First Time Pistol Owner Odyssey

[VMCman]

Hey all,

Thought I would share my experiences being a first time gun shopper. I have recently applied for a Class A ALP in Sudbury, got the call from my chief that he was going to issue me a Class A restricted, as I am a first timer. I can re-apply in 6 months, and he would ok the ALP. Fine with me. So I have started to shop for what I wanted. I want a pistol that I can defend my home with, that is fun to shoot at the range, and some day can carry. I am going through this with a good friend of mine.

Our first step was to take our NRA Pistol with Jon Green at GOAL. In the shooting section, Jon had huge variety of hardware. We shot a Ruger SR9, Glock G19, Walter P99, and a S&W M&P9. We also shot a bunch of wheel guns, but in my mind I had decided on an automatic. I ended up liking the Glock and the Walter. I would highly recommend a novice taking Jon's course. The people at GOAL are all very accommodating and easy to deal with fora novice.

We headed up to Manchester Firing line next, and started out renting the G19 9mm that I had liked in Jon's class, and set up a target at 20 feet. We divided the target up into 6 areas and split a box of ammo. We then started testing. First thing we noticed was the 15 round magazine that we cant get new in MA. We traded the G19 9mm in for a G23 .40. We got a new target and shot a box of .40 through that pistol. We then traded that in for a G21 full size .45, again new target and a new box of monster slugs. We asked for something in .357 SIG just to try, but nothing was available at the time.

We drew a ton of great conclusions with this comparison. We had heard a ton on the internet about the .40, and I was glad to try it. However we thought for a beginner like we are, the .40 jumped around too much. We were not getting the G23 on target. We were able to get good groupings with the G19. The size of the gun felt right and the recoil was easy to control and get back on target. We were shocked with the G21. The pistol was full size, so bigger than the other 2, but we were amazed that we were getting good shot placement because the felt recoil was less. I felt it was the most fun to shoot, but was not practical for my needs. I walked away thinking my 2nd pistol would be a 1911 .45 for a fun range gun.

We had a great experience, and think that anyone that is first time shopping should go and try before you buy. I spent 75 bucks, and it was well worth it. We came away feeling confident that a G19 would be what we would be buying once our license comes in. Not only are they a great gun, reliable, and accurate, but pre-ban mags seem to be around that make it a better choice than the more contemporary guns we shot in class with GOAL. I am sharing this in hope that it can be a help to another novice like me. If your a novice, try as much as you can before you buy. My next chapter, once the license comes in is going to be about shopping. Hope this helps.

Scott

 

[drgrant]

IMO you can't really go wrong with a G19. There is no other gun in its size class that does what it does.

-Mike

 

[pj150]

G19 is a good choice. Good compromise between the 17 and 26.

Take a look at a CZ or a high power if you get a chance.

 

[IPSC_DRL]

Welcome to the forum VMCman.

 

[ztargetshooter]

.

 

[PaulD]

IMO you can't really go wrong with a G19. There is no other gun in its size class that does what it does.

-Mike

What does it do that others don't?

 

[VMCman]

Welcome to the forum VMCman.

Thanks!

 

[drgrant]

What does it do that others don't?

Well, perhaps I didn't state that very well.

I guess what I meant to say was it's the only gun in its size class that holds 15+1 in the pipe. Every other gun with similar capacity is usually fatter, heavier, or longer in some dimension. Granted it might only be by a few millimeters, but still. Then again, most of the others are also not really in the same size class to begin with. They're either bigger or smaller. (EG, for example, there's no S+W M+P "mid size" pistol... just the full, and the compact ). Springfield might make an XD that comes close, but that's about it. My HK P2000 is in a similar size class, but even with free state mags it doesn't hold nearly as much ammo.

The G19 is kind of the epitome of "not too big and not too small".


-Mike

 

[jar]

I agree with Mike that the G19 is probably the best semi-auto pistol out there if you're only going to have one. I almost bought one when I started out, but ended up going with a Hi-Power + an M&P compact. I'll buy a G19 eventually for sure. IMO the other excellent just one gun choice is a S&W K-frame.

 

[PaulD]

Well, perhaps I didn't state that very well.

I guess what I meant to say was it's the only gun in its size class that holds 15+1 in the pipe. Every other gun with similar capacity is usually fatter, heavier, or longer in some dimension. Granted it might only be by a few millimeters, but still. Then again, most of the others are also not really in the same size class to begin with. They're either bigger or smaller. (EG, for example, there's no S+W M+P "mid size" pistol... just the full, and the compact ). Springfield might make an XD that comes close, but that's about it. My HK P2000 is in a similar size class, but even with free state mags it doesn't hold nearly as much ammo.

The G19 is kind of the epitome of "not too big and not too small".


-Mike

Ah. That's reasonable and I agree.

The feel of the thing just isn't there for me so I'm still partial to my 229 but the G19 would be my choice in Glock's range.

 

[Dziner]

VMCman congrats on the testing and reasoning skills. You have a talent for providing reviews. I wish I had read that before I got my license. My instructor was great, but my options during our class was a .357 revolver and a 9mm semi-auto. End of story! I did not shoot as many guns as you before really settling on one, I mainly based it on my gut, my reviews, and the feeling of the gun in hand (without the shooting aspect because they don't like that when you are perusing a gun shop, it scares the other customers). Anyway my next suggestion once you get your license, is join up with GOAL and/or NRA, and of course it goes without saying "go green" and join our not so little brother(and sister)hood. even during my short time on NES i have met a lot of great people in the forums and all have a lot to say on just about every topic. Welcome, and we hope to see you around some more with further reviews on whatever you like.

