Just got my 1st handgun

[hokie_mp9]

I just picked up my first handgun last week. I had been wanting to get one for a while. after doing some research and talking to my uncle(retired marine), i decided on an m&p 9. perfect time for a gun show to come to town.. picked up a 9mm FS and some ammo at a good price.

joined this forum hoping to get advice on owning my first firearm. i have been reading a lot on here and will continue to do so but any advice anyone can give will be appreciated.

i picked up some mpro7 cleaner and lube for the gun as well as a bore snake and a couple small brushes.need to get a couple other things at least for cleaning it.

as soon as i take a gun safety class somewhere i want to get my ccw permit. after looking at a couple threads on holsters i ordered an aliengear hybrid and a foxx hybrid holster. thanks in advance for any and all advice to this newbie.

 

[Kybill2]

Congrats on you first handgun. Sounds like you're in good hands with your uncle.

 

[gdnagle]

Congratulations an there is plenty of knowledge here between the forum and your uncle..

And a warm welcome from "wild and wonderful " West Virginia at least that's what they tell us.

 

[Chief 80]

Looks like your off and running with a good one, listen to that Uncle! I am sure he can teach you a few things. Be safe!

 

[ginzo]

Congratulations, and good luck. Your right about you "just picked up" your 1st. I got even odds it won't be your last!!!!

 

[MSG Glenn]

You picked a winner for your first pistol. I have the .40 cal version as well as a 40 compact. I Didn't make a mistake.

Oh - welcome from Wisconsin!

 

[DanTana]

With any new gun, you should strip it, clean it and oil it before you go shooting the first time. I'm sure your uncle would help you. Don't use that cheap steel case ammo your first time while it breaks in. Good luck and congrats, welcome to the forum.

 

[GUNFUNCO]

You could be in trouble. Buying your first handgun is like trying heroin. It is really easy to become addicted. Next thing you know you have a whole safe full of them and you are still looking for "just one more".

Good luck but be careful. Don't say I didn't warn ya.....

 

[ColbyBruce]

"Buying your first handgun is like trying heroin. It is really easy to become addicted"

I am proof of this statement.

 

[Jmoorewar]

Congrats.You will want to take that saftey off after awhile.i had one on mine and found out I sucked shooting with it on because I couldn't hold the gun correctly and when I tried I would always hit It to safe on accedent.

 

[hokie_mp9]

thanks guys.i already stripped and cleaned/oiled it. any recommendations for ammo used while breaking it in? i bought a few bags of 50 rounds at the gun show along with 25 rounds of +p hp home defense ammo. planned on using some of the bagged ammo to break it in at the range when i get a chance to go.

was going to get the m&p40 but with it being a first gun, the guy i talked to along with others suggested to go with the 9 instead. easier to shoot and cheaper too.

 

[AGoyette]

Congrats.You will want to take that saftey off after awhile.i had one on mine and found out I sucked shooting with it on because I couldn't hold the gun correctly and when I tried I would always hit It to safe on accedent.

No necessarily true. I bought my 9c BECAUSE it had the thumb safety. I am too used to thumb safeties on 1911's. I felt naked without one. I have not had any issues with the safety and shooting.

 

[Jmoorewar]

No necessarily true. I bought my 9c BECAUSE it had the thumb safety. I am too used to thumb safeties on 1911's. I felt naked without one. I have not had any issues with the safety and shooting.

Don't get me wrong there's nothing wrong with having a saftey but I didn't like it after I put a few rounds through it.hit it with my thumb a few times trying to rapid fire when practicing for uspsa matches,and that would not be good in a real match.

 

[Rastoff]

Congrats.You will want to take that saftey off after awhile.i had one on mine and found out I sucked shooting with it on because I couldn't hold the gun correctly and when I tried I would always hit It to safe on accedent.

If you were hitting the safety on while shooting, you were holding it wrong. Put the thumb of your shooting hand on top of it.

 

[Chipmunk6]

Greetings from the flat part of
the state. You're lucky, you've got a decent
range right out of town towards Pandapas's
pond. Go during the week and avoid the idjits.
Good luck with the new pistola, and if you're
at that range and see a guy with a camo'd FAL
it'll likely be me.
Chipmunk6

(I'm assuming you're near Bburg)

 

[hokie_mp9]

im not too far from bburg.one of these days i'll make it out to potts shooting range(and lookout for that fal) but for now theres another one thats a little bit closer. gotta save that gas money for ammo

 

[NJDevil72]

thanks guys.i already stripped and cleaned/oiled it. any recommendations for ammo used while breaking it in? i bought a few bags of 50 rounds at the gun show along with 25 rounds of +p hp home defense ammo. planned on using some of the bagged ammo to break it in at the range when i get a chance to go.

was going to get the m&p40 but with it being a first gun, the guy i talked to along with others suggested to go with the 9 instead. easier to shoot and cheaper too.

I've got a Glock 19 and I've been liking the Armscor 124gr FMJ or Winchester 115gr FMJ for target practice out of about six or seven different brands I've tried since I got it about six months ago. I'm not an expert, though, but so far I've found myself liking those two the best from accuracy to cleanliness. I've shot more than 1000 rounds of each and never had a problem yet. I have an M&P rifle which is why I'm on the forums here, but I'm planning on buying the same handgun you got in a couple of months. Got to check it out in a shop and I'm really liking it, and like others have said when you get one you want more.

As far as practice I'd look to see if there is a defensive handgun course taught near you, if it's not the same one you need to take for your CCW. It helps a lot! I took a two-day course here in Nevada a couple of months ago and I'm going to take it again in a few weeks before I move up to the four-day course.

Good luck and happy shooting!

 

[hokie_mp9]

i called some local shops earlier about gun classes for ccw and there are a couple different ones coming up in the next few weeks.going to hit the range a couple times hopefully before that. i want to get the ccw soon. if all goes well, i can see an mp9c or 40c and a bigger safe in my future..

 

[doublestack]

Congrats on your purchase... You picked a great pistol... Welcome to the forum...

 

[dlbx2]

It is always nice to know that there are new gun owners, particularly handguns. So many folks make the mistake of buying a cheaply made, cheaply priced gun that is destined to give them grief, and subsequently lose interest. If you buy a well kept S&W, or some of the other brands that are known for quality, not only will it be a good investment, it will usually give you years of enjoyment, and possibly provide dependable protection for your home. Good luck at the range. DLB