New to shooting and need direction.

[RandomPerson]

I'm a semi new shooter. I took a basic pistol class at a local range. I've rented several of their range pistols. I've gone with few friends and tried their guns.

My problem is deciding what works best for me. The rental semi-autos either don't feed, don't eject or have some other problem. I'm not saying this to bash rentals, I just wonder how comparable my own would be to the rentals.

How did you decide what to buy? What should I be doing as a new shooter that I am not?

I know some people disagree on brands/costs, but I don't mind putting down the money for say an HK if thats what fits me best. My concern is that my local range has tons of guns I can rent, and I'm not sure which I should ignore and which I should rent more.

So far I've fired:

rented Sig P226 9mm
rented HK USP Compact 40 (felt perfect in my hand, sight size was good for me, but my shots were not great)
friends DPMS .223 rifle
rented Ruger MKiii (thought about getting this for plinking)
rented 22 revolver
friends Springfield XD 40 (I didn't like the trigger safety)
friends Glock 9mm (didnt like the feel)
friends 44 magnum revolver (felt awesome to shoot. disliked the cowboy style grips)

Thanks for any advice.

 

[taliv]

welcome to THR

i would not expect the sig or hk to have feeding/ejection problems as long as they are properly maintained and you were using decent ammo. rentals are pot luck as they are probably not properly maintained, and they probably get shot a lot more than normal guns.

the 22lr is notoriously finicky about ammo, so i wouldn't worry about that one.

DPMS makes a decent gun, but QC is spotty and they use cheap parts. good magazines and a bolt upgrade kit usually fix about 99% of feed/ejection problems. it wouldn't be MY choice, but it's not complete crap

tell the folks behind the counter about your problems and see if they indicate others experiencing the same issues. see if they suggest different ammo.

try to keep notes on when you have malfunctions, what gun and what type of ammo you were using

are the guns filthy on the inside when you rent them?

 

[MutinousDoug]

Mr RP;
I’m disappointed to hear that the rental guns you have used performed so poorly. I wonder what the thinking of the shop/range was in introducing a new guy to the sport/hobby/pastime with crap for sales tools.
1st, you need to ask yourself what you want to shoot. There are a lot of sports out there: paper, small game, big game, steel? Honestly, I think you will be best served by a .22. It allows you to shoot more at less expense. I think quality .22 RF ammunition is $0.07/round these days (WW double X; Aguila maybe less) and I don’t think even 9mm surplus can be gotten for less. I’d also recommend a revolver IF quality ones weren’t so dang’d expensive. Therefore, I recommend a Ruger Mark II, Browning Benchmark or similar adjustable sighted .22 automatic for a 1st handgun. They are easy to shoot, economical and educational.
The reason I thought about recommending a revolver is the .38 special. If you pursue this pastime beyond the .22, you will think about reloading and the .38 special is a great place to start that education. From there you can choose your caliber. Experience with reloading and shooting both the revolver and automatic is complimentary. Reloading bottleneck rifle cartridges is a step up in complexity where mistakes can be expensive and/or dangerous (as if carelessness or “hotrodding”a pistol cartridge is not).
This recommendation is from a guy who got his 1st handgun from an “uncle-in-law”, it was a .380 OMC “Backup”; frustrating gun to shoot. I went from there to a 6” Model 19 S&W that I shot loose trying out the IHMSA silhouette game.
YMMV,
Good luck

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Welcome to the forum....

You are going through what most shooters who are looking for their first pistol do. IMO you are going about it correctly. If you have some room on price for the most part, with handguns you get what you pay for. I would suggest trying an HK is a slightly bigger frame. Short barrel small size handguns are harder to shoot well in the beginning. The more you practice the better you will shoot. There are many good manufacturers out there, you have to find the one you like best. HK and Sig are a good place to start as well as Kahr, Kimber S&W and a few others. Just keep looking and you will find something you like. BTW, just because you didn't like the .44 Magnum revolver doesn't mean you won't like a double action .357 Magnum revolver. (DA will have a different frame and grips)

Remember, short barrel handguns are harder to shoot well in the beginning so be patient.

