[Wakejefe]

Greetings:

I am fairly new to the sport and am looking to purchase a handgun sometime soon (MOVING FROM IL!!!)

Thus far I have shot:

Browning Hi-Power 9mm with less than ideal accuracy.

S&W K-Frame .357 with very good accuracy.

I am not certain that the preceding information is suffcient; but which guns should I consider renting tomorrow given my previous performance? Am I just partial to wheelguns or is that a newbie characteristic?

Regards,
Jefe

I intend to use the gun namely at the range.

[PlayboyPenguin]

Wheelguns are something are just in your blood or not...

If you love them you probably will always love them.

I am a major wheel gun lover and think they are the end-all-be-all of firearms. I am especially fond of Rugers. But I do not let this keep me from enjoying a nice autoloader too.

I would suggest trying a couple different caliber wheel guns (Ruger Redhawk in .44mag and ruger GP100 in .357mag) but also try a good .45acp or a good .380 for fun.

[10-Ring]

Guns to try:
Hi Power - check
357 mag wheelgun - check
try -
Glock
XD
Beretta 92fs
1911
HK USP
SIG P-series
Ruger semi autos
S&W semi autos

Have fun & shoot as many as you can rent before you decide!

[CornCod]

Get yourself a Smith and Wesson or Ruger in .38 Special or .357 Magnum. If you have the cash, get the magnum, since you can shoot .38's out of it if you wish.

[Standing Wolf]

I'd suggest starting with a .22 revolver or pistol: it's a lot less expensive to shoot, and the accuracy you develop with it is directly transferrable to other firearms.

[hso]

Try this as a test.

Pick up and point (in a safe direction) as many different guns as you can at a target about 30 ft away. Be sure to have a good solid grip and just put your arm up and point the gun like you're aiming by pointing your finger at the target. Look at the sight picture. If you have to adjust the gun up/down or left/right to get the sights to line up on the target put the gun down and try another. Do this until you find the one that requires no or nearly no adjustment to align the sights. Give that a try and report back.;)

[PlayboyPenguin]

'd suggest starting with a .22 revolver or pistol: it's a lot less expensive to shoot, and the accuracy you develop with it is directly transferrable to other firearms.

Yeah, that would be a good suggestion...especially if you to be bored off your ass. :rolleyes: :)

And if this is a trial run for something you might want to purchase you could then waste your money on a little plinker that isn't good for much of anything beyond taking care of shady looking soup cans. :)

[MountainBear]

You know playboy, several times in several threads you have talked about CCW. One of the best ways to develop a no flinch shot is to train with both a full size caliber and a .22
Shooting the .22 with its low recoil can be a helpful training tool for taking care of the pesky flinches, and shooting holes in those shady soup cans can be very affordable entertainment.

As to te topic of this thread, I agree with whats already been said. rent as much as possible and shoot as much as possible before making your decision. Regardless of what is said on an internet site, do no discount or rule out anything. Revolvers, autos, Hell, even single shots...

[PlayboyPenguin]

Mountainbear,

I have nothing against .22 caliber handguns. I just find then incredibly boring to shoot and do not really see them as a neccessary step in training (and this guy was not talking about training but instead wanting to try guns he might consider buying if I read correctly).

The few people I have helped learn to shoot, which I started with my .22, seemed to react even more negatively to the .38 after getting used to the .22 than the guys I just started out on the .38 or .357 mag.

[Eleven Mike]

Am I just partial to wheelguns or is that a newbie characteristic?No, no, no. Revolvers are for the non-tactical. Super-tough tactical ninja people like myself use Glocks and Deagles. :evil:

[PlayboyPenguin]

No, no, no. Revolvers are for the non-tactical. Super-tough tactical ninja people like myself use Glocks and Deagles.
And those of us that only need one shot use wheelguns. :D

[Wakejefe]

Eleven,

I dont think you will doubt my "tactical-ness" when I make some select modifications to my .357 including but not limited to:

1. 12 in Mag. light duct taped to the barrel

2. Addition of full auto capabilities (my little secret)

3. Self-destruct mode when all ammo is expended. (throw at BG).

Now that is a true ninja action. :evil:

Regards,
Jefe

[jlbraun]

I think that a .22 is a good second gun, perhaps not a first one. Dunno.

