First gun

[mgmorden]

(I think the way it works, you pay $35 for yearly GSSF membership and they let you buy a Glock at $425 from an authorized dealer

Too many people caught onto that deal and were joining GSSF just to buy. Now, you can't purchase at the discounted rate until your first year of membership has elapsed and you've renewed for a second year. So it's $35 for the first year, then $25 to renew, THEN you can get the deal. It makes it less attractive to just join for the discount (though if you shoot GSSF anyways its still a bargain).

Express Police Supply currently has surplus Gen2 Glock 22's with 5 magazines for $319. That's about the best Glock deal I've seen going recently.

 

[Jed Carter]

No0b, It does not matter what caliber you shoot, .22, 9x18 makarov, 9mm (9x19), if you cannot hit what you aim at. For your first pistol I would recommend a fullsize target pistol in .22lr. First learn to shoot, without all that expense and recoil. I started with a 9mm pistol in 1978, and quickly learned bad shooting habits that haunt me even today. Get a .22 target pistol or .22lr 1911 clone and practice, practice, practice. Sub compact pistols are not very accurate, and can be very finicky, unreliable at times. Learn to shoot, try several types of handguns and get the one you shoot the best that fits your needs.

 

[ku4hx]

Shoot a variety of guns before buying anything; you can do that at local shooting ranges that rent guns. Gun club members are often very helpful in getting you started too. The idea being to get a feel for different guns and cartridges.

Unless you buy the really high end target fodder (and that stuff is not cheap), you're just going to get a certain number of misfires and misfeeds with run-of-the mill .22 ammunition. That's just the way it is. But .22 guns are excellent for learning, developing good habits and building proficiency.

The .22 is certainly deadly, but so is a crossbow; neither are considered appropriate for self defense. For defense, you need to have the most powerful cartridge you can consistently shoot accurately. If that turns out to be the .22 Short then so be it. But you need to make your quest less cerebral and more actual: shoot many first before you decide.

 

[gunguy0829]

Nothing wrong with a .22 for range time, however in a gun fight, its like having a water gun at a fire hose fight, sure, you might get a squirt or two in, but you need to stop the bad guy with the least amount of shots. you dont want the bad guy to get off a shot. You need to practice and get used to the gun you will use, so if you want a 9mm, get a 9mm, shoot a lot, and learn the gun inside and out, take a definsive shooting class, learn to shoot the right way, cant practice for a college level math test by doing 1+1=2, however, .22s are fun and better than spitting at the guy.

If the intruder is high on meth, or like drug, it will take a lot of shots to bring him down with a .22, so if you go with a .22, practice changing mags, you may need to. Thats my theory, not right, not wrong, but works.

 

[[email protected]]

Have you looked a the walther p22? It is not the best 22, but I like mine for blasting practice. As others have said you might want to step it up a little for a defensive gun. I know that there is alot of bashing on hi points but mine has ran real good and I paid a whopping 129.95 for it brand new in box. Its not very compact and it would be easier to conceal a 2x4. The Ruger P95 is also worth a look and can be had for around 325. It was my carry weapon before I was introduced to glocks.

 

[dondavis3]

Wow .. the advise your getting is all over the map.

I'd suggest you take a gun training class at a range that offers those classes.

Then I'd suggest that you beg / borrow / rent and shoot a lot of different guns.

Then you will find out what caliber you're comfortable with.

From there you should be able to decide what you want the gun for (carry or range or night stand).

Then pick a brand that feels most comfortable to you and one that you shoot best.

All the advise from any forum is only a guide ... you're the buyer ...

Get what fits your needs after you get some range training.

Welcome to the forum .. this is a good place to be.

 

[dcarch]

^This. I know I like the FNP, but dondavis3 is absolutely right.