First time gun owner looking for help please?

Well I decided to wait until the flury of replies had slowed down before posting again.

First off THANK YOU for everyone's feedback. I learned a lot from all the comments.

My initial intent was to get some basic feedback as to different types of guns, and stuff to look out for during my search. And that is exactly what I got. I realize that I could ask 10 different gun owners, and get 10 potentially different answers; just like I could ask stereo speaker owners or plasma TV owners etc. and get different answers as to what is best for my situation. And that is fine, because along with those answers, come reasons why.

I know replies and opinions do not take the place of holding and firing. I simply wanted to narrow down my list or add to it. And that is what I have done. I plan to head out to the gunshop tonight and shoot a variety of guns. I'll go from there.

I'll post again once I make some progress.

Thanks again
 
Of the guns on your list - I like the Sig 239 the best.

I have a couple of them in 9mm and .40S&W ....and I use them as small carry guns / and to instruct new shooters. They're easy to operate / slim / light weight ...and not intimidating for new shooters.

I will also 2nd the idea of a 4" revolver in .357 mag - like the S&W model 19 or 66. They're good solid guns / good triggers / easy to carry - and easy to shoot. I often start new shooters with a revolver.

I had a buddy that has not fired a gun in 30 yrs at range last week - and after an hour of instruction - we went to the range with a S&W model 66, 4" - and he fired a box of .38spl and some .357 mag ......then he went to the Sig 239 in 9mm and put a box thru it ....and then spent some time with a 1911 chambered in 9mm. He doesn't know if he wants to carry a gun or not ....but this weekend he's shopping for a good used 4" revolver and will shoot some more guns in 9mm ( Beretta, Springfield, Glock, etc ...) but my hunch is he'll go back to the Sig 239 based on talking to him this morning.
 
Back from the range

UPDATE.. BACK FROM THE RANGE

I headed out to the gun shop and range last night with my listing of 9 or so guns. I showed the salesman my list and we spent some time holding a whole bunch of them. I held most of the guns mentioned on the forum although some they didn't have (various Kahrs, CZ75, and older guns like Sig 228 and S&W 3913). I held the Glock 19, Glock 26, Springfield XD, Ruger SR9 and SR9C, Sig Sauer 239, and Walther P99. I can't say I disliked any of them, but I did take notice to the much higher price of the Sig and Walther..which I had been warned about by some of you.

I far preferred the Glock 19 to the 26, and the Ruger SR9C to the SR9. I liked the Springfield. I liked the Walther but it was pricey at 650.

Based on that, we headed downstairs to the range. I was with a friend who is looking as well. They made us shoot a .22 first and we did well so we moved up to a 9mm. We tested the Glock 19 since that was high on my list. I really liked it. We then rented a Glock 23, basically so we could compare 9mm to .40 since my friend was thinking of getting a .40. I must say I preferred the 9mm but it wasn't a huge difference. My shot placement was better with the 19. They had a Springfield (but not a Ruger SR9C) but we ran out of time.

So I am heavily leaning towards the Glock 19 at this point. Basically b/c I liked the way it felt in my hand, the way it shot, the reliability of Glock, the great reviews, the ease of parts/maintenance, etc. With that said, I will likely go back and try to fire the Springfield XD to compare.

The Glock was $540, the Springfield $525, the Ruger $420, and the Walther $650. So for now, I'm ruling out the Walther based on price and the fact that I can't rent one. I'm ruling out the Ruger since I can't test it. I realize I could probably go to other ranges, try to find them, and test them. But at this point, I really like the Glock and want to compare to the Springfield. I figure this is likely not going to be my only gun so for future guns, I can spend more time tracking them down, borrowing, testing etc. when I get my next one.

Also, they did have a couple used Glock 19s (around $470) but at that small price difference between used and new, I'm leaning towards new.

For those that mentioned safety and training, they also offer a one on one training/safety class which I am going to take once I make the purchase. I also want to take a legal class of some sort to fully understand the gun laws of my state.

So that is my thought process and position for now. Thoughts welcome.
 
Glock 19 is a very practical firearm and a great choice in my opinion. I would just like to point out that a glock especially needs a good holster (which covers the trigger guard). You also need hearing protection and eye protection, spare magazines, ammo and training. Did I forget anything ?? Good shooting !
 
Yes, I want to invest in a good holster. I believe there is a nice variety for Glocks; that's another reason I like the idea of a Glock, at least for me as a beginner. More choices for accessories from what I understand.

And yes ear and eye protection I have. And training is on the way!
 
