Looking for a handgun

[Kidder]

I just turned 19 and don't have much experience with handguns but want to get my ccw as soon as I'm 21. I figured now would be a good time to look around at some handgun options and get some range time in before I carry. I want to get more comfortable with a handgun but don't know much about what I should look for in one when purchasing. I'm about 5'9" and 125lbs (wet and wearing boots) but have a pretty decent sized mitt. I doubt whatever I buy first will be what I end up carrying a couple years from now so at this time I would like to look into something that will be relatively cheap/easy to maintain and cheap to shoot as I want to get as much practice as I can. I'd say budget around 500 but would like to stay closer to 300 or so. Anybody have any suggestions? And sorry if I left out any vital info, feel free to ask questions if it will help you to suggest something to me. Thanks in advance!

[LT.Smoke]

If you want a cheap decent range caliber look at 9mm but unless you plan to buy used you may have to open your bidget a bit because most DECENT reliable pistols start around 500 and go up.... You can get cheaper but nothing i would consider to be a good ccw weapon

[Eddie Long]

I love my Springfield XD 45......good thing about the XD's is they don't kick very hard at all. They have a double recoil spring. And, it's a pretty reliable gun. Best thing you could do is find some friends with some pistols and go shoot some rounds. If you have an indoor shooting range near you, most ranges have rentals so you can try out many different models. The biggest thing is finding one that you are very comfortable shooting.........hope this helps

[Kidder]

Thank you for the input. I checked into the .45 I like the looks of the 4" compact XD 45, but of course it's not about the looks haha. It just seems that the .45 ammo is a bit more expensive than the 9mm rounds. Since I'm planning to put quite a few rounds through this as my first handgun I think I'd go 9mm simply for cheaper rounds and as I mentioned above I likely will not be using my first gun as my daily carry once I get my ccw. Would either of these be okay? The Sigma is one I found on the website of a local gun/tackle shop, I notice it's out of stock but still wondering if it would even be worth looking into. http://shop.bobsgt.com/browse.cfm/s-ss-/4,954.html

This other one is straight from the S&W website. http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product4_750001_750051_809560_-1_757753_757752_757751_ProductDisplayErrorView_Y

(Coincidentally both s&w open to other ideas for sure)

Still keeping my eye on the .45 for sure, looks like a great piece. Planning to go out this weekend and see if I can't get a feel on a few different makes/models if work schedule permits.

[Captain Stupid]

I love my Springfield XD 45......good thing about the XD's is they don't kick very hard at all. They have a double recoil spring. And, it's a pretty reliable gun. Best thing you could do is find some friends with some pistols and go shoot some rounds. If you have an indoor shooting range near you, most ranges have rentals so you can try out many different models. The biggest thing is finding one that you are very comfortable shooting.........hope this helps

A .45 for a beginner with zero range time and a limited budget? Surely you're kidding? OP, get yourself a nice little .22 or .25. There are plenty of them to be had in your price range and that is the cheapest target ammo youll find. Buy one used, but well taken care of and wear that sucker out at the range before you step up to anything bigger. Then, by the time you are 21, you'll be ready to carry a small 9mm. If your budget is only $300, then it sounds like you aren't exactly flush with cash. Last thing you wanna do is buy a .45 and target shoot with it if you don't have the money for ammo. Its stupid to go to the range and only have enough money for 1/2 a box of ammo. I don't even bother walking in the place unless I plan to go through 2-3 boxes minimum. Use that first gun to learn hand control, targeting, and cleaning and care procedures. They're only paper targets, you'll kill them as easily with a .22 as a .45. Start small, work your way up.

[Keith77]

All I can say is try to fire as many as you can befrore you buy. Each pistol feels different and reacts different. Me being 6ft and 200lbs I carry a S&W M&P 9mm pro. Ive shot Glocks, Springfields and a bunch of other ones. The M&P felt the best in my hand and I could control it the best... So my advise to you is go out and try to fire all your options and go with what you feel most comfortable with.

