Didn't read the thread, and don't need to.
There's only one person on this board (or any other) who can tell you which gun is best for you.
You.
That said, "All roads lead to Glock". :biggrin::biggrin:
In all seriousness, the first statement is true.
Go to the following website, and read all of it (it isn't just for women).
Cornered Cat
She knows her stuff, and will say things that a lot of men are to insecure to admit.
One word of advice. "Don't let anyone lead you to believe that "fit" is a matter of how the gun "points". It isn't. Fit is if you can properly reach the trigger, not how easily it points. As an example, think of all the service members who have had to learn the same weapon (be it the Beretta, or the 1911, or etc...).
Another point. Don't buy into the myth of "stopping power". Hand guns don't have it (unless it's a "Michigan Pistol" or something like it). Want to know what the difference is between seven rounds of .45 @230 grain, and 15 rounds of 9mm @ 124 grain? The 9mm has more holes (read more wound channels, and more dispersal of damage), and it has 250 grains more lead (not to mention the lack of the unnecessary reload).
Another "conventional wisdom" is that, "The novice should start with a revolver." This is true only if it's true for you. Only you can decide which gun suites you best. Revolvers have their place, but it's like the old Virginia Slims advertisement, "You've come a long way, Baby!". J-Frame Smiths, and their competitors are NOT beginners guns, ESPECIALLY the Airweight versions. Their diminutive size, low weight (read "low recoil reduction") and heavy triggers make them challenging for even the experienced shooters. Even then, most of those experienced shooters won't want them in .357 mag. (Larger, heavier frame guns are fine in .357, but not the pocket guns.) Back when I was shooting 300 rounds per week, I could notice the nuances of the differences between a auto, and a "snubby" (Still don't understand why some counter jockey's recommend them as a "first" gun of all things.) Most people simply do not understand that, "It's a software problem, not a hardware problem." Learn how to shoot properly, and how to "run the gun you got". Gun sales have been soaring for the past several years despite a slumping economy. Most of those new shooters are not starting with revolvers, and they are not lacking for the experience (neither are all the service members from the 1911 to today's Beretta). Buy the gun that suites you, and your needs. If that's an auto, then sobeit. Buy the gun, a range membership, and at least 1000 rounds of ammo (that should get you through the first couple weeks. If your gun of choice is a 1911, then the starting allotment for ammo is 5000 rounds, Glocks are 300, but it's optional for them:biggrin
. (remember, "software, not hardware).
Now, go read cornered cat again.
To do List:
Before buying, shoot as many guns as you can, and handle the rest (this is of course after determining your needs, NOT which gun fits them. IOW, it doesn't mean, "I want stopping power, so the .45 beats the others.") Go to the gun forums and look up past threads where people ask the same question (you'll find you get the same answers everywhere, but you'll also learn more). Just remember that they all have their fan boys, and that means nothing to you. I've seen all to often how many shooters will go through several different types/guns before settling on a gun. One gun "won't fit", the other is "too heavy"...etc... Of course each previous selection was based on the quite sound advice and commentary of more knowledgeable persons who were absolutely correct with the caveat that, "The application of that wisdom extended to the point of their own nose." Sometimes it lead to them falling on it, sometimes not.
The determination of needs should be based on many things, that you've yet to learn, and nobody can tell you. You may need the force of a large caliber pistol, only to find that you don't want to pay $3-$5/round (even reloading will be expensive). They may be fun to shoot, but how much trigger time will you log at those prices? "Stopping Power" won't mean a hill of beans in that scenario. In that situation, a large rock would be a much cheaper alternative for the paper weight that looks like a gun. Even more so if you have to drive 250 miles to buy the last box of ammo in production for your brand new, shiny toy. But don't it look purdy?
That reminds me. When determining needs, means must also be considered. Thanks to the plethora of new shooters, and trend of "shall issue" laws, there is a wide variety of hand guns available, at a variety of prices. Use your cash wisely. If your budget is $800, and you spend $700 on a semi-shiny Airweight .357 for a night stand security gun, then have fun driving that square peg into that round hole. You could buy a full size Bersa, and have plenty left over for training ammo. Good luck shooting that 12 oz. .357 with minuscule range time. Better to go with the rock, and spend the cash on a present for the wife/husband/other. Remember, "software, ...hardware".
Now that you've determined "needs", and "means", you can start researching which guns fit that criteria (see above references to night stand gun, and $4/round ammo). This is also means researching supplies, food, and accessories for your future firearm. I saw someone buy a neat little Turkish gun for a paltry price, only to complain that he couldn't find a decent holster for it. (There we are going over the software problem again). :biggrin: Learn these things before you buy. It's like woodworking, "measure twice, cut once". Lots of people have sold "used" guns at a loss that had less than a box of ammo through them (I'm still flabbergasted at the bloke who traded in a pistol he'd had for three years without running even a single round through it. I was of course happy to relieve him of the brass casings for reloading. Who was I to complain that they hadn't been emptied yet.)
Now that you've narrowed things down to your "options", you can start to find which guns fit you. (Now is a good time to go back and re-read cornered cat again as she has an excellent article on fit). Oh, and now is a good time to make sure you can actually "run" the gun. If you can't cycle the action of the auto to load it due to arthritis, then give it a pass and find that rock. It'll hurt less than getting shot with a gun you can't operate, and it won't cost as much unless you buy the designer rock (they fetch a premium don't you know).
By now you should have narrowed the field enough to make a sound choice after shooting through them. This is a good time to go through all the "conventional wisdom and knowledge" that you gained from gun counters, and forums, and bloggs, and ...etc. Gather all
that info, and cross reference it with another group of people who are also founts of conventional wisdom. They are in the yellow pages under, "Flat Earth Society", and their still waiting to hear from Columbus.
Or, as Boston T. Party would say, "Just get a Glock and be done with it.":tongue::biggrin:
BTW: I've not had to change my choice since making it. I spent much longer time researching that, than it took to write, and edit this post. And, I've never sold a gun at a loss due to a poor previous choice based on limited foresight.
This also applies for guys who want to buy a gun for their wife/sister/mother/etc... Then go read cornered cat.
