Looking for suggestions

[only4teeth]

I plan on buying my first hand gun in the next few weeks or so.. I am leaning toward a S&W M&P 9mm or .40 cal. Is this a good gun for a starter or is there something else I should be looking at?

[SilverCity]

I plan on buying my first hand gun in the next few weeks or so.. I am leaning toward a S&W M&P 9mm or .40 cal. Is this a good gun for a starter or is there something else I should be looking at?

No experience with SW M&Ps, but our State Police recently converted to them from Glock 31s. So, for a first-time pistol they should work fine. Some complain about the out-of-the-box trigger being too heavy, but a lighter drop-in trigger is available.

My personal preference is the Glock. Maybe not everyones cup of tea, but as an easily serviceable pistol, I prefer them to just about any other.

Springfield XDs and XDms also have a solid following. XDs offer a little better value, if that is a concern.

I am not a wheel-gun fan, but I am sure they will chime in. You will also hear from the 1911 crowd.

Some will recommend a 22 first-time for developing good skills.

Good luck.

SC

[.41Dave]

Go to a range and rent one first. Try as many different guns as you can manage. Do this over several visits to the range. You will find that often the gun you liked most at first is not the best one for you. Buy the one with which you shoot best and are the most comfortable. Don't worry if your not comfortable with the .7000 SuperUltraMega Magnum ACP that someone tells you is the only thing that might stop a badguy. A hit with a .22 is vastly better than a miss with the latest and greatest uber round.

If you can afford it, buy a similar handgun chambered in .22 lr. This will provide cheap practice and help prevent developing bad habits.

[cd120]

The M&P series have proved themselves with a wide variety of people.

I bought an M&P 9mm to convert into an IDPA gun.

You'll be fine with it it. Good price, big following, etc.

As for caliber, if you are just punching paper, the 9mm will be fine. For S/D I'd go .40 or .45.

If you are looking for a SHTF gun I think it's fine, as for CCW, I'd pick something else (and did).

If it's SHTF, I'd want a 9mm as ammo is cheap and plentiful. For CCW, I prefer small(er) (though the M&P comes in a compact version as well) easily concealed guns.

[Dude]

I plan on buying my first hand gun in the next few weeks or so.. I am leaning toward a S&W M&P 9mm or .40 cal. Is this a good gun for a starter or is there something else I should be looking at?

Get a few more teeth first, then gnaw on your gun decision for a while.

[oldgaranddad]

I plan on buying my first hand gun in the next few weeks or so.. I am leaning toward a S&W M&P 9mm or .40 cal. Is this a good gun for a starter or is there something else I should be looking at?

Buy yourself a used revolver in .357 magnum as a starter. First, you'll never have to deal with a failure to feed, stove pipe or short cycling. All problems you can have with an automatic. A revolver in .357mag will allow you to use .38specials too. Both types of ammo are plentiful and can be found just about anywhere.

I am a NRA certified instructor in pistol, rifle & shotgun. I often have students ask me what they should get. Here is a real brief spiel on what to consider. A important thing to consider is ammo availability. Pick something that shoots what you can find in any gun store or big box retailer that sells ammo. So think 9mm, 45ACP, 40S&W, .357 mag, .38special and so on. Basically anything that the military, police, private security use or is generally available. If the world goes to heck! at least you'll be able to find something to feed you gun. Next consider how the firearm feels in your hand. Is it balanced for you? Is the grip too big or too small. Is the pistol too heavy? If it is too light you will really feel the recoil. Then comes sights, find a pistol with sights that you can focus with easily.

That should get you started. I would consider finding a NRA basic pistol class or a local instructor to assist you and to give you lessons with stances and grips, etc.

If you are dead set on an semi-automatic I would recommend getting a Beretta 92FS (aka the M9 in the military with half moon fixed rear sights; the 92FS is available with various (better) sights; the parts are the same and they are made in the same factory in Maryland.). The 92FS is easy to fix, parts are easy to get, they are easy to strip and clean and they have a reputation for eating nearly anything you give them. Again, you can buy a used on in great condition for a great price.

[<===Foolsgold]

Buy yourself a used revolver in .357 magnum as a starter. First, you'll never have to deal with a failure to feed, stove pipe or short cycling. All problems you can have with an automatic. A revolver in .357mag will allow you to use .38specials too. Both types of ammo are plentiful and can be found just about anywhere.

