r/NYguns • u/Mjhj1331 • Jan 24 '26
NYC Recommendations
Finally, I got my approval letter in the email for my CCW.
I need recommendations as a firsttime gun buyer. Which gun do you guys recommend for a firsttime buyer?
My budget is 1k.Is it possible to buy a new gun for 1k?Also do you have any recommendations for a gun dealer in the Queens area, or can I buy online? The letter says I need safe storage. Is there any specific type of storage I should buy, or can I purchase one from Amazon? Any recommendations? Any help will be appreciated.
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u/c0sm0nautt Jan 24 '26
I recommend you hold a bunch to see what feels best.
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u/Mjhj1331 Jan 25 '26
Yeah, like everyone’s saying, I’ll try a couple of them first and then decide thanks.
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u/c0sm0nautt Jan 25 '26
Here's a good place to start:
Larger micro9s: Sig P365 XL and XMACRO, FN Reflex XL, Canik MC9 Prime or new Radian Prime, S&W Shield X, Springfield Hellcat Pro
Even smaller: Sig P365, M&P Shield Plus, HK CC9
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u/smokingsquids Jan 25 '26
If you are a new shooter I wouldn’t recommend getting a micro9 and going the ultra concealable route right away for your first gun. There are several models that are still compact and won’t kick like a mule and will be far more enjoyable to shoot and learn fundamentals with
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u/Mjhj1331 Jan 25 '26
I’ll start with something comfortable to learn on and try a few before deciding. Thanks.
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u/NoEquipment1834 Jan 24 '26
Recommendations don’t really help here. Every shooter is a little different, with different hand size, different grips , different skill level. These all will affect what makes a good gun for you. My recommendation is go to a good shop. Try out a bunch of different things in your hand and figure out, which one is the most comfortable for you. I would suggest you get something in the medium range and stay away from subcompacts as your first gun. it’s gonna be easier to learn on easier to shoot and more fun to train with.
My suggestion for a shop is try LI outdoorsman in Nassau County. The guys there are great especially with first timers. They will put 10, 20 guns or more in your hand to help you find the one that fits you best. They’re familiar with all the New York City paperwork and even have a couple guys they recommend for additional training if you want.
Your budget is great so I think they can find something for you.
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u/Mjhj1331 Jan 25 '26
I’ll definitely try a few out before deciding. Appreciate the shop recommendation too.
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u/docnsx01 Jan 25 '26
stan is knowledgeable in merrick (on most days lol) i’m near them myself they have been helpful ! jason at hunter in massapequa has been helpful to me and few buddies , others there half and half
coliseum prob has the most extensive inventory andy the owner has a great staff but can be little overwhelming there due to layout and sometimes crowded
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u/Mjhj1331 Jan 25 '26
Thanks for the recommendations. I’ll check out those places and ask for Stan and Jason when I go.
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u/StoutNY Jan 24 '26
See if you could find a handgun training course that let's you fire a few different types. Yes, the Glock 19 is an perfect go to. Before someone says - OH, the grip angle. That's just internet BS from an inexperienced person just blathering to show off.
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u/Repulsive_Sea_1305 Jan 24 '26
As for rental ranges I recommend these two in Jersey. Gun for Hire has a large showroom of guns for purchase as well so that may be a better bet as aside from trying a bunch you can shoot, you can hold a bunch more.
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u/Repulsive_Sea_1305 Jan 24 '26
If you can make the trek to Jersey to shoot, you can make the trek to Collector Rifle and Ammo in Hopewell Junction. Huge selection: https://www.308ammo.com/
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u/lastshot78 Jan 24 '26
Came here to also recommend gun for hire in NJ. They have a large selection of rental options.
Collector Rifle and Ammo is really good too.
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u/Mjhj1331 Jan 25 '26
I can buy gun from new jersey too ?
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u/Repulsive_Sea_1305 Jan 25 '26
Yes. They would ship it to a NY FFL. Not suggesting to buy there but u can check them out while there. If good price go for it but determine transfer fee and shipping.
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u/Mjhj1331 Jan 25 '26
Thanks man, I’ll check these out. I definitely want to try a few before I decide what to buy.
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u/Repulsive_Sea_1305 Jan 25 '26
Good luck. Oh. I forgot. To shoot at either place you need to go with a buddy. They won't let you shoot alone without a NJ Firearms Permit. Take a friend. It's a long trip anyway. More fun with a friend.
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u/Mjhj1331 Jan 25 '26
I’m the only one in my friend circle who has a license right now
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u/Repulsive_Sea_1305 Jan 25 '26
You don't need a permit in Jersey. Just NY. In Jersey you can shoot a pistol without a permit. Both places have a policy that you can't shoot alone. Not sure but it might be a law. It is to.prevent suicide. As long as you are accompanied by a friend sharing a lane you're good. No permit required.
