I'm looking for some suggestions on other pistols to try out. I fired a few different ones with RobbyMaQ this past weekend and it was the first time I have ever really fired a weapon. Now that I've got those initial jitters out of the way, I want to try and narrow down my search for my first purchase down the road eventually. I'm too green to have any absolute opinions, but here are some things that I think that I am looking for in a pistol:
I don't know when I will be able to shoot again, but I would like to at least start doing some research on what I would like to try next. I'm a total newbie, so if you have something to suggest for me, please be explicit with make, model and details. Also, assume that I don't know what all of the abbreviations are. I don't mind looking them up, but it just takes me longer to figure out that S&W is short for Smith and Wesson, for example.
Thank you in advance!
- Compact or Sub-compact - I plan to carry concealed, but I haven't figured out where, yet. I like the idea of a smaller pistol that is easier to conceal as it will make me feel more comfortable that I'm actually concealed and less likely to be printing in a wider variety of wardrobe choices. It also gives me more options on where I can conceal it due to its smaller size.
- 9mm - I shot some .22s, 9mm, .380 and .40 while I was there, I believe. Even in a small handgun, I didn't feel that the 9mm was difficult to handle, but I don't know that I would want to go bigger for my first pistol for now.
- Ambidextrous - I plan to fire both left- and right-handed on a regular basis. As I am just getting started and only beginning to work on muscle memory, I think it's important that I can load, aim, turn off the safety, fire and reload with either hand. I don't mind switching things around if I have to, but having a safety on both sides would be preferable so I could at least turn it off and fire without having to physically change anything on the pistol.
- Single Action - I wasn't a huge fan of the double action handguns. The longer/heavier trigger of these felt awkward and uncomfortable. It might be something that I could get used to over time, but a single action felt better.
- Double Stack - A single stack isn't bad, but I felt better with a double stack magazine gripped in my hand.
I don't know when I will be able to shoot again, but I would like to at least start doing some research on what I would like to try next. I'm a total newbie, so if you have something to suggest for me, please be explicit with make, model and details. Also, assume that I don't know what all of the abbreviations are. I don't mind looking them up, but it just takes me longer to figure out that S&W is short for Smith and Wesson, for example.
Thank you in advance!