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First Handgun Purchase

5.4K views 73 replies 25 participants last post by  TJ45  
#1 ·
I have never owned a handgun but I am looking at buying one soon. I am trying to do a bit of research and decide what will be my first one and possibly my first carry pistol as well. After doing some research I think I have it narrowed down to 3 for now. This will only be my first handgun certainly not my last though.

The 3 I have narrowed it down to are

Beretta 92A1
Sig Sauer P226
Glock 17 or 19 depending on how it fits my hand.

I will be picking just one for now. Also I didn't list a 1911 despite the fact I do want one and will get one some day. But I think I might be better off starting with a 9mm. Any advice y'all can give me is much appreciated.
 
#3 ·
1911's are available in 9mm, as well as 38 super, 40 SW, and 45. Personally, I think the Beretta would be the #3 choice of the ones you listed. The 92, while a fine gun, is large. The Glock 19 really offers a lot. With Glock 19 magazines, it is smaller and much easier carried, while using Glock 17 magazines with grip entenders on them gives you a larger grip for enjoyment on the range.

Find your local indoor range. Most have a selection of rental guns. Go and try them.
 
#5 ·
I would get a Glock 19, too. Just can't really go wrong with that one.

It will do everything a newb (or a pro) needs it to do. Just my opinion.

Check out Personal Defense and Handgun Safety Center. You can rent a bunch of guns and try them out (they have an indoor range). Their prices are pretty fair too, for the most part.
 
#7 ·
I would get a Glock 19, too. Just can't really go wrong with that one.

It will do everything a newb (or a pro) needs it to do. Just my opinion.

Check out Personal Defense and Handgun Safety Center. You can rent a bunch of guns and try them out (they have an indoor range). Their prices are pretty fair too, for the most part.
Yeah I will definitely have to check them out. I kind of knew going in that a lot would suggest the Glock 19. Obviously Glock's reputation is well earned. I have fired the P226 so I guess I just need to get a feel for the other two.
 
#6 ·
I am assuming that you know the laws on acquiring a handgun in NC. You either need a Pistol Purchase Permit from you local sheriff or posses a Concealed Carry Handgun permit to purchase from either a dealer or privately. You must be 21 to purchase from a dealer and 18 to purchase privately, some Sheriffs will issue PPP to under 21 year olds and some will not. CCH you must be 21 to get.
 
#9 ·
Yep. As much as I hate the PPP I have already applied for a few and now I am waiting for them to be approved. I also will be going though a CCW class sometime soon, but I wanted my own handgun and to take a basic handgun class first. I know a bit more about rifles than I do handguns so it will be interesting learning all I can.
 
#10 ·
Nothing wrong with the 92 or the 226.
Meh, still feel like DA/SA is solution in search of a problem. But then again "put your money where your mouth is and campaign a DA/SA gun in competition so you can speak credibly on the topic" is still on the to-do list.

I'd look at striker guns. Glock 19 is fine. PPQ is excellent (M2 with the button release, not the paddle M1). My M&P9c is outstanding but it's been worked over by a gunsmith. Probably still necessary for box stock smif n wessuns.

Obligatory link to our head-to-head shootoff of a PPQ and VP9.
 
#17 ·
I think you are on the right track with the G19. Its one of if not the best all around semi-autos made.

Here is what one looks like since they are so rare!
 
#18 ·
Can't go wrong with a Glock 19 or P226. Both are top notch. The Sig is more expensive, but you can a nice used one for around $600. I believe there is one for sale in the classified section.

Tell us what you get!
 
#20 · (Edited)
Can't go wrong with a Glock 19 or P226. Both are top notch. The Sig is more expensive, but you can a nice used one for around $600. I believe there is one for sale in the classified section.

Tell us what you get!
Yeah I will definitely let y'all know. I am also going to be getting an AR-15 hence my trying to choose only one 9mm.
 
#25 ·
I can go with or without the manual safety. My finger always stays off the trigger unless I'm going to shoot and when I carry I intend to have it in a holster that covers the trigger. That being said I do have kids and would only let them handle it at the range so it would be nice to have a manual safety on it just for that extra security.
 
#27 ·
I may go smaller for carry and go full size for a range gun. I'm just a little worried that a smaller one might not fit well in my hands. I really need to get out to a range somewhere that has a full size and compact for rent so I can see how they feel when shooting.
 
#28 ·
Get a Glock 19. Almost all handguns being bought are Glocks for good reason.

It can do it all from competition, to carry gun, home defense, or range toy. If there is something about the gun you don't like, it's easily fixed by Glock's massive aftermarket. They're also very user serviceable, you will never need a gun smith because they're so easy to work on. One important rule of carrying a gun is knowing your weapon. You need to be able to work on it, replace the wearable parts, etc. That's very simple with a Glock. It's also a proven workhorse with a very long track record.
 
