best beginner pistol?

O

otomik

New member
I'm in the market for my first pistol.

Requirements:
1. Left-Handed friendly
2. fairly common design (in case I have problems I want to be easily able to get parts and help).
2. 9mm and/or convertable to .22lr (either way practice is cheap)

I think I'm going for a full size pistol just because I think it would be easier to start out with than a CCW pistol (ohio is thinking of getting legal carry soon so I'm open to differing opinions). Right now I'm looking at Beretta 92/96s because of their ambidextrous safety and reversable magazine release (most likely the Brigadier version because I hear it's strengthened slide corrects a long time weakness).

Secondly I plan on getting a .22lr conversion kit for it so I can get in lots of low-recoil cheap practice but valuable practice with pistol I can defend myself with. I think the .22lr kit removes recoil and price from consideration the 92 (9mm) and 96 (.40). So if I'm going to decide on the 92 or 96 I still need to know if there's differences in reliability or accuracy. It's sometimes said a gun design doesn't do as well in a new chambering as it does with it's original and that seems to ring partially true (Glock Kb on non-9mm models, yet the 1911 was originally designed for .38 ACP but it does great with .45).
 
I would suggest you seriously look at a full-sized .40 S&W Glock (uncompensated). This seems to be a very popular handgun where I take training and is particularly nice since the safety is not a problem for lefties. Also reliable and easy to fix. This comes in a 9mm as well but the stopping power is better on the .40 caliber so I would give it some consideration.

The second most popular seems to be a full-sized .45ACP Kimber, such as the Custom Classic. Here you would have to address the safety issue for lefties.

These seem to be the most popular. It is easy to get them fixed and could be used effectively for CCW in the future. Although the .22 conversion kit is no problem for the Kimber, I am not sure about the Glock.
 
Hi otomik. Welcome to The Firing Line! :)

You certainly seem to have researched the pistol issue pretty well already. The Beretta is a proven performer and would be an excellent choice.

I would only add that you should probably practice (at least a little) with the ammo you plan to carry. 9mm is pretty cheap, compared to other calibers, so the Beretta 92FS would be a good choice.

Have you given any consideration to a revolver? A revolver is an excellent choice for a "first handgun." And you don't have to worry about an ambidextrous safety...

When (If) Ohio passes HB 274 and we are "allowed" by the state to bear arms, I might consider a Ruger SP101 or a Taurus 617 Titanium as a concealed carry gun.

If not, a Glock 17 would be an excellent choice as well, and there are conversion kits available for them too.

-Dave
 
1 strong vote for the SIG "P" series. If you want a med. size gun, the P229 in .40S&W can convert to 9mm. If you want full size you can get the P226 in .40S&W and convert down to 9mm. If you want small size, the P239 comes in .40S&W and converts down to 9mm. All are lefty friendly.

SIG (out of the box) will perform well and should have NO failures. Tough to beat a SIG.

Peter Gunn
 
You mention "pistol", and are posting in this forum, so I'm guessing you have eliminated a revolver from the choices. However, I would still recommend the S&W 686 as a first handgun.

As far as first semi-auto, I would go with a Browning Hi-Power or CZ 75. They are two of the most common designs world-wide. Both, I believe, come with ambi safeties.
 
I'm kind of in favor of automatics because I like the ability to switch from a plinker to self defense. I think it is valuable practice provided one switches regularly between the plinker and the real deal.

Anybody know about Ruger automatics? I hear Bill Ruger is left-handed but I don't know much about his automatics.

I looked at SIGs and someone said that only rarely can a lefty operate the decocker with the middle joint of their index finger. I like how the Beretta's decocker is combined with it's ambidextrous safety.
 
otomik,

Sounds like you are describing the CZ85. It has ambidextrous controls and is chambered in 9mm. There is the kadet adapter kit to switch it to .22lr.

As far as Ruger autos go, they are good solid guns. I have a P90(for sale if anyone is interested) and its fairly lefty friendly. The safety/decocker is ambi, but the mag release isn't. On its 9mm sister, the P89, the mag release is ambi I believe.

The polymerframed rugers seem to be fairly popular among those starting out with handguns, although I don't care for them myself.
 
I looked at SIGs and someone said that only rarely can a lefty operate the decocker with the middle joint of their index finger.
Click to expand...

I guess that it true. I've never tried using the middle joint of my index finger, I just use the tip.:rolleyes:
 
Well the .22LR converison ability limits your choices on guns.

