Recommend my first hangun... before the AWB/high-capacity ban

[wacki]

Well I'm now stocked up on EBR's or at least will be before 1-20-09 thanks to pre november purchases plus pre-orders. Woohoo!

Now I want to get a handgun... something that will likely be 'grandfathered' if you know what I mean. If I get a self defense gun it will be a Smith & Wesson hammerless J frame. I will eventually get a 1911 for nostalgia reasons. Neither one of those are likely to be impacted by a ban.

Im still a bit new to handguns but I do rather like the

SIG P226
Berretta 92FS
Walther P99
FiveseveN
HK USP in .40

I'll probably be going to Don's guns or Pop guns in Indianapolis to start shooting as many of these as I can. Are there any other major handguns that I might want to consider before a possible high-capacity magazine ban? Advice on any of these guns is welcome.

 

[Gunfighter123]

Hi Wacki,
Any of the pistols you listed are fine. I would take any of them except the Fiveseven.
Also , while at the gun shop -- check out some EAA Witness guns and some CZs like the Sp-01 or 75.
Or just get one of each !!!!
GF123

 

[Johnnypi45]

Good to see someone else from the Indy region! They are all fine choices, and i would just submit that you choose whatever is most comfortable. I'd say you're definitely on the right path to choosing by trying each of them. Good luck, and let us know what you decide!

Petey

 

[CDH]

I agree about dropping the FiveSeven from the list, but replace it with a Springfield XD, especially the XD9SC that handles two sizes of mags.

Whatever you buy, immediately buy a half dozen (or more) spare mags for it.
If the ban passes again, there will be at least another 10 year dry spell if it's passed with a "sunset" clause, and with Dems in full control, it may be passed as a permanent ban.

 

[Mike OTDP]

Hmm....

I'd add the Browning High-Power and the various Glocks to your list.

On the other hand, there is a good case for the FN...not only does it terrify the gun-grabbers, but there is a magazine extension available that gives you 30 rounds. Truckloads of ammunition.

 

[B BRI]

Take a look at the Glock.

I have carried 1911's, S&W wheelguns & autos, Beretta 92, various others and have been a card carrying Glock owner for about 6 years now. They keep multipling in the safe!

Actually, they are tough, reliable, durable, hi-cap, and they are very intuitive to point and shoot in SHTF situations.

. . . come to the dark side and learn to rock out with your Glock out.

 

[Kind of Blued]

A high-cap polymer gun is a nice compliment to a 1911. In fact, if I could only have two full-sized autos, I'd have a 1911 and a Glock 19.

You can't go wrong with a Glock, XD, or S&W M&P in my opinion. HKs are really expensive for polymer guns, and I've never seen any evidence to legitimize the price. The 92FS is nice, but big and relatively heavy for a 9mm these days. The 226 is a great gun, I've owned one, I just prefer a consistent trigger pull.

If you ever think you might carry this gun, weight is something to think about.

Any way you look at it, it's hard to beat a Glock. They're about as reliable as a hammer, lightweight, high-capacity, inexpensive and readily-available magazines, and the gun itself is inexpensive.

 

[wacki]

The 226 is a great gun, I've owned one, I just prefer a consistent trigger pull these days.

Consistent trigger pull? What goes wrong with the 226? I would think it would be the same each time. I assume you sold your 226?

 

[Kind of Blued]

Consistent trigger pull? What goes wrong with the 226? I would think it would be the same each time. I assume you sold your 226?

Nothing goes wrong with them, they're tough, but they have an inconsistent trigger pull by design.

The 226, and almost all Sigs with a non-DAK trigger, are DA/SA (double-action/single-action) guns, meaning that they are carried in DA mode as a safety precaution. They have no manual safeties, so the heavy trigger pull is to resist accidental discharge, much like a DA revolver can, and has been carried safely for a long time.

The first trigger pull cocks and releases the hammer, the slide recoils, cocks the hammer, and the remaining shots are in SA mode, with a much lighter trigger pull.

When you're done shooting, or after you chamber a round and are ready to holster, you use the decocker lever to bring the hammer halfway down for safe DA carry.

DA/SA triggers are a lot like free jazz and communism; it looks good on paper and makes sense theoretically, but it just doesn't work for me. I like a consistent trigger pull, no matter how heavy or long it is.

 

[harmonic]

Recommend my first hangun

I don't know of any state in the union that still executes by hangun' but if you want death by firing squad, I hear the Army is fixing to execute a soldier.

Why would you want a hangun' anyway?

 

[wacki]

Kind of Blued,

Thanks for the thorough response.

