Advice on Handgun

[Harvtill]

I am a new shooter. I would like to buy a pistol for informal target shooting and home defense. I do not intend to carry concealed.

So far, I have shot a American Heritage .22 LR revolver, a Ruger SR22 and a Glock 23 (40 S&W). I preferred the semi-automatic over the revolver. I liked the Ruger better than the Glock because of the slim hand grips and the fact that there was less recoil. My brother-in-law thought I might like a 9 mm pistol with a smaller capacity and slimmer grips. Maybe even a .380 Auto for less recoil.

What are your suggestions?

Thanks.

[Skans]

I'd go with 9mm over .380. For Home Defense and informal target shooting, I'd choose all steel over plastic or aluminum framed guns. Blued, stainless, nickel, chrome - your choice.

If you have smaller hands and want a double-stacked gun, I'd look at Hi-Powers and Hi-Power clones; CZ-75's are well worth looking at. Single-stack 2nd and 3rd generation Smith & Wesson 9mm's would also be worth considering.

[Stressfire]

I'd go with 9mm as well - in a larger framed or service sized gun, the recoil is negligible.

I went with a Beretta 92 for my first. But I have rather large-ish hands. There is a compact version, but it's not terribly much smaller

A lot also depends on price point - if yours is lower and you don't mind an "off" brand, Bersa is a great bang for the buck. I have the Thunder Pro Series in .45 as well as the 380CC and both are outstanding guns. The finish is nothing to write home about, but the only time the .45 has failed me was with some questionably seated handloads while filthy as all getout. The 380 has been flawless for 300+

Thunder series does come in a 9mm as well, either full or compact

And, as Skans said, the S&W 9s are worth a look - I actually had my eye on a 5906 when I found the Beretta

[shuler13]

Sig 2022 is a great shooter at an affordable price.

[SauerGrapes]

If I was buying a pure HD\range gun, it would definately be a service size all steel 9mm.
9mm is the cheapest round to shoot and will afford you more fun than some smallish .380 pee-shooter.
My hands are small also, but there aren't many full size double stacks I can't shoot. The Beretta 92 comes to mind along with some of the CZ pistols.

You could also look into a 9mm 1911. My pick would be a STI Spartan Govm't size or a RIA tactical. [if money is an issue] Even a 4'' in a 1911 would make a nice HD\range pistol.

[JonathanZ]

If you are not going to carry then get a full size 9mm. Ammo is a good bit cheaper than 40, 45 and even the less powerful .380. With the improvements in ammo over the past 20 years I don't worry one bit about carrying a 9. As for the size, a full size gun is easier to shoot due to the longer sight radius. It will also weigh more than a compact model of the same gun and have less felt recoil. So what kind of budget are you looking at?

[JonathanZ]

Agree with SauerGrapes on a steel gun. The extra weight will only help with recoil. I've never shot one, but the CZ 75B's have a great rep at a great price. I have a Sig P226 myself, but they go for a good bit more $$$.

[willmc33]

Smith & Wesson 5906

[sigarms228]

There are a ton of great pistols out there and I agree to go with 9MM for manageable recoil and low cost of shooting.

Your best bet would be to handle as many 9MM pistols that appeal to you withing your price range and make some choices to then try renting out at the range to see what works best for you. Of course to even determine what works best for you would require some basic fundamentals such as proper grip and trigger control. See if someone can help you out with that even if you have to pay someone for some basic lessons.

If you have smaller hands or prefer a slimmer grip I would highly recommend trying out a Walther PPQ or P99 AS if you can . Keep in mind that poly pistols usually have changeable backstraps that can help customize the fit of the pistol to your hands.

Good luck!

[CWKahrFan]

Walther PPQ in 9mm:

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/p...ducts_id/72065

[plouffedaddy]

Your OP has Glock 34 written all over it. Perhaps G17L as well. I've shot thousands of rounds through my longslides and had---wait for it--- 0 failures of any kind. Accurate to boot.

