Newbie needs handgun help

[TH3180]

I will chime in to say that this is a newbie that is starting out on guns the right way with a .22 pistol. Too often people go out and buy a .40 or something then discover it's expensive to shoot and it ingrains their bad habits.

I will take that a complement thank you. It's funny I started out looking at 9mm. When I went to the gun shop I have decided I am going to deal with. They basically told me I should start out with a .22 pistol. When I left there I kind had a bad taste in my mouth because I wanted a 9mm. Then I got to thinking about what they said about ammo price along with some other things. I realized that they could have just said yeah great start with a 9mm more money in our pocket but they are will to not make as much money to make sure I am happy. That is why they will get my business. I figure after I shoot a .22 for a while I will look into a 9mm.

 

[RaspberrySurprise]

I'd say the Hunter, because those wood grips just look so nice and the fiber sight is nifty. What might help you decide is to head to the shop and hold both up (after checking that it is unloaded first and that the owner doesn't mind) and aim that at a point about fifty feet away and hold it for about thirty or so seconds and see which one stays on target the best and go with that. As to the fiber piece it should last for quite some time unless your bashing the snot out of the front sight. It's just a piece of plastic that channels light so it will never "run out" so to speak like something battery powered or with tritium in it, but it also won't work in darkness either.

PS The half-life of tritium is about 12 years so this takes awhile to fade as well.

 

[RaspberrySurprise]

double-post

 

[3KillerBs]

I just got the Hunter with the 6 7/8" barrel as my first gun. I don't know if my reasons for choosing it would apply to you, but they might give you something to think about.

The Mark III Hunter felt better in my hand than the .22/.45.

I liked the Hunter's balance better than the bull barrel version.

I held a 4 1/2" in one hand and the 6 7/8" in the other and discovered that the balance was so perfect I couldn't feel the extra weight of the longer barrel.

I'm interested in target shooting and competing, at least in club-level matches.

Since I'm pushing 44, my eyes aren't what they used to be and I liked the bright sights -- its getting harder to line up black iron sights in bad light.

I think that the Hunter is one of the most beautiful guns made.

Some, all, or none of those factors may apply to your situation but that's my reasoning.