First time gun buyer

G

Gochet077

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Looking to get my first gun. I want this gun to be my EDC (conceal) and be a good range gun to show my friends. After a long process of elimination I have decided on 9mm and have narrowed down my choices to a few in the $350-450 range. I'm open to opinions so please share your thoughts! As of right now my top 3 are:

Springfield XDS
Walther PPS M2
Ruger American Compact
 
My thoughts are what feels the best and shoots the best is the one you buy. That is if there is a range that rents guns. I had a glock hated it! I liked my Springfield XD and own the Walther PPQ but those were about $100.00 more. What sold me on the PPQ was the phenomenal trigger. Good luck and let us know what you buy :D
 
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I've shot a glock 19... not a fan at all. Quite disappointed actually. Awful trigger. I've also had a good amount of time with the xds and loved it but I like to keep options open and I've always liked ruger and walther customer service from what I hear. So yeah.... no glocks for me.
 
Uh, Oh, here it comes again:
First learn how to shoot a pistol, then worry about which gun is best.
The better you know how to shoot, the less the choice of gun matters.
So find a local instructor to at least show you the basics of marksmanship and gun handling technique.
Don't rely on your range buddies, who will more than likely just insist on sharing their mistakes.
End of nag.
 
Not a Glock owner YET, have Springfield XDM & a S, but my budget carry is a used Kahr CW .45. Very comfortable single stack, reliable and 'Merican.


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NobleSKS said:
Not a Glock owner YET, have Springfield XDM & a S, but my budget carry is a used Kahr CW .45. Very comfortable single stack, reliable and 'Merican.


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Paid $280 used, bitone. Did replace recoil spring and slide (about $30) including shipping from Kahr.


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g.willikers said:
Uh, Oh, here it comes again:

First learn how to shoot a pistol, then worry about which gun is best.

The better you know how to shoot, the less the choice of gun matters.

So find a local instructor to at least show you the basics of marksmanship and gun handling technique.

Don't rely on your range buddies, who will more than likely just insist on sharing their mistakes.

End of nag.
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Amen


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G.willikers I appreciate the advice. I really do. But I didn't ask for advice about shooting or marksmamship. I plan to buy a quality gun, learn to handle it well, carry it daily, and keep it for a long time. So choice in gun actually does matter to people. If not then we'd all be carrying hi-points.
 
I have been through most all little guns for edc, and still own em. My cheap advice is go with the Ruger lc9s Pro and be done. Great shooter, light, slim, smooth, and accurate. I'd slap a Hogue grip sleeve on it and you'll be happy. Size and weight matters, for me.
 
First, stick with a 9mm. You won't like .40 in anything smaller than a Glock 22.

Besides just as a carry gun, what other things would you like your first gun to be able to do in the future? Do you want to add lasers, lights, red dot scopes, night sights, etc. to it? Do you want to be able to customize a lot?

You say you didn't like the stock Glock 19 trigger, and I'll agree with you the stock triggers for non competition Glock models are awful, but they can be greatly improved for little money with aftermarket parts. Also with Glock, you have lots of options with magazines up to 33 rds or even 50 rd drums.

Another question I have is do you want the gun to have a safety? The Springfields have a grip safety, but no manual safety. Personally, I don't see much need for a manual safety if you have a grip safety, but your opinion is what matters here.

Also, I'd avoid the Taurus PT111, it's a DAO trigger, you won't like it and from what I've heard, you won't like the customer service if you have an issue with the gun.
 
A big heavy handgun is better for the range and for HD. For cc you want something smaller and lighter. If I was going to buy a 9mm for cc, I would probably follow the other poster's advice and look at the Ruger LC9S pro. I have an older LC9 and it is pretty convenient for cc. You could always pick up a bigger, heavier handgun later for the range. There are great deals out there on used handguns if you are patient.
 
Gochet,
The point I was trying to make, without success apparently, is the gun you choose as an experienced and trained shooter will probably be much different than the one you pick now.
And other people's recommendation are usually misleading.
They can only tell you what they found suitable for them.
And that ain't you.
Kind of like the differences in the woman you choose for a wife and the car you buy.
What others like ain't got nuttin' to do with you.
But don't mind me, no one around my house does. :)
 
P.S.
The gun you learn on will usually automatically be your favorite, and the one you buy for yourself.
We monkeys are very adaptable, but we mostly are most comfortable with the familiar.
And why the choice of gun is not all that important.
You will shoot best with the one you learn with.
Any others you acquire will be mostly for variety and entertainment.
That's not to say, you can't acquire skill with just about anything.
But the one you pick to trust your life with is special.
You did say "I want this gun to be my EDC"

But wait, there's more:
My first serious pistol, the one I got trained on was a 1911.
And to this day, it's still the one I trust the most.
Mostly because I don't have to think about it; how to use it or how to be accurate with it.
It's like a part of me.
But if you choose say a Glock, then my recommendation for a 1911 would be misleading.
They are very different pistols.
Hopefully, this will make more sense to you.
 
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Gochet077 said:
Looking to get my first gun. I want this gun to be my EDC (conceal) and be a good range gun to show my friends.
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A couple of comments:

First, a good concealed carry pistol is small enough to be easily concealed, and light enough to be carried comfortably all the time. Neither of those attributes makes for a good range gun. Obviously, you should practice with a carry pistol, but that's for the purpose of practicing with your carry pistol. You'll likely never find anyone shooting bullseye or IDPA with a pocket pistol.

Second, what's this about "to show my friends"? Carry guns are to be carried. Concealed carry guns are to be concealed. IMHO, you DON'T go showing off your carry gun to your friends. Ideally, nobody but you should know you own it, and nobody but you should ever know if and when you are carrying it.
 
^^^^This and his prior 2 post.^^^^
Your first gun probably won't matter much. I bet not too many guys still own or carry the first handgun they bought.
Great! You like the XDS. Go buy it.

I have a couple carry guns which I've had for 10 yrs. All others have come and gone and always end up back to the 2 I shoot best, feel best in my hand and coming out of a holster. My first carry gun lasted a year until I learned to shoot.

From your choices, I like the PPS. Not a Ruger boy or fan of the XDS. Doesn't make you wrong and me right. If this is a 1 and done decision, sounds like the Springfield is your best bet. Good luck.
 
Folks who are new to the world of shooting and guns come like anyone new to any activity - they have no way to know what it is about it they don't know.
And they usually come to the chosen activity with loads of misleading ideas.
(I blame the movies and television :o ).
So asking questions is good.
Just don't forget to listen to the answers.
 
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