The first handgun you purchased and why?

[ROCK6]

So, as the title states what was the first handgun you purchased? I posed this to my 17 year old son for when he’s old enough to buy his first handgun even though he has already been gifted a few from me for his eventual ownership. What advice would you give a new buyer of their first handgun? Why did you choose your first handgun and do you still have it?

I was finishing up college and rolled my National Guard time into an active duty commission from ROTC way back in 1993. I really fell in love with Sig in the ‘80s and always lusted after one and when the Army adopted the Sig P228/M11 in the late ‘80s, I was pretty set on making that my first pistol. So, after graduation and getting my first paycheck, the Sig P228 was my very first handgun, which I still own:



After talking with my son, what advice would you give a new buyer of their first handgun? Why did you choose your first handgun and do you still have it?

ROCK6

 

[LoneGoose]

I bought a pair of Ruger Single-Six Convertibles. One for me, one for my girlfriend. For plinking and target shooting. She had never shot a pistol before, so I wanted to start her off easy. Haven't seen any of them in decades.

 

[doctorjohn]

Bought a second-hand Ruger Standard when I was in college. I wanted a pistol of my own. Turned out to be one of the best purchases of my life with regard to firearms. Forty-seven years later, and I still have it. It functions and groups well to this day.

 

[DeepSouth]

I honestly don't remember, the first I remember was a Rossi .357 but it wasn't my first handgun. I think I remember a Makarov .380 before it. Not sure if it was my first or not, I do know that I don't have my first, as the oldest one (to me) I own is the Rossi.

 

[jradisch]

Bought a new S&W model 66 in 1990. Wanted it for HD, hunting and for my wife to be able to shoot it if necessary. Only put about a box of rounds through it until last year when i started accumulating more handguns, joined a range and started reloading. Everyone I have brought to the range loves this smooth shooting revolver.

 

[longknife12]

Remington M1911A1 when I was 14...city cop offered it to me for $25...first with my own $$$$
dad was ok with it so deal went through. Taught myself to shoot it... a LOT of trial n error! Still have it....
Dan

 

[250 Savage]

Bought a Rock Island Armory 1911, because the 1911 was the pistol my dad took expert with when he was in Guards. The Rock Island part of it was because I was a broke high school student. Shot great, but had to sell it later on to pay the bills.

 

[SARuger]

I bought a second hand Dan Wesson .357 in 1981 from a classmate in high school. I loved that gun! Lots of fun and it went everywhere with me. I paid $75 for it.

BUT, I found out a year or so after high school that my classmate stole the gun from his dad and sold it to me. I took the gun back to his dad and gave it too him. He was surprised and actually didn't know the gun was missing from under his mattress! After checking the SN, he thanked me for being honest and told me his son would be paying me back if he didn't kill him first! I did get my $75 back

 

[MIL-DOT]

In my early 20's, about 1985, I went to a gunshow and picked up a new S&W model 469 (12-rd compact 9mm,alloy frame). I didn't have a clue what I was doing, I just knew that S&W generally made good stuff, the price was right, and it looked cool!! Turns out, these things are great pistols.
I got it for $249 total, and even got the guy to toss in a box of Blazers.
Months later, I went to see what kind of trade deal I could get with it on a SIG P226, and the guy apologetically told me the best he could give me on it was $275, and I shrugged and said, "well, I guess that'll have to do".

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I had an incident where someone was brandishing a firearm and trying to intimidate me out of doing my job. It didn't work, but afterwards I realized how helpless I'd felt. Shortly afterward I moved out to the country where a lot of mountain lions run around. The combination made me think buying a gun and carrying concealed would be prudent. So I bought an SP101 in 357 magnum. Yes, I still own it.

If I was going to give advice to a new handgun buyer, I'd tell them to fill the most critical role first with an appropriate gun, but don't rely on the same gun to fill multiple roles, unless you plan to carry a full sized gun. Then you have carry, and home defense covered well. But if you're going to carry a small gun, expect to buy a larger gun for home and range work.

 

[pblanc]

The first handgun I purchased was a Beretta 92FS Police Special with night sights. It has undergone some modifications, but I still have it.

The first handgun I owned was/is a SA GI model 1911A1 which was given to me by a friend. I still have it as well.

