Advice for Buying a Handgun

Hey everyone,
So I am in the market of buying a handgun for myself. I purchased a Baretta A600 in the winter, but I think it's a good idea to have something smaller for protection too. I am looking for something that is reliable and cheap. Not cheap to where it's not a good gun, but cheap to where it's a good deal for what you're getting. I have a friend hat told me to look into estate sale auctions to buy the gun, so that's also a question I have for you all. Let me know what you think, thanks!

 

I have one of these, fits in you pants pocket and very reasonable.The trigger is very good too. When i bought mine, it was just over 300.00

https://www.ruger.com/products/lc9s/models.html

 

Go to a range and rent some pistols and see what you like. Everyone is different and every pistol shoots a bit different. Also if you’re going to buy a gun for protection, actually practice with it and become comfortable and competent with it. Otherwise it won’t do you much good.

 

All of the above, and or go to a gun store and hold a bunch of guns and ask questions. See what fits your hand before you start shooting, comfort equals good aiming.

 

i would suggest a m&p shield....and use gunbroker auction site to get a good deal...

 

or your local armslist

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/buying-your-first-handgun.102511/

 

I would tell us a budget rather than trying to quantify and qualify cheap.

A cheap gun to me is say... a Glock. Why? Because my Wilson combat at $2200 cost about 2.5 times minimum more than...any of my glocks. That being said, if I need to do a milk run, I grab one or the other and not thing twice about it either way. I’m less concerned about gun logistics when grabbing milk from the store in the US as opposed to operating in certain country’s. For now anyways. We’ll see how this year goes.

 

Pick any modern striker fired pistol with a good reputation will be reliable and whatever feels comfortable to you. It’s like trying on shoes.

 

Agreed, especially if you find a LGS that is not taking advantage of the current situation...they're still out there.

 

Take a look at the Sig P365 sub compact. That's what I'm about to buy for my EDC.

 

Stick to knives, your too late to the bang bang club )

 

Many ranges will let you shoot every gun in the case for a flat rental fee. Choose your caliber and shoot them all. Anyone can give you a recommendation on their personal preference, but the firearm must ergonomically fit you personally. Lots of people love Glocks for example, I don't and wouldn't recommend one because I find other brands are a more natural fit to me. It isn't right or wrong, it is what works/fits best for you. The right firearm should feel like a natural extension of your hand, and no-one can tell you what that is other than you, but the only way you can realize that is by trying many firearms till you find the one that makes you unquestionably say 'this is the one'.

 

I treat picking out a gun like I do my golf clubs. It's all about feel and look for me. I can tell immediately by looking down at the
golf club if I am gonna love it before I even swing it. If the clubs don't look good at address I know I won't like the way they feel in
my hands. Same with guns. I've been to my local gun shops tons of times holding different 9mm sub compacts trying to choose what
I would buy. I narrowed it down to the M&P 2.0 Shield and the Sig P365 sub compact. And the Sig won out based on how it felt in my
hands and I liked the safety way better on the P365 than the safety on the Shield.

 

you want reliable? revolvers are reliable , colt python possibly? maybe 38 special snub nose? cheap? concealed? I do not think so. you cannot have it all. What are you so concerned about? you live some place where you need to protect your self?

 

Springfield XD-9

 

Lots of great choices out there. Looks don't mean shit. Find what feels right in your hand, fits comfortably in your intended concealment, and that you can hit your intended target with consistently. In short, handle and shoot as many as possible. Rent if you have to. You'll find the one that works for you.

 

Lotta variables here. Something you want to carry? And how big are you? Some people are fine CC a full frame pistol, some need a compact.

And suggestions may be useless if you are looking to buy now. I had my heart set on a recently released gun and went on a search... impossible. The factory won't even put them on backorder. So don't get your heart set on something specific- especially if it's used you are looking for. Go to your LGS and see what is available. For what it's worth, I'm a fan of my Rugers and they are considered budget guns.

 

I went in to purchase a Glock and walked out with a Springfield XD9. The employee let me handle numerous pistols and the XD9 fit my hand well. The XD series has a stellar reputation for dependability.