Considerations for my first handgun

I conceal carry the XDs.
But for open carry the DE .50 and Smith 500 are fun.

 

You open carry a DE .50?

I still have yet to find a use for one of those and sure as shit wouldn't carry it for SD.

 

XDS, M&P Shield 9, I would stay away from 45, for price point for munitions for practice and maintaining.

However, I prefer my M&P9c or Glock26 for concealed carry. Always a great support pair to larger M&P and Glocks, as you can still use the larger magazines as reloads for them if you need that.

While I am find with the XD 9mm offerings, I have had nothing but issue after issue with the XD45's. So much so, decided just to get rid of them all last year. However, still keep their 9mm offerings for posterity reasons. (Collecting).

While the 45 round is a great round, just don't see what I'd need it for, that I can not address with a 9mm pistol.

However if you go with the baby XD, its a great gun. Wife has put nearly 1.5 rounds through hers, and I am this weekend going to tip over 1k, as well run it through some abuse.

IMO what I suggest for everyone, is come to the range, I let them shoot a myriad of guns, and many who had their minds set on a tiny handgun like the Shield or S, tend to go with the slightly bigger M&P9c, or the likes. Most as well, end up bumping up to the larger fire arms like the 9 Pro, or 34/17, and use the small guns they initially settled on, as a conceal only, or backup to their big handgun. Just my observations.

9mm is also much cheaper to practice with, and attain. Last weekend, the wife and I picked up and cleared a local prepper of his over stock of PMC, AE, FIO, so restocked what had originally shipped out to a few people, and have good excess to run some classes this week with some new shooters. Was a nice haul enough to take the fargo trailer to go get with her Raptor. We also picked up 556 and 38spl. so good haul.

Anyways, good luck with purchase!

 

Okay, hundreds^2... Hundreds at a time? Let's just say a lot. But not much lately since the prices are ridiculous, even for reloads...

 

I wouldn't even consider a firearm for carry until it's seen hundreds of rounds so for me that's a minimum and not what I would consider any proof of extraordinary reliability.

 

It's a 1 shot stopper...

 

It better be because follow up shots take a second.

 

I don't disagree, however this thread was started as a consideration for a first handgun. I certainly wouldn't advise anyone considering an unfamiliar first weapon to be a carry firearm without becoming intimately knowledgeable with it first. And with today's prices and availability, that might take a while... I'm not going to sit here and plug the 915. If anyone's truly interested in finding out more information, there are a million firearms forums around the net...

I also would recommend the Browing Buck Mark. The older model, late 80's. Very reliable firearm, 22LR, fun to shoot a thousand rounds all day long with little to no fatigue.

 

I just want to point out that the OPs last post was post #10 on page 1.

At this point this has become just another handgun banter thread . . . haha

 

I think you should go feel the trigger of some 1911's and compare it to the striker fired pistols that you're thinking about getting. In my opinion, the 1911 platform is the perfect one for anything besides hunting really. There's just no better trigger, and when you have proper trigger control you will have tighter groups.

 

1911 would be for a more skilled and experienced shooter. Being an owner of multiple 1911 platforms 'Wilson combat, kimber ultra covert, colt guardian' they could be picky with ammo. I would recommend going to gander and fit test your hand with a polymer type 40 or 9mm. Glock would be a good start. All my polymers consist of HK45, H&K p30 9mm, and FN five seven. I would recommend H&K if its within your budget. Plus being novice; start out with 9mm because its cheaper ammo allowing you to practice a lot at the range; its also a good defense round. Plus being on the streets I've seen more fatalities with smaller caliber rounds such as 9mm, 32, 380 bouncing around inside.

 

This would be a horrible suggestion for a first handgun. 1911's take a LOT more know-how to keep running and there are a lot of quirks that are not meant for a first time gun owner.

 

My 1911 sure is more fun to clean than my G19 though.

 

Meh. I have never owned a 1911 that was anymore finicky than anything else. Except my Baer that went 2300 rounds before it was loosened up enough to disassemble.

 

I own Springfield 1911's (couple different models) and love them, but not for a 1st/ carry gun. Glock 19 is hard to beat. 9mm is still fairly cheap to shoot, and the most important thing is practice, practice, practice

 

I've carried a G17, a beretta m9, and a 1911 and I think the 1911 is a perfectly fine introduction to carry. I may be a little biased though as I owe my life to that pistol. Please take some classes with whatever you decide on.

 

1911 was my first carry pistol. Full size too. Looking back I did fine but I had pretty extensive experience with firearms before I came home and got my ccw too. Now I don't bother with anything but the G19.

 

That's interesting, I went the opposite way. I started with a Glock and now you won't find me carrying a striker gun. I can shoot better using a double action revolver than a Glock. I have to admit that Glocks are tough, light, and designed to run through a lot of abuse and that's why they are in use, but I've run the colts issued to me over the years through the torture that the Glock is designed to withstand and had no unplanned events with any of those.

 

I love my Springfield loaded model. A while back i decided to do my own test in regards to the FBI HRT professional with Remington golden saber ammo and see how it stacked up. The FBI said it had to shoot 1.5" or less groups at 25yds with that ammo. Clean barrel from a rest mine shot right at an 1 1/4" w/5 shots. Its one ill always have around.

 

I love the 1911 platform, carry one daily and make my living selling them.

With that said I am also a realist, with all it has going for it, it is not IMHO the best choice for a first carry gun for someone who has no experience with it.

If you are going to carry, it should be condition one, two is NOT safe and three while safe is way too slow if needed.

If new to handguns and looking to carry, a revolver or quality striker fired gun is a great starting point.

Move to a 1911 after you have some experience and have safe gun handling ingrained in your training.