First Handgun Purchase.

[AutomaticAron]

Well, it's that time of year and it looks as though I overpaid Uncle Sam by quite a bit! I've decided that my gift to myself will be my first handgun, and to get my CCW.

Now, I've put a LOT of thought into this, but I've not been able to really nail down what I want. I'm leaning toward a Glock or M&P in either 9mm or 45, and really any variant of either of those will do. I'm a pretty large guy so I'm not too worried about carrying a full sized pistol (This may very well change after some real world experience of course), and I think my comfort level with full sized pistols will encourage me to carry more often.

That said, I'm just looking for some input from local folks who carry. I believe I'd be equally happy with a 9mm or 45 but am I overlooking anything there? Any holster suggestions? Or just general advice?

Also should mention that my budget is going to be $500. Am I dreaming if I expect to find a decent used Gen 3 Glock (17, 19, 21, or 30) or M&P9 or 45 at that price?

Any recommendations as far as CCW instructors?

Just hoping to gather some words of wisdom from some of the more experienced folks out there and be just one more responsible American exercising my 2nd Amendment right!

Thanks in advance!

PS, still a couple of weeks yet for me to wait, but if anyone has something they'd like to unload that's within my budget feel free to PM me! (Mods if this is inappropriate, I can also just make a thread in the MP when the time comes)

[Shako Sparky]

When it comes to carrying a handgun, it is all personal preference. I can tell you that before I bought my handguns I went to bills gun range and rented one. I can also let you know how I carry if that helps. Everyday carry is a Springfield XD sc9 in a supertuck holster. Brand new it cost $525 out the door, IMO it is nicer than a glock because I like the additional grip safety.

[t140]

I picked up a used M&P 9mm Pro Series at Gunstop at the beginning of the panic and paid $500. You should be able to find what you want on your budget. But if you're gunna go Glock, I'd save the extra $100 and buy a new gen 4.

Full size are easy to conceal if you have at least one piece of outerwear on.

[tenmilmag]

Springfield Armory XD Sub-Compact .40 cal 500$ new. Okay, was 519 but I offered and Capra accepted the 500$ Blackhawk paddle holster very comfortable 38$ on line free shipping. Cabela's wanted 45$ Happy here. For now.

[Need4Speed]

I'd look at a Glock 30. You can shoot 45, and if you feel the need for more firepower you can buy an aftermarket barrel in a 10MM or 400 corbon flavor. One MFG is Storm Lake, here's the link:

http://www.storm-lake.com/products/barrel/builder/GL

[XDM45]

My advice:

- Take a Basic Pistol Course. (I took mine at the Burnsville Pistol Range with Sue. I highly recommend her and BPR.)

- Get a .22LR which is a good gun for cheap shooting at the range for fun and/or practice. It's also good plinking as well, but be wary of developing bad habits with it. Watch your technique. In a pinch, it can also be used for defense, but it's not ideal.

- Go to Bill's Gun Shop and Range in Robinsdale and try different guns from various makers and calibers. Revolver and semi-auto, find what works for you. Trust your feeling on how it feels in your hand(s), how it shoots, balances, weighs, etc. Good brands are Ruger, Sig, Springfield, Smith and Wesson, Colt, Kimber, basically all the major players. I'm not a fan of Taurus, but try them out because your mileage may vary. Try the popular calibers such as 9mm, .40 caliber, .45ACP, .357/.38 (I bought a Ruger Mark III 2245 and a Springfield XDm .45ACP with the 4.5" barrel from them and have never regretted it. You are welcome to try both guns if you'd like.)

- I recommend Don Larson (DonL on here) for the PTC training.

- I also recommend if you can, purchase the gun you will carry, practice with it, and then qualify with it. I think far too many people qualify with a .22LR and then if they do actually carry, they do so with a caliber they haven't practiced with or are very good at. My .22LR shoots a whole lot differently that my .45ACP does (obviously)....and if you largely practice with the .22LR and then come to need your .45ACP in a situation, you're at a disadvantage, in my opinion. You really need to be profient with all firearms, but especially with the one you carry.

- It's good to get a PTC since it adds another number to the count of permits in MN, a good thing, however, if you get a carry, do carry. Carry open, carry concealed, whatever you prefer, but just carry. I never understood people that get one and don't carry. Maybe they just don't want to bother renewing a PTP every year? No idea.

- Get a good setup for carrying. I went with a custom holster and belt. thebeltman.net and highnoonholsters.com but there's a local company SGH, which is highly recommended as well. Some people like the Galco King Tuck for IWB (Inside the Waistband / Conceal) carry. I do OWB (Outside the Waistband / Open) carry.

