Which first gun to choose?

[Baba Louie]

First, welcome to THR newshooter. Let us hope it becomes a lifelong hobby and love as opposed to self preservation only.

Having said that, all good advice in the above posts. Training (NRA) learn safety rules, basic marksmanship with a good .22 (also fun to plink with and cheap to feed). Master that (or become a student thereof) then a class or two on CCW, stepping up in caliber.

I typically set the .38S&W spl as my baseline, but I have been known to carry a .380acp (aka 9mm K, or 9mm Browning, 9x17) upon occasion. I prefer small revolvers, notably S&W J-Frames, tho' those are somewhat harder to master initially (but easier to carry).

There are many good small 9mm's (9x19 or 9mmNATO) on the market. A few smallish .45's. Most in semi-autos.

Once you decide on a baseline caliber, and an implement of personal defense, you'll want to be looking at ammunition and bullet design (a fascinating study and world unto itself). Bigger is better 'they' say ('they' do tend to talk a lot), penetration is good, placement on target, critical.

I really suppose that being a Doctor (is it?) you, like others here would simply use your newfound tool as a method of stopping lethal force, should it be used against you. You're not out to assassinate a flock of crazed penguins, just protect your life and stop the threat. Not being in a position of threatened behavior or surrounded by a flock of crazed penguins is always wise.

Take a few more classes with your choice of tool(s) and fodder once procured. Decide on a method or two of carry depending on your dress (summertime yard work dress being different than wintertime clothing and you've still got to get to the darned thing should you need it in your hand three seconds too late)

Once you take your class(es), get your weapon, practice seeing the threats around you, you'll find yourself looking for ways to escape trouble should it befall you, wherever you go. (Well, I do anyway)

Try using the search function and reading. There are thousands of wise posts (and probably multi-thousands of otherwise... see my own post count as a reference) in Strategies and Tactics, general handguns, revolvers, semi-autos worthy of study.

Here's to hoping you never need to use it. Old saying, "Rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it." Which, I presume, is why you're here asking.

Good luck with your quest. Stay safe. 99.9% of those who wish you harm are harmless themselves. It's that 0.01% that can cause grief.

 

[Nugilum]

Newshooter,

I agree with the necessity of classes and training. The classes will help you identify risky situations and environments. More importantly, these classes will teach you how to either prepare for or avoid these situations. Learning how to avoid these situations could help minimize the possibility of needing to use a firearm in defense.

But make no mistake, having a firearm doesn't make you immune to violence or make you prepared for any event. Training is more important than having a firearm. As you know, having the surgical equipment doesn't make you a Doctor. The years of schooling and experience during your residency made you a Doctor.

Visit some gun stores in your area, and ask questions. That's the key. It's a new world you're entering with its own culture and language. Build a new network to help you with this situation you have to deal with.

Feel free to ask us anything. Most of us (99%+) will treat you with respect.
Good luck!

 

[doc2rn]

Take some time to find a local shooting club that rents firearms. Try them all out and go with what you like best. Buy a .22 lr to practice with first. It will keep you from flinching and teach you front site and point shooting. Also remember to keep your finger off the trigger until your ready to shoot. And memorize the four rules please, they will make life alot easier and your shooting partners at the range will appreciate you more. Being new alot of guys will want you to try different things, if it starts with a caliber bigger than .45 dont do it. Magnums will also cause you some trouble until you get used to them, unless you are built like John J. Rambo.
For a good angled grip firearm I like the Glock Model 19 and for a good straight grip the 9mm EMP is a good one.

 

[Danus ex]

If you're in Minnesota I'd be happy to help guide you through all this.

 

[Nugilum]

You know, we've mentioned "The Four Rules" and haven't posted them for the new guys.

OK, here they are:

The Four Rules of Firearms Handling
by Jeff Cooper

Rule 1
ALL GUNS ARE ALWAYS LOADED
The only exception to this occurs when you have a firearm in your hands and you have personally unloaded it for checking. As soon as you put it down, Rule 1 applies again.

Rule 2
NEVER LET THE MUZZLE COVER ANYTHING YOU ARE NOT PREPARED TO DESTROY
You may not wish to destroy it, but you must be clear in your mind that you are quite ready to if you let that muzzle cover the target. To allow a firearm to point at another human being is a deadly threat, and should always be treated as such.

Rule 3
KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOUR SIGHTS ARE ON THE TARGET
This we call the Golden Rule because its violation is responsible for about 80 percent of the firearms disasters we read about.

Rule 4
BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET AND WHAT IS BEYOND IT
You never shoot at anything until you have positively identified it. You never fire at a shadow, or a sound, or a suspected presence. You shoot only when you know absolutely what you are shooting at and what is beyond it.

 

[PoconoEagle]

SigSauer .357sig or 9mm and practice.... enjoy the sport Doc.... and the right to do so!

 

[Gunsby_Blazen]

Hello, welcome…
My opinion is that you should go to a gun range that has handguns you can rent or try out before you buy. Try different calibers and styles of grips, but don’t start off with any large calibers. The first handgun I ever shot was a .45acp colt 1911 and the recoil was not something I was prepared for. Granted, it’s not a monster cartridge, but if you don’t know what the recoil is going to be it will still be a shock to you. Personally, I like the feel of revolver grips the best, but that might not be what you are looking for in your case… You might want more ammo than the limitations that a revolver has regarding its six or sometimes but rare eight round capacities. Autos just carry a lot more bullets.
You might also want to look into the different functions of various pistols considering the operating procedures. There are single actions, double actions, and there are striker fired pistols if you don’t want to hassle with a hammer that could get caught up in your holster or clothing. These are just ideas I am throwing out… I live in Illinois and we don’t even have concealed carry…

If I was able to get a conceal carry gun it might be a Kimber small frame 1911 such as the 9mm Ultra Aegis II or perhaps the Ultra Carry II family of handguns chambered in .45 acp, but I am partial to the 1911 grip frame for autos…
Another couple handguns I have been looking at are the Ruger SR9 in 9mm with the massive 18 round capacity and the Ruger LCP. The LCP looks very compact and is chambered in .380 but I have yet to actually handle one.
As for revolvers, Smith and Wesson make a great line of small frame guns that would be great for conceal carry.

