Anyone else plan out their first guns???

[mole]

Every once in a while a new person comes along and asks what should be their first/next gun. Before I purchased my first gun, I thought about it for quite a while, did some research, and came up with a plan to buy my guns over the next few months. I wanted maximum amount of use from as few guns as possible for as cheap as possible. Anyone else plan their purchases out and what did you buy? My family generally frowns upon guns, so I had little prior experience with firearms. In priority...

1. 12 gauge---Mossberg 500. A pump 12 gauge IS versatility. Use it from birds to bucks to bears. It is the champion of home defense---nothing says stopping power like a load of 00. It was a toss up between the Mossberg 500 and the Remington 870 for me. I chose the Mossberg because it felt more natural.

2. .22lr rifle---Ruger 10/22. Nothing says fun like a .22lr. Spend hours shooting for only a few bucks. I new that I needed to learn how to shoot, and the .22 rifle seems to be the best way to learn. Great for squirels and pests. I chose the Ruger 10/22 over the Marlin 60 because of the flush rotary magazine.

3. short-medium range---SKS. For the need to reach beyond the 12 gauge. It's basically a 100 yard deer gun that's as tough as they come. The cheap price and ammo sealed the deal even though it's not very accurate. If you're not a great shot (like I was) you don't need a lot of accuracy. I'd probably go with a Mosin 91/30 now to extend the range and performance, but they weren't around then like they are now. The smaller size, lower recoil, and semiauto function meant that it could also serve as a home defense gun. It's SHTF compatible.

I figured that those three guns could handle just about any situation. I added more and then eventually moved into hand guns. I didn't consider a hand gun a necessity then (under 21 too). I first bought a Ruger 22/45. I wanted to learn how to shoot well enough first, so a .22lr was first. I needed a real handgun, so I got a Glock 22 in .40 before moving to the current Taurus pt 92 in 9mm. (In hindsight, it was probably the caliber and not the gun itself that lead me to get rid of the Glock. Something about it just wasn't right.)

I have several other handguns and long guns, but if I was forced to down-size I would definately keep the Mossberg 500, the Ruger 10/22, and the Mosin 91/30.

How would you guys have planned your first purchases and what do you think of mine?

 

[Black Majik]

Well... for my first purchase I researched the heck outta it. All I knew was that I wanted a 1911, and whattya know... I ended up with a Colt

I've wanted a 1911 all my life since I was young. You have no idea how excited I was to be picking up a Colt 1911 when I first turned 21.

 

[atlctyslkr]

Always wanted a snub nose .357 and now I have one. Not my first gun but my latest. Enjoying it so far. Feel I have a little bit of an edge now on the hoods that are inflitrating my area.

 

[jlbraun]

I did. I planned, researched, then bought. Mostly I bought it because I kept putting it off, and I was afraid that if I continued to do so I would never buy it.

Sig P226, in case you're wondering.

 

[Twycross]

Well, I didn't plan out my first guns, but I have a plan for the next ones. Sometime within the month I'll be getting an NEF .223 as a fun/varmint rifle. Next up is some sort of 'tactical' gun, preferably a carbine.

 

[Bridger]

I didn't plan my first gun, a single shot 30-30. Then I realized I was paying .50 cents a shot to miss, and listened to the age old advice and got a Winchester 9422. From there I knew I wanted a black rifle for zombie and commie defense (WOLVERINES), so I got my AR. Then I knew I needed a shotgun for home defense, Mossberg 590. After that, it was buying on a whim. I'm about to start buying handguns now too, and this will be more planned. .22 semi auto, a 1911, and a compact 9mm will be the first ones.

 

[Seancass]

i kind of suddenly decided to get a rifle. i had pretty much set my self on getting a 10/22 and adding a scope and a big clip, maybe folding stock, and then blowing the heck out of some wood blocks. then i asked a question on TFL and they said go SKS. it was $110 to the 10/22's $200, plus it had more bang. its a good gun with 200 rounds through it in 3 weeks. the ammo is cheap enough for the bang, but actually, the semi-auto bores me. please note, we have 2 .22's in the house that i had shot before along with a large variety of other guns friends owned, so i was not new to shooting, just buying.

