Absolute beginner question - handgun selection

[Elmer Duff]

LOL It's 1911 vs Glock again.
Forget Glock.
Either CZ75 or Beretta 92 Brigadier are heavy enough, with a light recoil for 9 mm. CZs and the 92 Brigadier model have very comfortable grips. Both are cheaper than middle of the line 1911s. Both are very accurate and just worth having, plain and simple. AND, in free America, both will hold twice as many rounds as a single stack 1911.
All of that, and there is nothing wrong (and everything right) with getting a 1911.

[Stumpfenhammer]

Congratulations and welcome to the tribe.

My first handgun was a 1911 that I built myself. They are nice but maintenance intensive and unless something's changed, reliable/accurate ones are pricier than striker-fired polymer frame handguns such as Glock and Springfield XD's. And the typical single stack 1911 in .45 caliber is going to have limited magazine capacity, will be heavier than some people are comfortable carrying concealed, and will be more expensive to feed than a 9mm.

Getting a .22 is not a bad idea if you don't need a defensive pistol now and can afford a second pistol when you do. Benefits of a .22 are that some, maybe most, people will learn faster and with less possibility of developing a flinch with a low powered, relatively quiet round that is relatively inexpensive to shoot in volume. Faster however is a relative term, and learning to shoot a 9mm isn't that much more involved than learning with a .22.

Your question would be easier to answer if we knew more about your needs and personality. Pending your answers my cursory suggestions will be based on how I would answer the questions that follow:

Do you need/want a defensive handgun now? If so, 9mm will do the job and is the least expensive caliber round to train with that is considered--by armed professionals--to be adequately lethal. Once upon a time the .45 caliber and other more powerful/heavier rounds were considered to be superior to the 9mm in terms of lethality, but advancements in bullet design over the past two decades have made that a moot point.

What's your budget? $450, $650, $900, $2,500?

Do you see a concealed carry license in your near future? If so, a .22 won't cut it. Will you want more capacity than the five rounds afforded by a J-frame revolver? Does your height/weight/daily apparel/desired level of comfort allow for the carry of a full size pistol, or mandate a compact such as a Glock G19, or a sub-compact such as the S&W Shield?

Are you competitive and do you have an interest--and the budget--to engage in local shooting matches, regular training classes, etc., or will this be a casual endeavor, as in maybe a trip to the range every month or two?

Are you mechanically inclined and do you have excess time on your hands, as in you enjoy futzing with complicated machinery, or would you rather spend your time doing something else, like shooting?

Are you the type of person who won't be satisfied being the average shooter at the local indoor range, do you hope to obtain a professional level of shooting competence?

A few anecdotal stories for context: I gave my brother his first and only handgun which was a new Springfield XD .45 and I've noticed that limits the amount of ammunition he is willing to buy. He got his concealed carry license, carries infrequently, and has mentioned he'd prefer a pistol that was smaller and more more comfortable to carry, like a g19 or a Shield, which is what I should have gifted him to start with. Turns out he is a casual shooter.

I carry every day, shoot USPSA and Steel Challenge matches every four to six weeks, dry-fire several times a week, go to the indoor or outdoor range 2-3 times a month in addition to the competitions, and attend 2-3 serious training classes a year. Shooting is my primary hobby and between work, PT, family and socializing I usually have very little excess time on my hands (bloviating on Calguns aside). By my standard I am a semi-serious shooter and my handgun priorities are: (1) Suitable for home defense, concealed carry, and local shooting competitions (2) Relatively inexpensive to shoot 8K to 12K rounds a year (3) Simple, reliable, low-maintenance handguns with minimal parts to clean, replace, lose, and that don't require frequent cleaning and are quick to clean when they do.

For me that translates to a Glock G34 and G17 for competition, a G19 for home defense and for concealed carry when I'm traveling somewhere sketchy, and a Sig P365 for concealed carry on most days and especially in shorts and/or thin/close-fitting shirts. I have the Sig because it has the same form factor as the Glock G43 but with a higher capacity magazine.

For additional context, I have extensively shot and/or owned HK USP, Springfield XD, 1911's, J-frame revolver, S&W Shield, S&W M&P full-size, Sig P320 and X-Five, G43, G26, and G21. All of those were what I would consider good guns, but, excepting the P365, I have settled on Glock as the most complete system that suits my particular needs as stated in the previous paragraph. I really like my buddy's CZ Shadow II, but don't feel like adding complexity to my system when I have everything I need, to do what I want to do.

I'm a shooting nerd (which is not the same as a gun nerd) and to would-be shooting nerds who don't already have a preference I typically recommend they start with a G19 if they plan to carry or G17 if they don't. That said, Glock is not the "best" handgun because what's best for anyone depends on their personal preferences and needs, and anyone who tells you otherwise is either inexperienced, immature, or pulling your leg. https://youtu.be/tbSXMQEI7iA

If you don't see yourself becoming a shooting nerd, a perfectly reasonable approach would be to use the information in this thread to decide what category of pistol you want, then go to the gun store and pick the brand that either feels best in your hand or that scratches some other itch.

[PeterGunner]

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

[TMB 1]

Its apples to oranges. I dont think shooting a revolver or pistol first prepares you for the other. They are just so different you cant really compare them at all. And .38spl is more expensive than 9mm. And it recoils just as "hard" as 9mm IMO. In fact I think my S&W model 10, 4" in .38 recoils way more than my Glock 19 or any of my 9mms. Personally, I think shooting a revolver well takes a lot more practice and skill than a pistol. Learning to shoot a 9mm pistol is fairly easy. Theres no trick or secret to it. Just take a class and start shooting.

OP, there is absolutely nothing wrong with a 9mm pistol as your first gun. As usual in typical Calguns fashion, people are way over reacting. You can always add a .22lr or revolver later.

