More confused than ever.

Thanks for all the input guys. I hope to get back to the range this weekend at some point. But now in my hunt for my first handgun I have to make sure I don't neglect the good old 12g out at the trap field.
So much fun to be had and so little time.
 
too many choices

IMHO too many choices will kill you. If you go in the army they give you one weapon and YOU get used to it (shoes don't break in; feet do). Stick to what you want if that is a 9mm, .45 or .38 and look in that range of guns.

Somewhere down the road you will buy another. Someone said that guns give birth and multiply, I truly believe that. Find one and love it or trade it off it doesn't work. Me I get most of my guns from others selling off and some I like more than others but they are all fun.

Just so you know my first gun was an 1861 replica black powder colt that got me hooked. My second was a browning buckmark .22 then a colt .45 ACP. Some 30 years later I still have them all and more. You are going to get buyer’s remorse because you are looking too hard. It is a gun and not a life change, you can sell and buy.
 
Welcome ...and first of all you're approaching this thing from a smart perspective...

Part of the issue is --there are a lot of variations or models within the models...like the Sig 226 ...there is a DAK trigger and the more traditional DA/SA trigger ...and the short reset trigger...( and I think Sig makes about 18 versions of the 226 ) from an all stainless ( which is heavier ) to the more common alloy frame and steel slide. Range rental guns ..are iffy...are they clean and well lubed ...maybe, maybe not...but its probably the best you can do.

This is about a lot of things ...what fits your hands the best, the grip angle and how the gun comes up for you - the angle of your wrist / the width of the grip area ( double stack guns are wider ) / the weight ...is it nose heavy or does it feel light or heavy .../ can you easily reach the controls / what kind of sights are on the gun - can you acquire them easily....

Add a 1911 platform to the mix - maybe a 4" and a 5" barrel ...and in 9mm and in .45 acp. Some 1911's are alloy frames / some are steel - but the controls are virtually the same ( some have ambi safeties, etc ) ...

Glock 34 was missing from your list ...it has a better trigger than most Glocks.

Start comparing the triggers ---- how they break, how they reset ( how far you have to go to reset), do they wobble, is there any slack, any creep ...and realize that all hinged triggers have to move thru an arc ...vs 1911 triggers that move straight back and forth in the frame ( but not all 1911 triggers are good ...some break at 3.5 lbs some break at 6 lbs...) ...and everything in between.

Just like in the shotgun world ...its not just about a 12ga ...Browning, Beretta, etc all make dozens of models ...and they are really different ..

and oh, have fun with the process...!
 
"The basic problem here is that you shot the King Cobra with whimpy 38s. Go back and try some magnum ammo. "

That's terrible advice and a waste of money for someone who appears to be a new shooter trying out guns.
 
I think I'll just need to take my time.
Click to expand...

Billy, excellent attitude, a purchase as important as a firearm should not be rushed. try as many different types and styles as you can.

Personally I prefer revolvers Vs. autoloaders. Revolvers are simple and easy to use. just "point and shoot." If you can try several different wheelguns..
 
As said, if not for concealment, get a full size gun that will give you some mass to soak up recoil and enough sight radius for precise aim.
Check out Glock 17 or 34 instead of the "compact" G19.
And anything else that you can try out; I'm not going to try to specify an individual gun.

You are not marrying this pistol and you don't have to hire a lawyer if you change your mind. Get something reasonably suitable and start getting experience, even training. If you want something different or nicer later on, that can be a future purchase.

I guess we are all too manly to talk about a FIRST PISTOL being a .22.
Who cares that it costs less to buy, lots less to shoot, has much less muzzle blast and almost no recoil?
 
partial to revolver or auto?

i have both..as ive gotten older the rev have more appeal. point shoot..it dies

auto not so simple..and i dont wanna git into that discussion here but i have for that reason gravitated towrds the revolvers. defensively i should add. ccw

not as many cool options..lights lasers etc for revolvers...maybe not as high a cool factor either..which i hav discovered here at work is imp to alot of people when they buy thier first gun...not how it will actually function to save my or my familys life

just another point to consider for ya:cool:
 
I personally would try to shoot the following:

1911 Govt 5" in 45 ACP. SAO
1911 Commander 4.25" in 45 ACP SAO
Browning HP 9mm SAO
Sig P229 9mm DA/SA
Sig P228 9mm DA/SA
Sig P239 9mm DA/SA
Sig Pro SP2022 9mm DA/SA
CZ 75B 9mm DA/SA or SAO
CZ Compact/P01/PCR in 9mm (Much shorter length of pull then the 75B and more compact). DA/SA
HK P30 9mm DA/SA or SAO
HK45 in 45 ACP DA/SA orSAO
S&W M&P 9mm DAO
SA XD DAO

What you want to focus on is making sure you are properly gripping the pistol that you have a solid shooting stance and that you have proper trigger control. Google Todd Jarrett and a video will pop up on Youtube and everyhere else where he goes over basic grip, stance and trigger finger. This will really help you evaluate one pistol vs another in terms of fit.

