My first gun! How to choose?

[Preacherman]

Of the guns you list, my first choice would be (and is! ) the Glocks. I prefer the 19 to the 17, but that's just my "feel" for the gun - if you prefer the 17, go for it. The Walther would be my second choice.

I second Oleg's opinion about the .22 conversion unit. These are available for the Glocks, but I don't know about the other guns on your list. They make a wonderful "second gun" out of the major-caliber "primary" gun, and practising becomes much, much cheaper!

 

[anapex]

The jams she had with the Rugers wasn't from limp wristing, They were all range guns. The experience has still left a sour taste in her mouth. I've already hinted at some pistols she should look strongly at especially since they'll be rarer soon in MD, the P99 being one of them since we already have one in .40 (she doesn't like the felt recoil of that though). We have a couple .22s already so she'll be able to practice with those. Revolvers also just haven't "felt right" for her. I appreciate everyone helping her out though, no matter how much I try to train her she just doesn't believe me until someone else tells it to her

 

[Paladin7]

From your initial post, you said you wanted the gun for target and home defense.

For a first gun, I would put home defense above target shooting in order of priority.

Prior to looking into which gun(s) to buy, I would ask myself a few questions;

1. What is your "threat profile"?

What is meant by this is what type of crime is prevalent in your area? What could you reasonably expect to encounter? You can find this information by researching crime statistics (especially trends) in your local area.

2. What is your experience level with handguns?

If the answer to this question is, this will be my first handgun and you have no formal training or experience, then I would STRONGLY suggest a .357 magnum revolver. The revolver is safer to operate, easier to maintain, and versitile in that you have a choice in two effective calibers .38 and .357. It will also be a great gun to learn on and improve your skill.

Also, I would recommend you get at least an NRA basic gun safety course and take a more advanced shooting course like Mas Ayoob's LFI-1, which will cover both the legal and the mechanical aspects of shooting.

Lastly, I want to commend you for your interest in guns and shooting and for exercising your 2nd Amendment rights.

Best Regards,

Paladin7

 

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's And A Big Ole' Hearty Welcome To THR-

From your list, it would be hard to beat the Glock 19;
however, please let me offer a couple more suggestion's?
Of course, these choices are SIG's, so get ready
to up the annie! First, for persons with small hands
there's the P225; a single-stack 9m/m that has
a huge following, in both the civilian world and as a
GERMAN police sidearm. Then there is MY favorite, the
P228; a double-stack (14-shot) 9m/m with the
U.S. military designation M11. In use by several federal
agency's, including the U.S. Army C.I.D., Naval Investigative
Services, Bureau Of Printing & Engraving and other's.
It's also a favorite of many police agency's throughout
the U.S.A. Then, somewhere in between there is the
P239; dang near as large as the P225/P228,
but still an excellent performer. One thing you get
with SIG's is Extreme Reliability; and to
me that is the most important factor in choosing a
sidearm for personal defense, or home defense!
SIG's are excellent performers on the range as well;
as I have carried a .45 caliber P220A since 1988,
and NEVER-EVER experienced a problem with it.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[Girlwithagun]

Thanks!

Thank you all for your help! And despite what ANApex says, I DO listen to him *snicker*.
Now that I am officially a member of On Target, I'll be seeing some of you Marylanders out there! I'll be the girl with a gun! (Ok, I'm corny sometimes too).

 

[Trisha]

I'd recommend the Glock or the Walther, as either have good ergonomics and wonderful track records!

I'd also like to suggest you look into some diversified instruction, if I may:

http://www.aware.org/

Be safe, and have fun!

Trisha

 

[Soap]

My wife has found the best success with a 5" 1911. She does not carry it however.

 

[Spot77]

GWAG, trust me, you won't be the only girl at On Target. There's always a few there when I go, and there's a couple of nice ladies that work there.

Sorry about your Ruger experience....since they were rentals I can assume you used the same box/type of ammo in all of them...maybe that had soemthing to do with it. I feel the same as you though; once soured on a gun it's hard for me to change my opinion. Had a bad experience with a Walther PPK and now I won't look twice at them....

You guys should really plan on attending the next Maryland THR Shoot....Chaim and I pm'd about it today...It's a great chance to shoot a LOT of different guns....especially 9mms. Norton's HK USP9 (I know you said it's out of your price range, but still fun to shoot), Chaim's CZ75 (SWEET shooter), you can try my Ruger P95 (500 rounds so far and not a single hiccup). Plus all of the revolvers. .380's, 22's, 45's and so on.

 

[BHPshooter]

*Uh-oh, here comes Wes. We all know what he's going to say.*

You really ought to look at a Browning Hi Power. Mine has 1709 rounds through it so far. No problems at all. Definitely worth a look, especially if you want a 9mm.

Hi Caps are also easy to come by. What other gun can you get 17-round mags for 19 bucks?

Good luck.
Wes

 

[jercamp45]

Hi.....

Oleg said it best!
It the Glock fit your hands, of the ones mentioned I would buy it...AND a ceiner .22 conversion unit for ALOT of cheap practice of sight alignment and trigger pull, using your defensive gun.
The Glock is dirt simple and will last forever. And you have the added benefit of having options for smaller Glocks for CCW using the same trigger.
Full capacity mags are available($$$) and I think I'd get the newer model with the rail inserts so I could mount a M3 light, if I so desired(nice for HD!!)
would stick with the 115 to 124 grain JHP for self defense...Miami PD was using the 147 gr subsonic for awhile...and their 'round count' per stop went way up. Makes the Nine a 10(or 17!!) shot .38

.02
Jercamp45

 

[Wedge]

Don't rule out revolvers

I wanted an autoloader for my first handgun. However, every time I went looking at guns my preference moved back in time more and more until I finally ended up with a Ruger Blackhawk in .45 Colt. It is blued, it fits my small hands (for a guy, they are pretty much the same or a little larger compared to a lady) very well and I like making big holes in paper and hunting. After buying one, I have to say I am hooked on SA's.

When looking I liked the way that the SIG P229 felt in my hands. However, I did not fire one, and it was out of my price range so I can't report on it much more.

 

[Black Snowman]

I'll throw in for Glock or P99, whichever you feel more comforatable with. As mentioned the Glock has a 22 conversion kit available for it but 9mm military surplus would be almost as cheap and when you throw in the price of the kit doesn't really seem worth it to me. Plus with crappy surplus ammo more chances to do failure drills under real conditions

 

[Frohickey]

Sig P239

 

[Black Snowman]

I just re-read the title of the thread "HOW TO CHOOSE?"

OK, here is how I choose. I narrow down the guns to the ones with the features I want (as you appear to have already done). Then I do everything in my power to try those guns out and see which one points most naturally for me and has good ergonomics. Things like sights I put a lower priority on because they can be changed later, if it's a perment feature and it's just "a little annoying" that's a big negative in my book.

Another gun you my want to try if the Glock or P99 don't seem to fit the bill you might want to look at the Steyr pistols. I REALLY like their sights and the grip and I REALLY don't like the sights on the Glock (I've since replaced them on the 1 Glock I own).

I hope that helps you come to a decision