Best choice for first handgun

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ejroy738

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Carstairs, AB
What would be the best choice for a first handgun? Something in an automatic (not so interested in revolvers).

God willing, my RPAL will come in the next few weeks, so I want to be ready to make a selection.

I want to find something that I will continue to be happy with and want to take to the range often.
 
You won't have much to choose from, even on the used forum here pretty soon. Definitely get something with a nice trigger - this is hugely important for shooting accuracy and learning to control the gun better.

#1 - CZ P-10 F - Flat-shooting, easy to control the recoil, accurate. A few places still have some new in stock for around the $800-850 mark.

#2 - CZ Shadow series - they have a manual safety - some people like that feature, new shooters should learn to use one. They're also double action/single action and have a hammer instead of an internal striker.

#3 - Sig P226 series - they're all awesome and have a decocker for the hammer rather than a manual switch safety

#4 - Canik anything - They're a Turkish brand and have a huge following, and really good triggers.

#5 - I guess any Glock is fine. Their reputation speaks for itself - but they are also the #1 most returned handgun in the US with first time pistol buyers. The stock triggers are junk. They work - it's arguably the most reliable gun in the world, but they're squishy feeling and kind of boring. Glock lovers are going to hate on me for that. The plus side - if you want to dump money into upgrading all the parts - there are a million parts and upgrades available out there, and magazines are easy to find.
If you can squeeze the piggy bank a bit more and like the idea of a Glock and upgrading parts - just buy a Shadow Systems. Lots of stores have them in stock at the moment - and they're REALLY nice in person. They have really nice triggers, upgraded sights, are optics ready for a red dot if you choose and have the best mounting system for them... it's basically everything Glock should be at this stage in the game. But they're pricey. Although most stock Glocks are selling on the EE for $1300-2000 already... so might as well get a Shadow Systems for the same price but with all the upgrades.

If you're on a budget - I heard Girsan guns are actually pretty good. They make several Beretta clones and a few of their own designs.

Good luck with the RPAL. A friend here in BC just got his in the mail after 3 months.
 
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Used Hi-Standard Super Citation, or Browning Medalist/Nomad in good shape. You can't beat a .22 LR for a first gun.

Browning or Ruger if buying new.
 
And yes ^ this is solid advice. But if you buy a .22 (they're super cheap to practice with) you should still get a 9mm. Especially since pretty soon you won't be able to get anything.
 
I noticed you are in Carstairs, you should go into a Calgary range like The Shooting Edge or Calgary Shooting Centre and rent as many different club guns as you can.
This will give you a better idea of what type/brand/model of handgun fits you. People can give you all kinds of opinions but until the gun is in your hand you will not know what is right for you. With the current situation, you will not have a lot of time for trial and error finding the right gun that a lot of us have had over the years .
 
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Good advice here. For a 22LR Marstar still has a lot of stock for a Norinco TT Olympia for $200 which is cheap for a good little plinker. With the saved money you could also purchase a 9mm depending on what is left once you receive your RPAL.
 
Your "best" choice is likely what's available assuming you get your RPAL in a few week. Best of luck.

If you want to take something to the range often, a 22LR or 9mm pistol will be your best bet for ammo availability and price.

Assuming you have a budget of around $1000 to $1500, here are my thoughts:

Striker fire pistols: A bit higher end Sig P320 (X-five, AXG), Walther PDP, or Shadow Systems is probably your best bet for something out the box. Glocks, M&Ps, and CZ P10F/SC/C all work - their triggers are not the best but honestly they work fine and these guns will still shoot better than most people can. Tons of people will bash these guns as if they are un-shootable when that is plainly not true. So if those become your only choices, go for it and don't worry.

DA/SA: I suggest a Beretta 92X, CZ75, or P226. There are different variants of these guns along the price scale, but they are all reliable and will shoot decent. The DA pulls won't be too brutal. Shadow 2s are gonna be $1800+ at least now, but if you can find the budget, they need to be mentioned as they are likely the most popular competition IPSC production pistol in Canada.

Surplus: Jericho 941 (either DA/SA or SAO) - these are basically CZ75 clones. Israeli and Filipino law enforcement surplus are probably still floating around the market.

22 pistols: Ruger Mark IV are very popular but I don't shoot 22 pistols so no idea what their price points are now. Typically for 22 pistols you will need to decide between the target bullseye style pistols like Rugers Mark IVs, Browning Buckmarks, or S&W 41s versus more "practical" style ones which are smaller frame (though sometimes full size) of their 9MM or bigger counterparts. Glock 44, Beretta 92FSR, M&P22, Walther are some examples. You might even want to look at a 9MM pistol instead that has 22LR conversion kits, though these kits are often not 100% reliable. P226 and CZ75 Shadow 1 are 9mm pistols that you can find 22LR conversion kits for, so I suppose kinda like a future option to have a "second" pistol (unless of course the Liberals ban parts too).
 
Hank Hill said:
I noticed you are in Carstairs, you should go into a Calgary range like The Shooting Edge or Calgary Shooting Centre and rent as many different club guns as you can.....
Click to expand...