[Botswana]

Definitely recommend 9mm over .380.

Honestly though, for a new shooter and home defense? A S&W Model 10 in .38 Special is the way to go. That's a revolver however.

Keeping with the 9mm I'd highly recommend the CZ-75B. Awesome pistol and it won't break the bank. I think they're every bit as good as Hi-Powers but with a double action trigger.

However, there are tons of options that won't break the bank.
Smith & Wesson M&P
Glock 17 or 19
Magnum Research Baby Eagle (Might be able to get the CZ-75B cheaper and essentially the same gun)
Walther PPQ or P99
Ruger P95, cheaper but maybe not the most accurate thing. Super reliable.

Heck, I haven't had my coffee yet this morning and those are just some options that jump out at me.

A lot of people go on about the S&W 5906, but it's discontinued so you may have to search used.

If money is no object, you can quickly get into the Beretta 92F, HK USP or P30, and the SIG P226. I think the Beretta is probably the cheapest of those choices.

[TacticalDefense1911]

Look for a full size handgun if ccw is not an option. About the easiest to operate platforms are the DAO, striker fired guns like the S&W M&P and the Glocks. The Walther PPQ has also been receiving great reviews and should be worth a look. HK and Sig also make very good handguns for the most part, especially HK, but if you felt the Glock grip to be too large you may have problems finding a gun to fit you from these two brands. I like the 1911 platform but I would not recommend it to a newer shooter for a HD gun, especially not a 9mm 1911 and all the issues and headaches that go along with that.

[TheSmilingSwordsman]

If I were you, I would look into the following in 9mm:

Beretta PX4 Storm
Stoeger Cougar
Bersa Thunder
Smith and Wesson M&P
CZ 75b
Springfield XDm

If you are not going to carry I would look more toward the steel framed guns like the Stoeger (a Beretta brand) or the CZ.

[jason_iowa]

I agree with the 9mil over 380 which is simply a 9mil "short". More accurate, more fun, cheaper, more readily available.

For your basic 9 mil I would guess you have 30+ choices that would be very nice guns and many more that are good ones. You really can't go wrong with any of the "best sellers"

Barrow, beg and steal (renting would be better) some and see what ya like best.

Good luck, be safe and have fun!!

[carguychris]

FWIW most common .380 pistols generally have more felt recoil than a typical 9mm service pistol. The reason is twofold. First, the typical .380 is designed to be very small and light to enhance concealment, although there are exceptions, e.g. the CZ 83 and the Beretta 84/85. Second, the majority of .380s use a straight blowback action to lower manufacturing costs, whereas most 9mm service pistols use a short recoil action, which tends to absorb more recoil. (Google these terms for more details.)

OTOH the Walther PK380 uses a short recoil action and is notable for its extremely mild felt recoil, on par with many .22LR target pistols IMHO. However, I dislike the PK380 for several reasons I don't want to discuss here because I've written plenty about them before.

...steel framed guns like the Stoeger (a Beretta brand)...

Just a minor nitpick: Stoeger is not a Beretta "brand"; they're an importer like EAA, and have marketed a very wide variety of foreign-built pistols over the years, notably including factory-new DWM Lugers in the early 20th century. (Stoeger ctually owns the trademark on the name "Luger", which was not used by DWM, which called the gun the "Pistole Parabellum"... but I digress.)

Stoeger Cougar are basically Beretta 8000 Cougars made by a Turkish licensee. The general consensus is that they are not as finely finished as genuine Beretta-built 8000s, but they're equal to the Berettas from a functional standpoint. Beretta no longer markets the 8000 series in the USA.

[AndyWest]

I would recommend you get a Ruger SR22 AND a Glock 17 or 19 (whichever feels better in your hand). Both extremely reliable and simple to shoot/maintain without busting your wallet.

You can shoot the SR22 a LOT to keep your skills sharp on the cheap and shoot the G17/19 as your finances allow to become comfortable with it as a defense pistol. G17 and 19 are both 9mm. You'll find most people strongly recommend 9mm over .380 for defense, despite the recoil. You'll get used to it.

