Suggestions on my first two firearms to get?

[Deleted member 16735]

Fair enough. I have a couple of suggestions that should fulfill your criteria. I believe you said that your budget was ~$700 and you wanted two firearms. I believe you also stated that you would like a pistol for primary defense and range fun and a second firearm, mostly for the range. Correct me if I'm wrong.

I see a lot of good suggestions on here, and I'm not arguing against any of them. However, if you just want a couple of simple firearms that fit all of your criteria (especially the budget), I'd suggest two that I personally own and have had zero issues with.

For the first, the handgun, I'd suggest a first Gen Springfield XD in 4" or 5" in 9mm. If you're not planning on concealing, the 5" might be the better choice. The 4" though, is the one I have and not impossible to conceal. You have a rail on the bottom of the frame to attach a light for home defense. That's it. Upgrades are available, though not as plentiful as many other platforms. I don't recall upgrades being a part of your post though, so if you're looking for a simple, easy solution with an actual military pedigree, this is a solid option in the $500-550 range. Used examples are going for quite a bit less.

For the second, the rifle, I'd suggest a Rossi RS22 in .22LR. Again, not as fancy as some other suggestions, but one I've had a lot of fun with. For right around $150 you get a synthetic Monte Carlo stock (numerous color options), adjustable fiber optic front and rear sights, sling studs, removable magazine (interchangeable with the Mossberg 702 Plinkster), and a dovetail receiver, so you could mount a scope in the future. And the whole thing weighs in right around 4 pounds.

There you have it! Reliable budget options that I can personally recommend.

An xd in 2026 is an objectively bad suggestion, there are so many better modern options even from Springfield. Everyone, especially beginners should also be using dots.

 

[cake&sodomy]

A Glock.

 

[jayson_b24]

An xd in 2026 is an objectively bad suggestion, there are so many better modern options even from Springfield. Everyone, especially beginners should also be using dots.

I recommended what I know. I've heard "brand X is a great gun", but I can't recommend it honestly. I don't have any experience with it. Besides, I see plenty other objectively bad suggestions on here. The assignment was a recommendation for two firearms within given parameters. A top tier 1911 matched to a Gucci AR-15 fits SOME of the parameters, but not all. I provided options with platforms I have experience with.

 

[jayson_b24]

I agree with this. I started my striker fire journey with the XD9 4". I swapped to the OSP slide and added an optic, added Talon Grips, and a TLR-1HL light. It's my main carry right now (until I renew and add my Echelon 4.0C) and love it. Extremely reliable and no issues.

I've added the light and am seriously considering the OSP & optic!

 

[drinktothat421]

G19/17 or m&p 2.0. For your duty style

Carrying if you can swing is g19 or compact. If not just the p365 shield

 

[vplaza96]

I've added the light and am seriously considering the OSP & optic!

The OSP slide looks so much better (lower left in the pic)...

 

[Enthused]

Glocks are by far the worst choice in California right now because they aren't optic ready and are overpriced and hard to find. Anyone suggesting you buy a Glock is pretty clueless.

I was thinking the same thing. Suggesting a gun that is 30 years old, off roster/discontinued, significantly overpriced, and despite numerous more modern and subjectively better guns (even objectively better perhaps) widely available on the market, to someone for their very first gun is quite a choice.

 

[CWINSD]

My choice if I could only have two would be a handgun and an AR. Glock is always a great choice, as long as you can get one at a reasonable price. If not, take a look also at either an MP, Echelon, PDP, or VPN. For the AR, there are some solid choices around the $1000 mark.

 

[sonofeugene]

For a first gun, as long as you won’t be carrying it, a Glock 34 is excellent. It’s reliable as a rock and has a longer sight distance than either the 17 or 19.

 

[sonofeugene]

And forget optics. Learn to use regular sights first.

 

[thebossjocelyn]

Fair enough. I have a couple of suggestions that should fulfill your criteria. I believe you said that your budget was ~$700 and you wanted two firearms. I believe you also stated that you would like a pistol for primary defense and range fun and a second firearm, mostly for the range. Correct me if I'm wrong.

I see a lot of good suggestions on here, and I'm not arguing against any of them. However, if you just want a couple of simple firearms that fit all of your criteria (especially the budget), I'd suggest two that I personally own and have had zero issues with.

For the first, the handgun, I'd suggest a first Gen Springfield XD in 4" or 5" in 9mm. If you're not planning on concealing, the 5" might be the better choice. The 4" though, is the one I have and not impossible to conceal. You have a rail on the bottom of the frame to attach a light for home defense. That's it. Upgrades are available, though not as plentiful as many other platforms. I don't recall upgrades being a part of your post though, so if you're looking for a simple, easy solution with an actual military pedigree, this is a solid option in the $500-550 range. Used examples are going for quite a bit less.

For the second, the rifle, I'd suggest a Rossi RS22 in .22LR. Again, not as fancy as some other suggestions, but one I've had a lot of fun with. For right around $150 you get a synthetic Monte Carlo stock (numerous color options), adjustable fiber optic front and rear sights, sling studs, removable magazine (interchangeable with the Mossberg 702 Plinkster), and a dovetail receiver, so you could mount a scope in the future. And the whole thing weighs in right around 4 pounds.