OP, since you don't have your RPAL yet anyway, this is clearly the best advice at this point. Try as many different rimfire and centerfire options as you can. Pistols all feel very different both in handling them and in shooting them. I could tell you my favourites, but what would be the point? Your preferences are what matter, and you won't know until you have tried a variety. It is just like footwear - You don't know what a good-fitting boot feels like until you've tried some that work for your feet and some that don't.

The only useful general advice I'd offer at this point is that if you do have a selection to choose from when your RPAL arrives, try to stick with something established, common, and reliable. Unless you have your own reasons for not doing so, of course. Oh, and figure out your budget, including ammunition and accessories (magazines, holsters, etc. if necessary). You'll get lots of irrelevant info until you do.

Finally, I'll add that in your area you should look up the indoor ranges Straight Shooters (Calgary) and Red Deer Shooting Center, and outdoor ranges/clubs BTSA and CDTSA.
 
Brettzky said:
You won't have much to choose from, even on the used forum here pretty soon. Definitely get something with a nice trigger - this is hugely important for shooting accuracy and learning to control the gun better.

#1 - CZ P-10 F - Flat-shooting, easy to control the recoil, accurate. A few places still have some new in stock for around the $800-850 mark.

#2 - CZ Shadow series - they have a manual safety - some people like that feature, new shooters should learn to use one. They're also double action/single action and have a hammer instead of an internal striker.

#3 - Sig P226 series - they're all awesome and have a decocker for the hammer rather than a manual switch safety

#4 - Canik anything - They're a Turkish brand and have a huge following, and really good triggers.

#5 - I guess any Glock is fine. Their reputation speaks for itself - but they are also the #1 most returned handgun in the US with first time pistol buyers. The stock triggers are junk. They work - it's arguably the most reliable gun in the world, but they're squishy feeling and kind of boring. Glock lovers are going to hate on me for that. The plus side - if you want to dump money into upgrading all the parts - there are a million parts and upgrades available out there, and magazines are easy to find.
If you can squeeze the piggy bank a bit more and like the idea of a Glock and upgrading parts - just buy a Shadow Systems. Lots of stores have them in stock at the moment - and they're REALLY nice in person. They have really nice triggers, upgraded sights, are optics ready for a red dot if you choose and have the best mounting system for them... it's basically everything Glock should be at this stage in the game. But they're pricey. Although most stock Glocks are selling on the EE for $1300-2000 already... so might as well get a Shadow Systems for the same price but with all the upgrades.

If you're on a budget - I heard Girsan guns are actually pretty good. They make several Beretta clones and a few of their own designs.

Good luck with the RPAL. A friend here in BC just got his in the mail after 3 months.
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What do you mean the CZ P-10 F is flat-shooting?
 
Means it returns to point of aim easier (with proper grip of course). The recoil control is more straight back rather than muzzle flippy due to the bore axis and length of the slide, and overall balance of the gun. Watch sootch00 review on youtube about the P-10F. I believe Prairie Gun Traders might still have them in stock for around $829.. They're in the banner list at the top of the pages. Some other retailers are now asking upwards of $1049...

They're really awesome, and look/feel way better in hand than the photos suggest. The only reason I didn't keep mine is because I sold it to my neighbor as his first handgun - so I get to teach him how to shoot with it and keep using it :) Had to make room for my Shadow Systems and Beretta APX-A1.
 
ejroy738 said:
What would be the best choice for a first handgun? Something in an automatic (not so interested in revolvers). God willing, my RPAL will come in the next few weeks, so I want to be ready to make a selection. I want to find something that I will continue to be happy with and want to take to the range often.
Click to expand...

Beggars can't be choosers. The pistol situation is so fluid right now, you're going to have to settle for that which you can find (once you actually have a license). As of this moment one can find new Glock, new Shadow Systems, new Sig P320, and new M&P9 2.0 pistols, but that ready availability is likely to change for the worse in the next hours, days, and weeks. My suggestion to you is to spend as much time as possible now researching and shopping so that you'll know what you want and be better prepared to act instantly (once you actually have a license).
 
There has been some sage advices in this thread. Don't get cought up lusting for something that is now unobtanium. Look at what is available on the market and have 3 top pics.
CZ seems to be the most available brand at the moment. The p10 is a solid choice and will not leave you wanting for much. A good .22lr should also be a consideration but 9mm should be the priority.
 
Brettzky said:
Means it returns to point of aim easier (with proper grip of course). The recoil control is more straight back rather than muzzle flippy due to the bore axis and length of the slide, and overall balance of the gun. Watch sootch00 review on youtube about the P-10F. I believe Prairie Gun Traders might still have them in stock for around $829.. They're in the banner list at the top of the pages. Some other retailers are now asking upwards of $1049...

They're really awesome, and look/feel way better in hand than the photos suggest. The only reason I didn't keep mine is because I sold it to my neighbor as his first handgun - so I get to teach him how to shoot with it and keep using it :) Had to make room for my Shadow Systems and Beretta APX-A1.
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sootch00 is certainly the best seller of any glocks not the best choice in your words ... not easy to find again the best salesman of glocks ... and the main reason for glock and particularly the g19 is because in case of shtf most police forces are using so it will be useful to have the same tools as police forces ... and of course like it or not they work ...
 
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