Good first handgun?

[valkyrie_rider]

Gentlemen

After finishing the 3 days training in 'Basic Pistol Course' learning safety and basic marksmanship and passing the FSC with 100% rate (Firearm Safety Certificate, check: https://oag.ca.gov/firearms/fscpfaqs#1G), I'm looking forward to acquire a handgun.

The course was really amazing, it was taught by an elder gentleman (former military) and his lovely wife in a pretty diverse class (engineers, doctors, designers, house wives, etc) with people of varying age groups (the youngest was a lady on her early 20's and the older was a gentleman on his late 50's).

We had the opportunity to try small guns like a Ruger Mark III (.22), all the way to 9mm Beretta, 45 Springfield 1911A1 and the 44 Mag Ruger Blackhawk (that felt like a hand cannon, really...) and a few others in-between.

I was looking to buy new, in the budget range of 600-1200. Also wonder if would make more sense to get 2 guns (a 9mm and a higher caliber?) to get started.

I visited the firing range today with a friend, shot for a little over an hour (2 boxes of 9mm ammo, 1 box for the S&W .357).

The guns tested:
a) Sig 2022: + (light), - (precision).
b) HK USP9 V1 4.25" barrel: + (handling/built), - (couldn't shoot well with it, dunno why?).
c) XD 9401: + (handling, precision), - (build seems lacking compared to the Beretta and HK).
d) Beretta 92FS (9mm): + (precision, looks), - (felt a bit heavier).
e) S&W .357 (686): + (precision, handling), - (heavy).

I was able to shoot better with the Beretta and the S&W. The XD seems to me the better value so far.

The HK felt *great* at hand, but given the higher price + personal poor performance I guess it is not the right handgun for me.

I wonder if I should return next weekend to the firing range and shot a Glock for a little while before making a decision?

And you guys happen to known other handguns (legal in California) that I should try it out before buying?

[hermosabeach]

You are on the right path

Any modern guitar will sound great when Eric Clapton plays it

Whoops
Any modern made firearm will do the job

FBI publishes stats and all handguns we carry suck for stopping people
9 mm, 40 cal and 45 all deliver the same energy as a punch. 300-450 ft pounds



Try a bunch of pistols. If you learned about trigger reset, examine different guns to see what works for you?

Do you have giant hands? Small hands? Long or short fingers?

Most police have gotten away from lawyers requiring double action / single action pistols.
Many are fine with the modern striker fired guns.
External safeties are great for departmental lawyers... and single action pistols like the 1911 that need an external safety to be carried cocked.

Some guns like the m9 have a decocker that does not go back into firing position, like the sig.

Rental indoor ranges will have a ton of guns to try out

Find what fits you hands
Find what you can cycle comfortably
Some folks don’t like compact guns as they are harder to manipulate.


Focus on skill as any modern made gun will operate just fine for self defense

[9Cal_OC]

Try a G19/17 and CZ75 if it’s available. Those are both in your price range, and could get both actually. The 92FS is heavier but you want the weight (less felt recoil).

[CWL]

Only you can decide which gun to choose by trying as many as you can before deciding which one shoots well for you (and there will be more than one)

Contrary to what some fanboys insist, one gun does not fit everyone the same way due to differences in hand size & build.

For example, you discovered that the HK USP doesn't shoot well for you, not that it isn't a good firearm, but more likely because it doesn't fit your hand for some reason.

You listed some good pistols, keep on trying them before you buy. And get just one at first, spend the rest of your money on ammo, you're gonna need it.

Also, you're too young to complain about weight!

[1320Fastback]

I'm a somewhat new shooter/owner too and decided on a CZ75 SP01 as my first gun. Not too long after I bought that I found a Ruger MKiii and bought that too. I feel soon I will buy a 92FS next.

I wouldn't worry too much about what gun you buy as you'll buy another soon after, as long as it feels good to you it's the right gun

[Califpatriot]

What is the purpose of the handgun? Range fun only? Competition? Home defense? CCW? Some combination of the above?

Buying new limits your options severely in California, due to the roster. Most modern handguns by reputable manufacturers, as long as they are not messed with, are pretty much indestructible, so you should not be worried about buying used, as long as you do your due diligence and buy from a reputable seller.

I would suggest the following without knowing your specific needs.

Sig P365. A $500 gun that will run you around $1200. Make sure you do not buy ones manufactured prior to July 2018, when they revamped them for added reliability. You get 10 rounds in a tiny package with nightsights and a decent trigger. There's nothing else like it on the market if you plan on CCW.

TP9SF Elite. It's a $370 gun that goes for about double in California on the second-hand market because it is not on the roster. It can be used for carry, although I think it's a little too big for the purpose. The real beauty of this gun is the amazing trigger out of the box.

Gen 3 Glock 19. Will run you slightly north of $500 OTD, less used. Extremely reliable, easy to get, Magpul Pmags are like $10.

I'd stick with 9mm for your first gun. It's a good all-around caliber with cheap ammo.

[plumbum]

Just get a polymer framed, service 9x19 pistol of some sort and then get a stainless .357 revolver in any flavor you can afford...

Then, go shoot - a lot!

My extremely boring suggestions would be:
Glock 19
Ruger GP100

If you think you want to carry one of them, maybe switch to a Glock 26 or move to a Ruger SP101 - but not necessarily both.

