help picking first handgun
- Thread starter Gunn Noob
- Start date
- Status
thanks blind justice I will be sure to keep that in mind, if I do get one it'll probablly be in the future as at the moment i have the 22 situation semi covered (I need to get one of my own but for now I have to much fun shooting my dads woodsman 
)
)maksim
Member
If you are going to want to shoot quite a bit, I second the 22lr. I could of spend much more, but got a 22lr for myself, even though shot everything from browning 22lr buckmarks to desert eagle 44 mags.
Unless you are reloading, shooting anything but 22lr is going to get pretty expensive, esp if going to shoot quite a bit.
My 22lr has already seen 1k rounds or so in 3 outings... and that was only an hour an outing.... all of that with cci blazers cost me under $30.
1k rounds from a 9mm... if you find the cheapest bulk pack... $200.
If money is an issue... dont get something you cant afford maintenance on.
Just because I can pay for a $100k mercedes, and 1k a month auto payment doesnt mean I can afford it.
Its like spending $1300 on a very nice 1911 Kimber in 45acp... and not having enough to put more than 50 rounds through the gun at the range... and if it is the only gun you have.... maybe not the best idea.
I have an xd in 45gap... that while ammo is avail, harder to find and some places charging $28 a box... it is a great round.... but really, making holes in paper... a 22lr is just the same.
Unless you are reloading, shooting anything but 22lr is going to get pretty expensive, esp if going to shoot quite a bit.
My 22lr has already seen 1k rounds or so in 3 outings... and that was only an hour an outing.... all of that with cci blazers cost me under $30.
1k rounds from a 9mm... if you find the cheapest bulk pack... $200.
If money is an issue... dont get something you cant afford maintenance on.
Just because I can pay for a $100k mercedes, and 1k a month auto payment doesnt mean I can afford it.
Its like spending $1300 on a very nice 1911 Kimber in 45acp... and not having enough to put more than 50 rounds through the gun at the range... and if it is the only gun you have.... maybe not the best idea.
I have an xd in 45gap... that while ammo is avail, harder to find and some places charging $28 a box... it is a great round.... but really, making holes in paper... a 22lr is just the same.
BlindJustice
Member
Wll, Gun Noob you're welcome...just sharing my experience, seeing how
yah have been honing your skills with a .22 Handgun, I'll tell yah about my
revolvers.
I have
625 5" Bbl full underlug .45 ACP/.45 Auto Rim
617 6" Bbl. these both weigh 45 oz. and I need a
friggin shoulder holster to think about a field rig.
686P 4" Bbl. Red insert in the ramp front sight, and adj. rear with
White outline. These on the used market are in the $400 range. I
have Hogue finger grooves/checkered rosewood grips nice balance
and it's about the same O.A.L. as my full size 1911. For HD/SD I use
SPeers .38 Special +P 125 gr. Gold Dot JHPs. In the field I'll take
full house .357 Mga. bullet weight depands on possible game but the
158 gr. bullet weight is a great all arounder. A Marllin 1894 in .357 Mag.
would pair up nicely with it if I ever get around to getting one. I have
an 1894 in .45 Colt.
S&W Model 60 CHiefs Special it's the -15 chambered in .357 Mag. but
as with the 686P .38 Special +P fits it much better, easier for recoil
management, and follow up shots - I practice Double Taps, the fast follow up Double action shots with all my S&Ws. My 60 has the 3" Bbl.
and adj. rear sight,the shorter barreled 60s have fixed rear.
I do think a K-frame has the best double action pull of all the S&W
frames, seems S&W got it right with the first model hand ejector which the
K frame M&P descended from, right with their first design.
Randall
yah have been honing your skills with a .22 Handgun, I'll tell yah about my
revolvers.
I have
625 5" Bbl full underlug .45 ACP/.45 Auto Rim
617 6" Bbl. these both weigh 45 oz. and I need a
friggin shoulder holster to think about a field rig.
