Looking for insights from experienced shooters for recommendations for a first handgun.

[cgrutt]

Took the firearms safety course prior to my application and submitted a copy with my permit , although i wasn't advised as to what reasons i should put on the permit application. I hope i got that section correct. Additionally, i have numerous times advised my wife to apply, even if she were never to purchase to no avail.

The RPD class is specifically for unrestricted carry apparently there are a number of judges who will accept course certificate and grant permit sans restrictions. Not sure what process is in your county but you can take course later and apply to have restrictions removed if judge puts any on your permit. They went through process of how to write letter and what to say (and perhaps more importantly what not to say lol). It is a live fire class so not sure if you can take it or not before permit is actually issued.

 

[nortatoga]

On the list now

As I mentioned my matched pair.

 

[spat]

Great post @livingston agree with everything you said. I'll add +1 to the RPD class I think it's called Concealed carry permit training or something like that. I took it near Binghamton when I applied to have restrictions removed. 4+ hr drive for me each way no regrets...

The wife and I have both taken several classes from RPD. I cannot recommend them highly enough.

Whether your a beginner or a long time competition shooter, they will make you better.

 

[Defilade]

Great, @Defilade , now look at what you’ve done. Way to confuse the guy! @Jchrisls , I believe he was being sarcastic…I hope, lol. The Surefire X300U is a good light. I got my X300U years ago befure the new Modlite pistol lights were released. The new Modlite’s do outperform it. Also the soon to be released Cloud Defensive EPL-C and EPL-D are going to be really nice pistol lights when they come out. I’m sure I’ll be picking at least one of them up as well.

Yes being sarcastic. Always liked that setup! Jealous..Good stuff.

 

[cgrutt]

The wife and I have both taken several classes from RPD. I cannot recommend them highly enough.

Whether your a beginner or a long time competition shooter, they will make you better.

I've only taken one with RPD but have taken a lot with Chris Fry awesome instructor but I think he got the F out of NY a while back lol...

 

[Drinkthekoolaid]

Back when I got my first pistol I went with a G26.
I also got a G19 magazine and one of the grip extenders that slides over the magazine.

My thinking was Glock reliability. Check.

Concealability was excellent with the G26 mag.

But, if I wanted a larger framed gun, I just put the G19 mag in with the spacer. That gives me a full size grip, and I only sacrifice a half inch of barrel compared to the G19.

Basically that's it.

G26 with a G19 mag and spacer is the same as a G19, with a half inch shorter barrel.

Best of both worlds with only a mag change.

https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/promag-glock-magazine-spacer

I love this strategy.

I did something very similar with a Beretta APX.

I bought the "compact" version. In free states it would be 13rd capacity. It shares the same slide as the slightly larger APX centurion (free state 15 round capacity) but has a shorter grip.

Beretta offers factory mag spacers so I can buy the larger centurion mags add a spacer and now I can fit a full 3 finger grip.

If I'm more worried about concealment due to clothing or situation I can carry the shorter compact flush fitting mags and knock off some grip length.

So by doing something so simple you can effectively have 2 different guns for different situations.

For comparisons sake it would be like a Glock 27 grip with Glock 19 slide and with mag spacers a Glock 19.

Love having that versatility and flexibility.


I bet you get can an hkvp9sk and get mag spacers to accept larger vp9 mags for more grip.

That is an advantage of sticking within the same pistol family you get more interchangeable comparability between models, sizes, holsters etc.

 

[Jchrisls]

The RPD class is specifically for unrestricted carry apparently there are a number of judges who will accept course certificate and grant permit sans restrictions. Not sure what process is in your county but you can take course later and apply to have restrictions removed if judge puts any on your permit. They went through process of how to write letter and what to say (and perhaps more importantly what not to say lol). It is a live fire class so not sure if you can take it or not before permit is actually issued.

Course i took was from on target firearms by an NRA instructor regarding laws in carry for NY. Classroom only, no practical shooting due to the lack of permits. Class was given by a retired monroe county sheriff officer. Hopefully that demonstrates responsibility of ownership. Its only 16 days since i applied, so a looong way to go yet. I was advised recently though that permit applications were being processed quicker that the projected timeline on the clerks office website, so fingers crossed but being very patient.

 

[Truebeliever]

I hope I am not to late to comment on this thread.
The first gun in New York State with a carry permit or future carry permit?

I would recommend something like a Sig 320 where it’s the chassis that is serialized and one can make the same gun different sizes without having to go through any additional paperwork.

Otherwise I agree with the poster who said a Glock 26 with a Glock 19 magazine with a sleeve. It gives him interchangeable options to figure out what’s best for him at that moment. He can use the Glock 19 magazine with a sleeve to learn how to shoot and CCW carry with the ability to grow as a shooter to smaller configuration.

 

[fresch]

Not that people follow advice,
My friend asked the same question years ago, having never held a gun in his life I recommend:

.22 like a ruger pistol or revolver, he bought a smith model 41.
Then I said more power 357 etc., he bought a desert eagle 44
I still say .22 cheap to learn gun handling and fun, then more power.
Go hold them buy what you like, your going to have it a long time.