Getting a first gun is very stressfull!

[desert gator]

I went to cabelas today and spent a good amount of time holding the guns im researching for my first gun.

Springield xd9 subcompact
glock 26
glock 19
S&W MP9 compact
The walther p99c and pps are the other two guns on my list but cabelas does not carry them.

I kept going between the 26, mp9, and xd holding each. None really struck me as wow, they all felt pretty equal in my hand as far as my limited experience could tell me. Then I picked up the glock 19 and thought WOW! Now that feels good in my hand, I have very large hands and that gun felt allot more natural in my hand than the others that almost felt more like a child's toy in my hand because of how small they where. I am yet to hold the walther pps and p99c to compare to the glock 19. So hopefully I can get a little more exposure to these guns and decide on one in the next few weeks.

 

[j1979]

do you have a range near that allows you to rent pistols. If so I would rent the ones you are interested in and actually see how they shoot.

 

[Jason_G]

Any of those ought to serve you well, at least as far as function and reliability. I would recommend going to a range that will let you rent at least some of the guns that you are looking at. Sometimes pawing one in the store just isn't good enough (although it's far better than nothing). Occasionally I run into a pistol that feels natural in the hand, but just doesn't work for me when I actually shoot it. There's nothing more aggravating for me than spending a lot of money on a gun that I have to adjust to in order to shoot it accurately.

Good luck

Jason

 

[desert gator]

yeah the local range where I am working right now rents pistols, but they do not rent compacts. When I return home next week I know that I can rent some compacts there, but I would have to go to about three different ranges to shoot all on the list, and I figure that would cost me about 100+ dollars

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Go to Shooter's World or Scottsdale Gun Club and rent the guns to try out. Either or both should have the guns on your list available.

 

[Hanafuda]

A Glock 19 is a very good choice for a first centerfire pistol. I would also recommend that you look at the Glock 17, M&P fullsize, and the XD9 fullsize. If you're not limiting yourself to polymer framed guns, also look at the Sig 229, and the CZ P01. There are others, but I like the ones I've mentioned best.

Definitely 9mm ... you're doing the right thing there. Not just because its easier to learn on, but its also cheaper to shoot.

I do not think a 'subcompact' is such a good idea, however. A fullsize service pistol is a MUCH better handgun for developing proficiency, accuracy, and safe handling techniques. The subcompact guns look cool, and small, but theyre harder to shoot well and usually recoil a lot more. (Also, I'm one of those luddites who thinks a snubnose hammerless revolver is THE choice for concealed handgun. But that's another topic altogether.)

Good luck. You'll be buying more later, so don't sweat it too much.


Edit: P.S. -- once you've got your 9mm, start saving up for a .22lr pistol. The Ruger MkII / MkIII pistols and the Browning Buckmark are the most popular. You can shoot .22lr for a fraction of what any centerfire ammo costs.

 

[desert gator]

Yeah I am going back to Arizona this week. I have heard allot of good things about Scottsdale gun club so I am going to check them out this week. Yeah Hanafuda I chose to go with a 9 because I plan to burn allot of dollars learning to shoot.

 

[makarovnik]

Buying any gun now is stressful because of the prices.

If you are looking for one gun to suit all your needs that can be very stressful.

Realizing that in order to suit all your needs you require more than one gun will help reduce the stress (except for the prices).

 

[Davionmaximus]

Just pick on of the HiCap models. After a ban you can pick up the rest I like the Glock 19. The sub-compact XD really wont be any more concealable. Just a shorter barrel...

 

[searcher451]

Despite the stress, despite the prices, despite the lack of ammo, despite the specific suggestions from all of the well-meaning posters, by all means try out the guns before you buy one. Go to a well-stocked range that rents them and spend some time there. If something strikes your fancy that the range doesn't rent, find a friend or neighbor or fellow forum member who has one and take that person (and gun) to the range with you.

Before long, you'll narrow it down to a couple of guns that fit your hand and your eye better than the others; that's the time to get some serious range work in. Remember that you don't have to rush into a purchase -- and in fact, it's better to go back to the range more than once over the course of a week or two, just to make sure that the gun you are finally leaning toward is the right gun for you.

It's out there, all right ... just waiting for you. But only you can decide what it's going to be.

