Well first of all welcome to the forum and enjoy. I would say it's as good as anything else just make sure you practice with it a lot. The range can be fun and serious but home defense is always serious. I shoot my carry gun once a week, my house guns every two weeks, and a fun gun every week. Good luck.

Best, Baldy.

The best weapon in the world is the one you can hit with. Which ever one you decide on you have to learn it completely. Shooting is just one part, you also need to learn to maintain it properly.

The Glock 19 is a great gun, and would be one of my very top choices in your situation. I carry Glocks almost exclusively when I am not on deployment.

I was also wondering what you guys recommend as far as getting the glock 19 or 19c. From what i understand the 19c has slots to reduce recoil. Also I want to learn the terminology of handguns, is there a book or any good source of info i could look into?

Well for me I don't like the idea of hot gases blowing around me if I have to make akward shot. The c-model I think would blind you in a semi dark room and make a follow up shot impossible. Good luck.

Best,Baldy.

Glock 19 certainly is not a bad first choice...if you like the 19C by all means you should get what you want

I'd pass on the 19C. For defense, if you must fire from the retention position (pistol tucked into the side under the pectoral muscle) you will receive a nice blast of hot gas and powder particles in your eyes. This is not exactly optimum when fighting for one's life. Firing from retention is a very likely scenario, considering the short distances usually involved in defensive shooting.

It's not like the 9mm kicks in a gun the size of a Glock 19. The "compensator" (really just a vented barrel) seems like a waste when you consider the downside. Comps and vented barrels are okay on range guns, but have little place on a gun that may be used for defense.

I believe Midway USA (a shooting supplies dealer) has a glossary of terms on their website. Oh, but if you want to make sure never to get flamed, don't call a mag a "clip."

A full size Glock 17 is a good one also.

I hope you had a great time with the Glock 19. Regarding the 19 compensator, yes it does reduce recoil but may result with a nice big flash when shooting in the dark.

It sound like you're joining the armed forces. If you'd want to be more proficient with hand gun shooting, then I'd recommend taking a local basic handgun class. You'll be a step ahead above everyone else.

The glock 19 is a great gun to start out with. I was gonna get one, but opted out for the 17. I figured I could get cheaper/"more selection" used holsters since it is a service model. Any gun you pick just practice with it regularly.

Originally Posted by big_b_lakers

Im looking for a handgun to shoot at the range and for home defense. I recently shoot for the first time last week with my recruiter. We shoot the glock 19 and i had a blast. Is that a good gun to start with? Any input would be helpful thanks!

What do you mean "recruiter"? Are you about to enter the military? If so, then you should strongly consider getting as familiar as possible with military issue weapons. Given a choice between a Glock 19 and a Beretta 92, I'd take the Glock, but if there was a possibility that somebody might hand me a Beretta and send me to a dangerous place, then my practice/range/carry/home gun would be a Beretta.

Originally Posted by milquetoast

What do you mean "recruiter"? Are you about to enter the military? If so, then you should strongly consider getting as familiar as possible with military issue weapons. Given a choice between a Glock 19 and a Beretta 92, I'd take the Glock, but if there was a possibility that somebody might hand me a Beretta and send me to a dangerous place, then my practice/range/carry/home gun would be a Beretta.

I didn't notice the "recruiter" part when I read this the first time (lack of attention to detail on my part!). I agree with Milquetoast on getting a Beretta 92. I bought one a few months before I deployed, to practice with. I am not crazy about the 92, so I sold it a few days before I left. Then the Army gave me a replacement!

The G19 would be great. I carry a G23.

+1 on practicing with a weapon just like the one you'll carry in the military. I just took my daughter (who is entering the Army next month) to the range and let her practice with my M9 and AR-15A2.

She was never very interested in shooting them (she likes her cowboy guns) but they have suddenly become more relevant to her existence.

i would not buy any pistol w/ a ported barrel except the 500 s&w