Looking in to a new handgun....What to get?

C

CRyan

Inactive
Ok guys. I am new to this forum and have never owned a fire-arm of any kind. I want a fairly simple handgun.

What is standard issue to the FBI? That looks like something I would be interested in. I simply want something for shooting practice and home defense.

What do you guys Suggest?
 
Semi-auto or revolver? Your best bet is to scope some gun stores, get some opinions, then go to a range. Many indorr ranges will let you "try" various pistols for a small fee. I suggest that route.

Are you going to carry concealed (CCW) for personal defense? Or is this to be a "house gun"? How much $'s do you want to spend?
 
Semi-auto all the way. I am looking for a house gun, but you never know, I might want to get a concealed liscense later on. Not sure about the cost as I have never been gun shopping. Something not too expensive really. Thought I would check the experts out first so I would have a clue before stepping out.

I had an accquaintance a few years ago who was in the FBI and his gun looked like something I would be interested in. That was the point of the reference above.

Thanks for any help,

C. Ryan

[This message has been edited by CRyan (edited May 05, 2000).]
 
There will be tons of posts spouting off about stopping power and praising the gun that they own.

Ignore them.

First, do you have any significant training with a handgun?

If not find a local range that offers beginner's courses. The NRA basic sequence will work just fine.

Try a bunch of different guns at a rental range. Don't be enamoured with BIG guns.

The FBI switches everytime time they read their horoscope.

After training and trying - then buy.

Given you do that - you can't go wrong with
a 38SPL/357 revolver or a quality 9mm.
Not that expensive and easy to use.
Try some of these at the range.

If you master those, then worry about the fancy stuff.

Then practice and start on some intermediate classes.

Now someone will recommend the SW 629 extreme in 44 mag with a 12 inch barrel. Naw!



[This message has been edited by Glenn E. Meyer (edited May 05, 2000).]
 
I'd give my left nut for a nice 6" Nickel plated or SS Python.

[This message has been edited by Dennis Olson (edited May 05, 2000).]
 
Ok. That sounds good thus far.

I do not want a BIG gun. A 9MM sounds good. But really what specific guns do you suggest? I am afraid of walking into some place and being inundated with makes and modles and then ending up with something that is regarded as crap or worse - a gun that is known for problems.

Thanks for the warning. I am a long-time member of some other forums and know how the veterans like to convey their opinions as gospel.. :)


Thanks a lot,

C. Ryan

Aside....Do you have to pass some class before even purchasing a gun? I do plan on taking a class this summer. Thanks.

[This message has been edited by CRyan (edited May 05, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by CRyan (edited May 05, 2000).]
 
Aside from what Glenn said, after you have had some basic firearms instruction and safety, see if there are any ranges that offer gun rentals. That is a good way to try out different guns. You are out the cost of the rental plus the cost of ammo.

I have seen many new gun owners start off with various Glock models. The reasoning seems to be that they shoot well and are easy to maintain. If a range has rentals, they will most likely have some Glocks to try. I am not a big fan of Glocks, personally, but a lot of people love them.
 
Ok - then I have to put up or shut up.

In a revolver, you can't go wrong with an SW 686 with a 4 inch barrel.

For the semi:

The Glock 19 is a great gun. Ignore the Glock haters but try one. Price is right. One of the Rugers like a P-95 is a good but less expensive options.

You can put more money into a Sig or Walther but it ain't worth it. I've shot most of the 9s out there. Glocks are just fine.

Kahrs, Berettas are nice also.
 
When you say you don't want a big gun, do you mean big caliber or literally big? example: A beretta 92FS is full size, but the caliber is a moderate 9mm, so recoil is mild.

All of these brands make fine semi autos:
http://www.czub.cz/PISTOLA.HTM
http://www.springfield-armory.com/pistol_top.html
http://www.ruger-firearms.com/pistols/pseries.html
http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/hipower/hipower.htm
http://www.sigarms.com/ http://www.sigarms.ch/sig.htm
http://www.kahr.com/pistols_front.html
http://www.taurususa.com/pistols.html
http://www.beretta.com/
http://www.hecklerkoch-usa.com/


Glock doesn't have a web page
www.Smith-Wesson.com

I'm sure I forgot some.
 
WHoa. Cool. Thanks for all the resources and suggestions. I see that I have my research work cut out for me.

Thanks Glenn, No4Mk1 and the rest. More suggestions from anyone are appreciated.

C. Ryan
 
I guess what I mean by BIG gun is one that is just huge, heavy, and cumbersom. I may want to get a CCW for it later on.

C. Ryan
 
CRyan,
Do what I do, go to the gun store, and/or rental range, find a gun that you like, but don't buy it yet. Tell the clerk/owner that you have to clear the purchase with wife/husband/GF/BF/whoever, and come back here and ask about that particular gun. If'n it's got metal parts and goes "BANG", someone here either owns it or used to. (This may be a slight exageration, but I wouldn't bet on it)

------------------
Formerly Puddle Pirate.
Teach a kid to shoot.
It annoys the antis.
 
I'd recommend getting a Glock 17. If it's for home defense, put a tack light on it and keep it in a quick access safe by your bed. The Glock is light, reliable, feels great in the hand, easy to take down for cleaning and reasonably priced. Easy to manipulate if you ever have to in the dark of night. That's the one I kept as my home defense for a long time, until I sold it recently, with my Glock 27, as part of a deal to purchase a Les Baer Thunder Ranch. You don't want to spend $1700 for your first gun though. I carry the Kimber Ultra Elite, a fine handgun for that purpose. The Glock is the one I'd recommend to start out with, though--keep it simple. Good luck with your purchase and welcome to the handgun community!

