Newb looking for a gun...asking for help

I’m not a “glock guy”. But you sound you like you need a glock 17. 9mm. Cheap mags, cheap ammo, pull the trigger and it goes bang, not expensive.

Highly recommend CZ P-07 if you are wanting a 9mm. Has interchangeable safety or decocker depending on your preference. Runs around $450

Yeah, the current climate and uneasiness is making a lot of people rethink their personal defense needs. Are you looking for home defense, property defense, vehicle defense or all of the above? If property defense is a concern, how big is your property? Will the defense gun also be handled by a wife or GF?

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Start out like everyone does...get a bolt action .22 rifle. Shoot it and gain some working confidence then move on and add a Remington 870 Shotgun or something similar.

If you have zero firearms experience you need to build a foundation first. I would not recommend going straight to a handgun like a glock, and I’m a big glock fan. You have to learn what you’re doing first. Add the semi-auto handgun later when you are ready.

Full disclosure: I have several pistols. My M&P 2.0 Compact is the primary one and I have several shot guns around the house.

But, in terms of current research and if I was going to start from scratch?

Best "bang for the buck" right now is the Taurus G3c. Under $300.

More capacity, home defense?

CZ P-10 F.

If you want something more, look into the Ruger PC Charger 9mm. Around $700 base price without some options you might want like folding stock.

Review.

There are numerous other threads on this topic here as well. And with all these discussions, it's primary that you train and become proficient with your weapon(s) for safety.

to piggyback this thread..

we ran into an issue after taking the woman her mama to the shooting range...

i *thought* a kimber 9mm would work well for them.. but racking that slide was a challenge.

which semi-auto pistols are known to be easiest for the womenfolk to use(comfortably)?

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which semi-auto pistols are known to be easiest for the womenfolk to use(comfortably)?

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My wife is pretty small and we ran into this problem when she started shooting with me. She has carried a S&W .380 Bodyguard for a few years now with no problems being able to rack the slide. She wanted something a little bigger with more capacity in 9mm for cheaper ammo. So we looked around and came across the S&W M&P EZ Shield. Bought it and she loves it.

It has springs that aren't as stiff as your normal semi auto. I was hesitant thinking it didn't have enough stiffness to strip and chamber another round, but between me and her we've put a little over 400 rounds through it with no failures with self defense and ball rounds. It's a solid 9mm for anyone who has trouble pulling back a slide on a semi auto.

Go to a GOOD range. Good ranges will have three things you will need.

First, they will have competent people who know their way around guns and will be more than happy to talk guns with you and help you find the right weapon for you and your needs. Someone who knows what they're doing can really help you find a weapon that you can operate and will not be shy or scared of firing regularly.

Second, they will offer training classes so that you can learn to properly employ, clean, and store your new weapon. It does you absolutely zero good to buy a weapon and have no idea how it operates, how to use it, clean it, and store it. A good range will offer both new shooter classes and defensive pistol classes to familiarize you with guns in general and specifically how to employ them in a self-defense situation. I can't recommend enough that you take, at the very least, a new shooter's class.

Third, they will have many different pistols and rifles that you can rent and take on the range with you and test fire. I prefer MY handgun and MY rifle, but MY solutions may not work for YOU; if I hand them to you, you might hate them and think they're absolute garbage. Not every gun is for every person and the internet can't tell you what YOU should buy for YOUR situation. It's definitely a personal thing. Working for YOU is what's key, so a place that has many options you can try out with live-fire can really help you identify weapons you like and don't like and whittle down to something you will be willing to use and put the time into.

So, go to one of those places and tell the people behind the counter exactly why you're there, what you want, and what your level of training/knowledge is. They will steer you right into getting the training you need and finding the right weapon for your needs and abilities.

Once you find your weapon, you need to PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE. It does you no good to take the class, buy the gun, and then stick it in a closet with a box of ammo, forgotten until you need it. You'll die fumbling with the gun if you ever need it to save your life. Half-asleep at 3 am and loaded with adrenaline is not the time to be familiarizing yourself with the weapon. At the point you need to use it, you will be reliant on training and muscle memory to save your life and the only way to gain that is to put hundreds or thousands of rounds downrange and to keep doing it over time to maintain your skills. It'll be on you to regularly go to the range to maintain your skills and familiarity with the weapon. This is why finding a weapon you really like to shoot is so critical. If going to the range is a pleasant experience, you're more likely to put in the required repetition to really gain the level of proficiency you'll need to protect yourself.

Do all that and you'll be well on your way to being able to protect you and yours.

Good luck, HAVE FUN WITH IT, and remember: PRACTICE.

OP, call a local police supply and see if they have any used Glocks for sale. You can typically get an agency trade in for cheap. It will be used, but Glocks are good for thousands of rounds.


With the money you save, buy lots of practice ammo and get proficient. It's one thing to own a gun... it's another thing to discharge it and hit someone you didn't mean to.