Trouble picking first hand gun
I know there's dozens of threads on picking peoples first handgun.
I am new to shooting, my top three contenders were the most popular and expected guns you would find in these types of threads: the M&P9, Glock 17 or 19, and the XD9.
The M&P felt great in my hands, the XD also felt pretty good, just not as much of an instant comfort as the M&P. And the glock felt like something I could get used to, a bit like holding a block of wood though.
Here's the dilemma, I was dead-set on getting the M&P 9, but after reading all these problems with the accuracy, i'm a bit discouraged about getting one. I want the accuracy to be blamed solely on me, the shooter, not the gun.
The glock has numerous threads on reliability issues with the gen4 and being that I want to buy new, a gen3 would be out of the question.
The XD is always talked about with its reliability. But the general consensus from most of the posters here, who are obviously more experienced and seasoned, say that the XD doesn't hold a candle to the glock or the M&P. Although, everywhere I have read, it isn't picky on ammo at all.
I don't want to spend more than $550. This will be used for the range, but it'll double as a home defense weapon, as it will be my first gun.
Should I be discouraged by either the M&P accuracy problem or the Glock's extractor issue? Also, i'm in California, so I'd have to get the 10 round mags, which from what I've been reading in a recent thread, a lot of people are having problems with...
The only thing stopping me from purchasing a handgun is deciding which one, at this point. I've already obtained my HSC about a week back.
Part of me just wants to take the gamble on the M&P, but it'd be frustrating to find out if I got one that wasn't accurate out of the box. I've gambled with reliability issues on a major purchase before, I mean, I drive a VW, but I don't want to do the same for something that I may use one day for defense.
I do live in California, I do not plan on carrying whatever what I decide on.
EDIT: Buying a glock 19 after renting one today, see:
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Bodhi
Well, my father and I went shooting today, we brought his Smith and Wesson S9VE, which probably got more use today than it ever has. I rented a Glock 19...he's also been eying a glock for many years, but never bought one.
We loaded both guns up, he fired 5 from his gun, then 5 rounds from the glock. I did the same. We both agreed the glock is insanely great. I loved it, I was having a blast, no pun intended. We ended up putting about 150 rounds through the glock. We both want one, bad. The 19 fits in my hand perfectly, I had held a 17 before, but never a 19.
Thanks for the suggestions guys! I'm shopping for a 19 for now, i'm also about to do a boat load of research on the different generations. I fired a Gen 3 today with no problems, my dad's SV9E stove piped today, but other than that, his gun performed well, but it was no glock.