First Handgun: Advice Please!

[phatgranny]

Howdy all!
I am very new to this forum, only posting before on the rifleman's forum about advice for the purchase of my first rifle. I am here for similair advice in the pistol area.

To date, I have shot (pistol-wise) only a Colt Woodsman .22, a Colt Pocketmustang .380, and a H&KP7. I am looking around for my first handgun, and I have narrowed it down to the following.

Beretta 92 (or some variant)
Colt 1911
H&K P7M8
Walther P99 (in either 9mm or .40 S&W)

I would love to get your input on all of these different pistols. Thanks a lot!

~phatgranny

[NYC2SoCal]

Thats a very wide range in both price and function. What exactly do you plan to use the handgun for?

[phatgranny]

To date, self protection. My dad has agreed to go 50/50 on price with me, and I have been saving up for a couple of years to buy some guns when I turned 16 (father-imposed age limit). Now that I am old enough to get a handgun, I want a quality firearm which will last me a long time.

[leelaw]

If you are going after the P7M8, find one and get it RIGHT FRIGGEN NOW!

If you don't get it before it drops off the approved list next month, you will have to get one for an inflated price on a private party transfer.

If you get a 1911, don't bother with a Colt - you'll paying a premium for the name.

[phatgranny]

P7m8

Good advice on the P7M8. My dad has one, but I think that he's looking to get another pistol to replace it. I'm thinking that in the event that I decide to get the P7, i'll get it through him. I just wanted opinions on the guns themselves, as you people both know more about guns and are better about analyzing the pros and cons of them then i am.

[nosewitdot]

my first gun was the Beretta 92g. And i like it very much...people may have issues with it because it may be too big for their hands but my hands are plenty big for them.

[Ironballs]

Of that list, P99 would fill many roles and be a top choice... the beretta 92 would be a nice choice too (for a first gun).

Personally, i got a Beretta 92 as my first,.. but its size was a touch of an issue,... today, i say the best first gun (for me) would have been a Glock 19 or 23, as it can do it all.. if the grip and angle is good for you, its an awesome choice

[grammaton76]

My first handgun was a CZ-97B in 45ACP. I had been going to the range for a few months, trying to get a feel for various handguns. Based on Airsoft, I had gone in thinking I'd wind up with either a Sig or a Ruger, as they handled the best for me in Airsoft. However, in real guns I quickly learned that I could shoot a lot better with the '97 than anything else other than the Kimber Gold Match - which only tied with the CZ, but at twice the price. So naturally, I let the double-stack 45ACP 10rd mag make the decision - hence, the CZ won.

[C.G.]

Personally I like Berettas and Sigs, but they may not necessarily be right for you. Try to borrow or rent and shoot them to make sure they fit you before you buy.

[anotherone]

Get a Glock. They make awesome first handguns and I'm sure tons of folks here have them. They're very reliable and reasonably priced. The Springfield XD series is also extremely cool. Sigs are also great first handguns.

[mailman]

For A 9= Go Glock For A 45= Go 1911 (kimber)

[rorschach]

Get a Glock. They make awesome first handguns and I'm sure tons of folks here have them. They're very reliable and reasonably priced. The Springfield XD series is also extremely cool. Sigs are also great first handguns.

+1 Cant go wrong with a Glock. KISS simple, accurate out of the box, and tough as nails to boot. Great beginner gun. For a 1911, you cant go wrong with a Kimber, Springfield, or Para-Ord. I like the S&W 1911 as well, but a lot of folks dont like the external extractor.

SIG's are great too, especially if you can get a nice certified pre-owned, most of them are carried a lot, and shot very little. I also like the new S&W M&P .40. I like the the USP .45 as well, but some feel it's not for small hands.

You need to get out to a range and sample a bit of everything. Whatever recommendations you get, there will always be someone who doesnt agree. Try them out for yourselves.

[bu-bye]

My first handgun was a glock 17. If you can master a glock trigger you can master anything. Glocks are very simple to use, take apart and clean, and very accurate. The finish is very tough so rust is never an issue. My glock looks like i just brought it home last week and it has over 15K rounds through her with ZERO problems. I tell people "Glocks will cycle rocks if you can fit them in the mag." Not 100% true but thats how much faith I have in my glock.

[ohsmily]

Shoot them all at the range (or whatever is available)...no one gun is right for everyone, though 1911's are very universal and are fantastic guns. Every gun owner who owns more than 3 guns should have at least 1 1911 in their collection.

[6172crew]

I own the P99 in 9mm but have shot the .40 SW, I own a P7M8, Para P14 and 10 in .45 and have carried the M9 (berreta that you are talking about).

As most have said the P7M8 is going the way of teh dodo and if you had the means to get one then get it...even if they are $1000+

The M9 has a long sight radius like the 1911 and therefore is pretty acurate and cheap enough but I dont like it and if teh Marine Corps had something else tehn I would have carried that.

The P99 is a great handgun and I think it out shoots the Glock, HK USP and the XD but the XD is a close second. The USP line is last and I sold my USP .40 long ago

The Para highcaps are great but if you dont have the mags why bother? This is also the same with any Highcap model....cept maybe that new XD .45, I really liked the way that felt but havent shot it yet.

These of course are my opinons.