Help me pick first handgun(CCW)

[CApighunter]

Looking to get my CCW license and am unsure of what would be the best choice for me. First, I live in California, so due to the CA DOJ Handgun Roster, many popular choices are off the table, also mag capacity is limited to 10 rounds. Second, I don't want an extremely small handgun, nothing LCP size or smaller. Carry method would be IWB. So far my considerations would be the XD Compact in 45ACP, M&P9c, the 9mm Shield, and by a longer shot, the Ruger SP101 in .357. The advantage of the sp101 is that it would also be an ideal woods gun for hunting backup. I'm pretty new to handguns so I appologize for any clarity issues here hahaha. What would you all suggest?

 

[MedWheeler]

Gotta get a few in your hands and feel them up. If test-shooting (renting) is an option, try to exercise it.

In that category, I like the Ruger LC9 and LC9s (the latter having a striker-fired action rather than a hammer-fired one), and the Shield.

A lot depends on your budget, and how these fit your hands, and your carry method.

 

[KenW.]

Lcr .357; though ordinarily I say a person's first hangun should be a .22 single action revolver.

 

[OleEd]

Mend wheeler was correct.

Sorry. MedWheeler was right on target.

My suggestion is to read reviews for this site. Hickok45 on utube is good as are other comments from friends. Just try them out and pick one for "your" hand, is it comfortable in feel and seems to do a natural aim when sighting at a target. Listen to salesmen but with a jaded view as they're there to make a sale. They don't know you so look, listen, rent ones at a gun range that you might be interested in.

I'm a 45 acp 1911 addict and carry the XDS 45 mainly but also carry a 38 snubby and even a 380. Have 9s and 357s -oh yes some 22s too but fall back to a 45 acp. (I'm just an old Vietnam Marine and retired Army Officer who carried a 1911 later in my career. I'm a believer in the old standard of bigger bullets = bigger holes. Not a truism now a days but hard to change my outlook.)

Anyway I digressed. Trying a rental will also help you decide too on the amount of recoil you want to tolerate. Generally, the shorter the barrel and larger the caliber your going to get more recoil. Why I say this is after your first shot you need to automatically comfortably return to aim at the target and having too much recoil than you can handle will cause you to jerk, anticipate, and think more about the recoil then possibly saving yourself or your family....

No one can say this is the gun for you. Research, touchy feely, read up, shoot some. Then you make that purchase. And you will also may join most of us in having more than "1" weapon. Good luck and take your time.

 

[AustinTX]

There are a number of excellent pistols to choose from. Your job is to find the one that's the best personal fit for you, not the one that's most popular on an internet forum. Rent as many as you can and return for advice once you've come up with a short list of your own favorites. (Just don't consider/buy Taurus.)

 

[ku4hx]

Some ranges rent guns and maybe friends have ones you can try: shoot many; buy one. Which ones you like or dislike may just surprise you.

 

[Tallball]

What they said. Rent them if you can, or at least fondle them at shops or shows. Pick what works best for you.

The members here are of different sizes, experience, recoil tolerance, etc. We know what works best for us; we don't know what works best for you.

 

[highpower]

+++ on going to a range that rents handguns and trying a bunch before forming an opinion of what YOU would like. However, since you asked for opinions, here is mine based on my experience.

The SP101 will be a bit of a handful with decent .357 loads and alternately using .38 specials in it for self defense would negate any advantages that a .357 would give you, so I personally rule that out. I have a Shield and carry it daily in a PJ Holsters IWB holster and for me it is the best compromise between firepower, concealability and controlability.

Before I get excoriated by the wheel gun guys for not choosing a revolver, let me state that in my opinion, if a new shooter is starting from a clean slate, one of today's small slim autos makes the most sense as a carry piece. More available shots without reloading, generally lighter and easier to conceal due to autos having generally slimmer profiles. If you are a new shooter, the manual of arms for a auto is not really any harder to learn than for a revolver. There is no substitute for practice and before you start packing any gun around you need to shoot it a lot and become absolutely familiar with your piece.

Using the eight round magazine and loading one in the chamber, I have nine shots available for social work without a reload and it is so slim that I sometimes forget I have it on. The double stack grip of the Glock makes it just a bit harder to conceal under certain clothes.

There is no reason to limit yourself to just one handgun as I would rather have a longer barreled revolver or auto as a hunting backup. I personally use my 4" M29 as my hiking/hunting companion as I like the extra power of the .44 mag. But I have carried a 6" .357 before and it never got in the way nor did I feel under gunned.

As an aside, I love revolvers, in fact I have about twenty of them vs less than ten autos. However much I like them though, I feel that a small auto makes the ideal daily carry piece.

Here is a pic of my Shield in it's holster with an Iphone 4 for a size comparison.

 

[Tallball]

"Duplicate Post"

 

[moxie]

Try and shoot as many as you can.

Then get a Shield and an iwb htolster like highpower 's above.

