What is the best gun maker? And what is the best gun?
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Black Snowman
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Listen to Caz223. If your range has rentals that speeds things up quite a bit as well. Around Kansas City rentals average $5 a session.
To answer the title question,
SSK single shots are just about impossible to beat for reliability and accuracy.
To answer the title question,
SSK single shots are just about impossible to beat for reliability and accuracy.
caz223
Member
Also, I see that you're a THR forum newbie as well.
There are many very knowledgeable people here, and a few full of hot air and bullstuff.
I just hate to name names (I always leave someone out, and for that, I'm sorry.), but there are a few people who always seem to offer sage advice, and just generally are on top of things.
C.R. Sam, Mike Irwin, Ala Dan, Lunde, Tamara, Stephen A. Camp, and many others have helped me out immensely in the past, and if they offer up their advice, treat it like gold. Good advice seems to be in short supply in this day and age. Please don't be offended if you weren't included in the short list, if I had to list everybody that has helped me out, it would take a lot more time than I have.
There are many very knowledgeable people here, and a few full of hot air and bullstuff.
I just hate to name names (I always leave someone out, and for that, I'm sorry.), but there are a few people who always seem to offer sage advice, and just generally are on top of things.
C.R. Sam, Mike Irwin, Ala Dan, Lunde, Tamara, Stephen A. Camp, and many others have helped me out immensely in the past, and if they offer up their advice, treat it like gold. Good advice seems to be in short supply in this day and age. Please don't be offended if you weren't included in the short list, if I had to list everybody that has helped me out, it would take a lot more time than I have.
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lissell
Member
For what is worth, when i started thinking about concealed carry and purchasing a firearm i didnt got to a gun store, i went shooting. I have a number of friends who collect and my father is very "into" guns. I must have shot roughly 15 models before deciding on what gun i wanted. My criteria was pretty simple, i wanted something that fit my hands, had a mild enough recoil that it wouldnt intimidate, be small enough for concealed carry and preferably be in 9mm.
I tried a glock, walther, makarov, beretta, 1911 and variouse others and after a while settled on a Beretta Cougar in 9mm. Of all the guns i tried it had the most "pleasent" recoil and fit my hands really well. Im a 120lb female however, and that is probably not the right choice for you. Shoot as many guns as you can get your hands on before buying, its no fun taking a gun to the range and realizing that you just spent a couple hundred on a gun you cant fire.:banghead:
If you dont have friends and family to help in your search then go to ranges that rent guns, its a little more spendy but well worth your time.
I tried a glock, walther, makarov, beretta, 1911 and variouse others and after a while settled on a Beretta Cougar in 9mm. Of all the guns i tried it had the most "pleasent" recoil and fit my hands really well. Im a 120lb female however, and that is probably not the right choice for you. Shoot as many guns as you can get your hands on before buying, its no fun taking a gun to the range and realizing that you just spent a couple hundred on a gun you cant fire.:banghead:
If you dont have friends and family to help in your search then go to ranges that rent guns, its a little more spendy but well worth your time.
Baba Louie
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Welcome timmerk,
Boy, ask a simple question... you'd think you'd get a simple answer, no?
As others have stated there are Several Categories and calibers worthy of consideration:
Plinking... some form of .22lr (cheap to shoot, easy to learn, minimal recoil, you'll practice a lot as a result) Ruger or Browning make good semi-autos in this category (as do others). Revolvers by S&W, Ruger are good.
