Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Common Interests buying my first handgun...suggestions?

From what everyone has recommended so far Ill say a few things:

1. If you wont be shooting it often, droping the $$$ on a Sig would be silly. I love Sigs, but they are pricey.

2. The Kel-tec would be a good choice (cheap and small, but can get good ammo sizes). However, they can be finiky if not cared for properly. Regular cleanings are a must, but if you do it will work fine. Most people like to stick this gun in their pocket and roget it, and it becomes clogged up with lint and other crud. This really goes for anything, but if you want 100% reliable, you must take care of your weapon! Anyway, not a bad choice.

3. If you want bottom line reliable, cheap, and effective protection, seriously consider Glocks. They can really take abuse well. Plus, even the .45 wouldnt be too expensive. Like someone said, no manual safety on this gun. That irks some people, but is just as safe when handled with proper firearm etiquette. Keep in a holster and no problems will arise.

FWIW, I shoot a Walther P99 .40SW. Great size, power, accuracy, and packs a good punch. Won gun of the year a few times. Its a bit expensive though. Plus, James Bond shoots it. What else matters ?

too all those reccomending a .45 acp for a first gun... do you really think thats a good idea? not only are they harder to shoot, harder to have accurate second shots with, but they are also much more expensive to buy ammo with.

i think it would be wise for us to take into account that andrew will need to spend a lot of time on the range honing his skill level. 9mm is cheap and and effective ammo, and an excellent caliber to learn on.

and muntus... if you shoot someone and only graze them (and they are attacking you), your ass is grass. i'll take one COM hit with a 9mm hydrashock than a graze with anything short of a grenade.

Taser. Stun them and then beat them senseless.

If an attacker is charging at you from less than 21 feet you really won't have time to pull the gun, aim and shoot it anyway. Might as well be non-lethal.

Or find a job that doesn't put your life in danger over something such as equipment. Or I'd be telling the boss that he can front 1/2 for the gun of your choice. But to be on the safe side, I'd go with a couple grenades, some Chinese stars, and a flame thrower.

Mark

.45 acp is a larger round, but they don't kick that much more than the 9mm. Do they kick more? Of, course, but I've had some petite girls shoot clip after clip without a problem. In fact, I think the .45 acp is one of the better rounds to learn on due to the low-capacity clips. Because the magazine is usually single-stacked, it is easier to grip than a 9mm with the double-stacked clip.

I'd stay away from revolvers because the recoil becomes more of an issue as you move up in caliber. Try squeazing off successive rounds with anything above a .38 special, and you will have problems as a novice. Try to stop someone on meth with a .38 special, and you'll realize why law enforcement stopped using that round. Law enforcement has also moved away from the 9mm as well for various reasons, including the fact that the muzzle velocity is too fast. The round passes right through the body without knocking the criminal to the ground.

As far as money goes, get a used Taurus for under $300. They aren't as nice Sigs or Springfields, but they are more reliable than Keltecs. Ammo is more expensive with the .45 acp, but nobody's going to be an sharp-shooter after a haof-dozen trips to the range, regardless of how many rounds you shoot.

Of course, what's good for the goose isn't necessarily good for the gander. Go to a range that rents guns by the hour and try a whole bunch of calibers and models. My buddy and I have the same size hands, yet don't always agree on what shoots well.

Come to think of it, I do like my friends .45 1911 better than his beretta 9mm. The beretta is waaay more bulky and kicks almost as much as the Colt. Although the colt is definitely upgraded with a smoother trigger, different safety (on the back of the handgrip so all you have to do is squeeze the handgrip to fire, no squeeze=no fire) and maybe some buffers in it. His dad picked it up used for $450 too, but he got a deal 'cause he does the books for the gun shop that sold it to him (he's an accounting professor at a college).