Strap assassin
Member
I am just days from turning 21 and still can't decide what kind of handgun I want to buy . What is a good handgun for someone like me?
First handgun
- Thread starter Strap assassin
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Two things we need to know,
Your budget, and what the primary use of the gun will be (Concealed carry, home defense, target shooting/plinking/competition, etc.).
Generally speaking though, a .22 is an excellent first handgun. Cheap and easy to learn on.
Your budget, and what the primary use of the gun will be (Concealed carry, home defense, target shooting/plinking/competition, etc.).
Generally speaking though, a .22 is an excellent first handgun. Cheap and easy to learn on.
I'll second the recommendation for a .22. The shortest way to being a good pistol shot is to shoot a lot, and with a gun that does not do anything to cause a flinch. .22 ammo is much, much less expensive than any other choice, which means you can shoot hundreds or thousands of rounds a week if you're serious about improving. It has only a tiny amount of recoil and flash, and only a little noise, so you can easily learn to shoot with your eyes open, no flinching, etc. I say this as someone who picked up a flinch by doing it the wrong way... i.e., not shooting enough pistol .22 before moving to centerfire. Once you've got a flinch, it takes a lot of work to get it to go away, and it can come back on you, too.
Ringolevio
Member
My recommendation for a beginner...
[Edit: I'm assuming you're a novice, because if you already had some experience as a shooter you'd likely already have some kind of preference or direction as to what type of gun you wanted.]
If I were teaching a novice to shoot, or advising someone who wanted to teach him- or herself, I think an ideal handgun would be a Ruger Mark I, II or III, or a Colt Woodsman.
Certainly in the case of the Rugers, there are quite a few good used ones out there.
Besides the low cost of .22 ammo, the benefit of these guns is that they approximate the grip angle and feel of the 1911. Also, in general a semi-auto is easier on the novice because so much of the recoil energy is harnessed to cycle the mechanism.
An added benefit is that you'll become familiar with the proper loading, unloading and safe handling procedures for a semi-auto.
Oh, and did I mention they are a lot of fun to shoot? And, properly cared-for, when the time comes you can use it to teach your son or daughter to shoot!
[Edit: I'm assuming you're a novice, because if you already had some experience as a shooter you'd likely already have some kind of preference or direction as to what type of gun you wanted.]
If I were teaching a novice to shoot, or advising someone who wanted to teach him- or herself, I think an ideal handgun would be a Ruger Mark I, II or III, or a Colt Woodsman.
Certainly in the case of the Rugers, there are quite a few good used ones out there.
Besides the low cost of .22 ammo, the benefit of these guns is that they approximate the grip angle and feel of the 1911. Also, in general a semi-auto is easier on the novice because so much of the recoil energy is harnessed to cycle the mechanism.
An added benefit is that you'll become familiar with the proper loading, unloading and safe handling procedures for a semi-auto.
Oh, and did I mention they are a lot of fun to shoot? And, properly cared-for, when the time comes you can use it to teach your son or daughter to shoot!
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I agree a 22 is a good starting point. Cheap to shoot and maintain. The urge to get a big bang gun for the first gun is strong I'm sure. Please no 357 mag or 40 S&W as they will give you that flinch. If you want a centerfire gun go with a service size revolver or full size semi-auto. The small lightweight carry guns will also give you that flinch. Enjoy your birthday and think this through. Heavy is good for range practice.
Zaydok Allen
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I know this goes against common wisdom, but I started out with a .357 magnum. At the time I really only planned on buying one hand gun for home and personal defense. That of course turned into a collection of handguns. Be aware, starting out on a magnum revolver sort of ruined my interest in .22's. I bought a .22 pistol because it would be cheap to shoot. It turns out it is really cheap to shoot, because it sits around unfired most of the time.
If you plan on getting one handgun, evaluate the use. Defense? Then get a centerfire. Plinking: Then get a .22.
If you plan on getting one handgun, evaluate the use. Defense? Then get a centerfire. Plinking: Then get a .22.
Hunter125
Member
If you have no experience with guns, I agree with the .22 thought.
If you do, and you want a revolver, go with a .357. Shoot .38 Special if recoil bothers you. The bigger the gun, the less felt recoil.
If you want to get an auto, there are lots of good choices. My suggestion is to think about how you want to use it. I got an XDm 3.8 as my first pistol, then got my CCW license. But my gun was too big for me to conceal, so I ended up buying a second gun, but didn't have the budget to do so for a while. If you have a limited budget and can only get one for now, I would get a subcompact service pistol with extended magazines. They really do make it feel like a full size gun.
If you do, and you want a revolver, go with a .357. Shoot .38 Special if recoil bothers you. The bigger the gun, the less felt recoil.
If you want to get an auto, there are lots of good choices. My suggestion is to think about how you want to use it. I got an XDm 3.8 as my first pistol, then got my CCW license. But my gun was too big for me to conceal, so I ended up buying a second gun, but didn't have the budget to do so for a while. If you have a limited budget and can only get one for now, I would get a subcompact service pistol with extended magazines. They really do make it feel like a full size gun.
If you want something for concealed carry and/or home defense, look for the intersection of the following 2 attributes: the largest gun you can comfortably carry, and the smallest gun that you can accurately shoot. Whichever handgun most effectively meets these 2 requirements is the one you want. Glock, S&W M&P, and Springfield XD/XDm in 9mm are good places to start looking.
If you want something to build proficiency, there's nothing better than a .22. I'd suggest a Ruger Mk III 22/45 and a couple thousand rounds to get you started.
Ideally, get both.
R
If you want something to build proficiency, there's nothing better than a .22. I'd suggest a Ruger Mk III 22/45 and a couple thousand rounds to get you started.
Ideally, get both.
