Looking for first gun

jfindon

jfindon

Joined
Dec 12, 2006
Messages
967
I'm looking for my first handgun. Right now I know next to nothing about them so I'm reading up big time on laws etc. The ones on my list so far are:

Glock 19
1911 variation
Springfield XD
H&K .40

As far as "use", I want to become competent with a firearm and have it home for self defense if the need arises. I likely won't be carrying on me because I already have a bulleye painted on my back by police for no apparent reason, so I'd rather not have a gun on me when I get hassled. It'll mainly be taken to the range.

That said, I'm not sure about calibers either but so far it seems like it's all up in the air and the various ammunition all have their "crowd". I guess I need to head to a store and hold some guns, then maybe go to a shooting range and rent some to see how they fire.

Ideas? Can someone point me to the most recent gun laws in PA and any other good reading?
 
Looking forward to the answers and feedback in this thread. I'm kind of in the same boat, but I may carry sometimes. No bullseye on my back. :)
 
This is very subjective. Any of these guns will be fun to shoot, and each of them will put holes in a bad guy.

I am partial to Glocks generally and the G19 specifically. It has a well-earned rep for being very reliable out of the box, is very ergonomic, and the fewest parts of any of these guns (thus fewer to malfunction), and carries 15+1 rounds. Nothing against the others. I own some 1911s and an XD. But for me, Glock comes first. On average, the 1911 will not be as reliable out of the box as the G19 or XD. But they have their own aesthetic appeal too. It really comes down to what you like the best. Don't rule out a sweet revolver either.

I'd also be interested if you care to elaborate on your belief that the police hassle you for no reason. Or maybe thats best reserved for a different thread.
 
powernoodle said:
This is very subjective. Any of these guns will be fun to shoot, and each of them will put holes in a bad guy.

I am partial to Glocks generally and the G19 specifically. It has a well-earned rep for being very reliable out of the box, is very ergonomic, and the fewest parts of any of these guns (thus fewer to malfunction), and carries 15+1 rounds. Nothing against the others. I own some 1911s and an XD. But for me, Glock comes first. On average, the 1911 will not be as reliable out of the box as the G19 or XD. But they have their own aesthetic appeal too. It really comes down to what you like the best. Don't rule out a sweet revolver either.

I'd also be interested if you care to elaborate on your belief that the police hassle you for no reason. Or maybe thats best reserved for a different thread.
Click to expand...

As dumb as it sounds, I have a G19 airsoft pistol that is probably 95% of the real gun so I'm leaning toward that because it feels great in my hand. One of the biggest issues will be price of ammunition, how much more is .40 and .45 than 9mm? I probably don't really need a .45 for what I'm doing.

As for the police hassle, I have gotten pulled over 8 times in the last year for no reason, I've been frisked on the hood of their car for no reason, and any time I see one outside a store they stare at me like I'm about to rob the place. I've also been asked what I'm doing at a convenience store at midnight. I've been told they didn't see my registration sticker as I went to get milk (where they had three squad cars on me with spotlights for such an "offense"), that I was weaving all over the road when I wasn't, and that I looked like I was trying to break into cars. I live in a small town/area, I'm a clean cut guy who has never broken a law in his life. It's to the point where I can tell I'm going to get pulled over if I see a cop on a back road somewhere. Last time I was driving my sister home and I passed a cop who was waiting on a side street, and I said to her, "Get ready, we're going to get pulled over." She said, "What?" and I told her to just wait. The cop was on my bumper for about 2 miles before flipping his lights on and giving me the "You were weaving all over the road" speech. I certainly was not since I was aware he was behind me the whole time and drove more carefully than I usually do.

It doesn't sound like much on a forum, but if you hung around with me for a week you'd see what I mean. I'm beginning to think they mistakenly have something on record about me because it happens so often.

But anyway, that's that.
 
I've fired all of the listed weapons but do not own any of them. I have extensive experience with the HK USP in 9mm. Nice gun but very expensive.
I've heard good things about the Springfield.
I don't shoot Glocks well.

If you don't plan to carry it, why get a plastic gun? Mass soaks up recoil. If you train a lot, doesn't make as much difference, but if you're only shooting once a month or less, you might consider getting at least a metal gun, if not all steel.

My favorite semi-auto is my CZ 75B. Affordable, utterly reliable, more accurate (in my hands) than my Sigs, 1911, Beretta 92, and doesn't need after-market work to function flawlessly. If I had it to do all over again, all my autos would be CZs. Sig would be in 2nd place. For a home-defense gun, you might consider whether you want an integral light rail.

I shoot 9mm. It's much cheaper to practice with, and I find it easier and more pleasant to shoot a lot of it. Practice makes perfect, or at least better. Substantially greater mag capacity in guns of similar size. .40 is extremely loud and the most expensive of the calibers listed. I'm in minority on caliber issue.

Best thing to do is to find a range (or a well armed friend) that rents and shoot as many dif. weapons as you can. Get the one you shoot with the best. 1911s "point" well for many people. I recently shot the new Ruger 1911 and think it's hard to beat for the price.

If I could only have one pistol, it would be a Ruger GP100.

