Getting ready to pull the trigger...buying my first handgun(s)

[82SC]

So got back from the range and shot a bunch of guns (my buddy is a gun nut).
I'm a semi-noob. Shooting my fathers guns and friends guns for a while. Just thought some of this info may be good for others starting out.
(I am not in CA yet so SSE and roster don't apply...for now. Any other suggestions of things to try before I buy would be great)

My plan (and reasoning):
Sig p226 22LR + conv kit to 9mm
my everyday training gun. cheaper ammo vs 45. quality gun. cheaper route to get a sig 9mm. going from 9mm --> 22LR is abut $150 more. may do the SRT($50) but will see after I own for a while. 22LR for fun/training and wife. A member on this board confirmed with Sig connections the frames are identical so going either way is the same. Night sights come on the conversion kit. can get the beavertail on the 22 as option. SRT comes on some of the reg p226 but not 22. can get aftermarket follower to make the slide lock back after last 22LR round. 22LR can be picky about ammo. will add my experience when I get it.

HK45
shot the USP pretty well. desirable in CA if I ever wanna sell.

maybe a blue ppk/s
something compact and fun. really for the 007 kid in me.


What I shot today (just some highlights):
HK USP45 - great, i was 2nd most accurate with this at 25yrds. I like the ergonomics. didn't like the polymer trigger itself. felt like it had some give in it during DA. maybe my imagination.

Glock 17 (+/- silencer) - smooth as butter. I understand why guys like it. really easy to bring back on target. For some reason my middle finger felt really uncomfortable on the grip. not a huge fan of the look but definitely a sweet gun. Silencer was great

PPK/S - fun gun. not the best ergo. small sights. really for the 007 kid in me.

FN 57 - what a hoot. muzzle flash is awesome. pinpoint accurate. 20 rounds goes on forever. loading those sharp rounds is dangerous to your fingers...haha

Beretta 92SB - really beautiful gun. love at first sight. thick grip. the slide safety knobs on both sides made the sight line a bit messy (if that makes sense). newer 92's on CA roster so maybe a future purchase

Browning Hi-power - web of my hand felt uncomfortable. not slide/hammer bite related. just felt funny in my hand

Springfield 1911 - great gun. feels good in the hand. really don't like how far the slide release is. used weak hand and slingshot, but like the option of releasing with shooting hand. 8 rounds feels too short...haha. Slimness of the gun is not for me.

SA XDM .40 - a little snappy. great ergo. not big on the looks of the gun.

p226 (rental) had bad ejector spring...but liked the ergo of it

SW 6" .357 - forgot how fun this gun is. dad has one in CA so I'll steal his

SW CCW model? .38 - tiny grip. hard to hold

no HK45 rental but I really liked the USP...

As most people will advise, go try a bunch of guns before you buy. the feels of each gun is so different. Having a friend who has a gun problem helps...

[SgtMerc]

I am not in CA yet so SSE and roster don't apply...


Glock 17 (+/- silencer) - I think you mean suppressor, and those are illegal here.


Browning Hi-power - web of my hand felt uncomfortable. not slide/hammer bite related. just felt funny in my hand if it fails the hand test, you're not gonna shoot it. don't waste time/money on something you have to force yourself to like

Springfield 1911 - great gun. feels good in the hand. really don't like how far the slide release is. used weak hand and slingshot, but like the option of releasing with shooting hand. 8 rounds feels too short...haha. Slimness of the gun is not for me. they make extended slide releases for 1911s, and don't forget that cali is limited to 10 rounds anyway

If it feels good, you'll shoot it more. but you might wanna look into the laws here. Just because you're exempt from the roster, doesn't mean you're exempt from other things like hi-capacity limits or suppressors.

[82SC]

yeah...thanks I've used this forum to learn about the CA gun laws.

that was just my impressions of what I shot. I think I will be buying the p226/HK45/PPK/s in that order...

suppressor...got it. good thing I didn't say clip either...

[PandaLuv]

.... whatever it's called, I wouldn't bring it to CA. here, if you have a threaded barrel on your gun, it's a felony. FYI, I would also look into the magazine thread, hi-caps are illegal to import, but kits arent.


Either way, congrats! handguns are so much fun, I highly recommend getting a 9mm p226 then get a dedicated .22 ruger .

[goofcat]

Check out a HK P30 or P30L, one of the best 9mm out there, and not on the roster in CA.

[gorenut]

I say you should start off by getting a dedicated Ruger .22 or a Browning Buckmark first. Good practice, cheap, and very fun. I'd skip the conversion kit all together. Every 22 conversion kit I've owned/shot.. was more trouble than it was worth to me (I've owned them for Sig P226 and Glock, shot CZ Kadets). Just having to disassemble the slide in the range was something I didn't like doing. I like having a dedicated 22 to shoot at any given time and being able to switch back between centerfire with no effort at all.

As far as a centerfire choice.. that really is a personal choice you should try to explore yourself and figure out. You can get all the opinions in the world on here, but at the end of the day, only you know which gun suits your hands and methodology the best. We're blessed to be living in a time where we have so many top gun makers making quality firearms. As long as you stick to the major brands and makes that are still in production, you can't go wrong.

You should try out some CZs. Great guns, good price (this is changing rapidly due to rising popularity), and many think its one of the most ergonomic guns out there. Me, personally, I shoot Glocks and revolvers the best. It was an expensive lesson, but 4 Sigs and an H&K later, I finally accepted some of my higher priced guns didn't shoot better than Glocks in my hand.