1st handgun recommendation?

S

ScreamAimFire

Inactive
I've been reading threads like this for the past couple of days and have gotten some ideas but, I'd like to refine the question personally and see what kind of answers I can get.
So, to give a little background, I was brought up around guns and have shot quite a few. Pistols I've shot are a beretta 9mm, smith .357, glock .40, keltech 380, deringer .45/.410, smith .38 snub, and recently my buddys ruger 9mm. I prefer the autos but am unsure if I want DA/SA or SAO (I'm under the impression that DAO is best for purely SD carry..am I right?)
The gun will be used for target shooting mostly (in the woods) and home protection secondary. I will not be concealing it so no need for anything compact. I'm leaning more toward a medium caliber like 9mm as it will be cheaper to shoot for fun yet likely able to do the job in a situation. The more rounds it holds, the better. I'm an average sized guy with fairly large hands so I'll want something to fit accordingly. My budget will be >$500, Thanks in advance.
 
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Your list lacks a 1911 auto. Until you have experienced a well set up 1911 trigger you just do not know what you are missing. In your search for your first handgun, do yourself a favor and test out a 1911 to see if you like it before deciding what to get.

I think Armscor produces a Rock Island Armory 1911 in 9mm (1911A1-09 FS GI).
 
I have to admit, the 1911 is very pleasing to my eye and I've read a lot of good things about it. Unfortunately, I don't know anybody that owns one and do not know of a range close by although I will look into it.
 
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Get a CZ 75B SA and never look back. (well, only look back to see the family of CZs that are following you out of the shop. They will miss their mom or dad and you'll just have to come back to adopt the rest. How fast you do this is up to you.)

Greg
 
1911 chambered in 9mm.
Pros
accurate, steel on steel, excellent trigger
Cons
SAO, EXPENSIVE
Beretta PX4 or 92
Pros
inexpensive, accurate for what they are, SA/DA with a safety decocker
Cons
You might find issue with grip, trigger preferece, trigger style
CZ75b or Jericho 941
Pros
INexpensive, steel on steel
Cons
not the prettiest of the bunch, ive shot beretta more accurately than cz
 
9mm 1911 $750+
Beretta PX4 $519
Beretta 92f $550
Jericho 941 $524
CZ 75b $480
Glock 19 $500 or less
S&W M&P $570 or less
Springfield XD $550 or less
 
Wheel Gun....

Nothing like a well built wheel gun. A 3 or 4" K-Frame or L-Frame Smith and Wesson in .357 would be an excellent first gun. Load it with .38 Special for plinking or .357 for "whatever." If you look around, you can find a quality revolver for $500 and it will likely out last you and your kids, and their kids lifetimes.
 
First Handgun.

Your first Handgun should be fun, of the best quality for the price, and has the ability to shoot inexpensive ammo.

My first Handgun was a Taurus PT-380. It held 12 in the magazine 1 in the pipe, was a SA/DA and Stainless. The only noticable drawback was the cost of the .380 ammo which I thought would be cheap, but 9mm is cheaper.

I sold the Taurus and got myself a Glock G17 and never looked back. This was back in 1988 and I still have and shoot my 2nd Gen G17 on a regular basis. I put some magazine extensions on my original Non-Drop Free mags (bumping the capacity to 20 rds.) which made her even more fun to shoot. I suggest a G17 or G19 for you. They are within your Budget (under $500) are inexpensive to shoot are SUPER reliable and will last you for YEARS. I've been shooting mine for 21 years and plan to keep shooting her for another 21+.
 
i shot and liked the glock 19 and springfield xd-9 4". both were excellent, reliable, simple, and accurate.

i ended up going with a cz75 compact PCR for my first purchase, got it used. you can find 75s new for sub $500. fits my hand perfectly, as well as a friend's with smaller hand, and another buddy with a larger hand. go figure. plus, you can carry it with one in the chamber and the hammer on half cock or not cocked. the model i have is a decocker, but some have a manual safety.
 
Glock 19

I would recommend the Glock 23, but you said that you wanted a gun in 9mm
My Glock has been a very, uh, easy gun to own. It is easy to clean, easy to shoot, and easy to find accessories for. For a first gun, I think a Glock would make a good choice.
 
Glock 34

Glock 34.

Load bulk 9mm (winchester white boxes) for range/fun.

Load +P hollowpoints for home defense.

Either way, the extended barrel and what appears to be compensators really reduces felt recoil.

Try one out, you're going to love it.
 
If you have fairly big hands, the Ruger P95 (9mm) is a very good gun that is very affordable. It holds 15+1 rounds and is DA then SA after the first shot.

Ruger SR9 (9mm) is also a good DA striker fire gun with 17+1 rounds for $400-$499.

Check them out at WWW.Budsgunshop.com
 
S&W 2nd or 3rd generation 9mm's are wonderful, accurate and inexpensive (low $300 range) and built to last a lifetime.

If you go with the a revolver both S&W and Ruger make top of the line medium framed .357's. If you dont mind used, Ruger 4" Security Sixes can be found between $275-350 in great shape. You can shoot light .38's to punch paper, heavy loaded 180gr cast FP's for hunting/woods protection or the 125gr JHP for bad guy protection!
 
Though a 1911 guy, I would suggest a CZ (P01, PCR or P07). Or Glock 19 or Springfield XD. I would stay 9mm.

All guns listed are concealable. The CZ's are good solid guns with classic DA/SA functioning. Glocks are popular and easy to use and shoot. They are great but you need a holster or two that provides good coverage of the trigger. I was much more leery of an AD with my Glock 17 than any of my 1911's. 17's are too big IMHO. If going big I'd opt the 34.
 
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