First time gun owner.

A glock 9 would be a great 1st gun for everything. Some make fun of a 9mm and call it a sissy gun, girls gun, etc. But, any glock 9mm will accept the glock 33rd mag. When you slam that broom handle up its azz it becomes a mans gun then. You just can't make fun of a pistol with a 33 rnd mag.

Expect to pay $500-600 for a relable top brand handgun that you can shoot day after day, and not have to worry about reliablity issues.

As far as semi autos go, anything in that price range is going to be a pretty good gun, go with the one that feels the best in your hand, and the easiest for you to understand and use.

I chose the Springfield Armory XD as my main weapon because I'm left handed. It is truely a right or left handed gun with a mag release on both sides and no manual safety switch to mess with in the heat of the moment. It has the trigger safety of a glock, with the palm safety of a Kimber. Both have to be pressed before it will fire, and that's easily done with a light but good grip on it. She's under the bed, and ready to go right now. I don't have to worry about remembering to flip the safety off, and it's perfectly safe and cannot fire as long as I don't have a grip on it.

I love her.

Here you go again, this site with all the people and great advise. You can not beat the friendly advise and experiance that the members on here can give in so many areas, not limited to our great sport of rididing. As I read through these comments and suggestions . The members are all a right. No single answer is wrong. You must consider what you want to use your firearm for, you must be comfortable with it . not afraid of it. Know how to use it , clean it ,store it , and carry it. If its just HOME DEFENSE--scatter gun. cant go wrong. Carry conceal go to a range try a few out. dont go to large to be macho, if you dont like firing the large gun in practice, you will probably not fire it when you need it, from not being comfortable with it. Be sure Jen can use also, if your not at home she may need to use.

Having pulled my gun on a invader in my home at 2 in the moring , all I can tell you is I am glad I had a 80 LB boxer( a animal in the home is highly recomended by police ) ..... I shook with the thought of firing as I was looking at my neighbors bedroom window past the invader ... There is no price too high for the correct gun , don't put a price tag guide you to a weapon , wait for money to purchase the gun that fits ... Have a heathy dose of fear/respect for any weapon . Get a Dog Tbone... Women love dogs ....

I recommend go & shoot some guns to get a feel for what you like. Then you will have an idea of what you will like. I have shot guns for some time & have had several buddies that let me shoot there as well. I have some favorites & like some more than others. Its true, don't put a price tag on security & protection when it comes to your life.

In my neck of the woods home invasions are a daily occurrence. For that reason I have loaded guns through out the house. The basement, kitchen and bedroom. A total of five. When I do decide to answer the door bell ( most often I don't) I arm myself. When the grand kids come around I put them away, when they leave I put them back. I'm not paranoid, just aware of what goes on around here and take precautions. Most people go through life blissfully unaware or deliberately ignore their surroundings in the hope that someone will rescue them if something happens. They call them victims or liberals. I have had two people with guns try to kill me, face to face, and I'm still here.
A reminder...Having to get a license to carry a gun is unconstitutional. It's your right.

Wild wonderful W. Va. Love to get away.

TBONE21 wrote:

I wanted to ask you guys what a good pistol would be good to buy for someone new to it.
I'm wanting to have a gun in my house. I have always been scared of guns and have never felt any situation needed one.
I don't live in a bad area but would like to have a gun just in case. I really like the glock and want one.
Our family has tons of guns but I have always strayed away from them. I have never shot one nor been near one live.
Suggestions and pics would be appreciated. It's time for t bone to buy a gun.

Thanks guys!

Why don't you ask your family to help you decide...if my family had tons of guns they would be the first ones I would go to....

groundhog wrote:

In my neck of the woods home invasions are a daily occurrence. For that reason I have loaded guns through out the house. The basement, kitchen and bedroom. A total of five. When I do decide to answer the door bell ( most often I don't) I arm myself. When the grand kids come around I put them away, when they leave I put them back. I'm not paranoid, just aware of what goes on around here and take precautions. Most people go through life blissfully unaware or deliberately ignore their surroundings in the hope that someone will rescue them if something happens. They call them victims or liberals. I have had two people with guns try to kill me, face to face, and I'm still here.
A reminder...Having to get a license to carry a gun is unconstitutional. It's your right.

Wild wonderful W. Va. Love to get away.

groundhog for president....

I'm a concealed carry permit holder now for 6 years.I carry my glock everywhere i go that allows me.I'm like you,not paranoid just aware.What ever you decide to buy just make sure you join a range and shoot that gun every chance you get. Some people buy then shoot it one time and think they are prepared. The more range time you can get to build your knowledge of your weapon the better. And remember a good gun safe is priceless. good luck with your purchase.

BUBBA this is family, thats why he asked us

T-Bone I am a big gun control activast----- You need to control the gun to hit your target

A retired federal marshall told me that to many people had watched to durn much TV, and decided from their vewing that it was best/cool to pump the slide of a shot gun or rack a auto pistol. He said that that is a durn good way to let the bad guy know excately where you are at! It makes sense if ya think about it. I my self would rather get the first shot in than let the bad guy know where I was sitting and let him get in the first shot. But your opions may vary!!!lol

JUST GET AN UGLY WIFE.