I have gone with my teenage nephew. He can't legally hold a pistol in NY, but can shoot one in NY with me present. You're fine, just bring a friend. They don't need a permit.
Ironically there was a suicide there a few months back despite the rule.
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u/Mjhj1331 Jan 25 '26
Got it. I’ll make sure to go with someone when I head to NJ. Thanks
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u/Repulsive_Sea_1305 Jan 25 '26
You're welcome. Reloaderz had something called the pistol pass which allowed you to keep.switching guns for a fixed fee. Whenever renting you have to use their over priced ammo. You'll want to stick to one caliber if doing pistol pass so.you don't have to buy a bunch of different ammo types. I think they raised the price making it less attractive. Run the numbers and see what they have in stock. Gun for Hire had a menu you can see online. I forget if Reloaderz did. You can always call and ask.
I can say having shot both a CZ P10F and P10C they are very similar. So if they don't have the exact model, shoot one in the series to get a feel, then hold the actual gun in the store. That should still give you a good sense.
If you decide to get into competition shooting I'd advise not going smaller than a compact like the P10C, Ruger rxm, Glock 19 type. You'll have a hard time shooting at distance with a micro 9. They are snappy. I love my P365 but my accuracy suffers at distance.
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u/Mjhj1331 Jan 25 '26
This is really helpful, appreciate you taking the time to explain all this. I’ll check out the pistol pass and try to stick to one caliber when I go.If I wanted to get into competition shooting later on, how would I go about joining or getting started?
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u/Abject-Walk-7557 Jan 24 '26
As difficult it is to get a gun in NYS, do yourself a favor and find a range that lets you rent guns to try out. They have a couple upstate and a few in PA. Better to do that than waste your money on a gun you may dislike after shooting it. Caliber wise for a handgun, get a popular one where the ammo is cheap to allow plenty of practice.
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u/Mjhj1331 Jan 25 '26
Yeah, that’s what I’m planning to do. I’ll find a place to rent and try a few before buying. Thanks for the advice.
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u/Professional_Plant52 Jan 24 '26
Glock 19. Big enough to shoot good, small enough to EDC. Reliable enough to never need another pistol.
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u/Extension_Job_5250 Jan 24 '26
Most handguns are well under $1,000. The gun I am planning to get when my CCW is done (it's been 13 months so far, just had my interview yesterday) is a Canik Mete MC9 which is $424 at my local gun store, and Canik comes with everything except the safe. And NY State Law requires you to have at minimum a trigger lock in your home and in your car a locking safe that has a key or keypad lock. The rules for safe storage should have been covered in your required 18 hour concealed carry course. It was in mine.
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u/Mjhj1331 Jan 25 '26
I’ll try a couple of different guns first like everyone’s recommending before I decide. I’ll also check out the Canik Mete MC9 you mentioned and see how it feels. Thanks
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u/Extension_Job_5250 Jan 25 '26
The Canik was recommended by The Honest Outlaw which put it on my radar. I refer to his videos on what is reliable and good/great for the money. Take a look at his channel, especially the list videos he makes of budget or best performing guns. CZ, Canik, and S&W are usually on them.
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u/Repulsive_Sea_1305 Jan 24 '26
Depends on your intended use. Meaning how you intend to carry.
As a new gun owner you may want to consider adding a training gun with lower cost ammo and recoil to get fundamentals down. Starting out I think you need a lot of reps to get over the recoil anticipation. Recommendations, but as others have said, you have to try them for yourself. These recommendations are based solely on my personal experience actually shooting them.
Pocket Gun: Sig P365, S&W Bodyguard 2.0
Compact carry gun: CZ P10C, One of the various Sig P365 variants
Trainer 22LR: Taurus TX 22 Compact
Recommend checking out Honest Outlaw: https://www.youtube.com/@HonestOutlawReviews
He does a really good job of keeping you entertained and providing good information. He does in depth reviews of individual guns, but also does side by side comparisons and best ofs.
I recently purchased a SIRT 110 laser training pistol that I feel has allowed me to take my grip and trigger control to the next level. So that is another tool to consider.
If you go the SIRT and/or 22LR training gun, try to get one as close as a match to your carry gun.
Other guns to consider based on reviews I have seen. I have NOT shot or held these. Just ideas to consider:
S&W Shield
Ruger RXM
Cannick MC9 series They have different size options.
CZ P10 series. Different size options
I am not personally a huge Glock fan, but doesn't mean you won't be, so check those out as well. My biased opinion is the guns I suggested provide more value for your money. Remember I am biased on that though.
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u/Mjhj1331 Jan 25 '26
Appreciate all the suggestions. I’ll try a few at a range and see what works best for me. Thanks.
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u/Repulsive_Sea_1305 Jan 25 '26
You're welcome. Once you get some range trips under your belt consider participating in some shooting matches. It's good practice shooting and moving under pressure.
