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First time gun owner could use some advice

5K views 101 replies 68 participants last post by  Judge of Judges 
#1 ·
Hey yall! I'm new to the forum and to guns in general. I recently joined a gun club and have really enjoyed shooting, and now I'm looking to own my first handgun. I've really had my eye on the Glock 19 Gen 4, mostly because I hear so much praise about it from ex-military guys and enjoyed I it at the range. I haven't put more than 200 rounds through my friend's Glock, so I'm not sure how well I know it. My hands seem to shake a bit with it, and I'm pretty inaccurate, but it might be just a lack of training.

I also like the Sig P320. I got a chance to try it and it really felt good in my palm. I know the Army just chose it, so it's definitely good quality. I'm just not sure whether it would work better for me than the Glock. I also want to try the VP9 as well, but can't really find one.

Do you guys have any tips about which gun to choose for a first-timer, or just any tips for a new gunowner in general? I would really appreciate any help, I really want to learn more!
 
#2 ·
Can't go wrong with the 19. Certainly the most popular Glock here.
 
#3 ·
Welcome to the forum!

First time gun owner without any handgun experience?

Without a doubt I recommend a .22LR handgun such as a Ruger Mark 3 or 4, Ruger 22-45 or a Browning Buckmark.

You need lots and lots of practice. The most affordable handgun to shoot in high volume is a .22LR. You will need good practice in all the mechanics, grip, sight picture, etc.... You can get practice in all this at low cost and without battling recoil.

Some good training and hands on advice is critical, whether it be from a professional or informally from a friend whose familiar with good gun technique.

After a few months you will be much more ready for the Glock 19, which by the way is a great handgun. And a good .22LR handgun is a lifetime gun you can always practice, train, plink, and hunt with.

Best of luck.
 
#33 ·

"Without a doubt I recommend a .22LR handgun such as a Ruger Mark 3....."

I thought the OP wanted to actually enjoy a gun related hobby? :couch:.

It is my understanding [I not really sure if it is true or not] that satan wanted to make even the most saintly curse like a sailor. After hundreds of years of thought, satan came up with an devious infallible plan. He found William B. Ruger gave him the design for a .22 pistol, where Bill called it the Ruger Standard/Mk I/Mk II/Mk III. He [satan] told him [Ruger] it would be one of his [satan's] most successful projects.

Instructions for cleaning a pre Mk-IV Ruger .22 pistol: First, get a hammer.....
 
#5 ·
Many gun manufacturers are putting out a good product.

The most important thing is that it fits your hand well, you feel comfortable shooting it, and you shoot well naturally with it.

The shake is probably due to the newness of shooting a pistol, and will go away with experience, time and confidence.

Glocks are very good pistols and I like them. I have others I like as well. It's like a Ford or Chevy at some point, personal choices.
 
#13 ·
The most important thing is that it fits your hand well, you feel comfortable shooting it, and you shoot well naturally with it.
If a pistol does not feel right in your hand it wont ever feel right unless you spend time and money to fix the grip. It's better to get one that feels right from the start.

Also, I'm not sure if using a smaller 9mm like the 43 or even the SCCY CPX-2 would help me.
IMO A pistol like a SCCY or most Keltecs has the good points of being inexpensive and very light and compact for their caliber. They have bad points of not being very durable or reliable. They are not the best choice for shooting hundreds or thousands of rounds per year, year after year.
 
#62 ·
Cannot be said enough... get good training.

Re: your grip, try relaxing your hands just a bit. Was told by a LEO rangemaster, "hold the pistol as tight as you hold your junk!" I chuckled, then followed his instruction. The advice made a big difference.
I say "My gun is like my woman . I hold her just firmly enough so she don't get away ." I tell this to new shooters at the club and it's easy for them to remember . Of course , I explain it to the girls your way . No kidding . They giggle and it puts a little fun into it .
 
#14 · (Edited)
Deplor, WELCOME to the boards!!

Ok, onto business.....

