Buying my first handgun

J

jd_huntalot

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So I just got my restricted pal and need to start a collection of beauties. For my first one I don't want to spend over $1500. Some of the ones I like are 1911s-kimber, colt, sig, springfield, les baer, ed brown, etc.; sig sauer p226, walther p99 in 9mm, beretta 92fs 9mm. I think I'd like a .45 acp as my first, but can anyone recommend the best handgun for me? Thanks
 
I started with a 22 because of the cost of ammunition,and lack of recoil.A person can shoot a lot of rounds with a handgun,and that can add up quickly.The lack of recoil is good for a beginning handgunner as well.
 
jd huntalot,
very important!, what do you want to have a pistol for?
If you like to look and clean and once a month go to the range, buy whichever.
If you have some inclination to shoot some competitions like IPSC or IDPA think which will serve you better for that.
Do you reload?
If not, .45ACP and .40SW is expensive compare to 9mm.
If you still want to go with .45ACP, consider STI guns, they are IMO very well made or Nowlin, if you can find one.
If you want to get into shooting sports, take a look at CZ SP01 Shadow or even Glock.

Good Luck
 
SIG or GLOCK

I have a Glock, and my duty pistol is a Sig, so either of these would be my choice.

I know that Glock isn't on the list, but they come cheap and you can do ANYTHING to them, they're the AK-47 of pistols. Loose tolerances, and they rattle when shaken, but they make nice holes in the things you shoot at. Also a TON of upgrades/after market goodies to look at.

SIG is an incredible pistol, but much tighter tolerances, and wont put up with as much crap as a GLOCK. Get sand in a sig (it doesn't matter how fine) and she'll let you know. SIG is like an AR-15/C-7 compaired to the Glock.

I have never had any FTE, FTF, FT anything with either of these pistols. Played with my SIG for months in the Ghan, and other than keeping her slide rails free of sand, she was great.
 
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On top of my last, I'd recommend you go with a smaller calibre first, just so you can get the basics. Have you done much pistol shooting?

I'd say a 9mm or .40 are better options for a first pistol, so that you're not fighting a kicking mule while trying to figure out your grip, stance, sight picture, etc. basics.
 
If you are planning on shooting a lot I'd recommend at least one 9mm or maybe something that has a .22LR conversion available. CZ makes one, you can get one for almost any 5" 1911, and there has been talk of one by SIG lately. I'm sure there are more that I'm missing.
 
evan the cdn said:
something that has a .22LR conversion available
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Either a .22LR model (of the centerfire pistol that you're most interested in) or a .22LR conversion kit along with the centerfire pistol (that you're most interested in). It might seem like it will cost more, initially, than other options, but it is absolutely the best way to go.
 
Either a .22LR model (of the centerfire pistol that you're most interested in) or a .22LR conversion kit along with the centerfire pistol (that you're most interested in). It might seem like it will cost more, initially, than other options, but it is absolutely the best way to go.
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Good advice.I bought the 22 version of the style of gun that I like most,but now I am thinking about a centerfire version.In retrospect,buying the centerfire and the 22 conversion kit might have been the wise choice.
 
I just wanted to put my 2 cents worth in. I just started shooting handguns and i took the advice of the cranky old guys in my club to purchase a .22 LR pistol first. The nice thing about it was i could shoot 500 to 1000 rounds a week and hardly notice the dent in my wallet. I got a S&W model 41. What a great gun. You can pick up a used one for about $700. Its an excellent target pistol and you will learn to shoot much better and faster with something that has a quality trigger. I also bought a Ruger Mark III hunter and they dont even compare so i had to do a trigger job on it which cost $120 in materials alone but now it shoots well too. After about 4 months of shooting these two guns i purchased a Springfield XD9 and am learning to shoot with it. I would not advise anyone to buy an XD because of all the problems i have had with it but i do like the caliber and am now reloading making it cheaper to practise.

I wish someone would have told me about those 22 LR conversion kits cause that would be what i would have purchased... It s a great idea... Learn to shoot with .22 LR and then move up to your caliber of choice..

Good luck
 
Where would one find an Ed Brown for less than $1500?

Other than in your dreams, I mean.
 
Rethought that last post, my first handgun was a .44 mag. 3" no less. Revolvers are much easier to shoot than autos. You my want to by a D/A revovler first to learn on then add an auto or two. With a 357 you can blast away with .38 special and no recoil.
 
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