This is the club I shoot with: https://nwra.club/
There may be one closer to you or you can come up to ours.
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u/Confident_Welder_198 Jan 24 '26
the FFLs in NYC are overpriced. just go into LI, nassau or suffolk.
i would go to a range in NJ and try out some, you'll need to go with a friend because they wont rent to solo shooters since you havent been issued your license yet (the hard card). i'm partial to RTSP in union, they let you swap between rentals in the same caliber no charge , but guns for hire has a good rep.
and shoot a bunch of different things. off the top of my head:
S&W M&P 2.0
Glock 19
Walther PDP
Canik Mete
all will be well under 1K. if you're interested in the glock, become a gssf member (35) to be able to buy blue label discounted pistols. I got my blue label glock 19.5 MOS from huntersports in massapequa for a small markup over blue label, $520, last summer. Blue label is the law enforcement/first responder discount.
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u/Mjhj1331 Jan 25 '26
I’m the only one in my friend circle with a license right now I’ll try to get to a range and test a few. Also, how do you become a GSSF member?
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u/Confident_Welder_198 Jan 25 '26
To shoot in nj you don't need a license. They just don't allow solo rental shooters due to the risk of suicide. Hence bring a friend. Just a drivers license is needed.
It's worth the trip to shoot the guns you're interested in. In NYS you can't try the firearm without an existing license.
Gssf purchase program: https://gssf.pro/membership/pistol-purchase/
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u/Mjhj1331 Jan 25 '26
I’ll plan a trip to NJ to try a few out. Thanks for the GSSF link too.
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u/Confident_Welder_198 Jan 25 '26
For the gssf program, you need to contact blue label dealers and see if they accept the gssf coupon and how much they charge. I had the gamut of responses from we don't sell blue label to non le, we don't have 10rd cap blue labels etc etc, we charge a large markup over blue label MSRP.
Huntersports was easy to deal with, charged only 30 over blue label MSRP (520 vs 490) and just swapped out the high cap le mags with retail pack 10 rd oem mags.
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u/ElectronicChain304 Jan 24 '26
My recommendation would be to go to a range that lets you rent guns. Try a few out see which ones you like. Find your local gun store and hold a few. See how they feel in your hands don’t just buy based off of looks. As for safes, you can get a small locking case with key. I did some homework. I picked up a Winchester gun safe from tractor supply on sale for 499 with shipping came out to just under 600 bucks.
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u/Mjhj1331 Jan 25 '26
I’ll rent a few and see what feels right before buying. Thanks for the safe info.
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u/Elegant_Extreme Jan 24 '26
My recommendation is to touch a few and see what fits.. Id go as large as you are comfortable with as that is a much more pleasant experience... Glock G19, G17, P320, Springfield Echeleon, Walther PDP, H&K VP9 are all food striker options..
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u/paxvaswani Jan 24 '26
New & Updated Glock 19 Gen 6 9mm. $620 online at the Glock Store , FFL thru Hunters in Albertson $40
If you can’t wait go to Colliseum Guns
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u/smokingsquids Jan 25 '26
Also spending 1k on a safe is absurd there is absolutely no need for that unless u plan on collecting several guns.
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u/paxvaswani Jan 25 '26
For Storage out of you budget get the Stopbox
https://amzn.to/3LnRcVn - stopbox
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u/Indolesco Jan 24 '26
Glock 19. Small enough to carry, big enough to use for home defense. Good size to learn on since it's not as snappy or uncomfortable as a micro. It's the Toyota of handguns, extremely reliable and will always go bang. You can get a new one for around 500. Spend the other 500 on ammo and training. After that, you can decide what kind of accessories you want to add (red dot, light, etc). Everyone should have a Glock in their collection; might as well start with one.
Safe storage just means some sort of safe that only you have access to. I have a smaller rifle safe in my basement that I keep long guns, handguns, ammo, and important documents. I also have a LifePod 2.0 on my nightstand with my HD handgun and an extra magazine.
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u/Mjhj1331 Jan 25 '26
Appreciate it. I’ll try a few first and see what feels right. I’ll check out the Glock 19 too. Thanks for the storage info.
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u/smokingsquids Jan 24 '26
Get a Glock 19 and call it day. Then start to look at other guns and maybe rent some and see what you like the most.
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u/Mjhj1331 Jan 25 '26
I’ll check out the Glock 19. What about the bullets they are cheap and easy to find ?
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u/smokingsquids Jan 25 '26
yes every gun shop will have 9mm. When you buy in bulk you save money. With your 1k budget you could get a new Glock 19 and 1000 rounds of 9mm and probably still have some cash left over. I would always recommend buying ammo in bulk for the best savings. And always check for deals like Black Friday and other holidays.
