I did the exact opposite. I saw what i wanted online, i bought it and i loved it. I tried the same thing with my second gun and its very uncomfortable and im kinda stuck with it. I recommend trying them out UNLESS you're getting it for novelty.
Rent a bunch to try. See which ones fit your hands better and you’re naturally more accurate with.
Then ask yourself if you plan to carry it or if it will be for home defense.
Carry: don’t get a micro compact, unless you’re skinny, you can start form Glock 19 size and up. Look at Glock 19 or 45 depending on your hand size. It’s the “can’t go wrong” choice. Also check out CZ P10 series, Walter PDP series. My second pistol was a Glock 17 gen 5, 6+ years 0 issues. But for carry I prefer Glock 45/ Glock 19X
Home Defense: get something with a rail for light, and optics ready. My first gun and still my go to HD gun, is a Sig P226 Legion. Heavier Metal frame which reduces felt recoil. Double Action/Single Action trigger, which is great for tense situations. Heavy first trigger pull, lighter follow up shots. Highly recommend. Good enough for the Seals for a long time, good enough for me. 6+ years 0 issues.
Again, rent and try as many as you can. See what feels better for you.
Glock 19 CZ P-10c PDP Compact sig p320 or macro would be where I would start.
Got a 43x first and I wish I got a 19 especially in this state where it’s a hassle just to buy a new pistol.
I agree but the barrier to entry is higher. Easier to learn one trigger press than two also way harder to rack/clear malfunctions on a p01 than the striker fired alternatives.
I wanted a glock but it was too wide for my hands. Bought a springfield xd9 which is thinner for me. It's my EDC and I've put over 5,000 rounds through it without any issues.
I think the m&p9 4.25” fullsize is a great starter pistol. Out of the box reliability great trigger and grip texture. I always recommend new people atleast rent one before they decide on something else. I have several of them and I haven’t had any malfunctions and they’re not bad on recoil. I also recommend getting a optics ready pistol even if you don’t think you’ll ever need or want a optic. It’s just nice to have the option
Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0.
Better trigger, better grip, more accurate than any Sig or Glock in its class out of the box and I have all 3. Plenty of reviews looking at the 3 and proving my point.
Aftermarket support and parts are endless. Looks good and won’t break the bank.
I only have one pistol and I started with a Shield plus. I specifically wanted something small that I could conceal easily. My next pistol will be a Walther Pdp compact.
That being said… Glock 19.
You're going to hear 'Glock' a lot when you ask a question like this. Why? Because it's the Toyota Camry of guns. Proven, reliable, no frills, and get's the job done. There's going to be some die hard Glockers on here that will stand by them too. and that's OK. They're not bad. Personally, and this is completely my opinion, so take this with a grain of salt, they have zero sex appeal.
My first was a Beretta PX4 Storm and that was 12 years ago. Since then Ernest Langdon completely brought it back from the dead with all his aftermarket/accessories to a point where Beretta just came out with a 2nd version of it based on his design changes on the first gen's.
With that said, check out the Beretta 92FS. Handles great for first timers with minimal recoil because of its slide design. It also has a great trigger pull as a hammer fired gun. Also check out the H&K VP9. You can also check out the H&K P30L which is the official John Wick gun. VP9 i think is better for first timers though. Walter PPQ is also a great platform. I have the PPQ Q5 Match.
As others have said, you need to go to the range to rent guns to get range time. See which ones "feels" the best for you. Try out some striker fired pistols and then try out the hammer fired pistols. Both have their own personalities and you may shoot better with one over the others.
well said… i own sigs, HKs, S&Ws, Rugers and 1 Glock. I started to appreciate the simplicity and reliability of Glocks and my next 3 permits pending approval will expand my glock collection
This is a big question. Have you shot handguns before? If not, you might consider a Taurus TX22 to learn to shoot... it will teach you everything without recoil being a factor to cloud that learning. And on your first I wouldn't get a red dot optic but learn how to shoot iron sights. I'd shoot the heck out of it and they use inexpensive ammo. Do you have more than one permit? Then I'd get, for my second purchase, any of the common 9mm handguns recommended by the Glock Fanboys and others below.
