Trying to advise a friend on his first handgun purchase

[PurdueRifleman2008]

I have a friend who's looking to buy his first handgun and he's asked me for some advice on what would be good. My knowledge of handguns is pretty limited compared to my knowledge of rifles so I'm at a bit of a loss as what to tell him.

He liked the way my Px4 in 9mm with the standard backstrap felt but not its price tag. He liked the price of my CZ-52 but its ergonomics were atrocious. He looked at a 9mm Kel Tec FP9 that he liked but someone at the gun shop talked him out of it. So that's all I have to go on for experience.

He's looking for something under $350 and preferably in 9mm or .40 S&W. He would like a semi-automatic, but I've been trying to talk him into also considering a revolver. Intended uses are for home defense and informal target shooting.

Like I said, I have no idea where to begin. Any advice here?

 

[Nero_Atrum]

My dad owns a Stoeger Cougar in .40 that he got for 350. Its only had about 300 rounds through it, but its had no problems so far.

 

[NavyLCDR]

Taurus PT92 was my first gun and still one of my top three among the 17 or so handguns and rifles I have owned. Too big to conceal, but you didn't mention concealment. 17+1 rounds of 9mm. All steel, built like a tank. Heavy so that recoil is extremely light. You could probably get a used one for $350. It will shoot any ammo that you choose to feed it. Lifetime warranty regardless of number of owners.

 

[CoRoMo]

A good home defense handgun is a .38 special double action revolver.

READ THIS ARTICLE BY CHUCK HAWKS


Here's a bit of the article...

My top choice for a home defense gun is a revolver. Revolvers usually hold six cartridges, but some hold more. Revolvers are ambidextrous. Perhaps best of all, they can sit fully loaded and untouched for decades, as all springs are normally at rest, and still be ready to go into service at a moment's notice. Just grab the gun and commence firing should the need arise. Medium size revolvers, the kind I usually favor for home defense, come in two action styles, single action and double action.

Double action revolvers

The all-around best choice among handguns for home defense is the double action (DA) revolver. These are the typical "police" style revolvers, such as the Colt Python, Ruger GP100, or the Smith and Wesson Model 10 Military and Police. Double action revolvers may be thumb cocked, just like a single action revolver, and then fired by a light pressure on the trigger. This is generally referred to as shooting "single action," and it is the most accurate way to deliver aimed fire. They may also be fired by a single long pull on the trigger, which first cocks and then releases the hammer (trigger cocking or "double action" shooting).

Trigger cocking requires a longer and much heavier trigger pull, but it is fast. Shots can be delivered as rapidly as from an autoloading pistol. It is sufficiently accurate for close range shooting (out to perhaps 7 yards) in trained hands.

Double action revolvers are very safe, simple to operate, relatively easy to shoot accurately, very reliable, and extremely difficult to jam. They can be reloaded quickly if a speed loader is employed, and are very easy to reload from a box of loose cartridges should that become necessary. For the average homeowner as well as the expert pistolero, a DA revolver is hard to beat for home defense.

The gun

My personal home defense gun is a .38 Special Colt Diamondback. This is a medium size DA revolver with a 4" barrel and a nickel finish. The silver finish makes it an easy gun to see and point at night, and its fully adjustable target-type sights make it quite accurate in decent light. The Diamondback fits my hand perfectly and is a very high quality revolver. Unfortunately it has been discontinued, and a Colt Diamondback in good condition is expensive even on the used market. It is well worth the cost, however.

I consider a 4" barrel the best compromise for a home defense handgun. The shortest barrel I would recommend for a revolver is 2.5", and the longest 6". My home defense revolver is normally loaded with Glaser Safety Slugs for indoor use, but I also keep a speed loader full of 125 grain hollow-point cartridges available.

I prefer the .38 Special to smaller rounds due to its superior stopping power, and to larger rounds, such as the various Magnums, because it produces less muzzle blast and flash, an important consideration in dim light. If I used an autoloading pistol for home defense I would choose one chambered for the 9mm Luger (9x19) cartridge for exactly the same reasons.

 

[PurdueRifleman2008]

Too big to conceal, but you didn't mention concealment

Correct, he's never mentioned anything about carrying to me.

 

[David E]

Whatever he buys, he should buy QUALITY first.

if he tries to save a few pennies and buys a crap gun, he'll regret it each and everytime he shoots it. Eventually, he won't shoot it anymore.

A revolver would have the best value, but you can find good deals on used semi-autos, too.

But I suggest you keep trying to sell him on the revolver idea. Be sure and mention that a .357 can shoot blanks, shotshells, .38 target loads (even .38 Short Colt!) and full bore magnums, all in the same cylinder, requiring only a trigger pull to bring the next one up.

