.40 S&W: steel on steel

[tipoc]

This will be the first handgun you call your own and the first one that you will shoot at your pleasure when you want and can.

The advice to go to a range where you can rent a handgun to shoot before buying is a good suggestion. This is how you'll be able to tell if the "boom" of the 9mm is satisfying to you. Keep in mind that there are varying grades of 9mm from the standard weights and velocities up to 9mm+P+. Keep in mind that 40S&W is a bit more expensive to practice with than 9mm.

The suggestion that you first work on developing your skills is also useful. Take a class or two on the basics.

There are a lot of good guns out there, select the one that feels best in your hands from a major manufacturer.

blah

There is a problem with writing "Blah". No one but you knows what this means. It can be interpreted as being disrespectful to the folks you are writing to, "speaking with", here who are being forced to either guess at what you mean or ignore it.

Another thing, what's the DA/SA, DA, SA crap I keep reading...?
Is it DA first shot SA rest of clip, DA all time, and SA all time? (respectively)

You have that right on the da/sa,da,sa. On the "crap" part you are wrong though. Is it "crap" because it confuses you and you don't know? Or is it "crap" because you disdain it? At any rate a da/sa gun is a good place to start with a handgun IMHO. Both for safety reasons and for developing shooting skills.

Good luck.

tipoc

 

[Scoutsout2645]

If this is going to be your 1st handgun, I'd recommend re-evaluating your criteria. If all you're looking for is steel and a "boom" to startle others at the range, then get a .50cal revolver. However, if you're looking for a semi-auto that you can learn to shoot accurately and quickly and you can train with frequently without breaking your budget, I can't suggest a 9mm enough. A monster truck with straight pipes that you can't drive worth a damn is useless and makes you look silly.
Learn to drive on a 9mm then, when your budget can handle the upgrade, try out a .40 or .45. Having carried both of these, I'd recommend the .45 as an easier recoil--I don't know if it's just the heavier frames of the .45 pistols or something about the round itself but I think the .40 feels a little more "hot".

On the steel vs. polymer debate, I initially had my doubts about a "plastic gun", but after carrying a Glock for several years I am sold on the sturdiness, weather resistance and weight savings of polymer. Outside of a choice about aesthetics, good steel vs. good polymer is a push in my book. Cheaper guns might not have the same experience, but surgery, parachutes and firearms are things that should never be picked by price.

And, to second tipoc's advice: I know you're 17, and attitudes about respect for others and all that have changed since I was 17, BUT you're asking advice in this forum and having a discussion with others--many of whom have forgotten more about shooting than you, me and three other people could ever learn. If you disagree with a point or you have a negative opinion about a particular weapon/caliber/whatever state so and explain your reasons. Asking for advice and simply throwing out "blah" as a response is rude and disrespectful. Being able to disagree, articulate why, and discuss it with respect is behavior that differentiates a child from an adult (regardless of age).

 

[BlindJustice]

I hope you're still checking this thread .30 Mag.

FYI

A SA like the 1911 should actually be called a
SIngle Action Only. action. It must be cocked
by racking the slide, -or- if the hammer has been
lowered to the "Safety notch" or what I call the quarter
cock position by hand then the thumb could cock the
trigger.

At this point a 1911 with the hammer cocked is in
Condition Zero, ready to fire. Condition One is the same as
Condition Zero but the thumb safety is engaged, this is
the normal carry condition for a 1911

A DA/SA Semi-AUto = DOuble Action/Saingle Action
The first trigger pull, with the hammer having been put into
the "safety Notch/Quarter Cock" position Pull the trigger
and it's perhaps a 9 lb-12 lb effort to pull the trigger
because it's mechanically cocking the trigger back.

After the first round is fired the slide has cycled and the
hammer is at full cock, so each subsequent shot will be Single
Action where you're releasing the hammer which typically on a
service pistol may be only 4 lbs - 6 lbs effort but also a much
shorter pull and easier trigger management/mechanics.

SOme DA/SA Semi-Autos have a thumb safety so that
they can be carried Condition One aka Cocked and Locked
whereas another popular DA/SA Semi AUto type would not
have the thumb safety but be replaced with a Decocker
lever, after inserting the mag. racking the slide, you engage
the Decocker and the hammer falls to the Safety Notch/QUarter
Cock position, putting it into DA mode. WIth no Decocker
the oprator has to lower the hammer manually - I use my off hand
index finger fwiw.

I have the CZ 75B in 9MM Luger aka 9MM parabellum aka 9x19.
It is a DA/SA with thumb safety. THe CZ 75BD has the
Decocker but no thumb safety. I like the thumb safety
option - sometimes at the range or in the field I don't want
mess with dropping the hammer. I'm comfortable with this
because I also shoot a .45 ACP 1911. I like the 1911 for a
lot of reasons but I also carried it on duty in the USN so it's
second nature it's manual of arms.

When I was 14 my Dad knew a fellow Insurance agent who was
a Captain in the US Army Reserves. He brought his squad up
to qualify from 120 miles away because we had the 500 yard
8' x 8' target range. Dad talked the guy into letting me shoot with
the squad - by the end of my qual. session with the 1911 I had
hit the target a couple of times at least. I did better with the
M1 Garand, but that's another story. Oh, I was about 6' plus at the
time for being accepted as a sshooter it helped Later on in
the USN I got the ribbon with a loosey goose range 1911

I got the CZ 75B to cut down on the cost of ammo for range visits
it saves $12 per 100 rds or so compared to .45 ACP.
it's also a very reliable, and silly accurate platform - good ergos as
well if you're wanting suggestions for one to rent. I also
want to get the .22 LR conversion kit for it. So,I can use the
same trigger to get used to it with little recoil.

Randall