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Thread: Trouble picking first hand gun

  1. #1
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    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 View Post
    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.
    Last edited by Bodhi; 01-05-13 at 02:57.

  2. #2
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    Don't worry about the accuracy of the M&P. pick one up and you won't regret it.

  3. #3
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    There's a good thread stickied in the terminal ballistics subforum where Doc GKR talks about duty handguns/caliber. It should be required reading for anyone looking to get they're first gun.

    Both the glock and M&P are solid handguns, and would serve you well. Try to get some trigger time on each one and go with the one you like best. Guns are mechanical and can have issues, no matter what you buy. Get something that fits you to get started and if you notice issues there are steps to address them. (Getting a fitted barrel to fix accuracy problems on the M&P and Apex extractor for the glock)

    Good luck and welcome
    ________________________________

    What anti gun people need to understand about gun control: It's like peeing in your pants on a cold night in Ranger School. It feels pretty good at first, but it is certainly not a solution to anything.

  4. #4
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    I would concur with the other replies so far. Try out the glock and the M&P. As stated before, if there are issues with these guns, you can get them corrected. They are both solid choices, but I prefer the glock due to the availability of aftermarket parts and support. Good luck.

  5. #5
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    Walther, used HK, maybe used Glock 26, etc. Not personally an M&P fan, different issue every year or two in its 7 years but popularity was/is pushed by the right people - other pistols don't seem to get the same pass.

  6. #6
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    I have an M&P 9L, a Glock 19 (Gen 3), and a Walther PPQ. The M&P had some accuracy issues, solved with a $200 barrel upgrade and a trigger issue, solved with a $60 DCAEK. The Glock had ejection issues, solved with a $70 Apex extractor upgrade (this is not a universal solution to the Glock Gen 3 issues...worked for me but not for others). The Walther PPQ ($525) has been perfect for me...an extremely accurate, completely reliable pistol with an excellent trigger right out of the box. Essentially the same size and weight as my Glock 19, it's an excellent carry gun.

  7. #7
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    The accuracy issues with the m&p are not as widespread as you may be led to believe from reading Internet forums. Most of the time, only those with problems speak up and that story may be retold a few times which can make it seem that the problems are much more common than they really are.
    If you get a bad m&p, the problem can be solved with a match barrel from g&r.
    Also, I think the accuracy issues with the m&p are limited to the 9mm. If I were in a place where I was limited to 10 rd mags, I think I would be looking at a 40 or 45.
    I have experience with all 3 of the platforms you are thinking about, and I would immediately stop looking at the xd. Glocks and m&p just comes down to personal preference in my opinion, but the m&p will have less felt recoil in 40 or 45 than the glock.

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by Hmac View Post
    I have an M&P 9L, a Glock 19 (Gen 3), and a Walther PPQ. The M&P had some accuracy issues, solved with a $200 barrel upgrade and a trigger issue, solved with a $60 DCAEK. The Glock had ejection issues, solved with a $70 Apex extractor upgrade (this is not a universal solution to the Glock Gen 3 issues...worked for me but not for others). The Walther PPQ ($525) has been perfect for me...an extremely accurate, completely reliable pistol with an excellent trigger right out of the box. Essentially the same size and weight as my Glock 19, it's an excellent carry gun.
    Ugh...but at that point i'm spending $750+ on a M&P, that's HK money...

    Quote Originally Posted by Breadman View Post
    The accuracy issues with the m&p are not as widespread as you may be led to believe from reading Internet forums. Most of the time, only those with problems speak up and that story may be retold a few times which can make it seem that the problems are much more common than they really are.
    If you get a bad m&p, the problem can be solved with a match barrel from g&r.
    Also, I think the accuracy issues with the m&p are limited to the 9mm. If I were in a place where I was limited to 10 rd mags, I think I would be looking at a 40 or 45.
    I have experience with all 3 of the platforms you are thinking about, and I would immediately stop looking at the xd. Glocks and m&p just comes down to personal preference in my opinion, but the m&p will have less felt recoil in 40 or 45 than the glock.
    Even for a first gun? I've noticed the .40 is more available with the M&P and for some reason, it's $10-$20 cheaper than the 9mm version and it doesn't suffer from the accuracy issue...hrmm.

  9. #9
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    Provided you have average grip strength and proper grip on the pistol, you won't have any problem with either.
    The main drawback is the cost of ammunition.

  10. #10
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    You're way overthinking this.

    Most M&Ps don't have an accuracy problem. Mine shoot just fine with factory barrels including one that will shoot nice little clover leafs at 25 yards from a benchrest. Have some M&Ps displayed accuracy problems for some really good shooters? Yes but that said you're looking at accuracy in the wrong light.

    You're far too concerned with potential accuracy (measurable only on a bench) of a product that you haven't even purchased...accuracy that as a new shooter you may or may not even be able to exceed for several years. Accuracy is not an absolute and there are many factors that go into it over and above sight alignment and trigger pull.

    If you really like the M&P and you shoot it better than your other options, who gives a long wet fart what the interwebs tell you about its accuracy?

    Just pick a gun and shoot it. Take classes, build your skills. If you run into reasons down the road that compel you to switch...do so. If you really like your M&P and you can quantify an accuracy problem, than a $200 barrel fix is cheaper than buying a new gun. It makes ZERO sense for you to invest $750 into an M&P when you aren't even skilled enough to be able to quantify when you're having an accuracy problem, or the gun is. Consider it an initial investment of $1000, you can A) get a $1000 HK, no ammo and no training, or B) get a $500 M&P, 1000 rounds of ammo and a two-day class. During that class you'll get to put the gun through its paces and figure out its quirks, the instructor can also tell you if you're one of the unlucky ones who got a bad barrel.

    This is one of the reasons I hate the internet and gun forums in particular. Someone who doesn't know any better hears something about the "accuracy" of a gun, or "slide bite" or "unreliability", or "the slide disintegrates after 10K rounds" and takes it as gospel truth. In reality said person is probably parroting things 4th or 5th hand, and doesn't have a clue. Not all opinions on the interwebs (or gun forums) are equal.

    Pick a gun, run it. Change if needed. Enough said.

    Learn it, live it and stop giving a shit what other people think.
    Last edited by Gutshot John; 12-31-12 at 15:26.
    It is bad policy to fear the resentment of an enemy. -Ethan Allen

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