My First Gun

[thrash_273]

I BOUGHT AN XD .40 5 INCH LAST WEEK AND THIS IS MY FIRST GUN. IM GOING TO PICK IT THIS COMING THURSDAY. I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH AND VERY GLAD TO FIND THIS SITE. PLS GIVE ME SOME ADVICE ON WHAT KIND OF AMMO. WE USE ON XD'S AND HOW OFTEN THE GUN SHOULD BE CLEAN. IM REALLY A NEWBIE ON THIS STUFF.

[jeff221]

Originally Posted by thrash_273

I BOUGHT AN XD .40 5 INCH LAST WEEK AND THIS IS MY FIRST GUN. IM GOING TO PICK IT THIS COMING THURSDAY. I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH AND VERY GLAD TO FIND THIS SITE. PLS GIVE ME SOME ADVICE ON WHAT KIND OF AMMO. WE USE ON XD'S AND HOW OFTEN THE GUN SHOULD BE CLEAN. IM REALLY A NEWBIE ON THIS STUFF.

Here's a couple things that will help:

1) Best Cheap ammo is Walmart, comes in a white winchester box.. Buy 100 rounds and see how it works. Some people have issues with this ammo, but the majority works just fine.

2) Clean your gun when it's dirty... Is that too general? Maybe, but it's a fact. Some people clean it after each range visit, some only clean it when it starts to malfunction... So, the best advise I have for you is "clean when dirty".

3) Buy the three nessecery accessories and don't be a cheap a$sd when you do: Ear & Eye protection (it doesn't do you any good to have a gun if you can't see or hear where the person is you want to shoot) and a gun safe of some sort. If we find out you are not safe with your firearms we'll come and kick you in the head.... YOU being safe with YOUR firearm means the rest of us don't have to fight the excuses the anti's will get if something goes wrong...

4) The CAPS LOCK key is on the left side of your keyboard, should be the 3rd key from the top... I think yours is stuck.

5) MOST IMPORTANT: READ about gun safty... READ about gun ownership.. READ about shooting and SHOOT SHOOT SHOOT... Owning a gun is just like anything else, you need to KNOW and UNDERSTAND what you are doing before you hop on... You wouldn't buy a motorcycle and expect to ride all day/night if you had never rode one before.... Read the manual, learn your gun and all about gun safty....

[aequitasmurphy]

Good job Jeff, I think that just about covers it. I don't know if I can add anymore to it, just make sure you read your gun laws and check up on them every month or so and see if there are any changes.

[Bycyclist]

Thrash - I would HIGHLY recommend you take a class on basic pistol/firearm soon. Also check out www.springerprecision.com for proper way to grip your XD.

Also absolutely ingrain the three or four (depending on which one you see, but they cover similar things) laws on firearm safety: safe muzzle direction, clear target identification, no finger on trigger till sight pix, always treat the gun as loaded - even if you're SURE its not loaded.

That last one keeps you from getting too "casual" with the gun.

[Arps]

All very good advice. Welcome!

[Bycyclist]

Sorry, just realized didnt even answer your question:

For range/target - we get CCI Blazer for $9/50 around here, but Walmart WWB probably ok.

For carry/protection - get Jacketed Hollow Points (JHP), good brands, you'll pay probably between $15 - $20 per 20ish rounds.

Cleaning frequency - clean every time you shoot if it makes you happy and you have time, but if you clean about every 500 rounds (which is weekly for me), you're good (that's what's recommended by Wilson Combat for their 1911s, which are much tighter tolerances than our XDs). I keep a logbook to note how many rounds go through the gun, maintenance, etc.

[Paul]

Welcome. Enjoy your new pistol. It may take awhile to get use to the recoil if you have never shot much before.

Kudos to Jeff for taking the time to help.

[alan0269]

[quote=jeff221]If we find out you are not safe with your firearms we'll come and kick you in the head.... YOU being safe with YOUR firearm means the rest of us don't have to fight the excuses the anti's will get if something goes wrong...
quote]

+1

[dave_in_delaware]

Originally Posted by thrash_273

I BOUGHT AN XD .40 5 INCH LAST WEEK AND THIS IS MY FIRST GUN. IM GOING TO PICK IT THIS COMING THURSDAY. I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH AND VERY GLAD TO FIND THIS SITE. PLS GIVE ME SOME ADVICE ON WHAT KIND OF AMMO. WE USE ON XD'S AND HOW OFTEN THE GUN SHOULD BE CLEAN. IM REALLY A NEWBIE ON THIS STUFF.

I know how you feel, and how your head is swimming with questions. I was where you are (newbie) only last year, when I bought my first gun (XD-9 subbie)... this forum has a wealth of info and help and resources. Look around, and read a lot. Chances are, your questions have already been answered. I've learned 90% of what I know right here from other members.

One thing I quickly learned about guns: each and every one is unique, and therefore will have its own tolerances. YOUR gun may or may not shoot a particular brand of ammo well. You'll have to do the old fashioned method of trial and error until you find ammo your particular gun likes and reliably feeds and shoots. (For me, it's Wal-Mart Winchester brands, both FMJ and JHP for all of my XD-9's).

I clean my gun (field strip only) after each trip to the range (unless it only had 20 rounds, then I'll wait until next time). Some people wait until 1000 rounds. It's whatever the gun needs at the time. Just remember: the dirtier it gets, the less "reliable" it gets, too (from dirt, fouling, lead, and lack of lubrication). So, clean it semi-regularly at least.

Congrats on the XD. It won't be your only one (in time).

[thrash_273]

thanks for all the advice and tips, i am really excited on my xd. two more days. oh yeah, one more question, whats the difference bet. a 4inch and 5 inch coil spring when stripping?