Hey there CGN members, I'm new to the forums and the world of restricted firearms and I have some questions for you. I've had my PAL for a few years now and I shoot my rifles and shotguns on a fairly regular basis so I decided it was about time I got my RPAL. I am currently in the middle of the waiting period to actually receive my license in the mail and I have some deciding to do but I have no idea where to start. First off, I'd like to know what are some good handguns to learn on that I will not want to get rid of down the road. I know I don't want anything chambered in .22LR (I'm not saying .22's are bad) and I'd like to stick to a semi-auto. I've spoken to some reps at a local shop and the general consensus is that if I get a 9mm, I'm probably going to want to replace it within a year for something chambered in a larger cartridge. I'm just looking for some good suggestions because the market of restricted handguns is quite large. Also, I'd probably have a maximum price range of $1000, its all I can afford on my current budget.
Choosing My First Handgun
- Thread starter Halrath
- Start date
Welcome to the forum. There are LOTS of similar threads such as yours that you might want to look into to get some other ideas. The popular firearms around here are;
S&W M&P
Glock
SIG 226
Anything 1911
Beretta 92FS/92A1
CZ75
The gun is the cheap part in the long run... you will spend much more in ammo over the next couple years.
S&W M&P
Glock
SIG 226
Anything 1911
Beretta 92FS/92A1
CZ75
The gun is the cheap part in the long run... you will spend much more in ammo over the next couple years.
You have yourself a price point. Thats good. Find out what caliber you would like to shoot, take ammo cost into consideration, and then, the best advice anyone can give is, go to your local gun store and put some steel in your hands and find out what fits you best or what you like the best. You will always find something you would like after you purchase your first, being that you already own firearms you would know that Everyone has an opinion as to what is the best handgun and for the most part it comes down to what they consider to be the best. Its good to ask to get a baseline however. Go put your mitts on some grips and see what fits.
Everyone has an opinion as to what is the best handgun and for the most part it comes down to what they consider to be the best. Its good to ask to get a baseline however. Go put your mitts on some grips and see what fits....what he said..
When I was down at the shop they let me hold and get a feel for a few well known handguns, the 1911 (different mfgs), a couple CZ's, and some revolvers. But the 1911's and the CZ that I held weren't that comfortable at all, they didn't have any Glocks or SIGs and said they have a hard time getting them so I don't know about their ergonomics. As for finding out the caliber I want to shoot, that's a tough decision considering I actually don't know anyone else with their RPAL to ask but I'm leaning toward .40S&W and .45ACP over a 9mm. As the cost of purchasing ammo really isn't an issue for me at the moment.
One of my first handguns was a Ruger P89 for $400.
Absolute tank, nothing flashy with it, would shoot whatever I fed it, patterned awesome and for me the trigger was no problem at all tho in comparison to a lot of guns its CRAP but I worked it like a dream.
Tossed on some Hogue grips and loved it until I had to sell it to cover vet bills.
Ended up buying 2 of them later on and love them to pieces.
Absolute tank, nothing flashy with it, would shoot whatever I fed it, patterned awesome and for me the trigger was no problem at all tho in comparison to a lot of guns its CRAP but I worked it like a dream.
Tossed on some Hogue grips and loved it until I had to sell it to cover vet bills.
Ended up buying 2 of them later on and love them to pieces.
For me the .22LR is the gun that always goes to the range. I shoot off say 50 .22 to calm down and get the feel for the hand guns again. Since the .22LR is so cheap you don't mind wasting a few rounds.
There is nothing wrong with 9mm. The larger rounds like .40S&W and .45ACP have a bit more kick. The thing about the 9mm is it is the cheapest to shoot. A .45ACP can get a little pricey to shoot much. This is where hand loading comes in to its own. Makes shooting much cheaper. In my opinion the 9mm and the .38 Special are about the same. The .40S&W and the .45ACP can be loaded to be about the same. The .357 Mag and the .44 Mag are revolver rounds and more kick than the .40 and .45 the .357 Mag and the 10mm are close I think.
I like revolvers. You don't loose the brass, this is worse in the winter. The revolver kicks less and different and is more accurate. You can get revolvers chambered for popular auto loads like 9mm, .40S&W, 10mm, and .45ACP.
There is nothing wrong with 9mm. The larger rounds like .40S&W and .45ACP have a bit more kick. The thing about the 9mm is it is the cheapest to shoot. A .45ACP can get a little pricey to shoot much. This is where hand loading comes in to its own. Makes shooting much cheaper. In my opinion the 9mm and the .38 Special are about the same. The .40S&W and the .45ACP can be loaded to be about the same. The .357 Mag and the .44 Mag are revolver rounds and more kick than the .40 and .45 the .357 Mag and the 10mm are close I think.
I like revolvers. You don't loose the brass, this is worse in the winter. The revolver kicks less and different and is more accurate. You can get revolvers chambered for popular auto loads like 9mm, .40S&W, 10mm, and .45ACP.
- Location
- West Quebec
I would say yes as well...
I want to thank everyone who posted so far who's helped me with valuable information. Just been looking into Glocks so far and the Glock G21 (Gen4) stands out, comes in 9 mm and .45 ACP and is within my price range. I think that's the closest so far I've come to finding something I'd really like. Are their any other polymer framed semi-autos that are a little more ergonomic than a Glock?
