9mm handgun or 22 rifle?

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BigBL87

BigBL87

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Had another one of these awhile back but looking for opinions/thoughts/things I might not have considered. I recently bought a shotgun as my first firearm and am looking to buy a second. I'm trying to decide between the two options in the title. Things to consider:

Budget is around $300 max (not flexible, not a "save more and get this" situation)

My shotgun has both a home defense and hunting/clay shooting barrel.

I have no experience shooting handguns at all, only rifles and shotguns, same for my wife who may shoot whatever I buy.

Main reasons I'm considering a 9mm - better if pressed into home defense, most economical common center fire handgun round to my knowledge.

Main reasons I'm considering 22 rifle - probably the most economical to shoot, I'm already comfortable with long guns, and just plain fun to shoot.

So, what do you guys think?
 
Around $300, your 9mm choices will be limited.

Your shotgun will serve well as HD weapon.

You have 3 real good reasons for getting a .22 rifle.

Most of the time I don't weigh in on these topics.

However, given your budget and situation I think you will be happiest looking for the rifle.
 
For your circumstances, .22 rifle.

Generally, my recommended sequence is:

.22 rifle: your mom or dad should have taken care of this in your youth.
house defense gun (shotgun, pistol caliber carbine, full size handgun)
carry piece (compact handgun)
fighting rifle (mag fed autoloader, intermediate cartridge or higher)
happy fun shooters (whatever floats your boat)
 
Got to have a rifle. Will be great for keeping your wife interested in guns (mine was basically almost opposed to them till I stuck a .22 in her hands when we were dating), a lot of fun for you, can be used for hunting game so adds to your options along with the shotgun on a cool fall weekend, awesome to shoot with friends, and, as another poster already said...very easy to get a good one for $300!!

I have a Marlin 60 and a Marlin XT-22 that I picked up 18 months later. Both are "Post-Remington" and I have no QC issues with them. They both are in your price range, as is the Ruger 10/22, Marlin 795, and Savage Mk II bolt action.
 
good luck finding 22 right now same with 9mm
all i see are 40 cal on the shelfs and 223 /5.56
but a 22 would be best look for a used ruger mark 2
and start lookin for 22 LR cci min - mag
good luck
 
I seem to be able to find 22lr here and there. Not easy to find by any stretch but doesn't seem as bad as I heard it used to be.
 
You already have a shotgun that can be used for home defense and for $300 you will get more gun in a .22 rifle than a 9mm pistol in most cases.

If I were in your shoes, I'd get a nice .22 rifle and start shopping online for ammo.
 
geekWithA.45 said:
For your circumstances, .22 rifle.

Generally, my recommended sequence is:

.22 rifle: your mom or dad should have taken care of this in your youth.
house defense gun (shotgun, pistol caliber carbine, full size handgun)
carry piece (compact handgun)
fighting rifle (mag fed autoloader, intermediate cartridge or higher)
happy fun shooters (whatever floats your boat)
Click to expand...

I like that list actually. Grew up in a household with no guns, not that my parents are anti but they just never owned them. My in laws got me started in gun ownership more than anything, which is funny because my wife is the only one in the family that barely shot and never had a FOID card.
 
Assuming you're not seeking a carry weapon in this next purchase, you'd probably enjoy the rifle more. Also, a good semi-auto makes a great HD weapon as well.

As far as a 9mm handgun goes, a used Ruger P95 runs right about at your max price point, and is a great, albeit utilitarian, pistol.

In my area, the availability of 9mm ammo far surpasses that of .22LR stuff, but both are out there.
 
The .22lr is no joke, straight out of the box the Marlin Mod 60 will out shoot many comperable firearms. Its one draw back is that it is tube fed rather than magazine fed. If this matters to you another platform might be in order like the highly modifiable 10/22 from Ruger. A good .22lr will last you a lifetime!
 
.22 is a good choice, I have both and shoot .22 a lot more even though I have a full shooting range literally in my back yard. If you see a good deal on ammo don't be afraid to stock up though for either caliber.
 
what geek said, it's like he has been following me:eek:

.22 rifle: your mom or dad should have taken care of this in your youth.
house defense gun (shotgun, pistol caliber carbine, full size handgun)
carry piece (compact handgun)
fighting rifle (mag fed autoloader, intermediate cartridge or higher)
happy fun shooters (whatever floats your boat)
__________________
 
I am one who believes "you should get a .22 first" as a universal answer is wrong, because everyone's needs are different. With that said, you should get the .22 on this budget. I would use the shotgun in HD over a handgun, so the only reason I would get a 9mm handgun is carry or action competition. Unless you want a hi-point in 9mm (which would probably work really well, but is heavier and lower capacity for what it needs to be), I don't think you'll find a good, reliable carry gun in 9mm for $300 or less.

So, on your budget, I say get a .22 LR rifle.
 
Unless you're looking to carry .22 is the best choice and a 10/22 or marlin 60 can be had for well under your budget NIB; maybe sub 200 if you shop around for a deal.

There are acceptable 9mm handguns in that price range, but if you aren't planning on carrying then a shotgun is a good enough home defense weapon.
 
My Henry lever action always gets brought to the range. It's light, handy, and you don't waste ammo like you would with a semiauto but still entertaining with the lever. I like it a lot better than a bolt action.
 
.22 rifle....just not a 10/22.
Click to expand...

Whats wrong with a 10/22 you pay a few extra bucks for its popularity but you gotta love the easy availability of aftermarket parts. Its affordable, comes with great customer support and usually goes boom when you pull the trigger. When it doesn't go boom its the fault of low quality bulk ammo.
 
There's nothing wrong with a 10/22. There is nothing great, either....FWIW, my first new .22 was a 10/22. I thought it was the cat's meow until I discovered more accurate, better handling guns.
 
FWIW, I'm looking at a Marlin 795 as far as a 22 rifle. I'd rather have a magazine fed and I don't think I'll customize much and I've heard that 10/22's aren't the most accurate out of the box compared to most other rifles around that price range.
 
For me, the very first firearm i man should own is a 22 lr. Rifle though it's easy to understand the choice of a shotgun in this case. Well done... In fact, everyone should own a 22 rifle IMO.
For a 1st handgun I would hesitate to recommend a 9mm. I would lean towards another 22 and shoot the snot out of it. Then move along to a 9mm.
Another 9mm in your budget is one by SCCY. Has a lot going for it and worth a look when you're ready.
 
short of turning the op's question into ANOTHER thread of 10/22 v. the world, i also would buy a .22 caliber rifle. i personally enjoy my 10/22 in .22 mag., i also have a nylon 66 and a remington target master single shot. all of them i shoot regularly, and i love em all. if you dont mind used guns, i see all kinds of .22s for sale at pawn shops all across sc and ga (some in shape better than others) for 100-500, so for three hundred, you could luck up and get two if you have someone knowledgeable to go w/ you and tell you if the gun you choose is sound enough to risk the 'used' purchase. you could also split the difference of handgun v. rifle and get a mkIII. its real accurate, fun to shoot, .22 cal, couldbe used in HD:uhoh:, and my wife enjoys shooting mine and i would assume the same of anyone that shot the gun, no matter gender. or you could get a jimenez 9mm for 169$. :barf:
 
Also, I'm not opposed to a bolt action 22. Might actually help me preserve ammo and from what I've heard they are a lot easier to clean.
 
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