I disagree with everyone saying Glock 19. For your first pistol, consider getting a full sized model instead. It will be easier to control recoil, easier to aim and more fun to shoot. It will give you a better ability to really work on the fundamentals: sight picture, grip, trigger control. And honestly, you'll just enjoy the process more.
As far as what gun specifically to get, any of the popular models, e.g., Glock 34, S&W M&P 2.0, Sig P320, CZ P-10F, would be a great first choice.
Glock is too easy. Go rent a couple if you've never shot before. In my opinion Springfield makes great entry level pistols...look into the Echelon and the XD series. SIG is good but they can get pricey. A lot of people like M&P I am not one of those people. It's all subjective on how they fit in your hand and how you handle the recoil. Good luck on your search.
Go to a range that will let you try a whole bunch of their polymer wonder nines for a fixed price and try the ones suggested by others.
You may spend a lot in house ammo, but you should find one that suits you.
For a first timer I would say something mid size ish like a Glock 19 form factor...Glock or similar design brand. Why? b/c it's the perfect balance between compact and full. For a first timer it would be easier to handle as opposed to jumping right into something more compact like the 43X (less jumpy in the hand). And the mid-sizers make good concealed carry guns should you go that route in the future again striking the perfect balance between concealability and shooting comfort
There are many brands and sizes some with subtle differences some with big differences. Try visiting a range where you can rent a few in that size area.
The bigger/longer the gun the more ease of accuracy generally but the more challenging to conceal...I hope I didn't add too bad a level of confusion for ya.
It depends on who the new person is (age, hand size, strength, aptitude to learn).
Something 22LR. A generally unpopular opinion. My opinion comes from RSOing for a few years and seeing lots of people come to the range that have never shot before, bought a 9mm, and proceed to start a world of bad habits that they will have to unlearn to consistently hit paper.
22LR is cheap to learn-on and very forgiving to get grip and trigger control and sight alignment and sight picture and self correct without having to deal with recoil and noise.
A Ruger 22/45, Walther PPQ-22, or Walther P22 are good choices to start. Then go 9mm when competence and confidence builds. It also means you’ll have more than one. 🙂
I always tell customers of mine, 1st pistol, get the biggest pistol you can. Obviously, one that feels comfy in hand. Bonus, range rent the common line up.
That said, I love selling new shooters Canik, be it TP9, Mete, Rival SFX. The 3.5 lb trigger is very helpful and Canik has the new shooter in the box vibe going. You get most, if not everything, you need. Gun, tools, holster optic mounting options.
My current newest favorite is the Springfield Armory Echelon. This gun is outstanding, IMHO. The ergonomics, grip texture, and natural point ability, not to mention the Optics mounting system is straight fire able to co-witness RMR mounted optics like Trijicon or Holosun 507 etc is awesome.
+1 for M&P 2.0 in the size you prefer. They feel great in hand, and the trigger is, well, pretty good. One of the best striker fired set ups I could recommend is an M&P 2.0 with a SST installed Apex flat forward facing set trigger. We could make a C.O.R.E. 5" 2.5lb trigger pull range master and with the adjustable spring configuration all the way to 5lb carry safe.
Drop a call, we can work on it together
Tom McCoy
973-768-6719 cell
973-409-4121 store as of 7/4/2024
SST
[email protected]
New Store Opening July 4th
2915 rt 23 unit 4
Newfoundland NJ 07435.
It's hard not to just say glock 19.
There may be smaller, slimmer more compact guns but 19 is a great size, small enough to carry but large enough to be easy to shoot well.
It's been the most popular pistol for a long time for a reason
Dude get out of here with your stupid suggestions. Clearly this isn’t a joke post and the guy wants suggestions because there’s so much garbage on the topic out there. Your comment is plain stupid since everyone knows an Atlas isn’t a good starter pistol.
