Aristoi

I am in a similar situation. Been shooting trap once borrowing a friends guns. I got hooked and would like to do again, but need to pickup a decent 1st shotgun. Actually had a chance to shoot pump, semi and OU on the same day. Actually it was with a group of friends that brounght extra guns for the event. From a newbie point of view i think the OU is the better gun for trap, and did best with one. I hated shooting with a pump amongst the others i had to try the same day. I thought it was too light, most felt recoil, and busy with pump action between shots. I did not mind the semi at all, and think it is a good choice for a multi purpose gun. Been looking for a good deal on a Ruger Red Label or Citori, but at todays market i will pass. Looking at a used Baretta 390 or 391 or Benelli Montefeltro or any skeet or trap model semi from other manufacturers like Remington and Smith and Wesson and the market is not good for a used buyer. I like CZ as well and think they make good guns at a decent value. I have pretty much decided on the CZ912 for a 1st clay gun that is multi purpose. At <$500 it is hard to beat new vs around the same price or more for some old beat up used semi's right now. If i get more into it i will have more time to figure out what the next more specialized gun purchase will be.

I would use you over lincoln park true value for transfers, You are practiacally in my back yard. What is the timeframe before you plan to open? I have 3 pistol permits i need to burn in the next 4 months.

Thanks! i just did mine too, made it super easy even for a noob like me.

I purchased 12/22 and picked up yesterday 12/28. 6 days including Christmas in between. My original estimate given at time of purchase was 24-48 hours.

I called to check on my Nics check status today and still nothing, i was told 24-48 hours when my paperwork was faxed in on Saturday the 22nd. I know we had Christmas in there but even if you take out 2 days for that it is still twice as long as estimated. Anyone else experience similar or knows what is going on? The shop i purchased through could not give me any new estimates of how much longer.

Timely thread, i am also shopping for a HD shotgun and have decided on the 870. I can get an Express for just under $400, but have handled an 870 Tactical Magpul at a gun show recently and really liked it and prefer it over the express. I can find that one for about $700. Not sure if it is worth the cost of the upgrades, or if it is a dressed up express that i could convert to for less than the $300 upgrade. Anyone know the details between the models enough to know if the magpul at $700 is a good deal?

Big thank you to NJSigfan! We headed out to Heritage in Easton today. He let me shoot his Sig 226 Elite and his Springfiled XDm 45acp. I really liked the Sig and it is definetly a condenter for my next purchase which will be an all metal or alloy frame DA/SA. Shot very similar with weight, feel, and grip ergo similar to the Baretta. I have it slightly ahead of the Baretta 92 with regard to the controls location like slide lock and decocker. The Sig just feels right with intuitive controls. Plus i like the German engineering behing the hammer and firing pin design. I think i perceived the Sig to have slightly more recoil, but when i compared the groupings to the Baretta they were almost identical. This observation is probably irrelevant since i am a beginner shooter with no formal training who's technique is still varying wildly from shot to shot. It would have been good to shoot them side by side, but i was not up for another rental. I don't think I could go wrong with either. I ended up purchasing the M&P9 Pro series today from Heritage Easton. I wanted a polymer striker fired pistol in my collection and this is the one for me. It was a no brainer when they had the 15rd mags in stock and they swapped them on the spot. This buys me at least a month of more time now to continue my search and decide on my next 9mm which will be an all metal or alloy reame DA/SA. The only one left to try is the CZ and maybe a few of the clones if i can find them. Then on to the 22 and 45. Will keep you guys posted. Thanks for all the help so far, this forum is great! I have learned a lot reading here, and everyone seems to be very helpful to newbies. I just have to be sure to pay it forward!

Hey NJSigfan, Thanks! I may take you up on that offer, just need to see if i can sneek away on Sunday. Since i have all day Saturday to myself for shopping and the Philly show, I might get some resistance with family priorities. I will drop you a PM either way. 9x19 those are good points on the 92A1, just what i was looking for. The main reason i asked was around the recoil buffer changing the feel and if i should try the 92A1 before i decide. It is good to know it is not a factor. Damn you threw a few new ones at me though, seems everything is tradeoffs: sights, mags, and classic design. Nick, the M&P9 Pro was a 5" barrel. Speaking of the M&P9 Pro, i submitted a price request on the forum requesting the 5" barrel and 15 rd mags. I have 2 replies so far saying they are not available for this model. I thought i read on another newbie thread on here (which was very helpful by the way) a list of 9mm pistols with which models were available with 15 rd mags and thought they were available for the M&P9? I know i should not believe everything i read on the forum, but if anyone can help me figure out how to get or be requesting for the 15rd mags on this pistol i would appreciatte it. Is there a special model number not listed on S&W website?

