Beginner Handgun Questions

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Parallax

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I'd like to learn how to use a handgun, and I have a few questions. First of all, I know I should go with a 22. My question is, should I go with a revolver or autoloader?

I've heard a revolver is best for learning, but I'm not sure why. I'd like to move up to an autoloader in 9mm or .45 when I've got the basics down, and I think learning on an autoloader would be a good idea. Also, I think an autoloader would have less recoil than a revolver, but I'm not sure about that.

Can anyone suggest good handgun for a newbie? Unfortunately the only range I know of in the area burned down a few months ago, but I think there's another in the area, I'll have to look into it.

The last thing is that I am only 18, and I'm a little confused about the laws. I know it's legal to purchase from a private person, but I'd prefer to get a nice new gun from a store, and I'm willing to pay for it. Would it be legal for someone of age to give the gun to me? I live in Florida.
 
Well, first of all, in CA and a few other states, I know that you have to be 21 + to buy a handgun. Check with your state's doj website. The should have a dept of firearms with all of the laws, faqs, etc.

Before I would buy any gun, I would look around for NRA basic pistol classes. www.nra.org has a listing of places in all areas that offer the class. The will run you around $50, but they are well worth the money. Plus, most will cover autos and revolvers. Take the class and see what you think before you buy.

BTW, in my opinion, look around and see what you can rent. Trying a gun out before you buy is the best way, but not always possible. Spend a day in the phone book as see what is around. An hours drive when $400 is at stake is not that bad.
 
You don't say what your intentions are. Are you ultimately looking for a CCW gun, or just plinking, or hunting or competetion or ? That will really decide what handguns to consider.

While it's true that revolvers have fewer controls than most autos, neither is really that hard to learn, especially if you're really interested in learning. There's so much variety in hanguns (DA, SA, DAO, glock-safety trigger, full-size, compact, air-weight etc.) that it's hard to make generalities.

Depending on your finanaces, I would think getting a good used to first gun to learn on, and learn what you like and don't like, isn't a bad idea. Seldom is your first gun exactly to your liking. Trying as many as you can before you buy is a great idea. You'll find that most people at the range will let you handle if not fire their guns, as long as you're polite and have a good attitude.

My first choice would be an auto in 9mm, probably a Glock (people either seem to love them or hate them), but any good name-brand would be fine. A .22 is okay, but there's so much more you can do with a 9mm, and recoil from a 9 isn't bad at all. Just stay away from anything super-light weight. Ammo is pretty cheap and easy to find.

I started with a .40S&W, and I didn't have any problems with it. So if you see a particular handgun that catches you eye for some reason, as long as it's in a reasonable caliber (say .45 or under) I'd go with it. No one can really pick a gun for you.

With all due respect to the members of the forum, while most of the info you get here will be great and correct, its up to you to confirm the laws where you live. Getting a good understanding of them is part of learning to shoot.

Good luck, I'm sure you'll have fun.
 
Parallax

Welcome To THR .

I concur with above posts.

Search on NRA or www.packing.org should provide a facility that teaches Basic Firearm Safety. Questions of type of firearms how they work are discussed along with local legal questios.

I prefer to teach a new shooter the basics of handgun with a .22 revolver. I'm old fashioned and believe the use of sights, trigger control and such are best taught with a revolver shot in DA ( double action). Basic fundamentals once learned , transition to larger calibers , semi-auto action types.

When I taught - I would start with a Mod 18 ( .22 revo) then go to a Mod 10 ( .38spl).

Only problem is finding a good .22lr revolver that one can afford.

In that case a USED Model 10 in .38spl with mild target loading is an excellent teaching tool, learning tool, and self defensive tool. Ammo is easy to find and not that expensive. Used Police trade -ins are affordable, do not require magazines to work, and even if later one buys/ goes to a semi...having a K frame revolver is always a great thing to have...

...As a back up gun, to get back to basics if one starts having problems with shooting, to teach another...Just a good thing to have around, great first gun.

After the revolver - I started right back with a .22 semi, Usually a Ruger MKI , MKII, 22/45 ,or Browning Buckmarks. Then we transitioned to 9mm in a variety (Glocks, Rugers..) to let the student learn the differences and find out for THEMSELVES what they shot best.

Let the student check their wallet, against what they shot best and liked = buying the gun best for them.

Lots of K frame were chosen , especially used police trade-ins. :)
 
Thanks everyone for taking the time to reply to this. I held a Glock 21 and a Glock 17 a few days ago at a gun show and they seemed to fit in my hands nicely. Do you think it's a good idea to start with something that powerful? I'm 6'0-6'1 and 165 lbs, if that makes any difference.

