Looking for best "bang" for my bucks

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Doc7

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Hello all,

I recently posted a thread in which I got a lot of great suggestions as to handguns which shpuld be considered as candidates as CCW pieces before settling on one.

I currently live in NJ there so public CCW isn't an option, but carrying in my vacation home state of PA (daily business plus hunting, hiking, general woods activities etc) is an option as well as carrying in other states with reciprocity to the Utah and/or AZ permits.

I recently applied for an NJ pistol purchase permit which takes 8-10 week to show up and then is only good for a short time before you have to reapply. I don't necessarily have to use it right now, so here are the things in considering doing with 5-6 hundred dollars I currently have available for firearms related stuff:

Option A: go to a few ranges and rent guns and ammo that are potential CCW pieces. With the prices of rental range time, by the time I sampled a dozen guns or so I will only have a couple hundred dollars left so no gun purchase at this time. If I select a gun I really like, continue saving money for a period of time till I can buy that gun and an understudy in 22lr (or conversion kit). Not having a lot of handgun experience, would I even be able to really "choose" my favorite gun? Plus there's the problem of that I won't exactly be able to holster the rental gun in an IWB to see how I like it there, at least from what I understand of the local public range posted rules.

Option B: Buy a 22LR handgun - right now I like the Ruger SR22 and the SP101 and I should be able to get either in my price range, or even something like the Sig 1911-22. Use this to develop handgun skills even though the exact platform might not match or even come close to a future center fire piece.


Is there anything wrong with going with Option B or should I use my money to pick out a centerfire gun I want to buy someday at a rental range, before picking a 22 practice gun? My chief concern is that I may spend a lot of trigger time on either a DA revolver or Semi 22 and then decide on the opposite platform in centerfire at a later time. I know that I could always pick up yet another 22 understudy at that time but I could spend that money on training classes etc instead.

Thanks for any advice
 
The whole idea of closely similar guns is great if you plan to limit yourself to only a few guns and shoot them a lot. But if you end up being like some of us that have a "collection" that ranges far and wide the whole "one platform, one training" becomes a bit pointless.

So start by asking yourself if you're in this only for a "one platform, one training" goal or if you'll want to obtain and shoot a wider variety of options as fun range guns over time.

For the basics of hand positioning and trigger control to learn the stuff needed to be good at handgun shooting I'd suggest that a nice reliable .22 is never a bad investment. Regardless of where you go from there it will always be good for trigger time at the range to practice the basics and stem the onset of the dreaded flinch issues.

If you think you'll go with small framed revolvers as your eventual carry piece starting out with the SP101-22 would be a great option. If you think you'll end up with a semi auto then look at a Ruger 22/45, S&W 22A or Browning Buckmark as a good rimfire practice gun.

A rimfire gun won't have the same recoil kick of course. But there is still a LOT of various drills you can do with them for practice that will serve you well with your eventual center fire gun. And they are simply good cheap fun as well.

If you go with a rimfire gun for now and shoot it a bunch while picking up pointers on proper grip and other good practices it'll serve you well when you go to a rental range and try out the guns they have. That way you're mostly learning about each gun's peculiarities instead of learning the basics of holding them while trying to evaluate the guns all at the same time.
 
If you're new to handguns, there is everything to learn but nothing to unlearn. Start by taking those previous suggestions, winnowing out those beyond your budget, then find a few retailers that will allow you to handle them. A good shop will have employees who can provide details on each while you decide which fit well and won't need costly trigger or sight work to be usable.

Ammo scarcity aside, the .22 is a perfect starting point for any shooter, just keep current availability in mind. Your training may be limited however as most rimfires aren't meant for continuous dry fire practice as doing so can damage the chamber. Training can begin with a few DVDs or books.
 
Buy the ,22 now, don't make yourself crazy deciding on type or maker, find one that feels right in your hand. If you don't like it .22's are pretty easy to sell.. Take it to the range, shoot it a lot. While you're at the range strike up conversations with fellow shooters about their guns. You'll learn a lot and perhaps get some trigger time on guns you would not ordinarily get your hands on. Most shooters are generous with their knowledge take advantage of that when you can.
 
I will take the advice above and since I don't know where I will end up revolver vs semi, I'll just work to find a reliable 22 without concern too much for the particulars. I just spoke to a low cost FFL transfer dealer for GunBroker sales as most any place I call in NJ has ridiculously high priced 22 guns - one place is selling the ruger Sr22 for 525!!! Another one has it for 315 but have been out of stock for a month now and don't know if they would get one in stock before my purchase permit expires.

Gunbroker may not offer good savings nowadays but at least it offers inventory! It seems like most of the quality revolvers will be out of my price range after shipping and transfer fees, although I am keeping my eye on Taurus 990 which seems to be the best revolver I will get with a good trigger, even looking for used Rugers and S&Ws seem to be priced too high for me.

In the semi auto world I am looking at the SR22, the SW M&P 22 (which is full sized), Browning Buckmark, Ruger 22/45, Sig 1911-22, and I'm sure I will check out a few others. I do sort of wish a revolver was available for hunting squirrel while on a hike in PA where semi autos aren't legal for hunting, but don't want to go Single Action so unless a taurus 990 drops into my lap that might not be too feasible.
 
 
Thanks for those links. Based on Internet reviews it seems like many more people are saying they like the 990 Tracker 22lr Taurus revolver trigger than regarding the 94, and likewise there are more outright complaints about the 94 trigger than the 990.

Definitely tough to pick a gun given that even when I have felt them in gun stores I barely know what it "should" feel like so really I just need to go ahead and pick one, and resale it if in a year or so I have figured out its not for me. Hard to push "buy" nowadays in the world of 8000 google reviews at my fingertips.

I'm really hoping that tomorrow when I get back from vacation I can buckle down and do research - leaning towards the Taurus revolver or the M&P 22 right now. The revolver because double action trigger discipline will apply to any trigger, M&P because it is full size.
 
InkEd said:
You can't find .22 ammo right now. Get something to use for ccw.
Click to expand...

I've got a lot of 22 right now... And I can't get something for ccw for several months anyway, because to take the option of testing CCW guns would take up all my current gun money in rental fees.
 
You said you live in NJ and you have a house in PA. Do you have a PA drivers license? If you do you can legally buy a handgun here in PA and rid yourself of all that silliness NJ puts you through just to buy a handgun.

The handguns here will cost you less too so you might be able to buy what you want right now. Don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting you do anything illegal, I'm just pointing out you might have better options.
 
Nope, NJ resident who vacations / spends as much time as possible in the Poconos 12 months a year. Just got back from 9 days there this afternoon. Unfortunately, any other situation is currently not manageable. I plan to live in VA or another friendly state in a few months after my wedding.
 
Won a Gunbroker auction for a Taurus 990 4" barrel, NIB. Will probably be a few weeks before I actually get to receipt it from the FFL transfer the way NICS is here in NJ. Looking forward to it.
 
Sounds like you're geared up for fun, congratulations. I just returned from the range where I spent an hour plinking with my daughter's pink Savage Rascal. I meant to re-zero a 1911 I changed sights on but I handed it off to my dad instead, the .22 was just too much fun.
 
I just acquired a CPX-1 SCCY. So far I like it, though I need to get more ammo to test it out with. Only $300 for the gun new.

If price is a serious issue, you can always look into some of the old milsurp pistols. Tokarevs of various flavors are sub $200, which would give you a lot of $ left over for ammo. They also shoot quite nice.
 
Get the .22 now. Learn to shoot it. It should only cost about half your budget, so you won't be back to square one in saving for the centerfire, but you will be in a much better position to evaluate them, down the road.
 
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