The first thing you do is…
Do you buy sights, lights, lasers, holsters, mags, ammo, any other components?
There’s a point to this. I try to learn my weapon front and back before I go all wonky and changing things and I want to see your perspectives on how you guys do things!
Shoot the gun for awhile first, before changing anything… I’d put at least 500- 1000rnds through it, and then think carefully about what you’d like to change… Sights? on most pistols, that’s a given, as factory sights are often not much more than slot fillers (Glock’s a good example, here) Triggers? for me, it depends, I have a Beretta Vertec that I changed the Hammer, and trigger for upgraded factory parts, in this case there was a noticeable improvement. With a police trade in Gen4,G17 I recently bought, All I’m figuring on doing is swapping sights, (I’m still shopping) and buying some mags, I don’t plan on doing anything else to it. Shooting the gun will tell you what, if any changes you may want to make.
First handgun, cheap holster and ammo and mags, shoot the crap out of it and find what you need.
I have some experience so I would immediately buy my preference sights.
All guns get broken down and cleaned/lubed before shooting. If it’s an HD gun, I’d buy a weaponlight.
For pistols, a lot of people buy triggers, but I’d dry fire the thing thousands of times and develop great trigger contol before spending money on a trigger. If your new to pistol, I’d get some professional training as well by a reputable trainer, many are listed and active posters on this site. The best way to learn the gun is by using it. Live fire teaches you the recoil, allows you to confirm good dry practice is working, grip, gun operation, etc.
Being the guy that changes parts out and mods a gun more often than you shoot it, or buying equipment will not make you a good shooter.
Also, while cleaning, look at how all the parts work together.
I ask this because a lot of guys at the local shops literally buy a new gun solely to trick out before range duty at all and it just seems retarded
Sigs, I buy clean, shoot, clean repeat. My Sigs are bone stock
M&P’s get APEX parts for the trigger.
1911’s and BHP, shoot, clean and repeat until you feel the need to change something.
S&W revolvers, most likely a grip change depending on model/caliber
Upon buying a new gun, here are the steps I generally go through.
Seriously, even knowing new glocks are going to need plastic inserts of sights replaced, I would still take it to the range and run it through a couple or few hundred rounds just to make sure the gun is good to go before I change anything. Reason being, I have seen guns, glocks included, not make it 50 rounds before shitting the bed because of major manufacturer **** ups, rails breaking, slides not machined correctly, ect, and I don’t want to pour money into something until I think it is at least properly functioning.
I’ve never bought a gun that I didn’t already have experience using.
I played with 1911s for awhile and I would do all sorts of things to them. Kind of a hobby I guess.
Glocks, Sig, Berettas, H&Ks… Just add ammo and holsters and shoot 'em.
I only own Glocks and H&Ks at the moment. Thinking about thinning it down to a couple of P2000s…
It depends. If it’s a gun that I plan on using for CCW, then I won’t change much at all besides sights. I don’t like to fiddle **** around with a gun that has a serious purpose. If it needs a lot of changes for me to be able to use it as a defensive gun, I’d probably just find a different gun.
My process is buy gun, put on new sights if desired, get holster and mag carriers if necessary. Lube pistol, go shoot.
If it’s a gun you’re getting just for enjoyment, then go nuts. Whatever makes you happy is cool there.
I just got another Gen4 G19. I’ll shoot it as is for a few hundred rounds. Since I might eventually carry it I’ll keep it stock and add a Gen3 G17 (smooth face) trigger bar, a Glock 4.5# connector and some Warren Tactical Carry sights (plain Black rear with FO front) and do a heavy .25 trigger job.
Sights first, that way they are installed when I receive it and I don’t have to chase down a sight tool.
Always sights first, anything else is just done as I see fit.
To all the guys who say sights first, I get it. Have it done before you hit the range and learn the sighting all at once vs get it sighted and used to it and repeat the process again.