I went to pick up my car from the mechanic today and there was a gun store I didn't know about across the street. They had a new Ruger MkII for $300. It looked like a pretty nice gun, but the store owner said he couldn't let me handle it since I'm not 21 :(
 
Welcome Parallax

"Only problem is finding a good .22lr revolver that one can afford.

In that case a USED Model 10 in .38spl with mild target loading is an excellent teaching tool, learning tool, and self defensive tool. "

Excellent comment sm. That's it in nutshell.

Parallax,

If you could find an sound 22 revolver, even if slighlty over budget, I think you will hang on to it if you acquire one. I don't know if any will agree but I think there is also a safety factor involved with revolvers in the hands of new shooters that is lacking in semis. Not necessarily a big deal but JMO.

Even tho the US Army taught scads of young men to shoot 1911s who had probably never held a handgun before there are better ways to get started. sm summed it up pretty well. A 22/45 NIB at $200 bucks is hard to beat from a price POV but for a beginner a more expensive wheel gun might be the better choice. I think the M10 also makes a lot of sense. Not over powered. Not under powered. Not as cheap as a 22 to shoot but it's not going to break the bank either.

S-

PS

Re the Glock option
Many LE agencies start inductees off with the Glock that also have never fired a handgun and both sides feel the end point and end product is achieved. Many will tell you the Glock is,by design, much like learning and handling a revolver. Till they start putting visible hammers on the Glocks the shooter can feel and see moving in DA pulls I disagree. But I'm no fan of the Plastic Fantastic to begin with.

S-
 
Where can I find a 22/45 nib for only $200? The lowest price I've seen so far is $300.
 
Assuming you're of legal age where you live, I highly recommend the NRA Basic Handgun Safety course; the emphasis is on learning to shoot rather than on tips for buying a gun. This is opposed to the way most people do it, which is to buy the gun first then figure out how to hit the target with it.

I took this course several years back, and the way it was taught was a bit frustrating at the time, but in hindsight, I am eternally grateful to that instructor. He would not recommend purchase of a specific handgun, he said to borrow or rent as many different handguns as I could get my hands on, then make my decision based on shooting the different handguns. I spent almost 6 months doing this before I bought my first one, and I have kept a list of all the guns I have actually range tested since I took the course (24, including the ones I now own).
 
Broken record but get training first. The NRA basic pistol class is a great way to learn. You try different handguns and get safety and practical training. From there you will have some idea what to purchase.

First thing after this training decide what you want to do with the handgun. Do you want it for plinking and target shooting. If so what type of target shooting. Bullseye a good 22 long rifle like the Ruger is great.

If purchasing for personal or home defense a 22long rifle is not recomended. 38 special or 9mm is my mim. suggestion. But get training first.
 
To be the contrarian in this group, a 9mm semi-auto is a fine gun to learn to shoot with. My first gun was an H&K USP 9mm compact. I taught myself to shoot for about a year before I finally took a class. I could have saved a lot of ammo by taking the class earlier. I recommend shooting the gun until you are familiar with its controls and THEN take the class. You'll get more out of it that way.

Had I begun with a .22, I would have quickly outgrown it.

An air pistol can make a fine learning tool as well. Years after I learned to shoot, I purchased an air rifle and have a great time with it because I can shoot it on my property without annoying the neighbors.
 
My first handgun was a Stoeger Luger replica in .22

I would opt for a good .22 revolver with a barrel of perhaps 4"-6". If you get a good, high quality one, it will last you a lifetime and you will be able to teach your children with it and their children with it, etc.

I have a Winchester model 59 .22 single-shot rifle that has been through 4 generations in our family and it still does varmint control on our property.

Get a .22, then graduate to something bigger but KEEP the .22 because you'll be glad you did and so will your heirs.

What did I read somewhere on this forum? A .22 and a box of ammo beats Prozaic. (or something like that!)
 
Spend major bucks on training, ear protection, and eye protection.

Most of your questions will go away during and after training.

The reason for suggesting a .22LR is the recoil and noise level is significantly less than a 9 mm or .38 spl. Recoil and noise make for a dandy flinch. Don't develop a flinch and you'll never have to get rid of it.

Also remember, one gun is NEVER enough.
 
