Just got my firearms license - which is a good first pistol?

[AceVentura]

I just got my restricted license in the mail, and I got my gun club membership so I'm looking to go out this week and get my first handgun. I've narrowed it down to a few and I'm looking for your opinions. I've already arranged to buy a Ruger MkIII from this guy I know as apparantly a .22LR pistol is one of the best things for learning good shooting technique because I was told starting off with stronger ammo might cause you to develop a flinch, and the .22 ammo is dirt cheap so I can practice a ton.

However, I'd like to get a good 9mm pistol for my first nice one. Everyone's told me that I should go for a good quality one and I won't regret it becaue it will last a long time. So here's the list of ones in stock at the local gunshop which I am interested in, please suggest which one you think would be my best bet. Thanks

Glock 17
Glock 34
Walther P99
Springfield Armoury XD9
or
Browning Hi-Power

[NuggzTheNinja]

I just got my restricted license in the mail, and I got my gun club membership so I'm looking to go out this week and get my first handgun. I've narrowed it down to a few and I'm looking for your opinions. I've already arranged to buy a Ruger MkIII from this guy I know as apparantly a .22LR pistol is one of the best things for learning good shooting technique because I was told starting off with stronger ammo might cause you to develop a flinch, and the .22 ammo is dirt cheap so I can practice a ton.

However, I'd like to get a good 9mm pistol for my first nice one. Everyone's told me that I should go for a good quality one and I won't regret it becaue it will last a long time. So here's the list of ones in stock at the local gunshop which I am interested in, please suggest which one you think would be my best bet. Thanks

Glock 17
Glock 34
Walther P99
Springfield Armoury XD9
or
Browning Hi-Power

XD. Definately XD.


XD9 in Desantis IWB.

[ebd10]

+1 on the XD-9. It's everything the Glock should have been. Don't skimp on a holster either. Try a Milt Sparks Summer Special for concealed carry. Uncle Mike's for anything else.

[guest89]

However, I'd like to get a good 9mm pistol for my first nice one. Everyone's told me that I should go for a good quality one and I won't regret it becaue it will last a long time. So here's the list of ones in stock at the local gunshop which I am interested in, please suggest which one you think would be my best bet. Thanks

Glock 17
Glock 34
Walther P99
Springfield Armoury XD9
or
Browning Hi-Power

Smart in getting a .22, 550 rounds for 8$ is unbeatable.

Now for the 9mm you need to TRY out the grip of a gun before you buy it to make sure it fits your hand.

Heres the choices I would pick for a 9mm.

P226 Sig. They are pretty expensive new but from CDNN you can buy a police trade in for around 400-500$.

Heard nothing but good about these weapons from CDNN. Here some good things about them: accuracy, trigger and grip size/angle.


Glock 17/19. 17 is the fullsize version, 19 a little more compact. If you plan on CCWing in the future you might wanna get the 19, it has a great firepower/size ratio and great reliability.

Cons of a glock, bad grip, although some people like them alot of people HATE the grip. "Bad" trigger, takes awhile to get used to sometimes, not really good for precision shooting, but all you need for combat. No safety manual, for some people its a HUGE issue.


H&K USP9 or USP Tactical
A little expensive, very expensive mags but they are a good quality weapon. Very accurate, good trigger but expensive.


As for the XD the only bad thing I have heard about them is their finish, the paint peels or something like that after you fire it a few thousand rounds, but I dont think its a big deal, I think its in a small area or something unimportant. I've never actually owned one for even fired one so I cant comment on them.
On the flip side I want a new XD45 badly :D. The design on it is awesome, I've been hoping a handgun company would do something like that with a .45 for a longggg time. So for me XD would = .45ACP (If you wanted a .45 of course).


Walther P99? I've never actually talked to anyone who used this as a combat weapon, from what I've heard the trigger isnt the greatest on them, I've also heard they arent too reliable ( not sure bout this for sure though). I looked into them awhile back cause I saw a "good deal" on one... Passed it up after looking into them.

