First handgun for range + home defense… what would you pick today?

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Kugelfischer_47@reddit

I'll throw ruger rxm in the suggestion box. Glock gen 3 parts compatibly and you can switch from a sub compact, compact and full size grip without buying another firearm. You can also switch between Glock 19 and 17 length slides, threaded or unthreaded barrels and I would not be surprised if some company is working on a pcc chassis for it in the future.

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Penguin_Life_Now@reddit

It is hard to say without knowing a lot more about you and your home. Also note a handgun is often not the best choice for close quarters shooting in many homes.

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Lower-Ad-1300@reddit

You think a long gun is better ? A high recoil shotgun ? No a Pistol is better in CQ.

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Penguin_Life_Now@reddit

I say without knowing the construction, how many people are living there, layout of this home, and the OP's physical stature, that it is impossible to say what is best. Is over penetration an issue because there are kids at the other end of the house with only drywall between them and the direction shots are likely to be fired from, or is this someone that lives by themselves in the middle of nowhere. All of these are factors in deciding the best gun for the job.

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Lower-Ad-1300@reddit

To be honest I think a medium caliber is safer

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mctwiddle@reddit

berretta 92x performance

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Historical_Truth2578@reddit

Anyone looking for a home defender and a range gun ill ALWAYS reccomend the 92 series

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sumguyontheinternet1@reddit

I’ll just toss in the S&W M&P M2.0 in any variety you like. Recently picked up the Compact 9mm (Glock 19 equivalent) and it shoots very nicely.

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sumguyontheinternet1@reddit

Only downside is extremely expensive mags after being used to cheap glock mags for 20yrs

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Popular-Ad2193@reddit

Don’t over look the Springfield echelon

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Minute-Log-7098@reddit

So many different answers, based off all of these opinions. What’s your answer?

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steppedinhairball@reddit

Glock fanboys are all over the Internet. Worse than the Ford-Dodge-Chevy boys. I'm not saying don't buy Glock if they feel good in your hand and you shoot them well.

Personally, I would go to a range and rent to see what feels good in my hands and what I shoot well. Then buy that.

If I had to buy only one, then I'd look.hardvatva Walther PDP. I bought my first on a whim and the ergonomics made me go "Holy shit!" They fit my hands extremely well. I forget how many Walthers I own now but I can say Walther is the best represented brand in my safe. Plus, outside of several revolvers, they are what I shoot the best.

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PapaPuff13@reddit

Echelon

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ZeroPointSpecter@reddit

If you’re buying your first do-it-all pistol (range + nightstand) in the $500–$700 range, I think the Springfield Echelon is the better “out of the box” value than a Glock 19. It has a better optics mounting system. It comes with higher-capacity mags. It's modular, and the aftermarket has expanded massively.

And if you find one with the Gear Up Pack, you'll have 3 more mags (5 total) and a range bag.

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DickNose-TurdWaffle@reddit

Why tf are people still considering Sig P320s?

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Dirty_Blue_Shirt@reddit

We all have personal preferences. But if you like Glocks run with them. I really like CZs, but I am always struggling to find the right holsters especially. I wish CZ had the aftermarket of Glock. Because I think the SP01T is the best range/HD gun made and what sits in my bedside drawer safe.

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Bortjort@reddit

If you're not carrying it, I'd get something full size and metal personally. More mass in the gun means less force going into you and usually faster followups. Longer barrel means more velocity too. Check out a SP-01 or maybe the metal M&P if you want striker fired. There are lots of other options too.

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Stock_Block2130@reddit

Range plus home defense (implying not for concealment) suggests a full size gun or even a 1911, depending on your preferred caliber and what fits your hand best. These days optics-ready.

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imneuromancer@reddit

You can get the CZ P10 (if it is for home defense you could get the F instead of C) and a good optic for $700.

Glock 19 Gen6 is about $620, haven't seen many deals lower than that, yet. Doesn't leave a lot of room for an optic.