686P 4" Bbl. Red insert in the ramp front sight, and adj. rear with
White outline. These on the used market are in the $400 range. I
have Hogue finger grooves/checkered rosewood grips nice balance
and it's about the same O.A.L. as my full size 1911. For HD/SD I use
SPeers .38 Special +P 125 gr. Gold Dot JHPs. In the field I'll take
full house .357 Mga. bullet weight depands on possible game but the
158 gr. bullet weight is a great all arounder. A Marllin 1894 in .357 Mag.
would pair up nicely with it if I ever get around to getting one. I have
an 1894 in .45 Colt.
S&W Model 60 CHiefs Special it's the -15 chambered in .357 Mag. but
as with the 686P .38 Special +P fits it much better, easier for recoil
management, and follow up shots - I practice Double Taps, the fast follow up Double action shots with all my S&Ws. My 60 has the 3" Bbl.
and adj. rear sight,the shorter barreled 60s have fixed rear.
I do think a K-frame has the best double action pull of all the S&W
frames, seems S&W got it right with the first model hand ejector which the
K frame M&P descended from, right with their first design.
Randall
CalvinandHobbes
Member
My thoughts exactly Rockheadd!
aHFo3
Member
There are many guns that would serve you well for your first handgun. It sounds like you want to buy one and never sell it, because it's your first handgun...I'll never sell my first handgun either!
Anyway, You should come up with a list of 5 or 6 that you would love to have, and then keep your eye out for a great deal on one...be patient, because you'll be old enough to buy a handgun for the rest of your life!
That 3" model 65 is on my list. I'm not sure about the price. Have you familiarized yourself with the revolver checkout? It's a sticky thread found at the top of the revolver forum. It will really help you evaluate the quality of a revolver.
Good luck, and let us all know what you get.
Anyway, You should come up with a list of 5 or 6 that you would love to have, and then keep your eye out for a great deal on one...be patient, because you'll be old enough to buy a handgun for the rest of your life!
That 3" model 65 is on my list. I'm not sure about the price. Have you familiarized yourself with the revolver checkout? It's a sticky thread found at the top of the revolver forum. It will really help you evaluate the quality of a revolver.
Good luck, and let us all know what you get.
Bullnettles
Member
357 mag 4in or shorter. Shoot cheap 38's for practice, and then move up to 357 mag loads. Fairly easy to carry (if shorter than 4 in). I love my Smith m19 for shooting, but if I were to carry it without a jacket, I'd get one with a shorter barrel. Bullet count is important, but accuracy outweighs that by a LONG shot IMHO. I carry a 442 in pocket and couldn't be happier AND it's in your price range. Only drawback is it isn't too much fun to shoot all day... Good luck in your research and welcome to THR!
Do what I did. Go to a range that charges a 1 time rental for guns, where you can switch up as much as you want.
Buy a box of 9mm, a box of 40 S&W, and a box of .45 ACP
Why do I say these? Cause they are semi-auto rounds. I prefer them to revolvers. Your preference may be different.
Then, pick up a glock 9mm, a sig 9mm, and a Ruger SR9. I say SR9 cause I haven't shot it yet, but I hear good things.
Grab a Ruger p944, glock 22/23, and a S&W .40 caliber(don't remember the name)
Test them all out
Then grab a sig .45, a ruger 45, either the p90/p345, and a glock .45 but the glock 45's need different ammo, so try to run something different, maybe a 1911 model.
Now, why do I say ruger for all 3? According to your budget, they would fit very well. Then do what I did again. Shoot them, make NOTES on the ones you liked, and what you did/did not like about them. Your answers will surprise you!
Next, pick one you like the best, and research it to DEATH! I mean death. I ended up picking up a P345 myself after firing it enough, checking with my dad, and reviewing any problems/incidents with it. Turns out, the only problem would be dry firing without the mag in place, which doesn't bother me, cause I got snap caps. About 3 months of looking and reading before I picked it up.
I suggest you seriously do the same so you don't have a buyer's regret when the gun does or doesn't do something you haven't factored in.
Buy a box of 9mm, a box of 40 S&W, and a box of .45 ACP
Why do I say these? Cause they are semi-auto rounds. I prefer them to revolvers. Your preference may be different.
