[Kinetic]

I'm sure there have been several posts seeking advice on what a good first pistol would be so thanks in advance for tolerating another one...

I live in Seattle, I've got some experience shooting guns at the range with friends. I was thinking of a 9mm and had heard a Springfield XD would be good but another source told me they didn't like plastic guns.

It would be to shoot for fun but also self defense. I'd plan to take the safety and concealed carry training courses. I would also like to take a general defensive handgun course to use it in at some point in the future.

Any recommendations would be appreciated, thanks everyone!

 

[whirlibird]

First let me suggest doing a search for "first handgun" and see what you come up with.

Secondly, I seldom recommend a centerfire handgun as a first handgun.
A good .22 like the Ruger MkII or Browning Buckmark is a better place to start and will keep you in cheap practice once you "graduate" to a larger bore firearm.

Good luck.

 

[Kapture1]

Nothing but bias with me, but my first was a S&W M&P 45. Love it.

 

[onealx4]

Go big or go home. Go .40 or higher. That's my opinion.

 

[Filthy_McNasty]

I suggest a Glock 19 or 23/32
If you get a Glock 32 chambered in .357 Sig, you can get a spare barrel for .40 S&W caliber and use the same magazines and recoil spring for a dual-caliber handgun.

Springfield XDs are also very nice with more safety options than Glock

 

[eeman100]

I love my 229 Sig Sauer

 

[arleigh]

Ok your kind of newbe.
You've done some shooting.
A friend o mine I trained to shoot , got talked into (not by me ) an S&W .38 special, feather weight .
Problem ; is it is not a fun gun to shoot , It even hirts my hand and I shoot a .44mag for fun.
I let her shoot my .357 with mags, security 6, and she fell in love with it emediately, and bought one just a few muinets later at the range.
A weapon you plan to carry every day should be the one you practice with , but if it hurts to practice with it you won't , and you'll be hesitant to draw when the time comes.
I don't have a .40 , but had I the oppurtunity I would select it if only because it is what most LEOs carry. that presents the largest voting majority I know.
my 2 c

 

[RickVA]

Do some research on reliable guns and their cost, make a list. Go to the range and rent some that you would be willing to buy so you can see how you shoot them. Buy the one that you shoot well. Just because someone likes a particular gun and shoots well with it does not mean you will. And you may shoot well with a gun they can't. Everyone is different, check them out.

 

[BurntEyes]

Do some research on reliable guns and their cost, make a list. Go to the range and rent some that you would be willing to buy so you can see how you shoot them. Buy the one that you shoot well. Just because someone likes a particular gun and shoots well with it does not mean you will. And you may shoot well with a gun they can't. Everyone is different, check them out.

Here it is.

Nobody can tell you. Hit a range with a bunch of options. Find one that will charge a "single" rental fee, and fire as many different guns as you can.

The one that feels best to you, and you shoot most accurately is likely the best for you.

If you are wanting to REALLY learn to shoot, buy a .22 and LEARN.

Regardless of your choice, Train, Train, Train, Practice, Practice, Practice, then train more.

 

[WGSNewnan]

Bersa Thunder .380. cost effective, reliable, small enough to carry, big enough to shoot accurately. makes a great first gun.

 

[CornCod]

If you have your heart set on the Springfield pistol, by all means go for it. However, I usually recommend a .38 revolver for beginners. Few things on the planet are simpler to use.

 

[Forster]

Glock 19 3rd gen or S&W M&P

 

[shooterm]

Just me but I never shot pistol enough to get good at it tell I started using a .22 pistol. It brought all my pistol shooting inline just by practicing muscle memory with actual rounds.

 

[A-Team]

The issue with a "first" gun is are you going to have cash soon to get a second gun. If not... that puppy has to fill ALL your needs... AND be affordable on ammo so you can learn to shoot.

22lr is great for learning but it isn't great for HD.

9mm and 357 give you the best options for cheap ammo. 9mm is cheap and 357 uses inexpensive 38s but lets you load powerful 357 for HD.

The suggestion of a Bersa 380... it's my favorite handgun in the world... so I'm biased.

All the above said... find the gun you want the most and get it.

