New to gun ownership...

[Floorist]

Originally Posted by Threerun

Actually if you learn to trap the trigger on a Glock you basically have a hairpin trigger pull. I get very nice accuracy out of mine.

More reason that a newbie should have a gun with a safety.

[Threerun]

Originally Posted by Floorist

More reason that a newbie should have a gun with a safety.

Don't disagree at all. I'm not advocating for any particular firearm, simply responding to the 'harsh trigger' of a Glock..

My son has a S&W EZ .380 and loves it. Two safeties- manual thumb and beavertail. It shoots really well. In fact in some ways I like it better than my Glock.

[Kracer]

Originally Posted by irman

I am planning to purchase a small handgun for personal protection.
What is a good one to start with, take some instructional lessons and start learning how to fire a gun at a supervised gun range.

TIA

personal protection means you are contemplating killing a prospective perp/human being.

Your biggest hurdle is not which gun, you need to be mentally prepared to shoot a human being and live with the legal and personal consequences.

Under what very specific conditions will you pull the trigger?

Attitude, attitude, attitude! along with bullet construction!

Will you face down an armed drug crazed perp at close range?

Do you need a 45 auto or a 22lr like the Navy seals might use?

Brandishing a firearm under certain conditions may result in a felony charge.

Handle an empty firearm continuously while watching a football game, to be familiar with how it works w/o thinking about it.

Shoot regularly, learn anatomy.

A firearm is never unloaded even after you unload and clear it.

[ben Shunamit]

Originally Posted by Floorist

More reason that a newbie should have a gun with a safety.

A newbie should have a revolver. And he or she still needs to learn how and when to use it.

[Threerun]

Originally Posted by ben Shunamit

A newbie should have a revolver. And he or she still needs to learn how and when to use it.

Some would say a 'newbie' shouldn't have a semi-auto rifle as a beginner. However I had plenty of friends in Basic that had never fired or even held a firearm before. They were trained.

Same thing should apply to a new civilian gun owner regardless of firearm 'type'. In fact in some ways it's advantageous for a newbie to learn on whatever they choose, including semi-auto's. No bad habits to try and overcome.

[volosong]

[mod note] OP's question answered, good advice given, and he now has a direction in which to proceed. Thread now closed. [/mod note]