jds560

Very cool. I'll try the Shore Shot. I'm actually looking for the Tactical version because I think a decocker might be better for me. I do have pretty small hands so the P-01 might be better. I mean a full size PX4 storm is just about the same size. It's primarily going to be used at a range. I just signed up for the NRA first steps course at guns for hire and I asked if they had any CZ-75's. They said they'll have one or something like it for me to try. Very excited!

I updated my profile. I am in Essex County. I'll try the want to buy idea when I get my actual permit. I really have my doubts whether anyone will locally have the p-01 or sp-01 alloy/steel in stock. Maybe I'll get lucky and be able to see a B or BD model.

I'm new to shooting and I've applied for my permit and I'm going to take a course ASAP (this weekend perhaps). Anyway originally I was going to buy a cheap used gun to start but since permits take forever in this state I can save up some serious money and get a higher end product. I really like the CZ line and was wondering if any of the forum vendors or other gun shops within NJ carry them. Does anyone have them available for rent? The closest thing I've seen is on RTSP's site they have an EAA Witness. Again I don't want to get too ahead of myself, but I just wanted to know where to start looking. I'd prefer to buy locally so I can actually see what I'm getting, but if so the internet will have to do.

Well I'm getting my prints taken next week. I like the way the P95 looks and I'd like to get my hands on it to see how it feels, anyone know of any ranges that have one? As most of you have mentioned though, by the time I actually get my permit back I might be able to save enough $ to get a $600 gun. In that case I'd be debating more between the PX4, 92FS, PPQ or the SP-01 (steel). I kind of have small hands so maybe the P-01? I think my plan of attack should be something like NRA course range a few times permit / gun shopping. I know I sound like I'm rambling, I'm just excited. There are far too many handguns out there, and buying my first one isn't an easy decision!

I'm going to see how money is over the next few weeks. If I don't take a course I doubt I'll ever hear the end of it, so I might as well haha! At any rate I went today with all my paperwork and was out of there within 20 minutes with my Morphotrak form. Saw 6 or 7 familiar faces working in the precinct and they "expedited" my stuff, it pays to be friends with higher ups sometimes! Now I just have to get finger printed and play the waiting game (and take a NRA first steps course..) Back to the original topic, I really am leaning towards the dirt cheap S&W 915/5904/6904 for around $250+FFL It'll have me shooting with a reliable gun for several months before I make a big $500+ handgun purchase. This might be another thread all in itself, but I feel like I should own a long gun too. I have a feeling this happens to everyone that owns firearms. Can I buy a long gun and a handgun in the same month? Do I have to wait? I'm looking at either a shotgun or a Sig 556 which is already Cali. ready.

I've considered taking the course, but I do have friends and some family that already own/are experienced with firearms of all sorts. My uncle regularly shoots at RTSP with a glock (not sure which model), and another one of my friends heads out to the ranges in PA monthly. While I'm sure I'd learn more taking the first steps course, and I'd get to shoot a few different handguns, I'm not sure if I should spend the $185 when I might be able to learn everything from someone I know instead. It's a tough decision.

I really want to go to a range with some rentals and try everything out. I know of the Heritage Guild in Easton PA, and the Sunset Hill Range has the 5906 for rental. My question is, in NJ, can you go to a range rent a gun and buy ammo without a FID card? I know that you can't purchase ammo without a FID, and I doubt I can buy it off the internet and have it shipped to my door, but these PA ranges are all over an hour from my house. I saw that RTSP does rentals, and they have a few things I'd like to try (P22, PX4), but I'm not sure if I need my FID first...

Well I went yesterday to hand in all my paperwork and low and behold, the detective for the firearms division wasn't there. I'm in Newark, and we're only allowed to submit between 9-11 on Monday's. I called today and spoke to someone else in the firearms division and was told that the detective is always on call so it's almost impossible to know when he'll be in the office. Has anyone else had these issues in Newark? I'd really like to get my paperwork all taken care of. I'm going to assume it'll take me anywhere from 3-6 months to hear back after I submit everything because of how slow this city is...

While I'm still debating about exactly what I want to get, I think I've narrowed down at least one thing. Reality has set in and I can't afford more than $400 initially. I'm not the richest guy in the world (at the moment). That brings down the potential candidates significantly. I've found a few CZ-75 compact models for about $300 and from what I've read they're great handguns. The 5904, 6904 and the 915 are also in that price range, and from what everyone has been saying and what I've ready they're all great handguns as well. While the 92fs looks to be out of my budget, the PX4 does fit in. It seems to be a great little gun as well... I really need to feel all of these in person and I'm going to try to go to a PA range with rentals next weekend. Also, from what I've been reading, most people think that a first handgun should be bought at a store instead of online, but from experience with other products (not firearms), aren't stores a lot more expensive due to the overhead? Are any local gun shops likely to have these older S&W models, or do they just stock more current offerings? I just want to get everything right because it's my first time doing this.

another "quick" question. I was doing some more searching and I'd like to know a bit about 2 firearms. The Walther P22 and the S&W 6904. A lot of you are saying get a .22 and I really like how the P22 is designed but from what I've read it's a bit on the shady side in terms of quality. Reports say the slide can fly back while shooting it. Also, I discovered the 6904 while searching for 5904's on auction sites. Is there a huge difference between the two or is the 6904 just an evolution of the design? They appear to have similar build dates (starting in the late 80's to the late 90's).

I think I'm going to avoid buying a .22, and instead I might go to a public shooting range as suggested on the weekends and get some experience, I'm sure they have .22's I can rent and shoot a few hundred rounds through just to get the hang of things. I'm really leaning towards the S&W 5904 just because of the price. If I end up not liking shooting for fun at the range, at least I'll have a capable home defense weapon and it won't be a huge investment. I do have a Beretta 92 airsoft type weapon and I know for sure it can't be anything like the real deal, but it does fit comfortably in my hand. I like the fact that you can buy one that's made in italy (I'm Italian haha), but I think it might be a bit expensive for a first timer. I'd like to know though, what's the deal with .40 S&W. It seems to be a niche product and it's already been mentioned in this thread. I don't know a lot about these things, but I figured ammo is cheaper than .45 and it still has a good amount of stopping power, so why not?

Hello, I'm new. Located in Essex Co. I'll be handing in all the necessary forms to get my FID card and a pistol purchase permit. Anyway, I've been scouring the internet and watching videos, reading reviews etc trying to figure out what I should get for my first handgun (when the time comes!) I figure it will be about 3 months before I actually get my ID card and permit, but there's no harm in looking and figuring out what I want right? I'm not sure if I can walk into a gun store and check out what's available without a FID card so I think for the time being, I'm limited to word of mouth. While I've never fired an actual handgun before I've messed with Airsoft style guns with compressed air and the like, but I'm still a novice. I understand all the functions of a handgun so I'm not looking for a "dumb proof" weapon. I'd like to avoid getting a revolver or a Glock. I'm not a big fan of either. I'm considering keeping the price around $600 or less and I'm not biased to new or used. I'd like to get at least a .380 but preferrably a 9mm .40 or 45 Here are some of the models I've been considering but I'm not sure which is the best for a first handgun S&W M&P40 (compact or full size) Walther PPQ Beretta 92FS S&W 5904 (can be had for about $250 used) FNP 9, 40, 45 I would ultimately like to own a H&K USP .45 but that's way out of my league in price. I don't know if there's anything else I should be on the lookout for. I've read and seen nothing but great reviews for the PPQ so I was leaning that way, but I really like the price point of the 5904 and I've read it's extremely reliable even for a used weapon.