Handgun Advice

[ReconCominAtYa]

I'm looking to purchase my first auto and was looking for some suggestions. I know its really up to what i feel comfortable with, but i was wondering if any of you had some recommendations. I'm not old enough to even think about carrying, concealed or not, so that isnt an issue. It's really just something for a fun at the range or on the farm. I was looking at Ruger 9s, particuarly the P95. I have some experience with the gun and really liked it, and the prices i'm seeing sure are friendly. Any words on this weapon?

edit:oh and like i said price is a big issue. Lets try to keep it below 500 maybe?

[TuNeRsHaRk]

below 500? idk but the USP series are just lovely

http://www.hkpro.com/usp9.jpg

[Enduring Freedom]

HK USP is the way go

USP 430$ (http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=35301507)

USP ? (http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=35422437)

USP 500$ (http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=35373534)

[JoaMei]

Go somewhere where you can rent guns and see what is most comfortable for you. Or check out the different models at a Gunstore.

[coughybean]

How about a glock 19? It is highly reliable, very accurate, easy to maintain, light weight, concealable, and it's compatible with 15, 17, and 33 round mags. This is a gun you can trust your life to.

http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/1429/glock12lm.jpg

Glock is probobly your best bet if you want a quality low priced gun in my opinion. I wouldn't buy a Ruger.

[ReconCominAtYa]

wow, i hadnt even thought about hk and my price range. a usp is actually what i'd prefer. oh and about the ruger, wouldnt anyone like to present their arguments against the weapons? i havent heard anything bad about them, but then again i havent heard any thing unusually good about them.
Oh and thanks for the replies.

[TuNeRsHaRk]

hmm idk i just think Brands like HK,Glock,Smith & Wesson & beretta Etc,Etc are more reliable when it comes to handguns

but ruger does make nice .22 pistols but i dont think thats exactly what youre looking for

[Geezah]

hmm idk i just think Brands like HK,Glock,Smith & Wesson & beretta Etc,Etc are more reliable when it comes to handguns

but ruger does make nice .22 pistols but i dont think thats exactly what youre looking for

Slow down sonny, what about SIG? :P

[TuNeRsHaRk]

hmm idk i just think Brands like HK,Glock,Smith & Wesson & beretta Etc,Etc are more reliable when it comes to handguns

but ruger does make nice .22 pistols but i dont think thats exactly what youre looking for

Slow down sonny, what about SIG? :P

thats included in the Etc Etc

[coughybean]

wow, i hadnt even thought about hk and my price range. a usp is actually what i'd prefer. oh and about the ruger, wouldnt anyone like to present their arguments against the weapons? i havent heard anything bad about them, but then again i havent heard any thing unusually good about them.
Oh and thanks for the replies.

I have heard a lot of things about Rugers. . for example, they are good paper weights, and door stops. But really . . . there are many reasons not to buy a Ruger. They are bulky and have poor ergonomics in my opinion. They aren't combat tested. . I don't know of any law enforcement that uses them. They don't have a good selection of aftermarket parts such as triggers and other accecories. They just don't seem to be as high quality as other pistols (sig, hk, beretta, s&w, glock, etc . .) which are widely used and proven to be very reliable.

Ruger's .22 pistols are good though.

[Durandal]

Purchase what you like.

Since the State of Virginia allows those over the age of 18 to purchase a pistol (21 being the legal age for CC) you can get pretty much any pistol you want.

Being your first, I would suggest you shop around. Something in the 400.00 or less range. So if you are going to roll a 1911, get a Taurus or Springfield Mil Spec.

If you want a Beretta 92 or 96 get a Taurus equivalent.

By asking this question the forum will argue over 9mm vs .45. Sig vs Glock vs H&K vs Kimber vs ad nauseam. Ignore it. For your first handgun you want something you like, something you can afford to shoot, something to put away if you decide later on down the line you will own the gun but store it away. If you get more serious, then go out and get something nice....really nice.

Otherwise look in the low end middle range. Not a cheap Hi-Point, but a mid range gun.

Avoid .45 GAP, .40, and 10mm they cost far too much for a beginner to practice shooting. 9mm OR .45 will suit your needs just fine. You can branch out later.

Avoid the used ones if you can though you might find some good deals at a show if you do not mind.

[Aces21]

I just bought a used Glock 22 with a Hogue grip. Its my first pistol, and it fits my hand really well, and I got a Glock 23 and a Winchester 1300 in the same buy. Really good deal I couldnt pass up.

For your budget, I'd say either a full size or mid size 9mm Glock (17 is the full size, 19 is the mid I believe) or the 9mm USPc... AS LONG AS IT FITS YOUR HANDS WELL. The most important thing about a firearm is feeling comfortable with it.

If you do end up snaggin a USP give me a PM about how you like it, im really interested in one.


Ace

[Seraphim]

hmm idk i just think Brands like HK,Glock,Smith & Wesson & beretta Etc,Etc are more reliable when it comes to handguns

but ruger does make nice .22 pistols but i dont think thats exactly what youre looking for

Slow down sonny, what about SIG? :P

HK and Sig...its like have a threesome.

[Creeper]

Go somewhere where you can rent guns and see what is most comfortable for you. Or check out the different models at a Gunstore.
right on- forget about the glam.

[ogukuo72]

Why not a revolver? ;)

[coughybean]

Go somewhere where you can rent guns and see what is most comfortable for you. Or check out the different models at a Gunstore.
right on- forget about the glam.

