First Handgun, Advice?

4n2t0 said:
Spend an extra $100 and get a M&P 9 or Glock 17.

I started with a S&W M&P9 Pro (lovin' it) and I'm currently looking for a .22 (Ruger Mark/Browning Buck Mark) because they're soooo much fun to shoot and cheap on ammo. Those .22's are tack drivers, 10 rounds, 1 hole in the paper, lol.
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All steel guns like Baby Eagle, CZ75 or 1911 are much better choices in my opinion than anything plastic for the first, centrefire pistol in Canada.
Less recoil, more fun, faster follow up shots, accuracy.
For CZ You can actually buy a 22 lr kit that will serve with your regular frame, so You may train with the same pistol using both 9mm and 22 lr ammo by just exchanging the slides and barrels.
Plastic is good if You carrying, there is no advantage of plastic for the range gun.
 
The GSG 1911 (.22) has a great feel and looks just like it's big brother with all the same controls so moving to a full size is easy. You could also buy both the Gsg and a norinco for about the same price as a m&p range kit. Cheap guns are great for learning what you like. I like steel frame guns and single action triggers as they are more forgiving. I just sold a M&p kit that I got for Christmas because it just felt wrong to me.
 
I got a NP 58, a clone of the sig 226. I got it in .40 but wish I'd got it in nine mill.

The gun is very inexpensive but I've put over 400 round through her and not a single problem.

The sig style is my favorite (my old favorite used to be a 1911)
 
Comil_1983 said:
The GSG 1911 (.22) has a great feel and looks just like it's big brother with all the same controls so moving to a full size is easy. You could also buy both the Gsg and a norinco for about the same price as a m&p range kit. Cheap guns are great for learning what you like. I like steel frame guns and single action triggers as they are more forgiving. I just sold a M&p kit that I got for Christmas because it just felt wrong to me.
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There are more and more reports emerging of the cracked slides on the GSG1911 pistols (the same spot usually).
They are made out of the pot metal, not even aluminum, so I would stay away and see what's gonna happen with them after a while.
This is very new pistol with no prior history, so I would say: "wait".
 
Nestor said:
Plastic is good if You carrying, there is no advantage of plastic for the range gun.
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Tell all the IPSC, IDPA, and ODPL guys that! Glocks rule those games! The M&P's are slowly gaining ground.

Whatever floats your boat I guess...
 
Nestor said:
For CZ You can actually buy a 22 lr kit that will serve with your regular frame, so You may train with the same pistol using both 9mm and 22 lr ammo by just exchanging the slides and barrels
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Most "plastic" pistols have those very same .22 conversion kits.

It's sounds like you have what's known as plastic envy? It's common in those over 50 years of age, lol.
 
4n2t0 said:
Most "plastic" pistols have those very same .22 conversion kits.

It's sounds like you have what's known as plastic envy? It's common in those over 50 years of age, lol.
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Hahahahaha. I went to the closest firearms store today and spoke with the gentleman there about the Ruger MK2 which he told me no longer exists and it hard to get ahold of. He gave much the same advice as all you fine people on here.

I'm Definately looking at a ruger mk 3 and a SIG P220 or P226. I'm hoping to head to the local range next week and try some out. Fortunately I am not doing the PAL/RPAL classes/ exam until
April so as I understand I have until sometime in the we before I can even consider purchasing a firearm.

Please keep the suggestions coming. This is awesome!!
 
4n2t0 said:
Tell all the IPSC, IDPA, and ODPL guys that! Glocks rule those games! The M&P's are slowly gaining ground....
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Not really. It's a bit of a standing joke that the IPSC Production class in Canada should be renamed to the CZ Shadow Class. In my local IDPA scene there's quite a variety of plastic and all metal guns. No real clear winner and Glock is just in with the rest.
 
Cheap, reliable, tack driving .22 are pretty easy in terms of models...

Ruger Mark Series (Very popular)
Browning Buck Mark Series (Very popular - I Just bought one in like new condition for $300 on this site)
Smith & Wesson Model 22A (?)
Beretta U22 Neos (?)

9mm is another story, way too many to list but... (I'll start with steel for the old-timer, lol)

CZ 75b (Very popular)
Magnum Research Baby Eagle II BE9900 (Not too popular)
Beretta 92FS (Very popular)
Glock - Various 9mm models (Very popular)
Smith & Wesson - Various 9mm models (Very popular)
Springfield Armory XD/XD(M) (Popular - Jam-o-matics, lol)
FN Herstal FNP-9 (Not too popular)

And that list could go on, probably forever...
 
