Consider it a warning lol.
Definitely go to a range and rent some guns to try first to see what you prefer to shoot.
No disrespect to the Glock guys, but I did not enjoy the way glocks felt in my hand at all. I immediately fell in love with the xd handguns, however. I have the 9mm sub compact
[/URL][/IMG]. I highly recommend an XD, if 9mm is your thing. It is easy to aim, recoil is snappy but not punishing..and It is very concealable with the standard 13 round magazine... yet if you add an extension to the magazine like i do( as shown) and buy some good ammo ( doubletap ammo in 124 or 147 grain comes to mind..
I like heavier rounds in 9mm than the standard 115 grain) you have 21 rounds of rock and roll at your fingertip. I can actually carry it concealed with that 21 round magazine. I have put thousands of rounds (and many different bullet brands and weights)through that gun without any issues. Even though i rarely carry it anymore, I would trust my life with it.
I also have an xd45 tactical (top gun in pic below, 5 inch barrel)which i also show with a mag extension and lasergrip sight which gives 17 rounds of potent 45acp. I dont go with the traditional 230 grain lead jacketed round , rather i use 160 grain 1200fps all copper rounds..makes the gun lighter to carry, especially since i have 17 rounds of it and I also have put melted lead into my once hollow guide rod to make it heavier to absorb recoil..much cheaper than buying a tungsten guide rod) remember mass helps to counter recoil...so the lighter the gun, the more comfortable it is to carry but the more it will kick when fired..a heavier gun will absorb more of the recoil reducing muzzle flip ( of course different calibers and bullet weights have different recoil characteristics as well)Make sure you try different calibers at the range also. I prefer the recoil of the .45 round to that of the 9mm and 40cal...it pushes more than snaps ( makes sense once you shoot both but your preference might vary)..and the length of the 5 inch barrel increases bullet velocity and makes it more accurate. I have put thousands of rounds through this gun as well and trust my life with it. I like the laser sight also for easier target acquisition especially in low light. I no longer carry the 9mm unless I really need the concealability..I prefer the .45 and the 5.7.
Oh btw I hated the .40cal round... the recoil is VERY snappy imho and my follow up shots were much slower than I liked...I wouldnt recommend it to a beginning shooter...I think it will take a casual beginning shooter longer to eradicate bad shooting habits like flinching in nervous anticipation of the snappy recoil)and jerking the trigger..but that is just my opinion...your mileage may vary!
the gun i currently carry the most, is the FN5.7.
[/URL][/IMG] the 5.7mm is a very controversial round, but if light and fast bullets are your thing, I recommend it. the gun is very light it feels like a toy...21 rounds , amazingly light recoil for lightning fast follow up shots, and prior to the ammo shortage I bought some specialty ammo for it( 2300fps, superior ability to defeat hard barriers and could completely penetrate IIIA kevlar vests , the bullet yaws and/or fragments so it reduces overpenetration of soft tissue).
With the availability of body armor to civilians, i do imagine scenarios where i might have to protect myself from an opponent or opponents wearing it. I also have 30 round magazines for the fn57 and enjoy knowing that I have the extra capacity to engage multiple opponents without needing to reload as quickly. I would recommend it as a good first hand gun if you can afford it and find enough ammo to become proficient with it. The flat shooting round and light recoil make this gun a pleasure to shoot and EVERY first time shooter I have taken to the range has loved it.
Regardless of the weapon system, practice and make sure you put several dozen rounds of your carry ammo through it to make sure your gun will feed it reliably ( go bang every single time), DO NOT put your finger on the trigger unless you're preparing to shoot. Whenever you handle the gun keep your finger outside of the trigger guard...I cannot stress this enough. That is the first thing I look for when I watch someone handle a handgun..do they let their finger curl in unnecessarily on the trigger when they grab it...and do they have poor muzzle discipline ( let the gun swing across things they wouldnt want to shoot, like people). Also, Never assume a gun is loaded or unloaded...check and check again... if you religiously practice this, you will never be faced with the tragedy of an accidental discharge. When firing, keep your wrist strong...squeeze the trigger slowly and smoothly.. dont pull it or jerk it...as you gain proficiency you will be able to pull the trigger more quickly but it will still be smooth. The targets were shot with the xd.45 in a controlled rapid fire at 25 feet. INstead of worrying about caliber...worry about shot placement...I would take the weaker 9mm over the stronger 40 anyday, because FOR ME, I am faster and more accurate with the 9mm. that of course is personal preference..u need to spend the time to figure out what YOU prefer. Also remember that guns are like shoes...different choices for different occassions...and ur opinion on what u need/want to protect yourself with will evolve over time. I have guns that I once carried daily that never come out of the safe anymore except for some range time.
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