preparing to buy my first handgun

Status
Not open for further replies.
M

Mrcymstr

Member
Joined
Apr 25, 2011
Messages
96
Location
Telford, Tennessee
So I've been thinking for a long time and I simply can't figure it out, I will be turning 21 in a few months and I'm trying to think ahead and decide a bit if what I'm looking for and be budgeting for the purchase of whatever I decide. I have shot guns all my life but have very little experience with handguns (maybe 15 rds in my life). Some days I am heart set on .357 so as to have both a form of relatively cheap practice and power, then other days I think the RIA 1911 I've been eyeing would be best, then on another turn I think since its my first I should start with something chambered in 22lr just to get a feel for the subtleties of handguns. So I'd like any input regarding this whether its a model you would suggest or just general input or even to tell me I'm a idiot who needs to go away :D
 
If you are interested in a .357 then I think it would be a good starting point. You can always practice with a mild .38 Special load until you're comfortable with the weapon. .22lr is of course a great choice for practice but if you're only going to buy one, go with the .357. A little shopping around can net you a model like a S&W 19 or 27, Colt Trooper, or Ruger SP-101 for around $300.
 
My first thought would be to see if you have any friends or family who'd let you shoot some to see what you like.
My order for a gun is caliber 1st, then move to model you like.
Either way a .357 is highly versatile because you have so many different loadings you can use. And the 1911 is not as versatile but for it's intended purpose it will always get the job done. The 22lr is great because it can let you get in a lot of trigger time to practice, always a good quality. You could go for a 1911 with a conversion slide for the 22. Personally for a 1st that would be an outstanding idea.
Hope this helped.
 
Consider a CZ75 with a Cadet Kit, you get to shoot centerfire, and .22, not much better than that. except a Colt 1911a1 and a ACE kit....
 
Going with .22 caliber just to learn the basics. 9 mm is not bad either. I do agree a CZ with Kadet Kit is a great idea.
 
get what you want. just get a good one that will last a lifetime. there are plenty of good quality 357s and 45acps out there. get one. if you don't like it, sell it and get something else. we do this all the time. it's fun!

murf
 
If you want an auto go with a 9mm for cheap shooting and practice. Find a nice mid size gun to start with. For a revolver 38 spl fits the bill same as before, mid size and cheap range time. I dont advise first time owners to go with a 357, nice guns just not for learning to shoot. I know,I know you can shoot 38's to practice and 357 for home defense , but why pay the price when 38's are so much cheaper.

You will never find a one gun that covers all your needs and just starting out don't even try. Make up your mind on auto or revolver then go from there. Don't be afraid to buy used as they are cheaper and you can find really good deals out there at times.

What ever you get welcome to the wonderful world of shooting and start saving that brass. Revolvers are a lot easier to keep up with the brass and when you start reloading you should have buckets full. ;)
 
Before you buy anything, go to a rental range and shoot everything that interests you (and/or find a friend/relative/generous local, such as hardluk1, who will let you try theirs). I really wish someone had told me this before I purchased my first handgun.

R
 
Buy a .22 (Ruger or Buckmark) and learn how to shoot. Otherwise, you'll always be one of those mediocre shooters who make giant shotgun patterns on 7 yard targets.
 
Buy what you want. It doesn't matter if you buy a 22 or a .45 just buy what seems good to you. That way you are happy. What do the randoms on the Internet matter anyways if you hate what you bought?
 
A few thoughts:
Price, will not only be dictated by your choice but the amount of practice you can do.
.22lr is the cheapest practice
9mm is usually the next price point
Fit, we usually recommend revolvers for beginners, less FTF FTEs to worry about. However the weapon needs to fit your hand and point naturally for you. No one manufacturer uses the same grip angle.
Recite the rules and ingrain them to memory before each shooting session. You will keep yourself from making stupid mistakes. Remember there are no do overs!

I would have to go with rent until you find the one for you. If unavailable get a Ruger or Buckmark to learn the fundamentals then pick. You can always trade up, but odds are you wont wanna let go of your .22s.
 
"...tell me I'm a idiot who..." Hi. Not even a little. Being new doesn't make you stupid. Just means you're new.
First, decide how much money you want to spend. That aside, a handgun must fit your hand to be able to shoot it well. Makes no difference whether it's a pistol or a revolver. What it shoots doesn't matter either. Of course, some cartridges are less expensive to shoot that others and whether or not youir currently reloading matters too. What you want to do with it matters, as well. Go to your local gun shop and try a few on for size.
Think .22 LR for the absolute least expensive shooting. Followed by the .38 Special(a .357 revolver lets you shoot that and .357. .357 ammo isn't as cheap though), then a 9mm. 9mm pistols aren't target guns and ain't cheap to buy. And the assorted pistols don't fit everybody's hand. .45's aren't cheap to shoot, but a 1911 style usually fits most hands. The .45 isn't a big, horrible, recoiler either. Depending on the ammo used, of course. Mind you, hot loads aren't ugly either. An RIA 1911 clone isn't a Colt Series 70 Government, but it'll do.
I'd suggest a .22 pistol to learn on(techniques are the same no matter what the cartridge.) and a .357 revolver that fits your hand. Partial to the Ruger GP-100 myself. Smiths don't fit my hand. Personally, I hate Ruger .22 pistols(just a preference, but the triggers are bad and they're a nightmare to work on. Do my own smithing.), however, they're still a good entry level pistol that hold their value fairly well and don't cost a pile of money.
 
