My first gun

D

DLL

New member
Hi all! I'm new here. :D

I'm going to be purchasing my first gun soon. I'm looking to spend up to $600 and I'd like either a 9mm or .40 S&W semi-auto.

I've looked at and held a bunch of guns at various shops, and I'm going to the range tonight with a friend who is bringing a nice selection to shoot.

I find myself really drawn to Glocks. I like how they look, feel, and how simple they are. I haven't shot any, but one of the guns my friend is bringing is a Glock 23, so I'll get to shoot that.

The other gun I was considering is the CZ-40 just because it was recommended to me and it's cheaper ;) . I haven't shot one yet either though.

Any comments or recommendations?

Also, what do you recommend as far as storage for the gun goes? Trigger lock? Safe? How much is a good gun safe?

/edit I've been shooting many times with friends and not a complete newbie. :p
 
Considered the FN Herstal Five-seveN?

:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

Seriously, try shooting an HK. They cost slightly more than Glocks, but to my hand their ergonomics are better and they're just as reliable.

Also, if the application is self-defense, reliability is Concern Number One. Get one WITHOUT a manual safety (which might prevent the gun from firing when you really need it) and WITH night sights.

If you buy an HK, special-order a Variant 7. Then call the dealer and the factory a few million times and threaten to cancel the order. Eventually, they'll come through. :D

Glocks aren't a bad choice. I'd say go to .45 if you can and take a look at the G30.

And never, ever, shoot :barf: Wolf ammo! :barf:
- pdmoderator
 
Check out the CZ 75. It's a large, all-steel pistol that's accurate, durable, and will set you back $375-425.
 
Hi, DLL. If you like shooting that 23, then you'll love the 30. It's .45ACP and is a little thicker than the 23 but its recoil, IMO is softer. (the 23 was my first gun) Prices do vary but around here any Glock is cheaper than $600 (most are around $500-$525). Have you considered 1911s? There are many good ones out there that are reliable weapons.

This may not help much, but if the pistol feels good in your hands and you enjoy shooting it then you will enjoy practicing with it.

Storage is a real personal thing which has many variables. Do you have kids? Friends with kids? Young kids? Snoopy friends who dig through your stuff? We keep our guns secured when we are not home but have them cocked, locked, and very accessible when we are home. We don't have kids, btw.

Lots to think about...
 
This is just a coincidence but i'm also a big fan of HK USP's. "My" gun is an HK USP.40, but i started with a Glock 17.

9mm is the cheapest to shoot and easiest to find, next would be the .45 and behind them the .40.

Depending on what will be the purpose of your gun, the Glock or the USP are a lighter carry and you'll be gratefull for the polymer frame in the long run. The all metal CZ are heavier guns, might not feel so right from the start but you will be able to tell by the end of the day.

CZs normally also have slimmer grips, I'd say that after them come the Glocks (unless we're talking .45) and you'll find that the largest grip belongs to the USP. Differences are minimal but still there nevertheless.

Pick the gun you're more comfortable with, make sure that the grip makes it point naturally at the target and that no correction is necessary. I have a friend with a CZ 75 and find that his gun is too small for my hands, the G17 was almost perfect but i ended up installing a rubber grip on top of it and was still not too happy about the results. HKs and me? A match made in heaven.

Whatever you decide, try before you buy!:D

Good luck and enjoy your new gun.

NB
 
I own a Glock 35 40S&W(tactical) its accuracy is awesome. Take 20sec to adjust rear sight and there ya go. My dad bout a Glock .45cal, since he got tired of thd little 9m round, and he likes it alot. My vs his is that in a gun battle i could pump 2x as many bullets as he could into an area 6" round. The 1st glock i ever shot was some1's personal in a gun shop-Glock sub-compact(too small) had a 3.5lb(or 2-dont remember) trigger(was 40cal) and i eventually-2 clips later-move teh target to 18-23yrds and held a good patern on the face of the target-semi rapid fire(enough to get a quick fix on the target)

Hopes this helps :)
 
1st gun, I'd give a serious look at the CZ 75 and the Baby Eagle 9mm. Depending on whether you like a frame mounted safety or slide mount will help you decide.
Inexpensive but high quality, accurate & because well designed and all steel, very durable.
 
Trigger locks and gun safes

If you're going to keep the gun loaded, don't use a trigger lock. Very, very dangerous.

I thought about the electronic safes but decided against them, basically for reasons of key management. ;) Instead, I went with one of the safes from http://www.handgunsafe.com. No problem with batteries wearing down and no key for you to lose or the BGs or your kids to find.

Of course, make sure you secure the safe to something really, really solid.

- pdmoderator
 
If I had it to do all over again, I'd by ANOTHER one of these...

p99_2621738.gif


Walther P99. You should buy what you shoot the best, no matter what the brand, but in a choice between the Walther and a Glock, please don't buy anything until you've had a chance to shoot them side by side. Or at a minimum, cycle each of them, to get a feel for how they each work, and feel. And, with Walther's recent price reduction to gain market share, you can get one for $500 or less.

If you're able to make a road trip to NJ, I'll be happy to spend some range time with you.
 