so next up:
the .22 lever gun(cuz levers are fun)
then the .357/44 lever gun
then a 12 gauge
and somewhere in there a NEF .223/scope for some long rang sniping(because ammo is cheap and slowly spent, i will probly pick this up before summer is over.)
and then come november(21) i will get a .22 revolver and a .357/44 revolver+scope and a 1911 because they are so freaking sexy(and really loud, no body told me they were ear damaging loud untill i pulled the trigger), and a .22 semi for burning ammo
and maybe a cheap 10/22 to burn ammo
and of course a 45/70 single shot old style "high wall" cannon for old fashioned sniping.
and a sawed off lever action ala Wild West Guns
and maybe one of their take downs too
and then an double 12 gauge cut short because that looks cool too.
probly going to have to pick up a .50BMG pistol just because.
maybe a desert eagle, for uniqueness.
and a 10 gauge to kill 10 clay pigeons at the same time.

and i guess about that time ill start looking at some tactical guns, but right now they do nothing for me.

also, i dont have the exact order of purchase picked out yet. but knowing im a poor college student, you should be able to figure some of it out.

 

[sm]

No

I come into this world a bit earlier than planned, kinda small, resembled a skint squirrel, just a fussing and raising cain.

Maternal Grandma had MY High Standard Sentinel 9 shot revolver waiting on me.
I was little preoccupied with my umbilical cord, my food source, and driving folks nuts with keeping cloth diapers up for a bit...

I'm told I liked it, I listened very intently to whatever Grandma was sharing. I would behave, and with unloaded gun and supervision be able to open cylinder , close it, and for some reason facinated with putting into its holster.

With Grandma's help figured out teething on the leather holster was better than teething on grandma's hand, or the plastic stock. About age 3 + *sigh* I assisted teaching Grandma on how to shoot the durn thing.

Age 6, I shoot my first centerfire handgun. Seems a Gunny smelling of sweaty fatigues needed my input. I LIKED that gun!! You don't understand I really really liked that gun!!

About 7 ish, shot a K frame my uncle had a couple of...I went bonkers over that Model 10. So much I was allowed to bring one home. My High Standard was needing another revolver to talk to while I was at school.

Been sticking with 1911, and K frames ever since. I am a '55 model btw.

My first was that .22, then on loan the K frame and later a 1911. First gun I actually bought for myself going into a store to buy - Colt Steel Combat Commander . My HS graduation gift to self...

Not that I did have other guns that were mine before that day...just first new one.

 

[Hemicuda]

nope... Dadgave me my first bb-gun at 4 (Daisey Mod 99). My first rifle at 5 (a Springfield Bolt-cocker single shot .22) my first shotgun at 10 (an H&R Topper 12 Ga.) my first deer rifle at 14 (a Marlin 336 DT 30-30) and pistol at 18 (Ruger Mk-I)

he figured to get me one of everything i needed, and he was done giving me guns...

works for me, but i didn't plan any of them...

 

[ExtremeDooty]

My first handgun purchase was an RG-14s. I think that answers your question.

 

[Croyance]

Yes I did, very much so.
A little personal background - I come from a family with no positive experience with guns, so they are anti to various degrees. The Japanese occupation didn't leave a good impression.
I also stayed in college for some time.

But I eventually decided to get a gun (age 27). I spent about six months researching various issues - legalites, ethics, and morals of self defence as well as various options in platforms and calibers. I looked at what various writers (including gun rag writers) had to say about training and the utility of varioius features. Then I winnowed out the BS. That certainly left less information to absorb.
I was stupid in that I did not get a .22LR first.
That said, my final three choises in handguns were the Beretta 92 FS, Browning HiPower, and CZ-75.

 

[_N4Z_]

sort of

my first ever was a crossman pump bb gun.

next came the m16a1, m203, 1911, m60, 50cal, and a couple other goodies. ....of course these were all just while i was on loan to uncle sam.

then came rem870 which has been with me for close to 20 years now. it fit the bill for everything from dove thru hd.

recently with the kids grown and gone i bought a beretta96 as secondary hd to the shotty. began going to a range and practicing. the disease spread. next along came a marlin336 30/30. then a ruger sp101 .357 for the wife...
then i "planned" and traded the beretta away for a stainless 6" gp100 .357 to match up our handgun ammo.
then the disease expanded again and the "black" rifle was acquired in the form of a vector ak in 7.62x39. (to my suprise it is more accurate at 100 yards than the 30/30 )

of late the malady has morphed towards the older type weapons with me yearning to get ahold of one of those accurate surplus swiss k31's.


this of course has all happened according to plan......

