My first gun

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whm1974

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Ok as mention in another post I just apllyed for a FOID card here in IL.
When I get it I'm going shopping.

I'm sort of undecied wither to get a handgun or rifle for my first gun. But
I am leaning toward a revlover since I can use it as a defence arm.

What I want:(not in order)

1. handgun for home defence
2. .22 auto rifle and/or pistol(cheap ammo)
3. AR-15(kit) or AK-47
4 Maybe a Mini-14/Mini-30 or SKS

My gun owning friends tell me that I can get a good ak-47 for
$400 or less.

Bill Meadows
 
Yugo SKS from AIM for a bill. Another bill for ammo. Go do some shooting.
A good .22 handgun (or rifle) from Ruger is hard to beat. Cheap to feed. Means you'll practice more.
.357/.38 revolver or a 1911 for that centerfire handgun first will cost ya more so save save save, then practice practice practice. A 9 will do fine and is fed cheaper, so think CZ75/85 or police tradein anything.
If you get the Yugo (I would) then another critter that feeds the same fuel would be wise... but why be wise? Diversity. An AR before a Mini always if shooting a lot and accuracy is important to you. Mini's are OK, just not what they should be without a lot of energy placed into them and even then you don't see too many in matches (well, I don't) by them what knows.
And yes, you can still get an SAR right at 4 bills. Won't get too many AR's in that price range.

Decisions decisions.
 
A Yugo SKS for $100? That's cheap. Is it legal to put a pistol grip on
a SKS? Or modify an SKS to use detachable magaizes?

personally I rather have an AK-47 then a SKS, but I get what I can afford

Bill Meadows
 
Baba Louie covered it about as well as it could be! Good advice there.

Practice practice practice - none of these guns is worth much unless you know it well, and that takes lots of shooting. Plus it's fun. SKS and .22 ammo is cheap so those are good choices.

Welcome to the ranks of shooters - we're glad to have you! :cool:
 
Get out to the range and try out a bunch of different firearms before you decide. A lot of times, what looks kewl may not be once you try it. Some guns just don't fit some people. I know a lot of people who made up their mind on what would suit them based on what they read in a magazine, on the internet or saw in a movie and then once they got it, were disappointed and then left the sport.

Best advice I can give is try before you buy.

Jeff
 
Welcome to the ranks of shooters - we're glad to have you!
Click to expand...

I haven't gotten my FOID yet. But once I do I plan on shooting regulerly.

Get out to the range and try out a bunch of different firearms before you decide. A lot of times, what looks kewl may not be once you try it. Some guns just don't fit some people. I know a lot of people who made up their mind on what would suit them based on what they read in a magazine, on the internet or saw in a movie and then once they got it, were disappointed and then left the sport.

Best advice I can give is try before you buy.
Click to expand...

I'll keep this in mind. I have fired guns before, my stepfather and uncles had them when I was growing up. A friend with an AR-15 said he'll take me to the range and try it out. The range also has guns to rent as well, so I'll shoot a few.

Bill Meadows
 
If you get an SKS, don't modify it to take detachable mags. They jam way too much if you do. Keep it like Comrade Simonov intended it and it'll work fine.

Frank
 
I say go ahead and get a 22 rifle as the first gun, and then maybe a 22 pistol. Shoot the living poop out of them while you save up for your first defensive weapon. I would normally say a 12guage pump for the first defensive weapon but would not scoff at a 357 revolver, especially if you have lotso practice with the 22 handgun. You can usually pick up the shotty for less, but bargains are to be had with good used revos. You can pick up the SKS for less than a bill ($80!) pistol grip stocks and detachable mags are available. If you do not mind single stack magazine in the AK you can get a Romanian for under $200, and convert it to hi caps later.

