well when we went to the range we both liked the standard military issue 9mm my friends dad had. fit both of us well and liked the way it felt/fired. i wont be carrying the gun, itll be a strictly range gun/ keep in the closet just in case someone tries to break in and kill us weapon, along side the shotgun but its mainly for going to the range and getting used to a handgun, it would be a starter weapon since this is my first handgun. ill make sure to keep my eye out for the ruger and if i see you there hopefully youve spotted one of them and can point me in that direction.

 

No problem. I'm looking at one for my wife and I, too. I love the idea of paying $25 for 500 rounds of ammo.

 

The Beretta 92F mil issue is a piece of shit. As stated before, save your cash and get a good handgun

 

A 92FS is a good weapon, albeit even used, you're going to be hard pressed to find one for <$300. Any way you can raise your limit to $400? That will open up your options a lot more.

How do you figure? Because it's not a Sig Sauer? Get that shit outta here... There are PLENTY of weapons worse than a 92FS.

 

Everyone I've ever shot has been a piece of shit. The last one I had to carry in Iraq wouldn't even load correctly even after I brought it to a SF Armorer. His exact words?

"Boy..I wish we could stop carrying this POS and all carry a .45 or at least a P226 Sig

No doubt there are worse weapons...i.e. a Hi-Point, etc.

 

Issued weapons are "rode hard and put away wet". These things endure the ultimate test of durability by them being issued to some shitbag G.I. A lesser weapon would never hold up. It sounds as though the problem with your particular weapon could have been in the magazine.

The biggest downfall to the 92FS, is that it's chambered in 9mm. Now there is nothing wrong with a 9mm for concealed carry, range, plinking, etc., however, it's not the round to fight a war with. All of the 92FSs I've shot have been reliable and accurate with a trigger that breaks nicely. With that said, only God may have known the last time it had been cleaned prior to me firing it.

 

about what time does the gun show start and end?

 

My 92FS is solid and reliable. 9mm ammo is a good cost balance from the .45 if you intend to put a lot of rounds through it to practice, practice, practice to gain accuracy which to me is much more important than "knock down" power. I'd rather fire an arrow than throw a hammer.

Go to the gun show and hold a bunch of different ones in your hand to see which feels natural. You're not going to want to shoot one that doesn't feel safe.

First handgun should arguably be a full frame to take to the range, second could be a smaller for carry conceal, but you want to get some practice at the range. Full frame will have much less recoil on average than a sub compact and better mannerisms. Perfect for learning. Your driver's ed car wasn't stick shift!

At gun shows, also check out safes like the Cannon Safe, about $80 with a 5 button combo. Note that ammo and weapon need to be locked and stored separately in your vehicle out of reach (like gun in the trunk, ammo in glove compartment) unless you have a carry conceal permit. State Police and NRA usually give out free gun locks at the shows up at the front desk. I use one on my rifle, handgun is kept in the safe.

 

For the record, the M9 or 92FS is a piece of shit.

And this statement:
is laughable. The M9 requires WAY more routine maintenance and replacements than the M1911 ever did. It's a turd and the only way you could have gotten a nice one is because you're in the Air Force and none of you bitches ever has cause to use one in the first place.





That being said, it's not the worst piece of shit out there, but for $500 for a used one, I'd rather have a new Norinco 1911.

 

Like what? The process of field stripping a M9 is vastly easier than that of a 1911, making it more appealing to the modern DoD. Throw in the fact that a 92FS has 8 addition rounds over a 1911, (so the Marines have a higher chance of hitting shit ), and viola, the 1911 was replaced. And I'm not attempting to argue that a M9 is better than a M1911, because that's just foolish, but the 92FS isn't a bad weapon. I sincerely think a 1911 isn't really a beginner's pistol though.