[Jermzzzzzzz]

Can't go wrong with:

Glock 26, 19 or 17
Sig Sauer P239 P228/P229 or P226
Beretta Px4 or 92FS series
Springfield XD 9mm

Those are all accurate and reliable 9mm that are easy to use. Out of those I prefer the P228 or P229. The P229 is my daily ccw. The Beretta 92FS is also a good choice, I carried one for 6 years in military including Afghanistan and never had any problems.

[Pilot]

I would also go 9MM. The locked breech design will give less felt recoil than a straight blowback .380. If you are going to go .380 a Beretta M85FS is a great choice, however.

My list of preferred 9MM's that can "do it all", range, home defense, and carry.

Browning Hi Power
CZ-75 variant (75B, PCR, P-01, SP-01, P-07)
HK P7 PSP (gas retarded blowback but still low felt recoil)
HK USPc or P-30
Sig P228/P229
Glock G-19

[INMY01TA]

Originally Posted by JonathanZ

If you are not going to carry then get a full size 9mm. Ammo is a good bit cheaper than 40, 45 and even the less powerful .380. With the improvements in ammo over the past 20 years I don't worry one bit about carrying a 9. As for the size, a full size gun is easier to shoot due to the longer sight radius. It will also weigh more than a compact model of the same gun and have less felt recoil. So what kind of budget are you looking at?

ditto all of this.

[labhound]

Look at the Ruger SR9, Beretta PX4, Beretta 92FS, FNH FNS-9, and the Stoeger Cougar 8000 F.

Just a minor nitpick: Stoeger is not a Beretta "brand";

By the way Stoeger is owned by Benelli which is owned by Beretta and manufactures the Cougar at it's Turkish plant on the original Beretta Cougar machinery. Beretta lists the Stoeger Cougar on its international web site.
http://www.beretta.com/Defence-Pisto...82&f=2&id=1513
Here's a little history on Stoeger from their web site.
http://www.stoegerindustries.com/inf...er-history.php
Stoeger's Turkish manufacturing plant.
http://www.stoeger.com.tr/eng//sayfa...=269&m3=0&m4=0

[skoro]

What are your suggestions?

For what you've described, a Ruger P95 would be an very good fit. They're an affordable 9mm semiauto with good capacity and very easy to shoot accurately.

[Bentonville]

I when I purchased my first semi-automatic, I got an HK USP. The grip was slightly too big for my hands.Then I a P2000, then a P30, the the HK45c (among other models as well). These are great range guns and home defense guns. Also they can be carried concealed with the proper holsters if you ever go that route. Any of these HKs are top-of-the-line if that's what you have a budget for. Negligible recoil in my estimation. I have a Beretta 92FS which I really like. High capacity mags, reliable function, accurate (as are most guns nowdays), the double-action trigger is good to me with the "D" mainspring change out. It's has a fairly large grip but somehow my hand fits it better than the USP. Less felt recoil and muzzle flip than most other nines, imo. Price is around 550, give or take a few dollars. So many choices. If you can get to a range with rentals, that's the way to go. Good luck!!

[pilpens]

New shooter's 1st pistol for informal target shooting and home defense:
.22 pistol (Ruger MKxxx or Browning Buckmark, etc) -
1. Cheap ammo.
2. Good quality firearms for the price.
3. Easier to learn the fundamentals on a pistol with low recoil than on centerfires.
If you decide you want a centerfire, then 9mm. Many good choices, you just have to try out the pistols. I personally like 1911s for target shooting.

Whatever caliber you choose, pay attention to fit --- proper grip and trigger reach.

====

If your need for self/home defense firearm is more immediate than target shooting/fun pistol, then I would opt for a centerfire as your first pistol. Otherwise, stick with a .22LR.

[loose_holster_dan]

slim grip 9mm. hmmm...

sti spartan V
hk p7
walther pps
walther ppq