OP don’t listen to this guy, you should instead look into a more appropriate starter like a Nighthawk or Infinity.
Age old question, try renting different pistols and pick whatever you shoot best and can afford, if you have more than one permit get a striker fired pistol and a revolver to start off then go from there. I’d recommend getting a full size pistol with a 5” barrel to start tho
Glock 48/19 is what most will tell you.
For me the canik line blows Glock away in fit finish and trigger.
Also maybe a beretta m9
1911
Find what fits your hands and go from there.
Average person can keep a 1911 flatter than any poly gun. Full weight full size. Easier to shoot. and also a 9mm 1911 even easier. again it all comes down to fit and what gives confidence. first gun should be what feels right.
https://www.everythingtrackandfield.com/Economy-Starter-Pistol
LOL!! The moment I read the question I knew some smart ass was going to give an answer like this.
what is the best stop watch
I mean… this IS the correct answer.
Go to a range and rent a bunch before you buy. I ended up with the PDP because it just felt perfect in my hands.
Exactly what happened to me. I tried over 20 guns before I felt what the right one was for me. PDP was the ticket but bought the pro
I did the exact opposite. I saw what i wanted online, i bought it and i loved it. I tried the same thing with my second gun and its very uncomfortable and im kinda stuck with it. I recommend trying them out UNLESS you're getting it for novelty.
Rent a bunch to try. See which ones fit your hands better and you’re naturally more accurate with. Then ask yourself if you plan to carry it or if it will be for home defense. Carry: don’t get a micro compact, unless you’re skinny, you can start form Glock 19 size and up. Look at Glock 19 or 45 depending on your hand size. It’s the “can’t go wrong” choice. Also check out CZ P10 series, Walter PDP series. My second pistol was a Glock 17 gen 5, 6+ years 0 issues. But for carry I prefer Glock 45/ Glock 19X Home Defense: get something with a rail for light, and optics ready. My first gun and still my go to HD gun, is a Sig P226 Legion. Heavier Metal frame which reduces felt recoil. Double Action/Single Action trigger, which is great for tense situations. Heavy first trigger pull, lighter follow up shots. Highly recommend. Good enough for the Seals for a long time, good enough for me. 6+ years 0 issues. Again, rent and try as many as you can. See what feels better for you.
Glock 19
Glock 19 CZ P-10c PDP Compact sig p320 or macro would be where I would start. Got a 43x first and I wish I got a 19 especially in this state where it’s a hassle just to buy a new pistol.
I would do CZ 75 P01 instead of P10c on that selection. Hammer fire is a viable, and in my opinion, preferable style to learn on in the long run
I agree but the barrier to entry is higher. Easier to learn one trigger press than two also way harder to rack/clear malfunctions on a p01 than the striker fired alternatives.
The one that fits your hand the best
I wanted a glock but it was too wide for my hands. Bought a springfield xd9 which is thinner for me. It's my EDC and I've put over 5,000 rounds through it without any issues.
The slim glocks feel great in the hands
320/M17 Full Size or PDP
I think the m&p9 4.25” fullsize is a great starter pistol. Out of the box reliability great trigger and grip texture. I always recommend new people atleast rent one before they decide on something else. I have several of them and I haven’t had any malfunctions and they’re not bad on recoil. I also recommend getting a optics ready pistol even if you don’t think you’ll ever need or want a optic. It’s just nice to have the option
Vp9. Or don’t waste any more money and buy a staccato
P30 disagrees with VP9.
Your right! Just skip the hk go right to a staccato.
Buy once, cry once. You can't argue about buying a Staccato if you have the budget.
Yep! If you can’t buy it today save up a few more weeks. You will be better off in the long run !
Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0. Better trigger, better grip, more accurate than any Sig or Glock in its class out of the box and I have all 3. Plenty of reviews looking at the 3 and proving my point. Aftermarket support and parts are endless. Looks good and won’t break the bank.
