What was your first centerfire handgun?
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md7
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Turned 21, and I knew nothing of pistols. Every police officer in town carried a Glock 22 or 23.
Figured I could do worse, so I bought a Glock 23. Still have it almost 20 years later.
Figured I could do worse, so I bought a Glock 23. Still have it almost 20 years later.
.45Coltguy
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Mid 70's, a Ruger BH .357 with 6.5" barrel. Still have it; $169.00 new. Imagine that!
SwampWolf
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Remington Rand Model 1911-when they are giving them away in the early sixties' surplus market. A crystal ball would have made me rich when I think of the Enfields, Springfields, Lugers, P38s, etc., which were being sold almost by the pound.
BLACKHAWKNJ
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My Browning High Power-which I still have.Bought in the Fall of 1967. Paid $110.00 NIB.
Walkingfunk
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Walkingfunk
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I paid 500 dollars in 2018
Zendude
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Charter Arms Undercoverette, 32 H&R magnum. Thought it would be a good combination of light weight, low recoil, and small size for concealed carry.
MedWheeler
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I'm pretty late to this thread. That Grendel was my fifth handgun (third centerfire.) I bought it after a representative from Grendel marketed it to our department as a potential backup/off-duty option; about a dozen of us got in on the deal that was offered. This was in 1988, I think.
The "package" included the gun, a tool that served both for takedown and for clip alignment, three surplus M16 stripper clips (the .380 rim fits these), a grip extender that screwed on if desired, and a zippered case that held the gun only if the grip extender was not in place.
The P10 was a neat idea, meant to give those types that carried a J-frame without a reload an option to have a lighter, flatter gun that doubled (or more) the capacity, fired as simply as a J-frame, and didn't have a magazine release or safety lever, either of which could be inadvertently actuated. The gun didn't sell well largely due to the small size of the company and its lack of marketing and production abilities, and to the narrow niche at which it was aimed. It's DNA continues in the Kel-Tec P11 and P3-AT.
I pocket-carried mine sometimes, without a holster (pocket holsters weren't really a thing back then), but never carried it on duty due to lack of a fitting ankle rig. As a lightweight blowback pistol, it was rude, but not any more than the PPK/S I got later when I switched to an agency that mandated off-duty carry, but had a very short list of approved models.
I still own the gun and its accessories. I also still own my "first centerfire handgun", which is the query of this thread. It's a Taurus Model 66 in .357 Magnum, purchased in 1987. I actually did carry that one on duty for a little while, though loaded with the department's .38 +P ammunition.
The "package" included the gun, a tool that served both for takedown and for clip alignment, three surplus M16 stripper clips (the .380 rim fits these), a grip extender that screwed on if desired, and a zippered case that held the gun only if the grip extender was not in place.
The P10 was a neat idea, meant to give those types that carried a J-frame without a reload an option to have a lighter, flatter gun that doubled (or more) the capacity, fired as simply as a J-frame, and didn't have a magazine release or safety lever, either of which could be inadvertently actuated. The gun didn't sell well largely due to the small size of the company and its lack of marketing and production abilities, and to the narrow niche at which it was aimed. It's DNA continues in the Kel-Tec P11 and P3-AT.
I pocket-carried mine sometimes, without a holster (pocket holsters weren't really a thing back then), but never carried it on duty due to lack of a fitting ankle rig. As a lightweight blowback pistol, it was rude, but not any more than the PPK/S I got later when I switched to an agency that mandated off-duty carry, but had a very short list of approved models.
I still own the gun and its accessories. I also still own my "first centerfire handgun", which is the query of this thread. It's a Taurus Model 66 in .357 Magnum, purchased in 1987. I actually did carry that one on duty for a little while, though loaded with the department's .38 +P ammunition.
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desmobob
Member
S&W Model 66-2 in 4". The only photo I have of it shows it wearing some rubber grips instead of the nice walnut ones that came on it, unfortunately. It's a lot prettier with walnut!
I bought it new around 1986 (just as the 66-3 models were coming out).
I bought it new around 1986 (just as the 66-3 models were coming out).
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jdavis123
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I was smitten by a 6” nickel Colt Trooper MKIII .357 revolver. I remember a friend and I taking it to a neighbor’s pond and shooting cooters with it.
.308 Norma
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Actually desmobob, I like it just the way it is. That set of Pachmayer rubber grips makes it look more "utilitarian," and that's always the look I prefer when it comes to guns.
Dunross
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As with others I was late to the game buying my first centerfire pistol. First because my dad had so many and second because once I moved out on my own I was broke for a long time. The first guns I bought with my own money were .22lr rifle and pistol, and a shotgun. When I finally decided I needed a centerfire pistol my first one was a S&W Model 28 with a 6" barrel.
Shortly afterwards Florida changed to "shall issue" for concealed carry licenses so I picked up a Star PD, but I still have that Model 28 and always will. It is now accompanied by another 6" Model 28 that was my grandfathers.
Shortly afterwards Florida changed to "shall issue" for concealed carry licenses so I picked up a Star PD, but I still have that Model 28 and always will. It is now accompanied by another 6" Model 28 that was my grandfathers.
Ethan Verity
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Ruger LCP, which was my very first gun at age 21, and my very first time ever shooting a center fire cartridge in my life (my family didn't have any gun people in it, to give me any previous experience).
I feel I made a good choice... my collection is in the double digits now but that little LCP still gets carried most often.
I feel I made a good choice... my collection is in the double digits now but that little LCP still gets carried most often.
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Them LCP are some great firearms to be so little. Recently bought my GF the new LCP MAX
WestKentucky
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Taurus 689 6”. I wish I still had it but I shot it apart and sold it to a gunsmith who knew the gun. I killed a couple deer with it before I let it go though.
borrowedtime69
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My second centerfire was a Ruger P85, that thing was built like a tank, & just as heavy. I ended up selling it many years ago but it was accurate & shot everything I put through it. I should have kept it as a hand me down to my boys.
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