Best to start out with

[CorIAnnda]

I am new to using hand guns, I have been around them all my life, but have just now picked up the interest to take part in it. What would be recommended for me to start out with, I have a good aim overall and not super shaky, and I have shot a couple different hand guns, but for really learning about consistency and accuracy what would be a good starter? Also, I am a female, so I don't have super amazing arm strength yet, which makes it hard to hold up and aim for long periods, this may effect they type which is best. Thanks!!!

 

[Vern Humphrey]

The best and most frequently given advice is, "start with a .22."

1. Ammunition is much cheaper than larger caliber centerfires, so you can shoot a lot more.

2. There are more places you can shoot .22s.

3. The noise and recoil is less.

If you mean to get a self-defense gun right away, then the best advice is to get a .38 Special revolver with a 3 to 4 inch barrel.

 

[lions]

If your main concern is learning about consistency and accuracy then that most likely means shooting a lot. Hard to argue with a .22 in that respect.

Which guns have you shot before? Are you looking for a revolver or an auto? Do you want a handgun that is better suited for defense as well as target shooting?

Welcome to THR, by the way.

 

[CorIAnnda]

Thank you for the welcoming! Yes, I have shot before. It started with a SR 22 rifle, so now I am going towards a 22 handgun. I am so horrible at remembering names, especially since there are so many. I have shot about 4 different ones, all .22s or a 9mm (if I remember right) that was then changed to shoot out 22s. A sig mosquito was the last one I shot. Not going for defense, more for enjoyment. I enjoy autos much more than revolvers, but I have to give everything a fair chance. Haha, yes I have def heard that for accuracy and consistency, it's just practice practice practice!

 

[speaksoftly]

If you're not going for defense then I'd definitely suggest the Sig .22 but there's also the option of buying a 9mm pistol (or whatever caliber you like) and getting a .22 conversion kit as well. This way you'll have the defensife capabilities of the larger round but also be able to plink with the .22 whenever you like. Also, this will allow you to plink with the same pistol you'll be using for defense.

 

[lions]

Most of the recommendations you will receive will probably be for the Ruger MK series or for the Browning Buckmark. It would be very hard to go wrong with either of those.

Its near impossible to say which is best for you over the internet. Your best bet would be to go shoot the pistols you have already shot before and see which one fits your hand and your tastes the best. If that isn't an option then try to find a gun shop so you can handle as many different examples of .22 pistols as possible.

This forum also has a search feature to help you find more information from past threads. There are many threads just like this one that you may find extremely helpful. When you start to narrow down your options you can search for information on specific pistols.

Here is a list of popular pistols to get you started:
Ruger MK series
Browning Buckmark
Sig Mosquito
Walther P22
S&W 22A
Beretta Neos

 

[TexMexSu]

I don't have super amazing arm strength yet, which makes it hard to hold up and aim for long periods, this may effect they type which is best

Start with a .22LR of some sort.

Nothing but positives that way.......

Not much kick, noise, cost to shoot, easy to resell when IF the time comes to go bigger......plus there are several good/inexpensive long guns that you can also get for $100-$200.00.

Shoot accurately all day for $20-$40.00 and not feel like it when you are done!

 

[CorIAnnda]

Here is a list of popular pistols to get you started:
Ruger MK series
Browning Buckmark
Sig Mosquito
Walther P22
S&W 22A
Beretta Neos

Thanks for the recommendations, these sound really familiar, I def know I have shot the Sig Mosquito and an MK, and I am going to have to check with my father on the other ones, seeing as he has let me shoot a few and I just can't seem to keep them straight. One of them has a 75 in the name, I do remember that. Now feeling like a complete new person here, thank you so much for taking the time to go ahead and help me out. AND for also giving me the advice to go look back at previous threads. .22 ammo is pretty cheap, a box is under 6 bucks. With my 22 rifle I have tried about 3 different types to find the one that suits me best. Although the kind that worked really well for my SR 22 did not work so well with this handgun that was a 22. It would not kick out the brass all the way and jam it up, that was annoying. Haha and thank you TexMex, I don't want sore arms at the end of the day, but it's bound to happen.

