Can't decied on a first gun?

Question

Lately I've been going to the shooting range a few times a month. I thinking of getting my 1st gun. I can't decide on a 9mm, .40 or 45. Also the 2 guns in my price range are glocks and springfield xd's. Manly use for shooting rance so bullet price is important but I also want stopping power for home defense. What do you guys think I should do?

Answer 1

There is only one made for that purpose, the tried, true, tested, and proven to be a no nonsense man stopper.* You can also shoot 38 caliber ammo in the 357 Magnum.* You get two (2*) handguns for the price of one.* Use 125 grain jacketed hollow points for self-defense ammo.*~~

Answer 2

the 9mm is the cheapest and its fun to shoot. there is no reason to get anything bigger.

Answer 3

I don't know about the range stuff, but home defense probably shouldn't be a high priority when you choose. If it's against animals such as coyotes going after sheep or chickens, then a hand gun is not going to work well for you. For prowlers and such... stopping power means the ability to kill, and that's not good! Any size bullet in the shoulder or leg will stop intruders until police etc. can arrive.

Answer 4

All three calibers you specified would be suitable. I own and shoot both 9mm and .45 ACP.  I have yet to shoot .40 S&W; although I have considered buying a Glock 20 in it's predecessor caliber 10mm.  

Price-wise 9mm is going to be the cheapest to shoot.  However, none of the three would be all that bad if you ever take up reloading.  Save your empty brass and if you can, pick up the good empties you can find at your range.  Keep in mind that if you end up with a Glock, they are tougher on the brass casing so your casings' useful life will be shorter.

Answer 5

I own, and recommend, the Springfield XD.  I bought mine, a 5" version chambered in .40 cal, and love it.  The gun feels awesome in your hands, prividing a much more ergonomical grip than the Glock line does.  

Of course, both of the two guns are on pretty equal playing fields when it comes to reliability, and both are fairly accurate.  As has been suggested, the best way to make your decision is by shooting both, and deciding which feels best to you.  

Answer 6

Well I was in your shoes when I was 17, when it came to handguns. may i suggest the best caliber in a handgun in my opinion. Yea you won't ever find it in a pistol, only revolvers. The ability to use cheap ammo in a .38 special, but have the power of the .357 when you want it. The revolver in .357 can be a h**l of a weapon, gvin the average weekling that likes them sissy rounds like 9mm's, .40's can't hack the recoil, or handle the caliber accurately. As far as price new or used a good revolver will almost always cost less, fire every time, no jam's like automatics. I have a friend that loves the 9mm for price of ammution, once he shot my .357 he said he should have bought that first, if he was to have one gun that would be it. He bought the often saught after the combat master piece model 19 from S&W for 300 dollars almost new at a gun show. If your dead set on an automatic buy  a 9mm if you decide to go Glock, or .45 Glock under builds there .40's and even though many cops carry them they don't shoot thousands of rounds through them. I shoot in competion and shot close to 40,000 rounds through my .357 by the time I had turned 21. Yea if you shoot you don't want to buy a replacement gun. Also the 1911A1 is about the best d**n automatic made, two calibers rule this market, the 9mm and the best caliber in my opinion for a 1911 is the .45. It all comes down to what you want your gun for. Reliablity every time, a revolver flat out wins, plus many companies now sell conversion cylinders for .357's to 9mm, a money saver if you like to shoot. The best of both worlds and way more accurate. Hope this opens your eyes that automatics aren't the only option. One  om my Sergeants has an XD in .45 and it holds 13 rounds stock, it is well made and shoots great out of the box, great buy for the price.

Answer 7

My first handgun was a ruger p94 in 40SW. I traded it about 6 months later for a Springfield custom loaded 1911a1 in 45 acp. That was 8 years ago.  I love that gun, its dependable and dang it I just wanted one. Im not a big fan of 9mm, they just seem puny to me, but they have to work for what they were designed for or they wouldnt still be in use today. I just prefer the 45. I also have 38 SW jframe i like for when nobody spose to know I got a gun. Better than nothin. I really dont like glocks, they feel bad in my hand, they are ugly, and they only have the button on the trigger for a safety. I do like the XDs though, more saftey options yet jsut as user friendly, with better ergonomics for my tastes. To all you glock guys out there, more power to you, i just personally dont like em.

One thing to add, dont EVER aim at the shoulder or leg, a wounded invader is still an invader able to shoot back. Shoot center mass or dont shoot.

Answer 8

Sig 45....got the power and good at close range

Answer 9

9mm is good for defense if you have the right ammo in it (despite what others may say). Also, the ammo isn't as expensive as the other guns, so it's good for taking to the range.

Answer 10

IF you go with the 9mm I would go with the Springfield XD, the small frame, Ive shot that, it is really nice a friend has a green one with a tactical light on the rail system with night sights, and I love how the pin on the back tells you if ir is loaded, and the ejection port tells you if there is one in the chamber. if you go for .40 get the Glock 22 awesome gun, over 5,000 rounds, still has not let one round down, and a 45 mught be a little too much for a first gun.  