So based on your budget, I would prefer the CZ P10 C/F

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Old-Suspect1678@reddit (OP)

That's a smart budget setup. What red dot would you recommend pairing with it for a first timer — still learning iron sights myself.

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imneuromancer@reddit

I generally have holosun optics, but that is more accident of what came with pistols and what I got from friends rather than purchases.

I've heard Osight's enclosed optics and even the new Vortex Defenders are pretty good budget options. But other people may have more experience to base their opinions.

Also, learning with iron sights at first isn't bad. Shooting with an optic with definitely be different, but starting with iron sights and having the option to go to an optic is a perfectly good path.

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HalfDeadBatteries@reddit

If it's not for concealed carry and it's just for home and range, I would say A Glock 17. Unless the 19 grip fits you better

I would also say to check out the echelon from Springfield. I carried Glocks for a long time and I switched to this one because trigger just feels better to me out of the. There's the echelon 4.0 that is about the size of a Glock 19, and then the echelon 4.5f which is closer in size to a Glock 17.

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OddballGC@reddit

Another vote for Echelon, 4.0C or 4.5F are fantastic shooters. Also very easy and cheap to mod for the perfect grip.

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n1terps@reddit

I would choose a Grand Power Q1 Mk23 as my first gun if I could do it all over again... such a beast!

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jim2527@reddit

Something with a thumb safety

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TemperReformanda@reddit

I love my old Beretta 96 and it was my first handgun. It's a bit on the big side, and the 40S&W ammo is more expensive than the 9mm. On the bright side, the Beretta 92 is the exact same gun but shoots 9mm. And they are gorgeous guns at that.

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wlogan0402@reddit

P10

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smokeyser@reddit

Whichever one feels the best in your hand. Nobody else can answer this for you. The Glock and CZ are both excellent choices. The P320 is too, but with all the controversy some people are avoiding them these days. Ultimately, the best choice is the one that works best for you. Personally, I don't like the way the Glock fits my hand, so I carry a P365. My husband carries a CZ-75, or sometimes a P-10F.

When buying a gun for defense, after you've weeded out the bad/unreliable options, always go with the one that feels best. You'll shoot straighter, which is pretty important when your life is on the line.

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MEMExplorer@reddit

If you don’t plan on carrying than definitely get a full size pistol and maybe consider metal frame as they’ll handle recoil better . If it was my money , I’d be looking at a Beretta 92

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AbbreviationsFun5448@reddit

1.) CZ P10C 2.) Glock 19 & 3.) SIG 320 in that order. CZ has a superior trigger to the Glock & you can pick them up for cheap. 2.) Glock 17 or 19 ( Or Ruger RXM.) The cheapest & easiest to find accessories for. 3.) Sig P320. If you don't know about the negligent discharge issues with this pistol, you've been living under a rock.

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AbbreviationsFun5448@reddit

S&W M&P series. Or, if you're on a tight budget the SD9VE. Hold a Glock in your hand. Next, put it down & handle the M&P or SD9VE. Much more ergonomic.

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kennetic@reddit

If you're just doing range and home defense, why not a full size? I use a Glock 47 for that and I love it. Finally decided to move away from the 19 frame as the grip is a smidge too short for me.

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mbh63@reddit

Glock

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Lashitsky@reddit

Cz p09c Echelon 4.0c Cz p10c Ruger RXM Shield x

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Nemo_the_Exhalted@reddit

Glock 19

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Old-Suspect1678@reddit (OP)

Solid answer. G19 really is the consensus pick lol

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Pjb7490@reddit

If you like the Glock grip angle Glock 19 (I’d also suggest the G45 or G17 since a full size grip is often better unless your hands find it uncomfortable)

If you don’t like the Glock grip angle I’d suggest the p10c (or p10 f since full size) honestly I prefer the P10 series.

