Good first handgun?

[Lucky]

I plan to be taking a job in the near future that will probably subject me to travelling in some rough areas as part of the job. Additionally id like to use the handgun for home use.

It will probably be either stashed in the bedroom dressor or concealed carried on my if the situation warrants it. Im looking for a fairly cheap gun ($3-400?), less is better.

Any recommendations?

 

[Pastfinder]

9mm pistol like the ganstas prefer would work well.

Personally I'd take a .45

 

[Amused]

Walther PPK/S.

And make sure you take a training course. Then make sure you practice on a range with it a few times a year at least.

 

[Lucky]

I've had a good amount of experience with rifles but nearly none with handguns. Of course I would train/practice, thats part of the fun to me.

 

[MrBond]

First of all, make sure the area you're in will allow concealed carry. If you're in the US, some states allow it, but all require licenses, usually with training.

You're going to be hard pressed to find a good defensive pistol for $300-400. You're obviously a handgun newbie, so a double action revolver would probably be best for you. Try asking the guys over at thefiringline.com, you're not as apt to be flamed for asking this as you would be here.

 

[Lucky]

blah screw the anti-gun fanatics.

Im well aware of concealed carry laws, thanks for the reminder.

Amused1, that gun doesnt look too bad but from a couple reviews I just I gather it has a *really* stiff trigger pull and one review said "its not a target shooting pistol". What does that mean and can you tell me any real world experience of this gun in regards to both comments?

I appreciate the revolver suggestion but solely on aesthetics I dont think I want one.

 

[TapTap]

You have to ask yourself if you are going to be committed to ownership.
Obtain a concealed license?
Attend a safety/marksmanship course?
Keep up with maint./proper care/switch out for clean ammo every 4 months?
Practice?
Aware of legal precedents if a situation happens--and have the correct mindset to handle it?
Answer those questions first--then decide on a hangun.
--you can not go wrong with a revolver, like Colt or SW. Get a .357, because essentially it is two guns in one. A .357 Mag will chamber and shoot .38 caliber bullets safely, and most importantly cheaply. This will let you expand your budget for practice ammo. .357 Mag recoil can be disconcerting with JHP (jacketed hollow point) ammo. You can shoot a longer session with .38's due to less "kick" and become a better, more confident (and COMPETENT) shooter.*Practice with .38's* carry a a good, rated, .357 load for defensive purpose's like Winchester's "Silvertip" load in .357, Federal's "Personal Defense" load in .357.
'luck...

 

[Lucky]

Ok, well how about semi-auto suggestions and not revolvers? The CC question will of course vary depending on which state I move to but I can handle the rest fairly easily.

 

[Amused]

<< blah screw the anti-gun fanatics.

Im well aware of concealed carry laws, thanks for the reminder.

Amused1, that gun doesnt look too bad but from a couple reviews I just I gather it has a *really* stiff trigger pull and one review said "its not a target shooting pistol". What does that mean and can you tell me any real world experience of this gun in regards to both comments?

I appreciate the revolver suggestion but solely on aesthetics I dont think I want one. >>



The Walther takes a little getting used to, but if you're a thin guy like me, it's the perfect size for CC. Yes, the trigger is a little stiff when shooting double action (not manually cocking the hammer first), but the accuracy is incredible for such a small weapon. I have a feeling the people complaining about the DA trigger pull are weak fingered Glock fanboys I can consistantly shoot smaller groupings with my Walther than I could with my Baretta 92F.

BTW, I would NEVER want to CC an internal hammer gun like a Glock or a single action pistol like a 1911. I feel Glocks are just way too unsafe... there is no real safety and the trigger requires minimal pressure to fire the weapon.

The Walther is not uncomfortable at all to fire at a range, especially if you buy some good rubberized grips for it.

Get one of these in Stainless and you wont be sorry.

 

[chechi]

I am also looking at handguns at the moment. And I really like the 9mm Rugers. They are very nice guns and they are under $400 usually. Good Luck

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

I can't see having a tiny weapon like a Walther PPK as a sole handgun - the .380 is a rather marginal round, and this gun is really specialized to concealed carry.

