About to buy my first ever handgun.

[Fremmer]

If you get a hi power, get a browning. I like the wood grip and blued finish, but if you're gonna get a hi power, you might as well get the real deal. Indy would, lol. Jmho.

 

[coolluke01]

I had a model 59 for a long time. It was my first handgun. Sold it for $250 IIRC.

Take down is kinda a pain but it always worked well.

 

[BigShep85]

Don't do it!!!!

iT WILL NEVER EVER STOP!!

BUT if you do.....I would start with a 9mm in auto cheap, common, low recoil, and a good solid defense round

If a revolver, I would start with a 357 in a 4 or 6 inch barrel that way you have the option of powerful 357 or cheaper 38's

Good Luck

 

[mokin]

At least don't start with a Browning Hi-Power. I have one and love it. So does my wife, my dad, my brother, my father-in-law, in fact, the only people I can think of who don't like it are the few who want nothing to do with 9mms. It'll take all the fun out of any susequent handgun purchases. Very few other handguns will be as good.

 

[KTXdm9]

First off OP, welcome to the club. If you are going to go through the trouble of getting your CHL, why not carry? There are plenty of comfortable holster choices out there. To me, throwing it in a backpack defeats the purpose.

 

[Derry 1946]

Welcome! If you want an Indiana Jones gun that is powerful and need not be concealable, how about Smith and Wesson M 1917 in .45ACP? BTW, some say the Browning HP in the movie was a stand-in for a 1911. That's apparently common...

 

[tarosean]

You'll need the extra seconds if you are in serious danger. Not to mention that your off hand might be disabled or restrained by the guy who you need to shoot. Then there is a possibility that the first round you try and chamber might stovepipe or take a nosedive, causing you to have to clear a jam before even getting a shot off.

There are multiple reasons not to carry a defensive gun chamber empty.

See below gentlemen, then revisit my statement....

Condition Four: Chamber empty, no magazine, hammer down.
Condition Three: Chamber empty, full magazine in place, hammer down.
Condition Two: A round chambered, full magazine in place, hammer down.
Condition One: A round chambered, full magazine in place, hammer cocked, safety on.
Condition Zero: A round chambered, full magazine in place, hammer cocked, safety off.

 

[David E]

See below gentlemen, then revisit my statement....

Your statement in Post #21 makes even less sense.

"it takes 3 hours to go FROM Condition ONE to Condition TWO..."

Since its apparently not a typo, what's your point?

Keeping a Defensive Handgun in an appropriate state of readiness is one thing.

However, a handgun "tossed in a backpack" isn't a defensive handgun, but a purely recreational "hey-I-got-a-gun-with-me-ain't-it-cool " gun.

 

[tarosean]

Your statement in Post #21 makes even less sense.

"it takes 3 hours to go FROM Condition ONE to Condition TWO..."

you would be 100% correct... LOL

I was responding to the fact that neither conditions were an "empty chamber" as assumed... However it seems Im a **** and made it even more confusing for people. Gotta stop the "drive by" postings...

 

[Skylerbone]

Rather than sorting your fortunes with a single pistol until funds can allow for more I would suggest the S&W Model 10 deal at Bud's for $269 and a decent .22 lr. You could have the 10 and a Buckmark for the proposed price, giving you both a safe(er) carry option in a loose packed travel gun and an inexpensive range plinker. I know CDNN has a number of deals on both used Smith autos and Walther .22 target pistols (starting at $199) as another route to pursue. I believe a 59xx and Walther combo runs $530 ballparked. I have purchased firearms from both, all were as described without incident.

Consider the price of your first thousand rounds of 9mm being the price of an inexpensive rimfire pistol and a thousand rounds.

 

[Midwest]

I suggest getting a Ruger .22 caliber for inexpensive target practice. And then a .357 revolver so you can shoot .38 and .357. As far as Hi-Point's go, I have the .45 ACP pistol, it shoots good and never jams. But it is ugly and bulky...and inexpensive.


For the the legal aspects, search the threads at
http://www.nyfirearms.com/forums/pistol-permits/

You will find information on what your county in NY state is like. Some upstate counties give carry privileges as well. Some counties have different procedures for purchasing a pistol. Waiting time for a permit can be as low as 3 months to as high as 12 months, 17 months to 2 years in rare extreme cases.

You might have to stand in front of a judge, or you might not when obtaining your permit. Seems the consensus there is to use "For all lawful purposes" excuse when obtaining a permit in NY State, others might beg to differ.