I don’t recommend the p320

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Old-Suspect1678@reddit (OP)

Great recommendation on the G45 — honestly hadn't considered it but the shorter slide with a full grip sounds like the best of both worlds. Did you end up going G45 or G17 over the G19?

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SwaggyButNerdy@reddit

I personally hate Glock with a passion.

Also, if you only own 1 gun. It should be either a Glock 17 or 19.

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ScubaSteve3465@reddit

I got the g17 for my first gun.

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sadoproject@reddit

If you're just going to have the one, Glock 19. I have several other guns I prefer shooting, several I prefer carrying, and several I prefer looking at, but the Glock 19 is the ubiquitous handgun flavored handgun of the past couple decades.

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Low-Landscape-4609@reddit

Glock 19 all the way. Let me tell you why. You will never have a problem finding parks and customizing as much as you want.

A lot of guns have came and went and a lot of them they don't even make any more. They still make the Glock 19.

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Random-Cpl@reddit

Walther PDP-F or Beretta 92

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TURBOWyMiaTaToR@reddit

CZ P10, Ruger RXM

Definitely not p320

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cleveraccountname13@reddit

Is you budget for the gun itself or supposed to be all in with an optic, extra mags, safe storage, ammo to practice, money for at least an intro class, etc.

Check out the Ruger RXM. It is a Gen 3 Glock 19 clone made by a quality manufacturer. It has easily swappable grips so you can turn it into a Glock 45 clone (compact size slide with full size grip).

Alternatively you can buy it in the Glock 17 size (full size grip and slide) and then turn it into a Glock 47 (full size slide on compact size grip).

For a budget minded high quality set up home defense I would get the Glock 17 size RXM, a Osight SE optic and a Surefire TLR-7X weapon mounted light. And at least five extra GLOCK OEM mags. The RXM will come with Magpul mags which are fine but Glock mags are the best. You can get the 17+2 round Glock mags.

Even if you are not going to carry the gun, get a kydex holster for it. If you are not going to carry, any inexpensive kydex holster for a Glock 17 or 19 would be fine.

When my gun is in my lock box by my bed it is in a holster so I can leave it with a round chamberd and still feel confident that I could grab it out of the lockbox in the dark, without any danger of getting caught up in the trigger. Then I would pull off the holster and meet the threat.

It only costs $400 and that leaves money for the optic and extra magsb (and Glock mags are plentiful and relatively inexpensive). You will want extra mags for trips to the range so you can show up with loaded mags and spend your time shooting not loading.

Save money for ammo and a class. After the intro class you can learn a lot about shooting online, but an intermediate class is incredibly valuable. After I had been dry firing every day and going to the range every week for about 4 months I took a 2 day 16 hour intermediate defensive hand gun class. I still practice the drills I learned at that class.

If you want to be really confident in being able to use a gun to protect yourself you need training and practice. That means practice at defensive shooting techniques not just practingngo shoot accurately with slow, aimed, "let the shot surprise you" type shooting. You will want to be able to bring the gun up and fire multiple shots quicky and accurately enough to hit center mass for a person at up to about 15 ish yards.

You can learn to do that. It takes practice. But having a gun without being confident in your ability to hit what you are aiming at is dangerous and dumb.

It costs more money to get competent with a gun than the gun itself costs.

That two day class was $475 plus 1000 rounds of 9mm. But it was very much worth it.

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NemeshisuEM@reddit

If it's for home defense, I'd do a 9mm PCC. Something that takes Glock mags. An Extar EP9, GForce Jawbone, or a Palmetto State AR-PCC will do. The first 2 are side chargers while the Palmetto is a rear charger (I prefer side chargers). While they are technically not rifles (they are classified as pistols because of the short barrels), they provide the 3 points of contact benefit of a long gun (one hand on the grip, the other on the handguard, and the brace against your shoulder). They also cost the same as a handgun ($500-650).

