Absolute beginner question - handgun selection

[AlienHobo]

What's your budget?

Things to look for as you try the different guns...

Can you rack the slide? There are different techniques that can help. If you find you can't rack the slide, think about a revolver.

Can you pull the trigger? Sometimes it can be tough (Radom P64 in double action, for example).

Can you reach the trigger? Depending on the size of your hands, the grip can be too big or too small. Look for something where you can comfortably reach the trigger.

Does it hurt your hand/arm when you shoot it? A featherweight snubnose revolver in .357 magnum, for example, is painful for me to shoot.

That should get you started...

[bigbearbear]

This. DO NOT try all the guns in a single day. What's going to happen is that you will get tired and not be able to judge properly. Try 1 or 2 at a time and shoot them a lot each session to get a proper feel.

[TMB 1]

Sportsman's Warehouse has S&W SD9VE for $329 with white dot sights and $349 with Hi Viz sights. It would be good to try out. I like the feel of it better than Glock. Have one with Hi Viz sights that I removed mag disconnect and changed LCI to no profile.

Only thing that would make me even consider a Glock is if I was an absolute beginner and thought I might want to get a Ruger Carbine too.

[reloading]

[Preston-CLB]

Reloading: Obtaining your safety certificate and taking a class are excellent first steps.

DO NOT try all the guns in a single day. What's going to happen is that you will get tired and not be able to judge properly. Try 1 or 2 at a time and shoot them a lot each session to get a proper feel.

I heartily agree with this. Shooting requires a lot of concentration. You will get tired.

Take a note pad, or use your phone/iPad to take notes as to pros/cons for each gun you try. keeping in mind the points made in other posts here.

There is no rush to purchase. Go out a few times, try different guns, make your notes and then decide the direction in which you wish to go.


One last thing: Be safe, and have fun!
Next last thing: If you have not already, join the NRA and CRPA to help in the fight for our 2nd Amendment Rights.
-p

[Elmer Duff]

Be aware that not all pistols are perfectly sighted out of the box. If the sights are adjustable, the gun will come sighted very roughly or not at all. Sig Sauer pistols being an example. CZs may also require sight tweaking, in my experience. Look up sight moving tools, which may be easy to find for some makes/models and a pain for others.

The same pistol model may be available with different sight options: plain black, white dots, night sights and so on. If choosing a handgun that may be used for defensive purposes, it may be worth considering the options more suitable for limited light conditions.

[Full Clip]

Try a 1911 first and then compare everything else in terms of grip and most especially, trigger.

And weight.
But seriously, my first pistol was a 1911.

[Uncivil Engineer]

And weight.

But seriously, my first pistol was a 1911.

Heavy is good. Heavy is safe. Heavy allows you to pistol whip someone.

I've loaned a Glock and a 1911 to a few different first time shooters. More then once I've heard then say the 1911 feels like what they thought a gun should be and the Glock or other polymer pistols didn't. Now if they were going to buy a home defense pistol I bet they might value some of the benefits of modern pistols but as a show l shooter the 1911 is popular for a reason.

[bronco75a]

I'd start with a 1911 - it has some heft to it and has just a basic trigger - you squeeze it and it fires. Unlike the light and flimsy Glock which has a safety feature built into the trigger which is annoying.

I shoot better with a 1911 than I do with a Glock and that's another reason.

[boattail]

Your first gun should be a 22lr.

You can practice everything you need to practice, even dry firing, if you get snap caps for it. I always use a 22 lr for warming up when I hit the range. You will always use a 22 so get it first and learn from it what you want next.

Ammo is cheap and you can build good habits and muscle memory. If you get a gun with a manual safety, practice flipping that safety back and forth between shots and strings of fire. You want that motion to be like breathing....you don't have to think about doing it...it just happens.

Guns are personal and your taste will be your taste.....I like revolvers, but I shoot a 1911 45 acp better than any other gun I own. They just fit my hands....but revolvers fit the space between my ears.

[tomrkba]

I understand that 9mm ammo can be among the cheapest, and has minimal kickback. This should make it practical to practice for a long time, so I'm leaning in the direction of a 9mm gun. I also understand that a longer barrel, as with something like a Glock 34, makes it easier to aim. What else should I consider?

The best answer is to not buy a thing other than training. Use what they hand you.

However, I totally understand the desire to buy, especially given the annoying gun buying process that California inflicts upon its citizens.

My general recommendation knowing nothing about you is to get a "Glock 19" class gun. In free territory, this means a variety of guns that includes:

Glock 19
HK VP9
Glock 48
Glock 17
FN 509 Midsize
CZ P10C
SIG P320
S&W M&P
etc

Worthy hammer fired guns include:

SIG P229
SIG SP2022
CZ P07
Browning Hi Power
etc

The 1911 can be a problem. Buy with care or spend $2-4k on a Wilson Combat, Nighthawk, etc. The Springfield Loaded is one of the few on the roster. The number 9109 is pretty good. It lacks an undercut trigger guard, but comes with night sights and an ambidextrous safety.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNBsBoKyvsB2iua0-EMMGTwAdBfoRxtKX

https://youtu.be/92HP2CY4Y1o

https://youtu.be/ZFMTMZCnSZs

https://youtu.be/M_R94LstfZg

https://youtu.be/YAd3ZwZzow8

[socom2shooter]

Glock 34 and 9mm is a good place to start. As said anove 9mm is nice because its considerably cheaper than 40 and 45. I never get around to shooting my 45s any more simply due to ammo costs. You should look into a 22lr also. Ruger 10/22 rifles can be had pretty cheap on sale

[tomrkba]

If I were stuck with the CA roster, I would look at:

Glock 17
Glock 19
Beretta 92 and variants
CZ 75
Dan Wesson Commander Classic Bobtail
Dan Wesson PM7
HK P2000
HK USP 9
SIG Sauer P220
SIG Sauer P226
SIG Sauer P229
Various SIG 1911's
SIG SP2022 (great value!)
S&W Shield
Springfield 1911's
Springfield XD

[Tere_Hanges]

OP, I really think people are overblowing the weight difference of an all metal gun. Dont worry about it. 9mm is more than manageable in a polymer framed pistol. It really is an excellent round. Take a pistol class and you wont even care about 9mm "recoil" after a few hundred rounds. Your thoughts about choosing 9mm because it will allow you to shoot more, is spot on. Youre already on the right track.

My first gun was a Glock 23 which is a "compact" in .40. It had some "pop" to it. It wasnt really an issue for me but I got a 9mm as soon as I had some extra cash so I could shoot the cheaper 9mm ammo. Eventually I sold the 23 and replaced it with the 22 which is the "full size" Glock in .40. I prefer a larger framed gun in .40 or .45. The compact and subcompact sizes are perfect in 9mm.

[Epaphroditus]

1911 and a .22LR conversion kit is a great start. Got my first 1911 used for $200 and conversion kit was a gift.