good 9mm starter

[JS-M1A]

you can get a 40cal barrel later for it

No you can`t.You can buy an Xd40 and get a 357 sig,or 9mm
conversion barrel or same for a 357 sig XD.You cannot put a
357 sig or 40S&W barrel on an XD9.The differnces in the 9mm
slide will not allow for the larger barrel.
Check here http://www.hs2000talk.com/ for more info on XD`s

[donger]

Best thing to do: Go to the range, rent a bunch of guns, and shoot. You probably will prefer one gun over the others.

I personally lean towards Hk's, and Sig's because, IMHO, I think they are the best of the well made, accurate, and reliable combat pistols.

[mow]

What about a CZ75b in 9mm as a starter? You might even want to keep it

[chunger]

9mm is a bit of a wide net to throw out. . . perhaps if you narrow the criteria a bit, you'll get more directed input. There's tons of great choices out there. Some criteria that would focus your search might be:

1. budget
2. size (for carry or not?)
3. Competition in the future? IDPA and USPSA have different regulations for production class.
4. Are you a tinkerer? Do you want one that can be customized in the future?

Glad you're getting into it. The more gun owners we have in state, the better. . . and shopping for the 1st one is always fun!

[ghettoshecky]

9mm is a bit of a wide net to throw out. . . perhaps if you narrow the criteria a bit, you'll get more directed input. There's tons of great choices out there. Some criteria that would focus your search might be:

1. budget
2. size (for carry or not?)
3. Competition in the future? IDPA and USPSA have different regulations for production class.
4. Are you a tinkerer? Do you want one that can be customized in the future?

Glad you're getting into it. The more gun owners we have in state, the better. . . and shopping for the 1st one is always fun!

Budget: up to $1000
size: carry...hopefully one day
Competition: probably not
Customize: on other guns when I get them later

this is pretty much just to have a gun to play with as a starter, nothing serious, but still reliable to use in defense

[chunger]

If indeed you are really comfortable at $1000, I'd buy this:

http://www.canyoncreekcustom.com/Production_Ready.html

Springfield Armory XD's
*Low mount Bo-mar sights with full width front dovetail, plain or fiber optic.
*Trigger job set to your pull weight +2# and up.
*Tungsten insert in factory guide rod.
*SA extended mag release.
*Grip wrap.
*Slide is refinished in KG-Gun Kote flat black ceramic.
*Available calibers 9mm-.40 s&w-.45 acp
* $975.00 plus shipping to your FFL
(extra options available upon request)

Good, reliable base gun, amazing short throw trigger set to your specification and smooth as glass 1/8" take up 1/8" sear release and overtravel, beautiful buried Bomar install so you can zero the gun and change ammo or loads.

If Canyon Creek's work is good enough for Rob Leatham, should be good enough for anyone. I'm partial to the trigger being the same every time you pull it. You don't like glocks, and 1911's can be finicky in 9mm.

The attentions of a competent smith make a world of difference especially where triggers are concerned (This is at least on par if not better than a custom 1911 trigger job), and at this price, I don't see how you can go wrong.

[Gnote]

Budget: up to $1000
...

That is a really generous budget for a first gun. But if you are serious, I would recommend a Sig 226ST. We have a 226ST in 40 S&W and it is a REALLY sweet shooter. It recoils less than a few 9mm's I've shot so the 9mm version would feel like nothing. I have to say that it is one of the most pleasant guns I've shot.

This is a heavy gun so may not be good for carry but I wouldn't be concerned about that. Of all the folks I know with guns, none carry though many start out wanting to. The heavy/stainless steel frame helps to reduce felt recoil. The triggers on Sigs (including the STs) are really nice too. Sigs are also known for theire "to hell and back" reliability. My boyfriend uses it for his night stand gun.

[Cato]

I'm fairly new to the gun scene and now that I'm turning 21, does anyone have any good ideas on a good 9mm to start off with? I wanted to a sig P228, but apparently I am told there is some type of freeze on productions and they are overly priced and I don't like the safety system on the glocks. Appreciate any comments.

__________________________________________________
Just get a p228, dont compromise. Otherwise you'll end up with two or three pistols that are just SO, So. The p228 is legendary.

