Vanity - Advice on which handgun to buy

[Perdogg]

I am looking to buy a handgun this weekend. Right now I am leaning towards a HK-VP9 or a Glock 26 or a Hammerless.

I have never owned a handgun before and I will sign up for lessons once I purchase the weapon.

Any good advice?

[Tijeras_Slim]

Another vote for a .38 revolver, but with a twist.

http://www.gunsinternational.com/S-W-MODEL-10-5-revolver-97-with-BOX.cfm?gun_id=100510674

This is a good example of what can be found on the used market if you look. A Smith & Wesson Model 10-5 from 1962 that clearly hasn’t had more than a box or two of ammo through it. It still has the original box, tools, and papers which means it was cared for. It will be considerably better made and smoother than anything “new” in it’s price range. I would not feed it a steady diet of +P ammo, but it will handle it.

[central_va]

If you have no weapons at all your first purchase should be a 12 ga. shotgun, not a handgun. But I repeat myself.

[circlecity]

"GLOCKS are reliable. But can go bang at the wrong time if a round is up the pipe. More than one cop has shot himself or his car door when exiting."

Is this phenomenon an aspect of the Glock or the retention holsters many cops use? I have heard that using the trigger finger to push the release on the holster as you draw has a tendency to put the finger inside the trigger guard as the gun leaves the holster. Having used a type 2 retention holster (Blackhawk) I can see how this would be the case.

[Lurker]

Love my XD. XDS in .45 ACP is my next purchase. Just about ideal for CC in my neck of the woods.

L

[circlecity]

"Another vote for a .38 revolver, but with a twist."

I prefer to get a .357 snub nose but keep it loaded with 38 +p rounds when carrying. Just because if I find myself in a situation where .357 is the only ammo available I'm still good to go. (ie. keeping a SHTF scenario in mind)

[IMR 4350]

1st handgun, start with a revolver.

[Durus]

I have one and I love it, in fact it’s my nightstand pistol. I’ve carried it, but it’s a beast.

[Cecily]

Find a place like the one at the link in your area where you can handle various models.

http://www.atlantaintownpaper.com/2015/02/stoddards-opens-state-art-gun-range-west-midtown/

[The KG9 Kid]

Out of those choices, the Hk VP9 easily.

If you have more available to spend, the Hk P30 or P2000sk.

I admit right away I'm an Hk snob, and for good reason. Proud of it.

[Kommodor]

As a bit of a Ruger fan, I’d suggest you take a look at the LCR compact revolver in .38; it’s a very nice self-defense revolver, and is available at a good price.

If you really want a semi-auto, the Ruger LCP9s (striker fired) is also very, very nice.

Both are quite compact, reasonably priced, and enjoyable.

Good luck!

[TexasGator]

“I have never owned a handgun before and I will sign up for lessons once I purchase the weapon. “

Take lessons BEFORE buying a handgun. Tryout several.

[US Navy Vet]

If you are a Beginner then I would start out with a small frame .357 Magnum Revolver(you can shoot 38 Special out of them(Cheaper than .357)) Something like this:
http://www.ruger.com/products/sp101DE/models.html

[OKSooner]

Haven't read the thread yet but +1 on the "consider a revolver". Easy to use, pleasant to shoot, and able to chamber and fire a wide range of loads in a given caliber. Also you don't have to go stooping down all over your shooting station and probably a couple of others to pick up your empties.

That said... get what you like best - that's what you're most likely to go out and get some practice with.

Always do this: Always follow all the published safety rules all the time. If someone else is messing up at the range, call them on it and if they don't straighten up, leave. Find out who they are and report them to the range management on your way out. (I've done this more than once...) Never take a known jerk to the range with you... No admonition beforehand will do any good, it will only be taken as a dare. (I've made this mistake once, never mind who was the star of the show.) Use eye and ear protection, and wear a cap with a bill. DON'T NEVER EVER store a firearm in a case at home because the case will trap humidity next to the firearm and cause it to rust. (The case, gun rug, whatever, is used only to transport the firearm to the place where you're going to shoot.) Instead, clean your gun when you get home (*ahem* easier if it's a revolver) and store it in a secure place NOT in a case. Whether it's loaded or not is up to you...

When you go shooting, consider buying two boxes of practice ammo. Shoot one, stash one. Same for your real self-defense loads - consider buying two boxes if your budget allows, stash the second one, shoot... some, but not all, of the first one, and use the remainder of it for home/concealed carry loads, or just more stash. These days you can't have too much.

Especially in these times, revolver or semiauto, whatever caliber, retrieve your empties and save them in a dry, ventilated place at home. Someday, maybe sooner rather than later, you'll get into handloading or at least have someone reload your accumulated empties for you. (*ahem* .38 special ROCKS as an easily reloaded cartridge that can be reused several times with moderate loadings before the brass wears out and you have to throw it away.)

