I am looking for my first pistol and I am not sure what I want I looked at some revolver and some auto but I am not sure I have looked at some rossi and Taurus and a hi point but not sure I'm not a s&w fan and I am on a tight buget and I am just looking for one to shoot because I am not good with a pistol and I would like to get better and maybe get my ccw permit. Some day thanks
looking for first pistol?
- Thread starter jrbaker90
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BCRider
Member
Tight budget? Then I'd suggest you get a .22 for now. Don't break the bank getting anything fancy but get one styled in the sort of gun you want to get. The ammo is cheap enough that you'll be encouraged to get lots of practice. And later on you can either keep it for buddies to shoot or sell it for most of what you paid. And finally a .22 will teach you nothing but good habits since you can actually shoot "through" the recoil. The ground work laid by shooting a lot of .22 ammo for a year or so before you get a center fire gun will fix you up for the rest of your shooting days. BUT!..... the trick is to treat that .22 like it's a center fire gun and practice your proper hold, stance and trigger habits.
In the meantime take some money and find a Rent-A-Gun store. Try a bunch of them and see which "clicks" with you. Try semis as well as revolvers.
Paying for the "rental" through whatever they charge may seem wasteful. But if it sets you on a path towards semi or revolver and leaves you with two or three that you can choose from then it was money well spent vs the cost of buying untried and sight unseen only to find out a couple of months later you wish you'd gone in a totally different direction.
So start by finding a Rent-A-Gun outfit in your area.
In the meantime take some money and find a Rent-A-Gun store. Try a bunch of them and see which "clicks" with you. Try semis as well as revolvers.
Paying for the "rental" through whatever they charge may seem wasteful. But if it sets you on a path towards semi or revolver and leaves you with two or three that you can choose from then it was money well spent vs the cost of buying untried and sight unseen only to find out a couple of months later you wish you'd gone in a totally different direction.
So start by finding a Rent-A-Gun outfit in your area.
MedWheeler
Member
Taurus/Rossi revolvers can certainly be affordable, as are the newer Charter Arms models. Both companies offer revolvers in 22LR. I don't think there is a good, medium-sized .22LR semi-automatic in their lineups, though. If you do agree with BCRider (as I do), look for a Ruger Mk-II or III semi pistol. When looking for both affordability and durability, Ruger pistols and revolvers frequently come out on top. Ruger also offers the Single Six, which is a single-action revolver in .22LR. Another SA revolver in that caliber is the Heritage Rough Rider.
If you do want to start out with a centerfire handgun, think .38 Special (or .357 Magnum, as they can fire ,38 ammo) for revolvers, and 9MM Luger for semi-automatics. The Ruger P95 would be a good 9mm pistol for a beginner who intends one day to use it for home defense, and their SP101 (or used GP100, or Security Six) makes good revolver choices.
Hi-Points are definitely dirt-cheap. They are heavy, bulky, butt-ass ugly, and reliable as all get-out. They can certainly do well to "bring" someone to the world of handguns, but there are far easier-to-carry and train with guns out there. If they made a .22, I'd probably get it; I kind of have a thing for "underdog" guns, which brings me to another possibility: The Phoenix Arms HP22A. It's a heavy, SA pistol in 22 that holds ten rounds. Mine is actually quite fun to shoot, and it has an external hammer instead of an enclosed one or striker.
I started out with a Taurus Model 66 in .357. It was a poor choice as my first handgun due to its power, expense of ammunition, and my lack of training. I was back in the store two weeks later picking up my Ruger MK-II..
If you do want to start out with a centerfire handgun, think .38 Special (or .357 Magnum, as they can fire ,38 ammo) for revolvers, and 9MM Luger for semi-automatics. The Ruger P95 would be a good 9mm pistol for a beginner who intends one day to use it for home defense, and their SP101 (or used GP100, or Security Six) makes good revolver choices.
Hi-Points are definitely dirt-cheap. They are heavy, bulky, butt-ass ugly, and reliable as all get-out. They can certainly do well to "bring" someone to the world of handguns, but there are far easier-to-carry and train with guns out there. If they made a .22, I'd probably get it; I kind of have a thing for "underdog" guns, which brings me to another possibility: The Phoenix Arms HP22A. It's a heavy, SA pistol in 22 that holds ten rounds. Mine is actually quite fun to shoot, and it has an external hammer instead of an enclosed one or striker.
