Hello guys this is my first post. I'm hoping to start academy in less than a month. I was told I needed to buy my own gun and have it for the academy on the first day. Before last week I've never shot a gun before in my life and I really don't know much. I've spent the last week doing tons of online research and I've got a basic idea of things. I was wondering if you guys could help me out.
The following brands and calibers are allowed.
Glock, H&K, Sig Sauer, in 9mm, .40, and .45
Until last week I had no clue what any of this meant.
Brand:
I've read that one good way to choose a gun is to see what feels good in your hand. I went to a gun range to try a few guns for feel. The Sig, and glock felt nice, with a slight preference for the sig. Although the Sig fit my hand, it did not fit my pocketbook as I am a college student. The H&K didn't feel right for me. So I figure I'm down to Sig (if I have the money) and Glock.
Size:
I don't have large hands but the glock 19 & 23 compact felt funny on the palm of my hand where the magazine hits. The full size 17& 22 fits well. For the Sig, I liked both the 226 and the 229.
Caliber:
I've read into countless articles and forums about calibers and it seems the best caliber is the one you can shoot most accurately. There are some that say .40 has more stopping power, but I'm inclined to believe that no hand bullet will "stop" a person and stopping power is somewhat a myth in the sense that a bullet has enough momentum to make a person fall. Countless articles about people who are on something say that some will still come at you and others will fall, it depends on their physical state. I've read that Bullet placement is key. Also being a beginner I've already ruled out a .45.
Here are my options. Get a 9mm, learn how to shoot with it and once I get good, try a higher caliber until I'm good with that one. My other option is to go with a .40 caliber, the one my local PD recommends and train with it through the academy, that way I really know my gun. On the size issue, many cops I've talked to say to go with the compact because sometimes the full size will dig into your ribs and is uncomfortable to carry. This would leave me with the sig 229. This makes sense as far as carry, but as far as shooting, I feel better with a full size, which leads me to glock 17 or 22
Last week I went to shoot with my choices, G17, G22, Sig229 in 9mm (didn't have the (.40 at the time) If it comes down to price, I'll probably end up with a G17 or G22. I've done many searches through this and other forums and since it's been asked a thousand times I wanted to let you guys know I at least used the search function.
Here's where I need your help, I attach 2 targets I shot with last weekend. On the left is the target that I shot the 9mm's with. On the right is .40 I shot with. This was the first time I've ever shot with a gun and I know I suck. I didn't have anyone teach me I just asked the guy behind the counter, who gave me a 5 minute lesson. The targets are at 15 yrds (is that standard?) There are 50 shoots in the 1st target, but only 35 in the second ( a friend gave me a box that he said he didn't need) Which would you say I shoot better with, 9mm or .40? I was told I have "anticipation problems for both guns." The guy at the range says I'm compensating for the recoil too much. This is the first time I held a gun so I can't tell what I shoot better with. ( blanked out the name of the shooting range in case it was against forum rules to advertise things)
It's difficult to buy a gun for academy without knowing much about guns, let alone never firing one. Thanks for your help.
The following brands and calibers are allowed.
Glock, H&K, Sig Sauer, in 9mm, .40, and .45
Until last week I had no clue what any of this meant.
Brand:
I've read that one good way to choose a gun is to see what feels good in your hand. I went to a gun range to try a few guns for feel. The Sig, and glock felt nice, with a slight preference for the sig. Although the Sig fit my hand, it did not fit my pocketbook as I am a college student. The H&K didn't feel right for me. So I figure I'm down to Sig (if I have the money) and Glock.
Size:
I don't have large hands but the glock 19 & 23 compact felt funny on the palm of my hand where the magazine hits. The full size 17& 22 fits well. For the Sig, I liked both the 226 and the 229.
Caliber:
I've read into countless articles and forums about calibers and it seems the best caliber is the one you can shoot most accurately. There are some that say .40 has more stopping power, but I'm inclined to believe that no hand bullet will "stop" a person and stopping power is somewhat a myth in the sense that a bullet has enough momentum to make a person fall. Countless articles about people who are on something say that some will still come at you and others will fall, it depends on their physical state. I've read that Bullet placement is key. Also being a beginner I've already ruled out a .45.
Here are my options. Get a 9mm, learn how to shoot with it and once I get good, try a higher caliber until I'm good with that one. My other option is to go with a .40 caliber, the one my local PD recommends and train with it through the academy, that way I really know my gun. On the size issue, many cops I've talked to say to go with the compact because sometimes the full size will dig into your ribs and is uncomfortable to carry. This would leave me with the sig 229. This makes sense as far as carry, but as far as shooting, I feel better with a full size, which leads me to glock 17 or 22
Last week I went to shoot with my choices, G17, G22, Sig229 in 9mm (didn't have the (.40 at the time) If it comes down to price, I'll probably end up with a G17 or G22. I've done many searches through this and other forums and since it's been asked a thousand times I wanted to let you guys know I at least used the search function.
Here's where I need your help, I attach 2 targets I shot with last weekend. On the left is the target that I shot the 9mm's with. On the right is .40 I shot with. This was the first time I've ever shot with a gun and I know I suck. I didn't have anyone teach me I just asked the guy behind the counter, who gave me a 5 minute lesson. The targets are at 15 yrds (is that standard?) There are 50 shoots in the 1st target, but only 35 in the second ( a friend gave me a box that he said he didn't need) Which would you say I shoot better with, 9mm or .40? I was told I have "anticipation problems for both guns." The guy at the range says I'm compensating for the recoil too much. This is the first time I held a gun so I can't tell what I shoot better with. ( blanked out the name of the shooting range in case it was against forum rules to advertise things)
It's difficult to buy a gun for academy without knowing much about guns, let alone never firing one. Thanks for your help.

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