I am a NRA certified instructor in pistol, rifle & shotgun. I often have students ask me what they should get. Here is a real brief spiel on what to consider. A important thing to consider is ammo availability. Pick something that shoots what you can find in any gun store or big box retailer that sells ammo. So think 9mm, 45ACP, 40S&W, .357 mag, .38special and so on. Basically anything that the military, police, private security use or is generally available. If the world goes to heck! at least you'll be able to find something to feed you gun. Next consider how the firearm feels in your hand. Is it balanced for you? Is the grip too big or too small. Is the pistol too heavy? If it is too light you will really feel the recoil. Then comes sights, find a pistol with sights that you can focus with easily.

That should get you started. I would consider finding a NRA basic pistol class or a local instructor to assist you and to give you lessons with stances and grips, etc.

If you are dead set on an semi-automatic I would recommend getting a Beretta 92FS (aka the M9 in the military with half moon fixed rear sights; the 92FS is available with various (better) sights; the parts are the same and they are made in the same factory in Maryland.). The 92FS is easy to fix, parts are easy to get, they are easy to strip and clean and they have a reputation for eating nearly anything you give them. Again, you can buy a used on in great condition for a great price.

Something like this....http://www.goldismoney2.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=9128&d=1311805050

Its a .357 Ruger GP-100

[oldgaranddad]

Something like this....http://www.goldismoney2.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=9128&d=1311805050

Its a .357 Ruger GP-100

Yes. It's built like a tank and east to maintain. Used ones go for under-rated prices. You can't go wrong. They even used the GP-100 on Top Shot for a challenge in one of their episodes.

Stick with Ruger, S&W and in some cases Dan Wesson's for double action revolvers. I love Colt's but the prices on them have gone insane since Colt stopped making them.

[Mike]

I plan on buying my first hand gun in the next few weeks or so.. I am leaning toward a S&W M&P 9mm or .40 cal. Is this a good gun for a starter or is there something else I should be looking at?

Hi, you made a fine choice. Get the 9mm it's cheaper to shoot than the 40 S&W. After you become more experienced you can always expand your horizons. ;) Regards, Mike

[ttazzman]

Picking your primary pistol is very much like picking a set of golf clubs.....they will all work but some types and brands will work better for you. So you would be very well served to go to a good range and rent different guns till you find one that fits you and suits your style of shooting well.

[spathatos]

I tend to be of the school of thought of sticking with 'mil spec'. Yes, I understand there is a lot of cost/benefit to what is chosen and there may be 'better' alternatives out there not selected. As an example I will use the M&P. It will never be chosen as a military side arm based on the fact of it's design. For instance, the trigger assembly is so 'complex' that when it breaks S&W recommends you simply return it to the factory. In the armorer course (also did the glock armorer school), they do not teach you how to break it down. Even how you break the pistol down for cleaning is a bit cheap with the stick in the grip. The XD also falls in this same category. Besides, they all are knock offs of the glock.

I understand some may say, well I only need it to last me a day of shooting at the range and afterwards I go home. I just like having something combat proven that you yourself can work on with ease.

If I were in the market for a semi-auto it would be a sig or a glock. Interestingly, sig recently released an all german made P226 at the start of this year. I do not know how many are still around as they only imported 500 of them. The difference in the all german made sig is the fact they use carbon steel and all the parts (including slide and barrel) are made in germany. Simple way to tell is when you look at the barrel, slide, and receiver. Each part will have a serial number on it (this denotes it was imported from europe as american made does not serialize the barrel or slide).

Obviously some good advice given with the revolver already in previous posts. As for caliber I would stick with 9mm or .45 simply for bulk ammo buying (if you do not reload).

[only4teeth]

Thanks to all the have replied to this thread. I probably should have mentioned that I have tried a few guns already. The Para 9mm, M&P 40, S&W 357 magnum, 1911 45, and even a 45 long colt replica. Of these the M&P seemed to fit my hand better and I feel quite comfortable with it.

I am only going to be "punching paper" as the restrictions in Canada are very heavy. The reason I was leaning to a M&P is it seems to be widely used in my area by police and security. In fact my friends security company just swapped out their 38's for the M&P's.

My first gun is by no means going to be my last gun. My main concern is a reliable gun that can take a pounding.


just a quick add here, the other guns I was going to consider were the glock 17, the sig 226, and the walther p99.. any thoughts on these?

[spathatos]

just a quick add here, the other guns I was going to consider were the glock 17, the sig 226, and the walther p99.. any thoughts on these?

As previously posted, those are a stronger choices. The M&P would never pass military testing or even be considered. It is strictly a LEO or security gun.

[SilverCity]

The Glock 17 is the company's "bread and butter" pistol and one of the most popular models, along with the Glock 19 (still NYPD issue) and Glock 23.

