Newbie here, looking for advice...

[etAutomatic]

Hi everyone...I hope I've posted this in the right forum.

My dad and I are on the way to convincing my mom to let us purchase a handgun (I'll be 18 this April)...I guess this also gives you an idea of who's the boss in my house...

I know that I will need to take safety classes and actual shooting instruction, but I always like to start my reseach early.

So my question is: Which handgun? I'm thinking that it would be better to start with something .40 or smaller, right? Are smaller caliber guns (like 9mm) generally more accurate (provided a person knows how to shoot)?

I've already looked at the Sig Pro and some Walther, Glock, and H&K pistols online. But I don't really know where to go, so any suggestions for a certain gun or tips for choosing a [first] gun would be greatly appreciated. We've set a budget at definetly no more than $1000.

Just out of curiosity...I've read lots of good things about the Sig P210, and I've also read that it's expensive. What makes this gun so good and how much does it cost brand new?

Also, are there any good gun magazines out there you subscribe to? If so, which ones?

Again, I appreciate any and all help, suggestions, input, etc.

 

[Peetmoss]

Welcome

Well the general consesus is a 22 is the best to start out with. Something like a Ruger Single Six or a Mark II if you want a semi. The reason being that they are extremly cheap to shoot and have hardly any recoil. They are also pretty darn accurate.

If you have a place near you that rents guns that would be the best bet. That way you get to try out a whole bunch before you make a decision. Trying out a bunch helps keep you from ending up with a gun you just can't stand.

But I would say that you probably already have an Idea of what you want. I know I did when I was in your shoes not to long ago. I wanted a Glock. I researched and tried talking my selfout of it but I ended up with a Glock anyway. And I couldn't be happier with it.

As for Gun Rags they are just that. I take what I read in them with a grain of salt. They are strickly entertianment for me.

I wish you good luck in your search for your first handgun and this is a one of the best places to do some research.

 

[Tropical Z]

If you don't want a .22lr,go with a quality 9mm Luger such as a CZ-75 or FEG hi-power clone.

 

[ojibweindian]

The Sig P210 is at the top of the heap of 9mm, but youwill pay for it. List price is in the neighborhood of $2,500. I suppose you could find a used one, but they're not cheap either.

I assume you and your father want a semi-auto because of the list of guns you have mentioned; all of them, aside from the P210, are well within your budget and are of high quality.

Which gun and in what cartridge will be answered when you and your father decide what role/roles this gun will fulfill. Will it be for home defense, carry, plinking, hunting, or all/some of the above? You and your father need to assess its intended role before selecting a specific make and model.

There are many very knowledgeable folks here that will happily chime in, and you will get much better advice once you let everyone here know what roles you want the gun to fulfill.

 

[New_comer]

Got any handgun shooting experience?

May sound odd, but you've already indicated your preference for auto pistols with the calibers you've mentioned. My advise is not to discount the wheelguns. And for true beginners, a revolver is probably the best choice.

Remember that with an semi-auto, you can't really check loaded condition as simply and as safely as in a revolver. And you've got detachable magazines to consider. If you lost the mags, what you've got is simply a very expensive throwing implement. While a revolver is complete unto itself.

I suggest a 4" 357Magnum stainless steel, and shoot 38spl thru it for practice. Ruger's GP100, SW686, or heck even a Taurus 65/66 would be a good starter gun.

And when you've inculcated safety into heart, it's then time to proceed to, IMO, the more dynamic world of the semi-auto.

I look forward to seeing you involved in the debates by then.

 

[jar]

Congratulations and you're starting right. Ask lots of questions and shoot as many different handguns as you can before you buy anything.

First, let me try to answer "Why is the SiG 210 so expensive?"

The SiG 210 is one of the best made pistols in the world. It uses some pretty nifty design features. For example, it has an inverted rail so the slide rides inside the fram instead of over the frame. A few other handguns also use this type construction, notably the CZs and the STARs. The advantage is that it allows the barrel to sit lower in the frame and lowers the Bore Axis for greater shot to shot control. In addition slide to frame fit on a P-210 is near perfect and the trigger pull in better than anything I've ever shot including some heavily customized 1911s.

Next, caliber. Remember, this is your first handgun but certainly not your last one. Many people suggest starting with a 22 and that is certainly an inexpensive way to get started. But the 22 rimfire is so different from any other caliber that you may want to move directly to a centerfire round to start with. Handguns chambered for the 9mm or 38 Special will cost less to shoot than almost any other caliber. The lower cost for ammo means you can buy more of it, practice more, have some money left for lessons (always a good idea) than if you started with 40S&W, 357Mag or SiG or 45acp.

