First handgun

[ru44mag]

Knowing what I know now...hmm. That's not easy.
1. Shield 9mm
2. Sig 938 9mm
3. Kahr CM9 9mm
4. Springfield XDs 9mm
Ask me tomorrow and the order might change.

 

[D.R.SCOTT]

Springfield XDSC in .40

 

[Roadie]

My first was a Bersa .380. If I had to do it over again I would have gone straight to the 9mm Thunder. I mistakenly thought I needed to start "small", but in actuality the 9 is easier to shoot than the .380

 

[D.R.SCOTT]

I agree with you with avoiding small.

 

[Bfish]

Knowing what I know now...hmm. That's not easy. 1. Shield 9mm2. Sig 938 9mm3. Kahr CM9 9mm4. Springfield XDs 9mmAsk me tomorrow and the order might change.

I am not too sure how small you want to go. But for a small hide self defense gun, I would go with any of these; with an exception of the fact I would trade the springfield out for a Glock. Like I said, I am not too sure how small you want to go. But if you intend to really use it I would go a bit bigger. Sheild or baby Glock being the smallest.

 

[Leo]

You want a 100% reliable subcompact that will shoot with a poor handhold under stress conditions and will work even if you need to shoot through your own pocket in a really hairy "up close and personal" situation?

A small revolver. Chiefs special, Colt detective, Charter undercover, ect.

 

[BE Mike]

S&W .38 Spl or .357 mag. J frame with 3" barrel. They are very shootable. For a semi-auto, the Kahr CM9 is hard to beat. I wouldn't consider a lesser caliber than .38 SPL or 9mm.

 

[Garander]

Sig P245 .45 all the way, P239 is great too.

 

[jamil]

Shield.

 

[clbrock18]

Glock 19 would be a good starter.

 

[LANShark42]

Ruger SR9c was my first gun. If I had it to do over again, I would not do anything different. But like some have said, go somewhere like GM that will let you hold as many as you are interested in. Then make a short list and rent or borrow the ones on that list, if possible. Although I own one now (Diamondback DB9), I would not recommend a sub-compact as your first/only EDC.

 

[rp8]

I think the Shield is hard to beat for a first gun. Very reasonably priced, easily field stripped and small enough to carry easily yet shootable enough to shoot all day.

 

[xdmdude]

Now that you can get a shield without safety I'd go shield for single stack or g26 for double stack.

 

[DFM914]

Shield.

 

[Cuttingedge]

Desert eagle.... I'd get the .357 though..... I have big hands

 

[RND]

If you had to start over and wanted something in the subcompact range, what would be your first purchase?

the GLOCK 30S, while classified as a subcompact, would be my first handgun purchase.

 

[ModernGunner]

Ya just need real loose-fitting boxer shorts!

 

[VERT]

Ya just need real loose-fitting boxer shorts!

Wasn't there a "How to Carry While Wearing Gym Shorts" thread around here somewhere?

 

[BE Mike]

It depends upon the individual. I recently trained someone whose first handgun is a Kahr CM9. He took to the training very well and ended up being able to reliably hit a man-sized target at 15 yards and point shoot and reliably hit a man-sized target at 5-7 yards. His hit rate was over 90%. At the end of the training, he was drawing from a holster and shooting and reloading. During the 5 hour training session he shot 4 different handguns and expended 250-300 rounds.

 

[Rooze1986]

River Sr9c, wish I still had mine. Great trigger and I liked being able to cc fairly easily iwb