Problem solved... for the low low price of 50 usd my friend offered to sell me his .... jennings :facepalm: worst part is, its not even functioning properly and he actually thinks he's giving me a good deal.... but thanks for all the information from you guys, nothing I hadn't already thought of but its nice yo year from others who've been there :)

Hardluk1 at some point in the near future I may just do that but I just now started a new job and haven't got much of a steady schedule yet. Thank you very much for the offer I been meaning to take my most recent acquisition ('43 Soviet mn) to glsight it in anyhow
 
One aspect you failed to mention is what will you be using the gun for? From the sounds of it I'm thinking that your primary use would be fun and maybe some casual competition shooting.

If you haven't thought about the low key competition aspect of this choice I'd suggest you look into what's being shot in your area and attend as a spectator to see what's going on. Check out IPSC, IDPA, USPSA and any other club level matches that are centered around handguns. And while you're shopping around for an actual focus for your shooting why not check out Cowboy Action as well.

For me it's these matches which is where it's at. Standing and perforating paper at a range stall gets a bit old after a fairly short time if you're doing it regularly. But taking on the challenge of competition puts some focus into your shooting which I found to be highly fun and rewarding. Not to mention you meet a great bunch of like minded folks.

I know that most would not categorize IPSC and USPSA as "low key" or "casual". But the matches are what you make of them. Treat the aspects of safety and your own shooting at important and just don't get caught up in the "arms race". It may come on its own but you don't need to bow in to the pressures from some to "move up" if you're having a good time in Production, SSP or whatever.
 
Bc rider you make a good point I'm so very sorry, mostly for the tome being its casual shooting but with a goal to get enough practice in so I'm comfortable enough with handguns ( as I stated I've shot long guns a lot!) So as to be able to in my eyes cc both safely and in the right mindset that is something I'm very set on is eventually cc but not until I'm comfortable enough with handguns and their proper defensive application to do so correctly, safely, and without incident to feed the beast that is anti ;-), short answer is casual for now with eventual goal of cc, apologies for not stating that previously
 
Do some research like you have been doing, figure out a couple of guns you might like to have. If you have a lot of gun stores near by see what catches your eye and what kind of deals there are. Some gun stores will sell and carry a lot more of one type of gun and they will probably be your best deal for that type of gun. I have about 10 stores that I try to cycle through when I'm in the area and they are all good for different things.

If you are comfortable buying used then if you don't like a gun you can usually sell it for about what you have in it assuming you've gotten a reasonable deal.
 
I think .22LR is the place to start. You can more easily figure out how to make the bullet go where you want it if you are not dealing with a lot distraction from kick and racket.

Once you are a good shot with the .22 you can step up to any caliber you like. The fundamentals are the same.
 
I agree with Kendal Black.
I've owned over 2 dozen handguns ranging from .22LR revolvers to a .45 Colt Ruger Blackhawk. Owned 1911's, Glocks, SIG's, S&W and Ruger revolvers. I've owned snub noses, 4 inchers, and a 7.5 inch hogleg. I've owned .38's, .357's, .40's, 9mm's, .32's, and... well you get the idea.
My point is that I really regret not getting the right .22 handgun. I definitely should have made that a priority early on. I did own a couple .22 revolvers, but they weren't the right .22's. I sold them and don't miss them really. So while I think the .22 is a great starting place, you need the right one - meaning one you'll keep and continue wanting to use.
Don't get me wrong - it's possible to become a pretty good marksman with a .357 shooting .38's or with a 9mm. And to this day I still can pick up most 1911's owned by other people and shoot them pretty damn well after a magazine full of practice ammo - even if I go all winter without shooting, and eventhough I don't own any 1911's.
But for every fifty rounds of .38 Special I can afford to buy I can shoot 500 rounds of .22LR. In terms of trigger time, nothing else can compete. It just can't.

What's your budget? Can you afford a .22LR handgun and a centerfire? In the ideal world, that might be best.
But if you can only afford one and you don't NEED a defensive handgun right now, I think a .22 might be best... but it's gotta be the right .22 for you.
And I say that after having done the whole handgun ownership thing the "wrong" way.
 
No reason you cant learn on a 357.

If your 21, chances are you don't have piles of cash to buy multiple guns right now, and bills tend to sneak up on you anyway.

If you buy a .22, you may be stuck with that as your only pistol for a while. If you WANT a 357, then that is what you should get.
 
A .22 is good to learn on and your first 4,000 rounds will save enough to buy a 9mm. It is also unlikely for you to pick up any bad habits like a flinch. If you are not concerned about self defense and you don't seem to be the choice seems obvious. I don't think saying you should learn on a revolver is true anymore. Its not the 70s anymore. Most handguns are going to be automatics.
 
A phrase I'm fond of using is "If a .22 isn't your first handgun it should darn well be your second.". There's just way too many good points about practicing the basics with cheap ammo that let's you shoot a lot while learning the basics of handgun shooting. And if you should happen to develop a flinch alternating between shooting .22 and then transitioning to center fire while the "peace and tranquility" is still with you can help a LOT.

This Jennings that you bought? Which model and caliber is it? Will it take much to get it shooting again?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

T
  • Locked
Help me buy my first handgun
Replies
23
Views
552
RNB65
R
D
  • Locked
Buying my first handgun
Replies
22
Views
608
searcher451
S
S
  • Locked
First handgun
Replies
18
Views
690
ArchAngelCD
ArchAngelCD
F
  • Locked
Purchasing my first Handgun!
Replies
12
Views
1K
Sav .250
S
I
  • Locked
About to buy my first ever handgun.
2
Replies
42
Views
2K
shinyroks
S
Back
Top