I am looking into buying an automatic (I will eventually buy several, and probably revolvers as well, but for the purpose of this discussion, I am really only interested in people’s opinions on automatics). It will be my first handgun (I know, sounds like it should be a Playskool or Fisher Price product), so I am looking for something THAT MUST HAVE the following features:
1) It must be simple to operate.
2) It must be chambered in 9x19mm—I don’t have that much money to spend on exotic ammo, plus, I like it.
3) It must be either compact or full size—I don’t need or want a subcompact at this time because I am planning on purchasing a couple of deep conceal pieces (I am moving to Red Stick, LA and plan on dressing lightly most of the time).
4) It must be FUN AS HELL TO SHOOT. I want to spend time at the range and have a blast doing it. I want to get good at shooting whatever I buy.
5) It MUST have an external safety of some kind other than the one between my ears. I know people have strong opinions that this “really isn’t necessary,” and that it’s “stupid” of me to think that, but I’ve been lurking for a while and I’ve read them already, so if you want to criticize, please go elsewhere. I’m buying a Glock 19 NEXT, OK?
Here are some very strongly preferred characteristics:
1) Stainless steel or stainless steel/composite—the last thing I want to have to worry about if I do start to carry it regularly is sweat causing it to rust
2) Possibility of CC—I am 6’ and change, just a bit shy of 6’1”, and while I’d like to weigh about 190 (and probably will after biking for most of the summer/fall), right now I’m about 210. I wear loose-fitting dress shirts or T-shirts, very rarely tuck unless in some sort of formal situation, and wear loose jackets when seasonally appropriate.
3) Possibility of customizing/accessorizing as I get a better grip on what I like.
4) Cost/Performance ratio, i.e. good value.
5) Nothing Chinese. Any other country on Earth, no problem.
Other things that may be useful to note is that I have fairly large palms but long, slender fingers (think surgeon, pianist, though I’m neither). I seem to have a natural talent for hitting what I aim at—I scored a 139 out of 150 at my cc certification with somebody else’s gun, having probably never fired more than 250 rounds from a handgun in my life, never having fired a revolver (and not much liking it), and not having fired anything larger than a Ruger .22lr in almost ten years (but when I did, I liked the 9mm the best and could hit the target the best with it, having also tried a .44 magnum with an at least 8” barrel, as well as Glocks and Sigs in .40 and .45).
I will probably have only this one handgun (in addition to a deep conceal or two) for a while, and have looked into prices before suggesting any of these, so up to about $800 would be OK, though the more money I have left over, the nicer a mousegun I can afford at the same time. Total budget is say 1100 or 1200 for both. Plus I need cases, holsters, etc...
Some items I am considering include the following:
CZ 75 B Stainless
BHP—which models or finishes are most rust-resistant? I don’t think there’s a stainless, is there?
Springfield XD 9 (do they have a compact?)
HK USP Compact
CZ D PCR
Ruger SR9
These choices are mainly based on brand preferences expressed here and on other forums or model preferences expressed here and elsewhere, but not necessarily both. Feel free to tell me I have SFB and should buy something else entirely; I’m new at this and am asking because I know many of you are not. I know I will need to shoot before i buy, and I will do so--I just want to narrow down my list.
1) It must be simple to operate.
2) It must be chambered in 9x19mm—I don’t have that much money to spend on exotic ammo, plus, I like it.
3) It must be either compact or full size—I don’t need or want a subcompact at this time because I am planning on purchasing a couple of deep conceal pieces (I am moving to Red Stick, LA and plan on dressing lightly most of the time).
4) It must be FUN AS HELL TO SHOOT. I want to spend time at the range and have a blast doing it. I want to get good at shooting whatever I buy.
5) It MUST have an external safety of some kind other than the one between my ears. I know people have strong opinions that this “really isn’t necessary,” and that it’s “stupid” of me to think that, but I’ve been lurking for a while and I’ve read them already, so if you want to criticize, please go elsewhere. I’m buying a Glock 19 NEXT, OK?
Here are some very strongly preferred characteristics:
1) Stainless steel or stainless steel/composite—the last thing I want to have to worry about if I do start to carry it regularly is sweat causing it to rust
2) Possibility of CC—I am 6’ and change, just a bit shy of 6’1”, and while I’d like to weigh about 190 (and probably will after biking for most of the summer/fall), right now I’m about 210. I wear loose-fitting dress shirts or T-shirts, very rarely tuck unless in some sort of formal situation, and wear loose jackets when seasonally appropriate.
3) Possibility of customizing/accessorizing as I get a better grip on what I like.
4) Cost/Performance ratio, i.e. good value.
5) Nothing Chinese. Any other country on Earth, no problem.
Other things that may be useful to note is that I have fairly large palms but long, slender fingers (think surgeon, pianist, though I’m neither). I seem to have a natural talent for hitting what I aim at—I scored a 139 out of 150 at my cc certification with somebody else’s gun, having probably never fired more than 250 rounds from a handgun in my life, never having fired a revolver (and not much liking it), and not having fired anything larger than a Ruger .22lr in almost ten years (but when I did, I liked the 9mm the best and could hit the target the best with it, having also tried a .44 magnum with an at least 8” barrel, as well as Glocks and Sigs in .40 and .45).
I will probably have only this one handgun (in addition to a deep conceal or two) for a while, and have looked into prices before suggesting any of these, so up to about $800 would be OK, though the more money I have left over, the nicer a mousegun I can afford at the same time. Total budget is say 1100 or 1200 for both. Plus I need cases, holsters, etc...
Some items I am considering include the following:
CZ 75 B Stainless
BHP—which models or finishes are most rust-resistant? I don’t think there’s a stainless, is there?
Springfield XD 9 (do they have a compact?)
HK USP Compact
CZ D PCR
Ruger SR9
These choices are mainly based on brand preferences expressed here and on other forums or model preferences expressed here and elsewhere, but not necessarily both. Feel free to tell me I have SFB and should buy something else entirely; I’m new at this and am asking because I know many of you are not. I know I will need to shoot before i buy, and I will do so--I just want to narrow down my list.