However, I cannot recommend the Gen4 models as yet. It seems they have some teething problems

SC

[Hystckndle]

Buy yourself a used revolver in .357 magnum as a starter. First, you'll never have to deal with a failure to feed, stove pipe or short cycling. All problems you can have with an automatic. A revolver in .357mag will allow you to use .38specials too. Both types of ammo are plentiful and can be found just about anywhere.

I am a NRA certified instructor in pistol, rifle & shotgun. I often have students ask me what they should get. Here is a real brief spiel on what to consider. A important thing to consider is ammo availability. Pick something that shoots what you can find in any gun store or big box retailer that sells ammo. So think 9mm, 45ACP, 40S&W, .357 mag, .38special and so on. Basically anything that the military, police, private security use or is generally available. If the world goes to heck! at least you'll be able to find something to feed you gun. Next consider how the firearm feels in your hand. Is it balanced for you? Is the grip too big or too small. Is the pistol too heavy? If it is too light you will really feel the recoil. Then comes sights, find a pistol with sights that you can focus with easily.

That should get you started. I would consider finding a NRA basic pistol class or a local instructor to assist you and to give you lessons with stances and grips, etc.

If you are dead set on an semi-automatic I would recommend getting a Beretta 92FS (aka the M9 in the military with half moon fixed rear sights; the 92FS is available with various (better) sights; the parts are the same and they are made in the same factory in Maryland.). The 92FS is easy to fix, parts are easy to get, they are easy to strip and clean and they have a reputation for eating nearly anything you give them. Again, you can buy a used on in great condition for a great price.

Highly agree with the 92FS,
Just acquired a second one.
Like butter, for me anyways, they are, very smooth.

[branshew]

M&P is a great gun. I like the ergonomics better than Glock. I ended up w/ a G19 because of the size, but I was more accurate with the M&P. If I was looking for a full size 9mm, it would be the M&P. 9mm is a good caliber. It's not the most powerful, nor does it make the biggest holes, but it will get the job done nonetheless. Ammo is plentiful and cheap enough to practice.

[ttazzman]

Thanks to all the have replied to this thread. I probably should have mentioned that I have tried a few guns already. The Para 9mm, M&P 40, S&W 357 magnum, 1911 45, and even a 45 long colt replica. Of these the M&P seemed to fit my hand better and I feel quite comfortable with it.

I am only going to be "punching paper" as the restrictions in Canada are very heavy. The reason I was leaning to a M&P is it seems to be widely used in my area by police and security. In fact my friends security company just swapped out their 38's for the M&P's.

My first gun is by no means going to be my last gun. My main concern is a reliable gun that can take a pounding.


just a quick add here, the other guns I was going to consider were the glock 17, the sig 226, and the walther p99.. any thoughts on these?

I shoot a walther p99 and have high praises for it......i have smaller hands and it works well.......also very much prefer the finger mag release....shoots well.....only thing i dislike about it is the polymer spring retainer even though i have never had one break it just seems like a part that should be steel, also really like the DA/SA with the destriker release

i also CCW a Kahr PM9
really like my Ruger 357mag sp101 with 38s in it (feels like a real hunk of metal in my hand)
i hunt with a Hunters model ruger single six stainless convertable 22mag/22 8" barrel (probably the most accurate pistol i own)
my gals like my walther p22 and the walther 380

seems to me all the walther semi-autos are comparatively soft shooting to me

[oldgaranddad]

Jumping into the M&P discussion for a second here: you need to realize that law enforcement and security companies do not pick their firearms for ease of use, maintenance, etc. Ultimately it comes down to cost and whatever "goodies" the sales person has promised the top officials or the designated selector of the firearms. Case in point, the case where the former CEO of Glock, Jannuzzo, was convicted for receteering (http://www.ajc.com/news/cobb/former-glock-ceo-found-1369860.html) relating to money skimmed off contracts for various reasons including kick-backs, pocket-lining and other nefarious reasons.

As the other poster said, S&W states plainly that if you have trouble the trigger S&W says send it back to the factory. Do you really want that for a pistol if the world goes to heck in handbasket, assuming the S&W factory is still standing or is not too busy filling government orders to deal with you?

[Tbonz]

I'll throw my .02 in. Go to the range, test out some of the guns that they have. Revolvers are a nice starting point, as many before have said. If you are going to venture in to the semi-automatic arena, I would highly recommend the Glock 26 (9mm) it is compact, and it is very reliable, as stated earlier try to stay away from the 4th generation as there have been some problems.

