What to get for a first gun?

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BlessedAreTheColtPeacemakers

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I've always been a big believer in the 2nd Amendment, but until now have been unable to personally own a gun because my Mom didn't want one in the house.

Well, I'll be moving away for college next year and I plan to finally own a firearm, so I was wondering if anyone could suggest a gun and gun holster? I'm a complete newbie and know almost nothing about guns, lol. I want something that can be used for target shooting and home defense/concealed carry but I don't have a ton of money so I need a cheaper one.

Anyone have any ideas?
 
First I suggest you look at a gun show or a pawn shop for a used gun ( save money ) then I suggest that you look around find one that feels right to you ( right now I wouldn't recommend a .45 because the ammo seems to be hard to come by ) buy THAT one personally I own a Rock Island Armory 1911 ( yeah its a .45 but I'm really happy with it) & a CZ75B in .40 S&W the only gun I would recomend AGAINST is ANYTHING MADE BY LLAMA
 
One Thing:

Most colleges are very anti-gun. Unless you know what you are doing I would not bring a gun to college (getting expelled and possibly criminal charges aren't worth it).

Oh, and contrary to treo, I wouldn't buy a used gun as your first gun. Without some experience it is too easy to buy someone else's problem. There are many guns that are quite affordable new, however.
 
I would suggest a Ruger Mark III (or better yet, a good used standard model or Mark I).

But first, get some basic instruction, hands on. Do a lot of listening and learning before you just pick up a gun and try to start shooting. We like safe, healthy new shooters.

Possibly, some THR members in your area will volunteer to help you out.
 
Depends on what state you're in and where your college is as to whether or not you can have a gun. In some states it is all but illegal for anyone under 21 to own a handgun. Rifles and shotguns are easier to own. If you are able to own a handgun it is hard to beat a good quality revolver in 38 Spec. or 357 Magnum revolver. If a semi-auto is what you like you should be able to find a good one in 9mm, 40 S&W, or 45 ACP. Personally I would go with a good revolver in 357 Magnum with a 2 /12" to 4" barrel. I doubt you'll be getting a good deal of practice during the academic year so the revolver would be easier to learn. You should be able to get a revolver for a lot less money than the auto. Good luck on choosing a gun and good luck at college.
 
I just bought my first gun about a year ago. I went with a revolver, but knowing what I know now, I would have bought a 9mm semi-auto. To me, its a great all-around gun for range (cheap ammo) and home-defense.

I like the Smith M&P best, but there are a lot of options...

To echo what the other responder said: I work at one university and attend another - both have very strict anti-gun rules. I highly doubt your college will allow you to have a gun, so you have a difficult decision to make.
 
Well, the school I'm going to attend is Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida. I heard that schools were anti-gun, but I'm not sure of the rules at ERAU.
 
I would suggest a Ruger Mark III (or better yet, a good used standard model or Mark I).
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Excellent advice for all newbies (and most not so newbies for that matter). You will enjoy shooting it so much and actually be able to AFFORD to shoot it. Learning to shoot properly with a .22 is easier and again the additional range time that a decent .22 will give you will make you a much better shot in the long run. Locally you can usually find a new or slightly used Mark II in the $225 to $275 range. They are excellent guns for the money!
 
Go to a range that rents guns. Try a bunch. See what you like/shoot well. None of us can answer this question for you.

We can give you information about specific guns.

Here's a small list of guns I personally own that, in my opinion, fit your criteria:

1) Taurus MilPro 745. Very small (CCW), cheap (<$300). Very reliable.
2) Bersa Thunder .380. Very small (CCW), cheap (<$300). Very reliable.
3) Daewoo DP51. Kinda small (CCW), cheap (used). Very reliable.
4) Hi-Point 9mm. Kinda small (CCW), very cheap ($100-150 new). Very reliable.

The Taurus 745 would be a tough gun to cut your teeth on. It's a light .45, so it kicks more than the others. The Daewoo might be a moot point as it could be hard to find one. The Bersa is an awsome gun. Probably the best of the bunch, based on your criteria. If the price is too steep (I don't know what you mean by a "cheaper one"), then the Hi-Point is very reliable, if not too easily concealed.

I have some others that don't fit your criteria. These four firearms, in my limited experience, function well, were inexpensive, can be concealed, and have many detractors.
 
Well, the school I'm going to attend is Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida. I heard that schools were anti-gun, but I'm not sure of the rules at ERAU.
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Are you planning to live on campus? If so, you are SOL. It's a 2nd degree misdemeanor (60 days in jail + $500 fine, as well as revocation of your CCW permit) to posses a firearm on a college campus in Florida.