 

[10min'til]

Glock 19 - 9mm, rugged and dependable, big enough to learn to shoot well with it, small enough for concealed carry

Practice with cheap FMJ from Walmart, but buy good ammo for home defense like Speer Gold Dot or Federal HST

 

[MarksInnerDemon]

I was thinking of a 9mm and had heard a Springfield XD would be good but another source told me they didn't like plastic guns.

It would be to shoot for fun but also self defense. I'd plan to take the safety and concealed carry training courses. I would also like to take a general defensive handgun course to use it in at some point in the future.

Any recommendations would be appreciated, thanks everyone!

First anyone who truly debates one caliber over another has no idea what they are talking about. All the calibers from 9mm-45 do just about the same across the board with slight (5 centimeters or less) with FMJ.

Second people have preferences, but most people who don't like "plastic" guns probably don't know squat about metallurgy and the issues involved with some metal guns like the kimber and the slide cracking.

I think your XD is a fine choice, and probably a good "fun caliber" to shoot for the ammo price, plus a good self defense weapon as well. All the other recommendations, are good to. Ultimately it is up to you, but your first impression is probably better then internet recommendations.

 

[Herd Sniper]

Do your research first. Go to a range and see what other people are shooting and if you can ask questions. In most states there are gun stores that have indoor ranges inside of them. At these places you can often rent different guns to try out. Go rent a couple of guns you think that you might want to buy. Call these ranges first so you will know what gear you might be expected to buy or rent and how much things cost.

I would also stay away from an XD pistol for now. Try out some 4 inch revolvers like a Ruger .357 magnum loaded with .38 caliber target loads first. A revolver is a good, basic pistol to own and shoot. Just keep your finger off of the the trigger and you always remain safe. The 4 inch revolver was the basic police issue tool of self defense for many, many years because they are reliable, easy to shoot and easy to maintain. And they are probably cheaper to buy than semi-automatics right now too.

 

[Jeffrey]

Experienced shooters know the benefits of starting with a .22 rifle. So just like rifles, pistol skill can be learned easiest with a .22. And the Ruger MKIII is one of the most accurate and fun pistols out there. It is not a defensive gun however. Much like the rifle, the "first gun" is the trainer.

 

[Xythlord]

Kenetic,

Like what HerdSniper said...go to the range and try a few out. Since you live in Seattle, I would recommend going to Champion Arms in Renton. They have a knowledgeable staff and a good selection of guns you can rent for a reasonable price to try them out for yourselves.

The cost there is low (about $12 for lane, another $16 to rent as many handguns as you want to try in that session and you need to buy ammo for each gun type you are trying in 50 round bricks). They will go over the safety rules there and most of the folks that shoot there are pretty friendly as well.

BTW...I do not work there at all, but I have purchased a very nice West German P226 from one of the staff there

 

[Forsaken]

I own 2 Xd pistols in 40s&w, and they are my favorite. The xd40 tactical was my first pistol purpose, I have shot many pistols before and only owned rifles, as a first gun for CCW I found it quite large for EDC, so I went and bought a Ruger LCP in 380 and found myself grabbing it when heading out the door. As for the other xd40 I won it by entering a free drawing it is the 4" model and now that is what I grab for any extended period of being out and about, I reserve the 380 for things like going to get milk, and the xd40 tactical for range and target shooting. With all that said you should deffinately try out firearms ranging in all sizes from mouseguns to full sized semiautos, and do not make a decision until you are confident in what suits your needs best.

As for semi-auto vs revolver, I went with semi's due mostly to ammo capacity and quick reloads. I did however purchase a revolver due to the unquestionable reliability they have, I do not however CCW the revolver nor do I have a lack of confidence in the semi-autos reliability. I have never had any of my semi-autos jam when using mid to high quality ammo FMJ or JHP. If you plan an buying crap ammo then I would highly suggest getting the revolver as they with literally spit out anything you put in them.

In the end take all these recommendations you get and try them for yourself, and you need to make the choice of protecting your life with what you feel confident in, do not just take the advice of some avatar with a cool name and a few thousand posts as absolute truth, remember that its your life depending on your firearms, ammo purchases, and MOST IMPORTANTLY training, training, shooting, shooting, and again more training and shooting.