Also, get a bunch of 30 round mags (\~$15-$20 ea), a sling ($30), and a red dot ($150) and light ($50). Also buy a 1000 round brick-o-ammo (\~$250).

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HumoRuss@reddit

I have a gen 6 Glock 19. I had a Sig p320 legion. My friends like the CX P-10C better than either of those guns. I went with the Glock 19 (from a Gen 3 to the Gen 6) because of its reliability, simplicity, the inexpensive and ubiquitousness of magazines, its ease of maintenance, and its forgiveness for lack of maintenance.

If you can, shoot them all and then pick. If you can't, you've read my completely subjective recommendation.

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cowboy3gunisfun@reddit

CZ

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eggcheeseburger@reddit

CZ. But I'd go Echelon.

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Josconn@reddit

I recently just picked up a p10f and man does this thing feel nice.

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Rangemaster5569@reddit

From that list, I bought the CZ first. You can probably find it for lower than $500 too.

I shoot my P10C more then the The Glock 19

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RacerXrated@reddit

I'd buy nearly anything over the Sig P320. Please read up on the "incidents" with those.

The other guns you listed are fine.

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xMILKSHAKEx@reddit

I bought the Smith and Wesson Equalizer as my first hand gun. Easy to use and multiple safeties helped me get comfortable with handguns. Also easy to disassemble and clean.

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NoGear1489@reddit

glock 19 but then I tell you to check out the echelon

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DesignerAppeal1548@reddit

Cz75

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Capable_Line_823@reddit

glock 19

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Parma_Shawn@reddit

Whatever feel good in your hand. You’ll get a bunch of biased answers but honestly for the price. Glock is where it’s at. It won’t break the bank and it goes bang. Reliably… What else could you want?

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RedOwl97@reddit

Springfield Echelon compact. It’s like a Glock 19 that’s had $600 worth of upgrades.

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Drop_Dead_Dani_X@reddit

The glock 19 by far. Extremely versatile, parts are easy to come by, plenty of options and room for customization, and theyre one of the most reliable handguns you'll ever shoot.

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jscores555@reddit

Glock 17 would probably be better for just range + home defense if you aren't going to carry it. You can also get fantastic deals on used gen 5's.

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dayankuo234@reddit

rent a glock 19 and CZ. choose whatever is best.

if recoil was too much, maybe consider the ruger security .380 or the m&p .380 shield EZ

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InfiniteLoss5632@reddit

Get the CZ! It’s a refined Glock and less expensive. Would be an awesome starter gun

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Lower-Ad-1300@reddit

If a Glock feels good in your hand get that. First gun get a beretta 92. Cause it’s D / A

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DebtOk6470@reddit

P10c. Glock is much less beginner friendly

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Threather19@reddit

Ruger RXM, Vortex Venom Enclosed, Harbor Freight TLR1

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Noctatrog@reddit

The Czech Glock has my vote.

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airmech1776@reddit

Glock 19 is what I always recommend. Very versatile, and easy to customize.

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Johnnysocks10@reddit

Walther PDP

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GoatUSA47@reddit

P365 xmacro

Feels more natural in my hand than any of the double stacks and I shoot my regular P365 better than some of my bigger pistols.

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Revolutionary_Run122@reddit

I got a CZ P-10F recently. My first gun and for home defense. I love it. Simple to shoot accurately and super reliable.

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Terrible-Mention9057@reddit

Big fan of the VP9

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naswege@reddit

Glock

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Wake_Skadi@reddit

You should also consider the Canik MC9 Prime and Springfield Echelon. Both in that price range and a good value.

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OmericanAutlaw@reddit

whatever feels good in your hand and looks the coolest to you should suffice. in such a price range the pistols are generally as reliable as each other so it’ll come down to what you like. i chose a glock 17 because of the aftermarket ecosystem but if i could go back i might’ve gone with a 19 instead. i just never held it first

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xX_Monster97_Xx@reddit

Toss the Springfield echelon on the list.