- Learn perpetually. Follow the laws. Train perpetually for CQC (Close Quarters Combat), Holster work, situational awareness,all to develop mental and muscle memory, develop a plan for in-public events, in-home events, stockpile food, water, ammo, be prepared for as many situations as you can be. Learn and do whatever you can and then when you think it's enough, realize that it's not, and then do more. Remember that it's not just about doing things right, it's more about doing the right things and at the right time. Learn as much as you can about things you think don't even relate, like CPR, how to handle a GSW (Gunshot Wound) on yourself and others. By MN law, if you see someone has been shot, you are legally obligated to help them to the best of your ability.

This entire post is just all my opinion and my advice, so take it with a grain of salt as one guy's opinion, no offense meant on any of it. I am in the process of doing this myself, and I will be for the rest of my life, as should we all be.

My 5 cents worth (had to account for the dollar's inflation)

[Sarge_44]

I am waiting to get my PTP in the mail and I am going with the Ruger SR9 for my first one.

[rugershooter6823]

Very nice choice! I am big fan of rugers!! I have the sr40 and my dad has the sr9c.


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[photogpat]

I'd recommend shooting several before deciding on one.

I'm sure there's enough of us on here that we could organize an afternoon/morning out at Oakdale here in the near future for you to test fire a few different options. I'd be happy to host up to three responsible ( ) people. Let me know if you have any interest!

I've got an xD45 Compact (Springfield .45 ACP, similar to a Glock 21, shorter grip) and a snubbie 2" Taurus revolver in .327 (along with holsters for each) that I can let you test out.

[AutomaticAron]

Big thanks to everyone for their input! I hear a lot of great things about the XD series of pistols, but in my experience, they're just not comfortable to shoot for me, which is one reason I'm leaning toward a Glock. I've not met one that didn't feel good in my hands. I haven't ever shot any of the M&P series, but all of my fondling sessions at various gun stores has left me with a very positive feeling on them.

I understand the benefit of investing in a .22 pistol first, but as I'm working within such a tight budget, I'd rather not try and fit two guns into it. And as XDM45 says, I'd really rather just buy and train in the caliber I plan on carrying.

Seriously guys, thanks for the advice (Keep it coming!) and I assure you, I am taking it all in.

[XDM45]

I am waiting to get my PTP in the mail and I am going with the Ruger SR9 for my first one.

Very nice choice. Ruger makes quality gear. I own a Mark III 2245 and am looking at getting a 10/22 after a Springfield XDs.

[XDM45]

Big thanks to everyone for their input! I hear a lot of great things about the XD series of pistols, but in my experience, they're just not comfortable to shoot for me, which is one reason I'm leaning toward a Glock. I've not met one that didn't feel good in my hands. I haven't ever shot any of the M&P series, but all of my fondling sessions at various gun stores has left me with a very positive feeling on them.

I understand the benefit of investing in a .22 pistol first, but as I'm working within such a tight budget, I'd rather not try and fit two guns into it. And as XDM45 says, I'd really rather just buy and train in the caliber I plan on carrying.

Seriously guys, thanks for the advice (Keep it coming!) and I assure you, I am taking it all in.

Thanks man, appreciate the feedback.

I feel ya on the Glock thing. Many like them, I don't, not a good fit for me, maybe the XD/m isn't for you, however, before you rule them out, try mine.

I put over 3,000 rounds of new ammo through my XDM without a jam, FTF or anything (and now 1,500 rounds later, it still hasn't had one either), but what's remarkable is at the 3,000 mark, I changed out the recoil rod from the OEM version which weighs in a 0.73 of an ounce, to a 3 oz one from brassstacker.com. At the 3,001st shot, I knew it was a new gun. When I did rapid consecutive firing, the recoil was MUCH less than with the OEM recoil rod. It was the best $64 I ever spent for that gun, and in fact, I believe it's the best upgrade that you can do for the XD or the XDm. Another thing to consider is that with Glock, you can't swap out the backstrap like you can on the XDm, which comes with one installed and 2 more in other sizes.

If you want to take me up on the offer, it will only cost you your time. I'll supply the guns and ammo, no charge. I figure I'll get paid back in good karma, but I'm not doing it for that, I'm doing it because no one did it for me. I wasn't on this board before I purchased, so you have that advantage I didn't take, and had I'd been here, I'm sure others would have offered. If you've shot an XDm before, you'll notice the difference in mine. It's so big of a difference, if you never shot before and did one shot from an OEM XDm and one shot from mine, you could tell. So if it's the recoil, that is solved. If it's the grip, did you swap it out or just use what was on the gun when you tried an XDm?