So there is every gun on your list for the price of an AR. :D

….my $.02

PS I love cheap guns, click on link in sig
 
Everyone needs a .22 pistol and rifle. Its just the American way of life. Cheap shooting and a good way of learning. Then get you a good defense pistol and shotgun. After that a rifle thats got some range and power. Enjoy your guns........ :)
 
So there is every gun on your list for the price of an AR.
Click to expand...

This is what I like :)

Everyone needs a .22 pistol and rifle. Its just the American way of life. Cheap shooting and a good way of learning. Then get you a good defense pistol and shotgun. After that a rifle thats got some range and power. Enjoy your guns........
Click to expand...

Even if I had more powerful guns a .22 is nice to have for cheap shooting.

Although you have had some experience with firearms in the past, it is still a good idea to take a basic firearms course for either pistol or longguns
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice. I do shoot(and own) airguns sometimes. I also pratice gun safetly when shooting airguns.

Bill Meadows
 
whm,
Cruise around through www.gunsamerica.com for a while, checking out prices and such things as condition, age, type/model numbers etc. Avoid the Jennings/Lorcin/RG types of el cheapos if you can afford to. When you go visit your AR owning friend, bring a few boxes of ammo to feed it (call him first to see what it likes/doesn't like) and you might as well start saving for one of those right now, because if you're like me, you'll be wanting one real bad after you experience shooting a few magazines through one.
Download CDNN's catalog to see what kind of prices your dealer(s) will be asking and what they have available in the new and used market
http://www.cdnninvestments.com/
Don't forget to accessorize and get a cleaning kit, ear & eye protection, targets (tho water filled milk jugs work well for reactive targets as do soda cans), maybe a bag to through your stuff into (old gym bags or cardboard boxes work well) and some way to secure whatever you buy as well.
Then you'll just have to buy a folding knife (or two... I say one with each gun you buy should be a good start) that clips onto your jean pockets. :D

But whatever you do, stay away from old milsurp bolt action rifles!!! They are sooooooo addictive and since they're so cheap, well, you'll think you can afford another one and another and another. Don't go there whm, that way lies madness, I tell ya.

In one year you must come back and tell everyone which round is better... .45 or 9mm and why... and then you'll have to ask (or offer your opinion) about the best round for Bear defense. Or maybe in your case that would be "Ram Defense" since you aren't in Chicago :neener:

Have fun and do ask lots of questions.

Let us know whatcha get and how it works.
 
Don't worry Baba Louie I'll get hearing and eye protection when I get the FOID card.
Thanks for the links.

A few rifles I'm looking at are a Ruger 10/22 and maybe an SKS. I would like to have an
AR-7.

How pracutall is it to disasmball a rifle for transportcation? I don't want the people around me knowing I have guns. Don't want to be broken into.

Bill Meadows
 
Some guns are designed as such, like the AR-7, others more difficult.
Golf Bag or Guitar case gig bags might disguise the fact... of course they might want to then steal your golf clubs or guitars...
Consider buying a cheap Homak 14 ga. steel locker at Wally World initially. Keeps honest people honest, a pro will get into whatever he wants if he wants it bad enough.
Already thinking like a responsible gun-owner... that's good
 
Some guns are designed as such, like the AR-7, others more difficult.
Golf Bag or Guitar case gig bags might disguise the fact... of course they might want to then steal your golf clubs or guitars...
Consider buying a cheap Homak 14 ga. steel locker at Wally World initially. Keeps honest people honest, a pro will get into whatever he wants if he wants it bad enough.
Already thinking like a responsible gun-owner... that's good
Click to expand...

How much are these lockers? I could get two of them, one kind of out in the open and one hidden. Keep my cheap guns that I brought from a dealer in the first one and keep the ones I brought "off paper" and/or my favorite ones in the secornd. The first locker would be more or less burgler bait.

I could put the gun case in a large backpack. This may sound anti-social but I don't speak to the people on my block very often. They maybe the world's most honest people, but the people they know or hang out with may not be.

Bill Meadows
 
What about thwe eastern bloc pistols? Such as the CZ, Tokarv, and Makarov types?
I notice ammo for these guns are rather cheap.

