Looking for first handgun

[Al Thompson]

One thing - handguns (with the exception of the very large calibers, IE .44Mag) just suck as fight stoppers. What they have going for them is handyness. The difference between .22LR and 9mm ball is much less than you would imagine. When you get into the better and bigger hollowpoints, there is some improvement, but it's still more like sticking someone with a knife that shooting them with a rifle. Very little shock and not much bleeding, so shot placement gets critical fast.

First rule of a gunfight is have a gun. Handguns check that block.

Second rule is have a reliable firearm. If ball is what works in your firearm, for goodness sakes use ball. It's very hard to hurt someone with a jammed HG. To repeat, reliability must be as near 100% as possible.

Much furthur down the list is caliber and bullet type.

Until a few years ago, the only "one shot stops" I had inside info on were performed with a .25 ACP and a M36 loaded with 158SWC. Ain't the arrow, it's the indian.

 

[Ukraine Train]

If you decided on getting the Makarov make sure you get a real makarov, not a look-a-like. I have a pa-63 that looks almost exactly like a real makarov, and shooting it is a pain. The thing has a nasty recoil, even my boyfriend, who is about double my size hated the thing after four rounds. Also, the knockoff has a lot of trouble loading defensive ammo, a sore point with me.

Yeah, I've seen the PA-63s around. I think they have more recoil because they're made from a lighter alloy (aluminum maybe?) than the Maks so there's less mass to absorb recoil. I will probably get a Bulgarain Mak because those are the easiest ones to find right now and they're supposed to have good quality.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

I thought that both the Parabellum and Mak 9mm were considered by some to have insufficient knock down power. I guess I'd just have to practice enough to hit a vital organ/artery on the first shot heh. Ammo price is a factor too, considering going through a couple hundred rounds (or more) per outing can get pricey.

Hardly ANY pistol has "knock-down" power (not if its suitable for CCW.) But they sure beat using pointed sticks.

(Desert Eagle, maybe, in .50 AE?...)

Most handguns will do what needs to be done, if you've gotten good with them, but knock down? Mostly in movies and on TV. In the real world, it happens only if you're lucky.

Your best best, given your price constraints, is to look for a 1) Makarov and get the hotest ammo you can find for it, a 2) used S&W snub (around $200 - $250) in .357 or .38 Special, or a 3) used CZ or Witness in 9mm.

The Mak and the S&W will be easier to conceal, but will offer less rounds than the other two. The .357 round is still formidable, but quite a chore to shoot in a snub revolver. (An awful lot of the round's power goes out the barrel unignited until it hits the air. Many shoot +P .38 special in the guns because of that.)

 

[David4516]

lissell,

I can see how it would be easy to buy something like a PA-63 thinking that it's a Mak. I've seen them labeled as "Makarov" at some gunshows. I hate it when dealers do stuff like that.

On a side note, I also live in beaverton (near Beaverton Mall). I'm wondering where it is that you shoot around here? I haven't been able to find anywhere in the area, so I have to drive way the heck out there to find a good shooting spot...

 

[keederdag]

I had a few PA-63's and an SMC (smaller) mine were in .380; and recoil was a bit sharp. 1st due to straight blow back design, 2nd light alloy frames,3rd shape of the backstrap: it has a really depressed area where the web of your hand grasps, and is very thick tword the base. I think this actually facilitates perceived recoil, and tends to bite the web of the hand. Other than that, they were well made, inexpensive pistola's

 

[CZ52GUY]

Another vote for the Mak'...

...I liked my Bulgarian Mak' so much, I just bought another one.

A quality Mak' can still be found for under $200.

They are simple to take down, and easy to care for.

On the whole, they are very reliable.

They are easy to shoot as a "first gun" and you can move up the caliber ladder from there if you desire with your "2nd gun" then "3rd", etc., etc., etc....

No, 9x18 doesn't carry the "man-stopper" reputation, but in reality...handguns don't do the greatest job at that...as many have indicated, it's better than throwing rocks or yelling "you go away or I'll call my Mommy" by an order of magnitude .

For some good info' on the Mak', and the most dead-honest internet dealer I've ever had the pleasure of doing business with, check out www.makarov.com.

Good luck!

CZ52'

 

[lissell]

David4516: Most of the time i end up going to a Gravel quarry out towards the beach. Unless you want to go to a spot like the Place to Shoot (Out by PIR and such) there really isnt a good option. Also, do you have your CHL and if so, where did you get your gun safety class requirement?

If you want specifics on ye olde shootin spot send me a private message


In regards to the Makarov: It is a loaner/gift so i didnt get swindled. ;-) The harsh recoil was mostly a combo of the really light frame and a hard plastic around the grip. The recoil went straight back into the webbing between my thumb and pointer. No other gun that ive shot has failed so miserably at distributing recoil thru the hand.

 

[Black Majik]

Oh the first handgun purchase. I was in that situation 1 month ago... now I have 2


I jus' turned 21 a month ago (in August)

My advice is to save up for something you might actually like and not limit yourself of your choice.

