First Time Handgun Buyers Advice:

[MarcSpaz]

Even though I don't have a Ruger now... I like Ruger a lot more than SW. The only 2 SW weapons I ever bought both had what I felt to be significant manufacturing defects. I've been told it is just complete and total bad luck... but I will likely never buy another SW product again.

That said... many, many people, including LEO's, swear by the M&P series of weapons.

In general, I think it comes down to personal preference.

[Chasbo00]

OP, you might want to consider what pistols police departments and other law enforcement agencies use. They usually do their homework regarding what is a good and reliable service gun. I don't recall any using Rugers, though there may well be some. That said, Ruger's 22 handguns are excellent, but I would not recommend them for anything other than target shooting, plinking and small game hunting. Ruger revolvers are pretty good too.

[SeniorXJ]

If I got the M&P, is it worth the effort of getting a DIY trigger job, OR, paying a gunsmith do it at a fair rate?

[Chasbo00]

If I got the M&P, is it worth the effort of getting a DIY trigger job, OR, paying a gunsmith do it at a fair rate?

I recommend you first learn to shoot it well while it's stock. After you have done this, you will most likely be the best person to answer your question.

[MarcSpaz]

OP, you might want to consider what pistols police departments and other law enforcement agencies use.

Isn't that a Glock? I read on several occasions on reputable sites that more military and police around the world use Glock pistols and FN rifles than any other brands available.

[Chasbo00]

OP, you might want to consider what pistols police departments and other law enforcement agencies use.

Isn't that a Glock? I read on several occasions on reputable sites that more military and police around the world use Glock pistols and FN rifles than any other brands available.

Glocks, M&Ps, Berettas, H&Ks, and Sigs are probably the main ones used by LE; I think Glocks still are the most popular among that group. Glock still makes the best Tupperware pistol in my opinion.

I don't keep up with rifles much anymore, so I really don't know what is going on there. However, with a lot of LE outfits, I suspect many of their rifles are AR hand-me-downs from the military.

[MarcSpaz]

I haven't priced out Glocks lately, I wonder if you can get a gen 3 Glock 19 in the $400 range? That might be a nice candidate to toss in the mix with the M&P and the SR9.

Not sure about hand-me-down rifles, though I wouldn't rule that out. I have some friends and one of my cousins who paid for and use their own. My cousin bought a Colt M4, but my friends both picked up M&P15's. That is kind of cool on one hand, but lame that they needed to on the other. Makes me wonder what, if anything, they were offered as department issue.

[SeniorXJ]

Can u guys do me a simple favor & tell me if u run into any used sales of the Ruger SR9, 9E, or SR9C? Also the S&W M&P, & the S&W SD9ve!
Thank You!

I thank u all so much for all the help!

Is there a paying member option for this forum, & if so, what are the requirements?

[SeniorXJ]

Good news! My VA license just came in the mail today & I have 4 solid gold rings, one being 24k & im gonna head over to the pawnshop with a range down the road & ill be sure to let u guys know how it goes!!

[MarcSpaz]

Nice! Good luck. Be safe.

[SeniorXJ]

Check out your local Colonial Shoot academy... they rent everything. And once you're done messing around, pony up a few extra bucks and buy a new CZ P-07 for $425 or so. you'll thank me down the road. all of them come with a shot report in the box so you can see just how accurate they are right out of the box...

http://www.damascusgunshop.com/shop/pis ... y-9mm.html

Called Colonial Shooting Academy up to get some info & pricing, & here's what I got:
$20 for 1 hour on the range, (no problem),
Box of 50 rounds, price varies, (non problem),
$17 bucks for 2 pistols only for that one hour & an additional $17 bucks everytime I want to try something else!!

I understand paying for the range time, ammo & all, but if i'm a 1st time buyer & I gotta pay $17 bucks everytime I wanna try another model, I think not!! I understand I cant go trying out every gun in the store, but how can I make a purchase when im $74 bucks in the hole after shooting just 4 handguns.?

This is a huge blow to both budget & confidence in what im buying is what I really want...

[SeniorXJ]

Called up Bob's Gun Shop & got a much different feel. He invite me to cpme on down handle as many as id like, narrow it down, $10 for the range, $ for a box of ammo, & the 1st one, maybe 2 is on them, & its $5 per gun past that. I'll be on my way there shortly & ill letcha know how all goes!

