Posted: 5/11/2008 9:43:44 PM EDT
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Many on a previous thread have suggested that I chose a very difficult-to-shoot first handgun. It's a Sig P229R .40S&W. I'm in the process of debating whether to trade it as I am continuing to learn to shoot it. What are your thoughts/opinions? What would be some good guns to look for? If I were to trade, I'd want a 9mm in DA/SA, preferably with a decocker. I want a compact handgun - something large enough to take to the range but also something small enough for occasional carry. Maybe someone can convince me that striker-fired guns are better? I've just never been a fan. The trigger pull on my uncle's XD-9 Tactical annoys me. |
Some times you regret selling your first pistol sometimes you dont. That said I do miss my Glock 31  , But I dont regret the over 30 different handguns I bought traded and sold to find the type, brand and caliber I shot the best and really liked. Through trial and error I slowly found out what I liked and what I didnt what worked with real world use and what didnt with minimal expense. As for a suggestion on what you should take alook at, I hate beretta's customer service and It took me a awhile to change out the plastic trigger and guide rod but a standard 92 fs is a descent DA/SA to look at. As for a striker fired pistol XD's have a better grip angle but I see the requirement of depressing the grip safety to manipulate the slide only as a liabilty and the xds trigger gets better when its broken in. Also the typical Arfcom response to your question is going to be of course a GLOCK 19 which Glocks and Glock as a company have never let me down. With a consistant trigger pull and abundance of accesories its hard to beat at least IMO. |
G19 FTMFW. |
| If you can only have one handgun, I would say a Glock 19 or 17. If you aren't planning on CCW, the Beretta 92FS is another easy gun to shoot. If you can afford to keep the Sig, then buy a .22 pistol. You should be able to get into a used Ruger 22/45 or a Beretta Neos for <$200. A .22 will pay for itself in a year or two. |
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For someone inexperienced with handguns, a .22 is always a good choice for a first or second handgun, matching as close as possible, the type and style of the centerfire gun. You may also find, as many of us have, that the .22 is a great gun to shoot in its own right. I don’t believe in selling guns. I investigate very carefully what I am interested in, buy it and keep it. I still have my first handguns and rifles, after 45 years. |
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My first semi-auto and second handgun was a G27. Probably not the best choice but I shot it and learned to use it. Just got a G19 and G23. I am much more accurate with the G27 than any of my pistols (except for my SW Mod 19). Anyway, there isn't that much difference between the 9mm and 40 cal but the 40 can really be a show stopper. I say keep it, practice and run lots of ammo through it. |
 More suggestions of gun X, without any suggestion to make sure it actually fits the OP's hand before he buys it. My suggestion is to go to gunshows and gunstores in the area to handle as many different handguns as possible. Try the trigger, if possible, to be sure you get something decent. If there are any ranges around that rent handguns(and I'm pretty sure there are a couple in your area), rent as many as possible and actually shoot them before making up your mind. |
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Why do you find it difficult to shoot? Is it the DA to SA transition that's screwing you up? Well, welcome to the club. It's why I don't buy DA/SA guns anymore, I don't feel like dicking with it. But you can train yourself to shoot pretty well with it. One common suggestion is to spend a range session or two strictly shooting DA (decocking after every shot). Next time, work on shooting one DA shot followed by one SA shot. |
+1, but if you're still hitting COM with the first DA shot, it's good enough for combat shooting. If you want to punch paper for groups, just shoot in single action. DA/SA handguns are a solution in search of a problem in my opinion, either shoot a Glock, Kahr, DAK Sig, etc, or shoot a 1911, BHP, CZ75, HK in condition 1, etc. Only 1 trigger pull to learn. If you still want to do the double single thing, practice your double action at home(after triple checking that the gun's unloaded) and try for that surprise trigger break while focusing on a target. Then try single action. Spend 15 minutes a day for a week and then go back to the range, you'll see a difference. BTW I learned to pistol shoot this way with my first handgun, a DA/SA Sig 220. |
I mainly shoot my gun in SA. I think gun fit may be my problem. |
We will get that figured out when we hit the range. 
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I wouldn't sell off your Sig. Though a DA/SA may not be some people's idea of the perfect first gun, it will work. There's no denying the quality of the gun, and it will do anything that any other current wonder gun will do. It just has a slightly more complex manual of arms. Start out shooting the gun as a SA and master that aspect of the gun at the range. This means, load a mag, drop the slide and shoot your rounds. Don't start any holster work any time soon. Just bench the gun between strings and learn the basics of trigger squeeze and sight alignment. The SA trigger on a Sig is as good as anything out there. If you haven't learned about the short trigger reset on Sigs and many other autos, find someone to show you how it works. It makes SA work with a Sig easy. Once you have mastered SA shooting, start working with the DA trigger. Load the gun and Decock. Work hard at a somewhat quick and smooth pull through the DA pull. Decock and shoot each round DA for a while and learn the pull. Once you can get your DA shots to go where you want them, you're most of the way there. Once you feel comfortable with each type of pull separately, the transition will not seem like much of an issue. I've actually grown to like the DA/SA transition better then most of the current DAO's and variants. The first shot is not any worse then the older style DAO's, but the SA pull is far superior then any of them. If you have to fire more then one round, I still believe it is the way to go. All of this assumes that there is some reason you can't have a 1911 of course... LOL After 1911's though, I have more Sigs then any other auto, and I love each and every one. I've never had one do anything other then be 100% perfect in function and wonderful in accuracy. Stick with your Sig and master it. later, AJ |
Thanks for the advice, but I already traded my Sig. I am now a proud owner of a 9mm Sig P226. |
That was fast! Doing any better with it than the .40? |