MY BEST ADVICE TO YOU IS TO FIND SOMETHING YOU LIKE AND PRACTICE WITH IT. GET COMFORTABLE WITH YOUR GUN AND KNOW HOW TO USE IT.

There is a lot of good advice on here, good luck.

………..And have fun at the range!

 

[biggiesmalls]

what city are you practicing medicine or living in? with all the suggestions, you should go try out a few carry weapons and see what you like. if you post what city you're in, i'm sure some members here wouldn't mind meeting you at the range and letting you fire 10 or 20 rounds of their carry piece to see if it suits you. i only have 2 carry guns now, but if you're anywhere near austin, texas, i will let you try out my kahr P40 and CW9. and you can try carrying them in my MANY holsters too to figure out what kind of carrying works best for you.

p.s. i think 9mm should be your bare minimum unless you can only carry a pocket pistol, then maybe you have to go down in caliber or get those keltecs or kahr pms. just my 0.02

also, not everyone here is as conservative as you would think. i personally hope that the religious right will stop harrassing doctors all together and go clean-house within instead. my courin's pastor is actually under investigation right now by the IRS haha.

 

[Brian Dale]

Welcome to The High Road, Dr. newshooter_.

I concur with much of the advice that's been offered so far, for example: finding carry guns that fit you, practicing with .22s (a way to get a lot of practice time without the distractions of recoil and muzzle blast), and considering also buying and training with a shotgun that you'll keep at home.

As a doctor, you'll be accustomed to acronyms; you'll see a lot of new ones here. The Acronym Finder web site is one of the many linked in the THR Library, itself linked at the top of every THR page. The THR Search function is useful for them, too.

Please let me second the recommendation to stop by Kathy Jackson's site, The Cornered Cat.

Always wear good eye and hearing protection when you go shooting.

The Four Rules, always.

Read a lot, use the search function, ask a lot of questions and please don't be surprised when you receive genuine offers to take you shooting. You might meet some people whom you'll really like. Check out the various forums here; avoiding attacks is a topic that's discussed very well.

You might already have read Gavin DeBecker's The Gift of Fear. I don't share his apparent bias against guns, but his discussions of paying attention to behavioral cues from others and to one's own hunches are top-notch.

Again, welcome.

 

[RockyMtnTactical]

I would say it depends on your level of exposure to and experience with guns at this point.

My first firearm was a Glock 27. I don't regret it. I would recommend either a Glock 26 or 27 if you are a gun guy or wanting to become one. Great conceal gun.

If you are a more simple guy, just wanting something that can do the job and is easy to learn, it would be hard to go wrong with a Smith and Wesson Snub nose .38.

 

[jakk280rem]

i would have to recomend a kahr. they have a slimmer profile than most other polymer framed pistols i know os and the dont have an accesory rail to get caught on clothing or poke into your vitals. take your pick of calibers. 9, 40, 45. the 9 and 40 opperate at much higher pressures so the recoil is sharper, the 45 sounds big but the lower pressures result in more of a push than a snap.

 

[moooose102]

hi, welcome to the high road! first, as a doctor, you are a realitivly smart man or woman. so i certainly won't try to feed you a line of b.$. i do agree that training is a VERY GOOD IDEA! but, having a Dr. as a freind, i know that time is a precious commodity to you also. IF you can find the time, i strongly urge you to get the training.

as far as deciding on a pistol, first rule (at least in my book) is it HAS to be a .380 MINIMUM.

second, find a gun that feels good in your hand, when you pick it up (make CERTAIN IT IS EMPTY) point it twoards a safe part of the room, where no people are WITHOUT watching how you are gripping the gun. a good way to do this is close your eyes while you point, what this will do for you is allow you to see how close your natural alignment will be if you have to pull your gun in a hurry. this is important because, in a life saving situation, the closer you automaticly aim the gun the less likely you are to miss. i have had guns in my hands that would make me shoot several feet off @ a short distance. STAY AWAY from a gun like that!

third, polymer guns are going to be lighter than steel guns. if you are going to have to carry it all day. this is important.

fourth, a large gun is easier to handle and shoot, but harder to hide, this is a fine balancing point, you will have to decide how big is right for you.

fifth, you will need to decide WHERE you are going to carry the pistol. if it is going to be in your pocket, that will exclude a lot of guns right off the bat. if you are going to carry it on your hip, it opens the door wide open.

at this point, i will tell you that for me, the most comfortable place to carry my large frame (Taurus 24/7 pro 45 acp) is on my right hip, at about the 5 o clock position (meaning about where your back pocket is on your right hand side) in a LEFT HAND in the waist band holster. that positions the handle of the gun so that i can reach back there and it falls right into my hand, very naturally. this may not work for you, but for me it does.

as to where to buy this gun, i would say at a REAL gun store, where customer service is more important than how much they can sell you. a place where they will HELP you through the whole selection process, gun, size, fitment, holster, ammo, targets, etc., etc., etc. i have no idea where you live, but if you can find a gun store that has been in business for at least 10 years (longer is better) and has a gun smith at their disposal, that would be a good place to start.

having access to a gunsmith is very important, after all, he is the doctor for your gun, that your life depends on. i hope i have been a help to you with your search. if you have any further questions oranything else i can help you with, send me a p.m. (personal message by clicking on my user name, then selecting send a message. good luck with your search!