It's not about glam. . it's about what is the superior weapon. If they made a laser gun that looked like a piece of poo, but could vaporize people with one shot, I'd carry that instead.

[rob]

wow, i hadnt even thought about hk and my price range. a usp is actually what i'd prefer. oh and about the ruger, wouldnt anyone like to present their arguments against the weapons? i havent heard anything bad about them, but then again i havent heard any thing unusually good about them.
Oh and thanks for the replies.

I have heard a lot of things about Rugers. . for example, they are good paper weights, and door stops. But really . . . there are many reasons not to buy a Ruger. They are bulky and have poor ergonomics in my opinion. They aren't combat tested. . I don't know of any law enforcement that uses them. They don't have a good selection of aftermarket parts such as triggers and other accecories. They just don't seem to be as high quality as other pistols (sig, hk, beretta, s&w, glock, etc . .) which are widely used and proven to be very reliable.

Ruger's .22 pistols are good though.

the us army just ordered 5,000 ruger pistols and their new guns recieved gun of theyear from many publications. and poor ergonomics is pretty much what the usp is famous for. those that bash ruger mostly have no experiance with them. they are reliable and aaccurate pistols. i cant recomend them over a sig or hk but for a first hand gun it will work like it should and will shoot when you pull the trigger.

i would recomend checking out the sig pro. all the features of much more expensive guns with the same quality of sig all metal guns but much cheaper because of polymer construction. one can be had new for 400usd. it just beat the usp in fench trials (hey they have guns too) and recieved the single largest contract for handguns since the end of WWII with 270,000 ordered.

hk is a great gun, dont get me wrong, but there is no reason for its price to be as high as it is. some one forgot to tell hk polymer is much cheaper then steal. make sure you hold it first as many dont like the grip at all. however, if you are will to pay the premium for the two letters stamped on the side then you have a fine pistol.

normally i would recomend a m1911 but for 500usd your options are slightly limited in this area.

[Whisper_44]

Purchase what you like.

Since the State of Virginia allows those over the age of 18 to purchase a pistol (21 being the legal age for CC) you can get pretty much any pistol you want.

Being your first, I would suggest you shop around. Something in the 400.00 or less range. So if you are going to roll a 1911, get a Taurus or Springfield Mil Spec.

If you want a Beretta 92 or 96 get a Taurus equivalent.

By asking this question the forum will argue over 9mm vs .45. Sig vs Glock vs H&K vs Kimber vs ad nauseam. Ignore it. For your first handgun you want something you like, something you can afford to shoot, something to put away if you decide later on down the line you will own the gun but store it away. If you get more serious, then go out and get something nice....really nice.

Otherwise look in the low end middle range. Not a cheap Hi-Point, but a mid range gun.

Avoid .45 GAP, .40, and 10mm they cost far too much for a beginner to practice shooting. 9mm OR .45 will suit your needs just fine. You can branch out later.

Avoid the used ones if you can though you might find some good deals at a show if you do not mind.

+1 - nice post Durandal

[Creeper]

Go somewhere where you can rent guns and see what is most comfortable for you. Or check out the different models at a Gunstore.
right on- forget about the glam.

It's not about glam. . it's about what is the superior weapon. If they made a laser gun that looked like a piece of poo, but could vaporize people with one shot, I'd carry that instead.

Right, IMHO, I would add to your comment what "ACES 21" stated:" AS LONG AS IT FITS YOUR HANDS WELL". I think the optimun interopertability ie: a superior shooter(operator?) linked with a superior weapon system, must be the first objective. Right ???
But, what are we talking about,plinking grapefruit or doing something alittle more important.
This can and does turninto a endless discussion, but I am in for it. I always learn something new from somebody !
Comments.

[ReconCominAtYa]

more along the lines of plinking grapefruit....maybe scaring my a hole neighbors....innocent things like that.

[Geezah]

maybe scaring my a hole neighbors....innocent things like that.

We're not going to see you on the news are we??

[Freibier]

No matter what handgun you buy,
try it out first, look how it fits your hand, look how easy you can operate the controls and how comfortable you're with the sights, etc.
I recommend buying it at a gunshop and not getting it by mail order - you might save a few bucks by ordering it but in case of problems the higher price at the shop pays off.

[sergey31]

Buy this one and you will like it....
.454 Casull/.45 Colt
2 1/2" barrel and it's only $700 & less...Forget autos, save some $ and get a nice revolver.
http://www.ruger-firearms.com/Firearms/images/Products/229L.gif
http://www.ruger-firearms.com/Corporate/images/News-11-11-2004B.jpg

[XASA]

For anyone considering buying their first pistol, I would strongly recommend a .357 Magnum revolver with a four inch barrel. It is hard hitting, relatively inexpensive, able to use a wide range of .357 and .38 Special ammuniton, accurate and easy to master. If you are worried about having only six rounds, there are several models available with seven- and eight-round capacity. Unlike 9mm, if you hit a target with a .357 round you can be certain it will make an impressionable impact.

So far as any Ruger automatic is concerned, I own two, a P89 and a P95 in 9mm. You can't get a better pistol for such a low price. Sure, the former is heavy and clunky, and the latter isn't as "sexy" as a Glock or Sig, but it's still easily concealed. What's more important, I have never had a misfire and I've fired thousands of rounds through both of them-- they work every time you pull the trigger. High capacity after-market magazines are also readily available and inexpensive.