I also find it odd that AmusedOne is saying he would "never" own a Glock or 1911 - these are probably the two best-developed combat handguns in the world, and are as safe as anything out there. I actually think both are considerably better for self-defense than any DA/SA gun, which will have drastically different trigger pulls between the first and second shots. Some combat handgun coaches even train students to deliberately throw the first bullet into a safe area away from the target for this reason(!) The main reason the DA/SA pistols came into existence in the first place is one related to public relations - the "cocked and locked" 1911 looks scary to the layperson who is not familiar with firearm operation, since the hammer is back and the gun appears to be ready to fire.

The best solution IMO is to go to a range and fire a variety of different guns to see what you like. As a first handgun, 9mm is probably the most desirable caliber in that it is very inexpensive to shoot, generates little recoil, and is reasonably effective as a self-defense round. The widest variety of guns are chambered in 9mm. Personally I prefer .45, which is somewhat more accurate and has much greater power, but I would still start with 9mm.

In your price range, I would consider a used Glock or other quality 9mm handgun. The Berettas are very decent (though I find the standard-bearer 92FS way too large and heavy for what it is), and are often available for around $400 new. The Springfield Armory XD pistols are also pretty inexpensive, high-quality, and loaded with features for the money.

Personally I like the Glock 17 (I have big hands), but the compact Glocks are better for many people. Glocks are by far the toughest handguns made in the world, and since it is nearly impossible to wear one out (Chuck Taylor has shot a Glock 17 more than 300,000 times, as well as burying it in soil and manure, freezing it in ice, and attaching it to a salt-water buoy for six months, and it still shoots perfectly), you may as well buy a used one. The Glock design is not by any means inherently unsafe (it is the choice of a vast number of police departments and military agencies around the world), but it does require a shooter who is disciplined enough not to put his finger on the trigger until he is ready to shoot.

 

[BooneRebel]

There's quite a bit of good information on here, however, I'm a little confused by your motivation Lucky. You obviously want a gun for protection in the event that your life is endangered, so are you really more concerned about asthetics than function? A revolver is a good first choice for a gun because it has fewer moving parts, is easier to operate, less prone to jamming, etc., etc., etc. If you get a semiauto first you're going to have more maintenance issues, longer cleaning time, dealing with safeties, slide locks, etc. You might think it looks 'cool', but that won't do you much good if you don't take care of it and it jams when you need it the most.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Whatever you chose, make sure you know when NOT to use it.

 

[Bulk Beef]

Make sure you learn how to fire it sideways like the gang-bangers on TV.

 

[Lucky]

<< There's quite a bit of good information on here, however, I'm a little confused by your motivation Lucky. You obviously want a gun for protection in the event that your life is endangered, so are you really more concerned about asthetics than function? A revolver is a good first choice for a gun because it has fewer moving parts, is easier to operate, less prone to jamming, etc., etc., etc. If you get a semiauto first you're going to have more maintenance issues, longer cleaning time, dealing with safeties, slide locks, etc. You might think it looks 'cool', but that won't do you much good if you don't take care of it and it jams when you need it the most. >>




I know it sounds bad. But especially since i intend to be target shooting fairly often I'd really prefer to have a gun that is pleasing to my eye. Additionally, I really do prefer a gun with more than 6 rounds. I havent seen too many revolvers that do. As far as the comments re: fewer moving parts, jamming, etc, that has nothign to do with the experience of the user. A misfire is a misfire and a jam is a jam.

Trust me, im not going for a semi-auto so I can show it off to my OG's back in 'da hood.

 

[Amused]

<< I can't see having a tiny weapon like a Walther PPK as a sole handgun - the .380 is a rather marginal round, and this gun is really specialized to concealed carry.