Edit: It looks like it's a non-resident campus, so never mind. Just be careful; you can't even leave your gun in your car while on campus.

Now to answer your question:
Go to a range that rents guns and shoot some different ones. Pick what you like best and buy that one.

That said, taking a plunge on a gun that you are unfamiliar with is not always a bad idea. My first handgun was a Makarov that I bought simply because it was what the shop had that was in my price range. A dozen or so handguns later, it turns out to still be one of my favorites. Also, consider that guns hold their value well and you can always sell/trade for something different later if it turns out you don't like it. You will have better results if you do your homework beforehand though.

Don't be afraid of used. If it's a reputable shop, they won't try to screw you. If you have a more gun-knowledgeable friend, take him or her with you and let them check it out. Otherwise, it has been covered here before (check the archives) as to what to look for in a used gun. You can often save yourself quite a bit of money and frequently find a very good deal.

Also, even though I didn't in my case, I recommend staying away from foreign military calibers (like 9x18 Makarov or 7.62x25 Tokarev) in a first handgun. These guns can be very attractive due to price--military surplus prices are often way below actual "value." However, ammo supply in some of these calibers is sketchy and you may not be able to consistently find it locally. I would recommend sticking with a "standard" American round that you will be able to buy anywhere.

Added: I'll second Bensdad's recommendation of the Bersa Thunder .380. It's small enough to easily carry concealed, reasonably well made, reliable and inexpensive.
 
As a returned to college student the best advice I can find is apply for every grant you can. These add up and you may find you have enough at the end of the year to actually purchase what you want. It has been good for me as I am about to graduate and now own more than when I started school. Best of luck and remember to study. I would say get some range time with a .22 before going to the CZ 75B.
 
I am required to live on campus the first year of school at ERAU. Anyone got any ideas on where I can keep my firearm?

Once I get elected to the Florida legislature, that's the first law that's going to bite the dust :p ;)
 
S&W 500! Just kidding. Get some training, and find a place that rents. Check some out to see what you are comfortable with.
 
Unfortunately, if you are living on campus the first year, you're SOL. As for purchasing a handgun, are you 21? Big question there.

Sam
 
If you have to live on campus it looks like your plunge into the world of handgun ownership might have to wait a year. That doesn't mean that you cannot get out and do lots of shooting. You just need to find a good range nearby with rentals. You can probably get some help finding one here at THR. A rental for a shooting session should run about $5. If you go twice a month that's only $120 over the course of the year to try 24 different guns and not have to clean or maintain any of them! : ) By the end of the year you'll know for sure what you want to buy and the range store will probably give you a great deal since you'll have become a regular.

I also recommend a .22 for your first gun. On the low end of the price scale ~$200 the S&W 22A seems to be well liked. For just a bit more any of the Ruger's or Brownings are excellent. If buy a nice .22 as your first gun it will be the last gun you'll ever part with and will provide you with a lifetime of shooting. The first one is special, don't let it be some cheap piece of junk that you trade off. Make the first one something that you'll keep and use forever.

Stay with the bigger brands that have a reputation for good quality and customer service. If you are thinking of buying a make/model check new prices at http://www.budsgunshop.com and http://www.gunbroker.com. Register at Gunbroker and you can search the completed auctions to see what things actually sold for. Check the selling price of it used to see how much value it retains. The total cost of ownership of a quality handgun will be less than for a cheaper one, you just need to put more money in up front. It's like having that money in the bank though only instead of interest you get paid in use of the firearm.

Good luck, with the guns and with college.
 
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Are you looking for a handgun or a rifle or shotgun?

Will you be able to store it within the rules of where you are going? Have you checked?

What experience do you have shooting? Have you ever been shooting?

The best first gun is one that fits you as an individual and not something someone tells you to get. I'm not talking about "fitting" your personality or "style", I'm referring to length of pull, cast, drop and pitch for shotguns or rifles and their analogues in handguns. Throw caliber/gauge into it and you can begin to figure out what is the "best" first gun to get.

Don't let anyone tell you to "go big or stay on the porch". Your first gun is going to be where you develop your shooting skills (or refine them if you've already been shooting). Get the largest caliber that you can shoot in training comfortably. That means lots in a day. If a 12 will wear you out and leave you battered and sore after a day of busting clays, then it was probably a poor choice over a 16, 20 or 28 (see SM, I remember the 28). Same for the hand cannon some "friend" told you that you had to have to be "cool".

Get what fits in a size that you can enjoy a day of shooting.
 