[Kidder]

Cash isn't the issue. I could go upwards of 1000 on the gun alone but prefer to stay closer to 300-400 only because from there I could spend a couple hundred on ammo and cleaning supplies and I don't feel the need to go all out on a piece that will be strictly for range use/practice and getting comfortable around handguns. The reason I said I didn't have much experience with handguns is because my only experience was with a .22. I felt I did well enough with it that I was ready for something with a little more bang. I suppose I should have mentioned that before. As mentioned before, plans are to go out this weekend and check out some different pieces. I want to get used to a more powerful recoil while trying to maintain an accurate shot and get a feel for different size guns. Thanks again for any and all input!

[lifted_silverado]

.380, 9mm, .22 all relatively cheap rounds, even a .40 depending on what you'd think is more expensive to shoot with. You can get decent guns in the mid 400 range but you can spend into the thousands for top notch such as H&K. Sig sauer makes nice guns along with as always smith and wesson, even taurus makes affordable good guns. It all comes down to comfort for the shooter holding it. Whats good for one isnt for the next. Hold as many as possible and test as many as possible, no 2 guns are alike

[LT.Smoke]

I love my Springfield XD 45......good thing about the XD's is they don't kick very hard at all. They have a double recoil spring. And, it's a pretty reliable gun. Best thing you could do is find some friends with some pistols and go shoot some rounds. If you have an indoor shooting range near you, most ranges have rentals so you can try out many different models. The biggest thing is finding one that you are very comfortable shooting.........hope this helps

Dude REALLY.... Having someone shoot a 45 that is looking for a beginner gun is like handing a 16 year old kid with a learner's permit Keys to Ferrari and telling them NOT to wreck it...

I would stick with a 9mm for a decent CCW weapon that is REASONABLE to shoot OP

[Eddie Long]

I love my Springfield XD 45......good thing about the XD's is they don't kick very hard at all. They have a double recoil spring. And, it's a pretty reliable gun. Best thing you could do is find some friends with some pistols and go shoot some rounds. If you have an indoor shooting range near you, most ranges have rentals so you can try out many different models. The biggest thing is finding one that you are very comfortable shooting.........hope this helps

A .45 for a beginner with zero range time and a limited budget? Surely you're kidding? OP, get yourself a nice little .22 or .25. There are plenty of them to be had in your price range and that is the cheapest target ammo youll find. Buy one used, but well taken care of and wear that sucker out at the range before you step up to anything bigger. Then, by the time you are 21, you'll be ready to carry a small 9mm. If your budget is only $300, then it sounds like you aren't exactly flush with cash. Last thing you wanna do is buy a .45 and target shoot with it if you don't have the money for ammo. Its stupid to go to the range and only have enough money for 1/2 a box of ammo. I don't even bother walking in the place unless I plan to go through 2-3 boxes minimum. Use that first gun to learn hand control, targeting, and cleaning and care procedures. They're only paper targets, you'll kill them as easily with a .22 as a .45. Start small, work your way up.

The XD also comes in 40 and 9.......all I said was that I love my 45......then again, my 45 is my first pistol too

When I first started looking, I was asked by a salesman "If your life is in danger, do you want to hurt your attacker or kill them ?". I thought about this question for months before choosing my 45. How many times do you hear of a survivor that was shot with a 45?

Saying this doesn't mean that you should run out and get a 45 as your first handgun. Especially if you aren't very familiar with handguns. I have many friends that carry a 40 or a 9. It really is just about personal preference and how comfortable you are with whatever you carry.

Now after saying all of that you do need to realize that you are responsible for every bullet that you shoot if you do have a time where your life is in danger. A 22 will usually rattle around in a person. A 40 and 9 will cause much more damage but have a better chance of going in and out. A 45 will cause even more damage but has a great chance of going in and out. So, with my 45, I really have to be VERY aware of what or more importantly WHO is behind my attacker if that day comes. Just some food for thought.

Also, I have shot ALL types of rifles, shotguns, and handguns throughout my life. I have been a hunter since the age of 5. And, I go practice shooting atleast once a month so needless to say I am very comfortable around any type of gun. And I still didn't get my first handgun until I was 31 years old.

I hope this clarifies some points and helps you some