 

[VMCman]

Thanks, I have joined GOAL and the NRA. I will look into the NES.

 

[xxmc]

Like people have mentioned before the Glock 19 is a fantastic pistol if your going to own one gun. The other pistol I find fitting for that purpose is a sig 229

 

[VMCman]

I love Sig's. I have shot a 226, and its was fantastic. My ONLY problem with them is ammunition storage. You get a bunch more in a Glock in my understanding if you buy pre-ban magazines.

 

[Cabin Fever]

I love Sig's. I have shot a 226, and its was fantastic. My ONLY problem with them is ammunition storage. You get a bunch more in a Glock in my understanding if you buy pre-ban magazines.

Pre-ban full capacity magazines are available for the Sig too.

 

[PaulD]

I love Sig's. I have shot a 226, and its was fantastic. My ONLY problem with them is ammunition storage. You get a bunch more in a Glock in my understanding if you buy pre-ban magazines.

Pre-ban capacity with a Sig 229 9mm is 13+1 and for a 226 it's 15+1. There are 20rnd mags available for either.

I like capacity and all but the 2 round difference isn't worth worrying about. If you like the 229 better, get that. If you like the Glock better, get that but try both.

 

[drgrant]

Pre-ban capacity with a Sig 229 9mm is 13+1 and for a 226 it's 15+1. There are 20rnd mags available for either.

There is also the wonderful 15 round flush fit MecGars for a P228/P229, but I have no idea if these were ever produced pre-ban or not. These use a similar design to the 17 round flushfits for a P226.

Theoretically if you could get your hands on a replacement spring and follower, you could take an existing preban mag, refit it, and get the extra 2 rounds in there.

Either way I don't get too bent about capacity. Even if the G19 I was praising above only held 13 rounds
I'd still carry the thing, because it'd still be a contender in that class due to its slimness.

ETA: IMO a sig P series is always carry worthy... if it's any indication, I had to let the G19 I did have
go first... and I still have TWO P228s. I miss the G19, but not enough to dump one of my P228s.

-Mike

 

[matt]

VMCman,

Welcome to the forum. Glad you are enjoying your aventure into firearms ownership!

What does it do that others don't?

-go 'kaboom'
-feel like you are holding a block of wood
-available "side of slide" sights, for that gangsta feel
-and, it's dishwasher safe!

 

[IPSC_DRL]

Glocks feel like wood?....... To whom?

(snip)
-feel like you are holding a block of wood
(snip)

Hmmm, that marketing really DOES work on some people.

 

[gerrycaruso]

If you'd like to shoot alot and not go broke on ammo, look into the Advantage Arms .22 conversion kit for the Glock 19. They work great. They also make them for the 1911 if you decide to get one of those later.

 

[VMCman]

UPDATE - Just picked up a Glock 19 3rd gen from the great guys at Zero Hour Arms. Got taken care of, asked lots of questions, and walked out with what I wanted. Lots of great hardware there.

 

[seanc]

If you'd like to shoot alot and not go broke on ammo, look into the Advantage Arms .22 conversion kit for the Glock 19. They work great. They also make them for the 1911 if you decide to get one of those later.

+10!!!

This is an awesome idea. Get the feel, weight and gain familiarity with your gun while not going broke feeding it 9mm.

This is especially a good idea as you have only one gun focus on and learn. Shoot the hell out of it on 22, keep it on 9mm in the night stand, and then work your way up to 9mm as your abilities get better, all the while buying up as much ammo as you can to feed it later on..

 

[abomb60]

If you liked shooting the Glock 21 you have to try the Glock 30. Probably the easiest shooting .45 ACP out there.

I do enjoy my 21SF though

 

[VMCman]

Update - 2nd handgun has been purchased. I got my hands on a full size H&K USP .45. It is one great handgun. Accurate and hard hitting. Fun to shoot at the range. I again purchased it from Jim at Zero Hour. I have my eye now on a P2000 SK.

 

[seanc]

Update - 2nd handgun has been purchased. I got my hands on a full size H&K USP .45. It is one great handgun. Accurate and hard hitting. Fun to shoot at the range. I again purchased it from Jim at Zero Hour. I have my eye now on a P2000 SK.

I have a P2000sk in .40 (9 wasn't available). Definitely a nice gun and a keeper.

Full Size usp in .45 is a great gun. A lot of fun to shoot, very low recoil and very accurate. I just wish they were a bit smaller (they are very large).

 

[dwarven1]

Welcome, Scott!

We were shocked with the G21. The pistol was full size, so bigger than the other 2, but we were amazed that we were getting good shot placement because the felt recoil was less. I felt it was the most fun to shoot, but was not practical for my needs. I walked away thinking my 2nd pistol would be a 1911 .45 for a fun range gun.

There's a reason that so many people like the .45ACP... very pleasant gun to shoot - not so pleasant to be on the wrong end of it, as 75+ years of our country's enemies can attest to.

Anyway my next suggestion once you get your license, is join up with GOAL and/or NRA, and of course it goes without saying "go green" and join our not so little brother(and sister)hood. even during my short time on NES i have met a lot of great people in the forums and all have a lot to say on just about every topic.

I see that Scott HAS gone green, so you should definitely check out this thread, as the shoot is only a week and a half away - still room, lots of folks already signed up, and there will be raffles and auctions for guns and accessories. AND it's for a worthy cause - go read.

Hope I see you there!