I started out with a Taurus Model 66 in .357. It was a poor choice as my first handgun due to its power, expense of ammunition, and my lack of training. I was back in the store two weeks later picking up my Ruger MK-II..
Shadow 7D
Member
Save yourself some money
go to the range and shoot, then shoot some more
by the time you get done shooting on a regular basis, the gun is one of your LEAST expensive investments.
Know what you want, or be willing to spend the money trading one gun for the next until you find it.
go to the range and shoot, then shoot some more
by the time you get done shooting on a regular basis, the gun is one of your LEAST expensive investments.
Know what you want, or be willing to spend the money trading one gun for the next until you find it.
MedWheeler
Member
Three bills should get you a used Ruger Security Six or Service Six. Both are in .357 Magnum; the Security Six has adjustable sights. Look for the other Rugers I mentioned, too, in your pawn shops and dealers. A used Taurus M66 should also come within your budget. As I mentioned, I started with one, in 1987, and still have it today. It has been a fine performer for me. Revolvers tend to be more expensive new than autos, so finding a new one in .357 Magnum by a known maker for under $350, though not impossible, will take some effort.
For 9MM pistols, The Ruger P95 reaches the upper end of your budget, but it can be had. Used ones would, of course, go for less, as would a used Taurus PT-92.
I'd mention a few other good options, but you're not sweet on Smith and Wessons..
For 9MM pistols, The Ruger P95 reaches the upper end of your budget, but it can be had. Used ones would, of course, go for less, as would a used Taurus PT-92.
I'd mention a few other good options, but you're not sweet on Smith and Wessons..
Not a fan of S&W, but looking at Taurus and Rossi? Please do some more research. S&W makes great guns and has the best customer service in the business. Both Taurus and Rossi are known to produce a lot of problem guns.
If you want to stay really cheap, get a Hi-Point. Great CS and lifetime warranty. If it were me, I'd save a little more and get a Ruger. American Made and rugged as all hell.
If you want to stay really cheap, get a Hi-Point. Great CS and lifetime warranty. If it were me, I'd save a little more and get a Ruger. American Made and rugged as all hell.
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Mike1234567
member
Ultra-cheap but functional = Hi-Point
Very cheap but slightly better = Kel-Tec
.357 Magnum = Neither of the above
If you'll be happy with 9mm Luger pistol then either of the above are good options. If you decide on .45 ACP or .40 S&W pistol then a Hi-Point is a decent choice (not for small hands). If you really want a .357 Mag revolver in your price range then maybe a Taurus?
Very cheap but slightly better = Kel-Tec
.357 Magnum = Neither of the above
If you'll be happy with 9mm Luger pistol then either of the above are good options. If you decide on .45 ACP or .40 S&W pistol then a Hi-Point is a decent choice (not for small hands). If you really want a .357 Mag revolver in your price range then maybe a Taurus?
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Goblin
Member
I agree with the used Ruger suggestion. Those things are rock-solid reliable.
3KillerBs
Member
No one's mentioned the Browning Buckmark yet. I'm not sure where it comes in on the budget scale but when I bought my Ruger Mark III that was my #2 choice. I spend a good while wavering back and forth between the two models.
If you're looking for a .357 Mag, then the Ruger GP-100 is your gun. I know Taurus and I think Charter also make models in .357 Mag as well. I don't own the Taurus or the Charter, but I do own the Ruger GP-100 in .357 Mag with a 6" barrel. That would be kind of hard to carry for a CC gun, but that was my first handgun and it is very accurate. That gun gave me the confidence to shoot other handguns; from the .357 Mag I went to the
.45 ACP and then the .44 Mag. I don't think you need the .22LR pistol to be proficient with a pistol. You could always shoot .38 Special loads out of the .357 Mag pistol and if you shoot those out of the Ruger GP-100 with the 6" barrel you hardly notice the recoil in my opinion.
.45 ACP and then the .44 Mag. I don't think you need the .22LR pistol to be proficient with a pistol. You could always shoot .38 Special loads out of the .357 Mag pistol and if you shoot those out of the Ruger GP-100 with the 6" barrel you hardly notice the recoil in my opinion.
