First Hangun recommendations

[indy11bravo]

OK Here we go again right?
Im looking to get my first handgun in the very near future. I have a rough Idea what I like, but looking for some input from those in the know.
Now first off, I know I want something in 45. Preferably a compact, but not something tiny. Im looking to stay under roughly 800. As far as what i like? Im going to get a lot of sheet for this but, not a huge fan of the glocks. I know people swear by them, but I just dont like the feel in my hands. The Springfield XD line is about the same for me.
I do like The HK's (USP 45c...HK45c etc) the SW M&P, the SIGs, and of course the 1911's. Seeing this is my first, Im a bit nervous about the 1911 since I've heard they can be a bit finicky. I do like the Commander sized 1911's though.
So anyone want to throw the new guy some advice/considerations?

Appreciate your thoughts,
D

And Glock lovers...no disrespect, just not my taste

 

[jfed85]

Although I can't speak directly of it since I have not fired one myself but I have read and heard a lot of great things about the M&P line.

 

[glockguy07]

I'd get the USP

 

[Truckerman79]

How about a Glock?

 

[indy11bravo]

cant say I didn't see that one coming but Im encouraged to see at least one glock guy is willing to offer another suggestion

 

[NateIU10]

As with any gun purchase, you've got to think about ammo costs and the ability to train with the gun you choose. I love my 45, but I just seem to enjoy shooting the cheaper 9mm lol

That being said, The USP has always interested me, and from your list, I'd go with a USPc.

Or a Glock 19. I keed I keed

 

[Bigum1969]

M&P would be a good choice. Best bet would be for you to see if you can hold or shoot different guns to find what fits you best.

 

[Truckerman79]

I'm sure there are some fellow INGOers that would be more than happy to let you shoot their guns so you can get a better idea of what you like.

 

[glockguy07]

cant say I didn't see that one coming but Im encouraged to see at least one glock guy is willing to offer another suggestion

HK USP in .45
Sig 226 in 9mm

I wouldn't suggest any S&W semi auto pistol (from what I've heard of the sigma and personal experiences with the M/P series), nor would I get another Sig P220 - only 8rds? C'mon!

 

[indy11bravo]

The 8 round bit is a good point, but....8 rounds of .45acp can stop a bad situation pretty quick. I do like the HK's a lot. I guess i just want to make sure Im not being influenced by the gun porn factor and over looking an equally viable option (less the glock )
Anyone fingered the HK45c yet? It looks pretty, but I haven't seen one in person yet.

 

[Goodcat]

Get a 1911. Watch a few basic videos on break down and cleaning. After a few weeks, average person can break a 1911 down for basic cleaning in just a few seconds! They are finicky, but if you know your gun and the ammo it likes and how to clean it, you are good to go. Higher tolerances, but only leaves for better accuracy. my $0.02

 

[glockguy07]

The 8 round bit is a good point, but....8 rounds of .45acp can stop a bad situation pretty quick. I do like the HK's a lot. I guess i just want to make sure Im not being influenced by the gun porn factor and over looking an equally viable option (less the glock )
Anyone fingered the HK45c yet? It looks pretty, but I haven't seen one in person yet.

I owned a HK45c, to me 8rds is not enough in a carry weapon, unless you're fantastic at reloads and are going to carry 2 extra magazines if not more.

 

[clt46910]

Bottom line is learn to shoot first. No matter what you have, if you can not shoot, it will not help you.

Then pick the gun you like the best.

 

[Rookie]

I looked at an Hk 45c but decided that it was a little too small for my hands. I did not try the adjustable back straps, though. I own a USPc in .40 and I have shot it in .45. The two extra rounds is what sold me on the .40. I shot it today, for the first time, and it is VERY accurate. If you live near Kokomo, lemme know and I can let you test drive it.

Trust me, you aren't being influenced by the gun porn factor. I own a Glock and it sits in my safe where it will stay for the remainder of my life. IMO, Hk will out-perform a Glock any day.

 

[AverageMidwest]

This is one of those "back in the day when I walked 10 miles to school after cutting firewood" deals, but -

The first handgun I ever owned was a Ruger Mark I Standard target pistol which was (ta-da!) 22 rimfire. Not much to stop someone with, but a) I could afford to shoot it a LOT , b) it was fun and c) I learned how to shoot well with it. That being said, if you want to shoot higher caliber in a hurry....these are just free opinions.

1) Don't get a 1911 or clone for your first one. I own two and like them a bunch, but single action automatics (as opposed to double action/single action automatics where you can carry a round in the chamber with the hammer down) aren't the safest pieces around for new shooters and they do take some learning.

2) Don't get a .45 for your first one. Muzzle blast, flinch and recoil are all factors; it's easier to shoot something lighter the first time out. 9 mm, among other choices, is cheaper and easier to shoot.

3) Again, personal opinion - don't get a Glock or clone (Smith and Wesson M&P etc) for the first piece either. Like the 1911, they're great pieces but they take training and practice and the lack of an exterior safety is an issue. I sure wouldn't carry one with a round chambered anywhere but a holster, if the trigger hangs up on something without an exterior safety, look out. Just as many accidental discharges with Glocks as anything else. (I know, I can already hear the screams from Glock fanatics. Hey, I said they're great pieces.)

4) Capacity - seriously, how big are your hands and - unless you're in law enforcement - how often are you gonna be in a gunfight? For 99% of us, if you can't get it done with 7 or 8 (or 2 or 3) rounds you better throw it at the bad guy(s) and take off like a stripe-a**ed ape. Single column is fine for most and definitely easier for the person with smaller hands. I gotta admit it's a lot less of a pain in the posterior to reload 3 high cap mags than it is to reload 6 or 7 standard 1911 mags when you're at the range. If you have the hands and want to shoot 15 without reloading, by all means get a douible stack gun.

