What to step up to????????

[TH3180]

I am looking to step up in caliber. I will give you a little background on me. I have three .22lr pistols Colt New Frontier, S&W 422 and a Buckmark Camper SS. I love all three for different reasons. The Colt my grandpa gave to me. The 422 was my father-in-laws. The BM is the first gun I ever bought. I like shooting them because it is cheap.
I am thinking I want to step up a little, because I want something with a little more punch. I will be target shooting and shooing on the farm. At this point I am not looking for a carry piece. I'm not concerned with self protection either. I just want a new gun to shoot. What advice would folks give me on what to even start looking at. I'm leaning towards an autoloader over a revolver but I am open to anything at this point.
Any help you can give that would be great.
Tim

 

[David E]

A very versatile handgun is a .357 revolver.

I just took out my SIL and he liked the Ruger Blackhawk quite a bit. The single action allowed comfortable shooting with some pretty hot loads.

You may already know this, but a .357 can also shoot .38 special, adding to the versatility.

Keep us posted!

 

[easyg]

I advise a 9mm autoloader.

There are many many good 9mm pistols out there, it really depends upon how much $$$ you're wanting to spend.

Some that I recommend (in no particular order)....

CZ 75BD
CZ P01
CZ 75D PCR
Springfield Armory XD9
SA XD9 compact
Glock 17
Glock 19
Ruger P95
Beretta 92F
Sig P226
Sig P229
Sig SP2022

(Not an all inclusive list by any means)


Good luck,
Easy

 

[Armedleprechaun]

I would go with either a .357 revolver such as the Ruger GP100 and S&W 686. Or the Glock 17 or 19. This is because of their high quality, ease of use And great track record. My vote goes to Glock, However I've owned the 686 as well and it is a great gun. I would try both the Glocks and the revolvers and see what you're most comfortable with. Lastly, 9mm will in most cases be the cheapest to shoot Best of luck!

Evan

 

[BCRider]

You've got both revolvers and semis in your list of .22's (btw, I'm a fellow 422 owner. Superb little gun we got!) so which way you go for a center fire is up to you and which you like best, semi or wheel.

For a wheelgun if you want to go new you won't find better than a S&W 686. If you prefer blue then maybe a 586.

If you don't mind used then a very good or better condition Model 19 will serve you for many years to come. And a 4 inch version would do nicely as a carry piece on many occasions while still being an excellent rage gun in the meantime. The 6 inch version excells as a range gun for serious target or accuracy related matches. Um... the 19 got more bytes in this because I have one myself and it's my favourite revolver out of the Models 10, 19 and 28 that I have... sorry for the bias....

If you want to shoot a steady diet of .357Mag then a Model 27 or 28 are the way to go. Or the Ruger GP100 with a spring kit would also be a superb candidate.

For semis I'm biased towards all metal guns for range work. They just feel better when shooting them. Besides, after trying a lot of them I found that I prefer the trigger feel of a hammer fired gun vs a striker fired gun. After trying a bunch I was given a CZ Shadow to try. That clinched it for me. The Shadow was my first handgun. Recently while casting about for a second 9mm as a backup and for some IDPA fun I tried all the options again. Nothing really tickled my fancy. Then I tripped over a deal on a used CZ75 pre "b" model for a price that I couldn't pass up. It was just what I was looking for. So now I'm a supremely happy double CZ owner.

The moral of this story, as the old fairy tale goes, is that "you need to kiss a lot of frogs before you find Prince Charming". And you need to kiss your OWN frogs instead of relying on which frogs we kissed. In the end it's you that is going to shoot the gun. Get out to a nearby Rent-A-Gun range and try out all the options you can find.

For purely financial reasons if you're buying factory ammo you'll want to stick to .38Spl or 9mm. But if you're willing to get into reloading then by all means try out some of the .40 and .45 guns. And of course if you're looking at the larger calibers then you'd be crazy to not try out a 1911 or two.