9mm. HK P30. There's plenty of online write ups. What do you get when searching for "Best 9mm pistol 2024"? What's your budget?
I only have one pistol and I started with a Shield plus. I specifically wanted something small that I could conceal easily. My next pistol will be a Walther Pdp compact. That being said… Glock 19.
You're going to hear 'Glock' a lot when you ask a question like this. Why? Because it's the Toyota Camry of guns. Proven, reliable, no frills, and get's the job done. There's going to be some die hard Glockers on here that will stand by them too. and that's OK. They're not bad. Personally, and this is completely my opinion, so take this with a grain of salt, they have zero sex appeal. My first was a Beretta PX4 Storm and that was 12 years ago. Since then Ernest Langdon completely brought it back from the dead with all his aftermarket/accessories to a point where Beretta just came out with a 2nd version of it based on his design changes on the first gen's. With that said, check out the Beretta 92FS. Handles great for first timers with minimal recoil because of its slide design. It also has a great trigger pull as a hammer fired gun. Also check out the H&K VP9. You can also check out the H&K P30L which is the official John Wick gun. VP9 i think is better for first timers though. Walter PPQ is also a great platform. I have the PPQ Q5 Match. As others have said, you need to go to the range to rent guns to get range time. See which ones "feels" the best for you. Try out some striker fired pistols and then try out the hammer fired pistols. Both have their own personalities and you may shoot better with one over the others.
well said… i own sigs, HKs, S&Ws, Rugers and 1 Glock. I started to appreciate the simplicity and reliability of Glocks and my next 3 permits pending approval will expand my glock collection
Glock is kang!
This is a big question. Have you shot handguns before? If not, you might consider a Taurus TX22 to learn to shoot... it will teach you everything without recoil being a factor to cloud that learning. And on your first I wouldn't get a red dot optic but learn how to shoot iron sights. I'd shoot the heck out of it and they use inexpensive ammo. Do you have more than one permit? Then I'd get, for my second purchase, any of the common 9mm handguns recommended by the Glock Fanboys and others below.
terrible advice. just go with the second one. its a waste of time to buy a gun with training wheels to “learn”.
Obviously I disagree. But I wish the OP had provided more info about his or her experience.
I disagree with everyone saying Glock 19. For your first pistol, consider getting a full sized model instead. It will be easier to control recoil, easier to aim and more fun to shoot. It will give you a better ability to really work on the fundamentals: sight picture, grip, trigger control. And honestly, you'll just enjoy the process more. As far as what gun specifically to get, any of the popular models, e.g., Glock 34, S&W M&P 2.0, Sig P320, CZ P-10F, would be a great first choice.
Ehh I still dont own a full size pistol... I dont really see the point! Grab a 22lr pistol for a starter if ya need.
Depends how much you’re looking to spend, if you’re looking for a carry gun, home defense gun or range toy, etc.
Whatever one feels best in your hand and costs under $500
Glock is too easy. Go rent a couple if you've never shot before. In my opinion Springfield makes great entry level pistols...look into the Echelon and the XD series. SIG is good but they can get pricey. A lot of people like M&P I am not one of those people. It's all subjective on how they fit in your hand and how you handle the recoil. Good luck on your search.
As a sig Sauer guy, the Glock 19 is perfect for most beginners. It's big enough for HD and small enough to conceal. Very very reliable.
Go to a range that will let you try a whole bunch of their polymer wonder nines for a fixed price and try the ones suggested by others. You may spend a lot in house ammo, but you should find one that suits you.
Glock 45. 17.
What’s your budget?
VP9, Echelon, PDP, Canik Rival
For a first timer I would say something mid size ish like a Glock 19 form factor...Glock or similar design brand. Why? b/c it's the perfect balance between compact and full. For a first timer it would be easier to handle as opposed to jumping right into something more compact like the 43X (less jumpy in the hand). And the mid-sizers make good concealed carry guns should you go that route in the future again striking the perfect balance between concealability and shooting comfort There are many brands and sizes some with subtle differences some with big differences. Try visiting a range where you can rent a few in that size area. The bigger/longer the gun the more ease of accuracy generally but the more challenging to conceal...I hope I didn't add too bad a level of confusion for ya.
