Trying to advise a friend on his first handgun purchase

[Captain Bligh]

Seeing the screen name of the OP, I'm guessing college student. "Saving up" for a more expensive gun is a valid concept for many of us. May not be for a college kid?

There are pricier colleges than Purdue, but it ain't cheap. Besides Tuition, housing, & books, there's pizza and beer to buy. Just sayin...

 

[RustyShackelford]

SIG P-225/P-6 German 9mmNATO used, Ruger SR9

For those price ranges, I'd say check www.gunsamerica.com and get either a used police model SIG P-225 9mmNATO or buy a new Ruger SR9 or P-95. The Rugers are low cost but have all the basic features. These pistols are brand new. If he wants a high quality used pistol, the SIG P-225 is compact and robust. These models are no longer made but a good condition used P-225 or P-6 police model will last years with proper care. Look into it.

Rusty
PS: avoid the cheap garbage and tell your friend to save up for a S&W military & poice, SIG-Sauer or HK model too.

 

[modifiedbrowning]

Bersa Thunder 9 or .40. Fullsize or Ultracompact. I have three Bersa T9s and all have been 100% reliable with at least 1K through each (5K through the Fullsize).
www.bersafirearmsusa.com
www.bersatalk.com

 

[coylh]

Begin with the purpose of the handgun. What's it for?

 

[modifiedbrowning]

coylh,

Intended uses are for home defense and informal target shooting.

RIF, my friend.

 

[40S&Wfan]

Personally I would suggest he make this opinion all on his own instead of going on the recommendation of anyone else. His best course of action would be to go into his local gun store or reputable pawn shop and heft/hold/fondle/touch every pistol in their display case. The only way he's gonna find one he likes is if he tries them all out for feel and weight.
My recommendation might not work for him but if he finds one he likes then he'll be happy with that decision and not regret it because he bought something on the advice of someone else!!

 

[Rmac58]

^^Agreed.

 

[PurdueRifleman2008]

...Personally I would suggest he make this opinion all on his own...

And that's just what he's done. I talked to him the other night and he has decided to go with a Remington 870 on the grounds that a used one can be had for under $300 and the learning curve isn't so steep for a shotgun.

Personally, I feel that it is a good choice. Maybe it isn't a handgun, but IMHO a shotgun would fit the role for his intended uses a lot better and especially given his limited prior experience with handguns.

 

[BADUNAME37]

A lot depends on how this person intends to use the gun....

If it is just to say they now have a handgun (pistol), then anything goes.
<<<Since the OP states "first handgun purchase," I shall discuss only HANDGUNS>>>

However, I would recommend a revolver over a semi auto just because of the simplicity in combination with the safety factor for a newbie and any of his newbie friends that may want to shoot it with him.

If he wants to plink a lot with it, then I would recommend a .22 due to the price of the cartridges. If it is for home defense, I would recommend something with a lot more power -- probably 38 Special at minimum.

If that is the case, then perhaps a .357 Magnum would be a good choice as he could shoot 38 Special starting out plinking and target shooting and then work up to +P loads, then finally to Full Magnum loads.

Whatever he buys, I would recommend that he buy good quality (I myself have grown extremely partial to S&W's as I have had pretty good luck with all but one that I purchased over the years, and the one problem S&W, they quickly made good on). I also really like the looks of the S&W. It seems that some other manufacturers like the looks as well as some seem to be copying the style of S&W. Of course his budget has a lot to do with what he will ultimately end up with.

The price of ammo is also a major consideration -- unless he eventually takes up reloading. Let's talk "for now."

The ammo cost is a big factor while he saves his empty cases for the future, that is if he REALLY gets into it all the way -- the way I did when I bought my first revolver which was a blued single action 6" barreled .357 Magnum Ruger Blackhawk.

 

[golden]

How experienced is your friend?

PURDUE,

The first question I would ask is how much experience your friend has with handguns?
If he served in the military, police or a private agency where he was trained on a semi-automatic, I would say he should look at the:

1. S&W Sigma
2. RUGER P95
3. STOEGER Cougar 8000

These three 9m.m. pistols have all been around for at least a decade and all have a good reputation for reliability.

Again, the question is experience. If your friend does not have any experience, then he either needs a good course in gunhandling (cleaning, reloading and exchanging magazines, failure to fire drills and weak hand shooting).

I think a person with little experience, who will not recieve training woulld be better off with a 4 inch barreled .38 Special.

Jim