I've found that the cost of ammo between 9mm and .40 S&W is very comparable. 9's are fun but you get a nice pop out of a .40 that doesnt really seem to get old, atleast it hasnt for me. I own a Ruger SR40 at the moment and like another CGN'er said, you can feed it any brand of ammo and the thing bangs everytime. Truth is, you will enjoy anything you buy. You have too, you bought it
Cheers
Cheers
Hi Halrath,
The models others have listed above are all fine handguns to consider but I would be less concerned with individual models than ergonomics. I would recommend giving this article a gander. It discusses some important points that you should try to keep in mind when looking for a handgun. How well you can hold and operate the gun is really going to dictate how much you like shooting it.
Also, I wouldn't worry about wanting something bigger than a 9mm. You will likely want to try different calibers but I've been shooting exclusively 9mm semi-automatics for some time and have no real interest in changing calibers. I'm more interested in mastering what I have. Some people are more interested in a diverse range of experience. When you're learning to shoot a pistol, though, for the first few months the last thing you'll probably be thinking is 'man, I wish I had something with more recoil and higher ammo cost' unless you're incredibly talented, independently wealthy, or some Tony Stark-esque combination of the two.
I'd also strongly suggest keeping an eye on the used market. A lot of guns are sold at great discounts that are barely used at all. The number of people who seem to buy guns and just cycle them through their collection with less than 500 rounds is extraordinary. Even if they have a good number of rounds through the (I'm talking 5000+), if that causes a serious quality issue with the gun, I wouldn't have wanted it even new. Unless something is really hard to find and I haven't seen it used for more than six months, I don't even really consider new guns anymore. The savings translate into an enormous amount of ammo. Then again, I can understand the interest in something brand new for a first purchase because, hey, why not?
In terms of specific guns, I would also consider whether you want to do any competition shooting down the road. You said you want to look at guns you won't want to ditch later and knowing you're buying a gun that will work reasonably well for competition is a good long-term idea. Sports like IPSC are one of the only things we're allowed to do with our handguns in Canada and really help maintain an interest in a given piece, but if you have the 'wrong' gun for a class you want to shoot, you might end up looking for something different. For example, I know quite a few guys into action shooting who abandoned their hammer-fired DA/SA guns for Glocks or M&Ps because of IPSC rules, and others who just ended up buying CZ Shadows.
The models others have listed above are all fine handguns to consider but I would be less concerned with individual models than ergonomics. I would recommend giving this article a gander. It discusses some important points that you should try to keep in mind when looking for a handgun. How well you can hold and operate the gun is really going to dictate how much you like shooting it.
Also, I wouldn't worry about wanting something bigger than a 9mm. You will likely want to try different calibers but I've been shooting exclusively 9mm semi-automatics for some time and have no real interest in changing calibers. I'm more interested in mastering what I have. Some people are more interested in a diverse range of experience. When you're learning to shoot a pistol, though, for the first few months the last thing you'll probably be thinking is 'man, I wish I had something with more recoil and higher ammo cost' unless you're incredibly talented, independently wealthy, or some Tony Stark-esque combination of the two.
I'd also strongly suggest keeping an eye on the used market. A lot of guns are sold at great discounts that are barely used at all. The number of people who seem to buy guns and just cycle them through their collection with less than 500 rounds is extraordinary. Even if they have a good number of rounds through the (I'm talking 5000+), if that causes a serious quality issue with the gun, I wouldn't have wanted it even new. Unless something is really hard to find and I haven't seen it used for more than six months, I don't even really consider new guns anymore. The savings translate into an enormous amount of ammo. Then again, I can understand the interest in something brand new for a first purchase because, hey, why not?
In terms of specific guns, I would also consider whether you want to do any competition shooting down the road. You said you want to look at guns you won't want to ditch later and knowing you're buying a gun that will work reasonably well for competition is a good long-term idea. Sports like IPSC are one of the only things we're allowed to do with our handguns in Canada and really help maintain an interest in a given piece, but if you have the 'wrong' gun for a class you want to shoot, you might end up looking for something different. For example, I know quite a few guys into action shooting who abandoned their hammer-fired DA/SA guns for Glocks or M&Ps because of IPSC rules, and others who just ended up buying CZ Shadows.
There all great . what do you want to do with it .
Just plink, bulls eye, plates, poppers, paper, ipsc,
Do you like modern or classic designs.
browning hi power is a magnificent pistol, bought for about a grand, and all steel, single action .I love mine .
modern pistols made of polimer are great, but in my opinion they have no soul.
My first was a glock 17 and I thought it was the best thing in the world .then came the XD springfield ,and the walther P99.
then the aluminum frame/steel slide stuff, came such as the beretta 92 and such ... I liked them better than the polimer framed stuff ....
and now I like the all steel the best ....my hi power being my favorite 9mm .
But it took 14 different hand gun purchaches to get to the point of appreciation for the hand crafted works of art that I now apreceate .
they all work fine for their intended purpose .
Just plink, bulls eye, plates, poppers, paper, ipsc,
Do you like modern or classic designs.
browning hi power is a magnificent pistol, bought for about a grand, and all steel, single action .I love mine .
modern pistols made of polimer are great, but in my opinion they have no soul.
My first was a glock 17 and I thought it was the best thing in the world .then came the XD springfield ,and the walther P99.
then the aluminum frame/steel slide stuff, came such as the beretta 92 and such ... I liked them better than the polimer framed stuff ....
and now I like the all steel the best ....my hi power being my favorite 9mm .
But it took 14 different hand gun purchaches to get to the point of appreciation for the hand crafted works of art that I now apreceate .
they all work fine for their intended purpose .
Get the Sig Sauer P226 DA/SA ......only the best!....in my opinion anyway!
2nd that.
New to pistols myself, sig 229 for me. From what I read super accurate and reliable + all metal. If your after plastic fantastic hk seems to be good(again no personal experience) . Be forewarned once you hold that sig theres no goin back.
RM
