First spoon Walther PDP or H&K VP9?
 

I'm looking to buy my first handgun and I've been doing the research.

I'm primarily looking to use it for recreational shooting, not home defense or carry.

I think I've landed on either the Walther PDP or H&K VP9. I'm looking specifically at the 10rd models and optic ready.

Any thoughts on these two? The Walther seems to be a couple hundred less, am I giving something up I'm not aware of?

Anything else in that configuration I should be looking at?

The Sig 365 is very popular. I picked up the Macro with 4 mags.

And good deals are to be had on the Springfield Echelon if your options are still open.

It depends on the feel you like in the end.
Go try handling a couple in a store.

I have two H&K USP and like the feel.
Don't know anything about the Walther.

Not sure how I missed that. I though the Sig 365 was only availabe as a compact.

Just watched a couple quick videos on the Echelon and that looks interesting too.

I really need to get some range time with all of these but traveling for work has really hamstrung me.

the IWI 941R/Jerricho is also a nice firearm.

https://iwi.us/firearms/jericho-941/jericho-941-rs9-mid-size-steel-frame/

You really need to shoot some different gun to find what 'works' for you. What is perfect for one person is a disaster for another. At this point it will be hard for you to determine which firearm is best because you don't have a baseline to measure by.

Do you have friend who is an enthusiast? Ask them to show you different things. They can bring different models and calibers for you to try.

Most enthusiast will be thrilled to help a newbie find their way. You can bless them by offering to pay for the ammo. It really only takes one trip to weed out the "nope"s and you may even find "the one".

Edit: one more thing - don't rule out a quality .22lr target pistol. They are a lot softer shooting so you can focus on the basics of proper grip, stance and aim. They are a ton of fun with ammo at a fraction of the cost. I have many different caliber pistols but have the most fun with the .22lr and regardless of what I take to the range, there will be at least one .22lr to shoot.

I predict that if you start with a 22, you'll step into other calibers as you hone your skills.

Find an indoor range where you can explore several handguns. Shoot a mag or two with each and your hands should tell you which one fits well and shoots well. Having a handgun that fits your hand is probably more important than specs or Brand name. It's far more of a personal choice than a rifle IMO.

Two years ago my wife decided she wanted to get a handgun. I am a rifle & shotgun guy and really tried to discourage her from the idea but she was persistent. Her sister got one and FOMO set in hard. We had some ideas in mind but that all changed once on the range with several to choose from. She ended up with a S&W M&P 9mm. That lasted 1 year and then she tried a 4" revolver in 38 Sp. Oh, I like this a lot better. Off to the races we go! They are a very personal choice.

Yep, I intend to before making a final decision but not every range has every gun. I did rule out the Glock as even just handling it at the counter, it didn't fit me well.

I love my revolvers , S&W and Ruger in 38/357 , 32 and 22lr . To me a revolver looks and feels right . But everyone is different . You owe it to yourself to try as many different brands/styles as you can .

Yer welcome :D

I keed ... quit calling them spoons when asking local guys tho' ....they'll let ya try options ....

SpoonzRUs ;)

my brother has a 9mm that was suggested to him by a bud that swims for the navy.

it has almost no recoil. I cant remember what it is!! they are all fun, and in my opinion there isn't a firearm that I would categorize as "beginner". not to an adult.

I've had a baby Ruger LC9S for over a decade ... melikey ;).

First & only one I ever held (baby 9s) was at my uncle's one day, his new one ... after one mag...

Me too :)!

Excellent choice, while I love my CZ75 BD I prefer the slide mounted decocker vs. the frame mounted half-cock option

I had a HK VP9. Very odd magazine release, very odd. The hand angle was a bit odd too.

I also have a PPK/S which I love.

You may also want to look at a SIG P365X Macro Comp. I may have one of those, or it may be at the bottom of a lake, I don't recall. It has 17 rounds and it is a 1.5 stack. My only complaint is the hand grip rubs off your skin if you conceal, it needs a wrap of that tape stuff. Other than that, it is brilliant.

Just got a Canik TP9 Elite SC. It is 15 round capacity and can affix a optic on top. Roughly $400 new. Nice size/capacity. I'm not keen on carrying a pistol with optic but this works great for my purpose.

This one too may be at the bottom of the San Antonio river.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1764973257.jpg

Staccato 2011!!!

