Looking to buy my first pistol...

[Fatcamp]

Tried a few. Settled on Glock.

G17rtf2 I compete, or used to with ammo prices, in USPSA with.

2 G19 with night sights.

Rounds down range and dry fire practice matter a whole lot more than specific pistols.

If you want to carry it for self defense you should strongly consider buying a gun without safeties.

 

[Fatcamp]

I did find a Glock 17 & 19 online for around $500 - I'm confused as to how they sell these online. Do they ship them to a point of sale or something and then have you fill out the documents? There are Gen 3, 4 & 5 - are there drastic differences between the different generations?

They will ship to your local gun shop and you do paperwork there. Make sure you are dealing with reputable people.

 

[ramsdude47]

CZ p-10c is unequivocally a better gun for less money than a Glock19. Unless “upgrading” matters to you (translation dumping another $400 into it to make it almost feel as nice as a stock CZ)

Look at the CZ 75 too. They are heavy (all steel) but that just means they recoil less. No other brand besides Canik and Tristar (and other CZ clones) touch the value CZ offers.

If you can’t tell I’m a CZ fanboy. But you will be too if you get one.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

CZ p-10c is unequivocally a better gun for less money than a Glock19. Unless “upgrading” matters to you (translation dumping another $400 into it to make it almost feel as nice as a stock CZ)

Look at the CZ 75 too. They are heavy (all steel) but that just means they recoil less. No other brand besides Canik and Tristar (and other CZ clones) touch the value CZ offers.

If you can’t tell I’m a CZ fanboy. But you will be too if you get one.

I have a “limited edition” cz, seems like it’s just a stainless steel (not chrome) 75. I got it like 10 years ago when I wanted a sig p210 but couldn’t afford it, settled on the cz. Neat guns for sure.

 

[180splitg3]

Does anyone have any insight into how long these 9 mm guns will be so scarce? I have been looking for some of the models listed in this thread and they are very difficult to find and nobody can tell me when/if they will see more. Someone in the rokslide classifieds has a Glock 20 for sale but I was really hoping to stay with a 9mm for the ammo availability (which is also poor right now). I have an opportunity to buy a 9 mm ruger lc9 from a family friend but it is smaller than what I was thinking I wanted and I don't know much about them...

 

[ramsdude47]

Nothing wrong with an LC9, but I would hold off. Since you indicated your primary use would be target and only limited use for carry, I would look at a full size (or compact) over a subcompact.

Checkout Caniks and Tristars online, you should be able to find one for a decent amount less than a Glock.

 

[Longrange2]

The suggestions to try some rental guns are spot on if you haven’t had much experience with pistols. The G19 is great as well as the single stack version, the G48. A commander sized 1911 in 9mm is also great, these all fall into a similar size that is perfect for 9mm.

 

[Totoro]

Regardless of caliber/make/options etc, the pistol has gotta fit your hands.

If you can't hold it properly, you're not going to be able to handle the recoil for proper site alignment.

 

[TheGDog]

Revolver? Double-Action. Much easier to be more accurate with firing in Single-Action mode for trigger pull. Pain in the *ss to clean the frontal surface of the cylinder with Lead-away cloth. More work to clean when done. If a round doesn't fire you can pull the trigger again and it moves along to the next round in the cylinder

Semi-Auto? If a SingleAction 1911, the Trigger pulls are nice and short and crisp. 1911's are usually a little heavier since usually all metal construction. Your other Semi's? The trigger pull on them will feel ridiculously long compared to revolver, but you'll have to get used to it. The Semi's are SO much easier to clean when you're done.

Seriously spend some time defining for yourself exactly what you want to be using this gun for. This will drive you choice of which pistol/handgun choices you will limit yourself to.

 

[ramsdude47]

Not a popular opinion but this is a better gun than a Glock19

SAR CM9

 

[Where's Bruce?]

