I'm going to buy my first gun, what should I do?

[mrcpu]

The thing is, there's not 1 "right" answer. There are many good ways to go about it, and there's a few bad ones.

Look into a CCW class taught by a qualified instructor. Mine brought about 8 different guns to the class, and let people fire them to get a feel, some of us got to use the Ed Brown 1911, while some of the newbies where shooting a 22 revolver.

You have to look at how likely you are to practice, and what your real needs are, *if* you're only getting it for self-defense. Semi's vs auto's, etc.

It would be worth it to drive a couple hours to a good sized store, and just go in and fondle everything you can lay your hands on. Don't get hung up on caliber at the beginning, find what feels good, what feels good when you aim, is the grip too big, can you reach the trigger easily. If it has an external safety can you reach it w/o having to shift grips.

The other thing to keep in mind is that your first gun is not likely to be your only gun. Be prepared to buy something, and then realize that you don't like it, and buy something else. IN my case, I had a S&W M457 that seemed OK, but after a few hundred rounds, I just found that I didn't enjoy it. It wasn't any one specific thing, it just wasn't pleasant. Tried a 1911, and it fits perfectly. For whatever reason. I can't get a glock to fit my hand for naything, but an XD fits great, while the M&P feels weird. The one model taurus in 9 fits great, the other one, sux.

So what's right for everybody isn't the same for everybody.

If you get a glock or a 1911, there are 22 conversion kits that make it *much* cheaper to shoot while starting out...

Last piece of advice.

Make your first purchase from a reputable gun store, and as long as their price is reasonable, just pay it. THen go back and drive 'em start raving nuts with questions. If they don't want to help you up front make a wise choice, find a different store. They're out there, I posted my tale of woe and success just a week or so ago, you can search by username and find it. But there's *good* gun shops out there.

 

[ArfinGreebly]

XD?

The Springfield Armory XD looked like a good gun. Does anyone know much about that type of pistol?

I have the XD in .40 cal (12 rd mag).

The XD in 9mm and the .45 cal are mechanically the same gun.

It's a single-action pistol, meaning it has to be cocked before it's fired. This happens when you chamber the first round. Its normal carry mode is cocked with a round in the chamber. Single-action only means a light and consistent trigger pull.

It will not fire unless a) it is held firmly enough to depress the grip safety, b) the trigger is pulled. It will fire without the magazine inserted. It will not fire if dropped.

The .40 cal is a fairly spunky round. The recoil is quite manageable, but I would generally not start with that calibre.

For a beginner, I would recommend the 9mm for a couple of reasons: 1) the 9mm is easier to shoot and will allow you to master method and technique without having to fight a flinch, 2) there's just nothing out there in a centerfire cartridge that costs less than 9mm ammo.

You're going to practice a lot before you get good. Practice involves shooting ammo for which you pay actual money. A good price on 9mm ammo will be around 15 cents per round, while everything else is going to be more like 25 cents or more per round. For comparison, .22 LR ammo will typically run 5 cents per round.

As you gain experience, you may want to move up a calibre or two. Plenty of time for that.

So, yes, I can recommend the XD.

 

[WestonSmith]

I\'m 25. I live in Utah, which for the most part doesn\'t have too bad of firearm laws compared to a lot of states. I\'m in the process of going to college, but am taking off a little time and just working right now. I live in privately owned off-campus apartments that only really students sign up for. I looked at the contract and it said nothing about firearms. So, I take it that since I paid all my rent and am following all the rules in the contract, there\'s nothing legally that apartment management could do if they found out I was getting a gun and didn\'t want me to. Utah law says that you can own a firearm at your residence and if management were to say anything, that would be a breach of what was set forth in the contract. If I fulfill my part of the contract, they\'d be required by law to fulfill theirs and not add extra terms and conditions.

Shooting experience: the only handguns I\'ve shot are .22 revolvers. I\'ve shot various rifles and shotguns.

My purpose in buying a handgun is for eventual concealed carry. I find rifles my preference for recreational shooting, although handguns are fun too.

 

[skinnyguy]

Weston, check PM (Personal Message).

 

[WestonSmith]

Thanks for all of your advice everyone. I finally bought my first gun. I bought a Springfield XD 9 mm sub-compact OD green. They were back ordered every where I looked, in stores and online, but I finally found one online and bought it immediately so that I would have it. I just picked it up from the transfer dealer about a day ago. Have not shot it yet but am excited. I have never used a semi-automatic before, just revolvers, so I am going to read the manual extra carefully before I do anything.