first gun, want to make a serious investment...

I would rent as many different types of handguns as you can at your local range. I would also wait to purchase until you've had a chance to attend a gunshow. This will allow you to handle as many different designs as possible. Find the brand and design that feels good in your hands. The brand and pricetag doesn't matter.

I would recommend purchasing an inexpensive handgun to start and spend the rest of your budget on training. The most accurate and expensive handgun in the wrong hands will still shoot poorly and outshoot the shooter.
 
sven, I hope I don't rain on your parade here, but an awful lot of folks I've come in contact with who learned on Glocks, had trouble (not major problems, but some difficulty) switching to the 1911. I'll be the first to admit that as a lifetime 1911 shooter, I shoot a bit high with the first couple of shots out of a Glock...and I've shot them quite a bit too. The grip angle is different and can cause some "teething" problems for some. Some are more sensitive to it than others. Just something to consider, as it sounds like you have your heart set on a custom 1911 down the road.
 
A gun by a quality manufacturer will last your lifetime. Resale value on an expensive gun is low, because most of the gun buying public does not know about or see the value in a $2000 semi-custom gun.
You say that you have some experince shooting. What design do you like the best? Spend time at gun shows and gun stores handling different options.
The truth is, most people are incapable of getting the best out of a $2000 gun. They would be just as well served with a $600-$1000 gun. The same pride of ownership may not be there, but that is an entirely different issue.
 
Probably be a while before you can outshoot that gun. By then you will have a clearer conception of your replacement for it.

I think you did ok.

Sam
 
I too was in a similar situation as you described. I've been "around" handguns and rifles for my entire life, but never actually "took the plunge" sort of speak.

Until recently.

I purchased a Heckler and Hoch USP .40, full-size.

An outstanding handgun. Simple to operate, excellent accuracy (far better than I) and a pleasure to shoot overall.

If the H&K Expert line of handguns are more accurate, more of a pleasure to shoot, then in my book, you have made your decision.

I tried many, many guns before settling upon this one, and I would recommend you do likewise.

However, I've found my favorate, and there my bias lies.

- Nesued
 
The sentiment has been bandied about in this discussion, but allow me to reiterate. I strongly recommend a .22LR, either an automatic or revolver, depending on your primary gun choice. The .22 is an excellent training complement. Nothing helps "sight picture- trigger squeeze" as much as rounds downrange, and the rimfire gives you the ability to put a thousand rounds downrange for about ten bucks, give or take. I would venture a guess that I've probably fired at least 50 rounds of .22 for every round of centerfire. I shoot IDPA, which gets fast and close, and can actually let your shooting fundamentals start to slide if you let them... whenever I sense this happening, the Ruger 22/45 and I go "back to the woodshed" for a couple hours of "front sight...front sight... front sight...squeeze". Anyway, whatever your choice, I wish you the best... the advice given in this discussion so far has been top notch without exception, I only hope I can add to it.

DanO
 
Some excellent advice has been offered thus far, all I can really do is say "yeah, do what he/she recommends." When I was shopping for my first pistol, I was pointed to this website:

http://civic.bev.net/shawnee/gunbuyer.html

It's an excellent discussion of caliber selection, revolver vs. autoloader, etc. geared toward the newbie looking for a defensive weapon. It sounds like you're also considering target competition application. The natural choice would be a 1911 -- so many options for customization now and down the line your head might explode.

Here's what I did: Sig P228 in 9mm and 1000 rounds of cheap ball ammo. Got a pretty good handle on the DA/SA trigger of the Sig, and got to be a pretty fair "combat accurate" shooter. Even 9mm adds up after a while, so I picked up a Ruger MKII .22 pistol -- just the basic, blued model to go with my basic 10/22. You want cheap to feed? .22 is where it's at, baby. Wally World sells 550 rounds of bulk packed Federal hollow points for less than $10! The terminal ballistics of the 9mm are debated over and over, but no one really questions the effectiveness of the revered .45 ACP. So I recently added a Sig P220 to the stable.

So here's my advice (to echo many others both wiser and more experienced than me):

(1) Decide between an autoloader and a revolver. (I assume you've done this, as you did post in the Semiauto Forum...)

(2) Pick a caliber: 9mm, .40 S&W, .45 ACP are generally most readily available in a variety of loadings.

(3) Select a few "candidates" from the advice on TFL.

(4a) Go to a gun show and drool, but do not buy unless the price is absurdly low.

OR (even better, IMHO)

(4b) Rent as many of your candidates as possible and give them a test drive.

(5) Buy the one that fits your hand best, points most naturally, and is comfortable to shoot.

Good luck in making your decision, and be sure to let us know what you end up getting! And get a .22... :)

Cheers,
MK9
 
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