Need advice for my first Hand Gun

[BlindJustice]

Justin, if you're near Lewiston ID, there's an indoor shooting
range, Diamond back Shooters They offer Basic Handgun
course, which is a qualifier for a Concealed license in IDaho
D'Back also offers the new Enhanced Concealment course

D'Back also rents a good assortment of 9x19, .40 or .45 ACP
chambered handguns. $8 per caliber -and- you have to shoot
their range ammo. good stuff Speer Lawman or Federal FMJ

Find out what you like and take the courses

Randall - I'm in SE Wash. State north of Lewiston

 

[krupparms]

Like some have pointed out a 9×19mm is not the best for bears ect. I would look around as has been suggested. A S&W, SD9VE can be had at very reasonable prices. It is an excellent auto pistol to start with. A close copy of the Glocks. I would look at some revolvers in bigger calibers. A .357mag. might be a place to start but there are other calibers that might be better for you. I would also look at a .45acp. or a .45colt..A .44 mag. will let you shoot .44spl.also! Lots of things to consider! Good luck!

 

[Manny]

Any of the plastic fantastic service size wonder nines should serve quite well as trail guns. I've had Springfield XDM's & Glocks with 100% function from both, but recently upgraded to what I consider to be the best of the breed in a new HK VP9. A little more money than the others but very worth it IMHO as the ergonomics are adjustable and superb and the trigger is easily the best of any of the stricken fired pistols. I got the LE model which comes with tritium night sights and an third magazine which was an extra $100 over base, but again, very worth it IMHO. I find the gun 100% ready to go out of the box with nothing more needed than an initial cleaning & lube and loading the magazines with ammo.

As noted earlier in the thread, 9mm is far from ideal for bear, but that is a very rare need in reality and for most trail uses and for protection against 2 legged threats a 9mm is a great combination of light weight, effective power & capacity.

I live in Ohio, only bear we have here is a very rare black bear sighting. A 9mm is a great choice for me for what I would expect to have to deal with. Feral dogs, coyotes, two legged vermin and the like. Were I to go elsewhere where bear was more of a likelihood I believe I'd just add bear spray to my gear rather than switch weapons, unless that likelihood was very high.

 

[golden]

Agree to disagree

Racinfan,

We will have to disagree and it does not matter what you or your wife use. This was my experience with the S&W SHIELD, KAHR CW9 and RUGER LC9.

I do not recommend these guns to anyone who has not fired one for at least 50 rounds and found it comfortable. The SHIELD is right at my tolerance level. 30 years ago, it would have been different.

I have sold my .45ACP's and .41 magnum because I do not intend to ever fire another one.

Now, most of the time, I shoot a 9m.m., .38 Special, .380ACP or .22rf. I still have to qualify with a .40 S&W, but will give up on that when I retire. Since I do not know what tolerance for recoil Jherring8289 has, I recommend that he start at what I consider a reasonable level and go from there.

Jim

 

[Racinfan83]

Wow. Ok. I guess I know nothing and you know it all.
Obviously mine and my wife's experience mean nothing to a complete firearms expert. Maybe you can school us all on what we should and shouldn't like? Maybe have your own forum so that your opinion is the only one that matters? Sheesh... Carry on......