 

[jeepguy]

i say get a good 9mm beretta 92, sig p226,cz 75, or browing high power. if you want to cheeper get used. shoot it a lot. practice fundamentals, stance, grip,sight picture, & breathing. its a lot of fun & verry challenging in a good way.

 

[meytind]

Welcome to THR.
Pick the one that felt most comfortable in your hands out of the ones your father let you shoot. Then invest in ammo and training.

 

[ilikepancakes]

easy to resell when IF the time comes to go bigger......

I would disagree... keep it even if you get a larger caliber later! .22 is great to come back to after shooting a bigger gun. Shows you if you've developed any bad habits like anticipating recoil, plus...

Shoot accurately all day for $20-$40.00 and not feel like it when you are done!

IT SAVES MONEY!!!!!!! Especially for just starting, when you'll be shooting a LOT, .22 is the best. This is the #1 reason I'd recommend it. You can probably handle most any caliber in an auto but you'll never get as many bullets per buck as with a .22.


Regarding which gun to get, from personal experience I'd rather have a revolver than an auto in .22, but if I did get another auto it would be Ruger.

 

[CorIAnnda]

shoot it a lot. practice fundamentals, stance, grip,sight picture, & breathing. its a lot of fun & verry challenging in a good way.

Agreed, I don't want to pick up any bad habits. (like the one I did one night when I used my left thumb to help pull the trigger... yeah, I broke that fast, who knew where that even came from!) That is why I am trying to find the best one that suits me, to practice fundamentals of a handgun. I have the breathing down on rifles and not flinching when pulling the trigger. Not so much with a pistol yet. CZ 75!! That is what the other one I was thinking I shot was. It seemed heavy to me though, but did well for me! ... as regards to the comment about having a revolver over an auto, my dad had asked me which I wanted to try first, I said auto. What is it about a revolver that you like vs an auto?

 

[hanno]

Welcome to the forum. As usual, Vern nailed it. Get a .22 pistol.

"CZ 75!! That is what the other one I was thinking I shot was. It seemed heavy to me though, but did well for me!"

With a CZ 75 you are in luck, you can get a Kadet Kit for it.

The Kadet Kit replaces the slide on your CZ 75 and allows you to shoot .22 instead of 9mm. Since you will be using the 75 frame, the trigger, grip, safety, etc., will be the same for both. CZs are well built, reliable and accurate pistols - a great value for the money.

Here's a review of the Kadet Kit.
http://www.wethearmed.com/index.php?topic=696.0

My CZ 75 SA


Kadet Kit


CZ 75 SA with Kadet Kit

 

[DFW1911]

Welcome to THR and to shooting!

I'm going to go against the grain here and recommend a 5 or 6 shot .38 caliber revolver with a 3 inch barrel.

You can go to your local gun store and see which one fits your hand and feels the best. If it doesn't feel good in the store it sure won't feel good on the range, which you don't want.

Smith and Wesson has an entire line named LadySmith. S&W revolvers are of excellent quality.

Regarding the weight of the handgun, you'll build up strength as you continue to shoot. Also, when you get tired stop or you will lose accuracy and possibly get frustrated.

Whatever you choose, find a qualified instructor for your lessons and have fun learning!

Take care,
DFW1911

 

[CorIAnnda]

Hanno, thank you very much!! It must have already had the kit on it, because my dad said that he had changed it from a 9mm to the .22. That looks exactly like what I shot. I did well with it, as well as I can for now anyway still being new. I was reading in another form that the Mosquito was cheaply made, is the CZ better made? The Mosquito felt the best in my hands, and I felt most proud of my groups with it, but I have read a lot of negatives about it. CZ I have read really good things about Thanks for the pictures and link too

 

[CorIAnnda]

Thank you DFW1911 for welcoming me to the forum along with your advice. I have heard about the LadySmith, it's a revolver, which I have yet to shoot one yet. Why a 3 inch barrel?

 

[ilikepancakes]

... as regards to the comment about having a revolver over an auto, my dad had asked me which I wanted to try first, I said auto. What is it about a revolver that you like vs an auto?