The best advice I ever received was this, "make sure you buy a gun that you can handle, and shoot effectively."

Best of luck.

[Unca Walt]

I'm gonna respond 'cause there is sumpin' that nobody here mentioned:

NEW shooters are pretty susceptible to "flinch". Once inculcated, flinch is a b!tch to shed.

So I have two different pieces of advice:

1. Start with a .22. No kick, minor report.

2. When you go up-caliber, avoid flamethrowers. Several folks here have given really good advice, so lissen to them. Do NOT get a snubby, or (and here this ole hypocrite has to confess it is my favorite pistol :s9: ) something like a .44 magnum wheelgun. Wait until you have fired ten thousand rounds before getting a hand cannon.

Oh. One mo' thang: NEVER shoot a lot in low-light if you can help it; the inevitable flash WILL cause you to develop flinch.

About five of these, and you will begin to squint, jerk the trigger, and generally miss:

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQGBSzx55I-JWRONnRou8EDFuDitUw5peB6zsvWHm7foQp25OwL

Here is a .44 mag:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GljxcqqNeYU

[oldgaranddad]

I concur with Unca Walt. I am an experienced shooter and have shot .480S&W and .50AE pistols: once! I say once because I was blinded by the flash for several minutes afterwards. Though I have to admit that the .50AE pistol did make an impressive ring of fire sail downrange.

[SilverCity]

Tri-plex load 500 Linebaugh in a Ruger Super Blackhawk frame will set you free. :bandito:

SC

[RoadKing]

I own a S&W M&P 9mm C and absolutely Love It.

I've shot many different rifles, and shot guns, but never shot a pistol. My wfe asked me to get a pistol and go for a CCP. So I ended up buying the S&W M&P 9mm Compact. Why? Just because it felt great in my hand. The very first two shots I put both rounds through the very center of the target at 5 yds. Since then I've shot many hundred rounds through her and it still shoots fantastic. Virtually no kick, flash, or any significant issues. I have very weak hands and wrists due to an accident, so this was crucial and why I bought the 9mm. It just seems to work for me. I've also never had any issues with it, and can easily recommend it. btw-my wife loves it as well. I just easily and quickly change the 'included' backstrap and it falls into he hand like butter.
Just consider this is my very first ever pistol. I have since shot several of my friends pistols and I still go back to mine.
Good Luck in your decision,
RK

[CiscoKid]

I like H&K USPs. I own one in .40 S&W and it has never jammed or misfed in 16 years. I have fed thousands of rounds through it. Everything from expensive boutique self-defense rounds to cheap paper punchers. It is about as attractive as a brick, but it is very dependable. Comes apart in two seconds flat using nothing but my paws and goes back together in about 15 seconds. I own many handguns including Sig Sauers, Smith and Wesson revolvers, and custom 1911s. If I had to pick one "desert island" handgun it would be my H&K.

[shakes]

What would you guys recommend as good CC for a guy with smaller hands and doesn't like a big kick? I've shot a few things and can't see myself being very accurate under stress with something that barks really loud.

[<===Foolsgold]

My hands are not big nor are they small. Here is my pop gun .380 PPK/s.

My cannon is pictured above.

http://www.goldismoney2.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=8777&d=1310143828

[SilverCity]

What would you guys recommend as good CC for a guy with smaller hands and doesn't like a big kick? I've shot a few things and can't see myself being very accurate under stress with something that barks really loud.

Bersa Thunder CC 380ACP retails for around $325.

SC

[ttazzman]

What would you guys recommend as good CC for a guy with smaller hands and doesn't like a big kick? I've shot a few things and can't see myself being very accurate under stress with something that barks really loud.


Kahr PM9 fantastic CC gun small but has the 380size but the 9mm punch american made great quality

[only4teeth]

Just an FYI, I ended up buying 4 handguns .. so far. A Beretta 92FS in 9mm, a Para 1911 in 45 ACP, a Ruger GP 100 357, and a Reck revolver in 22 lr. My friend ended up with a M&P..

[oldgaranddad]

Just an FYI, I ended up buying 4 handguns .. so far. A Beretta 92FS in 9mm, a Para 1911 in 45 ACP, a Ruger GP 100 357, and a Reck revolver in 22 lr. My friend ended up with a M&P..

Good choices! I have a Beretta 92FS and it eats anything I feed it (except Federal Ballisticlean). The Ruger GP 100 is a great reliable revolver. Paras seem to be like a Chrysler; either you get a good one or a permanent shop resident. I hope you have a good one. Two instructors I teach with both had Paras and now spit at the mere mention of the name. I swear both had gremlins living in them.