First Handgun Advice

9 mm is a good choice for a first handgun. It provides a decent self defense round at a lower price than other center fire rounds. It also has reasonably low recoil, making learning easier.

There are plenty of good choices among 9 mm, and each has its fans. In general, there is a balance or compromise to side on for every handgun feature.

Polymer vs metal is, in large part, light vs heavy. Weight is bad when you are carrying it around, good when it is absorbing recoil.

Thumb safeties give you an extra step in firing. That may be good if you don't trust your trigger discipline, bad if you forget to thumb it off in an emergency.

You can say similar things about nearly every feature for which you have a choice. The choices are there because people value different sets of features.

Triggers may be single action (SA), double action (DA), or double action/single action (DA/SA). On a SA pistol, the trigger performs the single action of letting the cocked hammer or striker fall. A DA trigger performs two actions of cocking and then releasing the firing mechanism. A DA/SA has DA on the first round, then, because the slide has cocked the pistol, SA on subsequent shots until the user decocks it. DA is typically heavier than SA - again, good for shooting, but easier to accidentally discharge. Some people don't like to learn the transition from DA to SA on a DA/SA, and others like the safety of the first DA shot. Different strokes.

Glocks and CZs are good starting places, but a better approach may be to consider what features you want and then shop for the pistol that meets those needs. I have a couple of Berettas and a Sig, too, that I like. Are they better than HK or Springfield or a dozen other choices? Not to everyone.

You are going to hear from lots of people who have favorites. My advice is to pay more attention to WHY they made their pick rather than WHAT they picked so you can make your own informed decision.

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