My wife has asked me to get my kids handguns for Christmas ...

[PcolaDawg]

My first gun was a Beretta 92 (M9) my dad got me for my commissioning (Navy). Cannot reccomend it highly enough. You can even carry it concealed if you carry it in a messenger bag (a cross-slung man purse popular with my generation). props to your son for being tip of the spear

Thanks, and I'm glad to hear you have a Beretta M9 and you like it so much. My kid has his Cav Scout training this summer at Fort Knox before he heads off to college and Army ROTC (or The Citadel and ROTC) and it's my understanding they will be training with the Beretta M9, so I will definately take another look at it.

Again, thanks - and thanks for your service to the country as well. Don't tell my son this, but --- GO NAVY! My Dad was Navy and I passed the Nuke test out of high school and came oh so close to enlisting in the Navy and going to Nuke school, but went to college instead. Also, my kid attended football camp at the Naval Academy two summers ago (I guess I was hoping to influence his decision a little ). But my brother was a Green Beret, so we do have SOME Army history in the family.

 

[Daizee]

I find the M9 to be HUGE in my hands. Unless the kids all have really big hands, I'd stay away from such bulky guns. I don't think it's a gun for all people.

But personally I like the suggestion of getting them involved in the process.

 

[JImbothefiveth]

I think Beretta launched a line of their pistols commemerating each branch of the military. Can't find a link, though.

 

[Daniel1120]

CZ's have amazing reliabilty. Not to mention you could get one son a stainless one, another a black one, and the third a duo-tone!

I'd definitely recomend getting them full sized steel guns. Always more fun to shoot, and they will keep them for a lifetime. Ive got to throw in another recomendation for cz's though, they will last a lifetime if they treat them right. And be sure to keep us posted, and let us know what you decide to get them.

 

[FlaChef]

So.... I'd still give them the promisary note for $X towards the gun of their choice. Like you say it keeps things all even but if you pick an amount that allows them to buy a decent but not top priced gun it'll still be the "gun that dad helped me buy". But now you get to go as a group to a commercial range that has guns for "rent" and try out some various options. Sounds like you may have to even get out twice or three times to various options in your region and spend that much more time with your boys. Darn, won't THAT be a big imposition... You all get a chance to sample some different options and can choose which suits each persons tastes. And don't forget that this is a chance to have them all out with you at the same time in a way where there's no losers

+1
I have helped many people (friends/family) shop for their first guns over the last few years, and a few since this election. It's like picking a model car, different needs and desires. Then throw in it's also like trying on shoes to see what fits.

I will add to the above however that there is no need to make it a testosterone fest! What gun does your wife want or like?!

I recommend the big gunshows for window shopping/trying on different guns even if they aren't always the best places to buy. I can easily think of over a dozen very good gun choices not mentioned here.

I will leave you with one website to read to help make a better informed choice....
http://www.corneredcat.com/ while written for women it is THE best "intro to hanguns 101" i've ever found. Especially for your cas the whole "choosing firearms" section.