In that case, it's simple. Bring everything you have to the range. You can never tell what someone will like, and having a chance to handle and shoot a lot of different stuff is a great benefit to a prospective shooter.
Better for first timer - duty-size 9mm or .38?
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gotboostvr
Member
If it's a normal sized male, in good health... I'd just lay out a 357, a duty sized 9mm of whatever flavor you have and a Gov't 1911 and let them pick.
If the person is more frail of statute, I'd take away the 45 1911, smaller yet I'd just go straight to the 357.
If the person is able bodied, none of the above should beat them up too bad. First time you shoot a gun is something kinda special for some people, let them pick what they want (within reason)
If the person is more frail of statute, I'd take away the 45 1911, smaller yet I'd just go straight to the 357.
If the person is able bodied, none of the above should beat them up too bad. First time you shoot a gun is something kinda special for some people, let them pick what they want (within reason)
Voted for the wheel gun because some new shooters are intimidated by the slide on an auto. My wife got bit by a slide before I met her and is now opposed to semi's all together. Granted wit proper instruction this generally wont happen but why risk it. No reason to not get passed the newness of shooting a bit before adding another variable. Especially with the gp readily available. Some 148 wadcutters will probably give less felt recoil than the 9mm's anyway.
doubleh
Member
Since the 22 was kind of ruled out in the OP I went with the GP100 and 38 special loads. It's a easy shooter and first impressions are just that. Some hairy chested he-men that have never shot a gun might gripe about it being a pussycat but a large number of people will appreciate the ease of shooting one. I wouldn't start with double action either. Much harder for a beginner to hit anything that way and they may be put off by that. Teach the basics first in an easy format and then step up to the more difficult.
Think of teaching a little kid to fish. Teach them to catch the easy species (panfish) first to keep their attention and get them really interested, then work up to the more difficult to catch.
Personally I would start any new shooter, young, old, big, or little off with a 22 revolver. Depending on their age an ability shown would determine the length of time they spent shooting it before they moved up the caliber scale.
Edited to add: They would get their hands on a semi auto only after having shown that they have learned and practiced safe handling of firearms with a revolver.
Think of teaching a little kid to fish. Teach them to catch the easy species (panfish) first to keep their attention and get them really interested, then work up to the more difficult to catch.
Personally I would start any new shooter, young, old, big, or little off with a 22 revolver. Depending on their age an ability shown would determine the length of time they spent shooting it before they moved up the caliber scale.
Edited to add: They would get their hands on a semi auto only after having shown that they have learned and practiced safe handling of firearms with a revolver.
MacTech
Member
Can't go wrong either way…
.357;
Load it with light weight plinking .38 Specials, it'll be like shooting a .22 Mag recoil-wise without the loud report of the .22 Mag
Semiauto;
If you already have a CZ-75b, another option is to get the .22LR Kadet conversion kit, then you can start the newbie off with .22LR, and transition to 9mm when they're ready
.357;
Load it with light weight plinking .38 Specials, it'll be like shooting a .22 Mag recoil-wise without the loud report of the .22 Mag
Semiauto;
If you already have a CZ-75b, another option is to get the .22LR Kadet conversion kit, then you can start the newbie off with .22LR, and transition to 9mm when they're ready
first of all a .22 is not walking on egshells at all. It is not an all around gun or powerhouse by any means. The logic was and still is to a degree that it is cheaper to shoot than the 9mm/.38 stuff and you can learn and PRACTICE the fundamentals more often etc.
I grew up in the time frame of a 4-6 inch 357 revolver is a great all around beginner centerfire gun. Nothing has changed that would change that thought. Remember guns are like any other tool. One should own more than a hammer or a putter....
I would suggest a .357 mag because you could shoot .38 special in it and if the barrel is long enough hunting derr n hog is a possibility. Very versatile.
I grew up in the time frame of a 4-6 inch 357 revolver is a great all around beginner centerfire gun. Nothing has changed that would change that thought. Remember guns are like any other tool. One should own more than a hammer or a putter....
I would suggest a .357 mag because you could shoot .38 special in it and if the barrel is long enough hunting derr n hog is a possibility. Very versatile.
entropy
Member
Insufficient data to compute.......
The answer (From me, anyhoo) will change with the stated objective.
1. If just introducing to shooting, no further agenda, and limited to the choices in the poll, the GP-100 loaded with wadcutters would be my advice.