 

[LawofThirds]

Wheel gun:

.357 magnum hands down. A 686, 586, 19, 66 or GP 100 are all excellent choices in this caliber and usually all are able to be found for reasonable prices on the used market.

Bottom Feeder:

.45, .40 or 9mm are all good choices. Obviously, there's a tradeoff for the .45 and .40 in reduced capacity. Any of the CZ's, XD's, Glocks, 3rd Gen S&W, S&W M&P's, quality 1911 clones, or Sig Sauers are excellent choices here.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I would also buy a .357 Magnum revolver. You can start out shooting light .38 Special ammo and work your way up... The .357 Magnum is a great all around gun. (I have more than a few)

 

[oldfool]

if just looking for a small step up, range day fun gun, a 22WMR can be a lot of fun, a bit more bang in your hand, and an accurate 22WMR revolver (make mine a 6" S&W model 48) can easily compete with most 22LR rimfires

but for overall versatility, I do not think anything can compete with a good quality full size SA/DA 38/357 revolver... extreme range in ammo power factor readily available right off the shelf.. a "90 percenter".. a gun that can do 90% of pretty much anything you might be inclined to do

 

[Agostini]

I'm with the .357 Magnum revolver crowd. A 686 with 6 or even 4 inch barrel makes an excellent accurate gun fun to shoot and hit all day long.

Choose wisely.

 

[David E]

For strictly a "Fun Gun," I'd still say go with a single action revolver like the Ruger Blackhawk.

It's less punishing to shoot than the DA guns.

But, if you want the gun to pull extra duty to include defensive purposes, then a DA gun trumps the SA

 

[TH3180]

Thank you everyone for your thoughts in this.

I advise a 9mm autoloader.

There are many many good 9mm pistols out there, it really depends upon how much $$$ you're wanting to spend.

Some that I recommend (in no particular order)....

CZ 75BD
CZ P01
CZ 75D PCR
Springfield Armory XD9
SA XD9 compact
Glock 17
Glock 19
Ruger P95
Beretta 92F
Sig P226
Sig P229
Sig SP2022

(Not an all inclusive list by any means)


Good luck,
Easy

So out of this list give me your top 2 or3.

 

[David E]

If you want a semi-auto 9mm, consider:

Glock 34

S&W M&P Pro

Springfield XD-m

Sig 226 (E2 version)

 

[sonier]

357 mag best cartridge around

 

[torotoro]

I've yet to get my first HG (waiting on NJ permit) but after the .22 revolver I plan to get a 357 (Smith 27) then a CZ 75 (9mm).

 

[BCRider]

I take it from your reply quoting easyg's post that you're after an autoloader. Again I'd strongly suggest you go out to one or three of the Rent-A-Gun ranges in your area and shoot a bunch of different 9mm options if that's the cartridge you want to go with. Otherwise the Glock guys are going to tell you to get Glocks, the S&W guys will tell you to get an M&P, the Beretta Batch will say a 92fs or PX4, the CZ guys one of the many CZ 9mm and so on.

For example I love my two CZ's, but I'm equally good with Glocks, Berettas and M&P's. But I found that I can't shoot the higher muzzle axis Sigs worth a darn without extreme concentration. And I really hate the blockiness of how the Glocks feel although I shoot them just fine. Meanwhile there's others out there that LOVE how their Glocks feel in their hands and there's Sig folk that wouldn't understand what the heck I'm talking about. So YOU need to shoot a bunch of guns yourself and take notes and zero in on the best 2 or 3 that suit YOU, not us.

There's not a bad gun in easyg's list. They are all equal for quality, service support and how well they can shoot. But there's two or three that you'll like better for yourself based on how they feel, how they shoot for you and how you like the looks of them.

 

[Nushif]

Fondle some guns and see which one feels the best.

I mean it. Be utterly subjective and go with what feels like it's be awesome to shoot and you can handle.

