I'm no cowboy#
I didn't grow up around guns. I've been scared of guns most of my adult life, though have been grateful to friends who've taught me to shoot over the years.
Having very SLOWLY progressed to buying my first gun in Dec 2022 (a wonderfully beginner-friendly 9mm Ruger PC Carbine rifle), I've recently decided I was ready to get a pistol and have been buried in the 9mm striker-fired polymer pistol rabbit hole ever since.
9mm Ruger PC Carbine w/Magpul Backpacker stock
My rationale / goals for the pistol:#
- Have an additional firearm in a different part of my house.
- Pistol is way easier to securely store than a rifle.
- Build skills. Pistols obviously require more training than a rifle.
- Continue to get over fear.
Selection criteria:#
- Prioritize ergonomics: I've fired chunky gen 3 Glocks that I felt like I couldn't get a good grip on. Y'all, I'm 5' 5"; I don't have the biggest hands. 😢🤣. An unsure grip makes the whole experience too stressful; can't be scared every time I pull the trigger.
- Prioritize shootability: As a novice and somewhat scared shooter, I need a gun with minimal muzzle flip and felt recoil. Starting to appreciate why a good trigger matters, too.
- Legal where I live: for pistols: max 15rd magazines, no threaded barrels. Supposedly I can buy a large capacity pistol but the store will just keep the mags when I pick it up and I'll have to source my own legal mags.
- 9mm: Same caliber as my rifle. Not considered a big round but is still more power than I have the skill to adequately control in a pistol.
- Use-case is home defense, not concealed carry. So a compact or full-size is preferred. Perhaps a longer barrel also aids with keeping muzzle flip low? Same for any added bulk; heavier (within reason) should be easier for me to control.
Narrowing it down#
My initial research led me to be most interested in the CZ P10, Smith & Wesson M&P M2.0, Walther PDP.
CZ 10P
Smith & Wesson M&P M2.0
Walther PDP
Compact or full size?#
Local restrictions mean that the compact versions of these tend to be more compliant and I'm thus far unsure what kind of performance differences to expect of compact vs full size (presumably heavier = more stable, but otherwise I'd expect similar characteristics).
They all seem to have the same grip handling, regardless of frame size (the grip is longer in the full size versions, but I don't think the, uh, girth of the grip is any different).
Up next: Range Day#
I've read everything possible about these pistols and watched every YouTube video out there. Just gotta get hands-on and try them all out already.
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