first pistol purchase - need help

[uberjames]

I need some advice on which pistol you think is a good first buy! I am looking for reliability and quality. I will most likely purchase in .40 but I am open to a 9mm.

I'm a lefty, so ambidextrous features are nice. I'm interested in these guns:

S&W M&P - 499
Sig Sauer Pro SP2022 (comes with a sig laser) - 419
Springfield XD - 419
Beretta PX4 Storm - 480.

I've held all of these at a local shop (except for the Sig Pro SP2022, they only had a SP2022) and I must say I like the feel of all of them in my hand. I must say I think I enjoy the M&P and Sig the most as far as comfort goes. I've hear good things about all of these handguns. So this is a hard decision for me. Thanks for any advice/comments/help!

[SacTown]

Can't go wrong with any of those. I recommend going to a range where you can rent them and shoot 'em. Shooting them and holding them is two completely different things. You might find that you like how one shoots over another.

[enzo357]

Congrats on first purchase. You surely will buy more. Not too experienced with the models you mentioned but do know a lot of people go with a glock 17 as first gun.

[h0use]

all the ones you list are great. like a few said try to go to a range a rent them. it will break down on how they fit in your hand and how comfortable you are with them.

[RugerFanRyan]

I have a Px4 in .40. It is my favorite pistol. Highly recommend it.

Sent from my AT100 using Tapatalk

[Arkangel]

All mentioned are duty quality pistols. Like said before, try to shoot before you buy. Out of your list I would boil it down to the M&P or the XD.... But that's me. We are all different.

I hate the way the PX4 .40 feels in my hand and the .40 in this gun feels much snappier to me than the others mentioned.

Full disclosure: I bought an XD 9mm for my soon to be wife ($379 was to good to pass up)

Just ordered a Glock 17 over an M&P ( currently the Glock has more aftermarket support)

[Allentu]

im with arkangle, m&p or xd in a 9mm. 9mm allows for more practice and you can move up from there. i started out with 40, then 45, and now i also want 9mm since the cost in ammo is too much

[Clownpuncher]

They are all great guns. Like has been said before, try to shoot them before you decide, but if you can't then I would go with whichever one feels best to you.

[Catalyst81]

I just went through this. Like others have recommended, definitely shoot them at the range or with a friend. It makes all the difference. The Sig Pro 2022 felt best in my hand, but after shooting all of my choices I enjoyed the baretta 92fs and CZ 75b much more - just me though. You'll probably be different. I ended up with the CZ.

[duc71]

from my experienced you should try to rent and shot them to have the feel. my first is glock 22 because it onsale and the damn saleman at turnner just focus to sell not about customer, because at the time I did not know how the recoil, even I asked him how the diff of recoil between them he said almost the same. I end up bring it back for consignment sale because the recoil of 40s-w is too much for me ( wish I know calgun) lost nearly $200!!! learn my lesson. for me the metal is more heavy but more accuracy then the poly but now I got the cz75b & glock 17 I like them both. if you near rancho cucamonga you should come to magnum rancho to rent and try each of them. good luck and be safe

[SouperMan]

Can't go wrong with the Sig and M&P.

..But of course I had to mess things up and get a Glock

If you go with a .40 S&W, you can get a 9MM conversion barrel and extra 9MM mags and shoot 9MMs on the cheap.

[Sheperd80]

+ 1 to most of the responses. I love my m&p 9mm. One thing to consider, the m&p has the low bore axis like a glock meaning slightly better recoil control ad stellar ergos. That and the lack of the grip safety ultimately pushed the xd off my list. Happy hunting!

Btw 9 and 40 r fairly cheap to shoot meaning more prctice time if ur on a budget like me.

[uberjames]

Thanks for all the quick replies.

I have narrowed my choices to the M&P or the Sig Pro. They are completely different. The only problem I am having is finding a place to rent the Sig Pro. No one has it where I live (orange county) so I unfortunately have not been able to shoot it. I had the opportunity to shoot the M&P this morning in .40 and it was amazing. Anyone know of a place in Orange/LA county that has the Sig Pro to shoot?

Thanks everyone!

[PandaLuv]

Sig Pro is a solid gun for the money, but it aint ambidextrous, except for the mag release.

If you want a solid polymer SA/DA Decocker ambidextrous piece, I highly recommend FNP9/FNP40, nothing is wrong with PX4storm, I just dont dig the look and the safety.