Thanks, I will let you all know what I find out. I have a lot of gun shops in the San Diego area so it will take a little leg work. What would be a good price for the G26?

I think (although I may very well be wrong) the $500-$550 range is normal for a G26. It will depend on your area though. Just check around at your various local shops and find the cheapest.

-Jeff-

Check out this thread: Making a guide to choosing a new handgun

(Jean and I will be in Lost Angles until the 11th, closing up a recently-deceased aunt's apartment, and settling her affairs. See you on the 12th, or maybe a little later.)

That's like 150 bucks higher than I see them around here. Might want to check around.

Originally Posted by Rokky

Some of the guns you guys have mentioned like the Springfield XD and the Kahr are beauties, but pricy. I'm kind of on a budget

A new Kahr CW9 runs $399 on average. When you consider the added cost of ammo, holsters, range fees, cleaning equipment, etc, if you can't afford to spend $400 on a pistol, then you might rethink this whole shooting hobby thing.

PhilR.

i mean, for my XD, it was my first gun. i didnt want to spend over 400 on one, but then i realized i wanted to have a great, reliable, and good looking gun for my first purchase, so i ended up spending 550 on it and i DO NOT regret it at all.

just keep that in mind

Thanks to everyone for all this information. I'm waiting on my first pistol and planning for my second. Thanks for sharing what you know.

what do you mean by waiting? on it to arrive or to make a decision for one?

Originally Posted by Hud

Thanks to everyone for all this information. I'm waiting on my first pistol and planning for my second. Thanks for sharing what you know.

Initially I'm waiting on it to arrive. Once I have the serial number, I can turn in the paperwork for my pistol license. Then I get to wait another 2-4 weeks before my license arrives and then I can pick up my .22 Ruger. Oh to live in a state that doesn't require any of this nonsense!

Originally Posted by Hud

Initially I'm waiting on it to arrive. Once I have the serial number, I can turn in the paperwork for my pistol license. Then I get to wait another 2-4 weeks before my license arrives and then I can pick up my .22 Ruger. Oh to live in a state that doesn't require any of this nonsense!

Move.

Now I don't feel so bad about waiting 60-90 days for my CHP to arrive.

Nice choice on the Ruger .22 pistol.

-Jeff-

yeh i kinda sucks you have to go through all of that. let us know when everything is settles and you get a chance to go shooting with it

I now have the serial nunber and will turn in the finished paperwork tomorrow. The gun shop owner told me he talked to a guy from my county and it only took him 12 days to get his permit. I'm excited!

BeefyBeefo, when I was buying the Ruger there was a guy at the end of the counter who overheard my transaction with the shop owner and he said in a very quiet voice, "That's a very good choice for a first gun." I thanked him and I thank you.

Originally Posted by BeefyBeefo

Move.

+1

Now I don't feel so bad about waiting 60-90 days for my CHP to arrive.

30 day on my CWP.

Nice choice on the Ruger .22 pistol.

You'll like it.

-Jeff-

I live in a state that you walk in. Choose your weapon. They run an instant background check. If clear or you possess a CWP, then walk to the front counter pay for gun and NO sales tax.

Love Big Sky Country.

pretty similar here in GA too. fill out the paperwork, call the ATF, and if you're clear, then they hand you your gun and you pay!

Well, I finally made up my mind and went for the Ruger P4MKIII with the 4 inch Bull Barrel.
I had looked at all the other guns that caught my eye such as the Beretta PX4 and the Ruger P95 and for some reason I got the urge for a 22 cal pistol and the MKIII just seemed the logical choice.
However, buying a gun in California, as some of you know, is a real trip.
First I had to take the Handgun Safety Test, as you can't buy a gun in California until you pass this test. Its simple. Only 30 questions which are true or false and multiple choice. That costs $25.00 and is good for only 5 years. No lifetime stuff here. Then you fill out the DROS (Dealer Record of Sale) That's another $25.00.
So now I'm $50.00 into the process and I finally get to order the gun. So I ordered the gun and will now wait my 10 days. It's amazing how times change. I can remember as a kid at 14 years of age I walked into a hardware store in a little town in Minnesota and bought my first gun. It was a Remington Scoremaster 22 cal rifle with a Walnut stock. I paid the man behind the counter $19.95 and walked out the door with it. I don't think I even got a receipt. I still have this great little Bolt action baby and its still the most accurate gun I've ever had.

