First Handgun?

TrxR

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Considering going for my Rpal and getting my first handgun but am still trying to decide on a couple of things. I was looking at a S&W M&P or a Glock. Im a little confused by all the different models of glocks though. Any suggestion on what glock models to look at for a bugger guy with bigger hands? Also not sure on which caliber to go with , looking at a 9mm or 45 ? Any and all suggestions would be appreciated. I would be using it for a local monthly target shoot mainly a fun shoot as well as for plinking at the range.

Thanks
 
Out of the two...I vote Glock17. 9mm is much cheaper to shoot than 45 even if you reload. When you're ready buy a gen4 G21.
Glocks are so easy to work on and require little maintenance. I enjoy both of mine.
Don't discount a .22lr for general plinking. Lots of nice semi's and revolvers out there. All depends on your disposable income.
 
Have you considered a 22. I find I use mine alot more than my hi power, mainly because of the price of ammo, and the cost and time consumed reloading. When we go to the range, we burn through from 3 to 5 hundred rounds of 22, and it doesn't cost much.
 
9mm is the most economical centerfire pistol calibre to shoot, and one of the better ones IMO for new shooters because of the low recoil. If you have monster mitt syndrome like myself look at the S&W M&P or a Glock 17 Gen 4. Both have interchangeable backstraps to accommodate different hand sizes, my M&P suits me well with the largest size grip. Go to a gunshop that has both available and fiddle around to see which one you prefer. Both are excellent pistols, no matter what the Glock guys say.
 
my first handgun was a Beretta PX4 Storm 9mm, I did not keep it because polymer gun do have more snappy recoil, my second hangun was a Beretta 92fs (9mm) ....I prefer a full metal gun and I will never sell this 92fs.

I recommend you to try either the M&P or the Glock you want an then try a full metal handgun, just ensure that your choice of polymer gun suits you well, the snappy recoil of polymer gun is something that you need to keep in mind.

after I bought a Remington R1e (enhanced) .45acp, this is the other gun that I will never sell, this last one is even more fun to shoot ....so smooth, extremely accurate, very well balance.

I also like bring my Ruger Mark III Target Hunter (flutted barrel / stainless) to the range...... 525 rounds for $30 ....... the Mark III (or II) are in the top recommended 22lr pistols.

9mm or 45acp ......... budget for the ammo is an important issue here, the recoil of my R1 compare to the 92fs is not so important, the 1911 Platform is just very fun to shoot.

I personaly not like the big gap between the slide and the frame on the M&P (you can even see the recoil spring !!!), if you shoot outside and it is windy, this is a big openning for small sand dust to go Inside the action, yes ......it happened.....you just stop shooting and pack your gear ....
 
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So many people reccomend .22 for a first handgun but I disagree. Yes the ammo is cheap but I find 22s to be boring. When I say that people then tell me it's good to practice with a 22 then move up, now that's a waste of time and money. But hey this is just my opinion. I'm actually jealous of the guys who enjoy their .22s so much. But for me the recoil and big bang is a big part of what I enjoy about shooting. I shot lots of 9mm in the army and ended up buying a m&p40 because I wanted more! Haha
 
So many people reccomend .22 for a first handgun but I disagree. Yes the ammo is cheap but I find 22s to be boring. When I say that people then tell me it's good to practice with a 22 then move up, now that's a waste of time and money. But hey this is just my opinion. I'm actually jealous of the guys who enjoy their .22s so much. But for me the recoil and big bang is a big part of what I enjoy about shooting. I shot lots of 9mm in the army and ended up buying a m&p40 because I wanted more! Haha

for that I bring my S&W629 Deluxe and I close my shooting session with one box of 44 magnum :)
 
So many people reccomend .22 for a first handgun but I disagree. Yes the ammo is cheap but I find 22s to be boring. When I say that people then tell me it's good to practice with a 22 then move up, now that's a waste of time and money. But hey this is just my opinion. I'm actually jealous of the guys who enjoy their .22s so much. But for me the recoil and big bang is a big part of what I enjoy about shooting. I shot lots of 9mm in the army and ended up buying a m&p40 because I wanted more! Haha

+1. 22lr does get pretty boring fairly fast. I say get the pistol of your choice in 9mm.
 