You also should consider whether you want a semi-automatic or revolver as your first gun. The revolver has some significant advantages. It has a very simply manual of arms. Shooting a revolver double action will serve you well in the future, the gun and trigger control you will learn shooting a revolver will make you a better shooter when you go to semi-automatics.

Finally, how much do you want to spend? There's nothing that says you can't start with a P-210 or a Les Baer Custom 1911 except that after them, all your future handguns will seem like junk. Look at what's available in the various price ranges. One good way to get an idea of what's out there is to haunt the auction boards and sites like Guns America.

Good luck and keep us posted on what you end up with.

 

[9x19]

With your stated budget, two pistols come to mind immediately, each with a .22 LR conversion kit. The conversion kit consistss of a complete slide and barrel assembly, plus a magazine for the .22 round and makes practice cheap. It won't simulate the recoil of the 9mm but it will let you practice trigger control with live ammo.

My first choice would be the Glock 17 in 9mm, available for $500 most places and relialbe as well as durable. Along with that, a .22LR conversion kit from Advantage Arms, www.advantagearms.com about $250 more.

My second choice would be the CZ75 in 9mm, available for $400 most places and alos reliable and durable. Along with that get the CZ Cadet .22 LR conversion kit made by CZ. Also about $250 more. CZ used to offer a 75 with the Cadet kit included as a complete kit, not sure if that's still the case.

Good luck.

 

[etAutomatic]

I want to thank everybody for their help thus far.

We will be using the gun primarily for target shooting and, God forbid, home defense. I guess you could say just general-purpose (not really into hunting, though).

We want something that's well made, good quality, and has a generally good reputation for durability and reliability. I'm also sort of a gadget freak, so the cooler looking the gun, the better.

Oh, can anybody post a link to a site that has a gun "glossary" with general terms and definitions about handguns and the way they work?

Thanks again!

 

[1badmagnum]

bought my wife her first pistol,taurus pt 92 9mm.
very nice pistol for $400.
hardly any recoil,accurate,cheap aammo.
after you get experienced you can move up.
go to the range and rent a few pistols and see what you like.
9mm would be my smallest caliber I would consider,22's in my opinion are useless.
small calibers are accurate to about 10-15 yds,unless your an excellent shooter,you'll need more firepower to be accurate 25 yds and beyond.

 

[MLH]

Try here

Handgun reviews.com. Not every gun is there but it covers many and will give you as idea about quailty of the gun and the manufacturer. Good luck and welcome to THR.

The 9mm would cover both target and home defense as ammo is cheap. But for a $1000 you should be able to get both a .22 and a quailty 9mm.

Then practice, practice, practice. It's fun!

 

[WESHOOT2]

(MAYBE NOT) JUST ME

I always recommend as a first gun the Ruger KGP-141.

 

[Blackhawk]

Welcome, etAutomatic!

You've come to the right place for advice, and some of it will be useful, and all of it will be sincere!

I suggest you do some market research as well as gun research. You know that if you buy a new car, you lose a significant percentage of what you paid just by taking possession since its resale value took a significant hit. It's actual value didn't, just it's market value.

Same way with guns. If you pay $1,000 for a new gun, how much can you turn around and sell it for?

That's significant because you are, in all liklihood, going to want a "different" gun from the first one in a short while. Maybe instead of, and maybe in addition to, the first one.

Consequently, you may have an interest in preserving your $1,000 buying power by getting a used gun that you can always trade or sell and get pretty close to what you paid for it on the deal. Meanwhile, you'll learn things about guns and shooting you never dreamed possible.

9mm Luger centerfire ammo is about the cheapest you can buy at nominally 10 cents per round. .22 is by far the cheapest. You probably want to keep that in mind because you NEED to shoot a lot just starting out, so make sure you can afford ammo. You also REALLY NEED good hearing protection, so make sure that's in your budget too.

As for revolver versus autoloaders, that doesn't really matter. So what if your first 100 rounds are all over the target? You've got to learn MANY skills to shoot accurately, and the way to do that is by shooting.

THR members have millenia of experience shooting all kinds of guns, so if there's something vexing about hitting where you want, just ask for more sincere, and maybe useful, advice.

