new shooter from Ohio

[ZachRabbit]

Hey all, my name is Zach, I'm from Ohio, I'm 22 years old, and I'm pretty new to shooting, especially handguns. Ever since I shoy my first BB gun in boy scouts, I've been interested in guns, but never really hot around to being serious and purchasing a firearm to practice with.

Well, its probably almost 8-10 years later and I'm finally getting around to it. Haha. I'm gearing up for my first firearm (handgun) purchase, and I'm doing a lot of research on handguns in general, as well as keepng my eye on a few id like to try out at the range to make my final decision. I've even researched (and still am) proper gripping and shooting stance, etc so I can at least get a decent "noob" feel of what's going to be the best firearm out there for me, starting out.

I'm looking at starting with a 9mm (not a 1911, although id like to make that my 2nd handgun purchase....I'm not byass at all I love the 1911 style id just rather carry the more modern style for CCW.)

As far as handguns, I've only ever shot a little snub nosed .38 revolver. It honestly didn't seem too bad! I'm a pretty skinny dude, and I shot it one-handed....not at a target...but my point is the recoil didn't really bother me. So I don't think I'm totally wrong in starting with 9mm.

Other than that, I've shot a Mossberg 935 semi auto....loved it. Pretty decently accurate for never shooting a shotgun ever. But the real challenge is handguns, which is where id like to start.

Sorry to ramble! But that is who I am and where I'm at with shooting! I look forward to owning my first handgun and would like to build a collection of 10 total firearms, for the time being


Some 9mm I'm looking at: Glock 19, Springfield XD, Ruger SR9, and Hi-Point 9mm, mayyybe something like a S&W M&P type 9mm........id like something compact for my starting irearm and CCW. (not sub-compact....I honestly HATE how a couple of fingers hang off. And if I'm going to get an extended mag I may as well get a medium sized pistol)

(I know people are gonna hate me for saying Hi-Point but it was reccomended to me by several people as a great starter gun. I would really like to start with a more proven brand first though.....to me its like an Ibanez to a Gibson guitar.....I feel like Gibson is much higher quality....if Gibson were a handgun brand, id trust my life with that brand because it seems like much more of a work horse and a brand that has always been successful over Ibanez or like, say Austin or some small/new to the market brand)

Anyone have any suggestions? Later id like to grab a Kel-Tec SUB-2000, so I would like whatever handgun I get to use the same ammo at the very least.

Cheers guys!!!!

[DJ Niner]

Welcome to the site!

I may as well be the first one to say "go for the Glock!".

The G19 is a fine choice; my son picked a Glock 19 for his first handgun, and he shoots it well. Small enough to carry, large enough to shoot well, simple to operate and maintain, darn near rustproof, reliable, wide availability of parts, holsters and accessories; Glocks are hard to beat.

Unless you need one of the features only offered on the Gen4 models, I'd recommend the Gen3 (they should be less expensive, now that the Gen4s are out).

[ArtVandelay]

I'm pretty new to shooting, as well as the site too. Bought my first gun in november, a used ruger p89, and cant seem to stop buying guns. Second was a Glock, and I love them both. Welcome to the worlds most expensive hobby

[ZachRabbit]

Welcome to the site!

I may as well be the first one to say "go for the Glock!".

The G19 is a fine choice; my son picked a Glock 19 for his first handgun, and he shoots it well. Small enough to carry, large enough to shoot well, simple to operate and maintain, darn near rustproof, reliable, wide availability of parts, holsters and accessories; Glocks are hard to beat.

Unless you need one of the features only offered on the Gen4 models, I'd recommend the Gen3 (they should be less expensive, now that the Gen4s are out).

See I've always been a big Glock fan to be honest, not to patronize you hahaha, but there's something about the simple, no-bullcrap look about them that I like. Very militeristic, practical, but it works when you need it to work, and it does it very well. I believe its a company that actually tries to live up to its slogan somewhat.

But I have an appreciation for all firearms, so I'm sure a Glock isn't the only gun ill favor over all that I plan to get.

Now I hear about problems in the Gen4's--- its been a year since their release, and a friend of mine says the updates are worth the extra $$. I mean is it one of those where its a luck of the draw thing? And you might get a good one and you might get one of the defective ones? Or is it people that don't take care of them that have problems? Cause I hear even law enforcement have had problems with them?

Either way there's a Gen3 sitting at the local gun shop, brand new. So it wont bother me if I have to go with that.

[ZachRabbit]

I'm pretty new to shooting, as well as the site too. Bought my first gun in november, a used ruger p89, and cant seem to stop buying guns. Second was a Glock, and I love them both. Welcome to the worlds most expensive hobby

Haha yeah I think it will be hard not to go buy new guns all the time.....and idk if anything is going to happen or not but the girl I'm talking to doesn't really like guns-- that's probably an issue. I think her fear extends from something she's seen or something that's hapoened to her. But I told her there's nothing to fear about a gun if you handle them properly. There's still an "oops" factor, but if you're careful that factor is minimal.

