First handgun on the cheap?

[Accumulator]

Gun rentals are always the way to go! I thought I would like a number of guns that I didn't end up really enjoying ...

Good advice :xyxthumbs



Try different types (revolvers, semi-autos) and calibers (.22, .38, 9mm for starters). Don't choose something small for a first gun, get something that fits your hand and has at least a 4" barrel so you can work on sight alignment and you can see the sight picture change if you mess up your trigger squeeze.



FWIW my wife, with no previous experience, quickly settled on (and became quite good with) the .45 Colt Govt. model but a lot of big tough guys shoot a *lot* better with the smaller calibers that she quickly outgrew. Everybody is different and you gotta find what works for *you*.



But whatever you choose, *GET PROFESSIONAL INSTRUCTION* from somebody good. 99.999% of the people with handguns are downright incompetent with them, even if they *have* fired thousands of rounds

 

[lbcsublime9]

first off definetly rent the gun before you buy one



a 9mm is your best bet, most common and cheap effective bullet



get safety and training classes



know your laws on concealed carry



my recommendations



springfield armory XD 9mm or in sub com or compact, reliable, accurate, and i think it has a 1911 type of grip angle about $500-600



glock 26 or 19, reliable, smaller than XD, has a longer barrel, 500-650



hk p2000 subcompact, not as small as the other 2, i never had personal experience with the gun but its definetly alittle bigger, and just as reliable. 800-900



you can always go used too, lots of smith and wessons on the used market, they are nice and reliable, also take in consideration a safety, none of the guns i mentioned have an external safety, if your gun is holstered you shouldnt have to worry about it going off.



there are many more but those would be my carry choices, you can choose pretty much any caliber with the glock too.



my choice of gun for carry would be either of those, but i really want a hk usp compact in 40 caliber and a sig sauer p229 or p226 in .357 sig