Once you've learned the ropes, introduce someone you trust to shooting and make it a fun, safe thing for them.

[riri]

Try a few out.

I am a novice too. I have just recently started shooting the S&W 9mm Shield. I like it.

I started with a Sig Sauer p226 but moved up to the 9mm.

[OKSooner]

Hey... I know I'm bloviating here but I reread my last post and there's one more thing...

When you're at the range, someone, probably someone near you, will say to you something like "dude, watch your muzzle..." that means that you, or maybe I, am the one who needs to watch their your muzzle, or whatever... yes that is the voice of experience...

Thank them for the help and then enjoy some more shooting.

[Conan the Librarian]

My wife has a Glock 26 and completely loves it. It’s small, and uses a 10 round magazine, but, can use the 17 round magazine from my Glock 17. She also has a 30 round magazine that we both can use.

The 17 is more accurate and easier to use, but, the 26 is light and fits well in her smallish hands.

I am a pretty big guy and the 17 fits me just right.

I agree with the poster above. Go to a range and rent a few samples.

[Conan the Librarian]

Also, speaking as a novice. I love my Glock and would totally recommend trying it.

[Idaho_Cowboy]

Looks like there plenty of great advise here, but I'll add my 2 cents worth. It all boils down to what you are confident using. Practice, practice, practice.

A good .22LR (Smith and Wesson makes some real tack drivers) automatic has a lot of advantages going for it, especially if you are going to use the pistol for self/home defense.

It's cheap to shoot (if you can find anyone with the stuff in stock. On the plus side you can make friends with fellow shooter while you wait at the local store to see if any ammunition came in on delivery day). .45’s and .44 mags are great guns, but unless you are wealthy you may have difficulty affording to put a lot of rounds downrange.

Which brings to my next point: Recoil. The only sure cure for the dreaded ‘flinch’ is practice, practice, and more practice. Mrs. Cowboy,is an excellent shot with a rifle and shot gun (handles a 12ga like she was Annie Oakley), but even with something as tame as a 9mm handgun had a bad habit of dropping the first shot a good 7-8” due to the flinch from the anticipating the recoil. You can find plenty of videos of people doing dangerous/stupid things because they tried to shoot more gun than they could handle.

Even in the hands of a good shot, the more recoil a gun has the longer it takes to line up a second shot. I'm no expert, but I think in a self defense situation this an prove critical. A person armed with knife can cover a lot of distance in a hurry. You can try it step off what you think is a ‘safe’ distance and sprint that distance and time it with a stop watch. Putting a big hole in the air next to a bad guy isn't much help. If you can't hit em once with a .44 shoot ‘em twice with a .22.

A .22 gives you get a good high capacity magazine. Even with the wheel gun there isn't any of that ‘did I shoot 5 or 6’ stuff.

It's only a starting point, as pointed out by other wiser posters than myself, you will probably want more than 1 pistol. Every man needs plenty of good plausible reasons to explain to his wife why he needs more guns, after all.

Personally, I find the Browning Hi-Power to be an excellent weapon. It fits my hand well and is still quite easy to shoot. 9mm still caries a lot of the 'small caliber' advantages listed above. Do not mock the humble 9mm, I know an old timer that has dropped more than one deer with a 9mm.

It's all about what you are confident shooting, if you have the opportunity to try some different weapons first by all means do so.

[Idaho_Cowboy]

“GLOCKS are reliable. But can go bang at the wrong time if a round is up the pipe. More than one cop has shot himself or his car door when exiting.”
Is this phenomenon an aspect of the Glock or the retention holsters many cops use? I have heard that using the trigger finger to push the release on the holster as you draw has a tendency to put the finger inside the trigger guard as the gun leaves the holster. Having used a type 2 retention holster (Blackhawk) I can see how this would be the case.

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Interesting, I would be wary of a holster that requires that. Not a good way to reinforce rule 2: Don't put your finger on the trigger unless the weapon is pointed at something you intend to destroy.

Somewhere there is a rule about not leaving a round in the chamber, but there is plenty of debate around here regarding that rule.

[circlecity]

"Interesting, I would be wary of a holster that requires that."

I believe these type of retention holsters are referred to as serpa holsters and have traditionally been popular in the law enforcement community and with tactical teams who like to use them with leg drop webbing which allows the holster to ride at mid thigh for easier access. They are popular because unless you are wearing the holster it is very difficult to remove the gun. Thus, it is very difficult for a bad guy to disarm you if they get their hands on your holstered weapon. But as I noted earlier, they are getting a reputation for causing accidental discharges and some ranges and facilities now ban them.