Bought My First Gun, When Should I Upgrade? Also Where to Find Ammo?

Welcome to the EZ club. I have the 9MM and really like it. As far as ammo goes, start with AmmoSeek. You just have to be ready to jump. Know what you’re willing to pay and move quick.

Also keep an eye on Ammo.com and PalmettoStateArmory.com and others.

nm

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I'm hoping to eventually upgrade to a 9mm for better stopping power and cheaper ammo. When should I make this upgrade?

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This won't be helpful information, but you should have just started with the 9mm EZ. Most people buy .380 pistols because they can get a pocket size pistol, but the .380 EZ and the 9 EZ are about identical in size. If the money's not a big deal buy the 9 now, if it is don't worry about it. Shot placement is way more important than the difference between .380 and 9mm.

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I just ordered Speer Gold Dot HP's for one magazine, but not wasting that at range.

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You do need to run a couple of mags, minimum (some people prefer a couple of hundred rounds) of your self defense ammo through the gun to ensure reliability. Good guns are very reliable these days and this advice isn't as important as it used to be, but it's still very, very advisable.

Ammo is just going to be tight for awhile. Keep checking Midway, Lucky Gunner, SG Ammo, etc to catch it when it comes in. I would avoid Cheaper Than Dirt if I were you. Just go ahead and buy 500-1,000 rounds when you get the chance instead of a few boxes at a time.

And not to be condescending, but thank you for taking it seriously and being committed to shooting regularly. A lot of people buy one, shoot it once, then just keep it by the bed. And if you're going to get a carry license it's critical that you know what you're doing.

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This won't be helpful information, but you should have just started with the 9mm EZ.

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I handled the 9 EZ at the store and I just wasn't as confident racking the slide. It was noticeably more difficult.

I figured I'd get the 380 to learn guns, get comfortable shooting, learn technique and practice practice practice. Then figured I'd jump up to a 9mm. I'm just concerned it might not be that easy to find one then , especially if Biden wins

What about a VP9SK? I really like how the VP9 fits into my hands and liked the one time a held a SK. Thinking about grabbing one for my wife.

Also not sure what everyone’s thoughts are on this ammo but here is some Super Vel 380 solid copper hollow points in stock.

LINK

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I figured I'd get the 380 to learn guns, get comfortable shooting, learn technique and practice practice practice. Then figured I'd jump up to a 9mm. I'm just concerned it might not be that easy to find one then , especially if Biden wins

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Good idea

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I want to be a proficient gun owner, but don't want to wait too long as finding guns is getting more difficult. I'm considering the S&W M&P 9 EZ, Glock 26 or 43, Sig P320, etc

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If the Glock 19 was too wide for you, you won’t like any Glock 9mm pistol or larger. The Glock 48 may work for you since it’s built slimmer but most of them are chunky.

I’ll pull some old bookmarked posts I made a while back regarding a first gun and some things to look for when selecting a firearm for a female. I’ve been teaching concealed carry classes for 7 years and have yet to find anyone who cannot comfortably shoot and rack some variation of full sized 9mm.

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For any shooter, a larger gun (dimensionally, not caliber) is ALWAYS easier to shoot. A metal-framed full sized gun is even easier to shoot since it weighs more and negates one of the big barriers with new shooters (felt recoil). In this regard, weight isn't a terrible thing. But I always suggest a full sized 9mm to any new buyer regardless of the buyer's intended purpose. If he/she wants a smaller gun to carry he/she can get it later. But having the "base" for a good home defense handgun, i.e. full sized 9mm, is a great place to start. You get a full grip, a full length barrel, a large sight radius, more weight (less recoil), a lighter recoil spring (easier to rack), a full length rail (on the vast majority of them) and a larger magazine. These all make a full sized gun very easy to shoot. Add on a light under the rail (weight directly under the muzzle) and it will be even easier to shoot with less felt recoil.

Once the new shooter has mastered and trained well with a full sized handgun, he/she can work his/her way "up" to a smaller gun. The logic sounds backwards but it's quite basic actually. The smaller the gun, the sharper the recoil. Getting your wife a tiny 38 revolver may not be what's best for her because they are insanely difficult to shoot accurately. They make for a great belly gun but they have extremely long and heavy trigger pulls and have no sights to speak of. But, if she doesn't train often and learn to clear semi auto malfunctions or has difficulty with the controls, it may be easier. But anyone that tells you a woman cannot rack a slide is wrong. Yes, it is harder for them, but they are usually not using a proper racking method or the gun is tiny and has a stiff spring that takes practice to manipulate. Point your thumb toward your chest, gripping the slide behind the ejection port with the base of your palm and the tips of your fingers. Simultaneously grip the slide while pushing the gun from the grip of your hand on the slide. This will cause the slide to move all the way to the rear and slam forward on its own weight. This is the best way to properly rack a round into the chamber while utilizing large muscle groups (chest, shoulders) instead of isolating the forearms. Do not pull the slide back and then try to push it forward - it does not need your assistance. Allow the recoil spring to do the work.



So there's my suggestion - a full sized 9mm. I would keep it simple and avoid some guns that have safeties since they require more training. But ultimately her preference will beat anything out. Finding a gun that has a thin grip taper will ultimately be the most comfortable for someone with smaller hands. A few good examples from the big-player manufacturers for a first 9mm are:

S&W M&P
Springfield XD
Glock 17/19
Ruger SR9
Sig P320
Walther PPQ
HK VP9
FN FNS9
Canik TP9
(Not an all-inclusive list)

If these make her arms tired from holding for too long, then getting a "compact" may be slightly better. "Compact" simply means that the grip and slide are shorter than a full sized gun. The gun itself is typically still somewhat large and will produce more recoil than a full sized gun. But they are still easy to handle. Of the ones I listed up there^, nearly all of them have a compact

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Honestly, most grips that are tapered make it easy for women to shoot. I've seen this numerous times in my classes. The most well-liked guns that women shoot in my classes are my M&P full size, and my girlfriend's VP9. Guns like a Glock 19/17, FN FNS9, FNX45, Springfield XD, or any gun without a grip taper will feel 2x4ish. The "grip taper" I'm referring to is that the width of the grip increases as you get father from the slide. So it will be slimmer closer to the slide than at the magwell. Here's what I mean (notice the VP9 is slimmer at the top and the Glock has the same width throughout the grip):

rareammo.com
Descent prices and fast shipping

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I don't think I'll ever carry on my person in public places, but that may change.

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Neither did I in November, yet here we are, and I don't check the mail without my pistol these days.

Take the CHP class and apply for the permit. Waiting times aren't getting shorter and just because you have the permit doesn't mean you have to use it. However, if you decide that you wish to carry for your protection, you'll be ready to go when/if you make that decision.

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However, if you decide that you wish to carry for your protection, you'll be ready to go when/if you make that decision.

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And even besides just this particular point,I encourage all gun owners to have formal use-of-force instruction. I didn’t realize the full extent of Louisiana lethal force laws until I took my first CC class in 2011. And with updates happening every now and then, it’s a good idea for anyone to stay familiar with these laws.

You’ll find that most states have the same basic rules for using force but there are some interesting variations mixed in that you may not be familiar with.

A great resource: Handgunlaw.US