I just purchased my first handgun, m&p 9mm. Just wondering what are some things you know now that you wish you knew with your first handgun purchase. Thanks

Wish I had bought about 5000 rounds of 9mm while it was cheaper and in less demand.

Some wish they knew if they bought the .40, they could then drop in a $65 9mm barrel and have both calibers for nearly the price of just one...

I wish I would have known they're like Lay's Potato Chips, you can't have just one...

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Kirk / Spock 2020

Or while you could even find any at all. I was at the sporting goods shop today, and the ammo shelves were almost bare. I did score some Gold Dot bullets to reload some .40, lucky I found primers and powder a couple weeks ago. Although another place near me has all the .40 ammo I could buy, with a five box limit. I have stocked up to the point that I have 2500 rounds, and enough reload supplies to load another 3000 rounds of .40 and .380. The 9mm is by far one of the rounds in short to buy. I myself would have to pass on a 9mm right now, why buy something you can't shoot.

Here's a couple options for in stock 9mm. Not the best price but seems to be better than much of what turns up on Gunbot. I bought a couple boxes of the Aguila from them (plus a box of the .223 that seems to be on perpetual 48 hour sale) a couple weeks ago and it showed up no problem. The Winchester just popped up in the last day or so.

9mm Luger - Handgun Ammo - Ammo By Type

My problem is I haven't bought a 9mm yet to shoot it through! Having lots of fun with the M&P22 so far.

You have to keep your eyes open. West Coast Armory (local gun range and store chain of 3 stores) had 9mm PMC for 14.95/50 and 5.56 PMC for 10.99/20 when I was there this morning. 1box limit on the 9 and 4 box on the 5.56

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Minimize the variables

1. Don't keep your handgun in the foam case (I kept mine in one for almost a year and was lucky it didn't rust)
2. Gunslick Foaming Bore Cleaner and bore snakes make cleaning the barrel a lot easier.
3. Go buy an uplula magazine loader. Your thumbs will thank you when you're loading mags.
4. Grease lasts longer than oil and won't run.

I'm going to try to stop by their range sometime in the next few days. I want to sign up for their Intro to Handguns class as well. Only a couple bucks more than their most basic range membership if I remember right.

Ironicially I'm going to a car club meeting a couple doors away from their Issaquah location tonight though it'll be closed by the time I get there.

The thing that comes to mind is safety. I was taught gun handling by my Dad. He did a good enough job, but his teaching was, of course, contemporary with that time. Luckily, and probably with The Good Lord's help, I never had any tragedies, but I did make a few dumb mistakes. Suffice to say, you cannot be too careful with a handgun. They are different than rifles and shotguns in that one can carelessly "cover" or "sweep" someone with a pistol and hardly even realize it. I still see it in gun shops and at ranges all the time. These days, good muzzle discipline is emphasized much more, and it is a good thing. Mind the four basic safety rules like your life depends on them. It does. If you can't rattle them off like they are written on the back of your hand, learn them. Good luck with the new M&P.

I wish I would have realized the amount of extra money needed for those items you want/need in the short term future. Cases, home storage, holsters, cleaning supplies, etc add up pretty quick.

The caliber conversion mentioned earlier unless you want one and a half guns for the price of one.

I bought my first handgun a few years ago (I have numerous long guns) but my first one probably should have been a 22lr so that I could enjoy it for less $$ per shot, until recently at least. I bought a gently used Sig 226 in 9mm, loved it and continued to buy more shortly after, most recently a 9mm Shield.

Practice proper safety techniques, which may require you to go through training classes, and enjoy.

Hello fellow Buckeye,
I have never heard that it was a bad idea to keep your gun in the original foam box it came in. Is it the foam itself that may rust your gun? This is exactly why I visit this forum; learn something new everyday.

Hello! I've seen some pictures online and read stories about people who have had their pistols covered in rust from leaving them in the foam cases for too long. It's not an issue for transporting firearms, just for storage. The foam padding absorbs moisture and transfers it to the pistol which can eventually leads to rust, especially in a humid environment like a closet.

EDIT: I found this picture of someone who had left an M&P in the foam case for too long in a humid environment.

I knew that I wanted a gun for home defense, but I didn't realize how much I would enjoy shooting it at the range. I bought a snub but later traded it for more dual purpose 686 with a longer barrel. The first was a nice model 10 revolver and I'm wishing that I never traded it in, but I wanted something different so I had to. I still would like a gun DEDICATED to home defense. Maybe one day...

This is so true. After making my first purchase, I am up to 4 pistols within 2 months.

My first was an M&P 40, followed by a Shield 9mm, followed by 686 357 magnum & most recently a 629 44 magnum. Today I went to a leather shop and plunked down $280 for new hand made bolstering for the 357 & 44. I have found I cannot be satisfied with just one holster for any of the guns. I seem to want/need a different way of carrying each one of them. My cleaning supplies are pretty much the same for all of them with the ex exception of calibur specific items. What do I wish I had known before I bought my first gun? Just how much I would enjoy every one of them!!!!

Addictive, isn't it?

But the real problem is feeding the associated "ammo habit"! The way folks are "haunting" the stores that sell it, it reminds me of junkies looking to score a fix.


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I would remove the "consider buying" and change it "Go buy"...

Tip:

If you post asking if someone can recommend a speed loader for your magazines,
you WILL be bombarded with silly comments....

Just buy an UpLULA and don't ask.

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Kirk / Spock 2020

All fixed!