 

[Zen21Tao]

My first gun (when I was 12) was a 12 gague shotgun. It wasn't really thought out. I started going hunting with my uncle when I was 11 and the following season I had my own shotgun to take with me. Over the next few years I bought whatever caught my eye at the time. It was once I became an avid gun enthusiast that I began to "plan" my purchase. But, to me "planning" is more like justifying making my latest want seem reasonable. Just imagine how usefull this was about 5 months ago when I came across a $900 brand new 4" S&W .500. Suddenly a bear attack downtown became a scary possability I "needed" to be prepared for.

 

[bpisler]

Way back in 1979 i bought my first
rifle and shotgun.A ruger 10/22
and a short barreled mossberg 500.
I didn't put much though into the
shotgun,i liked the weight and the
price.Once i found out how easy it
was to pimp out a 10/22 there was
no other choice.

 

[Deanimator]

I just blundered/lucked into the first big batch of Commission M1888 Mannlichers in the mid-70s. Bought it for around $29.00 through the mail.

My second gun was a 12ga. Ithaca Deerslayer Police Special. Had the choice of that or a Remington 870 Police with extended magazine and folding stock. I made the right choice.

My first handgun might have been a Japanese 9mm revolver or a Luger sans finish. Instead, I saved my money and bought a Colt Series 70 .45 auto. I still have it as my bullseye wadgun.

 

[ball3006]

Nope....

what I did then, still holds true today.......if it speaks to me, I buy it. That has kept me in the poor house all these years.....chris3

 

[romma]

well I

knew very little about guns at first. All I knew was I wanted a small concealable pistol. When I took my NRA Pistol course (which is required in Ct. here to purchase), the instructor pulled out the little kel-tec p-32, I knew I was getting it. I was so mad at the gun shop because the day I got my permit, they told me they would be open till 6pm. I got there at 5:20pm and they were closed, I went back the next day, they had a problem with NICS, then the Monday after the shop was closed for a holiday... Eventually my day came though.. Ughhh!

 

[Just_a_dude_with_a_gun]

My situation (Freakin' Jersey) was more complex than for most, so yes, I planned it out well in advance, while I waited for my ID and permits. I have lots of family (all of them sport shooters in some way or other) all over the N/E, and the Carolinas.

After applying for the cards and permits etc, I decided I needed a 1911, and
that I also wanted a Sig. I settled on a P239 in .40, and Springer GI in .45 as they are both single stack, and I wouldn't get into hot water when traveling to, and through, other states with hicap magazines...

The P239 would also serve well as a CCW (yeah, I know, it's heavy) if I were to move my state of residence, or if I were to apply for out of state permits in the states I frequent for shooting with family .

 

[Zen21Tao]

It seems to me that most of the people that put so much thought into their first gun may be people that live in areas where gun restrictions are the strictest. This makes quite a bit of sense. If I had to get a permit for each weapon I wanted and was limited to the number of guns I had to buy I would research every new weapon before I bought it. However, I am glad I live somewhere that I have the freedom to buy as many guns as I want without a pre-purchase permit. In fact, when I bought my S&W 500 I intitially went to the gunstore looking for a small concealable .357 magnum and bought the S&W 500 because it caught my eye and had the right price tag. In a similar case I was "window shopping" at a local gun store, again looking for a small .357 magnum revolver, when I came across a (very rare) barcoded DA/SA Sig p239. I bought the Sig on the spot. I really hate to think of how many great deals people have to pass up when they have to get a pre-purchase permit/card for a specific gun. :banghead: :banghead:

 

[cosine]

I am. I'm planning my .22 LR purchase right now: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=198345
Next is probably going to be a 12 gauge shotgun like an 870 or Mossberg 500. After that I want to get a couple of eviiilll black rifles. By then I'll probably be 21 and handguns will then enter the picture. I assume to that I'll end up very carefully researching my options when it comes to buying these firearms. I always tend to do a lot of involved research before I make a big purchase.

 

[JohnBT]

Not me, it just sort of happened. beginning when I was 5 and my grandparents gave me a bb gun. It came with a wall rack and a cleaning kit, too.





Yep, that's a metal box. Even the cheap stuff was good quality in the old days - 1955. Mine is not quite in the condition of the one in the pics.

Then my uncle gave me a Marlin Mountie.

I didn't do so well with the first two I picked - and my dad bought for me - a Savage .22WMR/.410 and a Fox Model B 12 ga. They were too big and heavy for a kid.

John

 

[MachIVshooter]

During my adolescent years, I used to read through gun rags and make lists of what I would one day own. Despite having sold the USP .45, never getting the 8mm Rem Mag and the Barrett M95 morphing into an Armalite AR-50 by the time I got it , the rest of the list materialized-along with many others. So yeah, I guess you could say I planned out my first gun(s).