I'm an instructor, for what that's worth, so I've seen this question asked a lot. Most new shooters, especially guys, are extraordinarily anxious to get a "big boomer" or a hi-cap 9mm. These are usually the people you see blasting away at the target and actually sometimes hitting it...then again, a trained monkey could hit the target every once in a while.

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I'm a complete newbie and know almost nothing about guns, lol.
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It may be a bad assumption but I'm assuming this also means that you don't have much/any experience shooting. You would be well served to start with a .22RF. Yes it seems little and not exciting, but a .22 is the BEST way to actually learn how to shoot, versus just turning money into noise.

Also, handguns are very difficult to learn to shoot well. Since you are in school now, you understand the idea that positive reinforcement is a good thing...take an action and see positive results and/or progress. That is much more difficult to gain with a handgun than a rifle.

Well, I'll be moving away for college next year and I plan to finally own a firearm
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and

but I don't have a ton of money so I need a cheaper one.
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College = no money (at least it did for most people I know). A less expensive gun and having it chambered in .22 RF will allow you to shoot a lot and actually be good at it.

I want something that can be used for target shooting and home defense/concealed carry
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Good for you wanting to get your CCW (I live in Illinois and can't have one here but I have a NV and PA non-resident which covers 34+ states). That said, there is a HUGE responsibility that comes with CCW. You owe it to those around you, yourself and even a perpetrator to be proficient with your firearms. Take the time to learn the right way...then move up.

An analogy for Embry-Riddle...no pilot immediately jumps into a Gulfstream G-V or an F/A-18 and starts flying. Cessna 150 or Piper Warrior to start...with an instructor...then move your way up.

My recommendations?

Ruger 10/22 (or equivalent) rifle first
Ruger MkII (or equivalent) pistol next
Worry about the CCW pistol when you master #1 and #2

Sending you a PM on this also.
 
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As for purchasing a handgun, are you 21? Big question there.
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I will be by the time I buy this gun.

Will you be able to store it within the rules of where you are going? Have you checked?
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No, I won't, but I didn't know that until after I started this thread :( I think I'm gonna follow wuchak's advice, though, and use my 1st year as time to experiment and then maybe move off campus and buy a gun my 2nd year.

What experience do you have shooting? Have you ever been shooting?
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No, I haven't. I'm gonna take a course though.
 
When I was getting my A&P, the FAA frowned on guns at the airport and other FAA regulated facilities. So, I would not expect be carrying at class.
 
My brother just graduated from ERAU in Prescott this last April, and like the Florida campus his wouldn't allow weapons in the dorms.

My own college doesn't allow weapons in any student approved housing (on or off campus) as stated in the Honor Code that all students must sign, so even off campus housing are, in theory, "gun free". Make sure to check your own school's policy on such things. While I don't like it and would prefer to keep mine around I consider my word to be more important then my safety so I'll tough it out for the remainder of my time here (at least the town is reasonably safe, the Police were once dispatched to deal with some loitering ducks due to a lack of better things to do).

I just made my first gun purchase about nine months ago, and picked up a 9mm M&P (great for dates!). Like others have suggested I took the time to try things out, and not only did it save me from buying something I didn't want I've never had to play the "maybe I should have gotten this instead" game.
 
Blessed. First of all congratulations on your choice of professions. I used to fly on demand air taxi, corporate, and Lifeguard flights as a contract pilot for a little FBO here in Northern Maine, and then later for a Corp. out of Virginia. Great job. I miss it very much (grounded for Medical reasons).
Approach purchasing a firearm just as you would flying. Study, research, and, above all, try em out. So many choices. Don't be in a hurry. Take your time and enjoy your first purchase. Fly safe. Capt. Rick
 
Bleesed:

Im an ERAU grad...no, no weapons on campus. Just live off campus like most.

Also on glocktalk.com I have run into a few ERAU guys who were in shooting clubs there.

good luck down there.
 
I'd get a 357 magnum revolver or a 9mm semi-auto. 9x18 makarov is also cheap to shoot. .22 is fun for a while, then you shoot a bigger gun and you'll want to shoot it all the time. I personally think .22 is worthless. It will teach you gun handling to a point, but it has zero recoil, which is something you'll need to learn about. It's also worthless for defense. .357 and 9mm are cheap enough to shoot if you buy Winchester whitebox at Walmart. If you get a rifle, get an AK-47 or SKS. They're a good first rifle and ammo is reasonably priced.

I would recommend sticking with a "standard" American round that you will be able to buy anywhere.
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Winchester makes Tokarev, Makarov, and AK ammo. Plus if you buy in bulk, you'll order ammo online.
 
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