5) Single/double action auto in 9 mm - lots of fine guns by S&W, Beretta, CZ, Ruger, Sig, HK, Walther. All reliable, all shoot well, etc.

6) Purely a thought - how often are you gonna practice, clean it, work with it? Are you gonna swap out loaded maps every couple of weeks so the mag springs don't weaken, strip it and keep it oiled every month whether you shoot it or not? If you are, great. If not....and I know this is heresy these days...

6) Think old school, as in wheel guns, as in Ruger or Smith & Wesson .357 revolver with 4 or 6 inch barrel. Accurate, powerful, not bad in recoil if you load with .38 Special +P or lighter loaded .357 rounds - trust me, they'll get the job done. As to six round capacity, see #4. For your average homeowner, 2 or 3 will get it done 99.999% of the time. And....you can put it in a drawer without touching it for 20 years and as long as it's not been exposed to moisture, it will still go bang when you get it out and pull the trigger. There's a reason why street cops use .38 revolvers with 2" barrels as their last ditch backup guns - they always work.

Stepping off mah soapbox...now that I've said all that, try out whatever you can get people to let you try and get what you're comfortable with and can shoot well and safely. If that means a Glock that holds 17 rounds, great. If you want to try several, Pop's Guns at Washington & Post will let you rent guns to shoot on their range - Glocks, 1911s, wheelguns, even some 22 automatics. Good luck and happy shooting.

 

[Rookie]

HANG HIM! HANG HIM!

Actually, I agree with everything you said...

 

[HICKMAN]

3) Again, personal opinion - don't get a Glock or clone (Smith and Wesson M&P etc) for the first piece either. Like the 1911, they're great pieces but they take training and practice and the lack of an exterior safety is an issue. I sure wouldn't carry one with a round chambered anywhere but a holster, if the trigger hangs up on something without an exterior safety, look out. Just as many accidental discharges with Glocks as anything else. (I know, I can already hear the screams from Glock fanatics. Hey, I said they're great pieces.)

For those not comfortable without a safety, SAF-T-BLOK. Pop it out as you draw. The Gun Zone -- Saf-T-Blok and Glocks

 

[GJ1981]

So anyone want to throw the new guy some advice/considerations?

Out of the one's you mentioned I'd go with the Sig, but that's just my preference. I carry my 220 frequently, if you can't get the job done with 9 rounds then you are the problem, if you miss 9 times what will make the remaining rounds of a high cap any different?

Another suggestion would be 3rd gen S&W's, they can be found relatively cheap and from my experience work very well. The 915 is a great model and one of the alloy frames so it's not as bad to carry as the steel models. Don't believe all the reliability issues you read on 1911's, I've known more people to talk out their *** then from actual experience.

 

[antsi]

Here is the usual procedure for first time handgun buyers.
First: buy a gun based on internet advice, how it looks, how it feels in your untrained hand, or "stopping power."
Second: spend a lot of money on ammo practicing bad habits
Third: get frustrated and - FINALLY! - get some professional instruction
Fourth: realize that the first gun you bought was wrong, stash it away in the safe to rarely ever be shot again, or possibly trade it in for something more appropriate
Fifth: Get a more appropriate gun, but of course still in a duty/defense caliber
Sixth: Practice a lot, making some progress, but only slowly and at great expense because you're using a caliber with expensive ammo and a lot of flash/recoil/muzzle flip so you are still reinforcing bad habits
Seventh: FINALLY break down and get an approrpriate TRAINING/PRACTICE gun - which will most likely be a .22
Eighth: Get more professional instruction, and practice a lot with your .22, finally start developing some serious shooting skills
Ninth: Go shopping for a bigger caliber handgun the third time, now finally knowing what you are looking for.

I keep suggesting this alternative procedure:
First: go get some professional instruction
Second: buy a handgun that is optimal for TRAINING, LEARNING, and PRACTICE (hint, hint: .22)
Third: practice a lot, sprinkling in a bit more instruction to reinforce the good habits, and also sprinkling in some "trial" shooting of a wide variety of more powerful caliber handguns
Fourth: go buy a more powerful caliber handgun and get the right one the first time
Fifth: every time you go to the range, shoot 75% of your rounds with the .22 and only 25% with the more powerful caliber.

The second procedure will make you a better shooter a lot faster.

Many will say, "but then he's stuck defending himself with a .22 if something happens in the mean time." Maybe, but he's a lot better off being a good shooter with a .22 than a guy thrashing around with a big gun and marginal skills.

What new shooters usually do not realize - it is not about the gun. It is about your shooting skills.

 

[indyjoe]

3) Again, personal opinion - don't get a Glock or clone (Smith and Wesson M&P etc) for the first piece either. Like the 1911, they're great pieces but they take training and practice and the lack of an exterior safety is an issue. I sure wouldn't carry one with a round chambered anywhere but a holster, if the trigger hangs up on something without an exterior safety, look out. Just as many accidental discharges with Glocks as anything else. (I know, I can already hear the screams from Glock fanatics. Hey, I said they're great pieces.)

I would say that the exterior safety could be a bad option for a first gun. I agree 100% that carrying a pistol outside of a holster with one in the pipe is not smart; any pistol. An external safety is not a panacea. I've seen more than a few times, a safety bumped off without the person carrying expecting it to be off. An exterior safety should not be justified, because the pistol is somehow safer. A gun is always loaded. A finger is always off the trigger until their sights are on the target.

What an external safety does do, is require one more thing for a new gun owner to train and master to put their gun in action. It is something that if fumbled could be deadly to themselves.