The way I see it, in addition to learning how to shoot, you're also going to want to have fun with it. I'm not going to discuss the law of your state because that's up to you to research. My first pistol was a Walther P99 9mm. In my opinion, I think that that 9mm is a perfect pistol to train with. After going to the range a couple of times a week and taking the basic training class, I quickly developed confidence. What I also did was, at the range, I rented a lot of different calibers. That way, I was able to determine which caliber was right for me. A 9mm doesn't have much recoil (if any at all) but it's strong enough to realize that you're shooting a gun. The good thing about a 9mm is that once you've developed your confidence in shooting, you can easily sell the 9 and reclaim most of your money back.
Down in these parts (Charlotte, N.C.) there isn't much of a demand for .22's. Actually,I don't think that my local shop even rents .22's.

Go with a 9mm, you won't be disappointed.
 
A 9mm shouldn't be a problem, it's pretty tame as far as recoil goes. My first handgun was a HK USP45 and I haven't shot a gun since the .22lr when I was 11 in the Boy Scouts. If you just concentrate on the sights and trigger control you really don't have any time to worry about the bang and recoil, it just happens.

My first rifle was a Yugo 8mm Mauser too, so maybe I'm just a glutton for punishment. :D
 
My first handgun was a Ruger 22/45. Great gun to learn on, good for newbies I take to the range. Lots of inexpensive fun wherever I take it. From there I went straight to a Springfield 1911 with no problem. The classes I took, combined with a year's practice with the little Ruger did the job.

I still shoot these two handguns more than any of my others.

Hope this helps-
Jeff
 
The best advice is for you to attend the NRA Basic Pistol class or similiar training. A good grounding now in safety and the fundamentals of marksmanship will really pay off later. The NRA website at www.nra.org will list some of the instructors in your area. There will also be instructors not on the site, so ask around as well. Gun shops and gun shows are good places to check.

I don't really think it makes much of a difference if you start with a revolver or a semi-auto. The DA pull of a revolver is harder to master because it is longer and generally heavier then the trigger pull of most autos. You could make a case that if you master that DA pull first, learning on an auto will be easy by comparision. I don't think it offers any real advantage though. Pick the type of gun you are most interested in.

I do reccomend starting out with a .22 as your first gun. The recoil and blast are much less than any of the centerfire cartridges. This allows you to concentrate on the fundamentals of marksmanship without being distracted. This helps you avoid bad habits, such as flinching, or anticipating the recoil. The ammo is also much, much cheaper. This will allow you to shoot more for less money.

Unfortunately, you can't buy a pistol from a FFL dealer until you are 21. You can buy one from a private party. You'll need to check your local ads for appropriate pistols for sale. You will not be able to buy one from an on-line ad because the pistol would have to be shipped to a FFL dealer to do the transfer. The dealer would not be able to transfer the pistol to you because you are not yet 21.

You could receive the pistol as a gift from your parents or another adult. Do NOT violate the law though. If you give them the money to pay for the gun, it becomes an illegal straw purchase and is not a gift.

As far as what gun? For .22 pistols, the Ruger Mk II, Browning Buckmark and Sig Trailside all have good reps. The Smith & Wesson 617 .22 revolver is a good gun. The older S&W Model 17 or Model 18 .22 revolvers are even better. You might be able to find one used.

If you go with a centerfire round, I'd stick to 9mm or .38 Special for a first gun. They are still OK calibers to learn on and are relatively cheap. (Not nearly as cheap as .22 LR though)

One option I like to reccomend is to buy a 9mm CZ-75B Semi-auto pistol and get the .22 Kadet conversion kit. This allows you to shoot two calibers in basically the same gun. You probably will have a hard time finding one for sale used in your area though. It would make a good gift or save up and buy when you are 21.

I really don't reccomend Glocks as first pistols. They are unlike anything else out there and I really don't think they make good beginner guns.

Do a search here for "reccomend a first gun" or "first pistol" or similiar words. You'll find a ton of threads with some good advice. (There's some bad advice too. Just see what the preponderance of the posters suggest)

One last thought. Try as many pistols as you can before you buy your own. That will be a little harder since you can't rent them yourselves. Ask people you know who shoot to try their guns or have someone over 21 rent the gun with you.

You could also consider buying a .22 rifle, like a Ruger 10/22 or a more accurate bolt-gun, and practicing with that for a few years. Shooting is shooting and good habits will carry over. (Unfortunately, so will bad habits)
 
Hello.

For a first gun, you cant beat a Heritage Arms revolver.

I got it a little over a year ago, and it was my first gun. Its a single action only .22LR and .22WMR revolver. Each caliber comes with a different cylinder, so to switch to one caliber from another, just switch the cylinders, which takes less than 10 seconds to do and an IQ of 60 points or higher to accomplish (in other words, its very easy :) ).