1)This might sound funny; but it sure helps if you choose the gun that feels right in your hand, and you look at it and it makes you smile. About 40 years ago when I was buying my first handgun, the owner of the store told me something I never forgot. It almost sounds a little perverse, but the guy said this; "The gun has to turn you on". He was right. For your first gun, stick with the one that "turns you on". You'll do best with it because you like it and want to shoot it well. Both of your choices are reliable top picks, and quality is not a concern with either. My first gun was a 6" S&W mod27 357Mag. My 2nd gun was a 6.5" mod 29 44 magnum. I loved the looks and feel of both those guns, fired 38's and .44specials in them until I was comfortable with magnums, and I still have them 42 years later.

2) I certainly would NOT start with a stout recoiling gun like a 10mm or .45 with full house loads, but a full grip 9mm like the Sig or the Glock you mentioned should be just fine. Contrary to what somebody else suggested here, IMO there's no need to start with a .22 pistol unless you're 10 years old! And this is also NOT an assigned police or military gun that you must choose. You're spending good money on it, and so you might as well choose what you like.

3) Trigger is a consideration, but NOT the primary decision. Personally, I feel that the consistent trigger on the Glock will be easier to shoot good groups with instead of the harder/longer DA pull on the Sig, but you'll adapt to the Sig's 1st stage steady pull fast enough if the Sig is your choice. Go for it! :cheers:

4) Buy the one you like most FIRST. You can always buy the other one later..... if your taste and priorities haven't changed with experience.
 
#16 ·
I say get the 19 and learn to shoot with it. I'm not saying anyone else is wrong, but unless you're really young, really old or really weak, I wouldn't bother with a 22. It's like shooting a bb gun. Learn with something that has a little recoil, that's a big part of learning to shoot, and the recoil on a 19 isn't bad. Just my opinion of course.

The 19 will really be the only gun you'll ever need. It probably won't be the only one you'll ever have, or want, but it basically fills every niche well enough. You won't regret it.
 
#21 ·
I say get the 19 and learn to shoot with it. I'm not saying anyone else is wrong, but unless you're really young, really old or really weak, I wouldn't bother with a 22. It's like shooting a bb gun. Learn with something that has a little recoil, that's a big part of learning to shoot, and the recoil on a 19 isn't bad. Just my opinion of course.
Ever see a professional baseball player take batting practice off of a tee? Allows them to focus on fundamentals such as grip, stance, swing, etc., without going full speed.

Same thing with a .22... allows a novice shooter to work on grip, sight alignment and sight picture, trigger control... once these fundamentals are down, dealing with recoil is much easier. Adding recoil too early causes flinching and bad habits.
 
#17 ·
Another option would be to get the Glock 19 and an Advantage Arms 22 conversion kit. You can practice trigger control w/o the recoil and expense. It helps with muscle memory when you swap to the 9mm. The AA kit is a bit picky with ammo but I've been able to find the recommended ammo easily (Rem Golden Bullets, CCI MiniMags and Federal AutoMatch) and they work flawlessly. I've also tried a few different brands and found Aguila SE HV, CCI Blazers and CCI Velocitors work well too.
 
#20 ·
You don't have to be old, tired, & weak to benefit from practicing with a .22LR handgun. This is the ideal platform for even the manliest of men to learn on and practice with.

9mm blasting ammo is .20 cents a round. You can get decent blasting ammo in .22 for .06 or .07 per round. Unless you are very wealthy, this is significant. When you can shoot 3 times as much for the same money, you are naturally going to shoot and practice more.

Some guys will tell you no problem, learn on the 9mm, .357, even the .45acp or .44mag. But I don't think many professional shooters will tell you that.
 
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#22 ·
You can't go wrong with any of the three weapons you mentioned..g19, 320, or VP9. There are a lot of great weapons out and new ones coming out everyday.
As others have mentioned consider some training when you get your pistol. Training while you are new to it will close the gap between beginner and expert fast. As a beginner you haven't developed bad habits and you don't think you no everything. Shooting is all about mastery of the fundamentals. The only difference between beginner and expert is how well you know the fundamentals. Training early puts you way ahead and saves money in the long run.
 
