huuuny bear
New member
I am buying my first hand gun and I was told that the FNH9 was a really good first gun to have. I am still learning everything that I need to know so your opinion would really be appreciated.
As several members have already mentioned, the first thing you want to do is to decide to what purpose is your purchase going to be put. If it is just for target shooting and other range pursuits, that will steer you in one direction. If you are looking for a quality defensive handgun, there are features and designs more attuned to that purpose.
Next comes feel. How does the gun feel in your hand? When you pick it up, do the sights line up naturally or do you have to adjust your hold each time? Do the grips have a natural and comfortable feel in your hand? Is the size right for your hand, your needs, and what you perceive future uses to which you might wish to put the gun?
Quality. If the gun is to be a defensive arm, this is most important. But I am not speaking entirely of manufacturing quality. I'm mean quality which assures that the gun will fire when called upon, each and every time. You will learn this from research. Don't necessarily depend upon or accept what others tell you. They can tell you everything from strong tainted biases to outright falsehoods. Do your homework.
I am not familiar with the FNH 9, but it appears to be a nice double action pistol. If you are not sold on a double action pistol, consider single actions (such as the 1911 and Browning Hi-Power variants) or maybe double action only designs (such as Glocks, M&P Smith & Wesson, Springfield XD's, or Kahr's). Which does bring us to action types.
A pistol's action is usually a very personal decision in that people have distinct and sometimes hard set opinions about this topic. This is one of the subject areas where strong biases enter the picture. It is my opinion that people should buy and use that which they are most comfortable with and which serves their purposes the best in their mind. I have to wonder where gun people get off by telling others that a single action 1911 is far superior to an M&P Smith & Wesson when all they really need say is that they prefer a 1911 over the M&P design. Others might find the M&P, or a Glock, fits their needs the best.... and so be it. I strongly advice you NOT to be swayed by such talk, but rather take it in for what it is and learn what you can about the different designs.
In the final analysis, if it is a self defense handgun you are considering, these are the most important factors your selected gun must offer.
1. Reliability. I must go bang every time it is suppose to. If it fails to do this, nothing else matters.
2. Practical accuracy. The gun and you must be able to deliver rounds to target.
3. Power. The caliber selected must be able to effectively stop the threat in the shortest time possible.
As you can see, if number 1 fails, numbers 2 and 3 don't matter. And if number 2 fails, you won't even get to number 3. Good luck with your journey and do all the research you can before you take your final decision.
+1. This is good advice.
The only thing I have to say is that I have noticed alot of misinformation floating around on pistols that are called DAO (double-action only) but actually are not DAO. It may not make a bit of difference to most people, but I like for people (especially those new to handguns)to be accurately informed.
I can't speak for all of those mentioned, but I do know that the XD's and XDm's are not DAO. They are a striker-fired single-action. When the slide completes it's cycle the striker is 100% cocked. The action of the trigger serves to disengage the firing pin block before releasing the striker. I think that the Glocks are similar as well, but it has been a while since I have had one apart. Most true DAO pistols have much more trigger travel than a striker-fired single-action, or Glock's "safe action" pistols.
I would recommend that you NOT get a compact size handgun like a .380 keltec/Kahr/etc or some lightweight combat Tupperware piece like a Glock or XD.