Glocks always fire, easily cleaned and maintained and come in a variety of sizes to fit every hand size. I'm a bigger guy, carry a G22 daily but prefer the G40 MOS for backcountry carry and longer range accuracy. The G40 comes with a variety of snap-one to create the perfect grip for any size paw. It also accommodates a variety of sights and optics. The extra barrel length doesn't keep me from CCW use. Consider whether you want a sidearm that'll kill a bear, this 10mm may be the ideal selection for the application you mention.

 

[TheGDog]

Go Team 10mil! You'll understand why you needed to join this team from the moment you pull the trigger! A VERY satisfying BOOM!!! to it! Even from the little G29... it still commands respect when you touch one off! It's serious... but not... ridiculous. The Semi-Auto action tames it down quite a bit I'd say.

 

[2ski]

Sig Sauer makes some great pistol if they’re in your price range. Hard to beat the P365 series by them.

Another vote for the 365. I have a 365xl and love it.

If you want to carry on the west for a hunt, I'd go something in 10mm where you can shoot 165g on up to 230g hardcast, or a 357 where you can shoot .38 through it for practice. Look for other calibers where you can shoot 2 different bullets through it. Taurus Judge?.45LC(not ACP) and .410 slugs.

 

[jwelch1103]

Check out the CZ line of pistols. Very good pistols and reasonably priced IMO. 40 S&W is a good compromise between 9mm and 45 ACP again IMO.

 

[2ski]

If you're having trouble finding guns, check all the gun stores in your area. Make a habit of chatting them up for a few minutes. Then maybe as they get guns in, they'll hold one for you.

I went to the local small gun shop and the owner told me he had 5 people waiting on a p365xl and good luck finding one. Sportsmans basically told me good luck. My buddy called me a few weeks later to tell me that the former Big R where he was at had 2. So I called the one an hour away from me and they had 5 and one with a Romeo red dot for only $100 more. I wouldn't spend too much time at Cabelas. Spend your time shopping smaller places. They get guns randomly. Maybe next week someone will get 2 g19 and you just have to have an in.

 

[Dos Perros]

I don’t understand the fascination with buying a gun that you can’t get ammo for? Get something you can shoot, or wait for better availability (could be a while).

 

[180splitg3]

So - I went to the local shop today and handled some 9 mm guns. The glock 19 was way too small for my hands. I liked the fit of the CZ P10, S&W M&P 2.0 and glock 17. I really liked the feel of the Springfield XDM elite! Going to shoot most of these tomorrow and decide on something hopefully. They don't have a CZ to rent so that sucks. The XDM elite had a fiber optic front sight that I did really like as well. Anyone have experience with the XDM elite? From a feel standpoint that one stands out for me. From what I've read online it can be a little more difficult to get parts for the Canik and CZ guns but maybe this is a non issue...

 

[jwelch1103]

I bought my first CZ, a new P01 iirc and never regretted it. Since then I’ve bought 2 or 3 more new ones and 4 used CZ 83’s for my daughters and wife. They are very well made weapons, I like to say you get German engineering at east bloc prices with a CZ! (I know the Czechs are not Germanic but Slavic)
The used ones came from either the Malaysian or Indonesian police, they are tack drivers inside 30 feet. I was quite impressed with them.
I know .380 ACP isn’t the most powerful cartridge but I believe well placed shots are the #1 criteria for self defense.
I don’t shoot thousands and thousands of rounds but I don’t think you’ll be needing parts for a new or well maintained CZ. I would say the same for most all reputable manufacturers too, not just CZ.

 

[ramsdude47]

Never handled the XDM Elite, but even the lower end XD models are nice, Springfield makes a nice piece for the $.

The CZ and Caniks can be upgraded aftermarket at Cajun Gun Works, but the nice things is you won’t have to.

 

[180splitg3]

Well I have a 92Fs Beretta pistol for a good price and maybe that will be good for your safety

Seems odd that you joined the forum less than an hour ago and have a gun to sell. How much are you asking for it? Lots of people scamming others right now...