Good luck finding something you like...

 

[rizbunk77]

If you simply want the best here they are in correct order:
1. Berretta M9 (92FS)
2. 1911 (45 ACP)
3. Glock (9mm or 40 SW)
4. Sig
This has been proven by the Army, over the course of several exhaustive tests. I threw the glock in there because of overwhelming police and law enforcement acceptance. Now then if you are more interested in what works for YOU consider these things in this order of importance:
1. What hand will you be using, and are the controls set up for that hand (mag, slide, safety)
2. The next factor is two things closely related: How does it fit your hand and does it point naturally. The right pistol will increase your hit percentage.

There you go.

 

[WC145]

If you like the Ruger .22 that's a great place to start. They're reliable, easy to shoot, and use inexpensive ammo which equates to lots of trigger time. Buy it, shoot it, and have fun with it.
Also, spend some time reading, learning about, and shooting other guns. The when the new gun bug bites and you're wanting to step up to something bigger, you'll have some education and experience to draw from when making your choices.

 

[hogshead]

Im with WC145

 

[David E]

How did you decide what to buy? What should I be doing as a new shooter that I am not?

The FIRST thing you should do is decide what you want the gun to do for you. If you only want to target shoot, then a .22 is a fine gun to get.

If you want an "all around" gun, then a 4" .357 has much to be recommended.

If you want a hicap auto, then a modern 9mm should be considered.

In any case, a .22 is an ideal first gun, presuming there are no existing factors that would require something larger.

 

[David E]

If you simply want the best here they are in correct order:
1. Berretta M9 (92FS)
2. 1911 (45 ACP)
3. Glock (9mm or 40 SW)
4. Sig

LOL ! HIGHLY debatable !!!

 

[skwab]

It's the age old dilemma- you want to buy your first pistol and you don't want to make a mistake, and it's probably something that you want to keep forever - at least it was for me. IMO - I think you're thinking too much. It's great that you're trying out all these different models, but go to a place with lots of variety - a gun show maybe, handle as many as you can, see which feels best in your hand and buy it.

My first was a beretta 92fs - a classic pistol, a great shooter, 9mm not insanely priced to shoot, lots of accessories. I still have it, and it is still one of my faves. But I bought it not trying nearly as many as you did.

My wife went to a gun show, picked up a bunch, decided she liked the glocks best and that still is what works for her - she loves them.

You didn't like the glock or the XD - try the M&P - I have two and love them. I didn't mind the Glock and never really liked the XD - for me, the M&P is great.

But really, an hk, sig, smith, XD, CZ, beretta - they all make great, reliable firearms. You won't go wrong.

 

[MM60]

I would say the best handguns manufacturers are:
-HK or Sig for semi-autos
-Ruger for revolvers

I bought a HK USP 9mm Compact for my first handgun and did not experience any difficulty with accuracy due to it's small size. It never malfunctioned and was very easy to carry. The Sig 226 is a very nice full-size pistol and mine has never malfunctioned. Both the HK USP C and the Sig 226 have features I like: SA/DA, decock lever, easy-to-use slide release, and simple take-down. The USP's mag release is unique and I like it a lot. There is a 22lr conversion kit available for the Sig 226 that I also like a lot.

The Ruger revolvers are supposed to be slightly tougher than S&W revolvers. I personally think the Rugers look and feel better. I have the GP-100; it is DA/SA and has a great SA trigger pull. It is very accurate, but I rarely carry it because of size, weight, and low capacity.

I had a Springfield 1911 that was ok to shoot, but I did not like carrying it. 1911's are SAO, fairly heavy, and do not hold much ammo. I believe that the only reason anybody still carries a 1911 is that they are nostalgic about the design - which really isn't that great compared to any of the SA/DA semi-autos made by HK and Sig.

The Beretta M9 (92FS) weighs almost half a pound more unloaded than the USP C does with a full magazine. A buddy of mine carried the M9 for several years in Air Force security and he said they frequently jam because of the steep angle of the magazines. Like the 1911, many people seem to recommend this pistol out of nostalgia for their service weapon, when in reality it would be very large and heavy to carry - especially concealed (although it will hold 15 rounds of 9mm, whereas the 1911 will only hold 9 rounds of 9mm or 7 rounds of 45ACP.) The Beretta M9 has no option for adding night sights short of milling the iron sights and inserting the tritium lamps inside them; most other handguns do not pose this problem.

