My first pistol

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Andy-Y

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So at 28 I decided to buy my first pistol. I did some research, and decided to get a 9mm for my wallet's sake :D. after much debate I decided on a g17 :uhoh: . I like it as it fits my hand well. I took it too the range last weekend and ran 100 rounds through it. At about 10 yards I was able to keep my groups (10 rounds) in a softball size group. Is this horrible? I have only shot a handful of pistols in my life so I'm not sure.

Also, I bought a full size pistol because I would like to get into IDPA or another shooting sport, to get used to running the gun. Is a full size glock too big to CC? I figured if I bought one gun for both I would be better with my carry pistol. Any advice for the noob would be greatly appreciated!
 
I might add that I have been shooting long guns for well over ten years and did a hitch as army infantry. So, not new to shooting, just new to handguns...
 
Not a bad choice at all. It will not be very easy to CC in summer clothes. However, IMHO, nothing is going to shoot better than a full-sized service pistol...like the G17...which is what I have. I carry it and it is my bedside gun. I have a pancake style holster for it and it conceals well under a safari jacket I wear in spring and fall.

For a first gun...or a subsequent purchase for that matter...it is hard to fault a G17 or 9mm.

Nice choice, practice, and enjoy a fine firearm.
 
Oh yeah. A hundred people will probably doubt your choice of either Glock or 9mm or both. Never you mind either criticism.
 
welcome to thr, great choice in gun and caliber, they run and run and that is what matters. they are accurate too and that is a plus.
 
Thanks all, my pistol still has factory sights on it, are night sites a must have, or should I just keep shooting with what I have?
 
My first pistol was a G19. I had the same problem you had; terrible groups. After some analysis from more experienced people it turns out I had too much finger on the trigger, so when I squeezed I would tug the pistol a hair to the left. This might not even be close to your problem, but frequently it's little things you don't think of that trip you up.

EDIT: Night sights are cool and useful, but not required IMHO.
 
G17

Good choice. It's perfect as is unless you desire night sights.
If your groups are off to the left (common when first picking up a Glock) don't touch the sights. Just spend time with the gun. Might be helpful to find someone at the range who is proficient with Glocks as they do like to be held and triggered in a certain way. Lots of info on glocktalk.com.

Check out www.ombexpress.com. They have 17 round Glock mags for $17.00.
I love my Comp Tac M-Tac IWB holster for that gun. Note that C-Tac may be a bit out of pocket right now recovering from the storm as they are in Houston.

That gun will swallow any ammo. Winchester White Box from Wal Mart is the best deal I usually find for it. Under $20 for 100 round box.
 
Personally, my recommended first pistol is a K frame Smith or Ruger, but after watching my bro-in-law buy a G17 and shoot a 200 round fist sized group at 15 yards outta the box...

RESPECT!!!!
 
Welcome to THR. Thats a fine gun you bought. The only thing I did to my G22, and will do to all future Glocks, is change out the sights. We had a couple officers on my dept that actually broke off the rear sight in fights. I got the Hiene sights.
 
So at 28 I decided to buy my first pistol. I did some research, and decided to get a 9mm for my wallet's sake . after much debate I decided on a g17 . I like it as it fits my hand well.
Click to expand...
You researched, factored in price of practice ammo, and bought a gun that fits your hand well. You did it right.
I took it too the range last weekend and ran 100 rounds through it. At about 10 yards I was able to keep my groups (10 rounds) in a softball size group. Is this horrible? I have only shot a handful of pistols in my life so I'm not sure.
Click to expand...
It's not horrible at all. I'm about your age, and I've been shooting handguns off and on for about half my life. When I was still in the USAF stationed out in SW Idaho I shot handguns fairly well because I went into the desert once or twice a week and plinked. Now I'm back in school and working part time, so I don't get to the range as often. When it goes several weeks between trips my groups get pretty bad. You're doing well.
Also, I bought a full size pistol because I would like to get into IDPA or another shooting sport, to get used to running the gun. Is a full size glock too big to CC? I figured if I bought one gun for both I would be better with my carry pistol.
Click to expand...
With a good belt & holster you can conceal a G17. You will go through several holsters before you find the one that fits you and the gun just right. With winter approaching in MI and the cold weather clothing you'll no doubt be wearing, concealing your gun will be much easier. Save your pennies and you can get a Glock 19 for warmer weather carry.
Any advice for the noob would be greatly appreciated!
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Keep practicing, enjoy your new pistol, and welcome to THR.
 
A G17 was my first handgun as well. Its a 2nd gen LEO refurb I paid about 325 bucks for around 1998 when I turned 21. I have put alot of rounds through and have never regretted buying it. The only thing I changed is I put a slip on grip on it for finger grooves, a problem you won't have to worry about since yours is a newer one. All guns have their drawbacks and advantages, just as everyone has their opinions, so don't let the Glock bashers make you second guess. As long as you have a solid grip and don't limpwrist it wont fail you.
 
Check out Warren Tactical for your night sights. They are very hihg quality and have a nice sight picture
 
Thanks for all the advice. I figured through winter it wouldn't be too hard to conceal, but the g19 was almost the one that came home with me, it felt nice and looked very concealable. For some reason though, I thought a full size would be better to learn to shoot, and learn the standard manual of arms, then move on to compact.

Again, thanks for the words of wisdom, of all the gun boards I have lurked on in the past, THR seemed like it was the only one that wasn't filled with trolls and flame wars. I'm sure it happens, but it seems like it happens less here.

Have a good one...
 
did some research, and decided to get a 9mm for my wallet's sake . after much debate I decided on a g17 .
Click to expand...

Just one thing I need to say about this.

I love 9mm, and although I don't care for them, Glocks are fine guns.

BUT, as a friend once pointed out to me, don't pick it for your wallet's sake. I find that the thing that slows me down at the range is reloading time. If I have a hi-cap 9mm, I'll shoot a lot more than with a single stack .45. So in the end it evens out anyway. Not that this is a bad thing. More pulls of the trigger ought to make you a better shooter (assuming that you are working on technique and not just further ingraining bad habits with each trigger pull).

Al I'm saying is that in the end, if you are anything like me, your wallet isn't going to know the difference.
 
Well, you just need more mags, clearly :)

My P226 came with 5 15rnd mags, and I have 10 mags for my 1911, so by the time they're all empty, I'm ready for a break anyway.

Thing I did do was order an UpLULA mag loader for those SIG mags as loading those double stacks is a pain in the arse, so hopefully that will make them less of an annoyance (my 8rnd 1911 mags are easy enough to load unaided).
 
Andy Y,
welcome to THR. you did good to research and pick what fits you. saving a little cash never hurts either. sounds like you are doing good in the accuracy department. keep practicing though. nobody can ever get too much of it.
congrats on your new g17
 
It is probably the most reliable pistol in the world.

As for being a good choice for CC, I would say it is a great choice, as long as you're willing to dress around it. It's too big to conceal in normal dress for most people.
 
The only time I carried my 17 was when I was wearing my North Face down coat....a pretty fair concealment garment :D
 
Whilst a hard core CZ'er I will admit that the Glock lot can and do provide a good, reliable product.

The 17 is probably a bit substantial for CC, see if you can get hold of a 26 and see how it holds.
 
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