Handgun recommendation?

[mcvickj]

Originally posted by: PrinceofWands

Originally posted by: 49erinnc
Just out of curiosity, what is required in order to go to a range without a weapon but to rent/test out theirs?

I'm assuming a permit in hand is required but would the permit alone, indicate I've had the safety classes as well or would I need additonal documents to go test fire some guns? I'm thinking the rentals at a range may be my best option before purchasing something. That way I'll have a better idea of the mechanics, firepower, safety features, appearance and how it feels in my hand. Could likely get some valuable information there from the experts as well.

I have no idea what kind of permit you're talking about. In most places the only time you need a permit is to hunt or to carry concealed. Otherwise you just do it. Generally need picture ID I suppose, and the money. *shrug*

It's nice when ranges offer guns to try out, but a LOT of them don't - or have so few that it doesn't really help.

If I had to guess the OP is talking about a purchase permit. No idea how it works in your state but where I live you visit your local PD and apply for a purchase permit. If I remember correctly it took three days for them to run the background check. Once that has been approved you have 10 days before the permit expires.

Once you have purchased the handgun you need to go back to the PD and they inspect the handgun and copy down the necessary information. Shell out a couple of bucks for the notary fee and away you go with your handgun license in hand.

 

[Nebor]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
I don't own a Sig but I've shot a few...not extensively enough to comment on its long term reliability though. I do own a Glock and while it is extremely reliable it has jammed on me on rare occasion. I've shot some tight Glock .45s that have jammed and those 13 rnd mags are difficult to get 13 rounds into when they are new.

All of my Colts and Para-Ordnance guns have stovepiped or failed to feed a round at one time or another but I still love those guns and will never get rid of them.

Sigs are great guns though and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend one for personal defense or for duty carry.

I still think the revolver is more reliable and the better choice for a gun n00b.

A revolver is definitely a great starting point for a new gun owner.

Nearly every gun I've shot has had some sort of failure over the years, except Sigs. Hopefully H&K will be able to work themselves up into that rank as well.

There are a lot of things I don't like about Glocks, but their rate of failure is probably the most damning. At my CHL renewal class a couple weeks ago, I was next to a guy with a Glock 18. In the 100 rounds we fired, he jammed 4 times, requiring him to clear the jam by racking the slide. He was firing Winchester FMJ ammo.

 

[crumpet19]

Originally posted by: Fiat1
XD-9

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/crumpet19/friday_nights.jpg">XD-9 Sub Compact
</a>

 

[desy]

Didn't you see US Marshals?
Glocks never jam!

 

[Mr N8]

Originally posted by: dxkj
Dont ask, go to a range and rent all of their guns and find out for yourself best advice that I can give.

I liked a lot of guns, but settled on the CZ 75 Retro
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/dxkj21/cz75Retro.JPG


Sig p226 was a sweet sweet weapon, but I didnt want to spend that much... Taurus makes some nice ones as well.

My latest buy is a CZ 75 Compact .40 S&W. It's an excellent gun, probably the best you can get for the money. CZ is becoming more and more popular for the fact that they are incredibly reliable, easy to maintain, and priced well.

Pic of my CZ 75

Can't argue with the XD-9 recommendations, either, but they'll run you $550+ and then you can start adding extra magazines, case, etc...

 

[crumpet19]

Originally posted by: Mr N8

Originally posted by: dxkj
Dont ask, go to a range and rent all of their guns and find out for yourself best advice that I can give.

I liked a lot of guns, but settled on the CZ 75 Retro
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/dxkj21/cz75Retro.JPG


Sig p226 was a sweet sweet weapon, but I didnt want to spend that much... Taurus makes some nice ones as well.

My latest buy is a CZ 75 Compact .40 S&W. It's an excellent gun, probably the best you can get for the money. CZ is becoming more and more popular for the fact that they are incredibly reliable, easy to maintain, and priced well.

Can't argue with the XD-9 recommendations, either, but they'll run you $550+ and then you can start adding extra magazines, case, etc...

Actually, I bought mine for $450 a few years ago. Now they're available for about ~$500 in the Xtreme pack. (handgun comes in hardshell locking case with extra mags and a paddle holster & mag holsters. It may come with the XML light for a little more, but im not too sure.).