Centerfire... both semi-automatics and revolvers... several calibers...
target shooting...(and self defense)... can't go wrong with a S&W Model 10 (Revolver) in .38 special with a 4" barrel, it can also help protect house and hearth and Cops carried them for years. Then there's the .357 magnum, developed back in the 30's. Its a .38 with a longer case, holds more powder and as such makes a bigger bang and these bullets travel a lot faster. Almost always a revolver (but for the Coonan and maybe one other no longer mfg type of Semi-auto) Cops carried these and loved them (some still do). Not exactly cheap to shoot, but they will take the .38 special round so you can shoot them on the cheap. Colt, S&W and Ruger make good ones. (as do others)
...also some form of 9mm (usually a semi-auto) as ammo is relatively inexpensive. Too many good makers here to list but middle of the road variety types would include Glock, Beretta, Ruger, S&W and Sig. Some cost more than others, some are ugly, some are clunky, some cost less, some feel better in your hand (tho not necessarily mine), some have fixed sights, some adjustable sights... Cops switched from Revolvers to hi-capacity wonder-nines in the 80's but the Clinton era hi-cap magazine ban kinda put the skids on that (tho Law Enforcement and Military can still buy new hi-cap mags). Uncle Sam uses the Beretta 92 (called an M9 in the military). The Luger was probably the most famous 9mm semi-auto.
The .45 has been around for awhile now and its a good one. If I was going to war, I'd want one (I have several). Costs a little more in way of ammo than the 9mm. Makes a bigger hole. Colt, Sig, H&K, Glock, S&W and others make them as do others. The grandaddy 1911A1 used to be only (mainly) mfg by Colt, but there are so many mfg of 1911's now you could write a book on them and there'd be another maker by the time your book got published. Its hard to go wrong with a 1911 in .45 acp
The .40 S&W (where to begin?) is a 10mm round sized to fit in a 9mm format firearm. Bigger than the 9mm, smaller than the .45 (about an 11 1/2mm) Beaucoup makers. Ammo is not really cheap. Lotsa Cops going to that round.
Hunting? Cowboy? Collecting? .44 magnum, .44 special, .45 Colt and others... mostly wheelguns.
CCW? Small is good. Kahr, little Glocks, S&W and Colts, Sigs, Berettas all make good smaller sized (whats the derogatory buzzword that HCI used "Pocket Rockets"?)
Well, you can see the dilemna when you ask "What is the best maker/gun?"
The safe and best answer is, get one of each eventually. Then you tell me.
Spend a weekend looking back through the threads here and on The Firing Line, spend a week or three shooting and asking obnoxious questions at the range and at gun stores. Check out prices at www.gunsamerica.com to see what costs what, new or used.
Let us know whatcha get whenya get it.
And did I say Welcome? I like simple questions timmerk, keep it up. Just don't ask which is better, the 9mm or the .45?
Adios
Boy, ask a simple question...
you'd think you'd get a simple answer, no?As others have stated there are Several Categories and calibers worthy of consideration:
Plinking... some form of .22lr (cheap to shoot, easy to learn, minimal recoil, you'll practice a lot as a result) Ruger or Browning make good semi-autos in this category (as do others). Revolvers by S&W, Ruger are good.
Centerfire... both semi-automatics and revolvers... several calibers...
target shooting...(and self defense)... can't go wrong with a S&W Model 10 (Revolver) in .38 special with a 4" barrel, it can also help protect house and hearth and Cops carried them for years. Then there's the .357 magnum, developed back in the 30's. Its a .38 with a longer case, holds more powder and as such makes a bigger bang and these bullets travel a lot faster. Almost always a revolver (but for the Coonan and maybe one other no longer mfg type of Semi-auto) Cops carried these and loved them (some still do). Not exactly cheap to shoot, but they will take the .38 special round so you can shoot them on the cheap. Colt, S&W and Ruger make good ones. (as do others)
...also some form of 9mm (usually a semi-auto) as ammo is relatively inexpensive. Too many good makers here to list but middle of the road variety types would include Glock, Beretta, Ruger, S&W and Sig. Some cost more than others, some are ugly, some are clunky, some cost less, some feel better in your hand (tho not necessarily mine), some have fixed sights, some adjustable sights... Cops switched from Revolvers to hi-capacity wonder-nines in the 80's but the Clinton era hi-cap magazine ban kinda put the skids on that (tho Law Enforcement and Military can still buy new hi-cap mags). Uncle Sam uses the Beretta 92 (called an M9 in the military). The Luger was probably the most famous 9mm semi-auto.