------------------
"I love to do things that scare me, for without fear there is no courage."
 
Another good way to go is to find a friend who is a shooter and ask if you can go along sometime. Virtually all experienced shooters I know are dying to introduce new people to the sport. When I find I newbie who wants to go I set it up ASAP, bring anything I have that they might want to shoot and buy the ammo. I consider it my responsability. I'd be willing to bet that there are more than a few TFL'ers in Memphis.
 
CRyan,

First of all, welcome to The Firing Line!

That said, I will try to caution you as a neophyte against a semi-auto simply because they are much more complicated than a revolver. The operation of a semi-auto pistol is more difficult to master. Pistols have more features than a typical revolver.

A pistol may have a grip safety, a manual safety, slide release, magazine release, magazine disconnect, single action, da/sa, DAO, second strike capability, different feeding malfunctions, ejecting malfunctions, etc, etc, etc.

A typical double action revolver is much easier for a beginner to understand. load it, close the cylinder and pull the trigger. No safeties to think about. Just pull the trigger and it goes bang.

For a beginner, I would reccomend a 4" double action .357 revolver. You simply can't go wrong! You can practice all day with .38 Spls and save the heavy stuff for defense use if the blast and recoil are too much for you to handle at first.

A small frame snubbie revolver may be easier to conceal if you are thinking of getting a CCW permit, but a 4" medium frome is just about universal for all-around use.

------------------
Remember, just because you are not paranoid doesn't mean they are not out to get you!
 
CRyan,
The simplest semi-auto to master is anything by Glock.(No Flames Please)
The most affordable is the P-series by Ruger.
Both are fine guns that will give you years of dependable service.
Stay away from Smith and Wesson.

------------------
BOYCOTT SMITH AND WESSON!!!
Defend the Constitution from the foreign threat!!!!
 
I am a big fan of the Browning HiPower clones in 9mm. I'm referring to the Hungarian FEG which is available for about $200. It is a simple, solid, reliable pistol and good for a beginner.

------------------
Better days to be,

Ed
 
What Glenn said!

PS: Glocks, IMHO, are not guns for newbies. Despite the icky Tupperware feel I shoot them remarkably well, so much so that I crave a Glock 19. Plastic and all, I still can't get it off my mind.

A friend who is the qualifying/range officer for the local sheriff's department says that newbies qualify with the Glock at MUCH higher rates than when the department was using, over the years, the S&W 686, then 1911s, and then SIGs. Glocks are reliable. Failure to feed and extract? I found a 9mm round that someone, on the range, had cycled through the department issue .40.

Oh yeah. Glock ADs and NDs? Yup. Lots of 'em on the range. I saw the bullet holes in inappropriate places during a session as a guest. You would not believe what the railroad ties in front of the seven yard range look like, let alone the walls, roof, and floor of the covered ready area.

We recently had a NEWBIE deputy AD/ND a round through the back window of a lady's car that had been stopped, because her vehicle matched the description of a vehicle driven by a subject involved in a shooting. When the deputy's Glock took out the rear window during the stop the back-up deputy joined in with his twelve gauge. "Subject" survived without a ding but showered in heat-treated glass fragments. Emotional trauma? Refer to Winston Churchill. Dialo was not as lucky.

I know, I know. Keep your finger off the trigger. But, dead is dead. Accident or no.

I have been shooting since I was five years old, so let's see, that's ... let's just say that Viet Nam is not history to me, but I still can't wrap my mind around the Glock "safety," even though, in reality, it is the same as a WELL tuned DA revolver. I don't know why, but I just don't trust the safety to become dis-engaged by a twig, clothing, finger, etc. I have not logic for this. Gut feeling. Have learned to listen to gut.

That being said, why can't I leave Glocks, alone?

Last week, I sublimated and bought a new CZ 75B with night-sights. I hope this helps exorcise this Glock craving from my psyche. Damn, them plastic pistols!

Nevermind. Just do what Glenn said.

-William
 
CRyan,

My recommendation for a good, simple, first time handgun is a medium frame .357revolver and mostly shoot .38Specials in it.

You can usually find good used ones for about $250-300 dollars. I would get a stainless as opposed to blued for ease of maintenance, if you prefer blued by all means get that if you want it.

Different models to look for:

S&W: Models 13,19,581,or 586(Blued)/Models 65,66,681,or 686(Stainless)

Ruger: Service Six, Security Six, GP100(These ones come in either Stainless or blued)

Taurus: They have come out with so many models in the last few years I couldn't tell you what all they have to offer. Some of them are the model 66,607,608,508,the list goes on.

Colt: Trooper, New Service, King Cobra, Python, DSII(Improved version of their Detective Special but in .357), PeaceKeeper

Rossi: Don't know all the models but some of them are the 971,877,977, etc.

As far as the FBI they now issue new recruits Glock's in .40caliber. Once you are a full fledged officer they give a lot of leeway as to what can be carried. There are agents out there carrying S&W1076's(10mm), Sig's in various calibers, Even the old Model 13's in 3-inch .357 with the FBI load(158grain semi-wadcutter hollopoint +P.38Special).

I recommend the revolver for a first time gun because it is simple to use and maintain. .38Special ammo is cheap to shoot and easy on the shooter as far as muzzle blast, felt recoil, noise.
 
One other thing, Another gun the FBI uses for their special teams is a Springfield Armory 1911 in .45ACP. Yet another choice for you. You can get the civilian version through Springfield Armory.....
 
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