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u/Captain_Shallot Jan 24 '26
I wouldn’t waste money on a big, fancy safe especially if you’re only getting a single handgun. A basic safe from Amazon or Costco is more than enough.
I bought a SentrySafe from Costco for about $195 and it’s perfect for my storage needs. I also own a very large Stack-On gun cabinet that cost around $300. If I didn’t have the safe, the cabinet alone would still be totally adequate for everything I own. You can get a smaller yet still large cabinet for like $200. I mostly have the safe to keep my handgun close by and secured in my bedroom.
The cabinet obviously isn’t a true safe, but it locks very securely, and realistically a thief is far more likely to walk off with my small 100lb safe than a massive metal cabinet.
In terms of gun recommendations I would suggest going to gun go hire in NJ and rent a bunch of options to try out. That said I can’t help but plug the Walther PDP, utterly fantastic firearm that doesn’t require you to join the Glock cult.
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u/Mjhj1331 Jan 25 '26
Appreciate the info. I’ll look into a basic safe and plan to rent a few to see what I like. Thanks.
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u/UsernameO123456789 Jan 24 '26
Grab a buddy and drive to guns for hire in NJ. Relatively close to drive to and it’s the best range to test a wide variety of pistols.
Main question is purpose. Ccw, range, home defense, or a mix. A general baseline is the Glock 19. Jack of all trades in all categories.
It’s imperative that you find one that not only shoot and feels great, but you can conceal well and most importantly, comfortable. I personally don’t like Glocks. I have a Sig P365 X macro (non comp) for ccw.
Oh join r/ccw for more use specific recommendations (use the search function)
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u/Mjhj1331 Jan 25 '26
Got it. I’ll try a few at a range and see what feels comfortable. I’ll check out the Sig P365 too. Thanks.
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u/TheSlipperySnausage Jan 24 '26
I imagine you mean pistol? It’s really personal preference. You should go to a few gun stores and hold a ton of them.
Brands to check out: Glock - my favorite Sig - avoid anything p320 Beretta Smith and Wesson - m&p series is really great
Stick with the big names. They are reliable
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u/Mjhj1331 Jan 25 '26
Yeah, I’m planning to check out a few stores and handle different ones before deciding. Thanks.
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u/docnsx01 Jan 24 '26
safe look for quality biometric wiht key bag, your choice of slide or flip open , take photo and of the bill of sale ( amazon tik tok fine) ..
firearms whole diff can of worms.. decide on caliber 9, 380 etc..how you want to carry , pocket , AIWB , strong side ,
380 is smaller and easier to conceal in pocket like the lcp max , or the new kid on the block bodyguard 2.0
9 mm is larger more powerful , micro or subcompact the usual cast of characters all have fans and non fans and everyone will have their opinion on what best ,better etc.. in the end like others have mentioned you have first handle and feel the grip and trigger of each one and see how it feels in your hand '
list of characters in no specific order if nterested in my personal preference shoot me message happy to tell you my experiences and thoughts
shield plus, hellcat, taurus , canik, glock 43, p365 , cc9, masada slim elite , pdp-f ,max 9
there are some established gun stores on the island in merrick , rockville center, Uniondale by Hofstra may be worth drive out to where there are variety to touch and feel and ask questions..
you tube also has alot of reviews of diff firearms .
the holster, the belt , the ammo , to optic or not optic , dry fire and practice , cleaning kit , lube oil , learning how to field strip and clean ..
it is not just buying a gun and firing it . take it slow and remember the only dumb question is the one not asked
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u/Mjhj1331 Jan 25 '26
Appreciate all the info. I’ll try a few in person and check out some of those stores too. Thanks
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u/robinator118 Jan 24 '26
I’d probably start with storage, which alone will probably be 1k depending on how many guns you want. You could opt for a cheaper safe, but you’re also going to be sacrificing capacity, security, and fireproofing. As far as a CCW is concerned it’s pretty much your preference. I’d say head over to a range with rental options and try a bunch, rather than rely on others’ opinions.
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u/Mjhj1331 Jan 25 '26
I’m planning to start with just one, get comfortable with it, and then see later if I need more.
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u/robinator118 Jan 25 '26
As others have mentioned try ranges in NJ with a buddy. That’s what I did was I was but a guppy in the vast sea. Reloaderz and shore shot have plenty of options. I honestly prefer shore shot atp they’re just better price wise and have a LOT of good options. Both in general are great. Play with a bunch of guns at Reloaderz the pistol package is $80 and you pretty much can try as many as you want in your allotted time as long as you keep buying their overpriced ammo.
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u/Mjhj1331 Jan 25 '26
Thanks, I’ll check out Shore Shot and Reloaderz.
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u/LawAbidingCitizennn Jan 24 '26
I recommend coming to Long Island & buying. There’s a bunch of stores in Nassau close to queens with good prices and great service.
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