It is the trigger. DA/SA trigger prepares you for anything, doesn't matter if it's a pistol or revolver, but with revolver you can either make every shot DA or make every shot SA. DA/SA pistol only first shot is DA unless you decock between every shot.

[tuna quesadilla]

It is the trigger. DA/SA trigger prepares you for anything, doesn't matter if it's a pistol or revolver, but with revolver you can either make every shot DA or make every shot SA. DA/SA pistol only first shot is DA unless you decock between every shot.

But does a DA/SA trigger prepare you for a striker-fired trigger?

[norcal77]

Agree w the posters who said start w .22, you’ll be a better shooter in long run and have fun...I started w .40 and I didn’t like it which turned me off at first, then I backed down to .38...the .22 would have been a much better start.

[tuna quesadilla]

Its apples to oranges. I dont think shooting a revolver or pistol first prepares you for the other. They are just so different you cant really compare them at all. And .38spl is more expensive than 9mm. And it recoils just as "hard" as 9mm IMO. In fact I think my S&W model 10, 4" in .38 recoils way more than my Glock 19 or any of my 9mms. Personally, I think shooting a revolver well takes a lot more practice and skill than a pistol. Learning to shoot a 9mm pistol is fairly easy. Theres no trick or secret to it. Just take a class and start shooting.

OP, there is absolutely nothing wrong with a 9mm pistol as your first gun. As usual in typical Calguns fashion, people are way over reacting. You can always add a .22lr or revolver later.

Interesting analysis. Out of sheer curiosity, do you shoot USPSA/IDPA/etc, and if so what are your classifications?

[Tere_Hanges]

Interesting analysis. Out of sheer curiosity, do you shoot USPSA/IDPA/etc, and if so what are your classifications?

Haha, nice try. I've been shooting a lot of guns for a long time. This isnt very complicated. Learning how to shoot a 9mm pistol is actually pretty easy. Im pretty sure thousands of people every year learn how. You dont have to be a tier one mall ninja Taran tactical competition freak to shoot a 9mm pistol effectively. OP, will see when he takes the class he is planning to. There is a lot of ground in between learning the basics and shooting competition. Did you ask OP if he plans to start competing right away? Kind of early to be bringing up competition. Typical Calguns pissing contest.

[Wordupmybrotha]

As I try different handguns out to decide which should be my first, what are some of the things I should look for? What's likely to vary the most from gun to gun? Anything I should watch out for or avoid?

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?

Glock 34 you picked is an excellent choice. Just get it and don't analyze further. The more you keep thinking about it, the more complicated it's going to be. You're not getting married. Actually the better analogy is, you are at a buffet. Just get one and shoot a lot and after a while you'll develop a personal taste.

-Things to look for? Reliability
-Vary gun to gun? Too many to mention
-Anything to avoid? Small, light guns unless you're looking to conceal carry
- 9mm? Yes!
- longer barrel easier to aim? Yes!
- what else to consider? Metal guns such as Beretta 92FS, CZ SP-01. Polymer guns such as XD9, S&W M&P9.

Again, the Glock 34 you picked is excellent. Just get it.

[tuna quesadilla]

Haha, nice try. I've been shooting a lot of guns for a long time. This isnt very complicated. Learning how to shoot a 9mm pistol is actually pretty easy. Im pretty sure thousands of people every year learn how. You dont have to be a tier one mall ninja Taran tactical competition freak to shoot a 9mm pistol effectively. OP, will see when he takes the class he is planning to. There is a lot of ground in between learning the basics and shooting competition. Did you ask OP if he plans to start competing right away? Kind of early to be bringing up competition. Typical Calguns pissing contest.

So that's a no, then?

[tuna quesadilla]

Glock 34 you picked is an excellent choice. Just get it and don't analyze further. The more you keep thinking about it, the more complicated it's going to be. You're not getting married. Actually the better analogy is, you are at a buffet. Just get one and shoot a lot and after a while you'll develop a personal taste.

-Things to look for? Reliability
-Vary gun to gun? Too many to mention
-Anything to avoid? Small, light guns unless you're looking to conceal carry
- 9mm? Yes!
- longer barrel easier to aim? Yes!
- what else to consider? Metal guns such as Beretta 92FS, CZ SP-01. Polymer guns such as XD9, S&W M&P9.

Again, the Glock 34 you picked is excellent. Just get it.

There is definitely something to be said for just making a choice and rolling with it. If OP doesn't want to consider a .22, the G34 would probably be my recommendation too.

[FISHNFRANK]

Don’t ignore revolvers. A 4” .357 - S&W or Ruger is often someone’s first gun and a gun they’ll keep forever. They’re safer for the owner, less chance of an accidental discharge and more reliable. They’re also flexible, being able to shoot .38 specials for target or .357 for serious defense. For modern self defense and carry of course a semi auto might be superior as a combat gun but still to this day I find myself carrying a small revolver more because I’m an outdoorsman. Think of what you might really someday need it for.

[TMB 1]

But does a DA/SA trigger prepare you for a striker-fired trigger?

I think the DA does. I was able to adapt to my SD9VE and Kahr P45 triggers that are different from each other pretty easy, but I learned to shoot with the DA/SA triggers on S&W model 19 revolver and S&W model 59 semi auto when I was a kid.

[Tere_Hanges]

So that's a no, then?

I guess you "got" me. Are you 5 years old? Grow up dude. OP wants to learn how to shoot a 9mm handgun. Its really not that complicated. You dont have to be a competitive shooter to learn how to shoot a 9mm handgun.

[tuna quesadilla]

I guess you "got" me. Are you 5 years old? Grow up dude. OP wants to learn how to shoot a 9mm handgun. Its really not that complicated. You dont have to be a competitive shooter to learn how to shoot a 9mm handgun.