Best Pistol for rookie?

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The other members have given great advice. start with a .22 learn how to shoot then move up. If you want a range gun only stick with a .22 and 9mm. They are cheaper to shoot. I can get 550 rounds of .22 for under 10 bucks. Also the 9mm for 50 costs about 7 bucks when you can find it on sale. the .45 runs me about 12 bucks per box.




When I started shooting handguns a few years ago I started with a 9mm. I bought a Beretta PX4 Storm. The design of the pistol fit my hand well and it has different back straps to fit larger or smaller hand grips. It came with two 17 round mags. It also has a manual safety/hammer decocking lever. So once you rack a round in the chamber you can flip the lever and the gun decocks and cammot be fired. To fire flip the lever back up and fire.

I have enjoyed the pistol and my g/f loves it as well. Very light recoil and accurate. I have put at least 5,000 rounds with out any problems with the gun. I did have a few ammo related problems, but it was cheap ammo.

The gun is easy to clean.

For a .22 I would look at the Ruger MKIII's. yes they can be tricky to clean, but once you do it a few times it is simple. And they are not ammo picky and fun to shoot. I took mine out last weekend and shot up 300 rounds without any issues.

All of the major brands are good.

Once you pick what you RENT them if you can. Spend the extra $ to test them out. I bought a pistol once and hated it.

Good luck on your search
 
RENT them if you can.
+1000000000. It's great to try them out beforehand - you may find that you like something you wouldn't think you'd like.

Something like an XD or Glock would be decent for a newer shooter. They're reliable, relatively inexpensive (especially if you buy used!), and have a variety of calibers in which they can be chambered.
 
If you're willing to spend $1500, get a .22 (I prefer the Ruger MkIII or the Browning Buckmark), whatever pistol fits your hand the best and then spend the rest of ammo. I'd suggest a 9mm for your first centerfire pistol because the ammo is a lot cheaper and thus you can practice more. So I figure $800-900 for the guns and then you can pick up 2000 rounds of 9mm and a few thousand rounds of .22. That will definitely give you a very solid base.
 
Take a few NRA classes ( basic pistol for one), rent guns and pick what "feels good".

the rest will work itself out with practice.
 
Some good advice here, especially on the recommendation to start with a .22. One thing to add, though, is that a .22 isn't only for beginners:Experienced shooters often go through 30,000 rounds or more per year, so shooting a .22 is one of the ways to be able to afford the habit. The basics of marksmanship are the same, whether you're shooting a .22 or a .44 magnum. Consider these 2 scenarios:

1. Buy a centerfire (say 9mm) pistol, go to the range once a week and shoot 100 rounds each time. Over the course of the year, you'll have spent around $1500 ($500 gun + $1,000 ammo) and shot 5,200 rounds.

2. Buy a centerfire and a .22 for $500 each. Go to the range once a week and shoot 250 rounds of .22 and 50 rounds of 9mm. Total cost after a year is about $1,780, but you'll have shot over 15,000 rounds - 3 times as many, for just a bit more money. After the 1st year, the difference swings in favor of scenario 2 even more. To me, it's a no-brainer.

As far as which .22, the Buckmark and Ruger have been recommended, and I think they're fine. If you really want to splurge, check out a S&W Model 41. Of course, rent before you buy.

Someone recommended an older K-22 revolver. There's a lot to be said for revolvers, and becoming proficient with one. The K-22 would be a fine choice. Plus, it'll hold its value.

Good luck!
 
Thanks Brian. I've learned a lot on these boards. I've learned a lot from ignoring experienced people on this board, making a mistake, and finding they were right. I've learned a lot from spending a lot of money on guns and buying and selling about 30 for my first couple years finding what I like and don't. I've learned a lot from renting guns at the range. But I don't really know all that much yet (I'm not Art, Sam, and some of our other more, umm, senior members).

don't recommend the same $300 limit that he does for a .22 handgun. If (for example) a beautiful, old Smith K-22 revolver speaks to you and it's $400+, well, they'll never get any cheaper
OK, you have a point here.

OP, if you find a nice K-22 spend what you have to (within reason), otherwise stick under $300 on the .22. A K-22 is one of the classiest .22s out there.
 
I see you are from Santa Monica - thats where I work.

Which range are you going to go to?

You do know that California limits Pistols to 10 round magazines (unless you have one you bought with higher capacity magazines before the ban- which if you are buying now means you don't have and cannot buy or bring into Cal.)

So 9mm or .40 or .45 are all good choices. If you are really only going to target shoot get a .22 less noise, less recoil and the paper target is just as dead as if you hit it with a .45.
 
