I'd get him an XDM. Way more versatile than a 1911 in my mind. 1911 would be a nice gift down the road when he wants to step up to a 45acp.

I know very little about Calif gun laws but you might want to investigate legality's a little further before you give him a handgun...

What is his state of residence? TX or CA? Yours is obviously TX.

^^^^^This^^^^^

I had to jump through all kinds of hoops to sell an AR10 to a guy in California. Never again. I wouldn't have agreed to it in the first place except the buyer was a disabled veteran that lost his legs in Afghan. I wasn't about to turn him down.

Good suggestions in here. Sure is nice to fix up a younger shooter, get him started.

He told me last night, he's going to get his other dad to do the purchasing. And will shoot it with him in presence until he's 21. He just needs me to tell him what to get. If he moves here, I'll have him ship it to an FFL ahead of time.

Good plan!

S&W M&P 9mm...ambi controls

Link

Glock,Glock,Glock,Glock,Glock,Glock,Glock,glock,glockglockglockglockglockglcok.
I'm no help.

Forgot about the M & P! Thank you!

I sent him that link as well as several others this morning. I'm going to tell him to find a gunshop he can go test drive several pistols.

Haven't ran through all the suggestions, but myself and my wife both run glock 23's and have zero complaints. I'm very tough on my guns and neither of them have ever had an issue whatsoever.

I wondered how long it would take

I just went and shot about 200 rounds of 9mil through a PX4 Storm, 92-A1, P229 Legion, and SP2022. Bulk of that through the last gun, but the whole group put 650 through the 4, divided among 5 shooters. All guns shot great to me. The Legion is the most expensive of the bunch, but has a phenomenal trigger and nitesights. The Beretta's sights aren't too good for me, but they are fun and accurate to shoot. We fed all the guns 115gr FMJs, from Russian steel to Blazer, Winchester, and Remington brass; no cycling issues with any gun. No jams with any gun. Since the 2022 is "my" gun, I like it the most. It has a good trigger and accuracy. Plus, it's under $500. The Storm is next in price, but the grip is not as great as the 2022's, and the trigger is detestable.

Does California have a 10-round magazine limit? All the models we had had 15- or 17- round mags. I know the Sigs offer 10-rounders but dunno about the Berettas.

I like what people were saying about 1911s earlier in the threads, but that'll be a lot of mag reloads at the range, and those suck.

I shoot a Springfield micro-compact in 45acp and the wife shoots a Springfield EMP 9mm. She shot her g23 better but won't carry it due to lack of a safety. A girl at her work snagged the trigger on a pen in her purse and it discharged. All she cared about was the hole in her coach bag

^^And another proving my point^^

Jason, this is the comment that scares me. I have 2 Glocks and the only time there is a bullet in the chamber is right before it's about to leave the barrel.

Understandable.

I carry chambered. I want to only need one hand to get the pistol in service. XDs is chambered either in the console or in the holster. Pull it and shoot, but it has the grip safety, in addition to the trigger safety. 1911 is chambered, cocked, and safetied when I'm carrying it, thumb safety, and grip safety. Two things have to happen, but one hand can do them both.

This is EXACTLY why I sold my wife's Glock. I made sure it was empty then dug around in her purse w/a mascara pen thingy. Trigger went click!

HK VP9

funny how very few actually READ the OP's first post and answer it.


Oh yea, get him a Glock

He didn't specify

I would rather have two glocks over one 1911

oh BIL

C'mon Buzz.....A 1911 in anything other than .45ACP is not a 1911.....IMHO.

The OP's points were:
9mm
Best bang for buck
"Forever gun"

HK VP9 or a Glock or an M&P answer the first two.
The 1911 only satisfies point 3.....maybe....and that's a stretch.

I know but I want one, I have 2, 1911 .45's in the safe.

I have 2 bids on 9mm Springfield Range Officer, Operators on GB, cheaper to shoot, I love my XDM too, hell, I love them all


I might even own a glock but my little fingers cant reach the trigger around the brick like grip.

I wonder if he's considered getting him a Glock.

Buzz, have you held a Gen4? My hands never liked Glocks till the Gen 4. Lemme know if you wanna finger mine some time and Ill bring it by.