Can't do that with a semi-auto!

 

[Logos]

Have him save his money and get a better quality gun.

The most common and horrible mistake beginners make is to buy a cheap gun.

Even worse, some of them never experience a good gun in their entire life.....and never know what they missed.

Look for a like-new four-inch Smith 686 from the 80s or so and get it with the original box and papers if possible.

Treat it well and it will be an excellent investment besides offering security and fun target shooting.

That's the best way.

Edit: I didn't see David's post above when I posted....I guess I'm repeating his advice....so +1.

 

[Norinco982lover]

My friend insisted he wanted a gun and he wanted one today! So he went to the gunshow and I stayed home. I had him text/call me when he was looking at different guns and he ended up getting a Keltec P-11.

Now he hates it and wants to sell it to me Please insist to your friend that he buy a quality first gun. I let my friend buy a gun that is not a very fun shooter (although a pretty cool little pistol for CCW/backup) and now he is saving up for an XD.

~Norinco

p.s. I recommend an XD or a glock, used.

 

[Kyle E. Coyote]

He needs to save up another hundred or so and buy a Glock.

 

[Delaware_Dan]

He needs to save up another hundred or so and buy a Glock.

No. Look at Ruger's P-series pistols. A P89, or a P95 can be had for $350 all day. These guns will easily outlast the person who buys them, they are tanks. IMHO avoid Taurus.

 

[Geezer59]

I have a friend who's looking to buy his first handgun and he's asked me for some advice

His first handgun should be a .22LR - I suggest one of the budget target semi-autos from any of the major manufacturers. A Ruger Mk II or III, Browning Buckmark, S&W 22 or 41, etc. He'll master the basics much more quickly with a rimfire, and it will serve him well for refresher practice in the years to come. Plus they're just so much fun!

The 2nd handgun should probably be a medium-frame .38 Special revolver with a 4" barrel. The manual of arms is easy to learn, and it will serve well as a plinking/home defense tool until he figures out where he'd like to go next.

He may outgrow those two eventually, but they'll never quit being useful for the rest of his lifetime.

 

[logjam]

While I'm sure I'll get hate mail; I don't understand the current fascination with fancy semi-auto handguns. Here's why:

1. They are expensive. Now all good guns are expensive, but you can pay 2K for a nice auto. A good wheel gun is usually cheaper than an auto of like quality.

2. Autos tend to jam. Except for my MAK all of my autos jam from time to time. I own several autos, but my collection is a military one, and since the P-38, Luger, MAK, Ruby, Astra, 1911, and Hi Power were military guns I own them. But I've never purchased a whippy dippy, super dooper semi-auto. I never will.

3. Wheel guns are easire to shoot, load and fix. The speed loader works fine. A property cleaned wheel gun almost never fails.

4. Wheel guns are safer, because they are simplier. Simplicity means understanding. If one has a bevy of auto's they will not work all the same. So there's a confusion factor, that gives birth to accidents. It's easier to check to see if the gun has one round left with a wheel gun than with an auto. An auto can be loaded and even opening the action sometimes misses the round if it's slipped off of the extractor. There can be a round in there that is easily overlooked. With a wheel gun I either open the loading gate and spin the cylinder or drop it out and take a quick look; safer.

5. With a wheel gun you don't have to run all over the range to retrieve your empties. With a wheel gun you just drop them into your palm and pocket them.

6. Wheel guns sit deeper into one's hand and therefore are more accurate, at least for me.

7. Generally it's easier to reload straight rimmed cases than ACP cases, that have to be full length resized.

8. Wheel guns are easier for junior shooters to shoot and understand.

I guess there are more reasons, but these come readily to mind.

Now I don't hate semi-autos, but I'm not a fan of them. If you like them, have at it. All guns are good, after all. But for me. I'm-a shoot'n a wheel gun.

 

[brin747]

I love my Ruger P95, $339 out the door. It fits my hand well with a Hogue slip-on grip, carries 15 rounds in the mag, and is accurate and reliable. I have had it for 4 month, have about 500 rounds through it, no trouble at all.

 

[Travis Bickle]

if he tries to save a few pennies and buys a crap gun, he'll regret it each and everytime he shoots it.

I couldn't agree more. As the old saying goes, "cheap is dear." Spend the extra money and get a quality gun the first time. It'll be well worth it in the long run.

No. Look at Ruger's P-series pistols. A P89, or a P95 can be had for $350 all day. These guns will easily outlast the person who buys them, they are tanks.

The Ruger P-series is the most affordable pistol I know of that's worth owning, but he said that ergonomics are of the essence and the ergonomics of the P-series leave a lot to be desired.

