newbie here could use some advice

[mulske]

ok I just decided to purchase a handgun, I applied for a permit to purchase on like 03/19/2013 and already gotten my letter back from Plymouth mn police dept to come get my permit and I was appoved on 03/23/2013..have to say I was pleasantly surprised that it was that fast..anyways I have never owned a handgun before but have shotguns and rifles..where is the best place ina 60 miles radius of the twin cities to purchase my handgun a place that will help me get one that's right for me.i basically and going to use it for home protection and target shooting so any advice u all can give on it I would appreciate thanks in advance

[mnhntr]

First congrats on deciding to get a handgun. They become addicting. I would offer you this advice on a first handgun. Some will say to start with a .22lr. I disagree unless your 12. I would start with a 357 revolver such as ruger GP100 or S&W 686, 65, or 66. The reason is this IMHO is the most versatile handgun you can buy. In a 4in barrel you can do anything with it.You can shoot 38spl & 38spl +P along with 357 magnum loads. The 38spl is a great small game hunting and target round, and the +P is a great home defense round. The 357 magnum loads are excellent medium to large game hunting loads and outdoor defense loads. The option of SA/DA gives you the opportunity to get a feel for two entirely diffent triggers to master. The 4in barrel is easily carried concealed but long enough to use at the range and for hunting. I cannot help you with metro gun stors the only one I have ever been in is Bill's in Robbinsdale. I would buy from Mill's Fleet Farm if you have one down there. The reason is they are not gouging people on prices and are promoting our 2A rights.

[Drizzle]

if you can find one, get a Glock 19. The trouble is finding one for less than a king's ransom. Otherwise I agree about a revolver, but you might find one of the used S&W Model 10s Bill's had last fall. Don't go to a show and buy a Stallard or a fancy shiny .45. You should plan on spending 400 for something decent used. A new Glock will be around 550 unless you get lucky. Check the sales section here on the board. I've bought from many of the good guys on here.

There have been a boatload of used police turn in Model 22s in 40 cal at recent shows. Not a bad choice either, and you can get a 9mm conversion barrel if you like and have two calibers in one pistol. Go to Frontiersman, Gunstop, Metro Gun & Pawn and the Bill's to handle before you buy. What feels great in one man's hand might feel like a 2x4 in yours (how I feel about Springfield XDs, though some love them).

[XDM45]

Look at the technical aspects of the gun, and if it hits all of your markers, great, but trust your feeling the first time you hold it. If it doesn't feel right, don't get it. The first impression is the one to trust. I held a few XDm .45ACPs before I found the one I went with. That has never failed me, trusting my instincts.

A revolver is more reliable than a semi-automatic is, and it's easier to clean too, but you have less ammo.

Some revolvers can shoot different rounds like .357 and .38 Special, but usually the just shoot the one caliber (9mm, 40, .45ACP, etc) unless there's a conversion kit for them to make them also shoot another caliber, usually .22LR.

A 9mm will have the least recoil, a .45ACP will have much more, a 40 caliber is somewhere in the middle between the two. 9mm is cheapest, 40 is in the middle, .45ACP is the most expensive. There's also the ballistics to consider of not only the caliber, but what type of round you have going through the gun.

Do you want to open carry? Concenal carry? Both? Only one of them and which one?
Do you want a full sized gun or a smaller one? The smaller ones usually have a lot more recoil, like the Springfield XDs, XDm Compact, Ruger LCP, etc.

A lot of people are going to advise you on what to get and not get and why, but they have their own reasonings and ligic, sometimes bias as well. I don't like Glocks. They are great guns, but they are not a great gun for ME, and thus I am not a great shooter for THEM. If I bought a Glock, it'd end in divorce. The Glock would get both cars and the house and I'd be left on the street because I'd cheat on the Glock ever change I get with my XDm .45ACP

So take what I and others have said from a technical point of view, look at the hard facts of a gun to find out about the quality, features, options, etc, but when it comes to buying one, trust your gut instinct the first time you hold it. You only get one first impression, so trust it. Often times people say "Oh well, I really like this shiny gun, and even though it doesn't feel right, I think I'll grow into it." No. You won't. You will settle...especially if you paid a lot of money for the gun, which you will do if it's any kind of a quality firearm. A lot of people think that they can change something about their partner and make him or her into what they want them to be, and to some degree, you can do that with a gun too, but there are some things about a gun that is just core to how it is. Really, is it worth all that? Why not just find one that requires a lot less work and feels good right away?