Bill Meadows
 
Don't buy a Mak unless you're prepared to be pissed off when you buy another, much more expensive pistol later that you don't like near as much


James
 
Here's my reccomendations to get you started.

CZ-75B in 9mm for about $350

CZ "Kadet" .22 conversion kit for CZ-75 - About $250 - This would give you the equivilant of two pistols for $600, which is effectively two for the price of one.

The CZ is a great gun and if you stick to 9mm, ammo is cheap. Add the .22 kit and ammo is even cheaper and you can buy alot and REALLY work to hone your skills. You'll have a target pistol that you can easily swap out to be your home defense pistol.

Stay away from the CZ 52 in 7.62 for your first pistol. They are interesting guns, but I wouldn't reccomend them for a newbie. The triggers are pretty rough (usually) and the blast and recoil aren't conductive to learning how to shoot. Same goes for the Tokarev.

I do like the Makarov, alot, but I think the CZ 75 and .22 kit would be a better starter package. Where the Makarov shines is as a concealed carry gun, but I don't think you'll be doing much of that in Ill.

For rifles, the BEST deal going right now is a Service Grade M-1 Garand from the CMP for about $450. Go to www.cmp.com for more info. I'd get one now before the prices go up again and remember, they aren't making these guns anymore and the CMP won't have them forever. The M-1 is an American legend and is the gun the Mini 14 want's to be when it grows up.
 
Consider buying guns of the same type in .22 and defensive caliber. If you think you want a double action .357 as a defensive revolver, consider a double action .22 as opposed to a single action or auto. If you go with an auto, like the CZ-75, consider a .22 conversion, or a 22 auto which has similar feel and controls to the CZ.
For rifles, consider the same type thing. If you want a good .22 auto, consider the Ruger 10/22. They can be great fun to use and can be modified to the hilt to improve performance. Then find a big bore rifle that feels the closest. That may be an SKS or M-1 Garand.
Have fun.
 
Thanks I'll keep the same type gun in both .22 and defencive caliber
in mind. ilregardless I think I'm going to get a Makarov anyway.

Bill Meadows
 
First... address why you're looking for a first gun. Defense? Just personal interest? Also think about how fast you can acquire some of these. If collecting is what's on your mind, you might want to look at getting that AR and AK first, as their availability is dependent on changing legal situations. *Hopefully* things will get better on that front in September, but it's not a sure thing, and particularly as your state is pretty sorry on the legal front I'd not be surprised to see some state-wide restrictions on those when the Federal ban expires. Something to think about.

I hate to say all that, because it's really not the ideal approach. Honestly, I'd say start with a nice .22 bolt rifle and a .22 pistol and instruction, and work up from there as you gain experience and skill. But we live in an imperfect world, and as such sometimes have to make imperfect choices.

If you have a pressing need for defense... the handgun on your list makes the most sense.. or perhaps a shotgun, but I don't know enough about the latter to offer meaningful advice. So far as which handgun.. *heh* you've entered a real hornet's nest there, and will likely get as many answers as people you ask. Stay away from the bottom tier junk and you'll do alright... most all the midrange and up do the job, so find what works for you. If you stick with it long enough you're likely to trade your way through several models finding what works for you. I settled on the 1911 pattern after owning a Ruger and a Glock and trying gosh knows how many others belonging to friends or rental ranges. Your experience may well be different.

One word of advice on the SKS/AK thing.. don't get an SKS if what you want is an AK. By the time you're done tarting up the SKS, you will have spent more money than a SAR and still not gotten the advantages of the AK (notably decent quality, inexpensive magazines). Don't get me wrong, an SKS that works is a fine rifle... but it's not an AK and not meant to be.

