first handgun

[Superpsy]

I'm thinking about making the step and purchasing my first handgun. I've fired handguns before (Beretta 9mm, Kimber 1911 etc.) but have never owned one I've been into shotguns alot and have done some rifle shooting (AR-15s, Ruger 10/22s etc.). I plan on taking formal lessons at the local pistol range. My question is this: what handgun would you recommend to a first-timer and why? And what was your first handgun, any pros and cons or recommendations?

 

[zao]

for a first handgun it all depends on personal preference. i just bought a S&W MandP 40 and i love it. the 40.SW round is great for home defence. i also replaced my issued m9 with the mp. the springfield xd series is also a great choice for a handgun. they are very similar to the mp and glocks but they are a bit less expensive yet every bit as good. i would suggest going to a local range and trying out a few of the handguns they have and do research...lots of research.

 

[todd-45]

I would choose something in 9mm. The ammo is cheap, 150 rds of target ammo at Wal-Mart for $11, and you can do alot of getting used to handgun shooting. Plus generally speaking 9mm does not kick as much as the other popular calibers. As far as a specific gun I would look at something like maybe a CZ or Ruger, something with a manual safety until you get used to them, then step up to a Sig, which does not have a safety. Do not buy a cheap gun just to get started because it'll only agrivate you and give you a bad taste for them. Cheap meaing Hi-Point, Jennings, etc. I'm sure others will have better suggestions so listen out, I've only been into handguns for a few years.

 

[timothy75]

You'll need to decide a few things first like caliber, trigger type, safety, size, weight. Try to pick up a buyers guide if you can or go to a gun store and ask about how different models operate. Good luck and let us know what you decide.

 

[Croyance]

For a real first timer, a .22LR.
Cheap ammo for practice.
Light recoil can reduce some bad habits, like flinching. Of course some people bring in the other bad habits, those are the breaks.

But you don't seem like an absolute beginner. Besides the longarms, there is some handgun experience, you haven't really quantified how much in practical terms.
Generally, a full sized service weapon. Some can take a .22LR adaptor. It eats recoil in its normal mode. It isn't specialized and finicky that way a racegun is. Good visible sights, a nice thing. If you get into target shooting, a finer front sight blade may be wanted, but that is then.

 

[Jeff]

Revolver: A Ruger GP100, .357 Mag, 4" barrel
Auto: CZ P-01 9mm

 

[RustyShackelford]

1st handgun/tips-advice

My "1st" handgun was a used .32cal Colt DA revolver from the Youngstown OH police department. It was rusted but still worked. I sold it to a VA area gun shop for $75.00, then heard a radio ad that a local PD had a gun buy back program that paid $100.00! D'oh!

The first handgun I ever bought was a 2 1/2 inch barreled DA only Ruger SP-101 .357magnum. This was in NOV/1993. I paid about $330.00. The SP 101 shot well and I had no major problems. Magnum rounds felt like bee-stings in the small frame Ruger .357.

I used Magsafe .357 loads and .357magnum 125 gr JHP loads from Remington, Federal or CorBon for home defense/CCW use.

Those were the days ! I sold the little .357 Ruger in 1995.

For a new shooter I'd buy a new .38spl/.357magnum medium frame DA revolver. A well made high quality weapon like a Ruger GP-100, A S&W model 520 or a Taurus stainless/Ti model with a 4" bar.
Start with .38spl rounds then move on to .357magnum loads. Use only FACTORY ammo for CCW/protection and keep the weapon clean.

All the best;
Rusty S

 

[JR719]

That is a tough one. Depends on what YOU like.
1st... Revolver or Semi-Auto? Your choice, I learned on a Ruger Single Six .22. Hopefully I will inherant that one some day.

2nd... Choose a caliber you can comfortably control. I would suggest getting a .22 due to next to no recoil. This will help develop good shooting habits (as stated before). Choose a good one 'cause you'll want to keep your first pistol.