[earplug]

Did you shoot the revolver DA or SA?
Did the Highpower you shot have a decent trigger? Or was it tough and hard to fire.
If you only shot the revolver SA, I would try one in DA and think about trying a fine target pistol with a nice trigger.
What i'm trying to say is your lack of success with the HP might be due to A bad trigger.
Revolvers are known for having fine SA triggers. If you buy one for defense its much tougher to become proficent with DA.
I'm a revolver shooter, thinking about buying either a HP or A CZ 75.

[skidooman]

i personally love shooting .22s, i have a ruger 22/45, love it, i also have a Kimber TLE/RL, absolutely love that too, but i cant hit anything with it, i have a S&W mod. 637, thats my carry gun, cant hit anything with that either, if i do a little ball and dummy i get better, but still not as good as i would like to be. but when i shoot the .22 i can nail stuff all day long, i dont know about any of you guys but when i am hitting everything i aim at i have more fun. and it builds my confidence, but as far as trying new stuff out, try a 1911, by far my favorite large caliber pistol.

[Wakejefe]

I felt the Hi-Power was easy to shoot. I just was all over the place; didnt feel in control (bare in mind that I have have only shot 500 rounds my whole life; many when i was younger and lent little thought).

As for the revolver, I felt under control and was accurate (by my standards) using SA and DA.

Cheers
Jefe

[Eleven Mike]

I think that a .22 is a good second gun, perhaps not a first one. Dunno.I think sometimes that's true. If you are training your ten-year-old, a .22 makes perfect sense. But if one is an adult with no experience and no other weapons, it makes sense to purchase something like a .38 or .357 of reasonable size and fire it with sensible .38 loads. The same concept could apply to auto-loaders.

Let the record show: The term "Deagle" and the stupid, annoying devil smilie were used in character, and I would never stoop to such things when playing myself. :)

[BullfrogKen]

I agree with Standing Wolf and MountainBear, consider trying a .22 rimfire. If it turns out to bore you, then its good you rented it. The points they touched upon actually do have value, even if your only value is cheap fun, like shooting up cans and putting holes in paper. Nothing at all wrong with that.

Since it is range use you're looking to use it for, you'll get a lot more practice in with cheap .22s not taking as much out of your wallet.

[Lonestar]

I think that a .22 is a good second gun, perhaps not a first one. Dunno.

+1 He already shot a .357 revolver and did well...why does he need to start with a .22. This way his new gun purchase can go right into self defense / home protection duty.

If you are doing good with revolvers and want to get one, I would go with a .357 made by either S&W or Ruger. Taurus is a secondary choice if your low on money.

If your still interested in trying a semi auto, Look at the 9mm. Ammo is cheap and recoil is around the .38 levels. Try something with a DAO type trigger like a Glock or an XD, and a there are cheaper alternative w/Taurus and Kel Tec. The DAO triggers have a long sometimes heavy pull , just like a revolver. Then try some DA/SA triggers like the Beretta 92f or the Taurus PT92. DA/SA is a long first pull then light short pulls , as if you shot the revolver one, then pulled the hammer back to shoot every round after. the Hi Power you shot was a DA/SA gun.

[BullfrogKen]

Lonestar said: the Hi Power you shot was a DA/SA gun.

No its not. Hi-Powers are single action only, just like a 1911, but since it has a pivoting trigger, it just looks like it could be.

Jefe didn't mention self or home defense applications, so let's not steer him towards what we'd get if it were us.


