Learning the basics -- semi auto or revolver?

[stevelyn]

I say learn and become proficient with both because you don't know when you are going to be in a position of having to use an action type you are unfamiliar with. Then go with what you're comfortable with.

 

[Smaug]

If you already have auto pistol(s), then learn on them. (unless you are not strong enough to rack the slides)

$50 an hour is obscene. I would do it if you just paid for my range fee.

Learn the 4 rules of gun safety.

Then do some searching here on trigger control.

Do some dry-firing.

You should be able to do it yourself and save the dough for ammo and practice.

 

[ReadyontheRight]

Revolver because it is easier and less expensive to make a revolver accurate than a semi auto.

Specifically -- a 6" barrel .357 that can also shoot .38 special. Ruger, S&W or Dan Wesson.

 

[XavierBreath]

Reading your initial post, I understand that you own several to many handguns, but are a poor shot. Since you did not mention problems handling the guns, I assume you know how to safely do that. What you lack is marksmanship skills, not gun handling skills.

It has been my experience that the best handgun to teach marksmanship with is a .22 caliber rimfire. Why? Ammo is cheap. You will shoot it a lot. It make a smaller hole, thus giving you more precision on assessing your progress. More importantly, it has less recoil and boom. I have found that the single most common cause of poor marksmanship among accomplished gun handlers who remain poor marksmen is flinching and poor trigger control. Most of these people know how to align sights, and which eye is dominant, etc...... They just fall short at the last fraction of trigger pull.

I would highly recommend a Ruger 22/45 with a 4 inch barrel and fixed sights. It will be the best money you will spend towards marksmanship. Train with it hard, work on trigger and breath control, and shoot it a lot. When you move back to your larger caliber pistols, have a friend load your magazines with half live rounds and half Snap Caps and just take a look at how much you flinch. In fact try that now. It can be an eye opener. Ideally your sights should still be on target after hitting a Snap Cap. I'll bet you $20 they will not be.

A .22 pistol is a great starter pistol, but it is also a great pistol to move to if you suddenly realize you need to learn marksmanship. I learned the beauty of the .22 rimfire pistol about 15 years ago, and made more progress in marksmanship in three months than I had in all the years before I tried one.

 

[ReadyontheRight]

XavierBreath speaks truth Grasshopper. A .22 is the way to go to improve your shooting basics. Probably a Ruger or Browning autoloader that feels good in your hands since you're an autoloader guy.