3rd... Find one that fits your hand (grip) comfortably. If the grip is too large or small, you'll find it difficult to control (sometimes brutal. ex. don't get a .45 long/.410 pocket gun).

I went from a .22 to a .38 (that my father loaded light) then .357 and up. It is important to develop proper habits before a large caliber.
Besides, if you get a .22, you can shoot the thing just about all day for next to nothing and it's fun.

 

[ugaarguy]

Watson,

Since you posted here in the autoloaders forum I'll assume you want an auto and not a revolver as your first handgun. You said you'll be getting lessons at the local range, that's a great idea. What you now need to decide is what is the primary purpose of gun; self defense, target shooting, or just learning to shoot handguns better? If you strictly want a gun to learn on something like a Browning Buckmark, Ruger Mk III, Ruger 22/45, and several others in 22LR are a good start. Go to your gunshop or range and handle a few, shoot them if possible, and see what fits your hand. If you want something for self defense think back to shooting the Beretta and the Kimber; the 9mm has a lighter but snappier recoil, and the 45 has a slower but heavier recoil, which one was easier for you to control? That will help you on choosing the caliber. After that handle everything you can in the gunshop and see what fits your hand. Then go to the range and rent your top 3 to 5 choices to see what you shoot best. As has already been mentioned many service size pistols have 22LR conversions available so keep that option in mind.

What was my first handgun? A S&W Sigma in 9mm. I bought it because I thought it was cool and it was cheaper than the ultra cool Glock. The Sigma had great ergonomics and a horrible trigger. I next traded up to a Glock 22 in 40 S&W. The Glock is a fine firearm, the trigger is far better than the Sigma, but takes some getting used to. I kept the Glock for several years and then recently discovered the Browning Hi-Power. I fell in love and wanted a Hi-Power bad enough to trade the Glock toward it. It's a great pistol. I wish I had kept my Glock and will probably get another one in 9mm, but I don't regret trading it to get the Hi-Power. My last purchase was a Springfield Armory 1911 in 45 ACP. I bought the 1911 because I wanted a 1911 just to have a 1911, but it is quickly growing on me. Outside of my semi-autos I've become a S&W revolver addict as well. Stick to the major brands, and save yourself some cash by buying nice used guns. Keep asking questions if you need more advice or clarification.

 

[gudel]

And what was your first handgun, any pros and cons or recommendations?

I was like you before. for for 3 months I browsed GT, Sig, SW, 1911 forums, read every single freakin' threads back to the very beginning.

Decided I don't want to screw around, having jams in the range, playing gunsmith on guns or sending things back and forth, so I picked up myself a brand new HK USP45 for my first gun.

There is no con.

 

[oldskoolfattieg]

I just bought my first handgun in april and i did tons of research and asked around alot on a bunch of forums, after looking at a bunch of them i picked up a taurus pt92af and i love the things shoots great, iv had no problems with it so far

 

[Lebben-B]

As others have posted, get what your hand and wallet can support best. My first gun was a CZ-75 that I bought through the West Berlin Rod and Gun Club, back when you could still do that sort of thing through the Army. Eventually, I sold it to help pay for a Detonics long slide .45. I'm still kicking myself in the arse for that one because the Detonics turned out to be a dud and the CZ-75 had no Canadian import stamp on it.

Mike

 

[bestseller92]

I'd recommend a good .22 as a first handgun for most people, because its low recoil and cost allow lots of good practice. If you've already shot enough that you feel you're ready for a centerfire, it is VERY hard to go wrong with a good 4" .357. You can shoot anything from .38 wadcutters to heavy .357 loads in it. They are also ultra reliable, great for home defense, and a bit less expensive than an auto. My first choice would be a Ruger GP 100. After that, any Smith or Taurus should serve you well.