Be careful. Guns are as potentially addicting as knives (or potato chips). Once you open the door to gun ownership, you might find that it interferes with your knife budget.
 
All the guns you mentioned are very nice. Especially the 1911 depending on what you select. From what you listed it looks like your looking for a fighting handgun. I personally would say I'm a 1911 guy myself though I do have quite a few Glocks. But for a first fighting handgun that is an all around do everything gun (carry, range, home defense) I'd go with a Glock 19. It's not too big or small, has a good capacity, feels good in both small and large hands, is combat accurate, crazy reliable, and easy to learn to use. HKs have strange triggers with super long pulls and long resets... they can be hard to master for a new shooter (though they are extremely high quality). 1911s are something you really only want to get into once you know a little more about what you're doing since they're designed to be carried cocked and locked and knowing what to look for in a quality... but affordable package isn't always cut and dry or just buy a certain name brand type of situation. And well... I just think the Glock is a better weapon than the XD IMHO.

Glocks are easy to use, maintain, and fix. With a little experience you can really fix them yourself as they're not that complicated. Parts are cheap and SUPER plentiful. And there are a bazillion accessories so you can set it up your way and ninjafy it however you want. I also suggest a nice pair of Meprolight Night Sights. IMHO they're the best.

Get quality training. I would say the type of gun, caliber, style, and whatever are secondary to knowing HOW to use a firearm.
 
Your best bet is to go to a range that rents guns and shoot a few of them. See what you like and feels good to you. With that said, you can't ever go wrong with a glock. Very reliable, run well dirty or not, easy to clean and maintain, they just go bang every time period. If you do get a glock the only modification I would suggest is putting in a ghost trigger. It will make a significant difference in the way the trigger feels and how it shoots. If you aren't familiar with firearms I would definitely suggest some training. And remember the number one rule of gun safety, "Keep your booger picker away from the bang switch"!
 
I think you have answered it well... you are familiar and comfortable with the Glock grip. 9mm is plentiful and cheaper to practice with, special defensive loads are plenty suitable for home defense. If you get the model 19- magazines for model 17 or 33rnd mags will work for home(stick out the grip but function fine)- gives you options on picking up used mags.
Glock is simple to use, simple to take down and clean, plentiful on the used market and in demand should you decide to sell. The slide is what soaks up recoil and the Glock puts almost all its weight in the slide so recoil and sight recovery are good.

AS far as gathering attention. Might want to ask friends and relatives for what they see that makes you stand out. My son is 25, when he goes out in public- he wears all black, black hat, long black coat and sometimes gloves... even in warm weather. He stands out like a dogs bollocks for obvious reasons.... maybe there are things that cops see about you that are not so obvious and less intentional?
Bill
 
edlex said:
Your best bet is to go to a range that rents guns and shoot a few of them. See what you like and feels good to you. With that said, you can't ever go wrong with a glock. Very reliable, run well dirty or not, easy to clean and maintain, they just go bang every time period. If you do get a glock the only modification I would suggest is putting in a ghost trigger. It will make a significant difference in the way the trigger feels and how it shoots. If you aren't familiar with firearms I would definitely suggest some training. And remember the number one rule of gun safety, "Keep your booger picker away from the bang switch"!
Click to expand...

I'm already good with that one, I kind of used airsoft to get used to how guns are handled.

lmalterna said:
I think you have answered it well... you are familiar and comfortable with the Glock grip. 9mm is plentiful and cheaper to practice with, special defensive loads are plenty suitable for home defense. If you get the model 19- magazines for model 17 or 33rnd mags will work for home(stick out the grip but function fine)- gives you options on picking up used mags.
Glock is simple to use, simple to take down and clean, plentiful on the used market and in demand should you decide to sell. The slide is what soaks up recoil and the Glock puts almost all its weight in the slide so recoil and sight recovery are good.

AS far as gathering attention. Might want to ask friends and relatives for what they see that makes you stand out. My son is 25, when he goes out in public- he wears all black, black hat, long black coat and sometimes gloves... even in warm weather. He stands out like a dogs bollocks for obvious reasons.... maybe there are things that cops see about you that are not so obvious and less intentional?
Bill
Click to expand...

Well I am 5'10 225-230lbs, I'm a powerlifter so I'm on the large side. That doesn't really explain me getting pulled over so often though, only why they would give me looks like I shot their beloved pet.


Thanks for the ideas guys, keep them coming. I'm leaning toward 9mm but still reading up on 9mm, .45, and .40.
 
+1 imalterna. Identifying the "target on my back" and then acting intelligently to permanently remove it probably your best and most profitable use of time.

Can't subscribe to your "for no reason" rationale..there may be good reasons or bad reasons but seldom no reasons for constant negative interactions with law enforcement. Some advice I've seen repeated here falls into the general category of "Don't be an asshole and don't go where assholes go."..and "Nothing good happens after 1 A.M." probably simplistic however there is some wisdom there.

Best wishes on identifying your targetability.
 
jfindon said:
Thanks for the ideas guys, keep them coming. I'm leaning toward 9mm but still reading up on 9mm, .45, and .40.
Click to expand...