 

[wford]

I have had at least 6 in the last few years. I now carry a springfield xds9, I find that for me it handles like a gun bigger than it is and I shoot it well. The shield is another good contender, but I didn't shoot it as well. I also have a 380 smith bodyguard I like for it's size. Avoid keltec.

 

[C0untZer0]

I love playing the "Help Me Pick My First Handgun" game! Until you said California, and that takes the fun out of it

 

[X-Rap]

I'd get one that utilized the maximum capacity you can own in your state, probably in a 9mm and polymer.
Beyond that look at reliability, simplicity, accuracy, cost of spare magazines, availability of accessories like sights, holsters, stock and aftermarket parts.
I think to much emphasis is placed on how a gun fits in ones hand and that goes double for newer shooters that haven't developed a preference, aside from ones ability to accommodate the actual size/mass the other issues are fairly easily overcome with use of the gun.
Personally I have a fair number of polymer pistols and have settled on the G26 & G19 for most of my concealed carry along with a 380 KelTec that pretty much goes along 95% of the time.
It's rare that I will take a steel framed auto or revolver out "socially" still do in the woods and around the farm but otherwise it's polymer.

 

[RustyShackelford]

CA CCW guns....

I can't keep track of what is or is not street legal for CCW holders and private citizens in the Golden State.
The Shield isn't a bad choice but Id suggest the no thumb safety.
Many gun owners and concealed carry users prefer this format since the manual safety may go off or the pistol may snag on something as you draw.

 

[Racinfan83]

I would suggest a Shield as well. Wife has one in 9mm and I have one in .40. Love em both. Alien Gear makes a comfortable IWB holster for them and I also have a Sticky Holster for pocket or IWB carry that works well. Shoot several different ones if you can - but I have many handguns and the Shields are my favorite CC guns. AND yes - stay away from Taurus.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Have you considered a 1911 with 8 rounds of 45 ACP or 10 rounds of 9mm?

 

[Zerodefect]

I'd stick with mid sized guns. Glock 19, 23, or 4.25" 1911 sized pistols. Subcompacts are better 3rd or 4th pistols.

When I was new to CCW, I forgot that if I truly needed my CCW, it could be against someone that also has a gun. A subcompact is too slow for me. OK against a weak mugger, knife guy, riot mob, etc. etc. But useless against a properly armed attacker that's more aggressive, and after me, not my stuff.

 

[ljnowell]

If you are picking something primarily for ccw, to me anyway, the ten Round restriction isn't that big of a deal. Most compacts don't hold more than that anyway, at least not the really small ones. The ones that do hold more than ten are still available with mags that don't.

I guess the real issue is finding a gun you like that is on the CA approved list.

 

[cluttonfred]

The document linked in this blog post may be useful for you in terms of comparing sizes at a glance, though you'll have to cross-reference it against the CA approved list and, as has been said, nothing beats getting your hands on the various options and, ideally, trying them out at the range.

http://mousegunaddict.blogspot.com/2014/07/size-matters-pocket-auto-size.html

Many of the guns in that comparison are the "micro" or "pocket" versions of guns that are also available in a larger size, or the same gun may be available with a magazine extension to get all your fingers on the grip. You might take a look at the Kahr models on the CA list, which include the P380 and P and PM 9/40/45 models but, oddly, only the CW9 among the budget models.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

You know what interests you, so go try them on. Those are all good choices. Pick the one that feels best in your hand. Typically when someone comes on here and have a few guns that interest them, they can typically narrow it down to only a gun or two after they handle all of them.

In short, your hand will tell you.

 

[HKGuns]

You know what interests you, so go try them on. Those are all good choices. Pick the one that feels best in your hand. Typically when someone comes on here and have a few guns that interest them, they can typically narrow it down to only a gun or two after they handle all of them.



In short, your hand will tell you.

^^^^^This^^^^^^

 

[Plan2Live]

If you truly are new to handguns take NRA's Basic Pistol class and learn the fundamentals before you form an opinion based solely on how a gun feels. In m opinion it is essential that you fully understand firing systems and action types before you make an informed decision.

Avoid instructors that have a bias as all firing systems and action types have advantages and disadvantages.

Ignore anyone saying Brand A or Model B is the best or perfect pistol. Handguns are a great big ball of compromise. Educate yourself, try as many as possible then choose what works best for you.

 

[Jailer]

I picked the Ruger LC9 for a few reasons...it is easily concealed and affordable; if properly aimed and fired it will kill; if I have to use it to shoot a perp and lose it to the courts I won't feel the monetary loss as much if I owned a high dollar 1911 Colt or other fine pistol.

 

[sequins]

I'd say, depending on your budget, that you might want to consider a Sig Sauer P239. I carry a P226 but if I wanted something smaller (and legal magazine cap) I'd feel very comfortable with a P239. Depending on your hand size there are aftermarket grip options and I like Hogue grips a lot.

If you want something more affordable I'd recommend one of the compact offerings by Keltec, with Hogue Jr. grips and a pinky extension on your magazine you'd have a nice small gun that held 10+1.

My source for options in California: http://certguns.doj.ca.gov/safeguns_resp.asp