 

[PPGMD]

The P99c is closer to Glock 26 size (at least the grip, it does have a higher bore axis). The P99 is close to Glock 19 size. Anyways it's quite possible to conceal a Glock 19, it's actually a pretty small gun (compared to others).

 

[MachIVshooter]

Then I picked up the glock 19 and thought WOW! Now that feels good in my hand, I have very large hands and that gun felt allot more natural in my hand than the others

M&P's ship with the medium backstrap installed. If you prefer a larger grip, you might look at the M&P again, but with the large backstrap installed. Takes about 8.2 seconds to swap 'em out.

 

[chris in va]

The Glock 19 was the only 'full size' pistol you held. Everything else was a subcompact meant for deeper concealed carry and had a really short grip.

Hey, check out the Kahr line. I'm currently infatuated with the K9. They're really thin but you can still get a good full hand grip on it.

 

[loop]

Did you even bother with picking up ANY 1911?

Broaden your horizons and skip wasting money on the steps up!

 

[Dan Crocker]

The Glock 19 is an excellent balance of concealability, capacity, and shootability. Damned near ideal.

 

[Matrix187]

I recommend a 9mm. While the .45 has nearly the same recoil IMO, 9mm's are cheaper to practice with.

 

[f4t9r]

Its only as stressfull as you make it. Do some research, go rent the guns at a range. Find the one you like and buy it.

 

[MT GUNNY]

Hindsite is 20/20, let me give you a little. You are going to end up with most on that list anyway, Does that Relive some stress?

 

[KeithET]

The stress only starts with getting your first gun. Every time you look at your first gun you will think about getting another gun. The cycle never stops. I have purchased 4 new guns in the past 18 months. Looks like I will buy at least one more in the next 3 or 4 months.

 

[wep45]

buy em all

 

[skwab]

Out of all the guns I've purchased only 1 model did I actually shoot before I bought it and that was my beretta 92. All the rest -some I held at a gun show and then bought, and I have bought 2 CZs under the vehement recommendations of many THR brethren without even handling - and they're great. Of cousre I'm not real picky. The only pistol I've gotten rid of was a taurus, and it's not that I didn't like it it's just that it didn't shoot straight - and I chalk that up to the actual gun I had and not the model itself.

So if the Glock 19 feels good in the hand, just get it. Save the money you'd spend on rentals and buy some ammo and go shooting! You can't go wrong with any of those models you mentioned, but the G19 is a versatile, reliable pistol that IMO is a classic - it's one of those that if you have one you should keep forever because it's on the way to becoming as classic as a 1911 or the beretta 92.

And like Keith said, once you get your G19, then start buying the others on your list!

 

[metallic]

I've gotten to the point where I've bought one gun for concealed carry and now I'm looking to buy other guns for other purposes. One for carrying in the summer, one for throwing in my pocket and heading out of the house...

 

[Dollar An Hour]

I've owned (and ended up selling) quite a few polymer-framed 9mm pistols, including the Glock 19 and the P99c you're considering.

The Walther P99 series are high quality pistols, but do exhibit more muzzle flip than Glocks, due to higher bore axis I guess. The Glock finish is a wonderful thing, and I love my 19. It's the one that I'm keeping.

I think S&W has a terrific pistol in the M&P though. Certainly more comfy to most folks than Glock.

 

[shield20]

Wait till you can try the P99. It was a REAL pleasant surprise for me as I didn't expect to like it as much as I did. It is just about perfect, and has just about all the features one can hope for. (reliable, great trigger, good sights, massive extractor, good case support, decocker, perfect ergonomics, sweet mag release, good $$, etc.)

Glocks are a great gun, but the angle is wrong for me.

I like the P99 QA, and had a full size in .40, but ended up with the P99C in 9mm. The .40 was a bit too much recoil compared to my HK, but it is a fine shooter in 9mm, even the compact version

 

[KBintheSLC]

I think that from the options you mentioned, the G19 would make a great all-around gun. I have a G26, and it is slightly less pleasant to shoot than the G19. The G19 carries well, but it also offers a full-sized grip making it easier to "get good" with. I would recommend you start with the 19, and if you eventually feel the need to go smaller, you can always pick up a 26 or XD9 down the road.