This. For as many spoons as I have, I only have 4 pistols - 1 9mm, 1 C&B revolver, and 2 22 target style pistols (Ruger Mk II with red dot and a Browning Buckmark with irons)

Wilnj, great advice from everyone. As a firearms instructor, I have a few suggestions. Prior to selecting a pistol, ensure you and everyone who may handle the firearm understands the 4 Basic Firearms Safety Rules:
1. Keep your finger off the trigger.
2. Never point your firearm at anything you do not intend to destroy.
3. All firearms are loaded unless you personally inspect them.
4. Be aware what is in the backdrop and foreground of your target.

This will ensure that your trip to the range is safe and nobody goes home with extra holes in them.

After that, watch some YouTube videos about the proper grip. There are many out there that are very good. This will help you understand which pistol feels comfortable in your hand while you employ the proper grip. This is a personal choice and my favorite pistol may not be yours.

The pistols that you mentioned are both high quality. That is one of the top priorities when making your decision. After all that, go to the range with someone who is familiar with firearms. Not somebody's uncle who shoots in the woods. Rather, someone who understands the basic principles with safety as a priority. Shoot multiple types and calibers to determine which one you prefer.

You may also want to consider whether you want your pistol equipped with iron sights or a red/green optic. The optic was a game changer for me and enhanced my shooting proficiency. The pistol you ultimately select will be "optic ready" or not. You can have the slide cut to fit an optic, but factory is usually best and warranteed.

People make shooting more complicated than it needs to be. It is simple, line up the sights or put the dot on the target, press the trigger without moving the gun.

If you have any questions as you move through the process, send me a message and contact phone number and I'll be happy to help.

There are several individuals on this BBM who are very knowledgeable.

Rock on, David

Don't be fooled by the smooth and light pull of the newer striker guns. They feel light years ahead of Glocks when dry firing, but when live firing, that's when they can get uncomfortable. The VP9s had (since removed) a groove on the inner bottom of the trigger guard, which really pinched my index finger when live firing. Unnoticeable when dry firing, but a deal killer with live ammo. The newest models no longer have that groove. I have a few P365s and love them. Current EDC is an HK USP Compact stainless in .40 and I will soon alternate it with a SIG P229C SAS, also in .40.

This is where it is and most people can never get past this. You have to eliminate your flinch. There are a few tricks for doing this. The most basic is to have someone load a dummy round or two or snap caps in a mag for you, but with the rest being live rounds. Then, when you hear a click and no bang, watch how far down you have jerked the gun in anticipation of a bang. That will be a game changer for someone serious about improving.

Why do so many looking for their first handgun look right past the revolvers? I would never recommend that anyone start with an autoloader. Start with a revolver, learn the fundamentals of shooting, then graduate to an autoloader. Revolvers are much simpler and far safer for the beginner. Ammo costs are similar, identical if you start with a .22 (which is what I would recommend). .38 Special is about the same cost as 9mm.

David ... you rock ;)

I've been shooting for 55+ years, but am always gonna be a novice. My point was when ya find something that "fits" ... you'll know it.

What's a range :D?

I started with M27 .357 back in '78 ...

Not a particularly good choich as a first... but I still have it ;)

My Diamondback (.22) is still my favorite revolver and .45 ACP still rules ...

All mine for over 4 decades...

Cost. What new 22 revolver is out there that can compete with a Ruger Mk* or Buckmark on both price and quality?

38spl runs about 50% more than 9mm 115gr ball ammo ...

He was asking about the Walther or the H&K, both significantly more expensive than the two you suggest, so I'm assuming something in that price range. And, like I said, .22 ammo costs the same regardless whether it's shot from a revolver or autoloader. That leaves ammo costs. +50% of pretty damn cheap is still pretty damn cheap. To me, the advantages of learning on a revolver outweigh that.

I really enjoy this guy's video reviews. Here is one for each OP spoon ideas. He has more videos for new variants of each spoon:

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Excellent point. I was told to memorize them before my mentor would take me out to shoot for the first time:
Firearms Safety by Col. Jeff Cooper
1. All guns are always loaded. Even if they are not, treat them as if they are.
2. Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy. (For those who insist that this particular gun is unloaded, see Rule 1.)
3. Keep your finger off the trigger till your sights are on the target. This is the Golden Rule. Its violation is directly responsible for about 60 percent of inadvertent discharges.
4. Identify your target, and what is behind it. Never shoot at anything that you have not positively identified.

I just got back from the Phoenix Gun Show. Overwhelming choices of spoons to say the least.

I'd been looking for a 22 wheelgun to train with the Granddaughters and was searching for an old Ruger Bearcat.

