This will be kinda long but i want to provide as much detail as I can.
My background: Limited shooting experience but lots of interest. In college. I'm lucky to have a neighbor who is willing to teach me to shoot. He started me off on .40 compact glocks. I've also shot some other stuff.
I'll be turning 21 in a few months and I'm trying to decide on a first shooter. My priorities are 1)Range/practice/improving skills 2)Self defense 3)ccw (this isn't something that will happen soon, and i realize I may just have to get a dedicated carry gun, but it is still a consideration)
The problem of course is that from what I've heard ones that fit the 3rd bill don't fit the first 2 so well and vice versa.
I'm not against a .22, especially because I'm on a small budget, but a) no self defense b) Realistically I won't get to the range that often. I'm kind of in the mind that if I can work out a flinch on a big gun, I can shoot anything. Maybe it will be a good 2nd gun?
I've been looking at the PX4 and the Sig 2022 but even compact versions are big for future ccw use in Florida.
I've also been looking at snubbies like the LCR and S&W airweight series. I didn't mind shooting the LCR at all with light .38 loads.
Then I thought about the Makarov. It is heftier than modern sub-compacts and shoots a softer round which should make it good for practice but is small enough for carry and is affordable. But also it is surplus and I don't have the money to deal with a problem gun/absent customer service. How are the CZ versions (like the 82/83) compared to it and are there other handguns that are in the Mak league? I should have a chance to shoot one soon.
With a budget of under $500 (think bday/xmas money) what should I do? Is the Mak small enough for pocket carry? Remember that ccw is least important in my list. If they are cheap enough I could get a pistol and a super cheap .22 rifle or pistol.
sry it was so long thanks for the advice.
My background: Limited shooting experience but lots of interest. In college. I'm lucky to have a neighbor who is willing to teach me to shoot. He started me off on .40 compact glocks. I've also shot some other stuff.
I'll be turning 21 in a few months and I'm trying to decide on a first shooter. My priorities are 1)Range/practice/improving skills 2)Self defense 3)ccw (this isn't something that will happen soon, and i realize I may just have to get a dedicated carry gun, but it is still a consideration)
The problem of course is that from what I've heard ones that fit the 3rd bill don't fit the first 2 so well and vice versa.
I'm not against a .22, especially because I'm on a small budget, but a) no self defense b) Realistically I won't get to the range that often. I'm kind of in the mind that if I can work out a flinch on a big gun, I can shoot anything. Maybe it will be a good 2nd gun?
I've been looking at the PX4 and the Sig 2022 but even compact versions are big for future ccw use in Florida.
I've also been looking at snubbies like the LCR and S&W airweight series. I didn't mind shooting the LCR at all with light .38 loads.
Then I thought about the Makarov. It is heftier than modern sub-compacts and shoots a softer round which should make it good for practice but is small enough for carry and is affordable. But also it is surplus and I don't have the money to deal with a problem gun/absent customer service. How are the CZ versions (like the 82/83) compared to it and are there other handguns that are in the Mak league? I should have a chance to shoot one soon.
With a budget of under $500 (think bday/xmas money) what should I do? Is the Mak small enough for pocket carry? Remember that ccw is least important in my list. If they are cheap enough I could get a pistol and a super cheap .22 rifle or pistol.
sry it was so long thanks for the advice.