$650 budget handgun for beginner

"...suitable for everyday carry..." Irrelevant as you can't and never will be legally doing that.
"...work for Brinks..." Company issue firearms only. And only while at work.
Look at a Browning High Power. The fit to your hand is the primary consideration.

I wouldn't say never. Canada may wake up some day. Besides, he could take a trip down south and enjoy some freedom.
 
I'm a big M&P fan, so that's what I'd naturally recommend. However $650 seems like a bit of an arbitrary limitation. In your place I'd save up a little longer and get a Browning Hi-Power or a Sig P226. Buying a good used pistol will keep things under $900 and give you quality that will last nearly forever.

Tengoo, I see the wisdom that in the long term use of a firearm, getting a Sig for an extra $300-$400 is well spent. Not everyone may be able to permit themselves that however, and sometimes you have to draw that line in the sand where you either bite the bullet at $600-$650, or you wait another year before life gives you a break. That's why I had set that price point.

I had also considered the possibility of purchasing a used handgun such as a Sig, however when buying used I always have the concern that the handgun may have been misused, such as a rental car. I expect most handgun owners would take care of their investment, but a person may subscribe by the motto "Use it like you stole it". That is a personal opinion however. I would have to be sure of the person's integrity before purchasing a used handgun. Since I don't know that many, that option is less than likely for me.
 
Wrong. If the gun is extremely reliable but can't be held properly and comfortably by the shooter, its no good. Kind of like a really good car in which you can't sit.

Incorrect. I shoot sig 226s almost equally well as I do with my P30L, and while the P30L feels like it was molded in the shape of my hand, the 226 feels like a 2x4.

All this feel/fit nonsense has a very small bearing on the actual performance of a shooter, the only reason I shoot my P30L better is because I have more trigger time behind it than the sig, before I bought it I was equal with both the sig and the P30L.

Reliability, durability, accuracy, and a source for spare parts. That's all that's important, aesthetics and feel are secondary and trivial. That stuff is a bonus, the reason I purchased the P30L instead of the sig is because due to recent sig qc issues I no longer trust them. I trust my P30L to keep me alive in under just about any realistic circumstance, will probably outlast me and possibly my children if I ever have any, and it is way more accurate than I am, and is one of the most accurate pistols out of the box. I think it's pretty and like I said it fits my hand like a glove, those are bonuses off the side. The reason I did not get a glock 17 is because they started pandering to the average consumer with the gen 4, and immediately paid the price with reliability issues just like sig did when they started to focus more on civilian stuff than mil/le hardware.

In case of the OP. At that price point I trust nothing but a Glock 17.
 
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For $650, Glock 22 RTF2 and get a conversion barrel later for 9mm or M&P9. There's so the Ruger SR9 that just seems come into stock recently. There's the SAM 1911 in 45acp or the cheaper to shoot 9mm.
 
You need to get to your local gun store and start feeling up as many pistols as you can, pictures will never tell you if something feels right in your hand. They are all different. Do the research, cuz its worth the effort. I know many folks who bought a gun cuz it "looked" cool but after they bought it they found it was'nt the one for them. Also, if you go used have it thouroughly checked out cuz alot of people reload their ammo and some of them don't know what they are doing and you end up with their ruined/dangerous junk.

Me? First handgun was a SIG Mosquito .22lr. F*cking Junk. Alloy slide broke after about 8000 rounds. No warranty joy either. Only pistol they make that does'nt have a lifetime guarantee. Wonder why? Cuz they knew it was junk but they sell them anyways, c*nts. Ended up with a STI Spartan in 9mm=SOLID, love it. 1911 platform is the one for me, but thats just me.

Do the research, its worth it.
 
Incorrect. I shoot sig 226s almost equally well as I do with my P30L, and while the P30L feels like it was molded in the shape of my hand, the 226 feels like a 2x4.

All this feel/fit nonsense has a very small bearing on the actual performance of a shooter, the only reason I shoot my P30L better is because I have more trigger time behind it than the sig, before I bought it I was equal with both the sig and the P30L.

Reliability, durability, accuracy, and a source for spare parts. That's all that's important, aesthetics and feel are secondary and trivial. That stuff is a bonus, the reason I purchased the P30L instead of the sig is because due to recent sig qc issues I no longer trust them. I trust my P30L to keep me alive in under just about any realistic circumstance, will probably outlast me and possibly my children if I ever have any, and it is way more accurate than I am, and is one of the most accurate pistols out of the box. I think it's pretty and like I said it fits my hand like a glove, those are bonuses off the side. The reason I did not get a glock 17 is because they started pandering to the average consumer with the gen 4, and immediately paid the price with reliability issues just like sig did when they started to focus more on civilian stuff than mil/le hardware.

In case of the OP. At that price point I trust nothing but a Glock 17.

the fact that you don't mind holding a 2x4 is in no way evidence that comfort is ultimately negligeable.

Comfort is part of function. Its true for chairs. Its true for shoes. Its true for cars. Would you buy any of these if they made you physically uncomfortable?
You may have decided you don't care about that aspect when it comes to guns (is that the manly thing to do?)...but that doesn't mean you should turn it into advice to others. Anyone with even an ounce of consideration for the pleasure of shooting will consider comfort. Thats why companies offer different size backstraps for handguns, for example. Its not trivial.
 
the fact that you don't mind holding a 2x4 is in no way evidence that comfort is ultimately negligeable.