You sound like someone who wants to learn the correct and proficient use of a self defense handgun. Remember that it is only with training and practice that you will master the use of the pistol for self defense.

To this end the 9mmPara is a excellent cartridge to learn on. The ammo is available at excellent prices and it is always available.

The other guns and cartridges you mention are all excellent, but as a beginner looking for a first primary handgun to train and learn on, the Glock19 with a decent holster like a Crossbreed is a brilliant choice.
 
Alfaholic said:
You sound like someone who wants to learn the correct and proficient use of a self defense handgun. Remember that it is only with training and practice that you will master the use of the pistol for self defense.

To this end the 9mmPara is a excellent cartridge to learn on. The ammo is available at excellent prices and it is always available.

The other guns and cartridges you mention are all excellent, but as a beginner looking for a first primary handgun to train and learn on, the Glock19 with a decent holster like a Crossbreed is a brilliant choice.
Click to expand...

That's pretty much the case, yeah.

The Glock 19 is pretty cheap itself so it seems like the way to go rather than spending $800-1000 on my first gun. Still need to hold them and see how they feel/fire, but I guess I'm leaning toward that still.
 
if you decide on a used Glock, check for a law enforcement trade in, which usually have some form of tritium night sights...factory plastic Glock sight are terrible, and I shoot a G34 in competition, and carry a G17

if you might be interested in competition shooting like USPSA or IDPA you might look at a longer barreled G17/34
 
PA is a "shall issue" State, which means it is quite easy to get a concealed carry permit, unless you have been convicted of a felony, misdemeanor or have a restraining order. It is quite simple and hassle-free to get, as my friends and work associates in PA keep telling me (I live in CA).

Check here for more info about getting your permit.
http://www.pafoa.org/law/carrying-firearms/concealed-carry

Regarding which gun, that really is a personal decision that needs to be based-on which one(s) feel best in your hands. This is something that only you should decide. While many people will shout "get a Glock" or "Get a Colt 1911!", they never take into account which one feels and fires great for you in your hands. For example, no matter how great and reliable Glocks are (I own 2), they just don't feel right in my hands, while a M1911 feels like it was built from a mold of my palm. HK makes a fine family of HK USP pistols (the one you want right?), but these do not fit my hands well either.

If you can, borrow guns from friends, or go to the range and rent the pistols you are considering, compare them all to decide what fits & shoots best for you.
 
Yes get one that feels good in your hand, in which ever caliber you feel you can handle (recoil and cost). If you aren't going to carry, look at metal guns. Be sure to at least hold some revolvers, .357 magnums can also shoot .38 cal, which makes target practice more affordable.

Home defense is only effective if you can shoot your weapon, it's calibur, and land the shots. A 9mm allows you to practice more for less cost, can hold lots of rounds, and the easy to manage recoil means more accuracy when second, third shots (or more) are necessary.

Many will argue that the 9mm round does not have stopping power, but plenty of articles and studies say otherwise. Do your own research and decide for yourself, lots of info out there. A 9mm is a great starting point. From there you will know what your next gun will be, based on that learning experience. You may want to go with a carry gun, something light and more comfortable. You may want to get a more powerful calibur, 1911 or a .44 mag, you may want to get a shotgun, never know.
 
This question has come up a few times already, every time members jump in with what is THEIR favourite gun (understandable) apparently without realizing the OP basically doesn't know how to shoot.
Which really is something of a prerequisite. It's how we gun nuts came to decide what we like.

So. Go to a range. Learn to shoot. Well. Shoot a lot of different guns. You can usually borrow or hire them. Then you won't have to ask anyone because you will KNOW what you like and what works for you.

Philwar (hardcore Glock fan)

relevant joke:
A Soldier, a Sailor, an Airman, and a Marine get into an argument about
what armed force is the best. The argument gets so heated that they fail
to see an on-coming truck. They are hit and killed instantly. When they
arrive in heaven, they see Saint Peter at the Pearly Gates. So they
decide he can settle their argument. They walk up and ask him, "Saint
Peter, what Military Service is the best?" He thinks for a moment, then
says, "Well, I'm afraid I can't tell you. But I'll tell you what. I'll
talk to God next time I see Him, and I'll find out for you. In the mean
time, welcome to heaven."

So they enter. Later, they see Saint Peter
while walking around, and they ask him about their question. But before
Saint Peter can say anything, trumpets blare, a bright light shines, and
a white dove flies out of the light with an envelope in it's beak. Saint
Peter says, "Ah, here's the answer from the Boss." He takes the letter,
and the dove flies off. He opens it, trumpets play, gold dust flies up,
and Saint Peter reads aloud:

FROM THE DESK OF GOD

TO: SOLDIERS, SAILORS, AIRMEN, AND MARINES

RE: WHICH SERVICE IS BEST.

Dear Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines,
All branches of the United States Armed forces are truly honorable.
One should take pride in serving with the Military. You are all
well-trained men, all capable of pulling off your job exceedingly well.
Therefore, there is no superior service.

Sincerely,
God, USMC (Ret.)
=============================================================
Moral of this story: the answer is always a Glock! :D
 
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