2. If they are will to put in the training and are considering a semi-auto for SD/HD, a Glock 17 or 19 is a good choice. (Geez, I'm not even a Glockateer and I'm saying that...
)
I disagree with this philosiphy:
I don't care if it's Ahnold, he should be concentrating on sight picture, breathing and trigger control while firing, and the 4 Rules at all times, not worrying about recoil. (the 1911 is the main target here.) Machismo is the #1 deterrant to better shooting for most male shooters.
I teach 4-H Shooting Sports, and predictably, every year the girls start at the beginning, and the boys usually have some trigger time. (out at the farm, etc.) The girls are usually overall better shots by the end of the summer, and improve faster than the boys, because the boys "know it all"; the girls listen and apply what they learn.
I taught marksmanship as a Range NCO in a non-line unit with women in it, and again, the women would listen and apply what they learned, guys it was usully in one ear and out the other; when they did learn, it was by rote and building muscle memory.
I really recommend starting them with a .22 revolver; a .22 auto is still a better choice than a .357 with wadcutters, IMO. Find one or both; beg or borrow, don't steal though. YMMV.
The answer (From me, anyhoo) will change with the stated objective.
1. If just introducing to shooting, no further agenda, and limited to the choices in the poll, the GP-100 loaded with wadcutters would be my advice.
2. If they are will to put in the training and are considering a semi-auto for SD/HD, a Glock 17 or 19 is a good choice. (Geez, I'm not even a Glockateer and I'm saying that...
) I disagree with this philosiphy:
.
I don't care if it's Ahnold, he should be concentrating on sight picture, breathing and trigger control while firing, and the 4 Rules at all times, not worrying about recoil. (the 1911 is the main target here.) Machismo is the #1 deterrant to better shooting for most male shooters.
I teach 4-H Shooting Sports, and predictably, every year the girls start at the beginning, and the boys usually have some trigger time. (out at the farm, etc.) The girls are usually overall better shots by the end of the summer, and improve faster than the boys, because the boys "know it all"; the girls listen and apply what they learn.
I taught marksmanship as a Range NCO in a non-line unit with women in it, and again, the women would listen and apply what they learned, guys it was usully in one ear and out the other; when they did learn, it was by rote and building muscle memory.
I really recommend starting them with a .22 revolver; a .22 auto is still a better choice than a .357 with wadcutters, IMO. Find one or both; beg or borrow, don't steal though. YMMV.
MacTech
Member
Another difference in the .357 vs. 1911 argument is the felt recoil
A .357 is snappy with full house .357, there's also the concussive muzzle blast and earsplitting report, whereas the 1911 recoil is a straight push backwards, far reduced muzzle blast and report, the .45ACP is a more pleasant round to shoot, due to the lower pressures involved
A .357 is snappy with full house .357, there's also the concussive muzzle blast and earsplitting report, whereas the 1911 recoil is a straight push backwards, far reduced muzzle blast and report, the .45ACP is a more pleasant round to shoot, due to the lower pressures involved
For a first time shooter at the range in a non-.22, I would vote either a full sized all steel 9 mm (I've used a CZ 75 with first time shooters many times with great success) or a 4" .38 spl revolver (like a S&W Model 10). Many people I know started on a Glock 17, and that's fine, too, but I find the CZ 75 to be more ergonomic and fun to shoot. The weight absorbs the recoil for a new shooter.
Winkman822
Member
If it's not a .22, I'd go with a full sized 9mm, ideally one with a constant trigger pull (i.e. no DA/SA guns). Glock 17, M&P 9, Walther PPQ, Ruger SR9, Springfield XD, etc. would all be good choices. I'd be careful with a 9mm 1911, or an 1911 for that matter as they can be a little finicky and it could be very frustrating for a first timer to deal with stoppages that are the product of an ammo or mag picky gun, or alternatively the stoppages that are foreseeable for a first time shooter.
Wanderling
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If G17 - do you have a Gen 4 with beaver tail, or a Grip Force Adapter ? I don't have particularly meaty hands, but my G17 used to nibble my hand before I installed GFA.
OTOH, the wide grip on the Glock kind of forces them to grab it stronger, which is the whole idea anyway.
OTOH, the wide grip on the Glock kind of forces them to grab it stronger, which is the whole idea anyway.
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