First time Handgun owner

Glock 19 is a good pistol.

Normally, first time handgun owners are advised to get a .22LR (Ruger or Buckmark). This allows for a lot of practice (safety, gun handling, trigger control, etc) at lesser cost than any centerfire.
Also, it may help to narrow down your question:
1. what is the primary use -- CCW, target/range, home defense, etc?

As a general purpose pistol, I think the Glock 19 is OK. Personally, I do not like Glocks because it feels blocky to me.
Are you looking at others? HK, Sig, Walther, etc?
 
Don't know what your budget is, but look at ammo prices and pick the caliber that won't drain your bank account. Practice is the key to shot placement, and a hit with a .22 LR is better than a miss with a .45 ACP any day.
 
The G19 is a very good choice.

There are way too many good 9mm's to choose from. Rent as many as you can and buy the one that fits your hands well.
 
New handgun owners; skill training....

Hi Rex;

These subjects come up often on this & other gun related forums.
In short, unless you have formal skill training(LE military armed security etc), I'd highly suggest a new or used/good condition .357magnum or .38spl DA/DA only revolver. You can use .38spl for practice/training then upgrade to powerful .357magnum rounds.
New revolvers can carry 5-8 rounds, they are safe, easy to clean/service and can be concealed/carried w/o problems.
If you really want a semi-auto pistol, I suggest a new SIG Sauer P226R/P229R DAK, the HK LEM format P2000 or P30, the Beretta PX4 Storm C. Glocks, Springfield XDs, S&W military and police models are good but the striker fired. A hammer-fired pistol is safer & better for a new gun owner than a striker system IMO. Some pistols with striker types come with ambi safeties.

SIG-Sauer markets add-on kits with .22LR. This is a smart move if you want to shoot a lot, ;).
I'd add that you should learn your local-state laws or ordanances & join the NRA, www.NRA.org . Get proper skill training from a respected program/instructor and avoid using handloads or reloaded ammunition for
protection/carry use.
For cleaning see: www.Brownells.com www.Weaponshield.com www.Ballistol.com www.Mpro7.com . Ballistol & Mpro7's LPX are great.
 
It depends what your purpose in owning it is. If you are purchasing for a concealed carry gun, I personally would suggest something else until you have a little more experiene with handguns. This gun does not have a safety, it has a relatively very light trigger pull, etc.

For target shooting, it is a great handgun! Either way, a semiautomatic for a first time buyer, you need to realize that you must train with it and practice with it to become proficient, handle jams, etc. If you're willing to practice with it, it's a wonderful little gun!

Good luck!
 
You really need to rent and shoot a number of guns before you buy ....

Is a Glock 19 a good choice / not to me it isn't ... grip angle does not fit my hands, trigger doesn't break the way I like, the trigger doesn't reset the way I like ... its blocky and bulky ..../ but it isn't about what I like, its about what you like, and what fits your hands - and your budget.

Personally, in a DA/SA weapon --- I think the Sig 226 or 229 is a superior weapon to the Glock ....better trigger, better trigger, built stronger, etc ... If I wanted to go smaller - I'd go with the Sig 239 - which is a single stack weapon ....or I'd go with a 1911.... If I had to pick an acceptable Glock it would be the model 34 - because it has a much better trigger in it, in my opinion.

9mm is the least expensive of the common calibers out there ....so its more affordable ....which means you'll probably practice more ...which is a really good thing.

Don't be in a hurry / rent some guns first ...maybe you'll like the Glocks ...maybe you won't ....
 
You really need to rent and shoot a number of guns before you buy ....
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+1/\

It is a good choice if it fits you, and you have enough experience to know it!
Do you have any training or experience with handguns?
What is your intended purpose for the gun?
 
You really need to rent and shoot a number of guns before you buy ....
Click to expand...
+2 on that. You will get a lot of people say buy a Glock. While I have nothing against Glock I could never shoot one accurately. That is why you need to try several handguns. You my fine that a G19 is the best for you but you may find that a CZ75b is the best. That is why you need to try several.

The best 9mm I shoot and own is a S&W 5903 3rd generation. Very accurate and one of the safest pistols ever made.

Good luck,
Howard
 
A Glock is a great choice, however, it might not be your best choice.

A couple of questions first. This is your first gun, but is it your first time shooting a gun? How familiar with handguns are you? What is the purpose of this gun? Home defense, concealed carry, target practice?

Answering these questions might lead you to a gun that's the best choice for you.
 