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BCRider said:
Not really. It's a bit of a standing joke that the IPSC Production class in Canada should be renamed to the CZ Shadow Class. In my local IDPA scene there's quite a variety of plastic and all metal guns. No real clear winner and Glock is just in with the rest.
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Maybe in B.C., Glocks still dominate (Numbers) in the pistol games where I'm located. Outside of Canada (US) Glocks definitely dominate pistol gaming!
 
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Hi Jeff :welcome:

This is from your first reply, "Having said that, you can always sell something you don't want. Someone else will want it."

That is all I'm going to say.;)
 
Pistols is totally personally.
22LR is cheap to shoot but many get bored of it quickly.
9mm more fun, lots of cheap choices, some recoil.
45ACP is a lot harder than 9mm, expensive to feed.

Only way to tell is try it.
 
[/QUOTE]
Springfield Armory XD/XD(M) (Popular - Jam-o-matics, lol)
[/QUOTE]

Dont know where this comes from. I have an Xd-m 9mm and since October I've put a solid 3000 rounds through it without even a single problem. About 2000 reloads of various power from low subsonic to +p+, and AE and CCI factory stuff in the popular weights. I've lubed it with everything from motor oil to s3x lube and she keeps on ticking along, great gun IMO
 
Like a lot of people have said, try as many as you can. I picked up my first pistol not too long ago (sig p226 9mm) and found that I changed my mind a lot after handling different things. I loved the comfort of the m&p but didn't like the negative feedback and the questionable QC and reliability (2nd hand info). Then I was partial to the glock 17 but couldn't stand the grips (nor do the mags stand up). My best advice I can give is buy a few boxes of 9mm ammo and go to your local range if possible and ask politely if people would allow you to try there pistols. The first time I went to my range I was able to try a variety of different pistols. Second to that, be picky and don't rush a new purchase. Find something that fits you and your needs. I spent nearly 6 monts of debate over cost, comfort, reliability, spare parts availability, and general reviews. Other than that, welcome to the world of shooting sports.
 
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Smith & Wesson Model 500


Everything else will shoot easy after you learn on that.
 
Dench said:
Smith & Wesson Model 500


Everything else will shoot easy after you learn on that.
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Hahaha

Kind of like saying ride a Ducati before a bicycle I would think Dench. I have only ever snap cap fired a S&W 500. A goo fried of
Mine was kind enough to show
Me how it works.

Not going to lie I personally find a Glock to be too small of a gun for me, I handled one at the store today and found a SIG Sauer(again) to be quite comfortable for my hand.

I am still planning on picking up a nice .22 LR upon receiving my license. Dad always said. " First season of hockey you go to play it again, if you still like it then you get Tacks (or Bauer 5000 Customs in my case :p).

I really love all this feedback. I'm glad to have such a great forum/community available to me.

Please keep it coming!!
 
FoxAlpha said:
Like a lot of people have said, try as many as you can. I picked up my first pistol not too long ago (sig p226 9mm) and found that I changed my mind a lot after handling different things. I loved the comfort of the m&p but didn't like the negative feedback and the questionable QC and reliability (2nd hand info). Then I was partial to the glock 17 but couldn't stand the grips (nor do the mags stand up). My best advice I can give is buy a few boxes of 9mm ammo and go to your local range if possible and ask politely if people would allow you to try there pistols. The first time I went to my range I was able to try a variety of different pistols. Second to that, be picky and don't rush a new purchase. Find something that fits you and your needs. I spent nearly 6 monts of debate over cost, comfort, reliability, spare parts availability, and general reviews. Other than that, welcome to the world of shooting sports.
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the M&P isn't unreliable.
 
4n2t0 said:
Maybe in B.C., Glocks still dominate (Numbers) in the pistol games where I'm located. Outside of Canada (US) Glocks definitely dominate pistol gaming!
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In US people can actually carry the handguns, so defensive pistol shooting may be basing on what's popular to carry. In Canada not so much.
Steel frame is always easier on your hands in terms of dumping the recoil, so if You don't carry, there is no reason to go plastic when having a choice of steel.
 
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