Aftermarket mags can be had REALLY cheap for this gun. you can get 15-17rd mags for about $10-20 each depending on brand.
Factory 10rd mags for the Sub Compact are about $25 each.
Hell, I even saw 32rd mags for $20 the other day- I wouldnt depend on them with my life but might be fun at the range)

 

[Mr N8]

Originally posted by: crumpet19

Originally posted by: Mr N8

Originally posted by: dxkj
Dont ask, go to a range and rent all of their guns and find out for yourself best advice that I can give.

I liked a lot of guns, but settled on the CZ 75 Retro
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/dxkj21/cz75Retro.JPG


Sig p226 was a sweet sweet weapon, but I didnt want to spend that much... Taurus makes some nice ones as well.

My latest buy is a CZ 75 Compact .40 S&W. It's an excellent gun, probably the best you can get for the money. CZ is becoming more and more popular for the fact that they are incredibly reliable, easy to maintain, and priced well.

Can't argue with the XD-9 recommendations, either, but they'll run you $550+ and then you can start adding extra magazines, case, etc...

Actually, I bought mine for $450 a few years ago. Now they're available for about ~$500 in the Xtreme pack. (handgun comes in hardshell locking case with XD light, extra mags and (i think) a paddle holster).

Aftermarket mags can be had REALLY cheap for this gun. you can get 15-17rd mags for about $10-20 each depending on brand.
Factory 10rd mags for the Sub Compact are about $25 each.
Hell, I even saw 32rd mags for $20 the other day- I wouldnt depend on them with my life but might be fun at the range)

Holy hell...32 rounds! That would save a decent amount of time at the range. I usually load up my 4 mags with 10 rounds each before I head off and then casually reload while I take turns with whoever I'm shooting with.

 

[Nebor]

CZs are ugly junk as far as I'm concerned. They don't feel good to hold, they're ugly, they're not terribly reliable, and for years they just knocked off other manufacturer's designs.

 

[K1052]

Originally posted by: Nebor
CZs are ugly junk as far as I'm concerned. They don't feel good to hold, they're ugly, they're not terribly reliable, and for years they just knocked off other manufacturer's designs.

I've shot the CZ-75 several times and own a clone (Tanfoglio T95). IMO, for the money, the are rather good guns.

 

[Mr N8]

Originally posted by: Nebor
CZs are ugly junk as far as I'm concerned. They don't feel good to hold, they're ugly, they're not terribly reliable, and for years they just knocked off other manufacturer's designs.

Interesting...Mine fits my hand perfectly and I've put a couple thousand rounds through it without jamming or having any trouble.

 

[Nebor]

Originally posted by: K1052

Originally posted by: Nebor
CZs are ugly junk as far as I'm concerned. They don't feel good to hold, they're ugly, they're not terribly reliable, and for years they just knocked off other manufacturer's designs.

I've shot the CZ-75 several times and own a clone (Tanfoglio T95). IMO, for the money, the are rather good guns.

I've found that typically CZs are favored by people who have a regional allegiance. IE: eastern europeans. I've endured hours upon hours of war stories from Eastern Europeans telling me how many Serbs they've killed with their trusty CZ.

In my experience they're not great guns. They may be "good for the money." But when you're betting your life, it's better to spend a couple hundred extra.

 

[K1052]

Originally posted by: Nebor

Originally posted by: K1052

Originally posted by: Nebor
CZs are ugly junk as far as I'm concerned. They don't feel good to hold, they're ugly, they're not terribly reliable, and for years they just knocked off other manufacturer's designs.

I've shot the CZ-75 several times and own a clone (Tanfoglio T95). IMO, for the money, the are rather good guns.

I've found that typically CZs are favored by people who have a regional allegiance. IE: eastern europeans. I've endured hours upon hours of war stories from Eastern Europeans telling me how many Serbs they've killed with their trusty CZ.

In my experience they're not great guns. They may be "good for the money." But when you're betting your life, it's better to spend a couple hundred extra.

Hm...interesting.

