Gun nuts - I need your advice

[rommelrommel]

Thanks for the responses guys.

I do plan on buying other guns, but I figured I should get good/familiar with one and have extra backups of it. Is that still a bad idea?

I was at a range for several hours with friends. I did start with a Ruger .22, which I thought was VERY fun and accurate, but I eventually graduated to the P226 within a couple of hours. I tried a 9mm Glock, old revolver, and some misc. handguns that my friends bought, but found the P226 to be the best in terms of accuracy and comfort. Are there any other guns that I should try? All the suggestions for 9mm have intrigued me enough that I'll give that one a whirl. I was told .40 for stopping power.

After I get my first gun, I plan on attending an all-day gun safety course, where they'll let me shoot it at the range so that I can become more familiar with it. Afterwards, I figure I'd get a .22 targeting pistol and some sort of rifle with a scope, as I found hitting cans at 100 yards to be really fun as well.

I wouldn't worry about having a backup, a Sig is pretty unlikely to break.

40 is a better round, true... but personally I find the recoil snappy and that you get more muzzle rise. Really... a 9mm with good self defense rounds is going to hurt real real bad. Shot placement always trumps stopping power too.

But, if the recoil didn't daunt you, and spending more on ammo doesn't bother you, no reason to not buy a 40.

 

[phreaqe]

i just ordered a Sig 226 in 9mm with the night sights from Budsgunshop.com on tuesdayfor $816. i would check there and see if you can get a good price as it was the best i could find when shopping around.

 

[clamum]

I wouldn't worry about having a backup, a Sig is pretty unlikely to break.

40 is a better round, true... but personally I find the recoil snappy and that you get more muzzle rise. Really... a 9mm with good self defense rounds is going to hurt real real bad. Shot placement always trumps stopping power too.

But, if the recoil didn't daunt you, and spending more on ammo doesn't bother you, no reason to not buy a 40.

Yeah I agree on all points. And backups for a handguns seems kinda weird to me but whatever. I can see some replacement springs and whatnot though.

 

[Mermaidman]

Gun nuts . . . Is that like "truck nuts?"

 

[shortylickens]

The only people who need backup are cops and base security. And the pistol is their backup.

The primary weapon is a shotgun.

Only detectives and movie characters need two pistols.

 

[TallBill]

I paid $550 each for my p226 and p220. Found banging deals on "used" on gunbroker.com. labeled as 99%, but you never would have know that they were previously owned. Also, get some Hogue grips, feels so much better in your hands.

 

[ManBearPig]

I think the stock plastic grips feel nice, but not the rosewood ones. However, i think the E2 grips feel the best.

 

[clamum]

I just have the stock grips, but wish I could thinner ones. From what I gather, the stock ones are pretty much that (they are dang thin). Stupid small hands.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

I wouldn't buy anything without renting/borrowing several makes in each desired caliber. I own from .22 through .45 and I've fired many others, but I am most accurate with my SIG P2340 in .357 caliber.

 

[gorcorps]

I much prefer my CZ SP-01 shadow

 

[madoka]

The only people who need backup are cops and base security. And the pistol is their backup.

The primary weapon is a shotgun.

Only detectives and movie characters need two pistols.

If it helps to explain my desire for backups, I have three homes, so I figured I could leave them in different locations.

 

[shortylickens]

If it helps to explain my desire for backups, I have three homes, so I figured I could leave them in different locations.

When then its not actually backup, its just duplicates. And seriously, for the home you should just get a shotgun.

 

[Phanuel]

Shotguns are terrible home defense tools. Stop suggesting them.

 

[Mermaidman]

Shotguns are terrible home defense tools. Stop suggesting them.

Not according to this guy.

 

[Merad]

I have a P226 and love it; it's a great gun. But I would really hesitate to recommend it as a first gun. I would go with something cheaper, like a Glock, Sig SP2022, or etc. Then, sink the money that you save into extra ammo for practice. Or better yet, use the extra money to get a .22 pistol for practice.

 

[edro]

Your first gun should be a cheap 22.
But before you even get your first gun, your first step should be to take a training course. THEN decide what gun you need.
(It will be a 22, trust me.)

That's dumb. A full grown man can handle a 9mm, .40, .45 as their first gun.

 

[pontifex]

M1 garands are generally very expensive but I heard that there are 80+k of American made M1's about to be re imported from south korea.. So that should drop the price a bit.

lol,you think those will ever see the light of day in the US? Or at least in US civilian hands? not as long as Obama is president.

 

[shortylickens]

That's dumb. A full grown man can handle a 9mm, .40, .45 as their first gun.

THATS dumb.
Its got nothing to do with "can handle".

 

[pontifex]

That's dumb. A full grown man can handle a 9mm, .40, .45 as their first gun.

it's not that they can't handle it, it's about learning the basics on an gun that shoots a caliber that is less expensve, therefore you get to train more.

its less recoil and sound so you don't develop a flinch

 

[Brigandier]

If you want a bunch of pistols why not go full-frame, compact and sub compact?

 

[RampantAndroid]

Gun nuts . . . Is that like "truck nuts?"

/facepalm

On an aside because it was mentioned earlier: I don't recommend a 92FS for anyone given its rocky history. There are far better guns to be found. The 92FS is right next to the Desert Eagle for guns people probably shouldn't buy. There's a reason the Marines keep looking for new sidearms.

Your first gun should be a cheap 22.
But before you even get your first gun, your first step should be to take a training course. THEN decide what gun you need.
(It will be a 22, trust me.)

Doesn't have to be. Might be a safer slower route, but I don't think it is required, esp if self defense is the real requirement.

 

[OverVolt]

If you train the flinch out of yourself then recoil matters naught anyway.

I've noticed that glocks have like zero recoil though. Recoil is really nothing to complain about. I couldn't even tell the different between 115gr 9mm range ammo and 124gr 9mm +p.

 

[OverVolt]

That's dumb. A full grown man can handle a 9mm, .40, .45 as their first gun.

Recoil doesn't matter, its the muzzle flash, and how much of a recoil flinch you have to train out of someone. .45 has way more momentum and expectation of recoil, so a .45 as your first gun can screw up your trigger control and sighting. Its not about "handling the recoil" as if its going to jump out of your hand or push you back

 

[ManBearPig]

If you train the flinch out of yourself then recoil matters naught anyway.

I've noticed that glocks have like zero recoil though. Recoil is really nothing to complain about. I couldn't even tell the different between 115gr 9mm range ammo and 124gr 9mm +p.

Dude, i dunno. While im about as inexperienced as you can get, i feel like the glock 22 that i fired has recoil that would affect anyone.

 

[x-alki]

Shotguns are terrible home defense tools. Stop suggesting them.

Care to explain that reasoning?

Not according to this guy.

I believe that guy is a gal.