The .45 has been around for awhile now and its a good one. If I was going to war, I'd want one (I have several). Costs a little more in way of ammo than the 9mm. Makes a bigger hole. Colt, Sig, H&K, Glock, S&W and others make them as do others. The grandaddy 1911A1 used to be only (mainly) mfg by Colt, but there are so many mfg of 1911's now you could write a book on them and there'd be another maker by the time your book got published. Its hard to go wrong with a 1911 in .45 acp
The .40 S&W (where to begin?) is a 10mm round sized to fit in a 9mm format firearm. Bigger than the 9mm, smaller than the .45 (about an 11 1/2mm) Beaucoup makers. Ammo is not really cheap. Lotsa Cops going to that round.
Hunting? Cowboy? Collecting? .44 magnum, .44 special, .45 Colt and others... mostly wheelguns.
CCW? Small is good. Kahr, little Glocks, S&W and Colts, Sigs, Berettas all make good smaller sized (whats the derogatory buzzword that HCI used "Pocket Rockets"?)
Well, you can see the dilemna when you ask "What is the best maker/gun?"
The safe and best answer is, get one of each eventually. Then you tell me.
Spend a weekend looking back through the threads here and on The Firing Line, spend a week or three shooting and asking obnoxious questions at the range and at gun stores. Check out prices at www.gunsamerica.com to see what costs what, new or used.
Let us know whatcha get whenya get it.
And did I say Welcome? I like simple questions timmerk, keep it up. Just don't ask which is better, the 9mm or the .45?
Adios
Bullet Bob
Member
Best
For 1K, you can get a great used S&W Model 17 .22 for about $300.00, so you can learn to shoot affordably, and still have enough left over for whatever you decide is best for you in a bigger calber.
For 1K, you can get a great used S&W Model 17 .22 for about $300.00, so you can learn to shoot affordably, and still have enough left over for whatever you decide is best for you in a bigger calber.
Baba Louie
Member
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2002
- Messages
- 3,831
timmerk,
Look for the Model 617 (the 6 means stainless steel)
http://www.smith-wesson.com/products/firearms/results_output.cfm
Adios
edited to add link from GunsAmerica
http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976356064.htm
might be more than $300 as you can see.
Look for the Model 617 (the 6 means stainless steel)
http://www.smith-wesson.com/products/firearms/results_output.cfm
Adios
edited to add link from GunsAmerica
http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976356064.htm
might be more than $300 as you can see.
10-Ring
Member
You mention some fine makers that make some fine firearms. The thing is that the performance of the firearm is also dependent upon the shooter & how well that firearm fits that person. Granted some guns will generally be made to a higher standard & withstand more punishment but as long as you buy from a quality manufacturer, you'll be okay w/ your selection.
Michael_2112
Member
Wow, quite the question...
I think you also are leaving out quite a few fine makers. It really all comes down to what you feel most comfortable with. I would certainly suggest as others have to take some time trying out everything you think you might want. You will find some of them just don't work for you.
IMHO, I would suggest checking out the CZ 75B. The 75b offers you a stone cold reliable 9mm on a very proven and often copied platform. If you get one of the CZ 75b's you can also get the Kadet Conversion Kit for about $200 more. This will allow you to shoot 9mm and .22 on the same platform.
So for $1000.00 you can get The CZ 75b, the Kadet Conversion Kit, about 5000 rounds of .22, 1000 rounds of 9mm, a nice holster, and probably even take an NRA basic handgun course.
YMMV,
~Mike
I think you also are leaving out quite a few fine makers. It really all comes down to what you feel most comfortable with. I would certainly suggest as others have to take some time trying out everything you think you might want. You will find some of them just don't work for you.