So i went to Heritage Guild in Easton today and rented (4) 9mm pistols. PX4, 92FS, M&P9 Pro, and the XDM. I wanted to try more but wow the costs add up quick. I misunderstood the rental policy thinking i could rent 2 for a 1/2 hour, then exchange for another 2 for the other 1/2 hour and be charged for 2 pistol rentals for 1-hour. Plus i noticed my accuracy dropping off later in the session and stopped at 200 rounds. I was already over an hour by 15 minutes and they were cool with me finishing up without charging another hour. I wish i would have tried a Glock 17 or 34 instead of the PX4. Not sure what i was thinking trying that one, it was my least favorite by far and not on my list. I realized i like all steel/alloy or heavier pistols in general. The Baretta 92FS was the front runner until i tried the M&P9 Pro. Wow, for a polymer pistol it felt great. I liked everything about it, grip feel, balance, trigger, & accuracy. Not sure if sights have dramatic impact on the likeability of a pistol but it also was the only one with a fiber optic sight which i preferred much more over 3 dots. The only thing i did not feel comfortable with is around the safety and indicators. I like the safety and decocker features on the DA/SA pistols and visuals of the hammer position. Even though DA trigger is much different than SA i did not find it objectionable. I thought the XDM indicators for striker and chamber was very cool. I wish the M&P9 had them. Maybe it was a newbie comfort thing and i will get used to it. Overall great day today. Very difficult to not impulse buy my first permit away, but i want to try more before i buy. I might check out RSTP's collection next. The GFH test drive can't come soon enough! So far i like the following 9mm pistols in this order: M&P9 Pro 92FS XDm PX4 Can anyone give some feedback if the 92A1 feels any different/better than the 92FS? The 92A1 was in the catalog, but not available for some reason.

Wow, thanks for all the feeback guys, where do i start? Thanks Nick, i am considering magazines, but do not want it to bias my decision too much and not consider trying pistols with less than ideal magazine choices. If i like 2 guns and they are close, then i think the tie breaker will be magazine. Hey Kevin, i am signed up for the GFH test drive but it is on Jan 27th, is there another one sooner, or a way to move it up? mcbethr, thanks for the detailed reply and the offer, that is really cool of you. Unfortunately i am way up in northwest NJ, Sparta which is in Sussex county. I think the closest ranges to me are RSTP and Cherry Ridge. You affirmed my thoughts on the 40. Thanks for that! I may go to the Philly show anyway just to check it out look at and handle all different types of guns. Plus I need all the gear that goes along with the sport so hopefully i can find some cool stuff. I also wouldn't mind checking out shotguns, i wouldn't mind eventually picking up a short barrel tactical HD, and a semi-auto or OU for clay. I shot the 92FS today and liked it a lot. I do plan on joining NJ2AS A lot of love for the revolvers i see, i won't knock them till i try them. Something tells me my plan of trying to only buy 4 handguns in 6 months to never have to go through the process to reapply for permits will be tough. Patriot Oak, thanks for all the suggestions i will definelty look into them. I am not up to speed on 45's so that will help. I thought about the M&P 22, not sure how they are as target guns. I definetly want to try one. What are the advantages to having both 22 and 9mm from M&P, if i shoose to pickup the M&P9 Pro? Is it a familiarity and feel sort of thing or parts related? I am not sure how i will be with compacts. I shot 4 pistol rentals today and did not like the smallest of the full size pistols i tried. Not giving up on the compact/more concealable idea, the thought had crossed my mind, but living in NJ and not a snowballs chance in hell being approved for carry unless the laws change. I think the 5906 might fall in this category but have yet to put my hands on one.

Thanks guys, on my way to Heritage Guild in easton to try most of the 9mm's on the list. Wow they have a huge selection. I think i may have to go back at a later date to try 45's and 22's.

Hi Guys, Just picked up my permits yesterday. The reason i type this is have been caught by surprise, they came in much earlier than expected. I was not expecting them till a few weeks after the new year. I have 4 pistol permits and ready to go shopping. I am 5-11 200lbs with larger than average hands typically in XL size gloves. I like the feel of all steel pistols, but have not shot anything yet. I am signed up for the GFH test drive in January, and plan to sign up for First Steps as soon as i buy my first pistol to bring with me. With my other hobbies i typically get into them much deeper than i usually anticipate when i am a newbie. I most often end up competing in some way or form with them as well. I have learned that i often have sold the initial vehicles and/or gear for better stuff later on that ends up costing more in the long haul. There is something to be said about the learning process as it helps you decide what to get later on, but in some cases it would have been better to buy the purpose built stuff initially regardless of brand type. This process is probably more time consumiung with pistols. I am going to go out on a limb here being a newbie and all and go for the more expensive competition/target models up front. My thought is that even if i don't eventually get real serious about competing they are still fine pistols that are overkill for occasional range time/HD. Alternatively if i do get serious it would be good to already be in the ballpark with the specific models. I would love to hear advise for or against this approach regarding pistols. My plan is to buy 4 handguns in 6 months: (1) 22LR- Ruger 22/45, others? (2) 9MM On paper i have narrowed it down to these: CZ75 SP01 Shadow Target M&P9 Pro S&W 5906 performance center (if i can find one) I plan on also trying these before i buy anything: Springfield XDm, Baretta 92A1, Glock 17 gen4, Sig 226 Should i even consider others similar to my primary choice of a CZ75: Baby Eagle, Armalite, Witness? (1) 45ACP (I have spent little time researching this one so fire away with suggestions i should be loking into) Kimber Gold Match, others? I really want a 22LR in there if i can only have 4 pistols. Another option is to drop the 22LR and go for a 40? Would love to hear some feedback and advise on the above. I am going shopping today, but also would like to hear your thoughts on if the philly gun show is a good place to buy my first pistol. Never been to one, so not sure what to expect if they are good for used and/or new. Is pricing is better than the most competitive local or online, or is it mainly a place to have a large and diverse selection. Thanks for reading my long first post, i have spent a lot of time on this site lurking and reading as much as i can.