Need help picking out first handgun!

[Oceanbob]

Go to a range that does a rental, try some then decide which one that fits you best.

Great advice.!.

First, Welcome to Cal Guns....!...Nice bunch of people here.

I think you're really limiting yourself on the decocker/safety issue. Most modern auto pistols these days don't have that feature. It was a good idea a decade ago that still hangs on today in some older handguns. (Beretta etc)

A manual safety on a Revolver or a modern Auto pistol is non-existant.

Even the famous 1911 platform, (single action, manual safety) has been bumped to second place by striker fired platforms with built in safeties.

Get some range time under your belt. Try everything.

Good luck
Bob

[Oceanbob]

Make life easy on yourself... Get a Glock 17 or 19 to start. Light, safe, not a lot of moving parts and if you're like me, you can go 15 years between full cleanings.

Again perfect advice.

The GLOCK 19 is probably the best handgun in 9MM in the world. For a reason. Rent one. It's bigger brother the Glock 17 is also perfect.

[Dark Mod]

Sounds like you need a beretta or a CZ, But in reality you would be much better off with a glock for your first gun. Theres a reason they are so popular

[AJamesoo7]

sig sauer sp2022 you can get it in .40 and if you want swap the barrel for 357 sig its doesn't come with a safety but you can send it in to sig and they can put one on there

[IPSICK]

Glock 17 or CZ75 SP-01. Both are 9mm.

A .40 or .45 is a horrible 1st handgun and there is no need to have both a safety and decocker.

If you insist on .40 or .45, make sure you have money left over to buy a .22lr pistol or if available a .22lr conversion for the gun you do purchase. The .22lr will help you develop the good shooting fundamentals to effectively shoot a .40 or .45.

[XDRoX]

My vote is for a Glock 19. One of the best 9mm's ever IMO.
This thread needs porn to sway the OP to get out there and buy something

[dasher45]

This thread needs porn to sway the OP to get out there and buy something

LOLs. Well, first thanks to everyone for the welcomes, and the great advice so far. I have a centerfold stashed in my drawers already my Benelli Nova. Love the gun. But as for .40, .45, i've shot a couple of my friend's 9mm's .40's and .45's, and I've really grown to like the 40s and 45s. So, having that as one of my first guns shouldn't be an issue. Haven't shot the 226 yet, but will soon, and out of the guns I've shot at the range so far, I really like the xD45.

Thanks AJamesoo7 for the info about sending the gun into Sig. After hearing everyone's suggestion though, I'm starting to see that safety and decocker might be a bit of an overkill...I definitely want a decocker though, but just having that opens many more doors. I really do like the hk45 though, it's just so beautiful, but it costs so much! alrighty back to looking!

[Lumpia is sarap!®]

Hk, USP/P2K or a Sig.

[someR1]

doesn't matter what HG you buy first, you will end up with a Glock, 1911, and revolver. HGs are better than crack

[thenodnarb]

I bought an XD .45 as my first handgun. It was cheap, a great shooter, comes with a light rail built in etc. It has a great chamber loaded indicator(something I've really come to appreciate). I loved it for a while, until I bought my Beretta 96 INOX(pictured in a previous post). That thing fits my hand perfectly, is very accurate, and even after I bought a 1911, it is still my favorite pistol to play with(the 1911 is the most fun to SHOOT though). Between my S&W .44mag, beretta 96, 1911 and XD, the XD now gets no love. Of the 4 it is the least cool. Its a nice variety having those 4, and the XD served a purpose, but if I had to do it over again, I would have bought it last(and after a CZ pistol and a .22 pistol which I have yet to buy).

My point? Get something with character. Something with an "X" factor. Something sexy. Glocks give no sense of occasion. They do their job with boring consistency. It's not a bad pistol my any means. Its just not as cool IMO.

Get something cool.
BTW I love the manual safety and decocker on the beretta.

[stormy_clothing]

http://www.theprepared.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=90

this is all that matters when talking about owning a single handgun.

[Bavaria1990]

I would go to a shooting range and ask to shoot several that catch your eye, shoot them and see how each feels
I have big hands and bought a hipoint 45 when I turned 18
then when 21 bought a full size 92fs (love it to death!)

[someR1]

http://www.theprepared.com/index.php...ask=view&id=90

this is all that matters when talking about owning a single handgun.

that is why i love Glock

[thenodnarb]

I would go to a shooting range and ask to shoot several that catch your eye, shoot them and see how each feels
I have big hands and bought a hipoint 45 when I turned 18
then when 21 bought a full size 92fs (love it to death!)

What are you guys paying to rent a gun? I rented a 9mm for my girl friend to shoot(since I don't own a 9mm). I did that precisely ONCE. Between range ammo, range time and gun rental, it cost something like $100 for the both of us to shoot 50 rds(and I brought my own gun). I hate ranges and the only reason I went was to rent a gun. I remember thinking "I could have put $100 towards OWNING her first gun for this!"

[someR1]

I think my range charges $15 per gun rental.

But yes, it adds up quick after member fee, ammo, targets, etc