The first handgun you purchased and why?

[Overkill870]

I would recommend the first handgun purchase to be something that is extremely popular. Like a glock 19, s&w k frame, ruger gp100, a colt 1911. Whatever style of gun, go with one of the "you can't go wrong" choices. The first handgun is probably one that he will want to keep, might as well make it a quality piece.

My regret on my first pistol is I went with something uncommon and obscure because I thought it was a good deal. It was a CZ 40P. Seemed very well made, but when I shot it, I felt horrible trigger slap. After one magazine, my trigger finger was stinging in pain. I couldn't stand it and ended up selling it for a loss. If I could have done it over, I would have went with one of the more established models.

 

[I6turbo]

Ruger standard model for $ 37.50 new. The price matched the $$ in my pocket.

[/URL][/IMG]

That exact gun was also my first handgun, probably 3 or 4 years later, and mine was a used gun. I kept it a couple of years and must have traded it for something but I don't recall what.

 

[Coop45]

Iver Johnson 22, 1963

 

[Kennydale]

Ruger SR40C I liked it and the price was right at the time.
Now i carry a Glock G17 gen 4

 

[gbran]

By the mid 60's my dad had already given me a few long guns and a 22 revolver. My first gun that I bought was a Wizard shotgun from Western Auto in about 1968 and my first handgun was a S&W Model 10 used from a family friend. I bought it for home protection and while in the outdoors.

 

[Candyman87]

2014 Walther (S&W) PPK in .380

Why? I've wanted one ever since I saw Goldeneye (my first Bond movie... borderline obsessed ever since)

"Walther PPK, 7.65 millimeter. Only three men I know use such a gun. I believe I've killed two of them." - Valentin Zukovsky

To this day it has more rounds through it than any other gun I own... and I shoot it better than any too.

 

[chicharrones]

I was 29 or 30 or so when I bought my first handgun a couple decades ago. I wanted supposed all around versatility since I didn't think I would be buying another gun for some time.

A new blued Ruger GP100 with a 6" barrel got the call. I still have it.

 

[spm]

My first handgun was a Llama 1911 in 45acp. It was in the 70s, and I bought it because it was available, affordable, and I knew the person I was buying from. Now, before all the Llama bashers come out, I will say yes, I know now that it isn't a quality gun, but I have owned that gun for over forty years and it has always worked, and went bang every time I pulled the trigger. The only time it failed to feed was when I tried to feed it Critical Defense hollow points, as it wasn't designed for them. I still have the gun and still shoot it, occasionally. I have acquired other guns over the years, all of them better than the Llama, so I guess I keep it for sentimental reasons.

steve

 

[tdstout]

My first pistol was a Springfield 1911 when I was 16. I had to give my mom the money to go buy it for me.

Shame on me, but I wanted a 1911 because I've always seen them in the movies. I still have it, it's a pretty good shooter.

 

[Winkman822]

Mine was a used Glock 23. The price was right, and I knew Glock to have a great reputation for reliability, I had casually shot a few and they seemed adequate, but the more time I spent with the Glock, the more I realized that it just wasn't for me. Mainly, I found out that the gun just isn't comfortable in my hand. I pretty quickly parted company with the 23 and moved on to a slew of Kimber 1911's with mixed results.

 

[danez71]

BHP because it fit my hand well.... 9mm is a fairly versitile... the peddgree of the BHP.... and its a nice looking gun.

My purpose was to have a handgun (other than a RG22lr) in the home and for camping (mostly in non bear areas). I figured if it was issued in several wars then it should be OK for camping.


I had been wanting it for about 10 yrs since a young teen.

 

[rklessdriver]

The first handgun I ever bought.....



Because 44 Magnum. Figured I'd jump right into the deep end of the pool.
Will

 

[yugorpk]

German police trade in P-38 9mm. Bought it at the Rod and Gun shop in Darmstadt Germany maybe the day after I turned 21 in 1987. Paid $110. Still have it. No importer marks and it's not marked P-1.

 

[RA40]

Some here started with some modest sized calibers. I was a bit timid and began with a .22. Bunch of the guys who were working were also similar age and were talking about their new gun. Not wanting to be left out I went shopping.

Told the sales guy I'd like a starter and he showed a variety of .22's. A buddy had picked up a 622 but the stainless 2206 caught me more. He showed a model 41 but on a college budget that was too much. Still have that 2206 and wish for a model 41. At $1K+ it still is pricey.

 

[.455_Hunter]

I started shooting and carrying my father's hadguns in the 11 to 13 year old range, but on my 21st B-day in the late 90's, I bought the 99% blued Ruger .357 Police Service-Six I had been eyeing in the LGS used case for $180. I still have it, and it will be never be sold. It is the only handgun in my family that has been discharged in a defensive encounter, saving my father's life. The 158 gr Speer Gold Dot did its job.

