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**dunndeal** · 12-15-2010, 5:33 PM

9mm are for pimps, real men shoot .40 cal........ just kidding, although a retired police captain friend of mine strongly recommended .40 over 9mm.

I'll be interested in the responses because I'm going to be facing the same dilemma, except for me it'll most likely be .40 v .45.

**socal-ar15** · 12-15-2010, 5:36 PM

Shoot a mag from each and see what you shoot best with, and what feels the best to you.
also try the M&P in the 40 it feels just like the 9mm IMO.
I own a 9mm, .40sm and 4 .45 ACP pistols so I would say give .45 a fair shot.

**Kodemonkey** · 12-15-2010, 5:38 PM

I think you are doing the right thing renting before buying. You can tell a lot how a gun fits by just holding it, but shooting it is the only way to really know.

If you can afford to do so, I'd try all 4 in one day. After putting 10-20 rounds though each gun, you will probably find one or two that you definitely don't like. That will help you narrow it down to 2 or maybe 1.

My wife really wanted a Browning Hi Power. Even holding it, she liked it. Then she shot it and hated it. She is pretty sure she wants an M&P but wants to try a Sig before she "pulls the trigger" on the purchase. It only took her 10 rounds of a gun she didn't like for her to be over to the next choice.

Is this your first handgun?

**ZX-10R** · 12-15-2010, 5:40 PM

I shot the Glock and M&P together two different times. I walked away with my results in my head and a few months later I got an M&P...No contest. Go find a place where they have the glock and M&P...See if they will change the backstrap for your hand size on the M&P. I will say this, try the M&P 40...I have not tried it but it has gotten my interest.

SR9 feels great period and shoots well but not better than the M&P. IMO it had the best ergos for me and could see it as a purchase down the road but there are other guns that are ahead of it haha.

I went 5 rounds and next but trying to make sure I repeated everything similarly for 4 mags each.

2 is good...4 is too much to take in. Take notes on grip, recoil, ergos, sights, etc. Go multiple times if needed.

**Donkeypunch0420** · 12-15-2010, 5:42 PM

Definitely good to rent before buying. But it may get expensive. I worked at a range for awhile. It was $8 to rent a gun, and you had to buy our ammo of course. If the customer came out 5 mins later saying they didn't like the gun, we would let them trade for another of the same caliber. But, if they just wanted to try another gun, it would be another $8. So check with the range first about their policies and prices. It was very common for people to leave the range with receipts over 100 bucks if they rented a few different guns.

**Ross** · 12-15-2010, 6:10 PM

Take a friend when you go to the range. More ranges are not renting to single patrons due to suicide risks.

**scootle** · 12-15-2010, 6:17 PM

Unless you are dead set on the stopping power or other various arguments re: .40 caliber, 9mm ammo will be a lot cheaper for you to practice and shoot a lot. In the end, you will probably be a better shooter by shooting more without going broke than worrying about how "manly" the caliber is. This even more true if you plan to do IDPA or other competitive shooting I think... ammo is the true cost of ownership.

4 guns in one session might be a lot. Maybe rent 2 at a time in separate sessions, then when you can narrow it down to the top 2 you like, rent them again side by side to see what you think. I found ~50 rounds through each gun was enough to get a fairly good impression. Definitely try to find an M&P9 to shoot at some point, they are pretty nice.

Regardless, trying out all the choices is fun!

**mt51** · 12-15-2010, 6:24 PM

All good choices. Suggest you go 1 mag and then move to the next pistol. It's OK to shoot all 4 during 1 session. With G17 vs. G19, suggest you try the size of grip and find the one you like better and just rent that one. Both shoot very similarly unless size of grip is an issue if you have big hands. Also suggest you shoot all 9mm back to back to back.

If it's a 1st handgun, I don't recommend 40 cal, you can always upgrade to it in the future.

**stacym** · 12-15-2010, 6:45 PM

Thanks for the quick replies! To answer some of the questions that have come up...
I'm a woman. I don't need a "manly" gun to impress my friends. I want a gun that I enjoy shooting, is effective, and cost-effective. Call me practical.

I've shot before, including my dad's Beretta 92fs and a friend's Glock 22, as well as a .38 revolver. I've pretty much zeroed in on 9mm because, as scootle noted, the ammo is much cheaper, and it's plenty of gun, especially if you hit your mark! (Which of course goes back to practice, which can also be tied back to cost of ammo!)

Thanks again for the comments.

**sevensix2x51** · 12-15-2010, 7:07 PM

rofl, telling "stacy-m" that "real men" shoot .40. stay classy calguns...

i have shot a lot of handguns, and i still like to rent when a new model/one ive never shot piques my interest. just picked up a cz75b, and its a really nice pistol for the price. i have a few requirements in a pistol, however, which rule out a lot of firearms right off the bat. slide mounted safeties, i personally cant effectively operate them. glock grip angle, i'm shooting the ceiling. decocker only, meh, maybe for strictly a range gun.
if you dont have years of experience, youre a lot better off renting to see what you like/dislike. thats the best way, the only way to know what you really want. even then, you may buy and get a couple thousand rounds downrange, and decide there are other options to try. then the cycle begins anew.

good luck with your search, and welcome to the board!

**BAGunner** · 12-15-2010, 7:08 PM

From cost perspective, it makes sense to rent all pistols you are interested in one session. Because the total cost is Lane Rental + Gun Rental + Ammo

The range I went to will only sell 50 rnd box and that's the only ammo you can use in their rental pistol.

1 session = 1 lane rental + ammo 1 box + 4 gun rental = $6 + $15 + $6*4 = $45
2 sessions = 2 lane rental + ammo 2 boxes + 4 gun rental = $12 + $30 + $24 = $66
4 sessions = 4 lane rental + ammo 4 boxes + 4 gun rental = $24 + $60 + $24 = $108

Since the point of rental is to determine the gun you shoot the best at minimal cost.. so 1 session is perfect.

**RollingCode3** · 12-15-2010, 7:10 PM

Originally posted by dunndeal

9mm are for pimps, real men shoot .40 cal........ just kidding, although a retired police captain friend of mine strongly recommended .40 over 9mm.

I'll be interested in the responses because I'm going to be facing the same dilemma, except for me it'll most likely be .40 v .45.

**BAGunner** · 12-15-2010, 7:12 PM

Also you can try CZ if you have small/mid-size palm

**scootle** · 12-15-2010, 7:15 PM

Originally posted by BAGunner

From cost perspective, it makes sense to rent all pistols you are interested in one session. Because the total cost is Lane Rental + Gun Rental + Ammo

The range I went to will only sell 50 rnd box and that's the only ammo you can use in their rental pistol.

1 session = 1 lane rental + ammo 1 box + 4 gun rental = $6 + $15 + $6*4 = $45
2 sessions = 2 lane rental + ammo 2 boxes + 4 gun rental = $12 + $30 + $24 = $66
4 sessions = 4 lane rental + ammo 4 boxes + 4 gun rental = $24 + $60 + $24 = $108

Since the point of rental is to determine the gun you shoot the best at minimal cost.. so 1 session is perfect.

Wow, which range is that in the SFBA? That's pretty cheap.

Near me, the range is $16 (per hour loosely enforced), rentals are $10 each, ammo for 9mm runs $16/50rds. Adds up in a hurry.

I kinda wondered if StacyM was a gal.

Welcome to the madness!

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