Comfort is part of function. Its true for chairs. Its true for shoes. Its true for cars. Would you buy any of these if they made you physically uncomfortable?
You may have decided you don't care about that aspect when it comes to guns (is that the manly thing to do?)...but that doesn't mean you should turn it into advice to others. Anyone with even an ounce of consideration for the pleasure of shooting will consider comfort. Thats why companies offer different size backstraps for handguns, for example. Its not trivial.

I have yet to hold a gun that was not comfortable, I don't know what firearms you have been handling, but none of the major commercially available pistols have a painmaster 3000 grip on it that have 2 inch metal spikes sticking out of it. A minor difference in fit is not a deal breaker. Just about any of the major gunmakers like HK glock sig smith & wesson or walther take fit into account. People bit*h about how the glock doesn't "fit" their hands. How the hell does it fit an eleven year old girls hand then? Stuff like grip angle or interchangable backstraps are gimmicks to sell a gun, it's possible to prefer a grip angle but that is insignificant compared to a guns ability to perform, I've seen people shoot 1911s and luger grip angle guns equally well. I have shot a sig which didn't "fit" my hand equally well as I did a P30L which "fits" my hand the best. There is no handgun from any reputable manufacturer that makes someone physically uncomfortable. If they do, gotta get that arthritis checked out pronto. There are people that have giant sized hands compared to my little hands and they have zeero issues running my P30L exactly how I run it. The only important portion about the grip is that you can get good purchase on it. It's an excuse most people use to validate their purchase.

And no it's not about manliness, like I said my P30L in my opinion is the most ergonomical pistol out there. But I would not trade over reliability, durability, and accuracy for "fit", compared to those fit is a trivial aspect. if I can have it all, in this case I could I would, if I had a set budget and had to make a sacrifice I would sacrifice the ultimate comfortmaster 5000 grip with built in massage unit for one maybe a little less perfect. Which car have you been in that had solid mechanicals and horrible seats?
 
I really don't think this thread is going the way the OP envisioned.....

OP, pick the gun YOU think is the coolest, really. They are all good choices, get the one you want.
 
Try them out, buy what fits.

I've a G17, G22 with 9mm barrel, 92F, 1911 9mm but after shooting shadow likely trade my G17+cash for one.
 
Wow, you need to open your mind my friend..., what a weast...

Why? If it ain't broke don't fix it. Glocks perform. The end. He said $650. You can either buy that, or the american copy that works almost as well. Or something else that is not as good. Pretty self explanatory.
 
Don't get me wrong, I did not said that a Glock is a bad choice or not worthed, they are fine good and flawless pistol, My problem is with the "Glock People" Attitude, "if it's not a Glock" it's not worthed anything...and do not go in my bag... ,this is my point of "open your mind".

By listenning to "Glock people", all other brand of gun should not exist ..... Non-sense !!!!!

This is my opinion, and again don't get me wrong, I am looking to acquire a G17g4 (or next) in my safe
:)
Open your mind, there are good guns other than Glock...

Buy a gun is a personal choice, like a car, you can provide comments about specs and feeling/experience, but focus on tryong to influence someone should be banned.

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Don't get me wrong, I did mot said that a Glock is a bad choice or not worthed, they are fine good and flawless pistol, I sent the "Glock People" Attitude in you, "if it's not a Glock" it's not worthed anything..., this is my point of "open your mind".

By listenning to "Glock people", all other brand of gun should not exist ..... Non-sense !!!!!

This is my opinion, and again don't get me wrong, I am looking to acquire a G17g4 (or next) in my safe
:)
Open your mind, there are good guns other than Glock...

Glock people attitude? Not really, seeing that I don't own a glock myself. I have 2 HKs and 1 walther made smith & wesson. Going for 3rd HK shortly. I'm not what you would call a glock guy. I am recommending it to the OP because like I said, it works almost always. The m&p is a very good copy, ruger sr9 or springfield xd not so much. Done up czs and berrettas are above his price range and they dont really outperform a glock, well the cz if you are a gamer maybe. Walther ppq, again good copy but more expensive and harder to support and more unproven.

Ah yes I forgot the jericho, just no.
 
Glock people attitude? Not really, seeing that I don't own a glock myself. I have 2 HKs and 1 walther made smith & wesson. Going for 3rd HK shortly. I'm not what you would call a glock guy. I am recommending it to the OP because like I said, it works almost always. The m&p is a very good copy, ruger sr9 or springfield xd not so much. Done up czs and berrettas are above his price range and they dont really outperform a glock, well the cz if you are a gamer maybe. Walther ppq, again good copy but more expensive and harder to support and more unproven.

Ah yes I forgot the jericho, just no.

I admit that my first sentence about your "glock attitude" was wrong, apologies, but there is a "Glock Attitude" out there ...(not you)...
Edit : the glock attitude aspect of my post was about gushulak' comments....
 
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But I would not trade over reliability, durability, and accuracy for "fit",

Nobody here suggested anyone should. The point being made is that reliability and durability shouldn't mean neglecting comfort.

I shot an M&P once. Very reliable and durable. Yet I would never buy one, because I can find equally, if not more reliable and durable pistols that fit my hand better. A lot better. Which is why I put comfort at the top of the list of things I check on a gun ; Because I have plenty to chose from as far as reliability and durability.

Obviously I'm not saying comfort trumps all other aspects of a gun. But please, when it comes to newbies wanting advice on their first gun, don't make it sound like its something trivial. Its not.
 
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