#31 ·
I get your point, but that $150 spent on a Glock trigger will blow any out of the box striker fired trigger out of the water by far. Not even in the same ball park. You can change the ergos of a Glock as well.

I'm probably going to pick up a Salient Arms Glock in the near future. They're what I'd consider the Ferrari of striker fired pistols.

Image
 
#32 ·
lol That's so far from an off the shelf Glock that it's not even funny... The point is the PPQ trigger off the shelf is outstanding.

I love M&P's, once you've spent the money on an Apex Trigger kit... which btw feels better than most Glock aftermarket kits I've put a finger to. Of course if I want a REAL good trigger feel I'll go shoot an open class 2011, those are even better! ;)
 
#33 ·
You're absolutely right. It's not even close to an out of the box Glock. That was my point about the aftermarket. It's endless and you can turn it into anything you want. My personal carry gun is also so far from a out of the box Glock which serves as a carry gun, range toy, and competition gun. It excels in all these tasks as well. I did like the comp aek kit on my M&P9, but after a bunch of trial and error, I found a combination which I feel trumps it and is reliable enough to be used for carry use.

Image
 
#36 · (Edited)
machine and coat the slides
add sights
stipple frame and back plate
add magwell,
add new springs
add new connector
add striker
add flat faced trigger with adjustable pre/over travel
Heat frame so it is perfectly fitted and matched to slide and barrel
New match grade barrel with coating. After coating is broken in, it will be a perfect fit to slide and frame.
Undercut trigger guard
Shave finger grooves
optional cut for trijicon RMR.

guaranteed 1" group at 25 yards.

My gun went down during Chris Costa's class. My front sight fell off. Chris let me use his Salient Arms Glock, and I was pretty amazed at how great the gun was. He was really into them, and several students in the class owned Salients per Costa's recommendations and they loved them too. While, it's more of a defensive or duty gun, I would have no issues using one in competition. Many of the guys in the class we're miami SRT/SWAT, and these were their duty weapons.

It's like the Wilson Combat of Glock, unfortunately they carry the same price tag.
 
#40 ·
Gun porn aside, what's your goal here?

Shoot tight 20 yards bullseye groups in a lane? I'd recommend a $1,000 or so 1911 or high-end CZ. Accurate enough to not disappoint you but you're not spending money to get mechanical accuracy you can't physically use as a novice-to-itermediate pistol shooter.
Shoot action pistol competitions like IDPA, USPSA, or Wake Action Pistol in Holly Springs? I'd recommend the PPQ. Very high value option that will work out of the box for competition and be economical to feed and equip.
Range toy? Sure, $2500 SAI Glock. Why not?
Home defense? Glock 17 or 34 with a rail and WML.

Etc, etc.

When you figure out what you actually want to do with the gun, that'll probably make things clearer.
 
#41 ·
Well I want something I can use for home defense and carry and I also would like to get into Competitions as well. Seeing as how I've never owned a handgun and only shot one a few times I don't really know which way I would go more. I have a lot more experience with rifles than I do handguns and even with those I haven't really been able to get out and shoot much. I just bought my first rifle in Dec actually so every other time I shot was with a rifle that wasn't mine. Shooting is something I do enjoy though and I am hoping to make it into something I will be able to keep doing from now on. I also want to be able to teach my kids how to shoot.
 
#44 ·
Another thing since you're new to handguns. Your preferences will likely change as you gain more experience. When I first got into handguns, my favorite was a beretta 92fs, then I had a 1911 phase, then after that it was an M&P phase, and now I'm on Glocks.
 
#46 ·
Get a striker fired pistol. Forget the Beretta. It's stupid in a lot of different ways. But if you don't have to start there, I wouldn't. There are better options.

There are a few people that can make it "work". Very few and far in between. And these peeps are far more motivated than most of us will be.

HOWEVER, if it is all you have, rock on!
 
#47 ·
All that you list as options are fine handguns, I own them all. The Sig is to heavy for my taste, the Beretta points well and is accurate but a tad large. The Glock is a tank and will perform under any circumstances. I vote for the Glock 19.
Enjoy your new pistol!
 
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#48 ·
Thanks. I am sure I will. I am waiting on my PPPs and tax refund now. I have a feeling once I start my wife is going to want a handgun too. She already saw a purple .380 but I told her if she wants to carry as well then try a 9mm and keep it black and get a purple one for the range.
 
#49 ·
Here is a video on size comparisons between the PPQ & the G19 and G17 (& 42). There really isn't much difference in the real world. In this case, he's comparing a PPQ "Navy" with the threaded barrel (slightly longer & heavier than a standard PPQ). A 5" PPQ is probably closer to the G17 in size.