First Handgun Choice(s)

The 2022 is compact'ish... so it may be concealable if you use a good holster and are mindful of your clothing choice.


The XD was mentioned, and I forgot they were having a special on the "essentials" package. Pistol and one mag for $350... Good pistol, I had one and liked it.


Someone mentioned getting a good quality compact, and not needing a smaller sub compact pistol later for carry. With a good holster, a compact conceals well.

That can be a good idea, and there are a few options.


The Glock 19 is the defacto "compact" pistol... so sticking with pistols around that size can be a good bet.

The XD is similar but a little bigger, same with the M&P... so they may not work.

The M&P compact is actually smaller than the G19, and only a little bigger than the G26, in the order of a few millimeters, but it offers a decent full grip when using the finger rest magazine. It conceals like a G26 with the flush mag.

Another option is getting a sub compact pistol that will take the full size mags, and getting a mag grip sleeve to make the pistol have a full size grip feel, then you can use the flush fit mags for carry.

The Glocks, XD, and M&P line do this.


There are options, and it may even save some money in the long run.
 
I bought the sd9ve for my third pistol a few years back. never liked it. it wasn't "un-reliable" per se, but it wasn't perfect either. I had several failures if different kinds, although most were magazine related. the gun is not very accurate and had a sloppy slide to frame fit and a pretty crappy trigger. but, it is cheap, simple and high capacity and pretty reliable. if I was going to recommend a starter pitol for someone, I would recommend canik or Tri-Star, any sa/da model that fits your hand well. they rae 100% reliable and have a great singl action trigger and enough weight to help you stay on target. they are also generally found under 350$. they are cz 75 clones and are well made with a crappy finish, but run like butter. at least give them a look see. academy stocks them if you have one local

the SAR mentioned above is another decent gun, poly instead of metal like the canik/tristar, but mechanically identical
 
This is easy...since you say you lean DA/SA.

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CZ p-07: While not a full sized pistol it shoots like a full sized. About the same sized as the hyped G19 it also makes for a somewhat concealable sized pistol if needed.
 
Since we are all throwing out new options, I'd check out the Ruger SR9e even though it's striker fired. And it's around $320. Then when you start carrying, you can get a Ruger SR9c. Or just get a c from the beginning since they come with a full size grip adapter.
 
Thanks for more replies. I wouldn't hesitate to buy a compact because I know that they're rather close to a full-size but I highly doubt I will carry it outside of heavy winter attire (not likely here in PA). If I buy a carry gun it's going to be something rather small due to the clothes that I wear and my frame. As to the P0-7, are there any comprehensive reviews of it? I was looking into it and a lot of the reviews seemed, 'meh' about it.

I also wouldn't hesitate to buy a surplus or clone. I see Tristars mentioned a lot and someone now said that the Canik CZ clones are nice, so are there any other good knock-offs? Thanks again guys.
 
The m&p compact may work then, as I said it is easy to conceal but the pinky rest gives it a good grip.

And the options of a sub compact with full size mags is out there as well.


I seen reviews of the p07 that were favorable. Some may not like it much, but it's reliable and has a decent trigger.
 
I'm heading to a large gun show this weekend where I'll check out prices for these guns. If I can find some of the higher quality ones mentioned here for mid 400s I will probably get it. But have gun show sellers caved to the fear-mongering or do they still sell to people <21?
 
I think its 21 to own a handgun...

But a person can give one as a gift to a person under 21.

Best to read up on the laws if you are not sure.
 
Be careful with the gifting part. See ATF Form 4473 question 11 (a) and the explanation on the reverse. You have to list the actual buyer. If you are buying with another's funds to give the gun to them, it is not a gift. If you list your self as the actual buyer in that circumstance, you just committed a federal offense. If you are buying with your own money to make a gift of the gun to another, then you are the actual buyer.
 
I can only speak to the Stoeger Cougar. I have encountered people shooting the Sig 2022 and they seemed to like it but I have never owned nor shot one. I am totally ignorant when it comes to Smith pistols except for the fact that I have not yet picked one up that felt good in my hand.

Stoeger of Turkey is owned by Benelli, which in turn is owned by Beretta Holding. When Beretta started making the polymer-framed PX4 (which uses the same rotary barrel breech lock mechanism as the Cougars) they dropped the Cougar line but sent all the tooling to Turkey where labor costs are much lower. So basically the Stoeger Cougar parts are all identical to the Berettas, except for the frame. Stoeger has now modified the frames to include a Picatinny accessory rail. None of the commercially available Beretta Cougars has a rail, except for a very small sample run of Beretta Cougar 8045s which were police demos.

I have 2 Beretta mini-Cougars, a 9mm made in the USA and the other a .40 caliber made in Italy, and a Stoeger Cougar .45 ACP. I can not appreciate any difference in fit or function between the three. The Brunition finish on the Stoeger is slightly less glossy (more matte) than that of the Berettas but it looks fine to my eye.

New Stoegers can be found for around $400 and sometimes slightly less. I have seen a fair number of used Stoeger Cougars in good condition in the $300-350 price range. The Cougars are soft-shooting and quite accurate. All of mine have been entirely reliable. Nearly everyone I know who owns one or has shot one of mine likes them. The F models are all traditional double action pistols (DA/SA) with a frame-mounted, ambidextrous safety/decocker lever. Beretta made Cougars in double action only ("D" models) but I don't believe Stoeger has done so as yet.

I would definitely try to at least handle one before buying one. Although the Cougars have a compact sized slide and barrel (3.5-3.7" barrel lengths) they have full-sized frames which are a bit thick, like those on many Beretta models. Thus far, Stoeger has not chosen to bring back the mini Cougar versions that were made by Beretta, but they do make a compact "L" version in 9mm that has frame and grip dimensions in between that of the full-sized Stoeger Cougar 8000 and the Beretta 8000 mini-Cougar.

The alloy frame and full-bodied grip soak up recoil very well, but the grip might make the double action trigger reach a bit awkward for those with smaller hands. Many users find the Cougar grip more ergonomic than that of the popular Beretta 92FS, however. Some view the grip length and weight of the all-metal full-sized Cougars as too great to make a good carry pistol, but this is a matter of opinion.
 
I would go with a "compact" sized pistol. It is a good all-around size for most people. You generally get a decent grip size and sight radius. This makes them reasonably concealable (at least for most waist or shoulder set-ups), and reasonably easy to shoot.

I kind of got spoiled by 1911s, but I would not hesitate to recommend a Glock 19 or the compact sized XD or M&P.

If you are a thin guy, you can probably conceal pretty easily with an IWB holster at the 4 or 8 o'clock position. I know my 1911 more or less disappears under a tucked in polo shirt.
 
Thanks again for any replies. As for the gun ownership: I will thoroughly look through the *violently enforced opinions* of the ATF and state beforehand. And also many thanks for the detailed Cougar description. That one has probably risen to the top and I will buy it almost certainly if I like how it feels in the hand.
 
A small correction, pblanc. Only the 8045 Stoeger Cougars have a rail, not the 9mm or 40 versions.
Click to expand...

That used to be true. Not anymore.

About a month ago I was looking at some demo Stoeger Cougar 9mm and 40 cal S&W pistols at a regional gun shop. They had Picatinny rails. I said to the guy at the counter that I had not seen rails on the Stoeger Cougar 9s and 40s before and he told me that as far as he knew, all the new ones were coming that way now.
 
The only one I have a problem with is the S&W. Horrible, heavy trigger for a beginner. I guarantee you'll be frustrated trying to shoot it well.
It's not a bad gun, it's just tough to start out on.
 
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