Question about MY first Very own handgun...

[sloopy70]

I've grown up hunting, and have lived in the woods since I was little, but have never had much use for a handgun until now. For self defense purposes, as well as for fun purposes I've decided to get me a Springfield XD 9. The thing I wanna ask is, It'll be a month or two before I have a $500 chunk of spare money layin around to put down on it, but for now I'm thinking of getting something around the 150 price range to hold me over till i get my XD, only "Economy" pistol I've looked at is the hi Point 9, and .40, which seem "Decent" but if you guys have any other suggestions of somethin in that price range for me to just practice with, along with use for home defense until I get my XD I'd be greatly appreciative... Thanks

 

[D-Man]

Don't waste your money on getting something like that.......just put it towards the XD-9, and you'll get it that much sooner.

There are decent guns in the $200 range, but I still think you should concentrate on getting what you want first, not a stop-gap gun that you'll end up using sparingly or selling after the XD-9 comes home.

 

[cavman]

I have seen many on this board advocate one choosing a .22 as a first pistol for a variety of reasons. One of them is because one can shoot 'til the cows come home and not spend a lot of money as .22 rounds are only a penny or two. This allows a lot of practice/plinking/fun without concern about $$.

Another is that the practice with the .22 can let one work on all kinds of skills of the pistol that can be used when/if the 9mm is bought.

have a great day,
cavman

 

[Tiny in Ohio]

Please do not waste your money on a High Point. Either put that $150 towards the layaway of the XD9, or look for a used .22 to practice with. The High Point serves a purpose, but I do not believe in buying one to "hold you over" until the real gun arrives. HTH.

 

[10-Ring]

Save your money and get the one you want, don't settle for something just to have!

 

[grimjaw]

If it's only a month or two, maybe you could find a place to rent an XD9 and vent your frustation that way? I know not everybody has a range nearby.

I've wasted alot of money on guns that I would have been happier spending on something else. You can get almost 1000 rounds of 9x19 shipped from Ammoman.com for $150.

jmm

 

[CajunBass]

I really like my Hi-Point, but the others are right. If you've got your sights set on an XD-9 and it's only a month or two away, save your money and put it toward that or get a dozen boxes of WWB at Wally World. If you get another 9 mm, now, you'll find you don't shoot it once you get the XD.

Getting a used 22 if you can find one for that kind of money is a good idea too.

I've got an XD-9 too. Great gun.

 

[XavierBreath]

Put that money towards the XD-9. Buy what you want when it comes to guns. You will buy what you want sooner or later anyway. Resist the temptation to do otherwise, and you will come out cheaper all around.

I used to own a XD-9 and it was a great gun. I ended up trading it off. You can occasionally find them used for $350-400 now a days.

 

[BevrFevr]

buy .22 first... unless

you feel you may really need to defend yourself for whatever reason you can't avoid.

In that case i say any gun is better than no gun. look into a bersa .380, a high point, whatever.

a $150 bucks will get you a pistol grip shotgun just about anywhere if you really need something.

 

[[email protected]]

what you might could do is spend

100 to 150 more and get a pretty good target pistol. like a used Ruger mark II just to have fun with... then when the time comes sell it and put that money with the rest you've saved up to the xd. 150 is more than likely going to get you junk that will be hard to get rid off. Only problem is $300 can get you something you don't want to get rid of and then where are you? well, worse is with another gun... nothing wrong with that.

 

[Juna]

I was in the same boat a while back with extremely limited funds and wanting to get a pistol now for HD and to start practicing. I considered getting something like a Hi-Point or a Star to "tide me over" until I got a better gun. (That's not a knock on either of those guns, I actually really like the Star, but didn't like the lack of parts availability since they stopped making them).

What I ended up doing was saving up a little longer and getting a lightly used CZ 75 BD, and I couldn't be happier. This thing will outlast me, and it's been totally reliable and crazily accurate.

My suggestion is that you wait and save up a bit more to get that XD9 you want. You'll end up getting it anyway, and if you use the $150 you have so far toward it, you'll be that much closer to getting it.

If you set aside a bit out of each paycheck, you'll be able to get it before you know it. Also, try to find a used XD and you'll save some money (though, admittedly, they can be hard to find--I've tried).

If you're not dead set on the XD, $300 gets you a lot more options in terms of quality used pistols that'll last you a lifetime and then some. But if you're totally set on an XD9, then save up as much as you can and get one!