Newbie looking to buy a pistol

[maverick]

Hello, I'm new here and also fairly new to shooting. I would like some help in choosing my first pistol. So far I've been shooting mainly the Glock 17C and the Colt 1911. Personally I'm a big glock fan, so I'd like to ask if anyone would see anything wrong with me getting a glock?, or indeed, if there is perhaps something better that someone can recommend?

Thanks very much in advance!

[EricW]

In general, the Glock is the best, first gun you can buy. Nothing needs to be "fixed." Plus, 9mm is heap cheap to shoot. Go for it.

[ErikW]

Just don't get a C model so you'll be able to shoot more divisions and classes when the urge to compete takes hold.

[Garfield]

Hi,

Welcome to BE forums, hope you'll enjoy it as much as we do !

May I kindly point out the use of the search function ?

There have been several threads discussing this kind of question.

Just a few I could dig up in a minute:

http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?...=12622&hl=glock

http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?...topic=12721&hl=

http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=1315&hl=

http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?...topic=12849&hl=

http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?...topic=11283&hl=

http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?...topic=11938&hl=

http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?...topic=12386&hl=

I'm sure there are much more threads to be found on this subject.

The best advise I can give you is:

1. Figure out what you want to use the gun for,

2. Read information freely available, e.g. on this forum,

3. Make a shortlist of guns that could be a good choice,

4. Ask around if you still have questions,

5. Try a few guns

6. Buy a gun that suits YOU.

No matter if 100 people tell you a G17 is the best gun ever, if it doesn't suit YOU, it's of no use to YOU ! (BTW I shoot a G17 in IPSC PD)

[Trey]

[6. Buy a gun that suits YOU.]

Be sure it fits your hand and you have proper trigger reach. If you don't know how that looks/feels, just ask someone who's knowledgable.

Best of luck to you!

[short_round]

Depending on if you like to tinker with your toys, there are a lot of aftermarket parts available for the Glocks that are relatively easy to install/remove depending on your mechanical skill and interest level. The 1911's have a great aftermarket selection for parts as well (don't believe them when they say "Drop in part - no fitting required" - you will have to typically do a little filing and function testing).

I shoot IPSC Prod, IDPA, GSSF with my trusty G23 (I had this gun since before I started shooting competatively). However, I would not recommend getting a compact or smaller frame for competition shooting.

[eric nielsen]

Glocks work fine for uspsa. Hi-cap mags are available, and you can get by with just 2 hicaps and 2-3 ten-rounders.

As they said, get a full size frame model, no barrel ports. Top choices include--

1. G35 40cal Best Limited Glock

2. G22 40cal

3. G34 9mm

4. G17 9mm

5. G20 10mm

[maverick]

Just don't get a C model so you'll be able to shoot more divisions and classes when the urge to compete takes hold.

Thanks for the replies. Can someone explain to me why a "C" model can't compete in some classes?

[Andrew B]

The C model is has a ported barrel. The port barrel is not allowed in any division except open. You would be competing against other open guns.

If a C is what you own, you can avoid this by replacing the barrel with a non ported one.

[lndshrk]

If you like Glocks and want to stay in Production for both IDPA and USPSA go with the Tactical/Practical Glock 34. Cheap 9mm ammo can't be beat if you are not reloading. Use Tactical Tupperware all the way. Long site radius, lightened slide, extended mag release, 3.5# trigger pull. Shoots great out of the box (for a Glock). Good Luck!

[dv8]

Take a look at CZs as well.

After following Ron's fix description for hanging mags, I'm once again absolutely in love with my CZ 85 Combat. Ergonomics, accuracy, reliability, looks, factory installed trigger overtravel adjustment, adjustable rear sight, ambidextrous safety... did I metion the looks?

Mine has a name, it's BeeGee-BeeGee - stands for Big Glossy Black Gun, and by the way, last time I seriously cleaned it was about 5-6 K rounds ago - no FTF, FTE, or WTF of any kind, except for hanging mags which now is fixed and as Ron has put it - it was oh-so-easy. The trigger has improved from mediocre to exellent within first 2000 rounds... Love it, love it, love it!

Be catious about those D models though - those decockers are pretty oddly placed, and missing traditional safety lever leaves your thumb kinda homeless.