There you have it! Reliable budget options that I can personally recommend.

Appreciate the time to write all this , thank you

 

[badsushi]

Really as a new gun owner you’re going to want the most fun per dollar. So get anything chambered in 45-70

 

[jayson_b24]

The OSP slide looks so much better (lower left in the pic)...

View attachment 182089

I have some questions, I'll shoot you A DM later.

 

[jayson_b24]

Appreciate the time to write all this , thank you

Absolutely!

 

[john_marsten_1873]

An xd in 2026 is an objectively bad suggestion, there are so many better modern options even from Springfield. Everyone, especially beginners should also be using dots.

I strongly believe beginners should start with irons to learn to properly index/present.

When you can present and feel confident enough that you’ll have sight alignment 99/100 times then you’ll be far less likely to end up searching for your dot.

 

[jayson_b24]

I strongly believe beginners should start with irons to learn to properly index/present.

When you can present and feel confident enough that you’ll have sight alignment 99/100 times then you’ll be far less likely to end up searching for your dot.

Sound advice.

 

[Deleted member 16735]

I strongly believe beginners should start with irons to learn to properly index/present.

When you can present and feel confident enough that you’ll have sight alignment 99/100 times then you’ll be far less likely to end up searching for your dot.

I strongly disagree, learning a dot is a lot easier and better for everything from self defense to competition. It's like people who say you should shoot ballistically inferior calibers like 308 to learn how to shoot a rifle, I think that's completely backwards because you want it to be easier when you are learning, not harder. I don't own a single gun with irons but if my dot goes out (which it has done during a match once) my index is good enough that I was still able to finish the stage with literally nothing but a dead dot. there's no reason to suffer through obsolete tech and no learning advantage to waiting on using a dot.

 

[Spork]

The cheapest way to find out what you like is if you have buddies with guns who can let you shoot, offer em some food or to pay the range fees if you don't have your own ammo supply yet and get a feel for what is out there, that't how I got to try a plethora of potential first handguns as our group had a PDP, P365, Hellcat and Glock 19 and I took some mental notes about what was good.

The other, slightly more expensive option, is to take a day to go to the range with a buddy to try out different guns. I was dead set on an Echelon at first since everyone recommends it nowadays and while it wasn't bad, I just didn't feel that connection to it. I tried the MP 2.0 on the suggestion from the guy at the rental counter and loved the way it felt and shot above everything else I had tried and that is what I ended up getting.

As for a fun plinker, we have a little 22 range at our spot so I eventually want to get a 10/22 or HK22/M&P 15-22 that I can just sit down and enjoy on the cheap and is still different enough from the 9mm for some variety. Besides that I think a nice pump shotty is my last want for now but I think its like motorcycles where the formula for the perfect amount is N+1, where N=how many guns you currently have.

 

[john_marsten_1873]

$700 and safety/defense and also for fun to take to the range.

I’d strongly suggest a P365 (over the Echelon).

You should be able to go into most gun stores and hold the 3 different California version: Base P365 (sub-compact), P365 Rose XL (compact), P365 X-Macro (carry). If you can find a range that rents pistols, they’re likely to have this on hand because it’s well established.

Buying a P365 base will best fit:
- Max budget of $700
- Small hands
- One of the top concealed carry pistols (defense)

In addition, it has a very mature OEM and aftermarket ecosystem for upgrades with high availability. The Echelon ecosystem is still very limited.

With your P365 you can buy OEM parts (for reliability in defense) to upgrade it to a full-size Fuse.

Also, I’d recommend something with a manual safety (which the P365 California models have) for a first pistol until you develop great trigger discipline.

 

[john_marsten_1873]

I strongly disagree, learning a dot is a lot easier and better for everything from self defense to competition. It's like people who say you should shoot ballistically inferior calibers like 308 to learn how to shoot a rifle, I think that's completely backwards because you want it to be easier when you are learning, not harder. I don't own a single gun with irons but if my dot goes out (which it has done during a match once) my index is good enough that I was still able to finish the stage with literally nothing but a dead dot. there's no reason to suffer through obsolete tech and no learning advantage to waiting on using a dot.

Easier? Absolutely!

But I’m more so talking about building/training a stronger foundation - that will be transferable to using a dot - especially if you’re new (or haven’t shot in a long time).

Iron sights have less margin for error and require you to train with more precision.

Dots give you much bigger margin of error - the dot anywhere in the window - so you can get away with a lot, even developing bad habits (or not actually addressing them).

I started using dots too early. I was able to get away with poor grip and not really paying attention to how my sights behaved. Then when I got my second (and 3rd pistol) with different dots, I was wondering why I was struggling to find the dot on presentation and group consistently. So I went back to irons.

I have to grip better (and more consistently) with my support hand and pay more attention to sight return. I really had to develop a “feel” where I know while presenting if I changed angles or bad grip and fixing it before my sights are on target.That work has greatly improved my performance with dots as well and when shooting other platforms that I’m not familiar with.

I also like to at least consider the worst case scenario - in defensive purposes - were you to have to pick up a pistol in its most basic form or something you’re not familiar with. Maybe you have to perform with irons and manipulating a manual safety.

It forces more work up front for sure, but it’s invaluable in the long run. Also, when folks start with dots it’s really difficult for them to learn irons so they won’t train it.