New Hand Gun

[wcc]

I want to get a new hand gun. i would like to participate in the http://www.idpa.com/ competitions and have a nice compact future CCW.

What would you recommend? I've been looking at the Glock 19 & 34. Some others?

How can I tell if it's a good gun for me while standing in the store? What I've done in the past is find a target (usually a decoration, or light) and focus on it, close my eyes and try to point the gun at the target and the closer I was was the gun 'more' fit for me. Any other tips or tricks?

I'd like to keep it under 1k so keep that in mind......

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Love my Glock 17. But for competition I'd probably recommend the 34 for 9x19 shooting. I believe the 19 is technically a compact and not really intended for competition (although you could probably use it if you wanted). The 34 is specifically intended for it AFAIK.

Best of luck. Group tight.

[wcc]

Thanks POP. I think the 19 is basically the same as the 17 only a little smaller. That my be the good all around choice. The 34 seemed to be the best for IDPA but I think it may be bother/cumbersome as a CCW. I'm trying to find the 'best of both worlds'.

[Nine17]

I'm a SIG-Sauer guy. Dead-accurate. Dead-reliable. Great-handling. Good selection of calibers and sizes. I've never cared for the Glock. Just a matter of personal taste, I guess...

[nostatic]

Most any Sig, but I just prefer them to Glocks. If you want a tad smaller than full size then a p229 or a p220 carry if you want .45acp.

http://www.sigsauer.com/Products/ShowCatalogProductDetails.aspx?categoryid=8&productid=63



http://www.sigsauer.com/Products/ShowCatalogProductDetails.aspx?categoryid=37&productid=149

[wcc]

Originally Posted by Nine17

I'm a SIG-Sauer guy. Dead-accurate. Dead-reliable. Great-handling. Good selection of calibers and sizes. I've never cared for the Glock. Just a matter of personal taste, I guess...

What Sig would you recommend? I've looked at a few of those but the size for a CCW was bigger and heavier then the GLOCK. I'm open to suggestions.

[wcc]

Originally Posted by nostatic

Most any Sig, but I just prefer them to Glocks. If you want a tad smaller than full size then a p229 or a p220 carry if you want .45acp.

http://www.sigsauer.com/Products/ShowCatalogProductDetails.aspx?categoryid=8&productid=63



http://www.sigsauer.com/Products/ShowCatalogProductDetails.aspx?categoryid=37&productid=149

Now that's a possibility. I didn't look at that one. I'll have to get one in my hands and see how it feels. What do they go for?

[Nine17]

Originally Posted by wcc

What Sig would you recommend?

It's pictured above. P220 might not be as small and light as some, but do you want a gun or the idea of a gun? What do they say? Go big or go home...

[nostatic]

Originally Posted by wcc

Now that's a possibility. I didn't look at that one. I'll have to get one in my hands and see how it feels. What do they go for?

Pretty much every Sig is under $1K. I love the feel - less "blocky" than the grip on a Glock and I prefer the trigger feel. But that is a personal thing.

The p229 can be had in 9mm, 40SW or 357Sig. The p220 is .45ACP single stack, and you can get full size, carry, or compact size.

You can get an idea of prices here:

http://www.impactguns.com/store/sig_p220.html

http://www.impactguns.com/store/sig_p229.html

[wcc]

Originally Posted by Nine17

It's pictured above. P220 might not be as small and light as some, but do you want a gun or the idea of a gun? What do they say? Go big or go home...

I need to look at that one. I just want to minimize the feel of actually carrying one. Of course after a while I'd feel naked without it like a watch. Would this P220 be a good one for the IDPA?

[wcc]

Originally Posted by nostatic

Pretty much every Sig is under $1K. I love the feel - less "blocky" than the grip on a Glock and I prefer the trigger feel. But that is a personal thing.

The p229 can be had in 9mm, 40SW or 357Sig. The p220 is .45ACP single stack, and you can get full size, carry, or compact size.

You can get an idea of prices here:

http://www.impactguns.com/store/sig_p220.html

http://www.impactguns.com/store/sig_p229.html

Thanks for the links...

[Nine17]

Originally Posted by nostatic

I love the feel - less "blocky" than the grip on a Glock and I prefer the trigger feel.

Word. The Glock trigger-safety has always felt flimsy and uncertain to me. I always know what my SIG-Sauer is doing. Some people tell me that they don't like the transition from double-action to single-action on the first round, but I think that it's a matter of getting acclimated. I learned to shoot handguns with double-action revolvers. I like the notion that you have to really mean it to fire that first round. Double- or single-action the SIG has a very positive trigger action. More serious, and guns ought to be taken seriously.

[alf]

I use a Sig 228 for IDPA. I like it better than Glocks.