You have the basics covered from what I gather. At this point anything you get it fluff?

 

[BHP FAN]

Time to get a Rock Island .45.

 

[JDGray]

I know this is a handgun fourm, but my RRA 9mm carbine, is the most fun you can have with a handgun round!! Easy 100yrd hits, dead accurate, cheap to shoot, just plain fun!!

Or a CZ75 variant! P01, PCR

Ruger GP100

Ultimate fun machine!!

 

[BHP FAN]

that's tough to beat!

 

[easyg]

CZ 75BD
CZ P01
CZ 75D PCR
Springfield Armory XD9
SA XD9 compact
Glock 17
Glock 19
Ruger P95
Beretta 92F
Sig P226
Sig P229
Sig SP2022

So out of this list give me your top 2 or3.

Well, it's not that simple....


IF you are the type who likes a traditional DA/SA semi, and you have plenty of money to spend, then I recommend:
Sig P226
Sig P229


IF you are the type who likes a traditional DA/SA semi, but you're on a tight budget, then I recommend:
Ruger P95
CZ P01
CZ 75D PCR


IF you are the type who believes that the only safety one really needs is a good holster and "trigger-finger discipline", and are comfortable with a 5.5 lb. trigger and no manual safety whatsoever, then I recommend:
Glock 19
Glock 17


And if you like Glocks but you're still a little afraid of them because they lack a "real safety", then the XD9 might be a better choice for you.


Like others have said, you really need to shoot them to know for sure what you like.
The good news is this:
With the possible exception of the Ruger, the rest of the ones on the list are rather easy to sell or trade if you don't like them.

I hope this helps,
Easy


And just in case you are wondering, I carry a Glock G27 .40 most days (sometimes I switch barrels to make it a G33 .357Sig).
And my truck gun is a Ruger P95.

 

[Boxhead]

I'd go find a 4" or 6" Ruger Security Six 357 and learn how to shoot it well. They are tough to beat from a cost to quality standpoint and though I personally despise the 357 Mag caliber it does offer the 38 Special option as mine always digest. If you have the need for more speed the 357's are there waiting. My wife's security blanket is said gun in 2 1/2" configuration loaded with Federal 129 gr +P 38 Special's. She shoots it with confidence. They really are fine little guns.

 

[Buck Snort]

David E. wrote: "A very versatile handgun is a .357 revolver."

My sentiments EXACTLY! This is the top choice IMHO for anything but dangerous game. The versitility just cannot be beat. There's the .38 Short, .38 Special, .38 Special +P and +P+, .357 Mag., and .357 Mag +P. HO-CHEE-MAMA!! That's a lotta gun!

 

[Ky Larry]

+1 on a good .357 revolver. I have 4: 6" Python, S&W Model 19 4",S&W Model-686 4" with Millet red dot, Ruger Black Hawk 6". All are fun, accurate, and reliable. Easy to reload with lots of different bullets.

 

[JAguirre]

easyg is giving some great advice here, very well stated, sir.

 

[S&Wfan]

Hi,

I'm gonna through in an entirely different beast, for it is the most fun center-fire caliber to shoot and superbly accurate too with the right load your gun likes. Plus, with self-defense NOT an issue here, why introduce the poster to the hard "sting/slap" recoil characteristic of .357 ammo. (Yeah, I know . . . .38 Special 148 grain wadcutters turn a .357 into a pussycat, but I want to give him a fresh option)

I RECOMMEND . . . a .32 S&W caliber REVOLVER with a 4" barrel. Lots of 'em on the used markets and they barely kick more than a .22LR pistol . . . thus preventing flinch and making shooting VERY fun!

My other two picks would be a 4" or 6" S&W revolver in . . . ahem . . . .357, AND a very pleasant and accurate round out of either a revolver or semiautomatic . . . the .45 ACP. The firm/push recoil characteristics of a .45ACP handgun make them VERY fun to shoot . . . and very accurate too with the better ones!