I sold my USP C in 9mm (with a bunch of 10rd mags) a couple of years ago to buy a Glock 19 (with 15rd and 33rd mags) which, it turns out, I do not like. Glocks are very well-made and hold a lot of ammo, but they are ugly, have an odd grip angle that differs from most other handguns, are not SA/DA, and lack the manual controls I like. As soon as my Glock 19 sells, I'm going to buy either a Sig P239 or a HK USP C in 40 S&W (probably the USP C).

 

[RudeMood]

It can't be stressed enough.

1. Go to as many shows/shops as you can.

2. Handle the guns with comfort in mind.

3. Pick a caliber in a gun you find yourself comfortable with.

4. Proceed from there.

... because in the end, the decision is in your hands. (Most literally.)

 

[android]

So far I've fired:

rented HK USP Compact 40 (felt perfect in my hand, sight size was good for me, but my shots were not great)


Thanks for any advice.

HK pistols come with several variants. Your accuracy, to some degree comes from familiarity, but also the style of trigger. I don't like HK's LEM DAO variant and never shot well with it. I've very fond of the DA/SA variant 3 and can get of a decent DA shot and very good SA shots. So, you might want to check on other trigger variants.

Also, P2000 and P30 are the more modern versions of the USP. Now there's absolutey nothing wrong with USPs, but they are a bit dated. the P's have more adjusments to the grips and are a little sleeker.

 

[RandomPerson]

Thanks for all the great input. It looks like my main issue now is finding a local range that has all of the guns I haven't tried yet and the constantly higher cost of this hobby.

 

[jad0110]

First off, welcome to THR!

Second, you are doing everything right by trying as many different guns as possible.

rented Ruger MKiii (thought about getting this for plinking)

IMO, a 22 is the best place to start, and it sounds like you liked the Ruger. I shoot more 22LR than all other calibers combined. Ammo is affordable, and at least possible to find with the ammo scare going on.

If you can, try to buy used. You can always post again here and ask for tips in buying whichever make/model used you are interested in. I say this because often, the first gun (and maybe the 2nd and 3rd ones) won't be right for you. They'll feel great at first, then after 500 rounds it may not feel right any longer. I went through several handguns before I found the ones I like: 1911s and Ruger and S&W revolvers. If you buy used and get a good deal, you can often sell or trade later for roughly the same as what you paid. It stinks to buy a new gun with higher than average depreciation (ie, most guns from Taurus) and take a big hit when you sell it. Heck, some guns (especially S&W revolvers of late) will probably go up in value.

For example, my sister bought a like-new 5.5" blued Ruger Mk II with adjustable sights in Nov '08 for $199. Excellent gun, and great price too.

Heck, for that price, you could also buy a used S&W K-Frame Model 10, 4" .38 Special in fine condition for under $250, assuming it feels okay in your hands. Most people find K-Frames to be pretty natural pointers, so they certainly merit a look. K-Frames have nearly died out in new production, but they are fairly plentiful on the used market.

One advantage with a revolver to keep in mind is that your grip/stock selection is pretty limitless. And if you can carve a piece of wood well enough, you could even try making your own set of stocks. Or you could have someone make a custom set. Something to consider.

 

[Noveldoc]

Agree 22 is good start. Several nice targets auto out there for not many bucks.

Then try gun shows and dealers and pick up a used center fire you like with a good price.

Finally, if you are planning on going center fire and price is an issue, consider getting into reloading. Lead bullets out of 45 ACP, 38 spl/357 , 40SW or 9 mm are all relatively inexpensive. If you can pick up discard once fired brass at the range consider going with the most common caliber. Scrounging brass is an ancient and honored tradition and will save serious bucks.

Tom

 

[warnerwh]

I'm going to have to say .22 also. It takes a lot of ammo to get consistent and a .22 is much less money. Not only that but they are fun to shoot. If you're rich you don't have to worry about the ammo costs.