Regardless of that whole situation, I may be moving soon anyway, so ill probably wait to acquire any more than probably 3 guns before I move hahaha. Although I'm going to a gun auction today with a fella from work :P

[ZachRabbit]

And I know this name might pop up a lot in the gun world, but I'm a pretty big fan of FPS Russia from YouTube. That guy is hilarious, but at the same time, really seems to know his stuff.

After watching his "ultimate Glock destruction" video, I almost jist threw peoples accusations of them being problematic to the wayside, I mean-- that Glock may have fired after he took it out of that furnace, with a little help of some gun grease. So I believe it would end up being a quality choice for my price range.

[TedDeBearFrmHell]

welcome from southern oregon

[ZachRabbit]

welcome from southern oregon

Thanks! Never been to Oregon but it looks like a great state! Haha

[VAMarine]

Welcome from Iowa!

[crescentstar69]

Where ya't in Ohio? Welcome from the Dayton/Springfield area.

[chessail77]

Zach
Welcome from snowy AZ.....take a hard look at the S&W m&p or the Sig SP2022 before you make a final decision as both have a lifetime warranty and pay shipping both ways....for a first handgun you don't need expensive problems as well and these are excellent handguns...JJ

[cougartex]

Welcome from SE Texas.

[Cat]

Welcome ZachRabbit,From Jax's Fla...

[sgms]

Welcome from another one currently in Ohio.

[DJ Niner]

See I've always been a big Glock fan to be honest, not to patronize you hahaha, but there's something about the simple, no-bullcrap look about them that I like. Very militeristic, practical, but it works when you need it to work, and it does it very well. I believe its a company that actually tries to live up to its slogan somewhat.

But I have an appreciation for all firearms, so I'm sure a Glock isn't the only gun ill favor over all that I plan to get.

Now I hear about problems in the Gen4's--- its been a year since their release, and a friend of mine says the updates are worth the extra $$. I mean is it one of those where its a luck of the draw thing? And you might get a good one and you might get one of the defective ones? Or is it people that don't take care of them that have problems? Cause I hear even law enforcement have had problems with them?

Either way there's a Gen3 sitting at the local gun shop, brand new. So it wont bother me if I have to go with that.

There have probably been too many reported problems to pass them all off as user-induced, so there must be SOMETHING wrong with a few of them. However, some folks didn't clean and lubricate the guns at all before shooting (specified in the manual); other folks tried one type of ammo and pronounced their new, still-not-broken-in Glock as unreliable when it didn't work 100% with some bottom-of-the-barrel cheapo steel-case import crap, or low-energy soft-shooting target range ammo. Still more people complained about ejected casings hitting them in the head/face, again, without even trying several different types of ammo (these guns functioned fine, they just didn't like the ejection pattern with their favorite load).

On the other hand, I've met many folks at my local range that have Gen4s, and have had no problems at all. Most of them can read and follow directions, and feed their weapons decent-grade ammunition. One person I know did have a problem; after shooting 600-700 trouble-free rounds, his Gen4 G19 began to experience stoppages with the same ammo he'd been using all along. He sent it back to Glock, and they fixed it, but he said he'd lost confidence in it and sold it.

Personally, I have a used Gen4 G26 that I picked up in a trade several months ago, and it has functioned 100% since day one. I shot it in a local IDPA match the day I bought it, to see how it would work. No troubles at all, and the sights were even close enough to perfectly zeroed (for me) that I've never needed to move them. I finished above the middle of the pack with I gun I'd never shot before, and was happy with both the weapon and my performance. I really loved answering the often-heard-at-competitions small-talk question of "So, how does your _____ shoot?" with "I don't know, but we're gonna find out; I've never shot it before, I just picked it up 4 hours ago." Their expressions were priceless.

[ZachRabbit]

Where ya't in Ohio? Welcome from the Dayton/Springfield area.

same general area man, only about an hour away in Greenville.

[ZachRabbit]

Zach
Welcome from snowy AZ.....take a hard look at the S&W m&p or the Sig SP2022 before you make a final decision as both have a lifetime warranty and pay shipping both ways....for a first handgun you don't need expensive problems as well and these are excellent handguns...JJ

hey thanks!
and those will be noted! haha. i plan on going to a couple gun shops on Tuesday and Wednesday, so i'm going to check out all the guns on my list, including the ones you're suggesting, and try to narrow it down to just a few (hopefully i can find a place that rents the few that i narrow it down to) then shoot those and see which one i like best. honestly i'm hoping it's either a Glock, Smith & Wesson, or Taurus.

[ZachRabbit]

Welcome ZachRabbit,From Jax's Fla...

hey thanks!

Welcome from another one currently in Ohio.

thanks! hahaha, you speak like me...."currently" in Ohio.....frequently wishing i were somewhere else :P

[ZachRabbit]

There have probably been too many reported problems to pass them all off as user-induced, so there must be SOMETHING wrong with a few of them. However, some folks didn't clean and lubricate the guns at all before shooting (specified in the manual); other folks tried one type of ammo and pronounced their new, still-not-broken-in Glock as unreliable when it didn't work 100% with some bottom-of-the-barrel cheapo steel-case import crap, or low-energy soft-shooting target range ammo. Still more people complained about ejected casings hitting them in the head/face, again, without even trying several different types of ammo (these guns functioned fine, they just didn't like the ejection pattern with their favorite load).