I've been wanting a handgun for a while when I turned 21, so I saved up.

My first handgun was in .45 ACP, since that was the round I liked shooting most and it had a "big bang" After all those steven segal movies, I wanted a 1911 type pistol. Also I preferred my handgun to be new, so I could have it and pass it down later down the road, after all... first anythings has the most sentimental value.

After shopping around I picked up a Colt Government w/ a Chip McCormick trigger and a trigger job set to 4 lbs.

Never jammed once, and a straight shooter.

Then today I picked up a Sig Sauer P226 in 9mm. Wouldn't you know it, I went to a smaller caliber. Why, cuz I enjoy shooting and .45 ACP rounds are too expensive to shoot :banghead:

Save up, you still have a few more months... maybe get something more that you like, something that you'll enjoy more.

Sure $600 on a handgun is a lot... but ya know what. I look back and its all worth it.

Good luck in your search.

 

[David4516]

"Unless you want to go to a spot like the Place to Shoot (Out by PIR and such) there really isnt a good option. Also, do you have your CHL and if so, where did you get your gun safety class requirement?"

Yup, had the CHL for a few months now, took the class at the place to shoot, along with a friend of mine. If I remember correctly it was pretty cheap too, $35 or so. My carry gun is my Makarov of course

In fact I just got back from bowling at Valley lanes, and I found out that you can bowl while carrying a Mak... in fact I seemed to do better for some reason (I'm not very good to begin with though, I only go bowling like twice a year)...

 

[Don Galt]

I'd suggest you consider a CZ52. Similar heritage to a Makarov, but its easier to change the barrel. So, you could buy one, AND buy a 9mm (cheap 9mm, not the 9mm Mak) barrel for under $200. (On the CZ the barrel just slides out when you disassemble, on the Mak you need a barrel press and its apparently difficult to do right.)

Then you have 9mm when you want to save money on ammo, and the superior penetration of the 7.62x25 when you want that.

They are dead reliable pistols, rather safe for the period, and plenty of parts are out there.

Make sure you get one with a Z on the trigger guard (means its had the decocker safety mod). You do that, and you don't dry fire it, and you have a hell of a pistol for about a hundred dollars (Plus $85 for the 9mm barrel if you want to shoot 9mm as well.)

People talk about Firing pins, but I've only heard of one breaking and it was after a lot of dry firing. And you get better out of box reliability from these 50 year olds than you seem to with brand new 1911 types.

Anyway, why the Tokarev is a really good round: (doesn't mention it by name but dispells a lot of myths that you make people discount it.)
http://www.firearmstactical.com/hwfe.htm

 

[Gunslinger45]

Just my 2 cents but save your money, kid, until you have enough for a real handgun.

A real good .40S&W or .45ACP will cost you between $600 and $1,000. And you still might want to add some custom touches to the gun once you have it. Anything less and you are asking for trouble (remember you get what you pay for). Since my life may depend on my choice of handgun I chose a Kimber Pro Carry HD II (and a Pro carry SLE - no longer made) in .45ACP. Neither was cheap (both went for over $750). I also added some custom touches that amounted to a little over $200 for each gun (some of those were necessary due to my small hands, you may not need any custom touches). What I have are 2 powerful, concealable and reliable handguns that I do trust my life too.

It's just my viewpoint but I wouldn't trust my life to a handgun worth only $200.

 

[keederdag]

I think with the Mak, your geting a whole lot more than your really paying for. Ya know, slave labor! But if theyre selling quality cheap, that's just a good deal.

 

[rebbryan]

instead of getting a gun, get a Christmas time job and make some more money and upgrade

 

[Ukraine Train]

instead of getting a gun, get a Christmas time job and make some more money and upgrade

I'm only home two weeks for winter break, after which I go back to my co-op job. I already work full time six months per year but it all goes to tuition, food, housing, books, my car, etc. so making room for anything extra, like a gun, is often tough. For now I think I'm set on a Mak but we'll see how the budget is in a few months. Thanks for everyone's input.

 

[David4516]

Remember, just because it costs more doen't mean its better. I've seen plenty of those $600 guns jam. I've never seen a Makarov jam...

 

[Don Galt]

"It's just my viewpoint but I wouldn't trust my life to a handgun worth only $200."

I'd rather chose based on reliability and robustness than price. If you discover the gun you get is a lemon--- and all types have them at all price ranges-- then its a lot easier to get out of a $200 lemon than a $1,000 lemon.

Also, given the economics of the Gun business, the $200 gun may well have been made to a higher standard of quality and robustness than a brand new $600 gun.

Plus, for $600 you could buy three, so you're not going without if you want to put one of them in the shop for some work.

 

[Ukraine Train]

update....

Looks like the prime candidate right now is a CZ-40. CDNN has them for $250. I checked them out at czforum.com and almost everyone loves them. The only thing I'm afraid of is if it's going to be too big for concealed carry. This might be the only reason I wouldn't get one, in which case I'd get a Mak.

The other guns I've been eyeing are the Ruger P-series, RAP 440, and Arcus 98.