While you *can* put a pistol grip "ultralight" stock on the SKS, I'd agree than the issue stock is about the handiest one out there. Short, compact, and a darn sight lighter than the plastic "hunting" type aftermarket stocks. If I were looking for an SKS today, I'd hunt for one without all the grenade-lauching, bayonet this and that, yadda yadda doohickeys and such to keep the weight down and refinish the icky wood to something halfway decent.

For a first .22 rifle, I'd suggest the CZ 452. It's a bolt action, has darn good stock sights and is insanely accurate out of the box. Mine ran $215 out the door or so, and is at least as good as other .22s running twice as much. To my mind, it is the PERFECT beginner's rifle.



Have fun!
 
If you have $400 - I recommend two first guns:

1. Yugo SKS from AIM for $100 -- because they are a solid, well-built weapon that is cheap now & they WILL go up in price. Cheap ammo. Don't discount the SKS just because it doesn't have a detachable mag -- you can load very fast w/ stripper clips. I personally wouldn't suggest retrofitting to a detachable mag as you may make the weapon less reliable.

2. Used S&W or Ruger .357 revolver for $300-$350. Home defense, shoots lighter .38 rounds. The Ruger GP100 is an excellent, solid choice that can handle hot loads forever, but some like the more-refined, more expensive S&W.

Just my $0.02. Any gun is better than no gun. Enjoy!
 
First... address why you're looking for a first gun. Defense? Just personal interest? Also think about how fast you can acquire some of these. If collecting is what's on your mind, you might want to look at getting that AR and AK first, as their availability is dependent on changing legal situations. *Hopefully* things will get better on that front in September, but it's not a sure thing, and particularly as your state is pretty sorry on the legal front I'd not be surprised to see some state-wide restrictions on those when the Federal ban expires. Something to think about.
Click to expand...

I've been around guns since I was a kid. So it's a kind of personal interest. Once I get my gun card I'll look at what's in my price range as far as ARs and AKs. And I rather have an AK then an SKS...

Used S&W or Ruger .357 revolver for $300-$350. Home defense, shoots lighter .38 rounds. The Ruger GP100 is an excellent, solid choice that can handle hot loads forever, but some like the more-refined, more expensive S&W.
Click to expand...

I'll keep an eye open for a good used .357

Bill Meadows
 
For two first guns, if you're looking to stay around $400, you could go the other direction and get an inexpensive pistol and the AK style rifle you've said you want. As stated above, who knows what will happen with a new or renewed AWB -- a $300 AK-style rifle certainly won't go down in value.

www.aimsurplus.com has Bulgarian Makarovs for $119. It shoots a slightly less powerful round than 9mm parabellum. Very accurate and a handy little pistol.

http://www.southernohiogun.com/ still has the SAR1 - Romanian AK-47 in 7.62x39 for $289.

This would get you both a pistol and rifle that are both pretty good defensive rounds for somewhere in the $400s. They are also the better examples of commie weaponry -- now available to American capitalists!

You have to find a reasonably-priced local FFL to whom the wholesaler can ship the guns. It's $15-$25 here in MN. Check out www.gunsamerica.com for a list of local FFL dealers. You can also shop for guns there.

As an alternative to the SOG SAR1, you might want to look around for a laminated SAR1 at gunshops or online. It is the same rifle with a nice set of laminated stocks. Aim Surplus was selling them for $300 until recently. Aim Surplus also has a Romanian WASR 10 for $279 w/ thumbhole stock.

The Makarov is a great deal, but personally, I would go with the .357 as a first pistol if you're not on too much of a budget. Sometime soon, you should also get a good .22. Then you can stop buying guns (yeah, right:D )
 
Yet another option -- and the best first gun around.

A $500 M1 Garand from www.odcmp.com

"The best battle implement ever devised" -George S. Patton-

A Garand gets you a rifle you can use to shoot competitively. OK for deer hunting and a proven battle rifle for self-defense. Ammo is much more expensive than 7.62x39, but it's more powerful, more accurate and...more American.

You shouldn't ever sell it, but a Garand is worth a heck of a lot more than $500.
 
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