R
Furncliff
Member
The .22 is fun to shoot and much much cheaper. Most .22 handguns are cheaper to buy. As you buy more guns you will find yourself going back to shooting your .22 for the practice and the fun. Getting to know your .22 will help you to decide on what you want in a centerfire handgun later. Like semi or revolver, grip angle and so on. The .22 is just a good place to start.
Let us know what your budget is so we can give you some ideas on specific handguns.
Let us know what your budget is so we can give you some ideas on specific handguns.
I can see your point. If i lived in the frozen hinterlands my first gun would've been a 454 Casull.
moxie
Member
Still no reply to the questions asked in post #2 on budget and purpose. Not much point in further advice.
Just depends on what you want a handgun for...Like post #2..plinking...hunting..self defense..what?
If you want to handgun hunt..a Ruger or S&W 29 in .44 mag. Just pure plinking fun..a Ruger Single-Six revolver or Ruger .22 auto, Browning Buckmark and such would be fine. Plinking and self defense..get a Glock 17 9mm or Springfield XD..or maybe a S&W revolver or Ruger revolver in .38 or .357mag...
You can always buy more handguns..but I would resist the urge to buy a really big gun right off the git-go..get a .22 or 9mm or .38/.357 mag..you can always buy a cool expensive 1911 .45 or big .44 mag revolver later.
Avoid cheap budget handguns..always buy quality guns..they hold value better..and are far more satisfying than the budget guns...So if your buddy says "I got this Bryco 9mm I'll letcha have cheap"...run away!!!
If you want to handgun hunt..a Ruger or S&W 29 in .44 mag. Just pure plinking fun..a Ruger Single-Six revolver or Ruger .22 auto, Browning Buckmark and such would be fine. Plinking and self defense..get a Glock 17 9mm or Springfield XD..or maybe a S&W revolver or Ruger revolver in .38 or .357mag...
You can always buy more handguns..but I would resist the urge to buy a really big gun right off the git-go..get a .22 or 9mm or .38/.357 mag..you can always buy a cool expensive 1911 .45 or big .44 mag revolver later.
Avoid cheap budget handguns..always buy quality guns..they hold value better..and are far more satisfying than the budget guns...So if your buddy says "I got this Bryco 9mm I'll letcha have cheap"...run away!!!
Have you considered buying some time with an instructor before your purchase?
Find a well-recommended instructor who has an assortment of types/calibers for you to shoot.
Let him/her guide you through the safety aspects of shooting, practical advice for learning, and the attributes of various firearms.
That way, you learn the correct way the first time (so that you won't need to un-learn poor/dangerous habits later) and you'll be able to decide what suits you best based on your own experience.
You wouldn't buy clothes or a car or order a meal based on what someone else prefers, would you?
Hope this helps -
gd
Find a well-recommended instructor who has an assortment of types/calibers for you to shoot.
Let him/her guide you through the safety aspects of shooting, practical advice for learning, and the attributes of various firearms.
That way, you learn the correct way the first time (so that you won't need to un-learn poor/dangerous habits later) and you'll be able to decide what suits you best based on your own experience.
You wouldn't buy clothes or a car or order a meal based on what someone else prefers, would you?
Hope this helps -
gd
I'm with the gent above recommending a centerfire unless the gun is strictly for plinking/target. I bought a .22 for my first and would have been far better served by a .357 shooting .38's or a 9mm. A .22 while being cheap to shoot and low recoil, is far to limited in what it can do otherwise. A weapon in 9mm or using .38's in a .357 is still reasonably inexpensive to shoot but has enough power to be a very effective defensive weapon or can be used to compete in IDPA or other events if wanted.
I'll also second the other post about getting a service size weapon as they are far easier to shoot well and have enough weight to dampen recoil.
Personally, knowing what I know now if I were starting again I would buy either a Ruger GP100 .357, Ruger Blackhawk .357 or a Glock 17 or 34 9mm depending on my preference and feel quite well set even if I never bought another gun again.
I'll also second the other post about getting a service size weapon as they are far easier to shoot well and have enough weight to dampen recoil.
Personally, knowing what I know now if I were starting again I would buy either a Ruger GP100 .357, Ruger Blackhawk .357 or a Glock 17 or 34 9mm depending on my preference and feel quite well set even if I never bought another gun again.
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KodiakBeer
member
Get a .22. Shoot about 10,000 rounds then decide what "real" gun you want to buy.
hirundo82
Member
I agree with those saying to go with a centerfire for your first handgun rather than .22lr. The .22 (or a .22 conversion for the centerfire) should be your second gun.
I tend to recommend 9mm as a first handgun--relatively inexpensive ammunition, low recoil, but still a very viable SD cartridge. My first handgun was a Glock 17, but if I did it again it would be a Glock 19 instead--it is better all-around for practice as well as carry IMO.
I tend to recommend 9mm as a first handgun--relatively inexpensive ammunition, low recoil, but still a very viable SD cartridge. My first handgun was a Glock 17, but if I did it again it would be a Glock 19 instead--it is better all-around for practice as well as carry IMO.
PR-NJ
Member
1st handgun - .22 (Ruger Mark III, Browning Buckmark or Beretta Neos)
2nd handgun - Glock 19 or .357 magnum Ruger or S&W
2nd handgun - Glock 19 or .357 magnum Ruger or S&W
When I turned 21 me and the old man went to the gun show. I bought a 45 for looks and price. When I took it to qualify for CCW, big surprise but didn't qualify first day. I learned to shoot with it eventually. I say before you buy any gun shoot it first. Get what is comfortable to your hand. My other piece of advice... never sell your first gun.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
How about a Ruger Single-Six or better yet, the new Ruger Single-Ten. All the goodness of the Single-Six and a 10 round cylinder! What's not to like??
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