[sirgrumps]

In the budget you’re looking at I suggest 2 pistols.
A .22lr semi-auto pistol (Ruger MK3 22/45, Browning Buckmark) or a single 6/10. pros - cheap ammo, i.e. allows for lots of practice, little recoil, small chance of developing a flinch. You can add a red dot sight and mount for under $200, parts are plentiful, easy to repair, accessories are inexpensive.
Cons - somewhat limited choices new, (roster)

Then add a semi-auto centerfire; 9mm, 40, or 45. Any of the modern Tupperware will work. Pro - lots of choices in guns, parts, accessories, and everyone knows how to fix them, plus the weight reduction, if we are ever allowed to CCW, makes life so much easier. Cons - more expensive to shoot, bigger recoil

Double actions revolvers are somewhat of an acquired taste. Plus, learning to shoot them well, double action will take dedication and lots of ammo. But they are typically the more powerful cartridges.

Stay with a major brand, better support and warranty, more available parts, etc.

The California roster really limits. Your choice to buy new, but buying used is a great option.

[valkyrie_rider]

You are on the right path
Do you have giant hands? Small hands? Long or short fingers?

Answering the question, I got oversized hands (gloves are XXL sometimes XXXL) with long fingers. I weight 195lbs and 6ft2 height.

Concerning the use, it is mostly for the range practice.
:-)

[bhp1410]

Glock 23.

Proven design. Will ALWAYS go bang when you pull the trigger. Shoots both .40 and 9mm, so you're set for the next zombie apocalypse.

[AlienHobo]

Are you planning on getting your concealed carry license or are you looking for home protection only?

With your budget you can get two guns. I would get something in 9mm and .22 (as someone else already mentioned). OR, you could get just one gun and lots of ammo. In that case, get the 9mm.

For home protection, with big hands, check out a Glock 17 and a CZ P01. You may have to get grips with a palm swell for the CZ. You have already checked out the Beretta.

Bottom line is, try lots of guns and whatever you can shoot well that feels good in your hands is what you should get.

[DrewTheBrave]

Answering the question, I got oversized hands (gloves are XXL sometimes XXXL) with long fingers. I weight 195lbs and 6ft2 height.

Concerning the use, it is mostly for the range practice.
:-)

Since this is mostly for range use & practice, I would recommend a mid-size or full-size gun so that the recoil is more manageable. Since you're still learning, you'll want a gun that you can shoot all day without being fatigued. While smaller guns are great for concealed carry, you'll want to master general marksmanship and figure out what you shoot best before making the leap to a compact gun.

A handgun chambered in .22LR will probably be the best investment you can make early on. I take my Browning Buck Mark .22 with me to every range trip because:
1) it's cheap to practice with
2) it helps me focus on good fundamentals
3) it's fun as hell to shoot targets from 5 yards to 100 yards

The Browning Buck Mark and Ruger Mk1-Mk4 and 22/45 are probably the most popular .22 handguns because they're accurate, reliable, and affordable. You may also find that a .22LR revolver like the Ruger SP101 or Smith & Wesson 617 would be an excellent starter gun. Any of those will last several lifetimes if properly cared for.

If you have your heart set on a "serious" caliber, 9mm for is the way to go for a beginner. If you like revolvers then .357/.38 special is the place to start. It's easy to shoot accurately, with modest recoil, while still providing enough terminal energy to feel confident in its capability to stop a threat.

Rent & shoot as many different types & variations as you can, and do so multiple times. You may find that your preferences change as your skill improves, so don't feel like you need to rush out and buy something right away.

You're off to a good start, but be sure to try a CZ 75 variant, Glock 17/19, Beretta PX4, Sig P229/226/220/320, a Smith & Wesson M&P, any 1911, and whatever revolvers you can (in addition to the other suggestions). You don't know what you'll shoot best until you try it, and what works best for me may not work best for you.

But no matter how good you get, you'll always appreciate owning a good .22!

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[DrewTheBrave]

Glock 23.

Proven design. Will ALWAYS go bang when you pull the trigger. Shoots both .40 and 9mm, so you're set for the next zombie apocalypse.

You might want to mention that you'll need to purchase a conversion barrel to shoot 9mm ammo through a .40 caliber Glock, since that's not common knowledge to a beginning shooter. And FYI - this can also be done with most other guns.

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[Mystery_Milk]

Sorry to nitpick your post especially since you're new, but did you just link the FSC to a forum of gun owners? Which everyone who's bought a gun in the last four and a half years has had to take to buy a gun?

Anyway, as to your question... keep in mind with some of the guns you've tried (especially with the DA/SA ones) the guns can do the job, it's just a little harder to learn the trigger than with some other actions.

It looks like you liked the XD the best, and you're worried about the build quality. Well let me assure you, don't be. Look up the durability of, say, the 92FS which felt so sturdy in your hands. You'll likely find older guns with slides cracking and even newer guns with frames cracking. Of course this is over probably tens of thousands of rounds, but people have put Glocks through similar torture and they've survived. Speaking of which, I suggest also trying a Glock 17 and 34.

As for the "higher" caliber question... it depends on what you need a gun for. 9mm is a fine caliber for self-defense when good defensive ammo is used.

[Tacoandbeef]

Depends if you want a revolver or a semi auto, my first handgun was a Springfield XD9 and honestly it's a great gun, for revolvers the 686 will do just fine especially a prelock one.