I would seriously consider the CZ line of pistols, simply because they are cheaper. Their hi-caps are also MUCH cheaper than Glocks. Don't look past the Beretta 92 series, either. I have a 92 Compact, and it has gone 2200+ rounds without a single jam or malfunction. Plus, Beretta 15 round mags are fairly cheap. I haven't tried the P99 yet, but I have heard good things about them.
 
I would agree with Rovert the P99 is a great gun. But, as everyone has said get to range and play with some options and see what works for YOU. Good luck and welcome to club.:p
 
Hey, Rovert,

...how did I know you were going to show up and try to sell DLL on a Walther? :D

Seriously, unless you've tried this:

usputl.jpg


you have not tried the best. :D

- pdmoderator
 
Just my Humble opinion....if you're not an experienced handgunner, consider a wheelgun. Snubb'd .38 or .357. Many are under $400, and this will get you used to handgunning before you go Auto. You're going to be up against things such as
double feeds, case jams, stovepipes, and you don't want to not know how to deal with these evil gremlins in a defensive situation......
 
:eek: Man you guys reply fast!

I don't have kids and my friends don't snoop through my stuff, but at the same time, I want the gun accessible only to me and my wife.

I'm primarily buying the gun for my shooting pleasure rather than home-defense, but of course it will serve that purpose also.

Oh, and I can't have hi-caps. I live in California.

Thanks for all the info. I'll defninitely let you guys know what I purchase and how happy I am with it.

Oh, and what other kind of "stuff" do I need to worry about buying for cleaning, transporting, etc?
 
Stuff...

* Cleaning kit.

* Carry case. If CA is like NJ, you will have to lock your gun in the trunk. I bought an SKS and have been happy so far.

* Ammo box. An inexpensive plastic toolbox will work fine.

* Earphones. I have both the old-fashioned and the electronic noise-cancelling kind and I like the noise cancelling ones much better. But they do cost considerably more.

* Eye protection. I wear glasses, so I use clip-on protectors.

* Ammo. Thousands of Rounds (tm) should set you up nicely for a month or two of practice.

* Ammo.

* Ammo.

* Some targets.

* Ammo.

* Range time.

* Ammo.

* Coaching.

* Ammo.

* Oh, and did I mention that you'll need some ammo? :D

- pdmoderator
 
Welcome to the board. Always glad to meet another non-victim.

I would second the motion of looking long and hard at a wheel gun before running out and buying an auto. Less to learn, and all that. Autos eat up the practice ammo really fast, too. It's very easy to get cavalier about accuracy with an auto, because you get ore shots per load, which is less important in a defense situation. Accuracy and reliability are paramount, and wheelguns excel at both.

HOWEVER, the decision is up to you, and if an auto fulfills your needs, by all means get one.

Pdmoderator's list of accessories is pretty complete, but I think you had better make sure you have plenty of ammo, in case you don't have enough. Then get some extra, because you always need more ammo. The only thing you need more than ammo is practice, so you'd best get some more ammo.

Oh, and a brass bucket. I'm betting you don't reload yet, but you will, I'm sure. Those autos eat the stuff fast, and brass is worth cash. You can also send in brass to commercial reloaders and save bucks, so you can buy some more ammo.

I would say something about beating a dead horse, but PETA would hammer me for it.

;) :D ;)
 
Sadly i cant take pics good but below is a link to a pic of my Hk usp 9f with a surefire p115 tac light now that is a gun,Now that would be a good first gun
 

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my 2 cents

I started out with a G27,then moved into a G22.Since then I bought a G22c and a Walther P99.All in .40sw.I'm currently looking at a CZ-100 my next purchase.Consider the piece as a carry gun or a range gun.Your subcompacts make great carry guns,G26 or G27/Kahr K40 or K9.I went for the .40sw over a 9mm because of the suppoused extra punch.Besides the LEO and the various Branches of services carrying the .40 sw it can't be a bad caliber.Go short grow into a bigger frame, shoot well, have fun,share your experience with non-shooting friends,learn proper technique,keep an open mind,practice-practice and more practice.Go to a range that offers rental shoots,go inexpensive but reliable.SAFE-SHOOTING!
 
Hey, PDM, is that your gun? Are those Trijicons I see on that?

Dunnow about 'the best', though. :D Turns out I was tempted by the USP compact and a Sig 229 just today, because my 3rd permit is 'burning a hole in my pocket'. It's a great gun, but for my money, the P99 can't be beat at a street price of under $500 nowadays, unless you HAVE to get something that's not 9mm or 40cal.

I'm sure I'll have a few H/K's in my collection eventually, but for a first gun, that's within his budget, I'd go with the Walther. Also, traditionalist that I am, the only 'right' wrapper for a .45 is a 1911. ;)

Oh... accessories... did someone remember to mention ammo? :D :D
 
Get one WITHOUT a manual safety (which might prevent the gun from firing when you rea

While you are at it also get a gun that loads the bullet automatically in the chamber when you insert a mag. with the slide closed. Wouldn't want you to squeeze the trigger only to discover that a round isn't chambered:)
 
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