My first time for a few things...

[boo17]

I went to the range for the first time ever a little while ago. I've never been because at my old houses we have had a lot of land to shoot on. Keep in mind i'm only 15 years old too. Its a great indoor range with a wide selection of rental guns.

It was my first time shooting a .40 and a 9mm also. I went with my mom and my step dad who has never shot either. I rented a Sig P229 9mm and a P226 .40. I liked them both, but I was more accurate with the 9mm because the .40 had huge muzzle flip. But they still were botyh a lot of fun to shoot. My mom shot for the first time in her life and she liked the 9mm more because it was less harsh with the recoil. Also, I guess it was ladie's night too, and there were news reporters to interwiew the women, too. My mom was the only one there, so the story is pretty much about us 3. It was a great day, just thought I'd share my story.

 

[GigaBuist]

I rented a Sig P229 9mm and a P226 .40.

Well... you've got excellent taste in handguns it seems.

I'd suggest renting a .22 next time too though. You probably developed a flinch with the bigger guns and the .40 was worse since you were anticipating more recoil. Were the shots all generally off in the same directory with the .40 or were they scattered about the target wildly? If they're going off in the wrong direction reliably it's pretty easy to figure out what you're doing wrong. Switching to a .22 helps you get over any flinches that you've develolped when working with a bigger caliber. I always though it was silly to own a .22 pistol too until I bought one. Now it goes to the range with me every single time I work with pistols.

 

[gbran]

It's a fun family activity

But beware, it will grow on you. I'll wager you'll have a relative handfull of firearms within a very short period. Stay safe and enjoy.

 

[Standing Wolf]

Good for you and your family!

The more guns you rent, the fewer guns you'll regret buying.

 

[boo17]

Actually GigaBuist I own and brought my Walther P22. Only because of that pistol I had decent groups. My groups were 4" @ 10 yds with the 9mm, whcih the .22 did improve, and with the .40 the groups were 5.5" at 10 yds, which I was flinching a little with. My family loves it now, and we may be getting another .22 for the house, and more rifles from my grandfathers house which I share.

 

[Don Gwinn]

.40 bothers a lot of people. I don't like it nearly as well as .45. I don't know which actually produces more recoil in absolute terms, but the .40 is definitely "snappier."

 

[Edmond]

Try a .45 next time and you'll definitely fall in love with that thing! The .40 is a pretty snappy cartridge and the .45 is more of a "traditional" recoil where the .40 just "snaps."

 

[MrMurphy]

The Sig Sauer pistols also have a high bore axis so they rotate in your hand more, makes them seem to flip more.

Glocks and several other brands of pistol have the barrel sitting lower in your hand and even in .40 seem to flip less.

It's all personal preference.


Now go shoot a 1911 and fall in love. Also try the Browning Hi Power (very similar, but in 9mm not .45).