I am agree that is the budget for the ammo is not a problem, than go for the 9mm all the way !!

polymer or full metal is the next choice to do, then the brand and model.

If you want a 45acp, I recommend the 1911 Rem. R1e
 
I have the M&P 9mm and love it, I added a slip on rubber hogue hybrid grip to mine and it feels much better in my hands. I also added the APEX forward set sear and complete trigger kit, it made me love it even more but in stock condition it was still a great gun.

I cant comment on the Glocks, I dont own one and likely never will, I just dont find them at all attractive (yes this matters to some people LOL)

As for a polymer or steel gun, I just added a Norinco 9mm 1911 all metal gun to my collection and for shooting 9mm, it feels awesome when it goes BANG LOL, so an all steel gun has turned out to be more appealing to me in 9mm, its just not as accurate as my M&P is.

As for .22's, also have a couple of those, and they are great stress relievers, they cost pennies to shoot and you can crack them off all day long and still have some fun.

All that said, I say get the 9mm first, then add to your collection like we all do, get something bigger, something smaller, then start getting more guns in the same calibers for variety LOL
 
So many people reccomend .22 for a first handgun but I disagree. Yes the ammo is cheap but I find 22s to be boring.

22s only get boring after you can put every bullet through the same hole...:p

I like my .22s...I'm only selling off my Ruger because I know I won't be shooting it after picking up an M&P22...which I strongly recommend.

Otherwise, an M&P in 9mm would be a great first centerfire pistol, although steel-framed guns have a lot to recommend them too...so a Sig or a Browning HP would be my recommendation there. Norinco makes some pretty decent 9mm pistols...cheap to buy as well as being cheap to shoot. I'd look at the Sig or CZ clones...
 
My very first hand gun was before the 12-6 restrictions for which I had
bought when I was 20 years old. It was a Colt 1903 in a .32 hammerless.
This was a nice shooter but I was bit several times when firing this gun.
One day when shooting this gun I had to stop firing it because it caused
a huge cut between my thumb and fore finger had to see the doctor to
have a few stiches. No pictures sorry. When that happened I sent that gun
for trade on a WW1 Colt 1911 made in 1913 a true .45. Too bad this was
stolen I would still have it today.

XCR User
 
Considering going for my Rpal and getting my first handgun but am still trying to decide on a couple of things. I was looking at a S&W M&P or a Glock. Im a little confused by all the different models of glocks though. Any suggestion on what glock models to look at for a bugger guy with bigger hands? Also not sure on which caliber to go with , looking at a 9mm or 45 ? Any and all suggestions would be appreciated. I would be using it for a local monthly target shoot mainly a fun shoot as well as for plinking at the range.

Thanks

My preference is the 45 acp. Less snappy then the 9mm. A Norinco can be had inexpensively but look at the STI Spartan, a very good value.
 
My first pistol was the Ruger SR9, excellent gun, great value. I also recommend a S&W M&P 22, they are a blast and super cheap to shoot.
Id take a M&P over a Glock but only cause the M&P's fit my hand so well and they have a nice range kit where a Glock doesn't.
 
Glock 17 or glock 34
in 9mm is a great start I'm 4 pistols
still don't own a 22
40, 9mm , 7.62 , 32 acp
or you could try any cz 75,85
 
I have a couple of 9mm and many 22 pistols. I'm a fan of metal guns, I just find I'm more accurate with them. I have a GSG 1911 that is a blast, it's very accurate and cheap to shoot. Since we're limited to paper in this country, my goal is to put as many holes exactly where I want them. The big bang is fun but not the reason I shoot.
 
Ok I know nothing about these , I am mainly a rifle guy (rimfire bench and gearing up for F/TR) So can you guys give me some examples of some full metal guns that are similar to the Glock or M&P ?

Thanks
 
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