Journey to owning my first handgun

[Seismic Sam]

THIS IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT!!!

Seeing as you are brand new to this whole thing, when you go back to Bill's you MUST buy a copy of Michael Martin's book on personal defense and carry!! While a one day course is a good start, you probably are not going to remember all of it, and this book is the most complete one out there, that you can read, AND THEN READ AGAIN!! AND AGAIN A MONTH LATER!! And then refer to regularly after that until you have all the concepts memorized.

The reason is that if TSHTF while you are carrying, there is ONLY time to react, if that, so you need everything that you need to keep yourself alive locked into your head with plenty of range practice to build up your muscle memory. Seriously, this is no small task and is going to take many months to get to the point of really being competent. So buy the book, and then Read The EFFEN Book, and then RRTFB, and RRRTFB!!

Good luck, and learn to look behind you with your peripheral vision...

[Pat Cannon]

I wish I knew someone with a variety of handguns!

You do now! If by any chance you want to try any more revolver shooting, I've got a couple Ruger .357s, a GP100 & an SP101. PM me if you want to try 'em. Other guys like to show off their guns too, if you lay down some hints.

Until I do I'll be renting, which in my opinion isn't a bad idea to find that right gun for my first purchase.

Renting's good too, it's the best thing about Bill's.

Before I bought my first handgun I was pretty sure I wanted a 1911 but I'd never shot one, and in my ignorance thought the legendary weapon's recoil might be too much for me. I'll never forget laughing out loud after taking my first shot with the rental gun at Bill's and realizing what an easy gun to shoot the 1911 was.

[Dylan]

THIS IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT!!!

Seeing as you are brand new to this whole thing, when you go back to Bill's you MUST buy a copy of Michael Martin's book on personal defense and carry!! While a one day course is a good start, you probably are not going to remember all of it, and this book is the most complete one out there, that you can read, AND THEN READ AGAIN!! AND AGAIN A MONTH LATER!! And then refer to regularly after that until you have all the concepts memorized.

The reason is that if TSHTF while you are carrying, there is ONLY time to react, if that, so you need everything that you need to keep yourself alive locked into your head with plenty of range practice to build up your muscle memory. Seriously, this is no small task and is going to take many months to get to the point of really being competent. So buy the book, and then Read The EFFEN Book, and then RRTFB, and RRRTFB!!

Good luck, and learn to look behind you with your peripheral vision...

Thanks for the tip on the book! I'll definitely pick it up tomorrow.

[Dylan]

You do now! If by any chance you want to try any more revolver shooting, I've got a couple Ruger .357s, a GP100 & an SP101. PM me if you want to try 'em. Other guys like to show off their guns too, if you lay down some hints.

Great, thanks! I'll take you up on that offer sometime.

[Evad]

Glock 19. It's the standard to which all other guns are measured.

Why get a lesser gun? That's for future purchases!

Whose standard? Yours?

How selective, you let me by with the same comment in different words

Dylan,

Get some 9mm, .40, .45, and 38 spc ammo and say "I want to go to the range and try guns"

[Heffay]

Get some 9mm, .40, .45, and 38 spc ammo and say "I want to go to the range and try guns"

This.

Then buy a Glock 19.

[Dylan]

Get some 9mm, .40, .45, and 38 spc ammo and say "I want to go to the range and try guns"

This.

Then buy a Glock 19.

I'm starting to think you might own some private stock in Glock

[Heffay]

Get some 9mm, .40, .45, and 38 spc ammo and say "I want to go to the range and try guns"

This.

Then buy a Glock 19.

I'm starting to think you might own some private stock in Glock

Just a pragmatist with impeccable taste.

Which is why the Glock 19 is the perfect weapon for any function.

[mmcnx2]

My suggestion stands, try a number before you buy. There is nothing wrong with any of the handgun mentioned and Glock folks(heffay) tend to be very loyal and thats great if you can shoot them. But some folks just shoot other stuff better, so try a bunch. Yes that is the M&P I was refering to. And just for the Glockers, I carry a 27 much of the time.

9mm with the right ammo is more than adequate for home protection. If you ever see the ballistic gel tests you will see there is minimal difference in 9, 40 and 45, again with the right ammo While each does progressively add damage it only works if you hit what your shooting at. So a 9mm that hits will have more impact than a 45 in a wall.

Good luck with your search , have fun, be safe.

[SparkyJeff]

Just a pragmatist with impeccable taste.

Which is why the Glock 19 is the perfect weapon for any function.

Ask any duck hunter...

[Ron Burgundy]

Buy a Glock 19 or 17 (full size). 9mm is great and Glocks just work. They are super forgiving and you will spend almost zero time cleaning or maintaining them.

Try to save room in the budget for a .22 pistol. So much fun and cheap shooting.

Both 9mm and .22 are a little hard to find lately but don't let that sway you into buying a .40. The .40 shouldn't exist outside of shooting Limited.

Good luck!

[Pat Cannon]

Lots of good advice here. Another thing to consider is, Glocks are ugly.

[Dylan]

Buy a Glock 19 or 17 (full size). 9mm is great and Glocks just work. They are super forgiving and you will spend almost zero time cleaning or maintaining them.

Try to save room in the budget for a .22 pistol. So much fun and cheap shooting.

Both 9mm and .22 are a little hard to find lately but don't let that sway you into buying a .40. The .40 shouldn't exist outside of shooting Limited.

Good luck!

I'd love to get a .22 as well. I've heard that a Ruger SR22 is a good choice.

[Evad]

I'd love to get a .22 as well. I've heard that a Ruger SR22 is a good choice.

Good fun, but the SR22 was a little small to me. I have a mosquito, and the M&P22 is also very nice. That is, if you want the "look" of a bigger version. There are probably better shooting 22s that are just a little less "cool" looking like the mkII (I think that's the one).

Seriously, buy ammo now. Especially 22. Used to be cheap and plentiful, I would hate to see you get a gun you can't find ammo for. Having hundreds of rounds before the gun will not hurt if we are talking 22LR.

[Ivan45]

I have to chime in and say the Springfield XD line is a great weapon, over 3K rounds of .45 through mine and she's still going strong.

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