 

[Superpsy]

thanks

thanks...lots of good suggestions and comments. I definitely will do some more research and head out to the pistol range here to try some out. As for previous experience with guns...usually shoot trap every other weekend, take out my Ruger 10/22 (aka my "plinker gun") for target shots every weekend. As for handguns...maybe shot about 150 rounds of 9mm and the same in .45...not a big fan of .45 recoil but I'm not used to handguns.

 

[OhioPaints]

Best suggestion is to rent or borrow a few guns to find out what YOU like. There are many, many good guns out there, very few duds, probably none from the major manufacturers.

But what YOU like won't be what someone else likes. Liking a firearm is a very individual thing.

It also depends on what you are going to do with it. Keep it at home for personal defense? Do a lot of plinking? Carry it concealed?

If you are buying it for fun and plan on doing a bunch of shooting, I'd suggest either a 9mm or a .22. Both are reasonably easy to shoot and learn with and the ammo is the cheapest. Revolvers are good choices but the ammo is a lot more expensive unless you reload.

You asked about first handguns. My first handgun was a 1908 Steyr (.32 ACP) that Dad brought back from WWII. Horrible trigger. But it got me interested. My first purchase was a Ruger KP89 (9mm) because it was the cheapest major name I could find. A reliable gun but not a good trigger for a beginner. I've had (or still have) a broad collection of handguns over the years. Currently my favorite is a Sig 228 I bought used. It's on my hip right now, I use it for CCW but I also like to shoot it. Second favorite would probably by my CZ-75B which is a high quality gun at a quite reasonable price. I also use it for CCW. Again, 9mm is easy to shoot and the ammo is economical, either to purchase or to reload.

Ken

 

[10-Ring]

As a first handgun, I'd recommend a 22 DA wheelgun. As you learn, it is very important to practice ALOT and the 22lr is a very inexpensive way to get a lot of rounds down range. Also, after mastering a DA wheelgun, you'll find EVERYTHING else easy to shoot.

I was given this advice when I started shooting but never followed it and struggled for a while. Then after I bought that wheelgun, I have had more fun and my skills have really improved

Good luck!

 

[makarovnik]

Makarov

My first handgun was a Russian Makarov brand new (sat in a box for five years) and I still love it best. If 9x18 ammo is available in your area and you can find one for under $200 get it. You won't be dissapointed! They are as easy to carry as a S&W J frame and are safe to carry with one in the chamber. The only downside is that recoil can be a tad unpleasant unless you add a rubber sleeve to the grip.

 

[albanian]

Hello,
My first handgun that I bought and owned was a Ruger MKII. I think you could do a whole lot worse than get a nice .22lr pistol as your first gun. I was young and didn't have much money so the .22lr was perfect for me to learn with.

An even better choice would be a nice .22lr in a package that simulates a regular pistol. A Bersa in .22lr or a Beretta 87 would actually be ideal. It would give you the most realistic trigger and really help you get used to the DA/SA trigger that is found on many of the better handguns.

Or you could get a centerfire pistol and buy a .22lr kit with it. Beretta has a kit like this and it fits either the 9mm or .40S&W version of their guns. CZ, Browning, 1911s and others have these kits. These kits are not as popular as they should be for some reason. I think it is because you can buy a compleat Ruger MK II for the price of the kit. That is true but it is missing the point. The point is pratice. Nothing gives you better practice than a .22lr kit on your gun.

 

[XavierBreath]

If you want to learn to shoot a handgun proficiently, I would recommend a quality .22 caliber target pistol such as a Ruger MKII or a Browning Buckmark. Marksmanship and safety with a handgun is significantly different than with a long gun. There is one common denominator though. Marksmanship matters more than caliber. A .22 caliber handgun offers a lot of practice on the cheap. The less ammo costs, the more you can shoot. The more you shoot, the better you become. The skills you learn will transfer over to the centerfire pistol you will later buy. You can then use your .22 pistol to train new shooters, and continue to develop your own proficiency.

If you just want to own a handgun, then it doesn't matter. Buy whatever suits your fancy.