To this point(slight thread drift), I found going from m&p stock sights to ameriglo unotch sights, I shot left until I got used to it. It seems I subconsciously set the gap around the front sight based on the left side. Once I focus on perfect sight picture, my groups centered, but it took 3 range trips to finally “get it”. Something to be aware of and apply to all mods, it takes more than dry fire to actually test and become proficient with new stuff. Make changes slowly and test everything so you actually understand it.
After a quick cleaning and basic function check, off to the range. If everything goes ok,then I drop some coin on extra mags, holsters and Trijicon HDs as my bad eyes like them! Thats for “CCW/Duty/carry guns”.For something like a 1911 in 38 Super that is just a “Fun Gun” same as above except no HDs but kinda leave it stock if it runs well, maybe some extra mags. When its time to sell, I just seem to be sble to sell a gun faster with a holster and a few extra mags quicker than just the gun & one mag.
Now thats funny!!
I shoot it. Then order Dawson sights and a holster (if I plan to carry it). If its a Glock, I start trying to figure out how to make the trigger less garbage (and fail).
XD9 Service:
-new April 2nd 2015
–3rd mag
–ammo
–fobus paddle holster
–uncle mikes IWB
-as of today
–750 down the pipe
–just bought Ameriglo CAP sights
–Powder River Precision Trigger and Sear Springs
–Blue Line Concealment kydex iwb belt clip holster.
That’s the angle of approach I’ve taken. I’ve felt my way around and haven’t installed springs or sights yet. Up in the air if I’m doing it myself or having a Gunsmith do it. I was quoted $45 to do sights and springs.
“Shoot the gun.” That was such a big movement on M4C 5 years ago, kind of surprising the forum has moved away from it. What it means is that before you buy your Punisher Glock slide plate with your 'Merican Flag billet base plates, install the “drop-in” parts for a sub 2-pound trigger pull in your G19, and other equally ridiculous mods you actually bring the gun to a firing range with a good amount of ammo (anything less than 200 rounds is a joke) and SHOOT THE GUN, rinse and repeat as needed. After you have actually learned how your new pistol works, THEN you start changing it to better suit your needs.
I will say that every new pistol I buy I also get at a minimum 2 additional magazines (I like to eventually end up with 8-10x per pistol), a quality OWB holster, and usually better sights.
If the pistol is going to be used for CCW in addition to the previously mentioned items I will also buy a quality IWB holster and at least 100 rounds of premium HP (Ranger T, Gold Dot, etc) earmarked specifically for the new pistol to ensure function. I also will fire at least 500 rounds through the pistol to ensure basic reliability.
Pistols I have bought for use in the CCW role also receive no trigger modifications and no “personalizations”. In effect I try to make them look as much like police duty weapons as I can.
This probably belongs in the “Dumbest things in a gunshop” thread, but I saw a guy at a local range years ago with a totenkopf (like the SS one) slide plate on his G19 claiming it his “primary carry gun”. Don’t be that guy, just don’t.
Pretty much says it all ! New sights are great and are typically “better” than the factory,but its a rare day if I change them out in the 1st year of getting a new pistol.
Anyways,New gun,take out of the box & look it over good, they are normally lubed pretty good from the Factory so I run a patch or two down the BBL and its GTG. Glocks typically have the good blue factory lube on them so why take it off. After bringin the pistol home and prepping it I typically spend the night/next day buying mags/holster & mag holders if different from others I have. Go to the range and run it,period,nothing fancy just shoot it,I always run 1K through every New gun I buy before I do anything to it,no exceptions. Shooting could included normal range work,practice,shooting steel,etc along with IDPA/USPSA Matches. I did buy a 10-8 rear for my VP9 about 4/5 months ago,just haven/t installed it yet. Looking at the Heinies & I am intrigued with them,so when I get some extra $$$ I could buy a set of them someday. I also like at least 8 mags per gun,10 is better for sure.