#23 ·
Welcome aboard from Texas! I'm a Glock fan since they have been doing it a long time, and the G19 is fantastic. But since your new to the handgun world and yet to be "assimilated", you will want to take a hard look at the Sig. I really like that Sig serialized chassis, but love the low bore axis of the Glock. A Walther PPQm2 should be on your list too

Get to your Club, put them both on the bench and run them side by side. 50 rounds each should make for an easy decision. Or better yet...how about 1 ea. For whatever mood your in.
 
#27 ·
Congratulations and welcome to shooting.
The shakey hand thing is normal, as is not being very good at shooting. As you are finding out, it's a lot harder than TV makes it out. It takes a while to get used to recoil, and even experienced shooters often need a few shots to get into shooting well.
Getting help from an experienced friend is a great start. If your friend is emphasizing safety that is a good start.
Others have (rightfully) suggested starting with a 22, but if you only want to start with a 9mm you are looking at 2 great handguns. It will take a little more practice, but the more you shoot the better you will get.
Good luck!
 
#28 · (Edited)
A .22 pistol? . . What are you 10 years old, and Grandpa is teaching you to shoot and fish?
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . :fishing: LOL.
Unless you're 89 with arthritis, or a woman with delicate joints and muscle, there is no need to throw away hundreds of dollars on a .22 pistol. Gun safety, proper stance, hold, and developing good shooting skills can be done from the start on the 9mm that you want. A 9mm is a low recoil round for most men, and you will have the opportunity to practice and familiarize yourself with the actual gun you intend to carry.

It so happens that both your 9mm choices that you mentioned are beefy guns providing a full grip and are quite manageable in the recoil department. If you really want the Sig because it excites your senses, then go for it. But if you can't make up your mind between the Glock or the DA triggered Sig, then as most said here, go with the Glock for easier trigger control.
 
#38 ·
While there is nothing wrong starting with a 9mm, this is the first time I've heard someone say that starting with a 22 is throwing away hundreds of dollars, and that 22's are for 89yo's an women with delicate joints.
22 is one of the most commonly owned calibers for several reasons. They are fun, inexpensive, and easy to shoot. I enjoy shooting my 22's as much or more than any of my larger firearms.
Any firearms enthusiast who doesn't own a 22 is missing out, big time.

If the OP has the budget, he might consider buying both, a 9mm and a 22.
 
#30 ·
Before you buy anything, shoot.
Shoot several different guns. Don't go buy what anyone else likes. It is okay to get ideas from someone, but find what works for you.
I might tell you to buy a CZ P-07. The next guy might tell you to buy a Glock 19. If they don't feel right to you, then you are going to be disappointed. Go to a gun range where you can pay a rental fee and shoot many types. This will give you an idea of what works and what doesn't.
Take your time.
Welcome to the club.
 
#31 ·
See if you can find an indoor range close enough to you that rents guns. Try shooting whatever they have that interests you. That will tell you what feels good and what shoots good for you.

wp
 
#32 ·
Welcome to the forum. I am also new to the forum and to firearms. Everyone here has great comments, figure out what you're going to use the firearm for (home defense, conceal carry...)-do you want big or small. For me the biggest selling point was how the firearm felt in the hand, although the Glock 19 is fantastic for conceal carry, it was too small for my hand, so I went with the Glock 17 Gen4, also keep in mind that the 9mm ammo is the most readily available ammo on the market. I liked the look of the Glocks over any other brand because Glocks look sleek, clean, simple, basic. The BIGGEST thing I/we can tell you is...do your research whether it's on websites, you tube videos. or listening to your fellow gun owner, I did lots of research before making my decision on my very first firearm, and I think it was the right choice. (I'm sure I'm missing other information I'd like to spill out, but I'll remember it later)
 
#34 ·
The latest iteration of the Ruger has finally made cleaning easier for non engineers.
Browning Buckmark is also a fine .22LR pistol
You can shoot a lot with .22s and develop good habits and muscle memory. They will help with any gun you shoot.
 
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