 

[MM60]

I would have to disagree with some of the other posters here who have stated that a .22 is the best place to start. Most people who own a pistol plan, or at least have the idea in mind, that their pistol may one day be used for self defense. Despite the fact that it would be unpleasant to be shot with any bullet regardless of caliber, a .22 is not as effective of a manstopper as a larger caliber, such as .380 ACP, 9mm, 40 S&W, .357 Sig, or .45 ACP (which are all fairly common cartridges - more or less). The best choice for somebody who wants to purchase a single pistol both for practice and for self defense would be to buy a pistol that has a .22lr conversion kit available. This includes the Sig P226 and various models of the Glock and 1911. I personally have the Sig P226 and the conversion kit, and both work perfectly.

As far as reloading goes, I have considered doing this on various occasions, but I always come to the conclusion that I would have to be shooting lots and lots of ammo on a regular basis in order for it to really save me any money - compared to just buying complete ammo from the store. Reloading requires a reasonable amount of time and specialized tools, plus you still have to buy primers (if you can find them), powder, and less frequently - casings. The bullets themselves can be very inexpensive as long as you have a source of cheap or free lead. I prefer to save myself the trouble and expense and buy commercial ammo.

The best deal on any gun can usually be found on GunBroker.com - not at a gun show or store.

 

[Noveldoc]

Depends on where you live. Jo Jo's here in BHam AL often puts the auctions and shows to shame.

Gunbroker can be good but I have had some hassles with folks whom I can only contact by phone or e-mail. Personally, I will never mail a stranger certified funds; they have to take cards to deal with me.

Tom

 

[kingmt]

I would not base quality on what the military & law enforcement use. They look at can even a dummy use it & will it function in the worst conditions (not fire but function).

If you want something to craw in the mud with then fallow the army but if you want high qualty & accurate it probably won't come from the military, maybe law enforcement.

Most problems come from bad mags. If they are rentals it is a good chance that they are trying to force one more round in them or people are dropping them to the floor to do a quick change. Talk to the owner to see if they are welling to fix the problem. If I was looking to buy a gun it wouldn't be the one that just jammed on me.

Good luck & welcome to the addiction.

 

[wmeSha]

I'm sort of with MM60. I know I was not interested in .22lr for my first pistol. It isn't that I didn't see the merit, but I felt that my first pistol should be capable of serving as a self-defense item.

I opted for a CZ-75B, and I have been very pleased with that. I know some people say "start with revolvers," but I'm a smart enough guy; I figured I can learn any reasonable gun.

I did temporarily consider a .22lr Kadet conversion kit for my CZ, but I ended up getting a great deal on a Ruger Mark III 22/45 and frankly 2 pistols seems better than 1.5. (I will admit to recently having purchased a conversion when a bargain came around, and after it is fitted I expect to like it a lot.)

After a defense-capable pistol and a rimfire pistol, there's lots of ways you might go. Some will be interested in something suitable for CCW. I chose to get a nice revolver and picked up a 4" Ruger GP100 with a great trigger. This would also have been a really good starting gun, and if I had bought it first I'm sure I'd have had no regrets. I'd have just been picking up some autoloading pistol as step 3.

One thing I didn't expect was the way dry-firing the long double action trigger of the revolver improved all my shooting. If you can hold the gun steady when you pull a long heavy trigger, you'll likely be better at holding steady with other triggers. So I definitely recommend a revolver somewhere along the process.

None of my guns have treated me badly, so I can say I'm happy with my order and would recommend it as a good starting place:

1. CZ-75B
2. Ruger Mark III 22/45
3. Ruger GP100

By the time you get to 4, you'll start having an idea of what you want next.

 

[-eaux-]

handle and shoot as many as possible.
find the one that fits YOUR HAND.
regardless of caliber, capacity, action.
you are better off with one that operates naturally for YOU, be it a .22lr or a .44mag, than one that you have to think about to operate.
when needed, it should be a natural muscle memory response.
practice practice practice with everything you can get your hands on and pick what fits YOU. best of luck, and welcome!