I also find it odd that AmusedOne is saying he would "never" own a Glock or 1911 - these are probably the two best-developed combat handguns in the world, and are as safe as anything out there. I actually think both are considerably better for self-defense than any DA/SA gun, which will have drastically different trigger pulls between the first and second shots. Some combat handgun coaches even train students to deliberately throw the first bullet into a safe area away from the target for this reason(!) The main reason the DA/SA pistols came into existence in the first place is one related to public relations - the "cocked and locked" 1911 looks scary to the layperson who is not familiar with firearm operation, since the hammer is back and the gun appears to be ready to fire.

The best solution IMO is to go to a range and fire a variety of different guns to see what you like. As a first handgun, 9mm is probably the most desirable caliber in that it is very inexpensive to shoot, generates little recoil, and is reasonably effective as a self-defense round. The widest variety of guns are chambered in 9mm. Personally I prefer .45, which is somewhat more accurate and has much greater power, but I would still start with 9mm.

In your price range, I would consider a used Glock or other quality 9mm handgun. The Berettas are very decent (though I find the standard-bearer 92FS way too large and heavy for what it is), and are often available for around $400 new. The Springfield Armory XD pistols are also pretty inexpensive, high-quality, and loaded with features for the money.

Personally I like the Glock 17 (I have big hands), but the compact Glocks are better for many people. Glocks are by far the toughest handguns made in the world, and since it is nearly impossible to wear one out (Chuck Taylor has shot a Glock 17 more than 300,000 times, as well as burying it in soil and manure, freezing it in ice, and attaching it to a salt-water buoy for six months, and it still shoots perfectly), you may as well buy a used one. The Glock design is not by any means inherently unsafe (it is the choice of a vast number of police departments and military agencies around the world), but it does require a shooter who is disciplined enough not to put his finger on the trigger until he is ready to shoot. >>



No, no, no. I would never CC a Glock. I think they'd be fine combat HGs, just not for CC or for inexperienced gun owners. They're just too easy to fire.

Sorry, but that's just my opinion.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

<< No, no, no. I would never CC a Glock. I think they'd be fine combat HGs, just not for CC or for inexperienced gun owners. They're just too easy to fire.

Sorry, but that's just my opinion. >>



To each his own, but the FBI, among many others, begs to differ, and carries G22s and G23s concealed. The Glock subcompacts, especially the G36, seem to me to be the best backup guns in the world.

 

[Russ]

<< Walther PPK/S. >>



This is actually an excellent suggestion for a new handgun owner if one is considering a semi-auto. It's easy to conceal, accurate within the distance it might be needed for self defense and confortable. Downside, of course, is that it's a .380. But, stoked with Corbon +P it's adequate. I actually have a clone of this piece as my backup. You can see it here. Excellent fit and finish, reliable, and it's only about $200.



<< I also find it odd that AmusedOne is saying he would "never" own a Glock or 1911 - these are probably the two best-developed combat handguns in the world, and are as safe as anything out there. >>



The 1911, yes, the Glock, no. Many police departments ditched the Glock precisely because too many officers accidently shot themselves. Neither weapon is a good choice for a noob.



<< The best solution IMO is to go to a range and fire a variety of different guns to see what you like. >>



Abso-damn-tutely!



<< The Berettas are very decent (though I find the standard-bearer 92FS way too large and heavy for what it is) >>



Love my 92FS. I've put over 5000 rounds through it and never had a single malfunction of any kind, ever. You are right, though, it's a large frame and not for everyone.

Russ, NCNE

 

[Iceman91]

My gun of choice would be the Glock 26 ( A.K.A. Baby Glock) Perfect for concealment carry. It can even use other Glock 9mm magazines, i.e. 10 round or 17 round. Your gonna pay alittle more for them, but they are well worth it. If having an external safety is a concering, then do not apply. Glock is stricly a point-and-shoot gun. Hope this helps ya.

Also, many people who diss the Glock have never used one. They have only heard stories or rumors. Most people who have had the chance to use one, never go back.

