[JamesTR]

New to the forum... And... uh... I can't think of much to say. Just your average Texan teen with an interest in older firearms. I am a bit confused as to why I can buy an AK before an SAA... (Concealment, of course. But still...)

I guess I should ask this, though. Suggestions for starter guns? Preferably... erm... cheap. Within the $200 range, even. (Exclude .22lr Marlins/Savages. I already know.) SUGGESTIONS BEGIN... NOW!

[ArfinGreebly]

There's always the Hi Point carbine in 9mm.

Friend of mine at work shoots that. Loves it. Shoots pretty much POI = POA, so he's happy.

And it's only a cuppla hunnert bux.

They do it in other calibres, too, like .40 and .45 I believe, but I suggest the 9mm because: cheaper ammo, flatter trajectory.

And, if you get tired of the cosmetic blandness of the carbine, there's always the ATI after-market stock that makes it look like a CX4 Storm.

Oh, and at Wally World, you can get a 22-inch stainless Ruger 10/22. I only mention this because, while you can bet the 10/22 pretty much anywhere, the 22-inch stainless is a Wally-World-only deal.

Oh, and welcome to the asylum.

[bearmgc]

Welcome! Yeah Hi points while cheap, they do what their supposed to do, and are actually pretty sturdy. Another you might consider is FEG Hungarian in 9mm or even .380. That was my first conceal carry gun. My earnings were pretty meager back then. But it shot straight and was reliable. Sometimes you can get a used Ruger pretty cheap, and knowing what I do now about them, their pretty darn good for the money. Today it would be my first choice, if needing to go economical.

[El Tejon]

How about a used police trade in revolver. I can buy those around here for $200.

As to your confusion, you are not old enough to remember or to have studied long enough to know about how gun control was being sold in the 1960s. Dodd and Kennedy yammered long and hard about "juvenile delinquency" and the Safe Streets Act of 1968 signed by a Texan made 21 the legal age to purchase from a dealer.

Welcome to THR.:)

[mnrivrat]

Since your under 21 I assume your asking about long guns.

Ruger 10/22 is one of the more popular ones and can be had within your $200 budget. A great starter gun !

[lurkersince03]

LOL is your user name a reference to James of Team Rocket? :)

[JamesTR]

James The Raccoon, actually. AIM username. Ruger... Hmm...

By the way, I do mean long guns. If I were to get a handgun of any variety, I'd have to have an adult with me at all times while using it. I also have to be 21 to buy handgun ammunition. Which means no .45acp, 9mm, .40sw, etc. ... Pretty stupid, eh?

[ArfinGreebly]

by JamesTR:
Which means no .45acp, 9mm, .40sw, etc. ... Pretty stupid, eh?

Assuming, for the moment, that you got a Hi Point Carbine in 9mm, I suppose you could drag the rifle along with you (in its case) to the counter.

"Hi, I need ammo for my rifle. It's chambered in 9mm. Here's the barrel stamp. I'll need 200 rounds, please."

I mean, hell, if you had a Marlin lever gun in .357/.38 or .44 mag or .45 long Colt, those are ALL pistol calibres.

Alternatively you could purchase your ammo online. And then there's the friend-over-21 option.

Sigh.

[Hemicuda]

Another vote for the Ruger... I'm 36 years old, and can afford pretty much whatever my heart desires to shoot...

that said, I have 3 Ruger 10/22's... hard top go wrong... they shoot like a dream, can be had relatively inexpensively, and can be customized SO easily... EVERYONE makes custom 10/22 stuff...

[Justin]

Hi James!

Welcome to THR.

I'm going to go ahead and close this thread, because we've got a place for new members to introduce themselves here. (http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=233018)

Don't worry, it's no big thang.

Hope you enjoy THR!