Browning High Power- I've heard it called "The king of the 9's", I've never actually fired one but from what I hear they are awesome... Have heard of some reliability issues with them but that can be fixed. Another con to them is they dont hold alot of rounds. I wouldnt pick one for a defensive combat weapon but I would like one oneday for blasting at the range. Certainly wouldnt pick it as a first pistol, (unless I found a really good deal on one) but thats just me.



If possible go to local gunshops, hold each weapon, if possible rent them so you can shoot it too. Find out what you like. What grip fits your hand best what trigger pull you like the best ( this can always be changed after too)... And most importantly which you SHOOT the best ( if you can rent).


Im personally prolly going to be going get a Sig 226 soon ( police trade in from CDNN).


Good luck.

[Geno]

Those are all decent weapons. I personally like the glocks but only if I do some pretty serious trigger work. The stock glock trigger is unnacceptable. About the best thing I've found for carry purposes is my Glock 26 or 33 with a pearce +2 grip extender. Holds 13 rounds, fits in the front pocket of anything but jeans and is capable of a headshot out to 60-70 yards with ease.

I have used a couple of USP's before and really like them but the expense is just a little too much in my opinion.

Sig makes a great product but again the expense is probably not worth it IMO.

Can't comment on the XD or the Walther - have never shot either.

[ebd10]

Ace:
You might want to look into the CZ-75 series of pistols. Good ergonomics, high capacity, great triggers, and usually insanely accurate. They're all steel, so they're heavy (probably not a consideration with this crowd, tho'), but I like these even better than the Hi-Power.

The Sig 226 is another great one. It gives target accuracy in a combat platform.

Glocks are OK. I agree that the trigger needs work, and to me the grip is like someone mounted a gun on top of a 2X4. The 19 is hard to beat for concealability and mag capacity, but for me, the raised part of the finger grooves usually are right underneath my fingers.

Walther P99, good gun, very comfortable, basically an updated Walther P-38. Of the bunch I mentioned, I'd go with a CZ-75 compact model.

By the way, good choice on the MK III. .22's don't lie about your ability, and there is no better way to master the basics.

[Pro-Pain]

m4 carbine is a good starter

[NuggzTheNinja]

Walther P99 and the S&W 99...same gun...both absolute garbage.

FWIW, a guy at the range dropped his and it went off. Apparently the drop safety doesn't work. It missed my face by about 5 inches. My fist didn't miss his face.

One dismissed assault / battery charge later due to an understanding DA, I can tell you with full conviction that I'd carry a stick with a nail through it before I'd carry one of those pieces of ****.

Glocks are good, similar to an XD. No slide release, you slingshot it instead. My beef with the Glock boils down to sights (they suck), the grip (it's just too fat, and I have monstrous hands), and the plastic mags.

Other than that, Glocks are excellent. If you like the sights and the grip, then by all means, get one. They're really no less safe than the XD despite the grip safety.

Glocks have a snappy trigger. The XD trigger is softer and lighter. The reason for this is that the Glock is a true double action striker fired pistol: you cock and release the striker with the trigger pull. The trigger reset is short, so you can fire it quicker. With the XD, the striker cocks when you rack the slide, so you're only releasing the striker. The XD trigger is really single action. It's softer for more accurate shots, but the followup isn't as quick.


BTW the new XD finish is a hell of a lot better.

[guest89]

Ah yes, I forgot about the CZ hear LOTS of good about them. Supposed to be awesome for the price.




Nice to hear the XD finish is improved... Nuggz you have the XD9? Have you looked at their new .45ACP? 14 rounds in the mag but its engineerd to be a smaller grip then most double stack .45s

[NuggzTheNinja]

Ah yes, I forgot about the CZ hear LOTS of good about them. Supposed to be awesome for the price.




Nice to hear the XD finish is improved... Nuggz you have the XD9? Have you looked at their new .45ACP? 14 rounds in the mag but its engineerd to be a smaller grip then most double stack .45s

I have the 9.

The .45 was out when I bought my 9. The .45 ACP is nice, but I'm personally not a fan of .45.

If you're a .45 guy, the XD .45 is vicious and definately a good buy. Haven't heard of any problems with them.

The 9 holds 16 in the mag one in the tube. The .45 actually holds more than the .40, or just as many, I can't remember.

[youngNhopefull]

powerline 15xt
shoots huge 400fps.