.22LR is cheap, quiet, and plentiful. .22 magnum has a little more punch and a lot more bang for when you feel like getting a more powerful load.

9mm is also a great choice. Cheap and relativly low recoil. I buy 100 rounds of ammunition for $10.97, which is much cheaper than other stuff.

It is also a great choice for self defense, if you do feel the need for a SD gun.
 
When I first started out, the first thing I did was take the NRA course. We're going to be repeating each other for a very good reason. :)

I just bought my first handgun, and in my case it was a 1911 in 0.45. I have large hands and I like large calibers, and I was pretty much set on it from the get go. Although it's much more expensive than 9mm or 0.22, I enjoy shooting it. The 1911 came about as a result of checking out many different guns, and spending a few days checking prices. I managed to get a stainless Springfield Arms MilSpec 1911 for $450 slightly used.

Find friends who like shooting, and have them take you out a couple of times. You'll quickly discover what you do and do not like, as well as what fits your hands and what just doesn't. Going with people who know what they're doing (my first instructor was a competitive shooter, and he gave me several great tips) will also give you a chance to unlearn any bad forms before they become bad habits.
 
Thanks for all the feedback everyone. I just got a new job and one of my coworkers told me about another range in the area. I'm going to check it out tomorrow, maybe rent a few guns and see if there are any classes coming up :D
 
Parallax,

You may find some advice on my website (see my signature, below) useful. I don't discuss weapon selection, but there are some tips on the firing process. For what it's worth, I think a .22 cal autoloader is easier to use than a revolver, but of course opinions do vary.
 
Parallax, you're getting some good info here, but I'd like to offer up a few pieces of advice.

1- You will hear many people make a big deal about "eye dominance" and whether or not you are "cross dominant." Ignore the vast majority of what you hear about that. Your dominant eye is the one you use to focus when both eyes are open, and people that are "cross dominant" have their dominant eye on the opposite of their strong hand. For example I am right handed, but my left eye is dominant, ergo I am "cross dominant."

Many people make a big deal about this, but it's not. Just line up the gun in front of whatever eye is doing the focusing. It's that simple - really. Cross dominance can be a factor for long guns, but with handguns it is NOT an issue.

2- Take the NRA course that others have mentioned, but remember just because someone is an NRA certified instructor does not prevent them putting their own bias/agenda into the class. ;) "Let the buyer beware."

3- For some of the basics you may want to take a look at this article about grip and stance: http://www.americanshooter.com/Features/RL1/rl1.html

Opinions will vary on grips and stance, but it's hard to argue with the competition success of Rob Leatham. Also, many LE agencies and military instructors, are now teaching the same thing, because it not only helps in competition, but also during combat.

Finally all of the above is nice, but safety is paramount.

Follow these rules always: http://www.nrahq.org/education/guide.asp
and wear both earplugs, and muffs, with safey glasses when training on the range.

Have fun.
 
You've gotten some great advice. I know it is fun to go buy a gun right away. I had little experience and bought a SW 442 because it looked nice and compact. It was a bear to shoot.

I then started a series of courses and lessons.

I don't know where you are in FL but take basic courses and rent a bunch of guns. I know that from West Palm to Ft. Lauderdale there are (or where) ranges that rented a wide set of guns.

Can't go wrong with the 38 SPL revolver as a starter if you just want to plink a bit. Get Shotgun News or Gun List - they have ads for pretty decent used ones and give you a price range.
 
my wife started on a 357 and did just fine. of course we target practice with 38 special in it, but we do run a few 357's just to remeber the feel of how it shoots.

i have one also (357 revolver) so we shoot them together.
 
I'd go the .22 route cause my wife and I didn't.We started w/ 9mm but I soon realized I couldn't shoot too much and that I liked shooting. So I bought a Buckmark standard.To give a popular ammo comparison both from Walmart:
9mm Winchester white box value ammo = $10/box/100 rounds
.22 Federal value pack ammo = less than $10/box/*550* rounds.
When I go to the range myself I usually shoot 300-350 rnds of .22 and 50 rnds of 9mm.I know others finances vary but this is what's comfortable for me.And I know others opinions will vary but I'd rather have a .22 loaded w/ CCI Stingers to face an intruder than a baseball bat.Buy a Buckmark and I predict that 5 yrs from now you'll still be enjoying it even tho you'll probably have a 9mm or two by then.Good luck
 
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