Harmonic, I made a typo. Please excuse my error.

 

[regal]

Same situation and I chose a Glock 17. It is really the only handgun that you can buy an OEM 33 round mag. The 17+2 mags are nice too.

 

[CU74]

I have no experience with the semi-autos listed. If you are open to buying used, I suggest looking at the S&W police trade-ins. My experience with police trade-ins is that they are in good shape but need a good cleaning.

No matter what you buy, get at least six spare magazines - more if you can afford them. Too many folks don't understand the importance of good magazines - many, if not most, of the semi-auto handgun malfunctions are magazine-related. They are cheap and simple, but they are also the most vulnerable component of a semi-auto - they get dropped, tossed into the range bag, almost never maintained, but if they don't work you are without a handgun.

Every Tom, Dick and Osama makes and sells cheap mags -the cheap ones are usually junk. Buy "factory" mags - they don't have to be new, most of mine are used - so you can be sure they will work.

 

[Matthew Courtney]

The biggest mistake the military makes is believing the next war will be like the last war.

The biggest mistake gun owners could make is to believe that the next ban will look like the last ban.

I look for the next ban to involve imports, and to be promoted as some type of economic initiative.

 

[quicherbichen]

Harmonic- you can still get a hangun in WA if you choose but lethal injection seems to be more popular.

Get the Fiveseven, it is the only one on your list I own, and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

 

[VegasOPM]

Does evey thread need to include AWB?

 

[Trebor]

Skip the FN 5.7. It's more of a novelty then anything else and I'd hate to see that as your first or only handgun.

You said you don't have a lot of experience with handguns. How did you make your list? Have you shot these guns, or are these based on their "paper" stats?

You may find that a gun you think you'll like, based on the specs, is not actually as good once you shoot it in person. Fit and feel is important and very subjective.

I'd say try to shoot as many of the guns on your list as you can and then you'll know more.

You should also consider:

Browning High Power

CZ-75

Sig 228

Sig 229

Glock 17 or Glock 19

Springfield XD

S&W M&P

These are all comparable to the guns on your list and are all high quality. They have various benefits or differences from each other, but are all worth considerition.

Whatever you buy, buy LOTS of magazines.

 

[freebird]

Please definitely do not pass up the Browning Hi-Power as an option. I don't have one yet myself but it is next on my list. My first was a wheel gun itself a police issue .357 S&W.

You have some great choices to go by. Have fun shopping!!!

 

[welldoya]

"Same situation and I chose a Glock 17. It is really the only handgun that you can buy an OEM 33 round mag. The 17+2 mags are nice too."

Actually the 33 round mag was made for the full-auto Glock 18 and it will fit any Glock 9mm, not just the G17.

 

[no.5enfield]

Get the P226, reliable, accurate, and IT'S A SIG!

 

[X-Rap]

I have to go in for the Glock and since its your 1st get the 9 in the M19. I have a H&K compact in 40 and it shoots better than the Glocks but the difference does not pay out.
Many have said to buy extra mags and this is true but may also lead to further troubles. Get the original factory mags at least for your 6 primarys. Another + for the Glocks IMO is that they have such a great dependability factor, from the Mags to the guns with a variety of ammo they have been the hardest to shut down for me.

For your 2nd pistol get a Ruger MKI or II

 

[ilmonster]

I have a Kimber .45, Glock 19, CZ-75b, SuperBlackhawk, etc. They are all good guns, but all different guns as far as shooting feel. Best advice is go try and rent some of the ones on your list and see which you like best. A Sig 226 for instance feels very different from a Glock. Both excellent pistols, but different in feel and fuction. Good luck!

 

[Flame Red]

I bought a S&W M&P for my Obomanation Coronation present.

 

[Marcus L.]

I would go with the Sig personally, followed by the H&K, followed by the Beretta, followed by the Walther. The P226 runs best in 9mm, and if I were you I would also look into the P229 which runs well in all calibers. The H&K USP runs well in all calibers, but the Beretta runs best in 9mm. The Walther also runs best in 9mm. "Runs best" means it is the most durable and reliable in 9mm.

Don't even consider the FN Fiveseven. Do a search on the 5.7mm and you will find a lot of information from professionals in this field as to why you don't want to use it. The 5.7mm cartridge is really no better than using a .22magnum. You can also do a search under my name as I have made comments on several of those threads.

 

[oneounceload]

OP - why do you think a 1911 would be exempt from some sort of gun ban?? A semi-AUTO, with possible HI_CAP magazines???....probably second on the list behind the "invisible" Glocks