Best 9mm to learn to shoot for a newbie

[Jonnin]

If they have one I would start him out on a Beretta 92fs/M9. No, I am not trying to ignite another "which is better" battle, but the Beretta is a sexy handgun with a mad reputation from being the military's sidearm to the Die Hard and Lethal Weapon movies. It is perfect for hooking a new shooter like I did last week with my father in law. He loved it, but I made sure to tell him when he went to buy that he needed to get what fit him the best. He ended up choosing a Ruger.

Not saying Beretta makes the best full size 9mm, but it is certainly the most recognizable, and has the coolest look to it. The 1911 9mm would be cool too, but their capacity is a bit limited, and you need that massive fun factor when hooking new shooters.

Some of the 1911 9s are double stacked. Actually, probably about 1/2 of them are, since there is not a lot of demand for a bulky 8 shooter in 9mm and they already broke all the purist 1911 rules by making it in another caliber.

http://centerfiresystems.com/AC-RI1911-9MM-HCTT.aspx for example.

Edited January 12, 2012 by Jonnin

[gunrunner32]

When my wife and I started dating some 5 or 6 years ago, I had to see if she was someone I was compatible with. So our second "date" was to an indoor range in Cincinnati. I started her off on my XD45. She immediately fell in love with it. A few more time to the range and I decided to get mom and dad along for some family fun and to meet her. My mom is deathly terrified of the sound any fire makes, so she's useless at a range. My dad took my wife into the range to shoot his Ruger P89. All I saw was my dad laughing hysterically when she finished the first mag. She asked him what was wrong with his gun because it had no kick and wanted to shoot my 45 again. My wife is tiny, she's only 5'1" and she eats up any gun I put in her hands except my .454 casull, that one she's not ever going to shoot according to her. It's not the size of he person, or the gender, it's getting them comfortable with shooting and having them relax, and some words of encouragement go a long way too. The one thing I still do the day prior to taking my wife to the range is go over each firearm she will be shooting so I know she knows how to safely operate, load and unload it. Safety is my number one concern when it comes to people who don't shoot very often.

[Guest buck7997]

My wife loves our... I mean her xd 45 it is our bed side table gun. I don't know what springfield did but it is a very comfortable 45 to shoot.

[Guest Schulzie]

Don't forget the S&W M&P series. In my experience, (not everyones, mine) the M&P is less succeptable to cycling issues from a "limp wrist" than a Glock. They also have interchangable grip inserts for sizing, and unlike the Springfield and Glock (both great guns), S&W M&P's are Made in the USA!

[Seabeejason]

"You will never ever regret getting a Glock 19 or 17 or xd9 or xdm9 all very affordable!!!!!"

You stole the words right from my mouth. I like the 19 and 17, but I am definitely a sucker for a Springfield XDM. I had a XDM 9mm and loved it. I regret selling it. I held a 4" XDM 9 earlier and liked it even more than the full size one I had. It just shot straight to the top of my list of must haves.

Edited January 14, 2012 by Seabeejason

[Guest lostpass]

I'd say M9 or 92fs. Not because they are the best guns ever or anything but because they are kind of heavy so the recoil isn't so scary. Plus, they can hold a decent amount of rounds. Once your friend is done with a mag on a 92fs he won't be worried and just about anything will go.

I remember my first time shooting and I was sure the 92fs was going to jump out of my hand and kill me. It was forgiving. Later that day I was shooting wheel guns and so forth with no fear.

Oh, if you want to make sure he has fun let him shoot a lot of different guns. The crack dealer known as OhShoot let me shoot a bunch and man I was hooked. THe ruger Vaquero is my have so far, no idea why. EXCEPT IT IS AWESOME.

[Guest Lester Weevils]

A 92FS was fun and easy to shoot early on and it is still a favorite. Somebody with a small hand might prefer something else, but your hands have to get pretty small before you can't get it done with a 92.

I enjoy a 9mm 1911 nowadays. I enjoy the thin grip size, trigger, and safties. It fits the hand and feels natural to shoot riding the safety with the thumb. I don't know if a 1911 would have felt especially natural if it had been the first gun I started on, but maybe it would have been as easy a start as something like a 92.

There are many real nice pistols. 92FS is pretty easy and fun though.

[dlm37015]

naw anybody can shoot those shoot a p08 then a red 9 c96 then top that off with a little full auto mp5 then you can say you have shot some 9mm

[Guest FroggyOne2]

When I found this thread.. I first thought of the Glock.. because of the non learning of the safety manipulation.. but deep in the back of my head.. the 1911 9mm kept coming to the fore ground.. in fact.. I was very temped to buy one today.. but I have to hold back with the new rifle being delivered next week.. Still have a gunsmith bill to pay for.

[Guest 6.8 AR]

Sig 226

As much as I like Glocks, this is the easiest gun out of my inventory that my wife tore up

a target with. And the times I've shot it, I have to agree on the ease of use.

Otherwise, Glock!