Glock, I have had Glocks for a long time. Hard to beat. I have a sub compact 27 40 cal and a 19 full size 9mm

and a slim 9mm kel tec single stack for conceal carry

stay away from 380 ammo is high.

^^^^^^ 19 is the mid size 9mm the 17 is the full size.

tbone if you were in the area id be glad to take you out to the range and let you shoot a few diffrent pistols. i have 25 or so of my own, plus anything used in the gun shop we can take out.

groundhog wrote:

In my neck of the woods home invasions are a daily occurrence. For that reason I have loaded guns through out the house. The basement, kitchen and bedroom. A total of five. When I do decide to answer the door bell ( most often I don't) I arm myself. When the grand kids come around I put them away, when they leave I put them back. I'm not paranoid, just aware of what goes on around here and take precautions. Most people go through life blissfully unaware or deliberately ignore their surroundings in the hope that someone will rescue them if something happens. They call them victims or liberals. I have had two people with guns try to kill me, face to face, and I'm still here.
A reminder...Having to get a license to carry a gun is unconstitutional. It's your right.

Wild wonderful W. Va. Love to get away.

Groundhog for President!!! Wish everybody seen things the way you do!!!

I will agree with carolinarhino short shot gun .and don't go running around the house looking for intruder let them find you! But if you are going to carry get a glock! Most police around here carry one.

I too, am in love with my Glocks. Everybody has their favorite brand, style, action, caliber, etc. You too will soon be engulfed in the sea of guns.

That being said, the weekend of January 28-29, the Greensboro gun show will have every gun you could possible imagine. I'm going, you can go with me or somebody else that knows guns and learn a whole lot.

I would definitely recommend getting your Concealed Carry Permit. Like somebody said earlier, you learn a lot from that class, especially if you are new to guns.

If you want to go to the gun show let me know, I'm definitely going.

67chevelle wrote:

I'm a concealed carry permit holder now for 6 years.I carry my glock everywhere i go that allows me.I'm like you,not paranoid just aware.What ever you decide to buy just make sure you join a range and shoot that gun every chance you get. Some people buy then shoot it one time and think they are prepared. The more range time you can get to build your knowledge of your weapon the better. And remember a good gun safe is priceless. good luck with your purchase.

GREAT ADVICE !

handymancanfixit wrote:

I too, am in love with my Glocks. Everybody has their favorite brand, style, action, caliber, etc. You too will soon be engulfed in the sea of guns.

That being said, the weekend of January 28-29, the Greensboro gun show will have every gun you could possible imagine. I'm going, you can go with me or somebody else that knows guns and learn a whole lot.

I would definitely recommend getting your Concealed Carry Permit. Like somebody said earlier, you learn a lot from that class, especially if you are new to guns.

If you want to go to the gun show let me know, I'm definitely going.

Let me know!! If I am not riding I am there like stink on

JimBob wrote:

JUST GET AN UGLY WIFE.

I hope you are not speaking from experience

Get one that feels good in your hand, be it a glock, xd, or s& w MP. Then shoot it and shoot it, if you don't like it get another one! Did I mention practice, practice and practice! You want to be on intimate terms with a self defense gun, know it inside and out. When someone azzhole kicks your door down at 2 am and you wake up suddenly, is not the time to figure out how it works. I carry a colt 1911 a1 compact with a bunch of work done to it, but a 1911 is not a beginners gun, to much going on. A laser sight is great for self defense, especially if you wear glasses. When you buy a handgun also get a membership in the NRA, just because it's a right, don't mean we don't have to fight to keep it.

all this talk of glocks got me in the mood. i picked up a full size 9mm this eve. the glock 17. figured id add it to the colection.

also picked up a S&W MP22 its basicly a ar15 look a like chanbered in 22LR. should be a blast to shoot and cheap

jbeane wrote:

all this talk of glocks got me in the mood. i picked up a full size 9mm this eve. the glock 17. figured id add it to the colection.

also picked up a S&W MP22 its basicly a ar15 look a like chanbered in 22LR. should be a blast to shoot and cheap

i'm glad it isnt just me jbeane, i've been checking out the local gun shops circular.

I'm gonna have to stop in St Albans and check out the shop when we come through there.

With all this great help you probably don't need another opinion, but here's my anyway. I have a 9mm Luger and don't like to shoot it. Recoil and stubby barrel makes rapid fire a little difficult to be accurate. I have had a Taurus .45 with the same issue, to the extreme. 38 caliber is considered, by many, to be the smallest effective personal protection bullet.

Though I practice once a month, I'm not going to depend on one shot to stop a threat. So I wanted a pistol that I could make multiple, rapid fire, torso shots. Well I picked the .380. A Bersa is my outdoor gun and a Keltec is my pocket pistol. I load my own ammo so I picked a hot load for a 77 gr. Magtech hollow point. The Keltec is double action and always ready to go in a pocket holster.

Oh, yeah, if you decide on a big-bore make sure your lady won't be too intimidated to shoot it.

Gadget wrote:

I'm gonna have to stop in St Albans and check out the shop when we come through there.

come on down. jet same goes for you. if your ever through charleston area stop on in.