[Rick Lee]

If you get a SIG, you still need to decide if you want SAO or DAO. I used a P229 for an IDPA match once that was sponsored by SIG. You'd have been amazed by how many people missed the target on the first shot from around 10' away because no one ever practices shooting on double-action after drawing from a holster. IIRC, on Glocks, the trigger pull is always the same, 1st and 2nd shot. Not so on a SIG.

[m21sniper]

I would stay away from glocks if you are a novice. No safety, short trigger pull. Not a good design IMO.

[peppy]

Originally Posted by m21sniper

I would stay away from glocks if you are a novice. No safety, short trigger pull.

+1

I on the other hand really like my glock 27.

[Tim Hancock]

Bill, I have a friend who started competing those competitions several years ago. Prior to that he did not own a handgun. He now has 9 Glocks, some modded, some stock in .40, 9mm and 45. He was number 2 in the state in one of his classes and competed at a national event down south. I personally hate Glocks, but apparently they are right up at the top of the list for those type of competitions.

Why not pick up a Glock for competition and also pick up nice smaller gun for carry maybe like a Makorov, FEG PA-63, Bersa thunder etc. A cheaper but reliable gun like these make more sense to me for carry as you won't worry so much about exposing them to day to day carry abuse (sweat, lint, scrapes) and if you have to leave it in the car and it gets stolen, you will only be out a couple hundred bucks.
I know several hard core gun "nuts" who own very large quantities of very high end expensive guns, yet many of them choose to "day to day carry" the kinds of pistols I mentioned.

Bersa (.380 auto) and FEG PA-63 (9 x 18 Makarov)

[jyl]

Go to a good range and rent different guns.

Advantages of glocks:
- Simple operation. Pull trigger, bang. Like a revolver. No safety necessary if you train yourself to keep your finger out of the trigger guard until you are on target, which is pretty much gun safety 101. The trigger pull can be as heavy or light as you want, by the way. But the idea that a long or heavy trigger pull makes a gun safer is misguided.
- very reliable.
- easy and inexpensive to customize. Not like a 1911 where everything needs gunsmith fitting, or a SIG which are always stock. See custom Glock racing (thats the website) for example. Want to change your trigger pull? Buy a $10 part and drop it in. How do you change the trigger pull on a SIG?

Disadvantages:
- Grip is rather blocky and has the big finger ribs. Well, you can remove them easily.
- Some people tend to shoot low and left, more with glocks than with other guns. It's all about the trigger pull ( yours, not the gun's).

Important question:
Will this be your first gun, or first handgun?

I want to get a new hand gun. i would like to participate in the http://www.idpa.com/ competitions and have a nice compact future CCW.



What would you recommend? I've been looking at the Glock 19 & 34. Some others?



How can I tell if it's a good gun for me while standing in the store? What I've done in the past is find a target (usually a decoration, or light) and focus on it, close my eyes and try to point the gun at the target and the closer I was was the gun 'more' fit for me. Any other tips or tricks?



I'd like to keep it under 1k so keep that in mind......

[Porsche-O-Phile]

EXACTLY what jyl said. Keep your $(%&*&@!!! finger off the trigger and out of the guard until you're ready to fire. This should be burned into anyone's head who owns a gun from Day #1. Even beforehand. It should be instinctive so when you're awakened from a deep sleep and not thinking clearly when the local crackhead kicks your front window in looking for crap to steal, you can grab/unholster your weapon and not blow a hole in your foot or in the wall because you were stupid and "forgot" to keep your finger off the trigger. This should be ABSOLUTELY instinctive. No excuses. You should be able to holster/unholster a pistol without EVER getting your finger near the trigger or in the guard. Practice 5000 times until you can do it in your sleep.

I like the Glock as a "nightstand" weapon precisely because it's so uncomplicated and idiot-proof. In the middle of a panic situation (intruder breaks into home in the middle of the night) I don't want to be fumbling around trying to remember the safety, etc. Grab, aim, assess threat ("freeze, don't move!") and if necessary squeeze repeatedly until gun goes "click click click". Simple. No likelihood you'll lose initiative with one.

The Sigs are nice guns too admittedly - personal choice. I actually like the Glock trigger pull. It's not as "crisp" as the Sig, but it's consistent and behaves predictably. I recently picked up a Beretta too, which I love and is stunningly accurate for a 3" barrel, but I don't like double-action and multiple safeties for a self-defense weapon. The Glock is stupid simple - single action, no safeties except the "accidental" trigger safety (which I've never had to rely on, incidentally). Chamber a round and you're ready to rock and roll on (literally) a half-second's notice. Grab, point, squeeze, bang. That fast. And it's never jammed on me - either - not once. And I've probably fired a couple thousand rounds through it. Reliable as a hammer.

[wcc]

Yes, this will be my first hand gun. I've never owned one before but have shot a few over the years. I do not put my finger on the trigger until the target is in sight. I learned that lesson years ago and every time I pick up a gun that's what I do.

Tim Hancock - good point. Maybe I should look into getting a couple of them. I could probably get both of them for my budget. Not a bad idea!