Ended up walking away with one of these for half the price and it also comes with a 22WM cylinder....

https://heritagemfg.com/product/349-6-5-rough-rider-22-lr-22-wmr-black-standard-white-pearl/

Has there ever been a .22 DA revolver that's better than a Colt Diamondback? When I was 20, I knew I needed something "cheaper" to shoot than any others. Not cheap for a college student either....

If $ were not an issue even today....

A Colt Diamondback :)

You will NEVER regret it ... trust me.

I have no experience with VP9’s. I do own a PDP which I used in competition. If you go with a PDP, the only one you should look at should be the Steel Frame. The “Plastic Fantastic” model is quite snappy. The steel frame has the weight needed to significantly reduce muzzle flip. This will help you stay on target for follow up shots. It also makes for a much more enjoyable shooting experience.

I strongly agree that you need to hold a lot of guns. The best one for you will be the one that naturally fits your hand. It will still be a crap shoot as to how it will feel when you actually shoot it.

I do think it wise to go to the indoor pistol range and see what people are shooting. Ask them about their pistol. They might let you shoot a few rounds through it. You never know.

Please strictly follow the rules for safe gun handling at all times..even when dry firing. As a competitor and National range officer, I have seen people do some stupid sh**.

I wish you the best of luck in your search.

There are some real pros on here ... and Higgins earns as much as a PPOT mod ... mebbe more :)!

I started reading Col. Jeff Cooper about 1970ish .... I had already been "taught" ... out in the woods ... by then.

Oh yeah .... German air spoons don't suck either .... LOL ... ;)

For a range gun I would go with something hammer fired and metal framed. For carry I like the 365 but that is a much different purpose vs just fun shooting.

My preference for hammer guns is Sig. 9mm for sure for cheaper ammo. Would like to try some of the compact and full size hk and cz options as well. Not a big 1911 fan.

Hmmm... like my baby LC9S ... and tho' it was the first true pocket spoon ... front pocket in jeans or shorts, I held/shot ... I looked at all of 'em. It checked "my boxes" ... a 365 .380 (new to me) would be ... nah ... it can't be ...

I just hate these threads :D

I don't carry ... off of my own property.

Then I'll just open carry a Remington 870 w/ Fiocchi Defensive load buckshot :) ... shot my first 12 ga on Thanksgiving Day ... but not in the woods ... back in '69 as a kid ... uncle was serving ... from a different farm too :).

Ranges ... deer ranges :D

Shoot a good revolver before you buy anything

The revolver I grew up on was a Ruger Single Six, stainless with the bicentennial stamp on it. My dad won it as a door prize at his gun club when I was six. You can't go wrong with something like that. They just work.

Hard to argue with that. Even though I'm a dyed in the wool Colt guy, I somehow find myself at present without one. Traded mine off long ago for something I "needed" more. That was a mistake.

Assuming its position in my modest collection today is an old S&W K frame .22, from the early '50's, back before they were assigned model numbers. It's been a suitable substitute, but I do miss having a Colt.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1765044221.jpg

The first handgun I purchased for myself, on the day I turned 21. It would make an outstanding first handgun for anyone.

One of the seldom mentioned positives in favor of the revolver over the autoloader for the beginning hand gunner is the slow, deliberate nature with which they are operated. Their very nature of operation makes us slow down and take our time, putting more effort into making every shot count. I see this with beginners at my range all of the time. Autoloader shooters seem more prone to try to make up for a lack of skill, inherent in the beginner, with volume of fire. The simple fact of the matter is that one cannot miss fast enough to win. Revolvers just seem to encourage new shooters to take a little more time with every shot, thereby better learning the fundamentals of grip, sight picture, trigger control, and follow through. As a result they learn more while expending less ammo. A win-win in my book.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1765044221.jpg

.22 pistols are great. And you can shoot all day without it costing much and easy on the body. A brilliant gun is the Smith & Wesson model 41.

The fact that you don't want to carry the gun I'd recommend getting a steel framed gun. If you want a 9mm, like most people do, I'd recommend something like a CZ75.

seriously. Staccato

revolvers are fine. I do remember being admonished to keep my pink soft hand (I was 10) away from the side blast squeezing by the cylinder gap.

No doubt the best advice is go to the gun range - gun store combo store. They will let you go try your picks, and you can buy what works best for you.

I recently did some lead therapy and took my Sig 9mm and old 38 revolver for some exercise. I was surprised to re-remember that the 38 had more kick that the 9mm.

Thanks for the advice and I’ve added revolvers to my list of things to try.