As a gun shop owner and an instructor, I see the same issue from first time buyers.
Now that Illinois has finally got on board with Conceal Carry, there a lot of folks coming out to get their first gun.
Time and time again, these folks want a small gun to conceal, but also to train with as their first gun.
Little guns are not fun to shoot, and are much harder to learn to shoot with. Therefore, having said that, do yourself a favor. Consider starting with a service gun. Get proficient with it, then look for the carry piece.
I see too many new shooters at the range trying to learn with the pocket .380's

What did you learn to shoot with??
LOL, you should know that answer. A full size Springfield.
I thought the most painfully obvious answer was just tooooo obvious
I started with a smith and wesson sigma 40 nice light gun but the trigger was garbage
@RunNgun yea, smith still has that trigger problem with the M&P series...
That why i traded it for a baretta they r much nicer
96 9mm it shoots alot smoother then the sw heavier to
My first shooting experience was with a Springfield V-12 Longslide with a ported barrel. i was such a dream to shoot.
(06-09-2014, 01:23 PM)MMR226 Wrote: [ -> ]My first shooting experience was with a Springfield V-12 Longslide with a ported barrel. i was such a dream to shoot.
Nice!
(06-09-2014, 02:28 PM)RJDSRT Wrote: [ -> ] (06-09-2014, 01:23 PM)MMR226 Wrote: [ -> ]My first shooting experience was with a Springfield V-12 Longslide with a ported barrel. i was such a dream to shoot.
Nice!
now it is a safe queen

Get that sucker out and blast away! It wont do much good sitting in the safe!
My first experience shooting was my Grandpa's 38 special, then my Dads Glock 19
my first was dads .38 chiefs special, then we bought a Ruger single six .22-lots of cheap fun with that one

(06-10-2014, 07:26 PM)BRDM2APC Wrote: [ -> ]my first was dads .38 chiefs special, then we bought a Ruger single six .22-lots of cheap fun with that one 
Back when the cost of.22 did not require a second home mortgage

Glock 17. 3 barrels later, I still have it, but it needs some smithing! I'm looking at a 19 for an additional carry piece though-love the trigger-but it will be difficult to leave my FNS9 at home!
First gun I ever shot was a Remington 870 express 20 gauge down on my uncle's ranch in Texas when I was younger. First handgun was another uncle's service size .45 Springfield XD. Both were great introductions to shooting, that Springfield is a smooth shooter!