Choosing first pistol

jefm · Jan 17, 2016

Have gone thru the HQL process and started shopping for my first pistol. Looked at ammo prices & figured a 9mm would be good as it won't break the bank.
Choosing a pistol was daunting and the choices seemed endless. Sort of like buying your first car and knowing nothing about cars.
Youtube seemed a good source for reviews as anything I thought looked good I could find some reviews about - hickok45 films seemed like a wealth of info.
Frequently I would find something that sounded pretty good and find out it didn't meet MD's magazine requirements.
I am a visual type of person, and so I wanted something good looking as well as a quality shooter. My daughter owns a glock which I understand are good quality but they will never win a beauty contest.
Ended up with a Beretta 92FS which is, in my mind, a thing of beauty. It also is sort of fascinating that the company is over 500 years old.
Have just wondered how you guys came up with your first choice in pistols.

MikeTF · Jan 17, 2016

Nice gun. My brother likes that gun too. You have to pick what you like.

highli99 · Jan 17, 2016

The 92fs is a great choice. You can get the real mags in Delaware and legally bring them back. Enjoy your new firearm!

My first was a sig p226 which I chose because I liked the de cocker and it fit my hand and shot straight

Mark75H · Jan 17, 2016

Just like feet and shoes, what fits one doesn't fit another. Try before buying.

Beretta is a nice gun, but don't rule out other old school guns like the Browning Hi Power and similar CZ's ... and 1911 in 9mm. The Sig P226 is another great suggestion, it has many fans.

Huckleberry · Jan 17, 2016

If You want a good looking 9mm pistol then next time get either Browning Hi-Power or CZ-75.

Both represent a happy marriage of form and function in pistol.

In function over form, I love Glocks and Sigs for their practical, realiable service. But they're visually boring and have the personality of a hammer; a real good, useful hammer but hammer just the same.

ken792 · Jan 17, 2016

Yep, CZ-75 and clones from Tanfoglio of Italy or Bul or IWI of Israel are good choices. Tanfoglio and Bul make polymer versions that are lightweight and affordable. Magnum Research has US made steel frame ones and Bul Cherokee ones marked as Baby Desert Eagle if you want that.

5.56blaster · Jan 17, 2016

I like the 92. Carried the M9 for 25 years. Easy to shoot and clean. If you ever want to change the sights I have a Beretta sight tool. Enjoy!

BossmanPJ · Jan 17, 2016

My first pistol was a Springfield XD45. Got it because a friend owned a 9mm in the same pistol. Shot it and liked it a lot. Just didn't care for 9mm at the time so I went with .45.

I have sold it since, not because I wanted to but for personal reasons. Great guns.

Bafflingbs · Jan 17, 2016

CZ75 or Glock 19.

safecracker · Jan 17, 2016

Good choice! Now add a Crimson Trace laser and a threaded barrel and you will be on your way to the promised land!

Threeband · Jan 17, 2016

How the pistol fits your hand is important, and is a very personal thing. For instance, much of the pro-and con controversy about Glocks is based on the feel of the Glock. For me, a Glock feels "okay", but when I lay it down and pick up a S&W M&P, my immediate thought is, "Oh my, this is much better."

That's one reason people will tell you to try out as many different pistols as you can. Most indoor ranges have pistols you can rent. That's a good way to try them out.

Think about what trigger system works for you. You'll be choosing among double action, like the SIGs and Berettas, striker fired like the Glocks and M&Ps, and single action, like the Browning Hi Power and the 1911.

The trigger system plays a huge role in how the pistol is deployed and how it shoots. For target shooting at the range, it doesn't much matter, but it makes a big difference if the pistol is kept for defense. There are pros and cons and unending arguments about the different systems. Again, like the ergonomic issues, it comes down largely to personal choice, but also to training.

Probably the most important thing is that you train and practice with whatever pistol you chose. That will go a long way towards making up for a poor choice, such as a Beretta. (Bwa-ha-ha-ha. I kid. Sort of.)