For me the most important part of gun fit is the length of reach to the guns first pull. SA in a 1911 or BHP or DA pull on a DAO or DA/S gun like a Glock or Sig. You must be able to reach the trigger with a proper grip and the proper amount of trigger finger to find a gun you will shoot well.

While you are shooting consider the different types of actions. Do you want the gun to have only one trigger pull? If so you want to focus on DAO or SAO guns. If you do not mind the DA/SA transition then consider guns like the Sig P226 and 92FS. Take your time you have only shot a few guns.
 
Nnobby45 makes a good point. Likes, preferences, platforms, caliber choices, etcetera are developed over time coupled with experience. Because there are so many choices, my starting point is the ergonomics of the firearm. Example: my larger fingers overlap the Glock grooves but don’t have any problem with the Springfield XDm. Example: when I quickly raise a pistol, I find the grip angle will result in the front sight being low, high or close to what I would term my natural “point of aim.” While I can train myself to shoot whatever platform, the learning curve is lessened by picking a pistol which comes up with the closer sight alignment picture for me. The operative part is - FOR ME. After shooting for a few years, you should be able to walk into a store and know what feels “right” for you.

I would recommend a full size stainless steel, steel or alloy range pistol. The .22 is an excellent starter and learning tool to open the way to the larger calibers. You can afford to bang away with a 9mm, but if you go larger, as in 40S&W, .357 or .45ACP, you’ll soon find yourself looking at reloading equipment.
 
Try em all. Carried & qualified with a lot of them over the years. S&W 19, S&W 65, a couple 9mms, and a colt 45. Hunted with Pythons & S&W 29's. What do I carry now that my goatee is white & I limp a little, a Llama 45Max. Yeah I know they are not made anymore, have bad reps for being cheap. Hey, I have put thousands of rounds down range, never jammed once or misfired. I enjoy shooting it more than any other pistol I have ever shot or carried. The moral or point of the retired guys lecture? Try em until you find one you really like. Don't worry if you find one that is not the "latest super-shooter". Go with what you like. The locals stopped kidding me when the saw me shoot it. :D
 
Definitely take your time. All the guns you mentioned are solid. Avoid sketchy quality (like Taurus) and stick to nameplates that are universally considered quality. A gun is a big investment. it costs about as much as a mid-sized LED television, based on the average cost of $500-600. No need to rush.
 
Code: 
A gun is a big investment. it costs about as much as a mid-sized LED television, based on the average cost of $500-600.

It's funny how the price isn't really the thing that is on my mind at this point. I'm not saying I'm made of money by any means but a quality tool is worth every penny.
But then again, I still won't buy a flat screen TV until the big old ones I have die. You won't hear that from many male electronics technicians in their early 30's.
I guess I'm not the norm. But I never really was a fan of Cheers anyway :)

Thanks for all the replies guys.
 
A couple MORE to try

there are only two guns that jumped out to me:

S&W M&P .45 either fullsize or compact

Double Stack "1911" .45 SAO in commander or fullsize(para-ord P13.45)
 
I fail to see how most of the responses here are going to help you determine what is right for you. Try this, try that, etc... What works for me may not work for you.

I found it easier to rule out what I didn't like. For example, I prefer the trigger pull to be the same each time, so I just say no to DA/SA guns.

I wanted a midsize gun...so no fullsize or sub compacts.

Capacity was important to me...so no less than 15 rounds. (also no revolvers)

Eventually you can whittle your choices to a reasonable list of guns and then choose according to your wallet.

Good luck!
 
I hope to get to the range this weekend. At this point I think I'm leaning towards a revolver.
Generally, they are more simple to use and from what I have seen I should have a better chance of spending less money than if I went with a semi-auto.
I'm not worried about capacity since by law here in NY I can't have more that 10 rounds, right?
I'll just keep making as many holes in the paper as I can down range until i find the right one.
If anyone is interested in buying my late 70's Fender Twin Reverb amp maybe it will open my options up a bit.
Any guitar players out there? I do guitar work if anyone needs a setup. :)
 
Try on of these for range work.


P30.jpg


P220DAK-1.jpg


browninghp.jpg
 
Just google Walther P99. The model with the AS trigger has a decocker. One of the best 9 mm currently out there. Just go and read the reviews and you'll know what I mean.
 
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