Need advice for first pistol!

mattf87

mattf87

Regular
Rating - 100%
10   0   0
Location
Okanagan, BC
Hey, I have had my RPAL for a while now just havent got around to purchasing a handgun. I am going to register to a gun club and all that stuff this month and am going to be purchasing one in the next month or 2 hopefully. I am torn between a Sig 226 or a H&K but I also like some of the higher end 1911's. I am more leaning towards one of the first two though. Any input on your good experiences/problems etc would be great. Thanks
 
Last edited:
I suspect you're going to get a lot of suggestions to start off with a 1911. The Norc is a very inexpensive way to get started (smokin' deal at CanadaAmmo out there on a 1911 + 1,000 rounds of ammo for $499!). You can't go wrong with a 1911, and their popularity ensures you'll always have a market for it if you change your mind.
 
Why not a 1911 style in .22 or a Sig 226 in the same caliber. Better to start with something affordable for ammo and get trigger time and .22 is the cheapest
 
Im not interested in a 22, or anything cheap like the norc that I will want to replace 3 weeks later. I would like to buy one quality one that I will keep.
 
P226 for sure, only because I want one. I started with a GSG 1911. 22lr and just got a M&P9 range kit. But if you can afford it get the P226!!!!
 
First, I would suggest going to a range that rents guns. I made the horrid mistake of buying a S&W Sigma and couldn't shoot worth crap with it. So after a day at the range shooting everything they had I found out I seem to shoot heavy handguns better: Sig P226, Beretta 92, heavy .45 1911... all of these were great. Firearms like the Sigma, Glock, and so on were too light in the chassis for me. I can't make that suggestion to go 'try a lot of 'em out' enough!

mattf87 said:
Im not interested in a 22, or anything cheap like the norc that I will want to replace 3 weeks later. I would like to buy one quality one that I will keep.
Click to expand...

I know someone who had a Norc 1911 9mm for years: shot thousands of rounds out of it and sold it for almost what they paid for it with the burnt out barrel! The Norc 1911 is better than you think: and it saves money for ammo that is a heck of a lot more important if you have to choose between a few rounds and a fancy gun or a lot of ammo and a workhorse.
 
Glock 17, its a full size handgun with a decent round, but 9mm ammo is cheap and the Glock is inexpensive enough that you still have money left over to get the trigger time you need to develop skills. There is no sense buying a safe queen gun that you are afraid to shoot because you might get a scuff on it....especially when its your first handgun and you don't have lots of skill and experience yet. Buy an inexpensive functional gun and learn to shoot it well with lots of practice, then buy your safe queen later.
 
i would never buy a gun without at least holding it in my hand.
if its not comfy in your hand your not gonna shoot it.
its like a scope. i would never buy a scope over the internet without being able to look through it.
every scope is different and you wont know if you like it till you look down it.

take a hour, go to a store and ask to handle a couple different ones.
see which one feels right.

i was rather shocked to find that i cant stand how Sigs or Taurus feel in my hand.
and the S&W M&P felt like a warm hug from grandma.

keep in mind weapon weight.
a 1911 compared to a glock is a massive difference in weight.
also some guns (like glocks) sit really low in your hand, they barely clear the top of your hand.
where as the M&P's feel like they are sitting 2" higher up.
also some guns are a lot thicker, which if you have big mit's wont matter, but if you dont like a thick gun then you wont enjoy shooting it, and wont shoot it.

i found a while back which ones felt good and ive been loving all my purchases and shooting since then.
i also found the manufacturers seem to stick to what they know.
so for the most part i know i can buy any Ruger and ill like the way it feels.
some with Smith.
but the feel of a Sig in my hand makes me vomit in my mouth.

so if you find a maker or a style that feels good you can pretty much stick with them.

in short.... asking 100 people what you should buy isnt gonna do much for ya, your gonna need to get some in hand to make a good purchase.
once you find what feels nice then asking about problems and fixes is what you should be doing.
 
Matt, well if you don't want to start with a .22 then i say The Ruger SR1911 is fantastic, the best 1911 out of the box I ever owned, as is my Beretta 92fs in 9mm
 
I'd suggest buying the handgun you like most. You can alway buy the others later. My first was the Sig P226 and its still my favourite
 
multiman1 said:
Matt, well if you don't want to start with a .22 then i say The Ruger SR1911 is fantastic, the best 1911 out of the box I ever owned, as is my Beretta 92fs in 9mm
Click to expand...

The SR1911 was my first pistol purchase, and I definitely don't regret it. However, with that being said, I'm glad I also picked up a .22LR pistol because learning proper form, function and technique is a lot easier when you don't have to deal with a lot of recoil. When I go to the range, I always warm up with the .22LR before shooting anything else.
 
matt87,

If you're into the 1911, you might also consider an STI. I have a Spartan - their "entry-level" model but it is excellent. Funny about the .22 thing. The suggestion to buy a .22 because it will teach you all the basics w/o the cost is good advice. I got a Ruger MkII Target and while I do like it, I find I'm just not as interested in shooting it as the centrefires.

Another semi-auto you might consider is the S&W M&P (9mm or .45). I;ve only fired my friend's (.45ACP) once but it really did feel good in my hand.

And although you didn't mention it, I'll put a plug in for a nice S&W revolver. A class act all the way and you won't be chasing brass.

Best bet is to get friendly with the pistol shooters at the local range; maybe put up a notice saying you'd like to try out a few handguns before making a purchase and offer to pay for the ammo. I'm sure people will accommodate you.

:) Stuart
 
Last edited:
wayupnorth said:
in short.... asking 100 people what you should buy isnt gonna do much for ya, your gonna need to get some in hand to make a good purchase.
once you find what feels nice then asking about problems and fixes is what you should be doing.
Click to expand...

Thats what I am doing, asking for problems and experiences with them. I think Im leaning towards the Hk route
 
If your lookin at the 226 you might want to check out the combo 226 + .22 conversion kit arma coat is offering. It's what hooked me to get a 226 for my first pistol too.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom