Looking for some info on a beginner pistol.

[Workodactyl]

Hi Everyone,

I'm new to the forums. I was looking for some information regarding S&W and this forum appears to be quite savvy.

In any case, I should give a little background. I am a young, avid, hunter and marksman. I enjoy practicing the sport. I've had experience shooting several Rifles and shotguns. But rarely have I had the chance to shoot any semi-auto pistols. It's just rarely found in the style of hunting I do.

However, I have shot a few Magnums, 9mms and such but nothing other than, 'yes I've shot a pistol.' and I felt it's a good time to jump a little deeper into it.

So long story short, I'm looking for a rather inexpensive, beginner pistol to call my own. I scoured through Sigs, Walthers, and HKs, but I really kind of found an eye for Polymer composite, S&W's at 9mm. The gun is relatively inexpensive, as far as I read, performs very well for a polymer and 9mm is a common round at a fair price I would imagine.

I'm here to narrow it down. Which polymer would you guys suggest? Am I going in the wrong direction? Is there another gun I should get?

Any information would be appreciated.

Thanks for the time!
-Joe

 

[WildCard ZX6R]

Personally i think a K-frame sized .38 revolver is the best beginner handgun. But thats just my opinion.

 

[Knightrider03m]

If you want something cheap and good then I would get a Sigma ($300). If you have a little bit more to spend then I would go with the M&P ($550).

 

[BarbC]

A GREAT little handgun for plinking is the Walther P22.

It's inexpensive to buy and shoot and easy to operate.

 

[mawguy]

"So long story short, I'm looking for a rather inexpensive, beginner pistol to call my own. I scoured through Sigs, Walthers, and HKs, but I really kind of found an eye for Polymer composite, S&W's at 9mm. The gun is relatively inexpensive, as far as I read, performs very well for a polymer and 9mm is a common round at a fair price I would imagine."

Smith and Wesson makes two polymer frame 9mm pistols. The first is the Sigma and the second is the M&P. Both are striker fire, double action pistols. There is a large, loyal following for both weapons, and an equally large loyal following for bashers of the Sigma.

When I was looking to buy a conceal carry pistol, I looked at and evaluated ALL of them. I chose a Sigma SW40VE in the .40 S&W caliber. You will most likely get a ton of responses saying "don't buy that gun" or "go buy this gun". My advice is to figure out what you want you want your gun for, then go look for the one that fits that requirement.

My main requirement for a self defense weapon is that be easy to operate under pressure, be double action, caliber of 9mm or larger, and at least 12 rounds. My Sigma .40cal is loaded with 14 rounds of 180 grain bullets.

 

[boats1]

Personally i think a K-frame sized .38 revolver is the best beginner handgun. But thats just my opinion.

We share this opinion. And then keep it if possible.

 

[n4zov]

If you really want to become proficient with a handgun I would second BarbC's suggestion of a good .22 autoloader. The cost of center fire ammunition is so high now, that it is hard to practice enough to become a really good marksman. My personal recommendation would be a Ruger .22 auto.

 

[Workodactyl]

Thank you guys for the great suggestions!

I appreciate the opinion regarding the Walther. I am quite a fan of the Walther pistol, but that might be the James Bond Fanatic speaking through me. I have, however, shot a .22 Pistol. I can't recall which make. But I remember enjoying it. Mostly because it allowed me to paint the bullseye which may be attributed to the lack of recoil. Therefor, I think I wanna start with a larger caliber. 9mm or .38.

But this is all skeptics. I'll go to a shop and see which one feels right in my hand, the weight, the sites, etc.

As for the .38 revolver. I think I want to stick with a Semi-auto clip than begin with a revolver. Though I'm sure it has amazing qualities and I see myself purchasing a revolver down the road.

So I guess this boils down to the sigma.

I think it's fair to inform you what the use of this pistol will be for. Mostly recreation, 2nd amendment, and self defense. In that order. I don't believe I will be needing it for defense and I haven't submitted for a carrier's permit. My budget ranges between $300-$500. So I'm trying to work with that.

Thanks again, any more suggestions would be great. I'll keep my eye open for what you guys are talking about. Thanks again!

 

[surfdog76]

"... I scoured through Sigs, Walthers, and HKs, but I really kind of found an eye for Polymer composite, S&W's at 9mm..."

Hmmm... 'Polymer' & '9mm' in the same sentence, without mention of Glock (?)

Spend some time at glocktalk.com and find a range nearby with a rental Model 17, 19, or 34.

 

[Workodactyl]

Haha nicely said.

Yeah I've narrowed it down to a S&W Sigma, a Walther PK380, and the Glocks you mentioned. I'm going to shoot down to the local dealer and see if I can fondle with a few and get a feel and grip for each and determine which is the best choice for my mits.

Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[yogiboobooranger]

If you go Glock, go with the 19. Plenty of rounds, easy to shoot, and easy to conceal carry. I would also offer the Glock 26 but this is a sub compact and maybe not quite the gun for a beginner..but in the same breath, you cannot go wrong with a revolver.

 

[Workodactyl]

Alright the 19? So that settles that, I'll have to let you guys know what I think after the dealer today.

Also, I'm not too familiar with the .380 caliber round. It doesn't sound all too common. Is this an expensive round? Also how's it fair against a 9 mm round. Though I would imagine anything near a .38 would be around the same kick of a 9 mm.

 

[surfdog76]

If you go Glock, go with the 19. Plenty of rounds, easy to shoot, and easy to conceal carry. I would also offer the Glock 26 but this is a sub compact and maybe not quite the gun for a beginner..but in the same breath, you cannot go wrong with a revolver.

I would agree with yogiboobooranger on all accounts.

However... Pay special attention to how the 19 fits your hand. Unfortunately, I discovered that it does not fit my hand well. The 17 & 34 fit me better. I do have a large hand, and apparently my fingers are fatter than normal (I wear a cadet-sized golf glove). However, I am definitely in the minority, because the 19 is the model that I hear recommended most often.

Also, consider one of Glock's .40 models (22, 23, 35) and purchase a 9mm conversion barrel for maximum flexibility (you can't go the other way). Swapping barrels, or any other Glock part is a simple, 30-second drill. That's Glock's strength in my book. Tons of aftermarket parts to customize it to your heart's content, and user-friendly to the max.

Then again.... or should I say 'once again'.... The more I get into this hobby, the more my Glock is sitting in the safe...
and the more my revolver is getting the nod when it's time to hit the range.

Good Luck!

 

[BigRich315]

The PK380 looks like a good gun, and I'm looking forward to trying out my buddy's when he finally gets it. Ammo is hard to find consistently though, and it's usually way overpriced. Also, in a gun that size I'd prefer to step up to a more powerful caliber: 9mm. I strongly suggest the Sigma, you won't be disappointed.

 

[~tc~]

Be sure to rent and shoot a Glock before plunking down your hard-earned money. The grip and trigger are different than most other guns. If it works for you, great - it doesn't for me.

All that said, I x3 the choice of a 22LR for your first handgun. In particular the 22A - easily meets your budget, you can spend the rest of it on ammo and get A LOT of practice with a handgun before stepping up to something more expensive to buy and much more expensive to use.

 

[Workodactyl]

These are all great suggestions. I've heard the Glock is the best gun to play with, it's practically a Chevy 350, you can find parts for it everywhere.

This single notion has turned me on a bit to it, in the same instance, I do not want to tamper with a gun if I don't know how so I don't see myself tampering with the Glock right away. But I'll jot these types down for the dealer today to check out.

Excellent idea of renting a gun. I mean it would make sense to test a firearm before buying it instead of just holding it seeing how it feels.

And as I imagined the .380 ammunition will be difficult to find. I don't want to be shooting bills at any targets. I'll have to see how readily available the ammo is in my area and for what price.

Thanks again! I get out of work at 3:30, and I'll probably head over to the Targetmaster then. It's labeled as a S&W Top Dealer, I hope that means it's a reputable organization.

 

[ab4ka]

for a beginner pistol I think the Sigma 9mm is a great way to go. Easy to operate and little recoil. If the shooter is an absolute beginner, I'd suggest a .22 revolver as it's going to be the easiest way to learn the basics of handgun shooting.

If you're going to settle for a Glock D), you owe it to yourself to check out the M&P...you'll thank me!

 

[surfdog76]

"...If the shooter is an absolute beginner, I'd suggest a .22 revolver as it's going to be the easiest way to learn the basics of handgun shooting..."

Sorry ab4ka... I couldn't resist!

Bet they'll have a 617 10-shot over at Targetmaster... and it's Big Brother, the 686 too.
Why not give them a try while you're at it... just for grins ???

 

[CR00258]

You can't go wrong with the S&W Sigma 9mm. Great gun at a great value.

 

[wimcollaris]

How about a Sig Pro 2022, 2009 or a 2340? Smooth trigger, small grouping, light weight and SIG build quality. This all for a small price (around $450).