I'm looking to purchase my first pistol and I'd appreciate any advice. I carried a Beretta M9 while I was deployed and have fired a friend's Glock 22 several times. I wasn't a fan of the Beretta and I enjoyed the Glock even though I don't like Double Action Only. The pistol would be for concealed carry, but I don't want anything too small, because I have fairly large hands. Any ideas would be appreciated, thanks.
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Looking to purchase first pistol.
- Thread starter jcburns87
- Start date
45collector
NES Member
Your first pistol should be a .22. Just my opinion of course. How much trigger time did you get with the M9 while you were in training? If you were taught pistol shooting properly and are comfortable with your shooting habits you could skip the .22.
So you've got fairly large hands. OK a Sig grip should certainly accomodate you with the right model. What about a 1911? You can get some pretty thick grips for old slabsides. Anything against single action autos?
So you've got fairly large hands. OK a Sig grip should certainly accomodate you with the right model. What about a 1911? You can get some pretty thick grips for old slabsides. Anything against single action autos?
First of all, welcome to the forums!
If you opt for the Glock, get the "subcompact" G27. It's small and light enough to be carried IWB comfortably (unless you're looking for deep concealment, in that case you need a much smaller gun). It can accept it's larger brothers' magazines, i.e. magazines from G23 and G22. You can buy conversion barrels for your G27 for 9mm or 357 SIG. Glock's .40 caliber magazines can hold 9mm rounds for range use, but you may find that the last round jams. Therefore if you want to convert to a 9mm I suggest you buy some G17, G19, or G26 magazines. You can also put a magazine extender so your pinky finger has a place to rest when holding the pistol. It's a very versatile gun.
If you don't like the Glock's DA trigger (the pull is about 5 lbs, this is A LOT lighter than most DA trigger pulls around the 10 lb range), look into the SIG P239 or P229. SIGs are wider, bigger, and heavier. If you have large hands, you can buy aftermarket grips and install them on your SIGs to increase the width (the Hogue wooden grips are thicker than factory grips, or if you want thinner grips, consider the Hogue extreme aluminum grips). SIG magazines are not as interchangable as Glocks, i.e. P229 magazines doesn't fit in the P239 because the P239 accepts single stack magazines.
Most people want to carry a midsized gun for concealed carry, but wear it a few days and it quickly becomes apparent that it's not feasible (printing issues, heavy weight, cumbersome, etc). You can also consider a Kahr PM9 or PM40 or the S&W J-frame revolvers if you don't mind straying away from auto loaders. Happy hunting!
If you opt for the Glock, get the "subcompact" G27. It's small and light enough to be carried IWB comfortably (unless you're looking for deep concealment, in that case you need a much smaller gun). It can accept it's larger brothers' magazines, i.e. magazines from G23 and G22. You can buy conversion barrels for your G27 for 9mm or 357 SIG. Glock's .40 caliber magazines can hold 9mm rounds for range use, but you may find that the last round jams. Therefore if you want to convert to a 9mm I suggest you buy some G17, G19, or G26 magazines. You can also put a magazine extender so your pinky finger has a place to rest when holding the pistol. It's a very versatile gun.
If you don't like the Glock's DA trigger (the pull is about 5 lbs, this is A LOT lighter than most DA trigger pulls around the 10 lb range), look into the SIG P239 or P229. SIGs are wider, bigger, and heavier. If you have large hands, you can buy aftermarket grips and install them on your SIGs to increase the width (the Hogue wooden grips are thicker than factory grips, or if you want thinner grips, consider the Hogue extreme aluminum grips). SIG magazines are not as interchangable as Glocks, i.e. P229 magazines doesn't fit in the P239 because the P239 accepts single stack magazines.
Most people want to carry a midsized gun for concealed carry, but wear it a few days and it quickly becomes apparent that it's not feasible (printing issues, heavy weight, cumbersome, etc). You can also consider a Kahr PM9 or PM40 or the S&W J-frame revolvers if you don't mind straying away from auto loaders. Happy hunting!
While I LOVE this gun it is NOT a good choice for someone with large hands unless you change out the grips. It's a single stack and the grip is very narrow. The 229 is just a little larger but still concealable.
And now I hate you, I hope you're happy.
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J
Jose
+1,000,000
BTW, those who say or think that you need a midget pistol to conceal properly must live wearing spandex body suits.
I am NOT a large man and I can conceal a Glock 17, M&P9, or S&W Model 629 (large frame .44 Magnum revolver) with ease wearing the normal clothes I wear every day. Dress around the gun and invest in quality LEATHER holsters and quality LEATHER GUN BELTS and you can do it to.
Get a Glock 17. I went round and round with S&W third generation autos, then M&Ps, then SIGs, and ended back on Glocks.
Agreed. The 239 has a very narrow grip. I have a 229 with rubber Hogue finger grips and the grip is much wider and much more comfortable in my hands.
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You might try an M&P FS or 1911. As Jose says, they both can be concealed if you dress around the gun and have proper (but not cheap) holsters and belts. You might also want to check out the M&P Compact with large grip . . . it might work for you if you can use it without losing your pinky under the extended mag grip.
J
Jose
You might not want to rule a Smith & Wesson revolver as a carry gun. Their grips are infinitely customizable to your hand, something no auto pistol can match.
It may be a older model but I carry a S&W 4013tsw pre rail model. It has a beefy grip that I like. I find it easy to CC, the larger grip for me is easier to get a hold of in a hurry. I added the hogue rubber grips and love them.
Its not as heavy as my 1911,
Its not as heavy as my 1911,
stoneypete
NES Member
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This. My opinion on what you should carry is useless.
USMA-82
NES Member
Yup. Everyone has an opinion - likes and dislikes. The only way you can find out what's right for you is to physically check out a variety of them. NES shoots are a good place to start.
Firearms are way too expensive to be buying one you don't like three weeks later - because of the weight, the grip angle, or any other characteristic. Try before you buy.
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This is precisely what happened to me. My first pistol was a Glock 23. I have since bought and sold lots and lots of handguns, and fallen for lots of different hype and listened to lots of different Glock haters. But if I had to sell everything except one tomorrow, I'd absolutely keep the Glock.