[lunde]

ghettoshecky, you wrote:

I wanted to a sig P228, but apparently I am told there is some type of freeze on productions and they are overly priced and I don't like the safety system on the glocks.

I agree with Cato. If your heart's set on a Sig-Sauer P228, get one, and get one soon. Yes, they appear to be out of production, or at least SIGARMS is no longer importing them. But, they are available. If you need help locating one, I will help. The blued and Two-Tone versions are still California-certified, but that may not be true next year when their certifications expire.

I found this blued one at The Gun Exchange in San Jose on consignment, for $599:



It was still NIB, and is a 1993 pistol (KD datecode). I also have two Two-Tone versions, one of which is below:



As much as I shoot the HK P2000 and Beretta Px4 well, I shoot the Sig-Sauer P228 equally as well, if not better.

SIGARMS' 11/2005 GOM (Gun of the Month) was a Two-Tone P228. I have one of those, too.

[ghettoshecky]

ghettoshecky, you wrote:I agree with Cato. If your heart's set on a Sig-Sauer P228, get one, and get one soon. Yes, they appear to be out of production, or at least SIGARMS is no longer importing them. But, they are available. If you need help locating one, I will help. The blued and Two-Tone versions are still California-certified, but that may not be true next year when their certifications expire.

I found this blued one at The Gun Exchange in San Jose on consignment, for $599:



It was still NIB, and is a 1993 pistol (KD datecode). I also have two Two-Tone versions, one of which is below:



As much as I shoot the HK P2000 and Beretta Px4 well, I shoot the Sig-Sauer P228 equally as well, if not better.

SIGARMS' 11/2005 GOM (Gun of the Month) was a Two-Tone P228. I have one of those, too.

thanks for searching on my behalf, but I still got to wait 15 more days till I'm 21, I was really just fishing for ideas

[mblat]

I wanted to say cz75B IMO it is the best first gun period, but for $1000. My G.d! You can have HK2000 ( make sure you get DA/SA configuration - I hate LEM trigger), Sig, whatever....

[xenophobe]

thanks for searching on my behalf, but I still got to wait 15 more days till I'm 21, I was really just fishing for ideas

He wasn't offering them for sale, he was just showing you what he's found for himself... And as for having to wait 15 more days... you can buy a handgun now. You just can't start the dros or pick it up until you're 21. I've done a bunch of sales like this when I worked at the Gun Exchange. Pick what you want and buy it, and on your birthday come in and start the paperwork.

As for a combat/self-defense 9mm, I love my Walther P99. It's my favorite handgun of all time. Even when I worked at a gun shop, nothing fit me better.

[kilword]

2nd walther p99

[Left Coast DJ]

Dude, don't drop $1000 on your first handgun - because you really wouldn't know what to look for in a handgun (i.e. how it fits in your hand, will you like single action only or DA/SA, or even DAO?, all steel, steel/alloy, polymer, striker or hammer), etc.

There are many fine sub-$600 handguns out there - Beretta 92, XD, Glock, CZ, Ruger, SigArms CPOs, Walther, etc. Get one, and then spend the leftover $400 on ammo - and shoot a lot. Eventually, you'll develop a feel for your ideal gun, based on the strengths and weaknesses of the gun you have. Then go out and get your pimped out $1000 handgun.

Now, if you have daddy's gold card in your back pocket, forget everything I just said.

DJ

[JaeFern]

Dude, don't drop $1000 on your first handgun - because you really wouldn't know what to look for in a handgun (i.e. how it fits in your hand, will you like single action only or DA/SA, or even DAO?, all steel, steel/alloy, polymer, striker or hammer), etc.

There are many fine sub-$600 handguns out there - Beretta 92, XD, Glock, CZ, Ruger, SigArms CPOs, Walther, etc. Get one, and then spend the leftover $400 on ammo - and shoot a lot. Eventually, you'll develop a feel for your ideal gun, based on the strengths and weaknesses of the gun you have. Then go out and get your pimped out $1000 handgun.

Now, if you have daddy's gold card in your back pocket, forget everything I just said.

DJ

What he said. Don't drop that much cash unless you've tested all the possible buys. I personally like the Beretta 92FS and the XD. I actually just bought an XD.45ACP today (turned 21 today) If you really wanna spend that much cash, test everything out.