Yet another "whats my first Pistol"

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pavmentsurfer

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Im going to get my Rpal in a few weeks and have hooked up with a few good guys from a local range. Im looking to also get into some 3-gun. I have the shotgun and the carbine but I need a suitable pistol. Id like to get something that performs well, is durable, quality and easy to own/learn with. Not something complicated or finicky.
I do alot of research and always try to learn as much as I can so i dont have to ask stupid questions like this one. But there are just SO many options I dont even know where to start.
The only hand gun I have any experience with is a Glock 19 in 9mm... shot it at a range in vegas. I liked it but have NOTHING to compare it to so maybe it sucked. I dont know. I have big hands... so id need something that fits properly. I really dont care about calibre, whatevers the best choice... I dont know what the difference would be.

I do like to own nice things. I rarely buy the "base" model. Id like to keep things under $1000... but if the must have gun is slightly over that, I can probably swing it. Ive read alot about the 1911... seems like a decent choice but theres like, 50 or more different versions from every company on the planet.

So, what should I look at. Obviously, everyone has a different opinion so not everyone will agree... im hoping to see a pattern that will at least give me a place to start my search or, at the very least, weed out what I should stay away from.

Thanks for the help.
 
Glock. Looking at your gun list you have some of the most reliable guns ever made in their respective category. Why not get the most reliable pistol to round out the package?
 
You've already shot your ideal gun.
Buy it, and test fire other peoples DA/SA pistols and 1911's... to see why yours is best.

Striker fired is the simplest and most reliable design.
The trigger pull is always the same, the guns always work, and are accurate right out of the box.

Glock 17 or 19.
S&W M&P 9.
 
There ya go... exactly what I was looking for. Thank all very much. I really liked shooting the Glock... but as I said, have nothing to compare it to. But, if you guys are saying its a good starting point, and I know it fits my hands well... ill put it at the top of the list.

Thanks again
 
As you get more time in the handgun field you'll learn that the Glock Group comes out in droves to threads such as this one. Now this in no way suggests that Glocks are not good guns. You SHOULD have a Glock on your short list for now. At least until you've tried some other options. But there's lots of others which are just as good.

My suggestion is to go with 9mm as it's cheaper to shoot thanks to lower ammo cost. Buy a few boxes and attend some of the matches of any sort in your area to check out 3gun, IPSC, IDPA and any other sort of local handgun competition. It'll give you a chance to see what the style of shooting is in these matches. It'll also give you a chance to strike up some conversations. You will almost certainly be offered the chance to shoot a variety of 9mm guns. And with ammo in your back pocket you'll be in a position to offer to replace theirs. Not everyone will take your ammo in return. But I can tell you for sure that you'll make lots of points by offering.

There's two distinctly different trigger styles. The striker fired guns such as the Glock you have tried and the hammer fired guns such as the CZ's mentioned. You owe it to yourself to try a couple of each before leaping into buying anything. Both styles have their staunch adherants and neither is "wrong". There is no "better" option. It's simply what each person prefers. World, National and local matches have been won with both styles.
 
^What advantage does a da/sa trigger give to a new pistol shooter?
I'm not saying never own one, in fact I like the challenge of the long slow da pull, but the OP specifically asked for a simple/reliable pistol to learn with.


Training to master a single pull weight/reset is more efficient. imo that makes striker fired pistols a "better" design.
I understand that some people like hammers, I just don't understand why they do... lol

I'd take a sao 1911 over a da/sa pistol any day of the week, but since Glock and S&W have produced the most efficient pistols, they get my money.
 
My first pistol was a SA/DA beretta 92fs. Having this type of action is a great learning tool. I feel as if it contributed quite a bit in my learning of a propper trigger squeeze. Not because it's a beretta, but because it's sa/da...
 
I used to suggest Glock, but now I would highly recommend CZ SP 01 Shadow. Many include myself shoots it better than my other pistls (I shoot it even better than with my .22 Neos). Shooting with my Shadow feel that I am cheating with my gun.
 
FWIW I bought a S&W M&P 9mm range kit, very lightly used from accuracy plus for $550'plus tax. I think that was as good a deal as I'm going to find and is exactly what I was looking for.
 
Another vote on the Shadow.Mine was my first as well. Fits my hand like a glove and shoots nice. I have had a few new shooters and a few experienced shooters have a crack at it and everyone seemed to really like to shoot it.
 
If you're eligible for Glock's IOP, it very hard to go wrong with a Glock. Even if you hate it, you wouldn't lose any money re-selling it.

I didn't give Glocks a second look until recently, and I'm AMAZED to say: I am very close to calling my first (of many) Glocks, my favourite and my go-to pistol. Over my STI 1911, my multiple Sigs and even my S&W586.
 
pavmentsurfer said:
There ya go... exactly what I was looking for. Thank all very much. I really liked shooting the Glock... but as I said, have nothing to compare it to. But, if you guys are saying its a good starting point, and I know it fits my hands well... ill put it at the top of the list.

Thanks again
Click to expand...

Once you shoot a CZ75 Shadow you wont even consider the Glock again,The CZ shoots and feels and fits 10x better.
 
there're lot of positive feedback on the Glocks but i just don't like the look of them. i'd go for the CZ or the 1911 style, it's just my opinion.
 
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