 

[PlatinumGold]

I am by no means a hand gun expert.

i've only fired a few guns, the walther 9 mm, a glock .45 caliber. and a couple others.

of all the guns i fired (at a shooting range only) i found the glock .45 to fit my had the best, it actually didn't kick in my hand as much as the walther did. probably cause the way it fit my hand. i have big beefy hands and the walther just wasn't comfortable in my hand. (i know the walther is a better gun, i'm just saying for ME the glock was more comfortable) which brings me to my point, before buying a hand gun shoot as many at a firing range as you can get your hands on. you really don't know how it will feel till you fire it.

JMO for what it's worth.

 

[BooneRebel]

<< As far as the comments re: fewer moving parts, jamming, etc, that has nothign to do with the experience of the user. A misfire is a misfire and a jam is a jam.

Trust me, im not going for a semi-auto so I can show it off to my OG's back in 'da hood. >>

It sounds like you really don't know that much about firearms, then. In a revolver, the cylinder physically revolves with each pull of the trigger, so whether or not the round fires it will be moved and a new round will fall under the hammer. So when you experience a misfire you pull the trigger again. That's it. Jams are virtually nonexistent.

Now, for a semiauto it gets a lot more complicated. A round can fail to feed properly from the magazine, or it can lodge partially in the chamber instead of inserting properly (particularly with truncated nose bullets like those found in the popular hollow-point partially fragmented rounds used for self defense). Once the round is in the chamber, if it misfires it will not be ejected and will have to be removed manually. If it does fire the cartridge still may not eject properly and lodge in the ejection chamber (called stovepiping because it resembles a chimney sticking out of the gun). You will have to learn and practice the tap-rack-bang maneuver in order to clear misfeeds by turning the pistol with the ejection port down, tapping the bottom of the magazine, and racking the slide to clear a misfeed and reload a new cartridge. You will also have to learn the lock-rip-work-tap-rack-bang to lock the slide, remove the magazine, work the slide, reinsert the magazine, load a cartidge, etc.

Now if you're seriously going to pursue the training and practice required to safely handle a semiauto then more power to you. But you asked for a recommendation for a good first handgun (to be used for self-defense) in which case I'd recommend a revolver. If after reading the above you still don't think that there is a difference to the user then you should probably seriously reconsider whether or not you're ready for the responsibility.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

<< (i know the walther is a better gun, i'm just saying for ME the glock was more comfortable) which brings me to my point, before buying a hand gun shoot as many at a firing range as you can get your hands on. you really don't know how it will feel till you fire it. >>



This is absolutely good advice (though with all due respect to Walther I would not say they are "better" than Glocks!). Personal feel makes all the difference in the world.

Most firing ranges have a stock of rental guns, and will allow you to change them out for free so you can try something else.

If you have literally never fired a handgun, you absolutely should not just go to a range without any training and start plinking. Even in the best-case scenario you would probably pick up some bad habits; the worst-case scenario could be tragic. At a minimum you need training from an experienced shooter, but better yet you should get formal training from a professional.

 

[Russ]

<< Also, many people who diss the Glock have never used one. They have only heard stories or rumors. Most people who have had the chance to use one, never go back. >>



I have fired most Glock models many times. They are NOT a good piece for a noob. Glock is a great weapon, but you fanboys need to consider the individual buying the gun before you jump in, and blindly recommend it.

And, Lucky, those recommending a revolver are absolutely correct. It is a MUCH better choice for a first handgun. Now, if you are willing to spend plenty of time learning and training on a semi-auto BEFORE you ever carry, that's one thing. But, most people aren't willing to do that. If you aren't, then get a revolver.

Russ, NCNE

 

[hoihtah]

dude... please stay away from me~
no guns welcomed here.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

<< I am also looking at handguns at the moment. And I really like the 9mm Rugers. They are very nice guns and they are under $400 usually. Good Luck >>




Excellent choice. I'm trying to sell my Ruger p89 with rubber grips a 2x10 rnd mags, 1x15 rnd mag, 1x20 rnd mag, and 1x30 rnd mag. I just don't know what I have to do legally to make sure I don't get charged if someone buys this gun and uses it to kill someone.