Suggestions Please

[Dynasty]

Hey guys. I'm new to the forums and to firearms, but from what I see I will be around very knowledgable people and I will be learning a lot. I'm 17 now and turning 18 in February. I have always been interested in firearms and now that I am getting to the age of legally purchasing one my interest has sparked even more.

I have been growing up around guns for most of my life. My parents were both never really into guns, but my uncle was/is. I always enjoyed going over his house and looking at his guns along with making the occasional trip to the firing range. Also, with the crazy world we live in today, anything can happen and you never know when a gun could save your life.

I have seen several videos on gun safety. My uncle always enforced safety as number one above all else. He made me watch videos before I even laid a finger on a loaded gun.

I need some suggestions on what pistol is best for me? I'm 5'8 170lbs and have been playing sports all my life and lifting weights seriously for 3 years so I have a pretty good base. I want something that is reliable, easy to use and maintain, does not have an overwhelming kick, ammo is not expensive and readily available and is the "best bang for buck" pistol. My budget is around $500. My plan is to use it for 50% sport and 50% protection. I will take it to the range regularly, but also have it at the house or car for protection.

Which pistol is right for me?

 

[gbran]

$500 will satisfy most any choice you make. I see that you'll not need a really small gun for ccw. Mid to full sized guns generally handle better and are a lot better at the range. A full sized or service sized .40 or .45 may not kick as much as a compact 9mm.

You have a lot of research ahead of you.

Action; Single, double, double action only, striker action.
Caliber; Adequacy, cost, availability, etc.
Frame; Polymer, blue steel, stainless, titanium, etc.
Make; $500 will cover most brands, but not all.

In a minute or two, others will chime in. Many will urge you to go to a range that rents guns. Great idea if ya got one.

You're fixin to get educated.

 

[Johnny B]

I'll jump in here and give the response you're bound to get a half dozen times within a few posts: go to a gun store and handle a few of them. See which ones fit your hand and your budget. 9mm is probably among the least expensive calibers to shoot and its recoil is mild, even in a lot of compact pistols, so that might be a good starting point. What I would do is go to a gun store and find a few that you like, maybe go to a range and rent them, and then come back here and get some feedback if you feel like you need it. It's all matter of taste, and your opinion is the most important one in the end. Anyway, here's the obligatory last word: get proper instruction and follow the four rules of safety AT ALL TIMES. Practice, practice, practice, and do it safely. Good luck with finding the right one.

 

[paul105]

My daughter and son in law recently asked the same question. After shooting several makes and calibers of both semi autos and revolvers, they ended up buying a Springfield XD .45.

They both shoot my old S&W M19 4" better than the XD.

Don't rule out a good double action in .357Mag/.38. Good power range, and 38 special ammo is reasonably priced. Look around for a used S&W Model 66 (stainless version of the M19) with 4" barrel. They aren't uncommon, so you should be able to handle one first. The Ruger GP100 should also be considered.

Paul

 

[Hauptmann]

You might want to look into your state laws more carefully. In most states you can buy a rifle or shotgun at 18, but you can't buy a handgun until you are 21. I remember "way back when", when I tried to buy a handgun when I turned 18 only to be told that I had to be 21.......the guy at the gun store smirked at me and I went home fuming.

As far as pistols go, you should go to a gun show and take a look around first and see what you like. For calibers, I definately recommend that you start with a 9mm. It's also called 9x19mm, 9mm Luger, 9mm Parabellum, or 9mm NATO in case you run into some confusion. It offers a good combination of killing power and low ammo cost......not to mention it is the most popular pistol caliber all over the world. A fantastic pistol you might want to look into is a CZ 75b. It is a very good performing reliable workhorse that is probably the best bang for your buck on the market right now. You can get one new for under $500. Great accuracy, simple to field strip and clean, and very reliable. New out of the box, the trigger pull will be a little rough, so get some A-Zoom snap caps and dry fire it till it smooths out.

 

[bluetopper]

A CZ-82 is the best bang for the buck right now. Get one while they are still being imported. The supply is dwindling.
They fit like a glove and shoot like a dream.

 

[Dynasty]

Would I be better off starting with a .22 pistol such as the Ruger MKIII 22LR or will I be okay going with a 9mm such as the CZ 75B or CZ 82?

 

[Vern Humphrey]

My plan is to use it for 50% sport and 50% protection. I will take it to the range regularly, but also have it at the house or car for protection.

Would I be better off starting with a .22 pistol such as the Ruger MKIII 22LR

That would be my advice. I note your criteria do not include concealed carry, so considerations about concealbilty and so on don't enter into the picture. Get the .22 and all the ammo you can afford. Learn to shoot it well -- practice, practice, practice.

A bonus to shooting a lot is you get to meet people at the range, discuss guns with them, handle their guns, and ask advice. Later on, when you get a concealed carry permit, you'll be more knowledgeable about what you want.

 

[Stoneface]

In my opinion get a .22 (a good one that fits you),go to the gun shops and fondle them all. Then practice,practice,practice. Getting another shooter to watch and coach you will help a lot. Have fun.