More expensive doesn't always (or even often with some makers) equate to more reliable. I trust my $275 P89T Ruger more than anything else I own and it would be my first choice.

Granted if someone pointed me to a table full of random guns and said I had 5 seconds to pick one and defend my life you bet your ass I'll be reaching for a SIG or a Glock.

 

[clamum]

Originally posted by: crumpet19

Originally posted by: Fiat1
XD-9

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/crumpet19/friday_nights.jpg">XD-9 Sub Compact
</a>

LOL... friday nights.jpg

 

[crumpet19]

Originally posted by: clamum

Originally posted by: crumpet19

Originally posted by: Fiat1
XD-9

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/crumpet19/friday_nights.jpg">XD-9 Sub Compact
</a>

LOL... friday nights.jpg

hehehe yeah... only pic i had of that handgun.

 

[MustangSVT]

D.E.S.E.R.T. E.A.G.L.E. 5.0

-----________------; moooooooooooooo

 

[Babbles]

Originally posted by: notfred

Originally posted by: Fiat1
XD-9

That's what I got for my first handgun.

That's what I intend on getting myself!
Except I am leaning towards their .45. My brother has a .40 Glock that is a joy to shoot and I really like that .40 round, however I want something a wee bit different so hence the 45.

 

[JonTheBaller]

Don't be afraid to go for one of the bigger calibers. My first handgun was a 1911 in .45 and I feel it was one of the best decisions I've ever made.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Nebor

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
I don't own a Sig but I've shot a few...not extensively enough to comment on its long term reliability though. I do own a Glock and while it is extremely reliable it has jammed on me on rare occasion. I've shot some tight Glock .45s that have jammed and those 13 rnd mags are difficult to get 13 rounds into when they are new.

All of my Colts and Para-Ordnance guns have stovepiped or failed to feed a round at one time or another but I still love those guns and will never get rid of them.

Sigs are great guns though and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend one for personal defense or for duty carry.

I still think the revolver is more reliable and the better choice for a gun n00b.

A revolver is definitely a great starting point for a new gun owner.

Nearly every gun I've shot has had some sort of failure over the years, except Sigs. Hopefully H&K will be able to work themselves up into that rank as well.

There are a lot of things I don't like about Glocks, but their rate of failure is probably the most damning. At my CHL renewal class a couple weeks ago, I was next to a guy with a Glock 18. In the 100 rounds we fired, he jammed 4 times, requiring him to clear the jam by racking the slide. He was firing Winchester FMJ ammo.

I've probably put close to 10k rounds through my Glock 17 and probably had it jam less than 10 times. I think most of those were stovepipes too IIRC. I would trust the Glock much more than the Colts though. Still, I keep a loaded Smith & Wesson .44 Magnum where I can get to it quickly. It is deadly accurate and will put a big hole in any perp intending bodily harm to me or my family.

I wouldn't damn a gun by what you see someone else doing with it though. There could be many reasons why that guys gun was jamming. I know Colts will jam if you let the barrel flip up too much. When I first got my Series 80 Officer's Model I had that problem and just had to concentrate on not letting the barrel flip up so much when I pulled the trigger.

I'm thinking of picking up a Glock .45 or a Sig .45 sometime soon. I shot a Glock .45 at the gun range recently and liked it very much. Even though I only put about 50 rounds through it I was impressed with its pointability, accuracy and reliability.

 

[GRIFFIN1]

Originally posted by: Nebor
CZs are ugly junk as far as I'm concerned. They don't feel good to hold, they're ugly, they're not terribly reliable, and for years they just knocked off other manufacturer's designs.

Do you rember the Tacoma Mall Shooting? McKown has a concealed carry permit and he confronted a junkie in the Tacoma mall that was shooting people with a rifle. McKown had a CZ pistol.

Some reports have McKown re-holstering his pistol and attempting verbal commands. Another report said that when the CZ pistol was found it appeared to have fired one round and then suffered a ?double-feed.?

Link

I know this is just one example, and the guy says he never tried to fire his CZ pistol.

 

[PrinceofWands]

Originally posted by: mcvickj

Originally posted by: PrinceofWands

Originally posted by: 49erinnc
Just out of curiosity, what is required in order to go to a range without a weapon but to rent/test out theirs?