Once you learn the skills to hit the target where you want with a particular handgun, you'll find you can do the same with essentiallly any other handgun with just a little familiarization. Liken it to riding a bicycle. If you can ride one, you can ride them all even if you're a bit clumsly with a strange one at first.

So my advice is to find a used gun in an affordable caliber that fits you and that you like the looks of. (Just like girls, liking the looks of the package makes a lot of difference to the enjoyability of spending time together.) Fitting you is very important initially. If it doesn't, you might become frustrated in trying to develop the shooting skills. Learn to shoot with it. Learn to clean it. Learn to detail strip and reassemble it. Learn its history. Learn everything you can about it.

Then step back, and take another look at the whole picture.

It sounds like your father is going to be very involved in this, so do it together. Your mom may end up in it too. A family project! That would be really neat!

 

[10-Ring]

Depending on your level of experience, I would recommend a S&W revolver in 357 magnum, specifically a 66 or 686. There are alot to be found in the used market for ALOT less than $1000 and would leave plenty of money left for practice ammo, defensive ammo, range time and maybe a class or two to get really familiar with your gun, its operation and proper use.
The nice thing about 357mag is that you can use inexpensive 38 special for practice & plinking and use P+'s or 357 magnum for defense.

If that doesn't do it for you, rent ALOT of the guns you've got your eyes on and actually shoot them. Pick the one that feels & works best for you!

Good luck, have fun!

 

[HS/LD]

With a budget of $1000 you can easily purchase a Sig, Glock, S&W etc.

However you can also purchase one of the absolutely best guns right out of the bow...

a Heckler & Koch USP.

in 9mm .357 .40 or .45.

All calibers are accurate and are adequate for self defense.

HS/LD

 

[NewShooter78]

From someone who started out much the same as you...

I have recently become part of the shooting world myself. My first handgun was a SigPro in .40 caliber. I like the gun very much, and while I'm not as accurate with it yet as I probably should be, I found it easy to shoot and to control. That said, it is probably wise to go about it the way other's have suggested with a revolver or semi auto in .22lr, especially with a gun that can have a drop in conversion from a higher caliber to that of .22lr. You have the added advantage of being two guns in one, but you will probably see quicker results with a .22 and the satisfaction of better target shooting at first. But the one thing I have learned from other's here is to ulitimately find what you like the most and buy that gun. Make sure it fits your hand well and that you like the way it looks, and practice as much as possible. And with a budget of $1000 you have a lot of room to work with.

Oh, and one other thing. Make sure you have really good hearing and eye protection. Buy your own, and don't use what the range gives you.

 

[Boats]

Though I see it took less than a half hour from your first post to the initial "Get a Glock" recommendation, and though I am a 1911 man myself, I concur with the advice to get a CZ-75 and a .22 lr conversion. In my mind this is the perfect beginner's combo for not a lot of cash. The learning curve from .22lr to 9mm is not that steep and you'll have a cheap to shoot handgun that you can learn to shoot well. Taken care of a CZ will outlive you.

 

[Jason Demond]

I would have to say any revolver in atleast .357magnum. If you are going to spend $1000.00, you could buy a couple gun including a good .22.
A semiauto is not a very good gun for a newbie, IMHO.

 

[Forseti]

Go straight to the best...my first gun was a P7M13 (you can't get it now, only the P7M8 is available...same thing, only 8 rounds instead of 13). Its spoiled me forever.

Most amazing gun in terms of accuracy and fun. Expensive however. Friends of mine that can barely keep other 9mm's on the paper target suddenly become competent shooters with the P7.

http://www.hecklerkoch-usa.com/pages/civilian/p7frameset.html

 

[ENC]

My advice would be to take that grand and buy a 686 and any 22 revolver.

You would have enough change leftover to buy plenty of ammo and join the NRA which would give you a subscription to American Rifleman and some political support at the same time

 

[Mastrogiacomo]

Berettas tend to be a very under rated gun. However they have excellent qualities:

1. Easy to take apart for cleaning.
2. Accurate.
3. Reliable.
4. Reasonably priced.
5. Concealable (depending on model).
6. Beautiful guns overall.
7. Flawless.
8. *Safe* -- all Berettas come with a manual saftey. A big plus in my book.
9. Parts readily available.
10. Plenty of great Beretta gunsmiths if you want to do custom work on the gun.
11. Very mild recoil. (The jolting senation when you fire the gun).