Get a .22 rimfire.
Learn the basics of sight picture and trigger control.
Rent others till you find what you like.
 
There's a lot of good advice on here, but I might suggest that if you have experience with other guns (shotguns from hunting etc.) then you might not need the .22 to start.

If you're getting into shooting for the first time, the price and experience you'll gain from the .22 is paramount to you being safe and enjoying the sport. Why learn range etiquette with a $1000 pistol that costs you $30 every time you hit the range?

I started with a Taurus PT92FS in 9mm. Great, reliable gun that doesn't cost much to buy/maintain and it's easy as pie to strip and clean. Low recoil, pretty gun with simple, effective mechanics. One of the best guns I've ever owned.

Remember, a lot of guns are like cars. Sure you want the BMW with all the gimcracks, but those are all extra things that can go wrong. Sometimes a simple, bulletproof Chevy is the best option.

I'm now in the market for a .45, but that's just cause I'm in my 'bigger is better' modes. Don't let that fool you though...whoever on here said getting rounds on target is more important that stopping power is bang on...pun intended.

Best of luck to you, and enjoy the forums....lots of good advice around here.
 
If you're leaning toward a 9mm, then perhaps a CZ-75B, if it fits you. Then it is easy to pick up that .22 that everyone recommends. Get a Kadet if you want a separate pistol, with the same form factor, to practice. Or get the Kadet kit for a bit cheaper and just change slides for practice (and afford a bit more ammo).
 
I was in a similar place (I think). I rented a lot, and then bought a Ruger Blackhawk in 45 LC. I wouldn't recommend that caliber unless you are going to reload, but I would recommend an SA revolver. The mechanism seemed pretty simple to me - the trigger does nothing but release the hammer, and there's no issue of failure to feed, magazine quality, "limp wristing", etc.

I feel like there's a pretty direct connection between me and the hammer. I don't have to feel where the trigger resets, there's not a mile of creep, etc. My buddies all scoff at the "old school" gun, but it's been perfect for me. I have shot their autoloaders (Browning HP, CZ-75, and a 1911), and I just don't like them every much. Too much crap flying around an smacking into each other as I fire a round. :) All of that clanging and banging has nothing to do with learning to shoot, it's just an annoying way of moving the next round into the chamber. Gets in the way of a good clean shot, in my opinion.

I paid right at $415 for mine NIB, included taxes, fees, etc. I think a Blackhawk in 357 magnum will be about the same price.

I bought the gun to learn to shoot, and it has worked well. The targets have been moving back pretty steadily over the past year or so. Shooting free hand, I can keep all of the rounds on the black at 25 yards. That's not great shooting by any means, but I started at 7 yards, so I am getting better, and having a lot of fun.

You didn't ask about SD, but here's may analysis. I don't anticipate ever using it for SD, but if I did, I figure it would work about as well as anything else for me. I understand that there folks out there who have the tactical skill to take on multiple heavily armed assailants and use dozens of magazines in the process. I also understand that I am not one of those folks. :) If a bunch of bad guys come after me at once, unless they are incredibly incompetent, I will be dead.

If you don't want to learn how to reload, pick up a Blackhawk in .356 mag. You can start off with target .38 special loads, and work your way up.

One word about starting with a .22 - make sure that you rent and will enjoy shooting a .22 before you buy one. I don't find shooting a .22 to be as much fun as shooting a 45 LC. I bought a little Beretta Neos to take nieces/nephews shooting, but it just isn't as much fun for me as the Blackhawk. Don't know why - I am sure that Freud would say that I am compensating for other perceived (or real) deficiencies. :) No matter what the good Viennese doctor would say, I don't enjoy shooting the .22 as much.

The bottom line (for me) is to make sure that you enjoy shooting the handgun you buy. Doesn't really matter if it's the most effective way to learn how to shoot if you don't like it. Doesn't matter if it's not the most effective way to learn how to shoot if you really like it - if you really like it, you put the time in and become effective. Pick something that looks/feels like fun to you.

Mike
 
First things first....

Take some of that $1500 and get some basic training in the shooting arts; it will make all the difference in the world.

All I can share is the two semi-autos that made me a better shooter and they're both in the two calibers you are considering:

H & K full-sized .45.....My accuracy, even with the first clip, was unconscious. Finest, most ergonomic and accurate handgun I have ever fired.

CZ 75 in 9mm.....same here; comfort, fit, and accuracy were off-scale

Two worth looking at.

PS - My first handgun was a .22LR Stoeger Luger replica. Wish I still had it. Although you don't need to start with a .22, getting one to practice with will make all of your other shooting better, plus you will find shooting a .22 is REALLY-REALLY FUN. I don't call myself the "22luvr" for nothing.
 
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