Maybe I shouldn't say this, but, IMO, his friend is being a lot more picky than he can afford to be when he's only willing to spend $350.

 

[NavyLCDR]

IMHO avoid Taurus.

I would normally agree, except for the PT92.

 

[rcmodel]

His first handgun should be a .22LR - I suggest one of the budget target semi-autos from any of the major manufacturers. A Ruger Mk II or III, Browning Buckmark, S&W 22 or 41, etc. He'll master the basics much more quickly with a rimfire,

+1,00000!

There would be a whole lot more good handgun shots in the world if they all learned to shoot a .22 without flinching first.

rc

 

[PurdueRifleman2008]

Maybe I shouldn't say this, but, IMO, his friend is being a lot more picky than he can afford to be when he's only willing to spend $350.

This quote and several similar ones to it are all things I've told him. If he'd save his money some more, he would certainly limit his possibilities less.

Thanks for the advice all. This place certainly bespeaks of a wealth of knowledge!

 

[Delaware_Dan]

I would normally agree, except for the PT92.

My 92 had to go back to Taurus twice and the problem still didn't get fixed, so I can not recomend that model. I feel like I am the only one to have problems with the 92, because everyone else has nothing but praise for them. I enjoyed it while it lasted though.

 

[skeptiq]

Nothing wrong with the Kel Tec PF9 or P11 for that matter...

I have a S&W Sigma 9VE ($320 out the door), and I got a $50 MIR, which made the total price $270. It's been real good to me, 500 rounds and not one FTF/FTE. Great customer service if you need it. Seems to be a good entry level gun in my opinion. There are some that have a dislike of Sigmas but I couldn't be happier with mine.

Best thing for him to do is go to a range / shop and handle a bunch and see what fits his mits best and try to rent a couple and see what feels best to him.

Good luck!

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Just remember, when it comes to firearms you usually get what you pay for. If he will be using this firearm for HD he'll want something reliable. If you buy cheap you get cheap. (remember, I said cheap, not inexpensive)

Usually a less expensive revolver will be more reliable than a less expensive semi-auto. (usually)

 

[stonecutter2]

I have a S&W Sigma 9VE ($320 out the door), and I got a $50 MIR, which made the total price $270. It's been real good to me, 500 rounds and not one FTF/FTE. Great customer service if you need it. Seems to be a good entry level gun in my opinion. There are some that have a dislike of Sigmas but I couldn't be happier with mine.

I have a S&W Sigma SW9VE 9mm, it was my first handgun, and it's been absolutely wonderful to me. I love the way it feels in my hand, and it's never failed to eject or failed to fire. It's worked with any ammo I've thrown at it. I'm a big fan of that pistol, as you are Easy to clean, and fun to shoot.

I recommend a Sigma 9mm or .40S&W to the OP, based solely on my experience. They are right in your friend's price range. I've heard folks had bad experiences with earlier Sigmas, but mine has been awesome.

 

[The Wiry Irishman]

http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=425369

Those Rock Islands aren't bad - a mutual acquaintance of ours has one that I shot quite a bit before I owned any guns. If your friend is who I think it is and is in the Purdue area I can take him to the range some Saturday and let him try my Kimber and see how he feels about .45.

Also maybe have him cruise around for used CZs.

If your friend is at Purdue, he could avoid spending extra on a .22 by coming to Rifle/Pistol club and shooting one of ours. He could also shoot the 617 and see what he thinks about revolvers. There are also good .22 conversions available for the 1911 and CZ.

ETA: FNs are nice, too, if he's willing to save a bit or cruise around for a good used deal: http://www.dsarms.com/FNH-USA/products/115/3/0

 

[PurdueRifleman2008]

Haha, I was wondering how long it'd be until one of the PURPC guys posted on this! I'll run this by Mike next time I talk to him.

 

[JImbothefiveth]

Autos tend to jam. Except for my MAK all of my autos jam from time to time. I own several autos, but my collection is a military one,

But I've never purchased a whippy dippy, super dooper semi-auto. I never will.

That might be why. I've only seen one of the new "super dooper" auto jam when the user caused it, by accidently interfering with the slide movement. (That said, that might be likely to occur under stress, making the revolver better. Or maybe it won't.)

Wheel guns are easier for junior shooters to shoot

Maybe simpler, but a DA revolver will probably not be easier to shoot well. (of course, you could always shoot it SA)

 

[NG VI]

My first gun was a used USP 40 for $460. If he saves up just another hundred dollars, have him check out CDNN Investments, download their catalog so you can see their prices. They always have some awesome pistols and revolvers, used, for great prices. They buy used guns in bulk, so they can afford to compete. Usually have a couple different grades or set-ups as well.