 

[Coyote3855]

1959. I bought an Iver Johnson Trailsman 66 .22 break top revolver because my Dad had an IJ when he was a kid. I wanted a Ruger Single Six, but Dad pressured me to buy the IJ. It turned out to be worthless, although it may not have been designed for a ranch kid to put as many rounds through it as I did and it cost $37.50 NIB. It quickly developed timing problems which were not corrected by two trips back to the factory. After the second trip, my Dad relented and let me buy a second hand Single Six. I still have it, but most of the blue is gone.

As to advice to a new handgun owner. In the OP's situation, it depends on what handguns are already in the pipeline to his son. I believe new handgunners should start with a decent quality .22 and learn the fundamentals before advancing to a center fire. Then the question focuses on the proposed use of the center fire. Concealed carry and self defense? Range toy? Hunting small or large game? Makes a huge difference.

 

[bannockburn]

First handgun I bought was a Hawes/J.P. Sauer Deputy Marshal .22 LR/.22 Magnum convertible single action revolver. It was blued with white plastic grips. I eventually sold it and bought a Ruger Single Six convertible. Have always had a thing for single actions.

 

[hdbiker]

Ruger Single Six Convertable 1972.I still own it. hdbiker

 

[243winxb]

1969

Ruger standard model for $ 37.50 new. The price matched the $$ in my pocket.

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[GBExpat]

The first handgun you purchased and why?

Spring'73, Ruger Security Six, 4" blued s/n 150-33573 ... I wanted a rugged but economical .357 for both field & SD.

 

[jimbo555]

Mine was a nickel plated s&w model 39-2. I liked the way it looked and felt. Wish I still had it!

 

[PabloJ]

The first handgun I purchased as H&K MK23 from Quantico Arms. I was afraid of .45ACP recoil this gun was large had heavy slide and dual recoil springs. The huge and ugly it is now owned by a retied NASA employee. I was lucky to get my money back out of that one. To this day I do not understand how designers could come out with something so awful and absurd. It cured my want to own Heckler & Koch affliction permanently.

 

[jeepnik]

S&W model 28. Because I wanted to.

 

[Onward Allusion]

In 1988, a Tanfoglio Titan in 25 ACP. Why? Because I lived in S---cago (that turd of a town) at the time where undocumented carry was the only option. A 1911 would not have made sense.

 

[dickydalton]

1967. 2nd hammer and trigger on it now. Many thousands of rounds through it back then and less than a box through it in the last 30 years.

 

[Sergei Mosin]

My first handgun was a bit of an unusual choice - a Nagant revolver. I got into the gun hobby via my interest in military history, and I had taken a particular interest in Russian/Soviet arms. Given the price of Nagant revolvers at the time, it seemed only natural to buy one, so I did. Neat piece of history and a fun little plinker - and yes, I still have it.

 

[ROCK6]

Remington M1911A1 when I was 14...city cop offered it to me for $25...first with my own $$$$
dad was ok with it so deal went through. Taught myself to shoot it... a LOT of trial n error! Still have it....

That’s a great story and history!

If I was going to give advice to a new handgun buyer, I'd tell them to fill the most critical role first with an appropriate gun, but don't rely on the same gun to fill multiple roles, unless you plan to carry a full sized gun. Then you have carry, and home defense covered well. But if you're going to carry a small gun, expect to buy a larger gun for home and range work.

Excellent advice Kodiak!

My first handgun was a bit of an unusual choice - a Nagant revolver. I got into the gun hobby via my interest in military history, and I had taken a particular interest in Russian/Soviet arms. Given the price of Nagant revolvers at the time, it seemed only natural to buy one, so I did. Neat piece of history and a fun little plinker - and yes, I still have it.

I had the same hobby background; I loved military history and remembered historical dates based on military firearm adoptions!

ROCK6

 

[ROAshooter]

1st

1970.....first handgun....old model Ruger Blackhawk 357 used in new condition for $50....still have it to this day.....only God knows how many rounds down range....is my trusted bedside/nightstand/bump in the night answer...

 

[ACP]

A S&W Model 17 .22LR, four-inch.

I had just received my permit and wanted a "starter" pistol to learn on. I was living alone in an apartment, and used to keep it tucked in a gun rug inside a locked filing cabinet. My girlfriend (now wife) was afraid of it.

I traded that toward a factory Colt "Fitz" Detective Special (anyone remember those? hard chromed, front night sight, bobbed hammer). Both of those revolvers are now gone. But the wife is still here, and she has warmed up to a S&W 686 as our house gun.