[ProShooter]

Called Colonial Shooting Academy up to get some info & pricing, & here's what I got:..................................................This is a huge blow to both budget & confidence in what im buying is what I really want...

Someone's got to pay for that 16 million dollar range!

[SeniorXJ]

Went to Bobs today & got a chance to play around a bit. Great service all around for starters. They didn't have the Ruger 9E so I got some range time in with the Ruger SR9. They also didn't have the S&W SD40 VE cause there flying off the shelves & so I got some range time with the S&W M&P. Both guns felt very similar in almost every way. Not a fan of the internal safety VS the thumb & I liked the 3 dot sites better but of course those can be swapped out & the triggers weren't an issue for me, but the Ruger was a bit better.

Shot the Ruger 1st & I failed to mention that I have Carpel Tunnel in both wrists & bad tendinitis in my left thumb making loading the mags difficult for me. Since I shot the Ruger 1st & that i forgot my braces, I was much more accurate getting all but 2 rounds in the black at half way. Full range was wider but kept a decent grouping. My last test was a full mag as fast as possible at 10ft & results were as expected.

The M&P sites weren't as visible so I took a bit more time & the mag had been broken in better so it was easier to load. Groupings not as good but my hands were getting tested & my shoulders were sour from the gym. Only thing I changed was to do quick double taps at 10ft hoping for less spray & pray but it was a wash.

I did handle the CZ'z & there slides were heavy & trigger pull was way long & the Glock 19 seemed to feel as good as the others but I opted not to shoot one cause the price jump for me wasn't worth it.

All in all, ill be going down to Superior cause I have quite a bit of gold from those teenage yrs & may try to make a clean swap probably for the Ruger 9E or SR9!

[SeniorXJ]

So I found some aftermarket stuff that id like to get & figured id ask about the quality of these VS price:

Speed loader which is a must $32 bucks:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001HBHNHE/ref ... 1KR96DXCAZ

17 round magazines for $34 bucks:
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/136624 ... 1366247443

More visible Green front sight $40 bucks:
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/219139 ... uctFinding

AND a nice grip handle which was almost a must as well $11 bucks:
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/763331 ... ugv1763331

SO, does anyone have any knowledge & advice for these products, as in are they too cheap, "you get what u pay for" kinda thing, or are they good for the money? Oh & there all for the Ruger SR9 which I chose to go for due to the aftermarket!!

[trailrunner]

So I found some aftermarket stuff that id like to get & figured id ask about the quality of these VS price:

Speed loader which is a must $32 bucks:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001HBHNHE/ref ... 1KR96DXCAZ

17 round magazines for $34 bucks:
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/136624 ... 1366247443

More visible Green front sight $40 bucks:
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/219139 ... uctFinding

AND a nice grip handle which was almost a must as well $11 bucks:
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/763331 ... ugv1763331

SO, does anyone have any knowledge & advice for these products, as in are they too cheap, "you get what u pay for" kinda thing, or are they good for the money? Oh & there all for the Ruger SR9 which I chose to go for due to the aftermarket!!

The loader is a very, very popular device. I have one. However, mine is unused. I am so used to loading mags without any kind of helper that after I bought my fancy loader I've never used it. I took a training class this weekend, and at least half the class had that loader, if not the entire class. Mine stayed in my range bag.

You can't go wrong buying a factory mag. And I'm a bit of a hoarder when it comes to mags, because I lived through the AWB when I was limited to 10-round mags. Therefore, I now stockpile high-cap mags and buy them when I can.

Fiberoptic sights are popular and can be a nice upgrade to stock sights. You might also consider night sights. You also have to figure out how to install the sights. Some guns are easier than others. I've done it on my Glocks several times, but I'm not familiar with the SR9.

I'm personally not a fan of the slip-on grips. That's just my opinion.

Having said all this, the best accessories you can buy for your gun is ammunition and range time.

BTW, have you started to shop for holsters yet?

[SeniorXJ]

Went over to Superior Pawn & Gun, (5min from my house), since I had some old gold collecting dust. Took it there & got me a Ruger SR9 new in the case & four 17 round magazines straight up! Came home & ordered me a tactical flashlight, tactical hand grip, & blue & yellow high visibility colored sight paint!

So I thank u all & will post up some pics soon. Oh 1 thing, are there any black Friday sales going on for 9mm ammo? I want to buy a 1000 round box all for range time so cheap & nothing special is needed. Let me know & thanks again!!!