I'm a female shooter with two Beretta compacts and I highly recommend them for a first time shooter. In my opinion, it's best not to buy a BMW until you've spent time learning the ropes with your Dad's Ford. Again, my opinion. You'll appreciate the higher priced guns when you've gotten time to practice. Personally, I know people love Glocks but I just don't trust a gun without a manual saftey. As for the Sigs, very expensive and can't figure what these guns can do that my Beretta can't equal or exceed in performance. The H&K, I've got to say, I'm jealous if you can get this gun and aside from my Berettas, it's the only other model I'd consider.

*A couple of points to bear in mind, if you can find the model you want to buy at a gun club or shooting range, rent it first to get a feel of how it fires. What people say about a gun over the internet and how it actually feels in your hands, and in your joints, when it fires are two very different things. Don't take people's word over actually using the gun yourself. Lastly, I'd consider something in a 9mm as it tends to be very mild recoil type of firearm or the .45. Both these calibers are less expensive than the .40 which can really run up a tab if you practice a lot as they cost more than the 9 or 40. Food for thought. Good luck with your research and your gun choice.

 

[etAutomatic]

Thanks again everybody. I guess my dad and I will have to start visiting our local gun shops soon and try out some pistols. In the meantime, keep those insights and suggestions coming!

EDIT: All other things being equal, which guns are more accurate as a general rule, smaller caliber or larger caliber?

 

[WESHOOT2]

THAT'S THE FACT JACK

There are only accurate guns.

Which means "is the one in my hand accurate?"

 

[Mastrogiacomo]

Neither the caliber nor the gun has anything to do with accuracy. It's the owner and how he/she practices with the firearm. If you don't practice, kind of sums it all up, doesn't it? Again, I recommend the 9mm or .45 if you want to practice without going broke paying for the ammo. Look to Beretta for an inexpensive handgun choice that's not going to be complicated to figure out how to use and clean it. But don't take my word for it, be sure to rent one at the range and judge for yourself.

You can collect all the info online people can post but we have no idea of your skill, your size and how your hands will react to firing the weapon. These are all things you'll have to discover on your own. Make sure the grip is comfortable, the firing experience is gentle and that you know how to take the gun apart to clean it on your own. ALWAYS CLEAN A GUN AFTER USING IT. This is the golden rule for taking care of an expensive piece. If you have trouble taking the pistol apart for maintance, it's a bad choice since you won't take care of it. Be leary of buying too small a gun as recoil is quite painful as you go for the smaller and smaller frames. I wish I had known this prior to buying my revolver. Fortunately, my Berettas were a Hell of a lot of fun to use so I consider the whole mess as having learned my lesson cheaply. Above all, don't rush to buy anything until you've taken the time to learn all you can about the gun. It doesn't have to be a perfect, award winning, expensive as Hell firearm. But it does need to be reliable and perfect for you.

 

[WESHOOT2]

DISSENTING OPINION AND EXPERIENCE

There are differences in the accuracy of guns.
Sometimes huge differences.
What matters is the accuracy of YOUR SPECIFIC EXAMPLE.
Caliber is not relevant.

As for cleaning your gun after each use, the previous poster stated an opinion, although one held by many.
Not quite fitting with my experience.
And I have some...............

ps I would not consider owning an aluminum gun.

 

[branrot]

The three guns that keep popping up when people as the question you've asked are a .22, a .357 revolver, and a 9mm auto. I'm of the 9mm auto camp.

My first gun was a Beretta 92. 9mm, 15 rounds in the clip. Great gun, still have it. Also have a .22 pistol, a few .357 revolvers, and a few others. While the .22 is great to get the feel of firing a gun, has very low recoil, and while ammo is extremely cheap, my reasoning for the 9mm is that it's more powerful than the .22, and much more fun to shoot. Remember, shooting and shooting a lot is the key. While I enjoy shooting my .22 and find it very accurate because of the low recoil, it doesn't put a grin on my face like when I'm shooting a 9mm or a .357.

The .357 is a great gun too, but I like the higher capacity of the 9mm (some have up to 17 rounds in the clip with pre-ban mags), as well as the way it automatically cocks the hammer each time (on most guns except double action only), and the ease of reloading (putting bullets in the cylinder either manually or with a speedloader, versus popping in a new clip).

While I like the higher capacity of the 9mm, I'd feel perfectly well protected with either a 9mm or a .357. Both are fun, but the 9mm wins out in the coolness factor (though the revolver has that retro thing going for it).