I'm assuming a permit in hand is required but would the permit alone, indicate I've had the safety classes as well or would I need additonal documents to go test fire some guns? I'm thinking the rentals at a range may be my best option before purchasing something. That way I'll have a better idea of the mechanics, firepower, safety features, appearance and how it feels in my hand. Could likely get some valuable information there from the experts as well.

I have no idea what kind of permit you're talking about. In most places the only time you need a permit is to hunt or to carry concealed. Otherwise you just do it. Generally need picture ID I suppose, and the money. *shrug*

It's nice when ranges offer guns to try out, but a LOT of them don't - or have so few that it doesn't really help.

If I had to guess the OP is talking about a purchase permit. No idea how it works in your state but where I live you visit your local PD and apply for a purchase permit. If I remember correctly it took three days for them to run the background check. Once that has been approved you have 10 days before the permit expires.

Once you have purchased the handgun you need to go back to the PD and they inspect the handgun and copy down the necessary information. Shell out a couple of bucks for the notary fee and away you go with your handgun license in hand.

Holy hoop jumping and red tape batman.

Never experienced anything remotely close. I walk into the store and pick a gun. Handguns I either wait the period or use my CPL for instant approval and walk out with it. Long guns I just walk out with it.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: PrinceofWands

Originally posted by: mcvickj

Originally posted by: PrinceofWands

Originally posted by: 49erinnc
Just out of curiosity, what is required in order to go to a range without a weapon but to rent/test out theirs?

I'm assuming a permit in hand is required but would the permit alone, indicate I've had the safety classes as well or would I need additonal documents to go test fire some guns? I'm thinking the rentals at a range may be my best option before purchasing something. That way I'll have a better idea of the mechanics, firepower, safety features, appearance and how it feels in my hand. Could likely get some valuable information there from the experts as well.

I have no idea what kind of permit you're talking about. In most places the only time you need a permit is to hunt or to carry concealed. Otherwise you just do it. Generally need picture ID I suppose, and the money. *shrug*

It's nice when ranges offer guns to try out, but a LOT of them don't - or have so few that it doesn't really help.

If I had to guess the OP is talking about a purchase permit. No idea how it works in your state but where I live you visit your local PD and apply for a purchase permit. If I remember correctly it took three days for them to run the background check. Once that has been approved you have 10 days before the permit expires.

Once you have purchased the handgun you need to go back to the PD and they inspect the handgun and copy down the necessary information. Shell out a couple of bucks for the notary fee and away you go with your handgun license in hand.

Holy hoop jumping and red tape batman.

Never experienced anything remotely close. I walk into the store and pick a gun. Handguns I either wait the period or use my CPL for instant approval and walk out with it. Long guns I just walk out with it.

No permit or licensing here in CA either. You pay for the gun, take a 5 minute painfully easy "test", assuming you don't already have a card stating you took an approved saftey course, and the dealer holds the weapon until the waiting period is over and then you pick it up and walk out the door with it. Handguns are 10 days and rifles/shotguns are 5 days IIRC.

No Police are ever involved in the process.

 

[QuantumPion]

I'm surprised hardly anyone has mentioned a 1911. You can get a Springfield WW2 GI for ~$450, they are known for being very reliable and accurate right out of the box.

 

[Unheard]

In TN you walk into the gun store, pick out your gun, fill out a form (very similar to a job application), store clerk makes a 5 minute call, you walk out of said store with said handgun, rifle, shotgun. For person to person sales, all you need to buy the gun is for the seller to have no reasonable doubt that you are not a felon.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: QuantumPion
I'm surprised hardly anyone has mentioned a 1911. You can get a Springfield WW2 GI for ~$450, they are known for being very reliable and accurate right out of the box.

its his 1st gun, so a .45 might be a little too powerful for him? also, 9mm is cheaper than .45 ammo.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: QuantumPion
I'm surprised hardly anyone has mentioned a 1911. You can get a Springfield WW2 GI for ~$450, they are known for being very reliable and accurate right out of the box.

Cocked and locked is not a good recommendation for a beginner...which is probably why nobody mentioned it.