completly new to handguns

J

Jayph

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I have had my restricted for a while and I have fired pistols in the past however I have never owned one of my own. I have always wanted one just always got put on the back burner. These are some of the models I have interest in, are any or them ones that I should stay away from or is there one that stands out as the best choice. It will just be used for fun range plinking. I will probably only own one so I don't want to make a bad purchase. Is there any that I have overlooked that would be a better pistol for a first time buyer? I would be buying over the phone as no where local to me carries any of the mentioned handguns for me to handle.

Sig P226
Springfield Armory 1911-A1
Smith and Wesson M&P9
Springfield Armory XD

I have always really liked the look of the 1911 but have never shot one. I have shot 9mm, .357 Mag, .357 Super Mag (not sure if this is a round just what the guy told me I was shooting) .38 Special and .50AE (that one hurt lol)
 
I agree with what linzeiisdad said. The Sig's are excellent pistols.
A bit expensive, yes. But quality from muzzle to hammer, which is what
it sounds like you are after.
 
I can't speak to the sig but if you like the 1911 go for one, marstar has good ones cheap from china. 357 supermag is a round, silhouette shooters shoot pistols at seriously long ranges and need that oomph!

I got a revolver at first, because of it's versatility, and reliablility, and most of all so I didn't have to get on the ground to pick up brass.

I love my 1911, but like all autoloaders, there's only so much they'll feed. The power has to be within a certain range, to properly cycle the action, but not too much or the action will end up in your mouth, and on most autos, except for a few exceptional specially setup target guns, they won't feed things like soft lead wadcutters.

I feed my 1911 a steady diet of 230 grain round nose jacketed bullets and no problems. I don't shoot it when it's muddy or raining, and my gf picks up my brass, (I'm in a wheelchair)

I've fed my dan wesson 6 inch stainless steel revolver everything from 2000 fps screamers, to soft lead wadcutters at pop gun velocities for the girls, to blackpowder and wax flash rounds for cool dusk pictures ,to confetti rounds for fun and giggles.

I'm not advising you, just babbling, plus it's good to know the downsides as well as the upsides. Get what you want the very first time, or you'll regret it, not stop thinking about it and buy it later on impulse. (or maybe that's just me)
 
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No matter what you buy now, it's very likely that you'll either sell it shortly afterwards or just keep buying up other handguns. The ones you listed are all quality guns, but so are Glocks, CZs, many other brands of 1911s, and the list goes on.

Get whatever you like the feel/look of, then after you start shooting and trying other guns you'll undoubtedly go through more than just one.
 
For a long time I thought (by looking at pictures) that the 226 was a lot smaller than it actually is. The same thing happened to me with the XD too. The M&P and 1911 both have very manageable grip sizes.
 
I agree, take a look at CZ Shadow. It is priced good and can shoot pretty accurate. If you wish in the future join one of the target sports Shadow will be enough to start.
 
It's hard to just listen to other people. Go to a gun shop and try holding different guns. Ask the people there about the pros and cons. Of the selection you choose, nothing will go wrong except M&P 9. I shoot one before in .40, accuracy is poor compare to my Sig.
 
aim4fun said:
It's hard to just listen to other people. Go to a gun shop and try holding different guns. Ask the people there about the pros and cons. Of the selection you choose, nothing will go wrong except M&P 9. I shoot one before in .40, accuracy is poor compare to my Sig.
Click to expand...

YMMV but my M&P9 in quite accurate. So is my Shadow.
 
To the risk of getting lynched by the Glock afficionados here, I personally can't stand them.

They feel too light in the hand and the grip feels like a plastic chair leg to me. I won't deny the workmanship, but, well, I think they're uglier than sin.

I also have hands like a little girl and my Sig 226 is just a smidgen away from being too big for me. However, the 220's and the the 225's fit my hands magnificently.

As for 1911's, a single-stack one should give you no problems whatsoever in terms of grip size. Or a double-stack in 9mm or .40

And I notice that nowhere did you mention Beretta. The 90-Two comes with adjustable backstraps for various hand sizes and I personally find that it fits extremely well in the hand.
 
My M&P will certainly get the job done in the accuracy department (and the reliability department and the speed department - I love that gun). The Shadow is certainly an excellent choice too (all those champion shooters can't be wrong). In your position I'd get what felt best and looked coolest to you, because guns that don't feel good in your hand are uncomfortable to shoot, and guns you're embarrassed to shoot take the fun out of it. :)
 
I think your first handgun should be a .22. Cheap to shoot, no recoil to speak of and most semi-auto .22's are pretty accurate. After you master the basics, then buy yourself a 9mm or what you want. .40's an .45 are expensive to shoot unless you reload - and it costs some money to get into that.
 
I can't think of a better choice for a new shooter than Sig P226 in 9mm. It's extremely accurate and reliable, has good ergonomics, a great trigger, exceptional fit and finish, and negligible recoil. You'd be hard pressed to find a better 9mm pistol without spending 2x the money.

1911 is also a great pistol but you gotta be careful which brand you choose, as some are more reliable than others. Personally, I'd go with Smith & Wesson, STI (except for the made-in-Philippines Spartan) and Colt, in that order.
 
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Thanks a bunch so far guys. I am leaning towards the sig p226 in 9mm for the cost factor to shoot as it's my second favorite to the 1911-A1 for looks. Didn't realize how expensive .45 ACP is and the 1911 I was interested in is only availiable in that caliber. I guess it's time to start watching the EE for a sig. :D more opinions are welcome
 
My first pistol was a Sig P226 in .40 S&W.

No regrets.

Check out Wolf Bullets - decent prices for TMJ bullets and you can start a brass collection for reloading.
 
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