IMHO, I would suggest checking out the CZ 75B. The 75b offers you a stone cold reliable 9mm on a very proven and often copied platform. If you get one of the CZ 75b's you can also get the Kadet Conversion Kit for about $200 more. This will allow you to shoot 9mm and .22 on the same platform.
So for $1000.00 you can get The CZ 75b, the Kadet Conversion Kit, about 5000 rounds of .22, 1000 rounds of 9mm, a nice holster, and probably even take an NRA basic handgun course.
YMMV,
~Mike
Michael_2112
Member
Also...
CZ offers several other options such as the P-01, 85b, 97b, the 83 and several others.
CZ offers several other options such as the P-01, 85b, 97b, the 83 and several others.
Michael_2112
Member
Even though this is a broad question with little data to base an answer on, I will attempt to do so.
Get a 9mm. It's a good caliber for a newbie, cheap for practive, easy to shoot and effective. If you want a CCW, guns in this caliber are plentiful and small enough to carry.
Now that you have a caliber narrowed down, you need to pick up and feel each gun. Glock, SIG, Beretta, Kahr, etc are all good brands. With your budget, you won't have to skimp and pick a bad one.
For a revolver, a .38/.357 of course. S&W is my preference since you have the budget. Model 66 is a good one for shooting.
-Robert
Get a 9mm. It's a good caliber for a newbie, cheap for practive, easy to shoot and effective. If you want a CCW, guns in this caliber are plentiful and small enough to carry.
Now that you have a caliber narrowed down, you need to pick up and feel each gun. Glock, SIG, Beretta, Kahr, etc are all good brands. With your budget, you won't have to skimp and pick a bad one.
For a revolver, a .38/.357 of course. S&W is my preference since you have the budget. Model 66 is a good one for shooting.
-Robert
Waitone
Member
I apologize for my forum mates. Welcome to the THR. As a newbie you are expected to provide ammo for the next forum shoot.
The question you just asked is perhaps the second most devisive question you could have asked. The first being, "Big and slow vs small and fast."
You are a NEWBIE! That is a term of honor because it means you have the opportunity to do it right. So many of us did it the hard way. So many ways to do it hard. Things like buy the biggest caliber and ingrain the mother of all flinches into your brain. It takes years to overcome that particular mistake.
You may start wanting to throw lead down range. Sooner or later that will pass and you will want to get good. By that time all your mistakes will become evident because you practiced wrong. Shooting is like golf. You can pick up the fundamentals but you will never achieve your potential. Put yourself into the hands of a professional and listen to what he // she says. Shoot a variety of platforms. Spend a chunk of money shooting your way around a rental board. Pay attention to the price of ammo because that is the major cost of gun ownership. Example: 9MM goes for $5.000 / 50 rounds while .45 ACP goes for $14.00 / 50 rounds and .22LR goes for $10.00 // 550 rounds.
Another thing. One gun ain't never enough. You will figure out there is fun in having different platforms and calibers.
Good luck and good shootin'.
The question you just asked is perhaps the second most devisive question you could have asked. The first being, "Big and slow vs small and fast."
You are a NEWBIE! That is a term of honor because it means you have the opportunity to do it right. So many of us did it the hard way. So many ways to do it hard. Things like buy the biggest caliber and ingrain the mother of all flinches into your brain. It takes years to overcome that particular mistake.
You may start wanting to throw lead down range. Sooner or later that will pass and you will want to get good. By that time all your mistakes will become evident because you practiced wrong. Shooting is like golf. You can pick up the fundamentals but you will never achieve your potential. Put yourself into the hands of a professional and listen to what he // she says. Shoot a variety of platforms. Spend a chunk of money shooting your way around a rental board. Pay attention to the price of ammo because that is the major cost of gun ownership. Example: 9MM goes for $5.000 / 50 rounds while .45 ACP goes for $14.00 / 50 rounds and .22LR goes for $10.00 // 550 rounds.
Another thing. One gun ain't never enough. You will figure out there is fun in having different platforms and calibers.
Good luck and good shootin'.
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