Originally Posted by Rokky

Well, I finally made up my mind and went for the Ruger P4MKIII with the 4 inch Bull Barrel.
I had looked at all the other guns that caught my eye such as the Beretta PX4 and the Ruger P95 and for some reason I got the urge for a 22 cal pistol and the MKIII just seemed the logical choice.
However, buying a gun in California, as some of you know, is a real trip.
First I had to take the Handgun Safety Test, as you can't buy a gun in California until you pass this test. Its simple. Only 30 questions which are true or false and multiple choice. That costs $25.00 and is good for only 5 years. No lifetime stuff here. Then you fill out the DROS (Dealer Record of Sale) That's another $25.00.
So now I'm $50.00 into the process and I finally get to order the gun. So I ordered the gun and will now wait my 10 days. It's amazing how times change. I can remember as a kid at 14 years of age I walked into a hardware store in a little town in Minnesota and bought my first gun. It was a Remington Scoremaster 22 cal rifle with a Walnut stock. I paid the man behind the counter $19.95 and walked out the door with it. I don't think I even got a receipt. I still have this great little Bolt action baby and its still the most accurate gun I've ever had.

Congrats! When you get it, we need to see your PICS....

Try several. You will shoot best with what feels best. If price is an issue, save up for the one you want rather than settling for anything less.

Try Jim's out there in Fayette-nam. They've got a good reputation and they rent for the range.

Congrats! Good choice, I love my MKII.

Originally Posted by buck32

When you get it, we need to see your PICS....

+1

-Jeff-

Originally Posted by buck32

Congrats! When you get it, we need to see your PICS....

How do you place picture attachments on this site?

BTW, I did spend a little time deciding on which MKIII to go with. I also liked the 4 1/2 Bull Barrel that is fluted. It had the fixed sights both front and rear. But I wanted as short a MKIII as possible so I went with the 4 inch Bull Barrel with rear adjustable sight (P4MKIII). The 4 1/2 inch barrel being fluted made that MKIII (P45GCMKIII) 1 ounce lighter then the 4 inch. It was a tough decision as they are both very nice guns.

Originally Posted by Rokky

How do you place picture attachments on this site?

http://www.handgunforum.net/showthread.php?t=13283

I have the MKIII with the 4" bbl...Fun little plinker. I really don't like the front sight at first but I've got used to it. I did put some paint on it to be able to get a sight picture a little faster. I still like my Buckmark better but it's a good pistol.

Do you know of you can change the sights on these guns without to much trouble?
That is if I wanted to change from adjustable sights to fixed.

link deleted

Log on here and read the complaints, their service downright sucks. It's a great site, real friendly and no gun snobs. I would like to buy a Tarus Judge for home defense but problems with them and two, three months turnaround on repairs isn't acceptable. I have a S&W Sigma 9mm for daily carry and have no other carry gun on my wish list. It's rugged, 100% reliable, reasonably priced with a great DAO trigger for a self defense gun. It will never be a tack driver but that's not it's job. A glock would be another I think I could like but the 10# trigger of my Sigma makes me feel an AD is next to impossible. If SHTF nobody will notice a hard trigger pull.

Originally Posted by PhilR.

None of the three handguns you mention fit all three of your requirements. The one that comes the closest to meeting all three requirements is the Taurus. I have a Taurus (an older revo) and don't have anything against them, but I would not conceal carry one.

If you want a small carry auto, then you should be looking at small autos, and not at standard-sized autos. Beretta makes the just introduced PX4Storm Compact. Walther has the PPS, and there are several Kahrs that will fit your req's. There are also compact versions of Glocks (the 26/27), XD, M&P, and Walther P99 that will also work. IMO these will be more accurate and more reliable than a PT111. Of course they should be, as they do cost more. The extra cost is worth it, if you are going to depend your life on it.

PhilR.

Agreed!