It doesn't matter to me what gun you buy, but I only want to help you get a through look at an XDm before you no go it. I fully support whatever you do, and I think you should thoroughly check out every gun you can, including stripping it down if you can. I love my Ruger Mark III 2245, but the two biggest things I hate about it is the takedown (difficult at first) and the magazine disconnect (easily resolvable with a new bushing from Sam Lam), so I knew those going into that purchase, but I'd hate to have bought a gun only to find out that XYZ sucks about it (for me) and I can't do anything about it.

Guns don't lose value overall, but if you buy a new gun, never fire it, you can't return it and it will be treated as used. Bill's for example does 60% on the dollar, so if you gun costs $1,000, as a rule of thumb, you'd get $600 for it, generally speaking... I'm sure those numbers may vary a bit. I know some guys from Bill's are on here, and I found out that by overhearing someone on the staff say it once. Anyway, point being, as you already know, choose wisely.

I understand the budget, and if you do get a .22 ever, you can get into one with the gun, cleaning supplies, and ammo, for about $500. I paid $269 at Bill's for my 2245, $20 for a bore snake (I don't use rods and brushes) from GunStop, BreakFree CLR, Hoppes 9, some toothpicks, toothbrushes, q-tips, rags, not too much for all of that. Ammo is around $21 for a box of 525 rounds. You're right though, get what you carry, qualify with it, etc. If you are on a budget, as much as I love my .45ACP, 9mm is going to be cheaper to shoot in the long run, and it's not that cost effective to reload 9mm unless you are shooting just thousands of rounds. .40, .44 Magnum, .357, .45ACP, yeah, those are worth reloading, but less much so than in years gone past. You can spend mopre on a round to reload it than buying new, depending on what components you use and the price you pay for them. You also have to figure what your time is worth per hour too.

Anyway, I hope I can help and have helped. My offer stands. Just contact me if interested. In fact, it's a standing offer for anyone here if you want to shoot my guns, but I won't supply ammo to everyone. New shooters are my exception.

[Ron Burgundy]

Another thing to consider is that with Glock, you can't swap out the backstrap like you can on the XDm, which comes with one installed and 2 more in other sizes.

False. Gen 4s come with multiple back straps. http://us.glock.com/technology/gen4

I'd suggest taking up some of these generous offers if you're of the buy once, cry once ilk. I did the opposite. I ran out and bought an XD for my first handgun (having never shot one) only to find I prefer Glocks when it comes to striker fired guns.

There is a fellow on the board which refers to gun tourism. I like that analogy. I tend to buy mass produced wonder pistols so the idea on renting is difficult to swallow ($20 rental + $25 range ammo is almost 10% of the cost of your typical polymer striker pistol). Tourism is fun. You can always use your mistake purchase as trade fodder too.

Good luck and have fun!

[XDM45]

Another thing to consider is that with Glock, you can't swap out the backstrap like you can on the XDm, which comes with one installed and 2 more in other sizes.

False. Gen 4s come with multiple back straps. http://us.glock.com/technology/gen4

I'd suggest taking up some of these generous offers if you're of the buy once, cry once ilk. I did the opposite. I ran out and bought an XD for my first handgun (having never shot one) only to find I prefer Glocks when it comes to striker fired guns.

There is a fellow on the board which refers to gun tourism. I like that analogy. I tend to buy mass produced wonder pistols so the idea on renting is difficult to swallow ($20 rental + $25 range ammo is almost 10% of the cost of your typical polymer striker pistol). Tourism is fun. You can always use your mistake purchase as trade fodder too.

Good luck and have fun!

I like that term "Gun Tourism"... and I didn't know that about the Gen4, good to know. Are they still made outside the USA too?

[AutomaticAron]

XDM45- I'd love to take you up on your offer. Just gotta look at my schedule in this coming week. I've had some trigger time with a subcompact XD9 and a full sized XDM9 and they just didnt feel as solid as I'd like in my hand. Maybe since I was shooting for fun and not to evaluate a potential purchase I overlooked something. Hopefully we can figure something out soon, as I heard about a used XD45 at Bills in Circle Pines for $450. I'll PM you at some point to see what works well for you!

Thanks a ton! Your offer is very much appreciated!

Photogpat- Same! I appreciate all the support immensely!