re: looking to buy my first gun

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It hurts that I'm right handed and left eye dominant.

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Me too. I'm almost legally blind in my right eye. I HONESTLY believe it's more natural to use the opposite eye vs hand. Maybe it's because I'm used to it, but I actually like it.

I'm a super good shot for my somewhere between 1k-2k shots through all of my pistol shooting ever.

I LOVE my springfield XD-40 and my Beretta 92fs. just fwiw. sorry, at work or i'd give you a LOT more to consider here. most of these guys give great advise on this topic. :)

budget will really be the tale of your outcome...

most of the arguments will be
1. budget
2. wheel gun vs automatic
3. sub compact vs compact vs full size
4. which caliber to choose and why
5. purpose for the particular gun you're buying (fun / daily carry)
6. prob some more stuff i could come up with, but i'm at work and really can't chime in more now.

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kingbob

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Thank you for posting this here on the OB rather than the OT. You will get more realistic responses, although what you ultimately decide should be up to YOU. Someone may say "you should buy this" or "you HAVE to buy that" but the decision is ultimately yours.

You seem to be having some confusion as to what role this handgun will be filling. That can be a bit overwhelming at first and is something every first-time buyer struggles with. Watch my video here to get some insight on WHAT the gun will be used for. You seem to be leaning towards home defense and recreation so a full sized pistol will probably be your category.

First Time Firearm Buyers

I also highly agree with Dawg that you should seek some sort of training, no matter how basic. Growing up as a hunter gives you the fortune of having safety in mind. But with this in mind, handgun safety is also very different. It's easier to keep the muzzle of a rifle or shotgun away from people's faces, whereas a handgun can sweep multiple people without you knowing it. You should always stick to the 4 rules of handgun safety religiously:

1. Every gun is loaded.
2. Keep your gun pointed in a safe direction (muzzle discipline).
3. Keep your finger off the trigger.
4. Know your target and what is beyond it.

I am with Dawg in that sticking with a reputable brand will be a good choice. But then again, there are many respectable manufacturers out there so your choices will be numerous.

I strongly suggest you go to a store and hold as many full sized handguns as you can. I would suggest staying with 9mm as it is very easy to handle and holds a lot of ammo. Plus, it will be the cheapest to shoot at the range. In the most basic terms, 9mm, 40, and 45 all do pretty much the same thing to a human target. If someone uses "45" and "stopping power" in the same sentence, use caution when taking this person's advice.

I have some gun reviews on my channel that you can peruse to see if you like. But then again, the options are numerous. Choose wisely.



EDIT: I forgot to comment about your cross-dominance (left eye, right hand). This is very easy to overcome with all handguns. It is a bit trickier for shotguns and rifles but any handgun can be used with your left eye.