My First Hand Gun

[Gerry Zagorski]

If you're considering purchasing your first gun here in NJ take a watch here as I take you through my first experience from filing a permit to the reasons why I chose my particular hand gun

https://youtu.be/BB2ueTwLXsQ

[joshmill]

I posted on YT. I don't mean to sound negative but you should definitely get some training. I will help you if you would like.

[Gerry Zagorski]

Thanks Josh. I've spent 3 hours so far with a certified NRA instructor at the range. I suggest everyone new to guns starts this way... You want to learn the proper way to handle your gun safely and not develop any bad habits from the start.

[The Hunter]

Nice video Gerry. I also purchased a 19 in November and my wife ended up with a 43x (have your wife check that one out, smaller and more compact for female hands). Your permits can also be extended for 90 days after the first 90 are up by simply calling your local PD. I just applied for 2 more permits and had them in 14 days from filing online to getting the phone call from local PD. Thanks for sharing

[Gerry Zagorski]

Nice video Gerry. I also purchased a 19 in November and my wife ended up with a 43x (have your wife check that one out, smaller and more compact for female hands). Your permits can also be extended for 90 days after the first 90 are up by simply calling your local PD. I just applied for 2 more permits and had them in 14 days from filing online to getting the phone call from local PD. Thanks for sharing

Funny you should mention that since my wife just filed her application and I might be looking at something for her.. I'll take a look at the 43X and was also thinking about the Smith and Wesson Shield...

Another bit of information on the permit process. My wife has a friend and it only took 4 weeks for her to get her initial permit done and in her hands and mine was 6 months. She lives in an area with no local police and is covered by state police. I think that may have something to do with it since my town sat on my permits for 4 weeks before they were approved. They also now have e permits for hand guns that get emailed to you rather then have to pick them up in person...

Nice to see that they are trying to streamline and modernize the process. Long overdue.

[MasiJC]

Congrats on 1st time ownership.

You should also look at NJ2AS - Great place to be a member and support a NJ-based cause.

I got my ID card in 2012 and it took < 4 weeks. My father-in-law (Toms River) started the process in July of 2020 and still doesn't have his ID card yet....

[Gerry Zagorski]

You should also look at NJ2AS - Great place to be a member and support a NJ-based cause.


Thanks for the recommendation on NJ2AS https://nj2as.org/

[The Hunter]

The new permits are actually virtual,no physical copy. They send you an e-mail. FFL will look you up in computer now, totally paperless. My latest round of permits took 14 days start to finish. Much quicker process now that it is online as long as you let your references know to fill out their portion immediately. My son is very big into pistols and he is looking at M&P 2.0 in 9mm for his wife, so you may also consider looking at that one. If you visit Heritage Guild you can rent the guns so she can test a couple before locating for purchase. If you find her gun before permits come in, purchase it and they will hold it until permits come in. Don't miss it when you find one!!!

[bulletbob]

As bad as NY state is concerning guns, NJ is 10 times as bad..
I have my unrestricted permit in NY, as does my wife and we carry concealed everywhere, at all times.. We also have our Pa, permits, and I think we are legal in about 27 states with the Pa permit... I am fortunate in living in an "easy county" here in NY.. Tioga. We typically have pro 2A county judges.
If I lived near Syracuse, Albany, Rochester, Buffalo, forget it.. NO way to get an unrestricted permit..

NJ is notorious for its troopers relishing a collar of someone without a permit, and getting them tossed into prison.. Remember the Second Amendment is a RIGHT, not a "privilege"... Clearly outlined in the Constitution.. Our rights are being taken against our will, never forget that. NJ/NY/Cal./Ct/Md are violating the rights of their citizens...

[sbalewitz74]

Nice pistol! I have a gen 3 19 and love it.
Keep em' in the 10 ring!

[vikesdad]

Any thoughts on various guns from Sig Sauer ? shot the 365xl, was thinking of 226 or 320 (M18)..365xl seems a little snappy, wondering if my wife would be more confortable with the 320. Handle is much fatter though.

[Gerry Zagorski]

Sig has a great reputation but I have no first hand knowledge other than shooting a friends.

If I were you, I would get it and some others in her hands and see which she finds more comfortable. If you're looking for something compact I would also look at the Glock 43X and the Smith and Wesson M&P Shield. The only thing people have mixed opinions on is the safety on the Smith and Wesson being in the backstrap ... I settled on the 43X for my wife.

[vikesdad]

Shot the Shield , it's a possibility. Just liked the 365xl better. Ultimately whatever she feels more comfortable with I will wind up getting. Prob go to local range and rent a few. Just wanted to try and narrow it down a bit ahead of time. Buddy has the Shield , really likes it. Think I may try and talk her into a full size gun so she isnt dealing with as much recoil.

[SplitShot]

The Sig 226 is by far my favorite semi auto handgun that I have... great weight with less recoil .... excellent quality ..... I also have the Sig 365 XL Spectre which I bought to be a concealed carry gun.... super little quality accurate gun but definitely have to hold it tight since it doesn't have the weight to tame the recoil .... Some Berettas and Caniks are full sized, shoot really well and not as pricey as Sigs :D

[vikesdad]

Thanks for the feedback. I will look at Canik , but my thoughts are leaning towards the p320(M17), if it's good enough for the Seals, it'll be perfect to me. If my wife is comfortable with it, i think its a done deal.

[joshmill]

I'm a fan. Had a p239. Have a p365, p365XL, and a p320 X5 Legion. Awesome guns.

[bulletbob]

Look at a Sig P938 before you decide.. Great quality, small light, accurate, ultra dependable.. 9 mm..

Unlike polymer guns, the Sig P938 and P 238[.380] are all metal, yet are still small and light.. light recoil..

I have a bunch of handguns that I carry daily... [unrestricted permit in NY state], and the Sigs are the best out of all hand guns I own and that includes pistols by Ruger,S&W, Beretta, Keltec...My wife also has several handguns and only one she has carried for years, a Sig P238[.380].. If you want a polymer frame nothing out there will outperform a S&W M&P Shield.. We have them in 9mm and .380, and they are accurate, dependable, well built, shoot and operate easy, and are priced right compared to a Sig.. Can't go wrong either way.... bob

[vikesdad]

Thank you for the advice