G36 as your first handgun?

[Littleman]

I've decided upon the G36 as my first handgun & Carry Weapon. (I have .22 target pistols... but they don't count.) ;)

Is there anything you would recommend I do?
Anything you would have done differently?
New or used?

Thanks in advance!

[Lobotomy Boy]

Nothing to say. The 36 is a fine choice for your first centerfire handgun.

[DARKSHADOW]

G36 was my first auto pistol.

I never realized what knid of kick it had, because I had nothing to compare it too.

Although I now hve a G34, and can't beleive how little felt recoil it has. :thumbsup:

I guess when you start with the big boyz, everything else is just there.

:wavey:

[Littleman]

I have shot a Kimber Ultracarry .45 before... what is the recoil compared to this? any idea?

[ipscshooter]

Originally posted by Littleman
I have shot a Kimber Ultracarry .45 before... what is the recoil compared to this? any idea?

I have a Kimber 3" Ultra Elite and the 36. It's a personal thing, but I feel like the 36 recoil is slightly less. Logically that makes no sense since the Kimber is heavier by a few ounces. Maybe it's the frame, grip, or lower bore axis. A combination of all? I mostly carry the 36.

[marcoh]

Originally posted by Littleman
I have shot a Kimber Ultracarry .45 before... what is the recoil compared to this? any idea?
I had a Kimber Ultra CDP II and got rid of it in favor of a 36. If you comfortably handled the Ultra Carry, don't worry about the recoil from the 36. You're gonna be fine.

I put Pearce +1 extensions on all my G36 mags. For me it makes for a surer grip, and I like having the extra round, but some folks hate 'em, so YMMV.

[Washington,D.C.]

The G36 does have a bit of recoil due to it's light weight and large caliber. The 9mm Glock's have much less recoil. The recoil isn't terrible though. The low bore axis and the plastic frame soak up a lot of the recoil. Some people or even many people complain the they get their skin painfully pinched between the bottom front of the grip frame and top front of the magazine base. I added a rubber grip sleeve made for the Glock on my G36 mainly to keep the plastic from being slippery but it also cushions some of the recoil although the recoil never really bothered me it's just that I can now tell a difference with the rubber grip sleeve. I like to keep my magazines stock and loaded one less than max to ease the spring pressure. I put off buying a G36 for a long time because a friend tried one and said it just didn't fit his hand and he didn't like how it felt in his hand. I got my G36 used in a trade and it's an early model. It works fine and a got a couple of extra magazines with the deal.