 

[Shaq]

A new Colt Detective Special. Price: $119.95. I carried it for 13 years while process serving. When I bought it, I didn't think I would like shooting, so I figured it would be just part of my job. How wrong I was.

 

[wgp]

I was just out of college, I had a Remington .22 and an 870 but my Dad considered handguns the devil's work. I borrowed a friend's Colt SAA, thought that was pretty cool (I own that gun now). Went into a sporting goods store one day, he had a bunch of handguns and it occurred to me that I could buy a handgun now without telling dear old Dad. Fell in love with a Colt Diamondback .22, blued, 6" and it went home with me. I think it was about $200, now it's worth about $2,000 but it's still in my safe. Not my favorite gun anymore but won't part with it (heck, I still have that .22 rifle and the 870 too).

 

[edmo01]

As a college student working two part time jobs while maintaining a full class load in the early '80s I couldn't afford much.

I already owned a shotgun, a 22LR rifle, and a deer rifle. I wanted a handgun that could come along with me in the woods and was accurate enough to provide entertainment. I picked 22LR as the caliber because it would be cheap to feed and could be used for rabbits and squirrels.

I saved up and bought the Ruger MkII pictured below. It has had thousands and thousands of rounds run through it. As a new USAF lieutenant in the mid-80s my friends and I would burn through a 500 round brick of ammo in an afternoon. Back then you could get a brick of 22LR for $9.99 at Kmart.

This is the only picture I have of it and you will notice the broken part. Ruger replaced that part for no charge. Also, this gun came with a chrome trigger and the stainless version had a black trigger. One of my fellow lieutenants had a stainless version and we decided to swap out triggers, so mine is unique in that aspect.

Great gun and it is still running strong!

Edmo

 

[pockets]

The first handgun you purchased and why?

My first handgun was a Hawes tip-up .22 single shot (sort of a Stevens copy).
I purchased it at a Western Auto store in 1968.

Why? ....... Well, because I wanted it. Not sure why 'WHY' matters.

.

 

[evan price]

Colt King Cobra 4" matte stainless, the day I turned 21. Paid $300 for it. Still have it. Not ever selling it.

Had been looking for my first gun and was going to get a brand new Smith & Wesson Model 19. The gun store didn't have one. So the guy says "But I have this used Colt!" I didn't think I could afford a Colt. But it was about the same price as the new S&W.

 

[Zerodefect]

Ruger P95. Because I was a moronic newb. Big, clunky, slow, but really safe.


Then I bought a Kimber CDP. Because I was still a moronic newb. Higher quality, thinner, faster, more accurate, extremely safe. But lacked corrosion resistance and reliability. Kinda critical items to have in a CCW.


Then I bought a Keltec P32. because.......you get the picture.


Eventually I wised up and got a few Glocks and a Dan Wesson Valor.

 

[tallpaul]

I was smitten at a young age and dad had a few pistols. As a 15 year old kid I was mowing yard s and wanted to buy my own pistol. I like many debated. Dad had a subscription to guns and ammo and I read a bunch more. I thought a .22... dad thought 357 since we reloaded and cast already. I narrowed my choices to the proverbial "ALL AROUND" handgun which in the 70's was a 4-6 inch 357 mag with adjustable sights. Then I had to decide Ruger- Smith or colt. I hemmed and hawed narrowing my choices to the Smith 27 and a Colt python.

I paid for it even though dad had to do the purchase... I ended up with this gun which I still have almost 40 years later. She still shoots great- and still looks awesome

 

[22-rimfire]

My first handgun was a H&R 999 Sportsman. Really liked the top break feature. Shot that gun a lot and as time went on got a bit frustrated with it blowing hot powder fragments and lead back onto my hands and sometimes my face. I didn't know about timing and so forth. Took it to a gunsmith in Dallas TX and he refused to work on it.... not worth messing with which amazed me since I was willing to pay him. He suggested I get myself a Colt or S&W. I did just that (4" Colt Diamondback 22) and never shot the H&R again. To this day, I don't hold a very high opinion of H&R 22 revolvers.

First centerfire handgun was a Colt Python within a couple years of of buying the Diamondback. I don't recall the first centerfire bottom feeder.....

 

[NorthBorder]

Ruger Blackhawk .357 mag.

I purchased it in 1977 at the Mainz Kastel casern in Mainz, Germany. I also brought home 2 rifles. Interestingly, I was able to transport them through the airports, myself, at Rhein Main and JFK with no problems. My, how times have changed.

 

[dh1633pm]

I purchased a Bersa 380. I carried on the streets of Chicago back in the middle 80's. It was purchased in PA and I took it with me when I moved. Lot of shootings going on back then. Would rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6. Sold it many years ago.