My First Pistol
bannockburn
Member
- Joined
- Apr 24, 2007
- Messages
- 26,299
LookAtYou
Solid choice with the S&W M&P acquisition!
You done good!
Solid choice with the S&W M&P acquisition!
You done good!
Dave DeLaurant
Member
Since you're on this forum, it probably won't be your last.
Nice choice. My first handgun was an FIE Texas Ranger .22 SA that I kept for less than a year. I also had a Raven .25 ACP. Mea culpa -- it took me over 40 years to finally afford a SIG P49/210. You're doing much better!
Nice choice. My first handgun was an FIE Texas Ranger .22 SA that I kept for less than a year. I also had a Raven .25 ACP. Mea culpa -- it took me over 40 years to finally afford a SIG P49/210. You're doing much better!
CapnMac
Member
Not that we're enablers or the like
To Post-1's OP,
I'd appreciate to hear what you all went through in your decision-making process.
It's refreshing to see your post, rather than a lot of questions between brands, models, calibers, and feel, when only the buyer can really make the final decision.
Each person will have his/her own reasons for making a final decision as to what to buy, but I would like to hear yours as it's been so long ago, I really don't know or remember what I went through before buying over the years (I think it was ~1988).
I'd appreciate to hear what you all went through in your decision-making process.
It's refreshing to see your post, rather than a lot of questions between brands, models, calibers, and feel, when only the buyer can really make the final decision.
Each person will have his/her own reasons for making a final decision as to what to buy, but I would like to hear yours as it's been so long ago, I really don't know or remember what I went through before buying over the years (I think it was ~1988).
Either a Glock 42 or one of the Sig P365 variants.
I have never shot or owned either of those, but I understand them to be fine choices. If you're looking for something as a smaller carry gun than that M&P, this is a Golden Age of Carry Guns. I've said that before, and I still think it's true. There are many good choices out there.
chaim
Member
Nice gun. Until recently, I had a 1st generation M&P40c (similar in size to the current M&P 9 Subcompact). I bought a P365 as my most used carry gun, and I have a Glock 19 and CZ PCR when I want bigger. I thought having these three sizes in carry guns would cover my needs well, but in practice I found that if I was carrying the G19 or PCR when I wanted bigger and the P365 when I wanted smaller, I no longer had a niche for the M&P40c. Still, it was 100% reliable, it was accurate, and fun to shoot. Your gun is G19 sized, great overall, 1st or only gun. Large enough to be comfortable to shoot at the range and put in a lot of practice time, yet small enough to be a good everyday carry gun. I may have to pick one up in .40 or .45.
I love my P365 so much I bought a second one. Now I have one for carry and one for the range, so when one is my range gun I don't have to change out my carry gun (I don't clean my range guns every range trip and I wouldn't carry a dirty gun), I plan to switch out which is the gun in my holster and which is in my range bag every few months. As for the Glock, all of mine are larger (G44, G19 and G22), but I'd go with the G43 (or 43X) if you want a smaller single stack Glock. The size is similar, or in the case of the 43X you do have a longer grip but it is similar in width, and 9mm is far more capable than .380. Personally, for .380 I'd either want a larger gun for fun (I really want an older, nickel Beretta Cheetah or a CZ 82/83), or minimize the size for pocket carry (my current .380 is an LCP, though I actually don't carry it since my S&W 442 or Taurus 856UL usually get picked when I need a pocket gun). Careful though, if you really like carrying your new M&P, once you get something like the P365 (or the Glock if you go with the 43 or 43X) you will probably find it getting about 80-90% of your carry time. The capacity, controllability and ease of concealment is hard to beat.
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Zendude
Member
Nice M&P! The next big question is what holster for it are you thinking about ?
To follow up on @Zendude's question about holsters, I'll add: If you're going to carry, don't skimp on the holster or belt. You don't have to break the bank, but when you carry, a cheap, flimsy belt turns into a cheap, flimsy belt with an extra pound hanging off of it.
Hokkmike
Member
Favor us with a range report after you shoot it a couple of times.
Zaydok Allen
Member
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2011
- Messages
- 13,274
Congratulations and enjoy.
Alllen Bundy
Member
No logical and rational person would want just one pistol.
The reason being is, like all mechanical things, they can fail and you always want at least one working pistol.
Also, you could be facing a deadly threat with a friend that wasn't carrying a pistol and you could loan your friend your second pistol to help you defeat the deadly threat.
I chose a P365, liked it a lot and then bought a P365XL. All of the parts are interchangeable. The pistols are nearly identical except for the slide length, so that should make my shooting a bit more uniform, versus another brand of pistol. Two different interchangeable slide lengths and 3 different interchangeable grip module heights available and that will suit 95% of my carry needs.
I'm not that guy with a gun addiction. I really only need to buy a 10 mm bear stopper for camping and that would cover all of my pistol needs.
The reason being is, like all mechanical things, they can fail and you always want at least one working pistol.
Also, you could be facing a deadly threat with a friend that wasn't carrying a pistol and you could loan your friend your second pistol to help you defeat the deadly threat.
I chose a P365, liked it a lot and then bought a P365XL. All of the parts are interchangeable. The pistols are nearly identical except for the slide length, so that should make my shooting a bit more uniform, versus another brand of pistol. Two different interchangeable slide lengths and 3 different interchangeable grip module heights available and that will suit 95% of my carry needs.
I'm not that guy with a gun addiction. I really only need to buy a 10 mm bear stopper for camping and that would cover all of my pistol needs.
@LookAtYou - Have you made it to the range yet?
My first handgun was an old Iver Johnson break-top .38 that I inherited some time before joining the Air Force in 1955 (I'm OLD!) I forgot to recover it from the armory (required safe storage) when being transferred from my second duty station. I often wonder who might have it today . . .
Since then I've sold three revolvers along the way, and currently have seven auto-loaders and one revolver.
Since then I've sold three revolvers along the way, and currently have seven auto-loaders and one revolver.
Lo-Profile
Member
Congrats
Ethan Verity
Member
- Joined
- May 8, 2021
- Messages
- 715
Excellent choice! I have the same gun, but with the 4" barrel. It's one of my main carry guns, I love it!