All of your "short list" pistols should serve you well. Of them, I think the Glock is your best choice, especially give you like the feel of it. Two thoughts:

  • There are VAST quantities of accessories for the Glock; that doesn't mean you have to immediately run out and buy them. Shoot the stock pistol for a while, get a good working feel for the gun, and only then start considering mods - establish your "baseline" first.
  • A year membership in the GSSF is $35; once you receive your membership card, this gives you the privilege of purchasing a new Glock at a members discount once per calendar year (though you need to do so through a participating dealership - call GSSF for dealers in your area). The latest pricing I saw for a new Glock 19 under the program is $425, with three magazines.
I'm looking forward to your final decision :)
 
Believe me when I say, get the gun you prefer. That's the whole point of shooting first. Also, believe me when I tell you that price should never be the determining factor in choosing a firearm because if you go cheap then then you don't like the gun, you're hosed. If you like a gun and it fits you and shoots well for you, save your pennies and buy it. Better to wait until you have the cash than to spend less cash on something that's wrong for you.

Nothing wrong with the Glock. If you like it, buy it. Done deal! :D And if it does, in fact, cost a bit less, more power to ya. You'll have more money for ammo!

Have fun with it and let us know how it goes out there!

--Wag--
 
the glock is a fine choice. as a first time owner, i would strongly recommend you getting use to the lack of a safety. i would urge you to see if you can get a hold of a sr9c, as it is a fine weapon. i have a glock 17 (gen 3) myself, but my next will be either a sr9c or the sig p226. dont count out a used pistol, a lot of the times they come with extras and could save you some break in time. i think the recommended break in period is 3-500 rounds, so figure that into your decision on prices as well.
 
It looks like you are moving right along in a positive manner. I would encourage you to shoot the springfield xd and the ruger, if you can, before you settle on a purchase, as they will point differently. I have 3 sons and we all shoot a great deal. Two shoot the XD and one shoots the Glock. So make sure you buy the one that fits!! Get whatever training is available. After 30 plus years as an instructor I still take quality classes as often as I can as we never stop learning. Once again welcome to a sport you can enjoy for the rest of your life.
Tomaz45
 
Off your list, my 1st pick would be the Glock 17. The KelTec is also a good pistol, but it's advantage is it's so thin and compact that it easily fits in pants pockets with nary an outline. Downside on something so small is that you have less accuracy than some of the others on your list with more sight radius and over the long hall, it won't have the same durability as some of the more hefty models.

If you like the 9mm, maybe you can eventually get them both.:)
 
The Glock 19 is a fine pistol. If you like it and it fits the intended use, go for it.

Glocks are not my favorite, but they are good utilitarian firearms. Of that, there can be no doubt! If it works for you...
 
UPDATE..

After much debate and thought, I finally decided on a Glock 19. I spent some time trying to track down some of the other weapons mentioned (specifically the SR9C and Springfield). My brother reminded me I had already shot the Springfield months ago (I guess I was indifferent with it) so I concentrated on trying to test the SR9C. Unfortunately, of the 3 ranges I called, none had it. Thus I decided to just go with the Glock as my first gun, and do more test shooting for my future guns. I'm already looking even though I don't have my first one in my hand yet. ; )

I then had to decide where to buy it from. It was amazing how different the cost was amongst local shops. After much comparisons, I went with an online store who had a super low price. Once adding on the shipping and transfer fee (which ranged from $25-50 in my area), the final OTD cost was only $10 more than getting it via the GSSF program (where I would have to pay sales tax and the GSSF fee plus the GSSF dealer charged an extra $10 for background check. So the $425 gun cost became much much more than that.

So hopefully I will be getting it in a couple days. I'm then getting tritium sights and I should be good to go. Then a holster of course.. and tons of other accessories I'll probably end up getting!!

Thanks for everyone's feedback.
 
S&W 3913. This is a good solid gun. No funky trigger dingus safety like the glock. I don't like Glocks or Glock-type guns for 1st guns - most 1st time gun owners won't carry a Glock with one in the chamber. With the Smith, this is not a problem.

I really think the S&W 3913 is a good fit for what you want.
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I agree 100%. I won't bash the Glock, it is a fine reliable gun. I just don't like it for a first time owner. I have a 3913, if you want to go a little smaller go for a CS9. S&Ws aren't cheap but don't pinch pennies when it comes to quality. S&W has an excellent life time warrantee.

The most important thing to do is to shoot the gun you are thinking of buying.
 
I would suggest a Glock 17, fine range gun and will meet your other requirements very well. 9mm is fairly economical to shoot as far as center fire goes.
 
I just noticed that we got to this dance a little late, he made up his mind. Aside from my reservations about a first timer getting a Glock the Gun is an excellent choice as long as the operator gets the proper safety instructions. Enjoy your gun but make sure that someone gives you instructions as to how to handle the gun. A big problem with Glocks comes from poorly designed holsters. Be careful when you holster the gun, if the trigger snags on something you can have an A/D. Just about all accidents are caused by operator error, the Glock is less forgiving than other tupperware guns that have an additional grip safety.
 
That I can't tell you..

But, I can say...My first gun was the Glock 22 second generation. A nice full sized glock is a great beginning gun and it disciplines you on keeping your finger off the trigger when drawing and handling..all that fun stuff.

So I guess my vote goes for your option on the glock 19...You will love it.
 
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