You can buy more than one handgun, Jefe. Get what you want to learn on as a new shooter. Then as you gain confidence and skills, you can get something more suited to other activities.

[highlander 5]

My .02 on 22 rf.My cousin's wife went shooting with me on a couple of occasions first time I had a S&W 625 factory FMJ fired it once and nearly jumped out her skin.Next time I brought a Ruger22/45 and a S&W 617 she didn't like the Ruger but went nuts over the Smith" I want one of these" she said while going thru my 22 supply The last time I had a Ruger Bisley loaded with 45 Scholfield loads 600-700fps very light loads again too much recoil.
Now granted she's never fired a pistol/revolver before but the 22 was what she was COMFORTABLE shootng so why argue. In a nut shell ALL calibers have a use not evryone fires 500 magnums and enjoys it

[PlayboyPenguin]

not evryone fires 500 magnums and enjoys it
Does anyone actually enjoy shooting a .500??? Talk about masochists.

[Wakejefe]

Got back from the range,

Glock 17: Felt decent but over all it was a bit light; moderate accuracy.

S&W 9MM 5943: Did not like the trigger pull, it felt "springy" to me.

XD 40 S&W: Nice weight, very accurate, felt more "in control" with the larger caliber round. Outstanding (and a little pricey). No fatigue to speak of.

That is where I am at so far.


Your thoughts?
Jefe

[Bullet Bob]

Next time try a .22, see if you are bored.

When I take over the world (sometime soon), everybody starting off will have to start with a .22 revolver.

I've been shooting for a long time, and have too many handguns, from mild to wild.

Nothing is more fun to me than a .22.

Of course, the military years (70-85) took the "overly macho badass" gene right out of me, so maybe that's my problem.

[Rotorflyr]

Jefe,
You said you want it mainly for range use, that being the case I'd suggest a .22 as well. You can buy lots n lots of ammo for it, do lots n lots of shooting with it and still own larger caliber guns. If your worried about also having something for home defense (and can't afford to spend tons o money all at once), I'd suggest buying a used .22 AND a used shotgun for starters. Still let's you get lots of range time and cya's for the unwanted vists by goblins.

[Geronimo45]

"This way his new gun purchase can go right into self defense / home protection duty."
My idea, too. Try out a .22 at the range first, maybe - but with the price of handguns, most people would be better served with a 9mm or a .357/.38 revolver - defense and plinking that way.

[Majic]

I've found that 90% to 95% of the shooters that find the .22 rimfire boring and next to useless are fairly new to shooting and as they gain valuable experience they begin to reconize the virtues of the rimfire.

New to handgunning? Spend a lot of quality time with a good rimfire. You will become a much better shot in a shorter period of time. Rent a good .22 and compare your groups vs the other calibers.

[Wakejefe]

Thanks all,

I dont want anyone to think that I am opposed to .22. It is hard to be opposed to a caliber when you have never shot it (me).

I am most certainly NOT trying to prove anything by shooting 9mm or a .40. I just happened to research them (9mm and .40) before going today and had an idea of some guns I would like to try.

.22 is next on my list indeed.

Regards,
Jefe

[michiganfan]

G23

[cookekdjr]

Got back from the range,

Glock 17: Felt decent but over all it was a bit light; moderate accuracy.

S&W 9MM 5943: Did not like the trigger pull, it felt "springy" to me.

XD 40 S&W: Nice weight, very accurate, felt more "in control" with the larger caliber round. Outstanding (and a little pricey). No fatigue to speak of.

That is where I am at so far.


Your thoughts?
Jefe

Strongly consider the XD, but in stainless (the only problem with this gun is the finish on the blued models). The XD is an excellent gun and .40 is an excellent caliber. Keep trying other guns, but if XD works for you, get one. I'd shop around for XD prices. You can find good deals on them if you try.
Good luck,

David

[f4t9r]

You liked the XD40 so try the XD 9 its a lot cheaper to shoot
9mm ammo can be picked up at good prices.