Range Officer in 9mm is close to your price range, and in my humble opinion, it is a better gun than the Spartan, and almost as good as the Trojan.
 
Desert Eagle... big mistake.

Get the P226 first.

Then forget about the Desert Eagle.
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Nonsense and arrogant

Don't listen to him man. Get what you want. If it's a Desert Eagle, then get an Eagle. Even if it turns out to be a mistake, at least you'll know. And I don't see that as a mistake, it's called learning from experience. I went through this with a Sig P556 pistol and ended up trading it away for a Smith 686 and a Ruger SP101 in .22.

Or maybe it'll be the best gun you ever buy. Only you can answer that.

But you're absolutely right. If you want one and buy something else, you'll always wonder.

Be sure to post when you do get one. And remember, don't hand it to your girlfriend and let her bash herself in the head with it. ;)
 
I own a Sig P220, a SA XDm in .40S&W, and a Taurus PT-145 Millennium Pro in .45. Obviously the Sig is rock solid. Nothing I own or have owned or have shot really compares to it for the set of features a person would want in a combat handgun. Except capacity. My P220 is showing it's age in that area. BUT of course the P226 doesn't have that problem. Yes they cost more than your budget allows. But there are used examples around for less than you want to spend. I wouldn't (and didn't) have a problem buying a used Sig. They are built to last. I've had mine a long time. It's still rock solid. It's hard to go wrong with a Sig. Very hard.

I talked a good friend into buying a CZ. I started to buy that pistol myself but I bought something else at the time. That is a very nice pistol. Lots of CZ's are very nice. I'm still kicking myself for not buying one in 9mm for $200 a couple of years ago.

Then there's my Taurus. If you can buy one where you get a trial period (I love the LGS's in my area) you may end up with one like mine. It's been totally flawless and it comes it at less than half of your budget. I was looking for a Glock when I bought it but like you Glocks just don't seem to fit my hand at all. The Taurus fits like a glove. It's extremely accurate too. It is so accurate when I describe what it will do most people think I'm lying. But I don't lie. It's never failed to function, shoots any ammo I feed it and it must have been made by Timelords because it holds more rounds than it appears to be able to hold (if you ever watch Dr. Who you'll get what I mean - bigger on the inside than on the outside).

I actually carry my SA with me all the time though. It's reliable, accurate, holds even more rounds than my .45 ACP Taurus, it has a nice set of night sights (so does my Taurus I guess) and I really can't find anything not to like about it. It's not quite as accurate as my Sig or my Taurus though but still, it's very accurate and having 16+1 available makes it a good CCW piece for me at least in the colder months when I can hide it under heavier clothes. In the summer I carry a Ruger LCP.

There are many, many good choices. I like the safeties on my XDm. I know some people don't trust them but I do. It's ready to go without a safety to worry about and no cocking it to get to SA mode before firing it.

Again the list of choices available is staggering to be honest. I also have a S&W revolver that I carry in bear country (which is anywhere in the woods around my house and farm these days). But that's a .44 mag with a 8 3/8" barrel. It's great for busting black bears with cast shells but I would want a .357 as a carry piece. I nearly bought one instead and now I'm glad I didn't because the bears hadn't shown up when I first bought that one. Lots of people like that heavy steel, big caliber revolver for a carry gun or a fun gun.

So many choices. Good luck.
 
460Kodiak said:
Nonsense and arrogant

Don't listen to him man. Get what you want. If it's a Desert Eagle, then get an Eagle. Even if it turns out to be a mistake, at least you'll know. And I don't see that as a mistake, it's called learning from experience. I went through this with a Sig P556 pistol and ended up trading it away for a Smith 686 and a Ruger SP101 in .22.

Or maybe it'll be the best gun you ever buy. Only you can answer that.

But you're absolutely right. If you want one and buy something else, you'll always wonder.

Be sure to post when you do get one. And remember, don't hand it to your girlfriend and let her bash herself in the head with it. ;)
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I seriously doubt it will ever end up in her hands. My 22a never does. And I specifically scrounge and over pay for 22lr so that I'm ready for when she decides she wants to shoot again.
I'm hoping I can sell some of my old hobbie stuff to fund the purchase with out her feeling like I'm stalling/unreliable/uncaring about moving in with her. You know how girls get. Reading between lines that arnt really there. Lol

I don't think it would be a mistake. At the minimum it would be a display piece. I have an rc helicopter that's very sentimental to me. A lite machine 110. It was the first radio controlled anything that I ever saw besides the radio shack crap rc cars. And totally opened my world. It began my fascination with fight and helicopters.
When the opportunity came up to get one, even though it was way retro and outdated. I couldn't pass it up.
I got it into flying shape. Flew it at an air show. Then hung it up on my wall. And I'll never sell it.
I now have almost a dozen rc helos. From tiny palm sized to 6 foot 5000 watt monsters. Multiple planes, and even a few full scale hours under my belt. And someday a commercial helo licence

The lite machine is the piece that started it all.

I think the desert eagle was that for me and my love of guns. Though, it didn't shape my life as strongly or directly as my LMH 110. It will always be a nostalgic piece.

Not to mention that I completely dominate with it on battlefield 4.
And battlefield doesn't get things wrong... [emoji6] [emoji48]
 
There are a lot of really great weapons out there within your price range. In the past year, I picked up a Remington 1911 which would definitely qualify as a "real" gun and more recently picked up a Beretta M9. Both within your budget, and both great at the range.
 
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