Shopping for 1st center fire handgun
- Thread starter spazzy
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StationOps
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- Sep 13, 2018
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+1 to going to a range that allows you to rent pistols and finding one you like.
I recommend the HK VP9 or Glock 19. The Sig P226 is really nice too, but you'll be hard pressed to find a new one for less than $700. (You could get a police trade-in 40 S&W for low cost I believe. I have been assured that the 40 S&W round is not going anywhere, and in bulk it is not much more than 9mm. I have not shot a Sig P226 in 40S&W though.)
It's the golden age of autoloaders with many excellent choices that come down to personal preference. Shoot what you can before you buy.
I recommend the HK VP9 or Glock 19. The Sig P226 is really nice too, but you'll be hard pressed to find a new one for less than $700. (You could get a police trade-in 40 S&W for low cost I believe. I have been assured that the 40 S&W round is not going anywhere, and in bulk it is not much more than 9mm. I have not shot a Sig P226 in 40S&W though.)
It's the golden age of autoloaders with many excellent choices that come down to personal preference. Shoot what you can before you buy.
Yes, go to a range that rents guns and try them ALL. Shoot them, don't just see how they feel in your hand.
I can understand your preoccupation with the 1911 pattern pistols. Most are things of beauty. Nice steel gun with steel parts and infinitely customize able. If you've never owned one or spent any sort of quality time with one, there are some things to consider.
Do you know why the 1911 is called the "1911?" It's old. It's also fairly complex for a handgun, by today's standards. Lots of little parts and they usually require more time for their care. I mean, field stripping them isn't so bad, but if you really want to give it a good going through, it takes a bit more time. The more modern handguns are just plain more user friendly. If you have a glock and want to drop in a different barrel, you buy the barrel and drop it in. With a 1911, not so much. Most require some kind of fitting and just because it drops in, doesn't mean it's fitted right. If you want to drop in a different safety, yep, probably gonna need to be fitted. The 1911 is just an antiquated and inefficient design. If you do get one and plan on stripping it to its bare bones, I'd suggest getting extra springs and plungers for the slide stop and thumb safety. Those like to go flying.
I think that the reason the 1911 is so popular is because of the trigger. The 1911 trigger design is still the defacto standard when it comes to triggers. Nothing so sweet as a 1911 with a crisp and consistent 4lb pull; but as a practical matter, I can shoot my Kahr, Glock, Springfield XD or whatever as well and as fast as I can shoot my 1911. The big difference is that when I want to do something with one of my plastic guns, I can just order it online and drop it in.
Of course, I still think that every admirer of handguns should have one. My advise would be to choose one that does not incorporate a feed ramp into a single stack gun and try to get one with an extractor that is spring tensioned. Those models still using the old extractors that you "tune" by bending them just so, can have you tearing your hair out if it isn't tuned correctly from the factory and you don't know how to do it.
It does sound like you want a 1911. More power to you. I personally think that you would be better suited with a Glock, Smith M&P, Springfield XD, etc. Get one in 9mm. Ammo is cheap. I shoot a lot of the aluminum cased stuff. I just bought some and it was like $32 for 400 rounds. At that price, I don't even load 9mm any more. It isn't worth my time.
As for the CZ's, wonderful pistols. My problem with them is that the last time I was interested in them, the trigger for the double action first shot was just too long for my mediumish hands.
Go shoot em all. What you like will make itself known. I remember my first Beretta 92. Loved the way it felt...couldn't hit the floor with it if I dropped it. I actually wore the gun out trying to learn to shoot it. Yes, the do have a limited service life.
I can understand your preoccupation with the 1911 pattern pistols. Most are things of beauty. Nice steel gun with steel parts and infinitely customize able. If you've never owned one or spent any sort of quality time with one, there are some things to consider.
Do you know why the 1911 is called the "1911?" It's old. It's also fairly complex for a handgun, by today's standards. Lots of little parts and they usually require more time for their care. I mean, field stripping them isn't so bad, but if you really want to give it a good going through, it takes a bit more time. The more modern handguns are just plain more user friendly. If you have a glock and want to drop in a different barrel, you buy the barrel and drop it in. With a 1911, not so much. Most require some kind of fitting and just because it drops in, doesn't mean it's fitted right. If you want to drop in a different safety, yep, probably gonna need to be fitted. The 1911 is just an antiquated and inefficient design. If you do get one and plan on stripping it to its bare bones, I'd suggest getting extra springs and plungers for the slide stop and thumb safety. Those like to go flying.
I think that the reason the 1911 is so popular is because of the trigger. The 1911 trigger design is still the defacto standard when it comes to triggers. Nothing so sweet as a 1911 with a crisp and consistent 4lb pull; but as a practical matter, I can shoot my Kahr, Glock, Springfield XD or whatever as well and as fast as I can shoot my 1911. The big difference is that when I want to do something with one of my plastic guns, I can just order it online and drop it in.
Of course, I still think that every admirer of handguns should have one. My advise would be to choose one that does not incorporate a feed ramp into a single stack gun and try to get one with an extractor that is spring tensioned. Those models still using the old extractors that you "tune" by bending them just so, can have you tearing your hair out if it isn't tuned correctly from the factory and you don't know how to do it.
It does sound like you want a 1911. More power to you. I personally think that you would be better suited with a Glock, Smith M&P, Springfield XD, etc. Get one in 9mm. Ammo is cheap. I shoot a lot of the aluminum cased stuff. I just bought some and it was like $32 for 400 rounds. At that price, I don't even load 9mm any more. It isn't worth my time.
As for the CZ's, wonderful pistols. My problem with them is that the last time I was interested in them, the trigger for the double action first shot was just too long for my mediumish hands.
Go shoot em all. What you like will make itself known. I remember my first Beretta 92. Loved the way it felt...couldn't hit the floor with it if I dropped it. I actually wore the gun out trying to learn to shoot it. Yes, the do have a limited service life.
John Joseph
Member
- Joined
- May 5, 2016
- Messages
- 1,441
For heaven's sake, man.
If you want a 1911 then stop being a Nancy about and get a 1911.
In .45 ACP.
The recoil won't kill you.
Tens of thousands of GIs learned to shoot 1911s during two world wars and several other wars.
With a .22 already under your belt, you've got the advantage.
If you want a 1911 then stop being a Nancy about and get a 1911.
In .45 ACP.
The recoil won't kill you.
Tens of thousands of GIs learned to shoot 1911s during two world wars and several other wars.
With a .22 already under your belt, you've got the advantage.
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