Then, pick up a glock 9mm, a sig 9mm, and a Ruger SR9. I say SR9 cause I haven't shot it yet, but I hear good things.
Grab a Ruger p944, glock 22/23, and a S&W .40 caliber(don't remember the name)
Test them all out
Then grab a sig .45, a ruger 45, either the p90/p345, and a glock .45 but the glock 45's need different ammo, so try to run something different, maybe a 1911 model.
Now, why do I say ruger for all 3? According to your budget, they would fit very well. Then do what I did again. Shoot them, make NOTES on the ones you liked, and what you did/did not like about them. Your answers will surprise you!
Next, pick one you like the best, and research it to DEATH! I mean death. I ended up picking up a P345 myself after firing it enough, checking with my dad, and reviewing any problems/incidents with it. Turns out, the only problem would be dry firing without the mag in place, which doesn't bother me, cause I got snap caps. About 3 months of looking and reading before I picked it up.
I suggest you seriously do the same so you don't have a buyer's regret when the gun does or doesn't do something you haven't factored in.
Brian Dale
Member
Good post, kyo. Welcome to The High Road.
My first handgun was a Ruger GP100. I lived in CO and wanted something I could carry camping and keep in the truck.
However, for self defense around the home with the alternative use for target shooting, my vote is for a 9mm.
Price range, I think you can't go wrong with a Glock 19. If you plan to carry concealed, I think I would start with a Glock 26. I own both and they are both good shooters, but the 26 is not a target gun.
Good luck. You'll continue to add to your collection, so buy early, buy often, and don't trade or sell away any gun. You'll only regret... Oh, get a safe too.
However, for self defense around the home with the alternative use for target shooting, my vote is for a 9mm.
Price range, I think you can't go wrong with a Glock 19. If you plan to carry concealed, I think I would start with a Glock 26. I own both and they are both good shooters, but the 26 is not a target gun.
Good luck. You'll continue to add to your collection, so buy early, buy often, and don't trade or sell away any gun. You'll only regret... Oh, get a safe too.
D-Day
Member
Rock Island 1911's are a nice gun for the price. They have a variety of configurations and calibers as well.
I'll post my $.02 worth here as well. My first handgun was a GP100. Love it. I wanted a .22 to go with it, so I bought a Heritage SA, figuring that it was cheap, and would do what I wanted it to. Well, the Ruger spoiled me. I could definitely see and feel the difference in quality between the Ruger and the Heritage. Soon I got rid of the Heritage and replaced it with a Ruger Single 6. And then another one in stainless. Then I found a stainless Ruger Mk.II Target with the slab side barrel. Sure was pretty sitting in the cabinet at the gun shop. It went home with me. I knew that I had to have a more powerful autoloader than that .22, so when I saw the CZ82 on line for right around $200, I ordered it. Liked the feel of the CZ so much that I had to get another, so a CZ75PCR came home with me. Anybody starting to see a pattern of behavior here? This has all been within the past couple of years, btw. My family all think I've gone over the edge, except for my brother, who has more guns than the sheriff's department. He's quite pleased with the situation. My advice? Spend some fairly serious money on a nice gun that makes you smile when you pick it up, then start saving your spare change for the next one. Actually, you know how a lot of folks throw their spare change into a jar at the end of the day to save for a rainy day...or a gun? Well, $1 bills go in there now. Have fun!
RT55
RT55
skeeter_08
Member
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2009
- Messages
- 130
searcher451 said it right; go to a range that rents guns and spend some time running some rounds through various makes and models and calibers. I did this for six months before I bought my first handgun, a Sig P228. I’d add that you should consider taking the NRA Basic Handgun Safety Course whenever and wherever you can schedule it, and apply for whatever handgun carry permit the state where you live offers. skeeter_08
New gun owner
Member
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2009
- Messages
- 9
The poster does not mention if they are of slight build, or if they are a man or woman - my recommendation for women and shooters with smaller grips is a Glock 19. Still powerful, but easier to hold with one hand when reloading and the weight of the firearm is distributed well. Some larger guns (like the Sig Sauer, or even the Glock 17) can be unruly in smaller hands.
- Status