Answer 11

I love the Glock, but for a new shooter I would recommend something with a good safety.  I would also recommend a 9mm because there is less recoil then the higher caliber weapons.  My recommendation is the Ruger SR9.  It has a great safety, it is accurate, easy to maintain and fun.  As far as stopping power; buy some hydro-shock bullets.

Answer 12

I have a Glock 22 .40 cal, It is very reliable and I love shooting it. I also have had a Ruger P95 .9 mm, It was a sweet gun to shoot as well. I would recomend the Glock for defense. The 9 mm is cheaper ammo but the 40 has better knock down power. Any gun you do get for home protection I recomend the hyda shok ammo. Good luck and safe shooting.

Answer 13

Any of the three calibers will serve you well, 9mm being cheapest (although the gap is narrowing). The .40 in my opinion is a compromise between the 9mm and the .45acp. It gives a tad bit more "power" than the 9mm with a bit higher capacity than the .45 in certain pistols.

Both pistols are well made and will probably outlast you. So your overall choices are good ones.

Bottom line, buy what feels good and is right for YOU.

Might not hurt to pick up a .22 for cheap practice also if you can swing it.

Answer 14

by far the most acuurate and effective is the .45 auto because it out performs in energy and penetration and it has a shorter range than the 9mm or 40 sw so it wont be effective at longer range so its good for self defense home defense and thick targets at close range and paper groups are tight at longer ranges since the bullets are very large and can make a largwer hole easier than a smaller 9mm or 40 sw

Answer 15

XD and 9mm. you will not be sorry

Answer 16

To be honest my two favorite rounds are 9mm and .45acp. I do not like the snap recoil of the .40 caliber. I prefer .45 for home protection but 9mm will be ok as well. Many police departments by me still require 9mm. 9mm is also much cheaper compared to the other 2 calibers. Wal-mart has Winchester 115gr 9mm for about 20 bucks for range time.

As for the handgun itself...I prefer the XD over Glocks. I think the XD has better ergonomics compared to Glock, they have the added external safeties, and just as reliable. I own two of them.

I made the mistake of buying a .40 caliber as my first handgun and ended up trading it for a 9mm. I traded it because the gun jammed every third round and decided 9mm would be better. I learned a few things...first never buy a Smith & Wesson semi-auto, work your way up to bigger calibers, these types of mistakes cost a lot of money...

Hope that helps.

Answer 17

I'd definately go 9mm.  It isn't as good of a manstopper as those other two, but it will d**n sure get the job done especially with proper JHP ammunition.  Further, shot placement is 90% of the equation, with 5% being luck and 5% being caliber.  Getting a gun you can practice more with is very important.

9mm ammo is much less expensive than the other two, and thanks to lower recoil, you can shoot longer before fatigue sets in.

Glock and SpringfieldXD are both fine, but don't discount Smith and Wesson's MP (stay away from the Smith and Wesson Sigma unless you are really on a tight budget) and also look at the Taurus 24/7 and the Ruger SR9

because Ruger just came out with it's SR9, it's older 9mm semiauto, the Ruger P95, can be purchased VERY inexpensively, and is a great firearm, built like a tank.

http://www.thegunsource.com/store/item/5...

http://www.thegunsource.com/store/item/5...  <---lists capacity as 10 rounds, but that is with the California Legal magazine, it can take standard 15 shot P95 magazines, or 17 shot mags too.

Also, for home defense, get a GUNVAULT, that is a smallish lockbox that has a springloaded door and a fingershapped keypad, so you can secure your loaded gun in your home with no worries about children getting into it, some protection vs burglars (although with a crowbar or hacksaw a prepared theif can get into it no problem) and yet have the gun instantly avaialble if needed.

Answer 18

22 lr

Answer 19

well i would get a 40 springfield thats what i got and it's amazing

Answer 20

I happen to be a huge fan of cheap ammo.... Going to the shooting range a few times a month huh??  Well join the club...  That's why I like 9MM the best... Its far more cost effective than shooting .40 S&W or .45 ACP..... And lets be serious for a moment... Yes your firearm can be your defensive weapon but the other 99.99% of the time you will be enjoying it at the gun range..... Why have your wallet cleaned out buying .45 when for target practice its not necessary???

And pay absolutely no mind to all the armchair gun gurus that tell you how much better the .45 is over the 9MM for defense.... If your not knocking down doors in downtown Baghdad or rousting crackheads in a south Philly housing project you dont need no .45....... A well aimed pistol loaded with 9MM hollow-points will stop an attacker just as fast as those high recoil super cartridges.....

Springfield Armory XD or Glock? There both nice....  I happen to like the XD better.... Not because of any particular reason. It just "feels" "right" in my hands and feels more "pointable" to me.... Nobody can tell you what feels comfortable or "pointable" to you. Check them both out at the gun counter and buy the one that has the "right kind of feel" for you.....