On the other hand, I've met many folks at my local range that have Gen4s, and have had no problems at all. Most of them can read and follow directions, and feed their weapons decent-grade ammunition. One person I know did have a problem; after shooting 600-700 trouble-free rounds, his Gen4 G19 began to experience stoppages with the same ammo he'd been using all along. He sent it back to Glock, and they fixed it, but he said he'd lost confidence in it and sold it.

Personally, I have a used Gen4 G26 that I picked up in a trade several months ago, and it has functioned 100% since day one. I shot it in a local IDPA match the day I bought it, to see how it would work. No troubles at all, and the sights were even close enough to perfectly zeroed (for me) that I've never needed to move them. I finished above the middle of the pack with I gun I'd never shot before, and was happy with both the weapon and my performance. I really loved answering the often-heard-at-competitions small-talk question of "So, how does your _____ shoot?" with "I don't know, but we're gonna find out; I've never shot it before, I just picked it up 4 hours ago." Their expressions were priceless.

yeah, see if i get a Glock 19 (or any 9mm Glock) G4, i WILL be taking it apart when i get it and scrubbing it all down with the appropriate stuff, and re-lubing it with whatever i find most suggested by gun shops or experienced gun owners. i thought about trying Lucas (Lucas Oil Products) gun oil. i can get it at my work for a super cheap price.

I don't plan on running the super cheap stuff, but if i'm just going to be target shooting to break it in i don't really want to spend a fortune though. definitely staying away from the bulk stuff, and i may just go with a cheap priced or relatively mid-priced ammo from a gun shop. like everything i own, crappy or not, i try to take the best care of it i can, so this will be no exception, because i want it to be something i won't regret purchasing.

would the Gen4 G26 be better than the G19 for CCW? eventually i'd like to use it for that, when i go to big cities, etc.

and that's hilarious, hahaha. i love doing stuff like that. they either are like "REALLY?!" or they're pissed off because they got a worse score with something they've shot for a long time :P

[ZachRabbit]

some things about me, before this thread gets too long:

I live on my own in my small town......don't really like the town much but i like the people i know and my family.
i have two brothers, both 19 (yes they're twins)
one sister who is 15 (i'm the one that sees to it her boyfriends don't get too comfortable on the couch with her hahaha)

my mother and father were married 25 years until last year.....my father passed away at the age of 45.....coming up on almost a year now, February 8th. it's left our family in financial ruin (moreso than we were) and my mom's going to lose the house. very sad dealings but we're getting through it as best we can, and i'll never be over it. as i'm sure some people on here can imagine.

my dad was the best mechanic this little town ever saw, and i'm not the only one who would vouch for that. 27 years of his life he was a mechanic and in those years he was a highly respected performance guru, the last few years of his life he worked in a high performance/racing machine shop, planning out motors for people, it was his passion, and hobby. he wasn't much into guns, because of the family but he had owned a couple when he had his business.... i have a feeling if it wasn't for us kids being around, he probably would have owned a couple more guns.

but anyway, that's a small ramble for you guys, if you wanna know more about me i'll gladly tell, i suppose. not sure what else you all may want to know about me, but for the most part i'm into meeting new people and all that! haha.

[berettabone]

Welcome from Wisconsin. The 49th state to pass conceal carry. Personally, I have owned what I call " plastic guns", recently a Walther P99 .40. Call me old fashioned, but I prefer "metal guns". And hammers. I am a Beretta lover at heart, after owning and shooting many revolvers, and semi autos. Love the feel, love the reliability, love the decocker, love the larger ejection port( no stovepipes) and I just like metal guns. Very accurate out of the box. Easy to maintain. Not the lowest price guns on the planet, but looking at the prices of other handguns, they seem to be in the middle. Just my 2 cents. Good luck>good shooting.

[ZachRabbit]

Did some shootin' today if anyone is interested
Glock 19 or 26 G4......bad new shooter first gun? other guns in consideration...

[ZachRabbit]

Welcome from Wisconsin. The 49th state to pass conceal carry. Personally, I have owned what I call " plastic guns", recently a Walther P99 .40. Call me old fashioned, but I prefer "metal guns". And hammers. I am a Beretta lover at heart, after owning and shooting many revolvers, and semi autos. Love the feel, love the reliability, love the decocker, love the larger ejection port( no stovepipes) and I just like metal guns. Very accurate out of the box. Easy to maintain. Not the lowest price guns on the planet, but looking at the prices of other handguns, they seem to be in the middle. Just my 2 cents. Good luck>good shooting.

i'll probably have to shoot some 1911 style guns before i make my final decision. in my above post i shot some "plastic" guns and did pretty good for my first time EVER shooting a gun at a range, and really, honestly, with how little i've shot a real gun, you could say it's my first time ever shooting a real gun, because it's been that long ago.

i LOVE the weighty feel of an all metal gun, and i love the double action triggers, so i will definitely have to check them out and if i don't end up getting one for my first pistol i'll definitely be picking something up later.