I do appreciate all the great advise I have received (I was very hesitant about joing "The Firing Line" NOT ANYMORE) I could not have gotten this kind of response or advise from any local Dealer or gun enthusiast and at this time I believe I will take everyone's advise and start off by renting different handguns and shoot until I find the one that best suits me. My first priority will be to take a class in gun safety :)
I do plan to carry this weapon and I want to make sure I know everything about it before I make my choice.
I also plan on using it for target practice and eventually would like to participate on a local team for fun.
My heart is still with the Glock but now I am more open to trying other options.
 
Rex,
welcome to the board.

Big Jim gave the best advice, rent and shoot a number of weapons as they're all different.

Then determine in your own mind how the ergonomics / fit is for you, recoil, accuracy, etc. The Glock fits well in the hands of many, but not everyone. The Beretta is well balanced for some, but too heavy for others, etc.

To just say weapon X is good for anyone without qualification is a good marketing spiel but probably is a stretch.

Good luck and welcome!
 
For a first time shooter the Glock has less forgiving of a mistake or screw up by the operator. A new less experienced shooter could make a mistake and there is no mechanical device to stop an A/D or N/D. If somehow the trigger is pulled by accident with a 1911 the is a grip and thumb safety to prevent the gun from firing. The Glock only safety is the one between your ears.

I have been shooting for around 50 years and I have a hard time adjusting to Glocks trigger and there is something about the grip that feels awkward. Millions of people use Glocks and are happy with them so it is just a matter of my personal likes or dislikes.

I strongly suggest that you borrow or rent a Glock along with other guns and see how the gun feels in your hand and how well you can shoot it.

It does not matter what I or anyone else happens to like the only one that matters is how well the gun works in your hand.

I happen to thing the 1911 is one of the most accurate guns I own so do yourself a favor and try to shoot a 1911 and see how it compares to the Glock

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EDIT It looks like BigJimP beat me to it which only goes to show great minds think alike
 
Most people would recommend glocks being good guns for new comers to the gun world, I started with a 19 and was really great.
 
Glock models, .22LR kits, Robert Boatman...

To correct some of the forum posts about the Glock pistols;

The Glock models have what is called a "safe action". In short it's a striker fired system that INCLUDES a small safety IN the trigger, ;). The DoJ/ATF considers Glock pistols as DA only but I only apply that term to systems that have a exposed/external hammer.
For full details on the Glock line, see www.BoatmanBooks.com . The non fiction books of the late author Robert Boatman explains nearly every faucet & fact related to Glocks.
Some tactics instructors & sworn LE officers like Massad Ayoob suggest using the NY+1 trigger(based on a system used by the NY State Police) but Boatman advised Glock shooters to keep it factory stock, ;).

I've seen a few Glock after-market kits & barrels too. If you are set on a G-lock, Id opt for the latest Glock 23 .40S&W compact. You can buy replacement 9mmNATO or even better a .357sig barrel(that takes Glock .40 mags & no other parts/springs to use). You may find a model 23 .22LR kit too.
Renting & shooting handguns is smart. It's important to learn & understand proper methods to get the most out of it. As some gun press artcles & forum posts have shown, many "classes" & "rangemasters" have sprung up like mushrooms with the increase of citizen carry laws & new 2A/gun laws all over the USA. Many savvy gun owners know to take a 1 day class or workshop. You can gauge or assess a program/teacher BEFORE you drop a lot of $$$.

Real firearms/tactics trainers are "quiet professionals". They may answer your formal questions or provide background details but they won't brag, boast or sit around telling "war stories" of daring do(most of which is total do-do, ;)).

CF
 
To correct some of the forum posts about the Glock pistols;

The Glock models have what is called a "safe action".
Click to expand...

The problem is that with the Glock safe action if somehow the trigger is pulled by accident the gun goes boom, but with most other semis (except for Glock clones) the gun will not fire with the safety engaged. My opinion isn't worth any more or less than anyone else's but I strongly feel a first gun should have a few idiot proof features.

If someone feels they have to have a plastic gun the are clones out there that are better than the Glock, some have grip inserts to help the gun fit your hand better and some have a built in grip safety to add an extra level of idiot proofing.

I know there are a lot of Glock fans but unless a first timers gets some safe handling instructions I would rather see a first timer get a gun with something more than a safety in the trigger, it always seemed like a dumb idea to me to put the safety in the trigger.

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PS with all the Glock fans on gun forums I really tried to like a Glock and considered buying one. I was next to someone shooting a Glock at the range and asked him if he would not mind switching guns for a while, he liked my S&W .357 revolver but even though I wanted to like it I just couldn't do it
 
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