I've just had back luck with .22 autos jamming. Granted I've only had two, a Beretta and S&W. Could make it through maybe 2 or 3 magazines before another jam. I haven't read about anyone else having problems so that's why I say it must just be bad luck (don't anybody say I'm limp-wristing... ). I'm not taking my chances though, next .22 is going to be a Ruger single six revolver, always liked those. My brother has a Ruger Mk-something or other auto that shoots accurately and reliably so they are out there, just not when I buy them . Yours will probably be fine too.

Edit: I remember now, it's a Ruger MkII with a tapered barrel.

 

[hanno]

CorIAnnda,
You are most welcome. While I have owned several SIGs, I have never owned or even shot a Mosquito. I got hooked on CZs so the Kadet Kit was a natural for me. I originally bought the Kadet Kit to use on my CZ 75 SP-01. I liked the Kadet Kit so much, I traded a SIG for the CZ 75 SA to use as a dedicated base for it.

The CZ 75 SA with the Kadet Kit is always in my range bag. Regardless of what I am shooting on a particular day, the CZ Kadet gets pulled out for some use. You can't beat .22 for inexpensive practice on the basics.

 

[TexMexSu]

I would disagree... keep it even if you get a larger caliber later! .22 is great to come back to

I agree! The "IF" should have been more of an "IF you HAVE to sell it in order to fund a larger caliber gun"

I will always have a few (2,3 or 30) .22LR somethings around here..........

 

[CorIAnnda]

The MK (not sure which one, 2, 3, I don't remember) had an awesome sight on the top, it was a laser circle, which I found very very easy to use. Still heavy for me, I had to place my hands on top of this box to hold it up so I could keep from weaving evvvverywhere. However, I felt like that was making my grip and stance all messed up, and early on, I don't need to pick up bad habits. It jammed a lot, at least every clip. Perhaps, I do need to look into revolvers. OH and by the way, yes, I have an amazing instructor, and teacher- my dad. He is amazing with everything, and gun smiths and all. I just want to go out and find my own information, hopefully it will show more dedication. After 22 years of ignoring his hobby, I feel I should catch up a bit! So, thank you all sooo much

 

[CorIAnnda]

Hanno, what is the difference between CZ 75 SP-01 and CZ 75 SA?

 

[leadcounsel]

If you only intend to buy one gun, and intend to use it for self defense, then borrow or rent a few .38 revolvers or a 9mm pistol (CZ makes a great comfortable and reliable model called the 75 or 75 compact).

If you don't have a lot of hand strength, racking the slide may be difficult so a revolver would be a better choice.

Welcome to the awesome world of shooting and self defense. Enjoy.

 

[CorIAnnda]

I will always have a few (2,3 or 30) .22LR somethings around here..........

Haha, I like that. It sounds like what my dad will say to my mother about guns in general. I have about 2, 3, or 30 around here, haha

 

[loneviking]

Well, I'm going to really go against the grain here and recommend a .357 with a 4" barrel.

The 2 and 3 inch barrels are still hard to shoot accurately. I've been using wheel guns since I was a kid and I still have a hard time with the short barrels. A 4" is about the perfect length for balance and accuracy.

The revolver can shoot wax bullets, which run $25 for a thousand. Load the 'bullet', cap with a primer and you're good to go. Really cheap to shoot and lots of fun. Then, you can switch over to very low power, 38 special loads with almost no recoil and go up from there. You can load a gun like this for everything from mild to 'OMG!'.

The .22's you're looking at will run you around 400 dollars and for that much, or a hundred more, you can get a Ruger Speed or Security Six, SP 101, S&W Mod 19 (what I use), or a S&W 586/686....all used prices, but there's lots of used revolvers sitting in gun store cases.

And, learning to shoot a revolver accurately means learning good trigger control. That transfers over very well to the semi-autos with their lighter triggers. Revolvers are very safe with their heavy trigger pulls and simple operation.

Good Luck in the gun hunt!

 

[CorIAnnda]

Leadcounsel- thanks for welcoming me!! Yes, racking the slide was slightly difficult, I even asked to hold it completely wrong so I could get a better grip to rack it back, but I got a firm, NO. Have to learn it right. That is a good idea as to why to get a revolver. I am hoping I just build up strength in my hands a bit more, I haven't ever had to use them quite like I do with these things.