Greetings friends! Post #1 for me here.
5.5 years ago my first child was born. Shortly thereafter I began to think in more concrete terms about my rights as an American and decided that best way to teach my offspring their rights is to practice them.
A few years ago I bought a Remington 870 Express. Some time passed before I began to think about owning handguns. In 2010, I resolved to purchase a handgun, and in the fall I had my sights set on a Ruger Mark III, to do some inexpensive plinking. My wife somehow always managed to get in the way of the purchase, and I couldn't figure out why, until Christmas Day 2010, when I was given a Chiappa 1911-22.
My father-in-law and I went shooting just before and the day after Christmas. I got to put about 500 rounds through five different guns. The Chiappa is an adequate plinker (though not as nice as a Mark III), but what I really liked was his STI GP6-C. (I didn't, however, like his Kahr.)
Thus was ignited the fire to also have a 9mm. I have no current plans to carry (though I'm thinking about it) so I knew a full-size was what I wanted. As is my custom, I started to read a lot. I decided I wanted an American gun, so I focused on the M&P9.
Two weeks ago a friend and I went to a local range where we rented the M&P9 and the G17. We put 150 total rounds through the guns, loading 10 rounds into each magazine and then firing them one after the other to make a direct comparison. I knew after that session I was going to get an M&P9. I didn't like the 2x4 grip on the Glock. I don't have large hands and I couldn't get comfortable.
Yesterday I went to Vance Outdoors to purchase a Liberty safe. While there, I peered into the case full of M&P9's. (They must be hot, because they display them on the top shelves of the most prominent case at the gun counter.) The full size was on sale and I gawked at the price. It was as low as anywhere I had seen it, including on line. I bought it on the spot.
My sons like it. The rule in the house is they can see and hold my guns anytime, as long as they ask. I allowed them to dry fire it a few times last night, and when I returned from work this evening they asked again, and I obliged. They think that's the cat's meow, but they don't know the half of it! Some day they will experience the joy of firing for themselves, but for now they learn about their rights through me, as they should.
Soon I'll take it to the range and fire it. Should be fun! Hopefully my father-in-law will bring the GP6 with him the next time he visits so we can compare the M&P9 directly.