I don't care if it's a relationship with a person or a gun, when it's right, you'll know it. TRUST YOURSELF. You are betting your life on the person you marry and the gun you carry. If you aren't 100%, don't get involved with either one.

Now, as for MY bias, I prefer to open carry a Springfield XDm .45ACP and soon I'll conceal carry as a backup, an XDs, which is also a .45ACP. I don't like Glocks for the feel, I like Springfields and Ruger (owning both of those right now), and I really some Kimbers. I also need to look into Smith and Wesson and some others as well, as eventually I'll be looking for a nice revolver just because they are simpler and more reliable, but I'll still carry my XDM/XDs combination.

Now your mileage will vary, so if you want to check my guns out, as a couple of forum members did today, you are more than welcome to do so. Just bring some good quality .45ACP to use and you can run it through my XDm and XDs. I also have a Ruger Mark III 2245, but that's not a carry gun. It's a cheap date at the range, good for plinking, and overall a good gun to have. Everyone should own a .22LR and you just need to be careful because it's easy to develop bad habits with grip and so forth if you aren't careful.

Ok.'nuff said. That's my 3 cents worth.

[jshuberg]

There are many things to consider when choosing a carry pistol. Most people will get into brands, calibers, size, weight, frame material, availability of holsters and accessories, etc. All of these are important factors to consider, but for a new shooter finding a pistol that properly fits your hand, and that points naturally will also be a big concern. Most new shooters don't know how to properly hold a pistol with a modern thumbs forward grip. They'll pick it up and hold it the same way they played cops and robbers or cowboys and Indians as a kid, which is incorrect. Here is what I'd recommend:

Do some research, go to a few gun stores and look at your options. Have someone show you the proper way to hold a pistol, where your finger should lay on the trigger, and the movement of your finger on the trigger to achieve a perfectly rearward motion at the instant the sear breaks. Doing this will help you find a pistol that "fits your hand". Note that many pistols these days have adjustable backstraps, so there many be several fit options for a given pistol. Once you learn which of the pistols you're interested in that fits your hand, bring it up from the low ready to the shooting position in front of you with the sights properly aligned. Do this several times to get the feel for it, and then do it with your eyes closed. If when you open your eyes the pistol is "aligned-ish", meaning that the front site is somewhere in the rear, then it naturally points pretty well for you. Different pistols have different grip angles and ergonomics, so you will likely find some will naturally point well for you, others will not. It you choose a pistol that doesn't fit your hand, or that doesn't naturally point well for you, it will be more difficult for you to learn how to shoot it proficiently.

A competent sales guy will help you with the details of this, but it's always a good idea to bring a buddy along who's a competent shooter to help you with your decision.

Or you can just skip to the end and buy the first Sig that smiles at you from the case, that works too

[DoxaPar]

If you wanna try the Glock 19 drop me a PM.

Edit: Moreover, try several potential options and find out what you like and dislike. It'd be a bummer to buy something only to find out you dislike it.

[rugersol]

.17 HMR revolver.... bout the only thing ya could actually get ammo fer!

...actually, I recently seen some .40 at fleet farm... not sayin it's still there!

So long as ya don't develop a nice high grip, Glock's probly the best of the plastic guns!

Don't listen to anyone behind a counter!

[brad3579]

There are many things to consider when choosing a carry pistol. Most people will get into brands, calibers, size, weight, frame material, availability of holsters and accessories, etc. All of these are important factors to consider, but for a new shooter finding a pistol that properly fits your hand, and that points naturally will also be a big concern. Most new shooters don't know how to properly hold a pistol with a modern thumbs forward grip. They'll pick it up and hold it the same way they played cops and robbers or cowboys and Indians as a kid, which is incorrect. Here is what I'd recommend:

Do some research, go to a few gun stores and look at your options. Have someone show you the proper way to hold a pistol, where your finger should lay on the trigger, and the movement of your finger on the trigger to achieve a perfectly rearward motion at the instant the sear breaks. Doing this will help you find a pistol that "fits your hand". Note that many pistols these days have adjustable backstraps, so there many be several fit options for a given pistol. Once you learn which of the pistols you're interested in that fits your hand, bring it up from the low ready to the shooting position in front of you with the sights properly aligned. Do this several times to get the feel for it, and then do it with your eyes closed. If when you open your eyes the pistol is "aligned-ish", meaning that the front site is somewhere in the rear, then it naturally points pretty well for you. Different pistols have different grip angles and ergonomics, so you will likely find some will naturally point well for you, others will not. It you choose a pistol that doesn't fit your hand, or that doesn't naturally point well for you, it will be more difficult for you to learn how to shoot it proficiently.
A competent sales guy will help you with the details of this, but it's always a good idea to bring a buddy along who's a competent shooter to help you with your decision.

Or you can just skip to the end and buy the first Sig that smiles at you from the case, that works too

The grip angles vary quite a lot.
Go to a gun store and try a Glock (about a 111 degree grip angle) and a XDm (about a 105 degree grip angle) and you can really tell the difference.
I shoot mostly Glock as it fits me naturally but also have owned a XD 40 which when brought up would have to lift the front of the gun about the height of the front blade.
If you have not shot handguns before shooting a 22lr is great practice before shooting a center fire.

[XDM45]

oreover, try several potential options and find out what you like and dislike. It'd be a bummer to buy something only to find out you dislike it.

THIS!! ^5

Once you bought it, it's yours. Make certain (as much as you can) that you like it enough to keep it before you buy it.

[rugersol]

oreover, try several potential options and find out what you like and dislike. It'd be a bummer to buy something only to find out you dislike it.

THIS!! ^5

Once you bought it, it's yours. Make certain (as much as you can) that you like it enough to keep it before you buy it.

... or... resell it on arms list fer $100 more n what ya paid!

[XDM45]

oreover, try several potential options and find out what you like and dislike. It'd be a bummer to buy something only to find out you dislike it.

THIS!! ^5

Once you bought it, it's yours. Make certain (as much as you can) that you like it enough to keep it before you buy it.

... or... resell it on arms list fer $100 more n what ya paid!

But wait!! there's more!! Just pay separate shipping and handling and we'll double your order!! Hurry!! This offer won't last!! (Same with the prices on Armslist, the land of desperate people.)

[mulske]

also I have really small hands went to cabellas and he has one handgun in the whole store that he said fit my hand a browing 22 not sure which model the rest of the handguns he showed me he said didn't fit because the hammer wasn't lined up with my radius bone and was lined up more by the thumb joint is this true or false info...and no its not true whatthey say about small hands...lol

[rugersol]

Don't listen to anyone behind a counter!

[tman]

Go to Bill's Range in Circle Pines or Robbinsdale and handle some of their rental guns. Then shoot some.

$20 for the lane rental if you're by yourself, $15 for the first pistol rental, $10 after that, and you have to buy their overpriced ammo.

A hundred bucks spent there might save you a lot of grief down the road.

Try sticking with 9mm for the semi autos and .38 special for the revolvers.

http://billsgs.com/



Just a note: Bill's attracts all kinds of shooters, and some of them scare the beejesus out of people because they can't safely handle a firearm. Beware of, and DON'T BE one of them.

[XDM45]

Go to Bill's Range in Circle Pines or Robbinsdale and handle some of their rental guns. Then shoot some.

$20 for the lane rental if you're by yourself, $15 for the first pistol rental, $10 after that, and you have to buy their overpriced ammo.

A hundred bucks spent there might save you a lot of grief down the road.

Try sticking with 9mm for the semi autos and .38 special for the revolvers.

http://billsgs.com/

Just a note: Bill's attracts all kinds of shooters, and some of them scare the beejesus out of people because they can't safely handle a firearm. Beware of, and DON'T BE one of them.

Bill's is probably the place to go to shoot rental firearms, but honestly, putting your life at risk isn't worth it. The air quality sucks and there's a photo or two of full autos behind the firing line on the bench. I can't recommend their range.

I put together a group of 3 other people and myself, we went to BPR and has 10-12 guns there among us and other people shot ours, we shot thier guns, so you can put together a group and do that too. Anyone who wants to meet up is more than welcome to try out my XDm and XDs, just bring some quality, new .45ACP ammo.