So I went to the gun shop today... I've never even held a gun in my life.

[Zipp]

If you plan on carrying at some point,be sure to check out the Kahr line of pistols. They're very compact, though a little pricey, but a very nice gun.

I carry a PM9 and even when I'm wearing a t-shirt,you could never tell I was packing.

pm9

 

[JFoobar]

Originally posted by: MGMorden
Just a note: if you really want to stick to "made in the USA" you eliminate a lot of the good options (Browning, Beretta, Glock, CZ, Walther, Taurus and SIG are all imports). Kimber, Ruger, Springfield, S&W, and Colt are all domestic though. Kel-tec and HiPoint are USA too.

Those are foreign companies, yes, but several make many of their handguns in the US. For example, many Beretta handguns are made in Maryland and many SIG handguns are made in Connecticut.

 

[*kjm]

Originally posted by: thepd7

Originally posted by: EXman

Originally posted by: *kjm
Longer barrel better the shot group. Main thing is the thumb saftey.

thumb safety check!

shot group= accuracy?

yes shot group is accuracy and you don't really need the thumb safety, there is a trigger safety and plam safety, it's plenty safe.

I have the 4" XD-9 and love it, cheap ammo and shoots like a dream, highly recommended.

True it is not needed I just thought with his boys and this being his first handgun it would be a nice thing to have.

 

[spacejamz]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: MGMorden
Be warned though, I'd avoid the following brands as they're essentially junk:

Jennings
Hi-Point
FIE
Bryco
Jiminez
Lorcin
Raven

Better but still below my personal standards would be Kel-tec and Bersa. Taurus and EAA/Tangfolio just barely escapes this category.

Better brands would be Ruger, SIG, Kimber, Glock, Springfield, CZ, Walther, Colt, H&K, Browning, etc. I'm sure I'm missing a few in this list, but those are the top ones that sprung to mind.

Hi-Point, while cheap and ugly, are well-regarded. They are reliable, safe, and accurate firearms. While Jennings/Jimenez/Bryco/Lorcin (all related companies), FIE, and Raven are widely known to have functional problems and inadequate build quality I have yet to hear of Hi-Point firearms having a legitimate functional or build-quality issue.

Bersa has an excellent reputation as well, in fact the Thunder 380 is generally considered to be nearly as nice as the Sig P230/P232. I would have no hesitation in recommending a Bersa to anyone. Article comparing the Bersa 380 to the Sig P230.

ZV

No Kahr love???

I just got Kahr PM9 last week...it is the same size as my MK9 but about 12 oz lighter since the PM9 has a polymer frame.

Kahr 9mm's

here is pic of the MK9 next to my old Bersa Thunder 380.

Text

another pic for size reference is the MK9 next to my beretta 92FS...

Text

last pic I just took...with the Crimson Trace grips on the Beretta...

Text

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: JFoobar

Originally posted by: MGMorden
Just a note: if you really want to stick to "made in the USA" you eliminate a lot of the good options (Browning, Beretta, Glock, CZ, Walther, Taurus and SIG are all imports). Kimber, Ruger, Springfield, S&W, and Colt are all domestic though. Kel-tec and HiPoint are USA too.

Those are foreign companies, yes, but several make many of their handguns in the US. For example, many Beretta handguns are made in Maryland and many SIG handguns are made in Connecticut.

SIG Sauer manufactures firearms in Exeter, NH, not in Connecticut.

ZV

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: spacejamz

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: MGMorden
Be warned though, I'd avoid the following brands as they're essentially junk:

Jennings
Hi-Point
FIE
Bryco
Jiminez
Lorcin
Raven

Better but still below my personal standards would be Kel-tec and Bersa. Taurus and EAA/Tangfolio just barely escapes this category.

Better brands would be Ruger, SIG, Kimber, Glock, Springfield, CZ, Walther, Colt, H&K, Browning, etc. I'm sure I'm missing a few in this list, but those are the top ones that sprung to mind.

Hi-Point, while cheap and ugly, are well-regarded. They are reliable, safe, and accurate firearms. While Jennings/Jimenez/Bryco/Lorcin (all related companies), FIE, and Raven are widely known to have functional problems and inadequate build quality I have yet to hear of Hi-Point firearms having a legitimate functional or build-quality issue.

Bersa has an excellent reputation as well, in fact the Thunder 380 is generally considered to be nearly as nice as the Sig P230/P232. I would have no hesitation in recommending a Bersa to anyone. Article comparing the Bersa 380 to the Sig P230.

ZV

No Kahr love???

I just got Kahr PM9 last week...it is the same size as my MK9 but about 12 oz lighter since the PM9 has a polymer frame.

Kahr 9mm's

here is pic of the MK9 next to my old Bersa Thunder 380.

Text

another pic for size reference is the MK9 next to my beretta 92FS...

Text

I'd forgotten about Kahr.

Then again, I found Kahr's line of pistols to be uncomfortable, so I tend to overlook them now. Obviously, comfort is dependent upon the person, so I agree that they are a good choice for the OP.

ZV

 

[JFoobar]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt


SIG Sauer manufactures firearms in Exeter, NH, not in Connecticut.

Yup, realized this about 20 minutes later after I was driving away from my house. Ruger is Connecticut. I get all those leetle states confused.

 

[sourceninja]

Originally posted by: *kjm
I have the XDm .40 and love it! That said with this being your first gun I would have you look at the XD tactical model with the 5" barrel.

The 5" barrel will be a plus for you just starting out and you can get it with the thumb saftey. With this being your first I feel the thumb saftey is very important.

Just my 2cents

One nice thing about the XDm .40 is I can get 9mm and 357sig barrels for it also.

I disagree on buying a gun just to have a thumb safety. Firearms like the XD have two internal safetys that must be met to fire. You have to grip it properly, and pull the trigger. You should never be relying on a safety to stop a firearm from firing. On a hammer fired weapon the argument can be made to prevent accidental discharge if it was dropped, however the XD simply can not fire without gripping it properly and pulling the trigger.

I myself was timid about this when I first bought one, thinking I needed a safety. But now I look at them more as a incidental feature and not (at least in XD type pistols) of any useful significance.

If you don't believe me, take your XD to the range and try to get it to fire without a good grip and pulling the trigger properly. It simply doesn't happen.