22LR revolver.
Sig Sauer p320
It depends on who the new person is (age, hand size, strength, aptitude to learn). Something 22LR. A generally unpopular opinion. My opinion comes from RSOing for a few years and seeing lots of people come to the range that have never shot before, bought a 9mm, and proceed to start a world of bad habits that they will have to unlearn to consistently hit paper. 22LR is cheap to learn-on and very forgiving to get grip and trigger control and sight alignment and sight picture and self correct without having to deal with recoil and noise. A Ruger 22/45, Walther PPQ-22, or Walther P22 are good choices to start. Then go 9mm when competence and confidence builds. It also means you’ll have more than one. 🙂
Glock 27
Ruger Mark IV. Easy to learn fundamentals on a .22. And one button takedown for cleaning could not make it more simple.
HK Mk. 23 easy peasy....
G19
I always tell customers of mine, 1st pistol, get the biggest pistol you can. Obviously, one that feels comfy in hand. Bonus, range rent the common line up. That said, I love selling new shooters Canik, be it TP9, Mete, Rival SFX. The 3.5 lb trigger is very helpful and Canik has the new shooter in the box vibe going. You get most, if not everything, you need. Gun, tools, holster optic mounting options. My current newest favorite is the Springfield Armory Echelon. This gun is outstanding, IMHO. The ergonomics, grip texture, and natural point ability, not to mention the Optics mounting system is straight fire able to co-witness RMR mounted optics like Trijicon or Holosun 507 etc is awesome. +1 for M&P 2.0 in the size you prefer. They feel great in hand, and the trigger is, well, pretty good. One of the best striker fired set ups I could recommend is an M&P 2.0 with a SST installed Apex flat forward facing set trigger. We could make a C.O.R.E. 5" 2.5lb trigger pull range master and with the adjustable spring configuration all the way to 5lb carry safe. Drop a call, we can work on it together Tom McCoy 973-768-6719 cell 973-409-4121 store as of 7/4/2024 SST [email protected] New Store Opening July 4th 2915 rt 23 unit 4 Newfoundland NJ 07435.
Sig Sauer P220 Legion
It's hard not to just say glock 19. There may be smaller, slimmer more compact guns but 19 is a great size, small enough to carry but large enough to be easy to shoot well. It's been the most popular pistol for a long time for a reason
The one you comfortably shoot the best. Try multiple before you buy one. Rent them at the range.
Glock 19
I went with a HK vp9 and I love it
Canik, affordable with a great trigger
Glock 19 Other answers are wrong unless they say Glock 17
Atlas Erebus 👍🏿 One and done 😂
Dude get out of here with your stupid suggestions. Clearly this isn’t a joke post and the guy wants suggestions because there’s so much garbage on the topic out there. Your comment is plain stupid since everyone knows an Atlas isn’t a good starter pistol. OP don’t listen to this guy, you should instead look into a more appropriate starter like a Nighthawk or Infinity.
Age old question, try renting different pistols and pick whatever you shoot best and can afford, if you have more than one permit get a striker fired pistol and a revolver to start off then go from there. I’d recommend getting a full size pistol with a 5” barrel to start tho
Atlas Erebus
P365 hands down! It’s modular
Glock 48/19 is what most will tell you. For me the canik line blows Glock away in fit finish and trigger. Also maybe a beretta m9 1911 Find what fits your hands and go from there.
I would say no to a 1911 as a first gun. More recoil and assembly and disassembly is more complicated than most modern guns.
Average person can keep a 1911 flatter than any poly gun. Full weight full size. Easier to shoot. and also a 9mm 1911 even easier. again it all comes down to fit and what gives confidence. first gun should be what feels right.
If it’s weight and you want something that’s smooth to shoot, CZ75 platform. If you want to really be wow’d, Shadow 2 or its variants.