First time handgun shooter -- my experience

[S Roper]

A few weeks ago my friend and I went to take an NRA basic pistol course. While both of us have some experience with long guns, neither of us had ever fired a handgun before. The course was very informative and shooting was great fun. Several times the instructor told us about a student he had a few weeks ago who could not rack the slide. Despite this, the man bought a new 1911 the same day. This got me worried about whether I'd have problems. I found that racking the slide was simple, but what I didn't expect was how difficult it is to load a magazine! I'm used to little five round magazines for a .22; I simply could not figure out how to load the magazines to capacity.

We fired two different .357 revolvers, a Ruger 22/45, three Glocks in different calibers, a 1911, a Sig (don't recall the model), and a Beretta 92. My friend liked the Sig, and I preferred the Beretta. I found the grips on the Sig to be too large for my hand.

I found that my shooting started out great but deteriorated from fatigue. I wasn't quite expecting that.

I'm eagerly anticipating the Bulgarian Makarov I bought online. It should be lots of fun!

 

[cls12vg30]

Great choice for your first handgun. If you preferred the grips on the Beretta you should be pleased with the Mak's grips, they are not too wide, depending on which grip yours comes with, there might be a thumbrest, but there is quite a variety of Mak grips available at makarov.com and elsewhere, so you should be able to find the one which suits you best. For CCW I prefer the original military-style grips, they are the thinnest. A lot of people like the Pierce grips for target shooting, because they are cushioned, but they're a little bulkier.

Fatigue in your arm and hand will start to affect your shooting. That's especially true with the Mak, which has quite a sharp kick. The first few times I shot mine the part of my hand below my thumb was sore for two days. If I go out to the range and I know I'm going to be shooting a lot, I usually where a padded fingerless weightlifting glove on my right hand, that seems to help.

 

[P95Carry]

Always good to know that the basic pistol course was useful ... it is in some ways, for some people - almost too simple. However, because all basics are covered thoroughly .... it does mean that first time handgunners get brought up to speed quite efficiently.

Fatigue is a factor - more so when starting . Later when grip technique and practice in general have sunk in more, it does get easier. Hope you enjoy many years of handgunning.

 

[bytor94]

Welcome to the handgun world; before you know it, you will be buying more and more ammo, then more guns, and more ammo. Then you will be introducing other people to shooting. Then you'll buy more ammo, and more guns. Are you seeing a pattern here?

As always, be safe and enjoy.

 

[goon]

If you started out doing well, you are leaps and bounds ahead of where I was when I first started shooting handguns.
It took me a lot of rounds to show any improvement at all.
Have fun.
Also, if you should decide to try another SIG, try a P-225. It is a single stack, and man does it feel good.

 

[jimbo]

My first impression of handgunning is that it scared me, harnessing all that power in my hand, the blast, the flash. And it was difficult. VERY difficult to keep aiming, not jerk the trigger, follow through. I didn't know what to do.

Now, I really appreciate that hangunning is 90% mental and requires intense concentration. It is a joy on the days when I can keep my groups reasonably small.

Congrats on beginning a useful and rewarding new endeavor.

 

[WhoKnowsWho]

but what I didn't expect was how difficult it is to load a magazine!

Get a thumb saver/mag loader, saves your fingers from pain and suffering. I have the one that came with the Glock, nice little bonus, haven't picked any more up though, tempting.

 

[Standing Wolf]

...what I didn't expect was how difficult it is to load a magazine!

Try one of these: http://www.magloader.com

Welcome to the High Road. Once you get the hang of pistol shooting, you may find it difficult to go back to rifle shooting.

 

[joe sixpack]

Welcome to the wide world of handguns!

I bought my first handgun back in June of this year, a Makarov and have
enjoyed shooting it.

Makarov.com also has a mag loader and it really does make a big difference.

cheers, js

 

[goon]

Which mags are you having trouble loading? If it is the 22/45, I understand. Same with the Makarov. You are gonna want to get a tool for that one, trust me.
Other than that though, I have never had any trouble with loading mags. I hold the mag in my right hand and keep pressure down on the top round in the mag with my right thumb while I start the next one in and down with my left hand. I did briefly try a couple different mag loaders (they were free) but I found them to be more of a PITA than anything else.
I do have big hands though, so maybe that makes a difference. ???

 

[abaddon]

I just got a Makarov as my first gun too. Great gun. If you don't want to wait for the mag loader just use a small piece of wood to push down the magazine follower. If you look closely there's a little piece of metal that sticks out maybe 2mm from the side of the magazine. Just push this down as you load and it's really easy. Just make sure the piece of wood doesn't slip because it'll hurt to catch a fingernail on the little piece of metal.

Jeff

 

[S Roper]

Thanks for the advice everyone.