SorenityNow
Member
The thing about cheap guns is that whenyou have a problem with it , usually the customer service really sucks 
. You would want your first weapon to keep for a while just because " hey its your first". I own all types of guns my Rugers are the cheaper end of what I own. And although I never had to use it, I hear thier customer service is fantastic. That being said my rugers that I own were all purchased used
. and iv saved some money doing it that way.
. You would want your first weapon to keep for a while just because " hey its your first". I own all types of guns my Rugers are the cheaper end of what I own. And although I never had to use it, I hear thier customer service is fantastic. That being said my rugers that I own were all purchased used . and iv saved some money doing it that way.Mike1234567
member
^^^ Both Hi-Point and Kel-Tec have excellent customer service.
silverking
Member
Kendal Black
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There is no shortage of good .357's. For durability and value I'm impressed by the Ruger Blackhawk and GP-100. The Blackhawk is a single action type and perhaps the most durable repeating handgun made.
I got out of the Army in Germany during 1968, I brought with me the 357 and 22 Sauer western single actions. Weapons were both heavy and clumsy to me. Traded both for a Model 19 S&W Combat Masterpiece in 357. After more than 40 years and a lot of rounds, it is still more accurate in my hand than any gun I have ever held. Always felt a bit sorry for the guy I traded my Sauers to.
blindhari
blindhari
woad_yurt
Member
Even thoguh this thread veered towrds revolvers, you did ask about semiautomatics. I recommend a Makarov.
It will perform reliably, get the job done and is very easily mastered, whether to shoot or to maintain. They're very cheap to feed, too. $350 should get you a decent one pretty quickly, less if you hunt around a bit.
It will perform reliably, get the job done and is very easily mastered, whether to shoot or to maintain. They're very cheap to feed, too. $350 should get you a decent one pretty quickly, less if you hunt around a bit.
Guillermo
member
Police trade in Glocks are 325 bucks around here.
BCRider
Member
I find it a bit odd that you don't want to consider a S&W because you'd rather have a Colt. But at the same time you're willing to buy a Ruger with gusto? If you read around, or better try them, I think you'll find that it's generally accepted that MOST folks prefer the S&W trigger over the Ruger trigger. A good comparison being a K or L frame S&W to the Ruger GP100. So you won't buy a S&W because it's not as nice a trigger as a Colt but you'll, according to many, drop down to a Ruger and be happy?
Sorry to you Ruger fans reading in but I'm just parroting what many have said about Ruger vs S&W trigger feel. No slight intended.
In any event I still suggest that if you're totally open to which to buy and don't really know what you want that the best option is to spend some time at a couple of Rent-A-Gun ranges and try a bunch of stuff to see which makes you grin the most. And that should include some S&W and Ruger revolvers so you can better decide.
Sorry to you Ruger fans reading in but I'm just parroting what many have said about Ruger vs S&W trigger feel. No slight intended.
In any event I still suggest that if you're totally open to which to buy and don't really know what you want that the best option is to spend some time at a couple of Rent-A-Gun ranges and try a bunch of stuff to see which makes you grin the most. And that should include some S&W and Ruger revolvers so you can better decide.
Dnaltrop
Member
+1 for the SW Model 10, it's lasted since 1899, and people and paper still fall regularly to .38. 200/300 bucks for a used one. Everyone should own at least one.
Bersa makes great small inexpensive pistols, a bit rough but really well made. $250/400 for .380/.45 acp's in compact or larger frames
CZ-82 in 9x18 makarov, cheap to feed, tank of a pistol. $200-250's range.
Ruger .22 pistols are great plinkers and will last till your grandkids get their mitts on it. (and probably beyond).
Bersa makes great small inexpensive pistols, a bit rough but really well made. $250/400 for .380/.45 acp's in compact or larger frames
CZ-82 in 9x18 makarov, cheap to feed, tank of a pistol. $200-250's range.
Ruger .22 pistols are great plinkers and will last till your grandkids get their mitts on it. (and probably beyond).
Furncliff
Member
+2 For the S&W model 10. The only problem I've had with mine is the grip was small. Easy fix , new Pachmyer grips.
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