Posted on 12/16/2009 10:08:01 AM PST by bonillamktg
I am ashamed to say that I am 30 years old and do not own a gun. I grew up in a house without guns and never really thought about it until recently (as I started a drastic shift from being politically agnostic to a staunch conservative Constitutionalist) and now I am a new homeowner and new father and every day I think about needing to get multiple firearms. I need to start somewhere but, other than getting recommendations from a few friends I respect, I am a bit lost, having never fired a handgun before (I've shot several rifles and shotguns before).
My question is: What recommendation would you give me as the first gun I should own? I want this first gun to be easily carried concealed (I plan on getting my concealed carry permit ASAP), a good weapon for protection of my home, easily usable by my wife (who has never shot a gun in her life), and ideally, I'd like to get armed for $300-400.
I do not agree. IMHO a 1911 is not a beginner’s pistol; it is an expert’s pistol. Unless somebody knows and accepts going in that it is going to take time and money (for rounds and range fees) to break the gun in and to become proficient with it, the 1911 is not a good choice for a beginner. Any quality modern auto (Sig, Beretta, Glock, SA XD, etc.)is more dependable out of the box and easier to use than a 1911. I was a small arms repairer/armorer in the Army for many years while the 1911 was the standard pistol and also when they transitioned to the M9. I was at a lot of ranges during my career and I saw a lot of folks fail to qualify with the M1911A1 but just a couple fail with the M9. The M9 is simply much easier for the casual user to shoot well than the M1911A1 is. That is one of the many reasons that the 1911 was replaced, a lot people used to gripe about them and could not shoot them well. I agree that the triggers on Glocks and such may not be as crisp as match 1911 triggers but they do not need to be for defense pistols. They are plenty good enough for the vast majority of police departments in the USA to use. I own many pistols including a couple of quality 1911s. My favorite self defense autos are Sigs with the DAK trigger. I own 3 of those in various models/calibers and really like the simplicity of use and consistent trigger pull. The DAK eliminates the decocker and makes the pistol a truly point and click system. There are no safeties to think about with that system, just line up the sights and shoot. The type of gun I most often find myself carrying when I am home is a J frame S&W revolver. They are light, simple and utterly reliable. They are also very easy to carry. I bought a 340 M&P (.357 Magnum) a couple of years ago and that is now my favorite J frame. It weighs only 13 ounces and can chamber full power .357s. All of my J frames are equipped with laser grips which make them more versatile and easier to use in high stress situations. You do not even have to use the sights, you can focus all of your attention on the threat and just put the laser dot on the target and pull the trigger. I think highly enough of J frames that when all of my kids turned 21 I paid for their CCW courses and licenses and bought them their choice of J frames (with Laser Grips) to carry. All of the above is just my opinion based on my personal experiences. The best advice I can think of for somebody contemplating buying a handgun is to go to their local range and rent a few different makes/models/styles of handguns to see what works best for them before deciding on one and spending money on something they may end up not liking. The best gun is the one you have with you when you need it. A snubby .38 in your pocket beats a combat custom .45 you left in the truck because it was too heavy and too much hassle to carry around all day.
PS: I work in Iraq and see a lot of Marines. I have yet to see one carrying a 1911. I see them carrying mostly M-9s. When they do carry something other than an M9 it is a Sig, Glock or H&K. I remember seeing only one 1911 in the 5+ years I have been here and it was being carried by a civilian PSD type.
Specific? Not really. I have a Browning 9mm and a Smith & Wesson .45, and I heart both. However, every gun owner has a fav that we swear by, but it’s different for different people. The best advice I can give is to try enough choices to find a fav of your own.
You are correct in that the 1911 is not usually a beginner’s pistol.....but I believe the OP said he grew up with guns.
(in any case, it was my 2nd gun, and has served me well)
There are lemons with cars (Lexus had a recall in their 1st year) and with guns.
I know of many who have Kimbers, and none have ever experienced a problem.
There is a reason LAPD SWAT and teh US Marines carry Kimber.
Hubby bought two Kimber Raptors, one 3” and one 4” for us. Both guns jammed and stove-piped from time to time until we noticed that his never jammed for me, and mine never jammed for him. We switched and have been happy shooters ever since.
Consider it for your wife... a mid-frame would be about right. It is still big enough for your hand (for now), but small enough for her...
But the next one (for you) oughta be a .45 revolver...
Revolver beats clip-fed semi-auto in that it doesn't jamb, and always goes bang.
Anyone who carries a pistol or revolver in their pocket
without a pocket holster is asking for trouble.
As for where to get ammo, you can research vendors online and find bargains; Walmart is usually a good source for basic calibers.
But my recommendation is that you find 2 or 3 local gunshops and buy your ammo from them.
1. They can use the business, and the money stays in your local community
2. They are experts in the field and a great source of information
3. They can help with identifying good local ranges and instructors
4. You will almost certainly meet several people who share your new found passion whenever you stop by - great place to make new friends
5. Most shops also do repairs or modifications, should that be necessary
Another poster here said expect to pay as much as ammunition as for your firearm. I think that is a low estimate. At $20/box, that is 25 boxes of ammo for a %500 firearm. If you and your wife go to the range 1/week as you're learning and you each shoot a box, that's three months.
In today's era of economic and political uncertainty, think BLOAT - Buy Lots Of Ammo Today. One gun with ammo is a lot more useful than two without. Since we live under the vagaries of federal/state laws, buy what you can while you can. If everything gets sorted out properly, you can always use it for practice; if the SHTF, you can use it or trade it for other things (its value will go up in almost any SHTF scenario).
And to repeat, spend time educating yourself BEFORE buying; practice as much as possible with rentals or a buddy's firearm until you are relatively comfortable and confident; take a gun safety course (with your wife); and memorize the rules of safe gun handling, especially treating every gun as if it were loaded. When you do finally select a firearm for whatever purpose, practice, practice, practice until handling, firing, and cleaning it are second-nature.
Lastly, glad you are stepping up to take responsibility for the safety of you and your family. There are a world of knowledgeable people here on FR, all willing/able to help or answer questions. If you have questions, PM anyone who has replied to your thread, and you'll likely find a good answer and make a new friend (don't forget to check profiles to find shooters near you)
One other thought - this is the umpteenth “first gun” thread on FR; take a moment today and search out the earlier threads for additional comments and suggestions.
The best one you can afford.
I love these threads.
Ya. My post was a backhand to Plaxico Burress.
giggity
First of all, THANK YOU to everyone who took the time to offer advice, I’m grateful.
Second, I’m figuring out that I’m really grateful there is a range in eyesight of my work. I didn’t even realize they would have guns to rent!
Third, my game plan seems to be: Go rent and shoot guns, go to a gun show and handle different guns, find a good local gun shop, be willing to increase my budget, buy a shotgun for the home first then worry about my CCW second, and practice as often as I can (and the wife too).
I’ll come back to reference these posts often and again, thank you!!
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