The only guns with .22LR conversions are the Glock, Taurus/Berreta, 1911 and CZ.

For a first/beginner gun, I'd go with a CZ-75. The gun and conversion kit can be had for less then any of the others on their own.

I don't own a CZ, however I have shot them and they are very accurate and well made.

9mm ammo btw is very cheap. Ammoman.com has Olympic 124gr for $119/shipped for a 1000 rounds (just went thru a case). There is PMP and Fiocci available for about the same price (the fiocci is my favorite of the bunch).

-d
 
I guess that it true. I've never tried using the middle joint of my index finger, I just use the tip.
Click to expand...
here's what I'm talking about
Most left handed shooters use the tip of their trigger finger to depress the lever. A lucky and coordinated few are flexible enough to use their index finger between the second and third knuckle to depress the lever downward.
Click to expand...
I guess it just sounds like using the index finger wouldn't be as fast or comfortable, found it here: http://www.ccrkba.org/pub/rkba/mirror/flubber/FAQ/IIIC2k2.txt
 
No disrespect intended but why would you want a gun with a decocker? I understand that many PDs require use of such firearms. It is thought to limit liability.

However, as a personal defensive handgun for someone who isn't already "hooked" on that type of firearm, why would anyone get a firearm with a decocker? Especially as a first firearm.

I would appreciate your comments since it doesn't make sense to me. Thanks.
 
Otokik, here is your list:

I'm in the market for my first pistol.

Requirements:
1. Left-Handed friendly
2. fairly common design (in case I have problems I want to be easily able to get parts and help).
2. 9mm and/or convertable to .22lr (either way practice is cheap)

******************************************


Here is a response from another leftie (me):

CZ85B 9mm pistol, and the CZ Kadet .22lr kit. It's exactly what I got in your same situation.

The 85B has ambi safety and slide release. It's a classic design very similar to the very fine Browning high power 9mm pistol but in double/single action instead of SA only. Gun is very well built, all steel, with an easy to maintain hard matte poly coat. Gun may also be available in satin nickel, but am not sure if Kadet is available in any but the poly coating.

The Kadet kit is a self contained replacement slide with it's own barrel. It's so easy to swap from 9mm to .22lr. All you do is remove one slide, and replace with the other. When firing .22, you are using the same exact frame and trigger.

I cannot imagine a combination that more closely matches your requiremnts.

By the way, the CZ75B is identical to the CZ85B except it has no ambi controls. So a leftie would want the CZ85B, not the CZ75B. There is also a CZ85 Combat which does not have the firing pin block safety (hence no "B" in the model name. It comes with target rear sight and all the ambi controls.
 
Last edited:
I noticed that you are in the Columbus area. If you'd like to try a CZ out, send me a PM. I have the 75, which is pretty much the same as the model you'd want to get, minus the ambi controls.
 
CZ-already mentioned. My vote for the best one frame/ two calibers.

Ciener conversions-The various conversion units for the Glock, 1911 and the Beretta are just that,,,conversion units. I have, and greatly enjoy using a Ciener conversion on my Kimbers. It's well made and fairly accurate. Unlike the CZ though, it's made to convert a centerfire locking breech to a blowback rimfire. It does a fairly credible job of doing it, for a reasonable price. The CZ, on the other hand, uses the same frame for the Kadet and the 75. What you have is a gun built from the ground up for either or both calibers. It shows big time in terms of QC, accuracy, reliability and shootability. No lie, if CZ would stock the Kadet with ergonomic grips, offer a longer barrel/slide and drop in a Champion trigger group, the S&W Model 41( considered by many THE premier current domestic target pistol) would lose a lot of customers,,,,they are THAT well made!

A 2 gun option- A Browning Hi Power and a Ruger .22/45. Dimensionaly, the Ruger .22/45 is closer to the Hi Power than it is to the 1911. Length of trigger pull and felt grip, magazine release and safety are very, very, very close to the HP. The only downside of the .22/45 would be a lack of ambi safety. Still, having two seperate guns has it's advantages.

Revolver option- Older Smith and Wesson Model 19's are getting harder to find, but they're still out there if you look hard enough. Approx. price these days is $300-$350 (up about $75.00 less last winter) for a pristine used but unfired one in NE Ohio. Say you managed to score a pristine one for $300.00 (doable), that would leave you with enough left over to get a reloading press, and the basics to handload .38's for range use, for about half the price of even the cheapest factory 9mm.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top