Welcome to the forum and congrats on turning 21 and obtaining your first pistol.

 

[orionengnr]

I'd probably just leave without a round chambered, it only takes half a second to rack the slide.

Yeah, maybe...providing you have the use of both hands/arms at that critical moment...
To rely on that variable as a fact is...to put it mildly...somewhat short-sighted.

 

[coolluke01]

A simiauto cycling is the most common place for a gun to malfunction. Now introduce stress and a possible short cycle or slow slide speed that won't return fully to battery. This is a recipe for disaster. If you don't feel comfortable carrying a loaded weapon you shouldn't be carrying.

It did take me a few weeks to get over the nerves of having a loaded weapon on my side when I first started carrying. If it's too nerve wracking for you at first, carry without one in the chamber for a little while and then move to a loaded chamber.

 

[Manny]

A BHP is a time proven and timeless gun that has earned it's bones as a side arm for numerous militaries. Given the restrictions you have to abide with, if you want a hi-cap pistol it sure sounds like your best option.

I trust a Glock 9mm as my all around gun, with a good HP round it's quite capable, maybe not bear medicine, but superb for pretty much anything your likely to run into.

 

[dnilson]

He had a .455 Webley but he also had a hi-power:

http://indianajones.wikia.com/wiki/Indy's_pistol


I'd probably just leave without a round chambered, it only takes half a second to rack the slide. I'd never heard of the 59 though, i'll see if I can find a decent price on one.

And I would like a nice .357 but I think i'm gonna wait a bit before I buy one. I'd really like one of the older S&W ones, forgot what model it is, blued with the wood grips.

My concealed carry gun is a Glock 23 (.40 cal). But if I were going camping or hiking, I'd DEFINITELY take my Ruger SP101, DAO revolver in .357. The reasons it's such a great choice are:
1. It's a VERY highly regarded revolver, because it's really well made and made of stainless steel (nice and heavy, which helps with the recoil). I've heard more than one person say they're "built like a tank"!!!
2. It's got the power you'd need for just about anything but a grizzly!
3. Get the DAO (double action only) model...no hammers to even worry about! Just point and shoot!
4. Because it's a DAO, it's got a really heavy trigger pull, so accidental dischargers are nearly impossible (as long as it's in a holster).
5. Because it's a .357 magnum revolver it kicks like a mule (I got the 2.25 inch barrel), so you might want to consider the 4 inch barrel.
6. It also shoots .38 ammo, so it's pretty cheap to practice with and get used to the trigger pull, etc.

These are just my opinions, but I really think you'd be hard pressed to find anyone who would disagree with me. Get your Browning for home defense...as long as you don't live in an apartment with neighbors (there are MUCH better options) and concealed carry (although a Browning is going to be hard to conceal), but it's not the right gun for your intended purpose (camping and hiking).

You say you've been shooting since you were a kid. No offense, but it's pretty obvious that you still have a lot to learn. As a new gun owner, other than proper weapons handling and care (which I'm sure you do know), the most important thing to know is that different situations call for different guns. Also, have you heard of the 21 foot rule (and that only applies to humans, not animals)? Do you REALLY think you'll have time to get to your weapon, rack it and shoot? You need to have it on your person (in a good holster, NOT in your backpack) and be ready to shoot...another good reason for getting the Ruger for camping. Grasshopper, you have much to learn . Again, JMO.

 

[dnilson]

The High Power is a very nice gun. Personally, I would choose the Armalite AR24 over the High Power, but that's because I've had horrible customer service from Browning.

Have you considered a nice .22 automatic for a first gun? A Ruger 22/45 would provide years of enjoyment and thousands of rounds of affordable shooting fun. Seriously, you can shoot thousands of .22s for the price of hundreds of 9mms.

I must disagree. Although a .22 is insanely inexpensive to shoot, with all due respect, you may as well just have a sling shot. The VAST majority of experts all agree that the 9mm is the BARE minimum one should use for self defense. If you shot a bobcat with a .22, you'd just piss him off!

 

[wildehond]

If you like the BHP then get it. It is one of the sweetest shooting 9mm's out there. And you have to like the gun and enjoy shooting it.

 

[shinyroks]

If you are going to carry it somewhere accessible, I would consider the 1911 (ie holstered).
For DA/SA, I did like my CZ-97 with one chambered (ie backpack). gave about the same recoil as my Ruger Mark 1 .22...
Look into waist strap holsters perhaps, the best of both worlds...