Updating to RPAL

Grey_Wolf

CGN Regular
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Location
alberta
I am signed up to upgrade from PAL to RPAL and now am looking at what to get. What is the most economical caliber to shoot other than a 22? Not too worried about recoil though having said that I'm not looking for a 500 lol. Not really interested in nor have the time for any competition shooting so it'll be something to take to the range and blast off a few boxes at paper and steel. Also, I am a lefty so who makes models that are left handed? I have shot rifles for years but a handgun only a couple of times so all the different cartridges are somewhat confusing to me. I do reload for my rifles but only have a single stage press and no room on the bench for another.

Spent a bit of time trying to search for some posts and found a few but didn't really get the info I wanted. In short - I seek an economical to shoot, reliable, lefty friendly semi auto, what should I look at and who makes it? Oh, I will likely also pick up a 22 in whatever model is reliable. Thanks in advance for the help
 
Might have to give us a budget...then we will collectively recommend every pistol in that caliber and price....
 
Ah darn, thought I remembered everything. Budget ..... I would think somewhere in the $1000 range +or- a bit if anything decent could be had for that, not looking for bargain basement. I don't mind spending a few dollars on a decent gun just don't want to talk with my banker every time I want to go shooting. Yeah I know what you mean about collectively recommending every pistol in that caliber and price but you have to start somewhere. There must be some that are more reliable than others - no?
 
Hmmmmm......well HK, Walther, Beretta 92fs, Grand Power, some CZ's, some 1911's, FN, Canik, M&P....just to get you started....all very good paper punchers...all available in 9mm...just choose your model...
 
Ok, two votes for 9 mm being most economical to shoot. I gather it is readily available? Where or should I say who handles FN?

Yes 9mm is readily available anywhere and many companies produce it. Since it's not an overly large caliber the cost to produce it is also relatively little, contributing to it's low price.

FN Handguns were uncommon up here until recently. Wolverine supplies always had the best selection of FN handguns when I was looking. You could check out the striker-fired FNS-9 that Wolverine has up right now, good price and totally ambidextrous out of the box with no need for swapping magazine release buttons, safeties, etc. Reliable gun has an FNX-9 which is a hammer fired pistol and extremely nice to shoot in my experience, and also totally ambidextrous. Since it's your first gun I'd definitely go with the hammer fired route, the triggers tend to be easier to learn on.

Some alternatives include the H&K P2000, USP, or the Walther P99, PPQ. All are pricier than FNs in general but fit your criteria of full ambidexterity and 9mm availability.
 
All right thanks for the input guys I have something to look at now. Don't know the difference between hammer fired and not but I'll take your word on it. I've heard of some of those names suggested but know nothing about them. Nobody has piped up with this ???? is a piece of crap so I'm assuming they are all relatively reliable. Is it really a Ford/Dodge/Chev thing where one is no more or less in quality than the others and each has it's fans and detractors? Other than the obvious of Ford and it's flaws lol
 
All of them are very reputable and used by various police forces and/or militaries, just comes down to personal preference for the most part so yeah you could say its a Ford/Dodge/Chevy scenario :d
 
There are many awesome choices in 9mm, but do yourself a favour and physically hold as many as you can in your hand, go to a gun store, or range, if you ask, many people will let you hold their pistol, and probably tell you about it,lol. Go on YouTube and watch videos on what you like, there are thousands to watch, I recommend Hickok45, he does excellent reviews. I am a lefty also, I love my FNS9, but there are many others that will fit your needs,,,, happy searching
 
Handgun fit is a very personal thing. What fits me may very well not fit you. Grip angle, thickness, back and front strap profiles and textures, trigger feel and position, it goes on and on.
If you can't pick up and hold, or better yet, shoot a handgun, don't buy it. That doesn't mean you shouldn't buy a particular gun that you haven't done this with, but you should have at least held one just like it.
Some guns may squirm in your hand when you fire them, others might be painful. But then, like Goldilocks, one will feel "just right". That's the one you need to buy, provided it's in budget and meets your reliability/performance requirements.
Shoot somebody else's gun, see what you like and don't like.
 
There are many awesome choices in 9mm, but do yourself a favour and physically hold as many as you can in your hand, go to a gun store, or range, if you ask, many people will let you hold their pistol, and probably tell you about it,lol. Go on YouTube and watch videos on what you like, there are thousands to watch, I recommend Hickok45, he does excellent reviews. I am a lefty also, I love my FNS9, but there are many others that will fit your needs,,,, happy searching

Handgun fit is a very personal thing. What fits me may very well not fit you. Grip angle, thickness, back and front strap profiles and textures, trigger feel and position, it goes on and on.
If you can't pick up and hold, or better yet, shoot a handgun, don't buy it. That doesn't mean you shouldn't buy a particular gun that you haven't done this with, but you should have at least held one just like it.
Some guns may squirm in your hand when you fire them, others might be painful. But then, like Goldilocks, one will feel "just right". That's the one you need to buy, provided it's in budget and meets your reliability/performance requirements.
Shoot somebody else's gun, see what you like and don't like.

Yeah I kinda had that part figured out. Just like buying a rifle you have to make sure it fits/feels comfortable first but thanks for bringing it up guys. I don't know too many people close by with handguns but could always run in to the city and go to the range there to grope a bunch. There's a range that has a big wall of handguns for their rentals - that should work.
 
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