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My apologies if this is not the right place to post this question...
I'm looking at purchasing my very first handgun sometime in the next year. I've picked out the Smith and Wesson M&P 9mm compact from my trips to the gun store because it fits my hands beautifully, is of a weight I can manage, and meets all of my requirements. My dilemma is that I'd really like to try one before I buy it but neither of the ranges near Portland (The Place to Shoot and the Clackamas Public Safety range) has this gun to rent and I don't know anyone who owns one.
I called The Place to Shoot and the person who answered wasn't sure if the one they had was the compact or full sized. From the way it was described I was pretty sure it was the compact. Turns out it wasn't but I didn't find that out until I was there and in the lane getting ready to shoot. Since this was my first time shooting anything other than a .22 I went ahead and practiced a little just to get over my anxiety and nerves, but the full-sized 9mm definitely does not feel anywhere near as comfortable in my hands as the compact.
Is there anywhere else near Portland that I can rent the compact 9mm to try it out? Am I just going to have to buy one and hope for the best? Should I just go with the way it feels in my hands and learn to shoot it to the best of my ability?
Also, being a pretty petite woman with limited shoulder strength/endurance I'm most worried about the recoil...does anyone know how similar the recoil is on the full-sized compared to the compact?
Thanks for your help!
Amy
I'm looking at purchasing my very first handgun sometime in the next year. I've picked out the Smith and Wesson M&P 9mm compact from my trips to the gun store because it fits my hands beautifully, is of a weight I can manage, and meets all of my requirements. My dilemma is that I'd really like to try one before I buy it but neither of the ranges near Portland (The Place to Shoot and the Clackamas Public Safety range) has this gun to rent and I don't know anyone who owns one.
I called The Place to Shoot and the person who answered wasn't sure if the one they had was the compact or full sized. From the way it was described I was pretty sure it was the compact. Turns out it wasn't but I didn't find that out until I was there and in the lane getting ready to shoot. Since this was my first time shooting anything other than a .22 I went ahead and practiced a little just to get over my anxiety and nerves, but the full-sized 9mm definitely does not feel anywhere near as comfortable in my hands as the compact.
Is there anywhere else near Portland that I can rent the compact 9mm to try it out? Am I just going to have to buy one and hope for the best? Should I just go with the way it feels in my hands and learn to shoot it to the best of my ability?
Also, being a pretty petite woman with limited shoulder strength/endurance I'm most worried about the recoil...does anyone know how similar the recoil is on the full-sized compared to the compact?
Thanks for your help!
Amy
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