Ergonomics also plays a part in the trigger system choice, if like me you have short fingers. The double actions force me to twist the gun slightly in my hand, so I avoid them.

Threeband · Jan 17, 2016

jefm said:
...
Frequently I would find something that sounded pretty good and find out it didn't meet MD's magazine requirements....

Don't worry about that. Get what you want, even if you have to buy it with no magazine. The law only bans transfer (= change of ownership) within the state. It does not ban possession, use, or importation for personal use.

Buy with no mag, then drive to Delaware and stock up on standard magazines.

protegeV · Jan 17, 2016

Nice choice. I still to add a Beretta to my collection.

jrumann59 · Jan 17, 2016

jefm said:
Have gone thru the HQL process and started shopping for my first pistol. Looked at ammo prices & figured a 9mm would be good as it won't break the bank.
Choosing a pistol was daunting and the choices seemed endless. Sort of like buying your first car and knowing nothing about cars.
Youtube seemed a good source for reviews as anything I thought looked good I could find some reviews about - hickok45 films seemed like a wealth of info.
Frequently I would find something that sounded pretty good and find out it didn't meet MD's magazine requirements.
I am a visual type of person, and so I wanted something good looking as well as a quality shooter. My daughter owns a glock which I understand are good quality but they will never win a beauty contest.
Ended up with a Beretta 92FS which is, in my mind, a thing of beauty. It also is sort of fascinating that the company is over 500 years old.
Have just wondered how you guys came up with your first choice in pistols.

When i bought my 1st pistol, I went with what I knew and the Beretta was my sidearm int he arm so the learning curve and "jitters" were less. Given I bought a Taurus Beretta which works almost like the actual beretta except where the safety is located.

jefm · Jan 18, 2016

Yes the PT92 was my first choice, but they seemed to have disappeared from everyones inventory. Even contacted corporate and they had no clue when 10 round 92's would be available.

tcfan · Feb 10, 2016

Nice choice. I myself went for the Glock.

INMY01TA · Feb 10, 2016

How easy is it to find standard capacity Beretta mags outside of Md? You can go almost anywhere a d find Glock, M&P mags.

vandrv · Feb 10, 2016

My first handgun, after a fair amount of research was a Sig P226. Quite a few guns later, I still think it was a pretty good choice.

trickg · Feb 10, 2016

My first pistol was a S&W Model 27, purchased as a means to replace one that got away when my Mom had a sale to sell off my Dad's guns and reloading equipment, so it was a sentimental thing.

My second pistol purchase was an H&K USP 45 that I got used. I wasn't going to get a USP - I was all about finding a Springfield XDM in .45. To me, it was the polymer framed pistol that fit in my budget, and that I really liked from an ergonomic and features standpoint.

At the time, we were in the crush of buying in the aftermath of the passing of that silly-ass SB281/FSA2013, so pickings were slim. That day, I'd gone up to Continental Arms in Timonium for 2 reasons one, to check them out in general - I'd never been there - and two, to see if they had an XDM in stock. They didn't, but they had that USP sitting in the case on consignment. It was just a touch outside of my budget I had on me that day, so I put money down on it, and gathered the rest to pay it off when it came time to pick it up.

I think that if you choose something made by H&K or Sig, you pay more, but there are no compromises - they cost more, because they are exceptionally well-designed and well-made.

alucard0822 · Feb 10, 2016

First was a police trade-in W. German Sig P220. Good price on a great pistol, fit me well, was plenty accurate, loved the 45 caliber, and dad had 22s I could shoot for cheap anytime I wanted. Never really cared for the decocker, or the DA/SA trigger mode, ended up trading it after years of heavy use to fund a S&W 610 I didn't have the cash for, but couldn't pass up, missed it, bought a P220 SAO to replace it, very happy with my decisions.

Choosing first pistol

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