What would be a good first pistol?

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Isaman2000

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I should receive my pistol permit in the next couple months and I can't make up my mind......45,357,44, 9mm, 38???? No particular use, just indoor range and concealment. What would be a good first pistol?
 
A good first pistol would be a .22. Cheap ammo, light recoil, you'd learn to shoot without developing (hopefully!) any bad habits. However, if you must get something bigger, 9mm would be the way to go. Again, cheap ammo, (but not as cheap as .22) and light recoil. (but not as light as a .22)

Just my accurate (hopefully!) advice I've learned lurking here

Edit:Oh, where are my manners? Welcome to The High Road!
 
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I agree with Cosine here, a .22 pistol would be a great first gun. I have a Walther P22 that I love to shoot. If you want something with more punch for protection, I would go with a 9mm or a .357. The 9mm is cheap to shoot and is great for personal protection. If you want a revolver, I would go with a .357 because you can shoot .38s in it for practice/range and stoke it with some good .38+p or .357 for protection. Welcome to THR.
 
Buy the best quality 22 pistol or revolver you can find and the shoot the tar out of it. This will teach you gun safety, breathing control, trigger breaks and work on your accuracy. Nothing in my opinion can be better then this. My recommendation for a good 22 lr pistol is the Beretta 87t, S&W 41 or possibly a High Standard if you can find one. For a revolver, S&W k22 Masterpiece or DW 722 for ease of cleaning.
 
Isaman2000
You can have tons of fun with a 22lr revolver,
very cheap to shoot,very low recoil and it's
not very loud.

22lr semi-auto,same as above,maybe a little
less money to buy.Semi-auto's can be picky
about the ammo they like.

38spl or 357mag revolver,you should be able
to find a good used one for 200-250 bucks.
Pretty easy to learn on,they will have more
recoil and muzzle blast than a 22.The ammo
will cost more than 22lr's but it's not to bad
for 38spl's.

9mm semi-auto,lots of different guns to pick
from in a wide range of cost.9mm ammo is
pretty cheap to buy and easy to shoot from
a decent sized pistol.
 
I would forget about .22's and directly go for a 9mm. They are good guns for self-defense (which .22's are not) and quite cheap to shoot. Try for example a SIG 220 or 226 ( I am Swiss so I am biaised towards SIG's, but, anyway, go for a 9mm, they are easy to shoot but quite powerfull).
 
Yep, go with a 22 pistol or revolver for your first handgun. I like the Ruger Mark II (or III) as it is cheap and functions reliabily. Not a CCW gun though. Look at the S&W line of revolvers for a 22 or dig up a wonderful older Colt in Diamondback, Trooper (original or Mark III), or a Woodsman varient. Since you are not going to purchase a 22 for primarily self defense, I lean toward the target grade guns for general shooting at the range or in the field.

For carry, I like the 40 S&W Glock 23 (medium sized pistol) or a S&W 442/642 (38spl). All the Glocks are extremely reliable no matter what caliber or model you choose. They are reasonably priced as well. I looked at the 442 a lot of times at the gun store and finally bought one as a CCW gun. For non-carry but home defense, the Ruger GP100 is hard to beat in 357/38. I prefer Smiths and Colts, but that is your call. You'll get 200 different recommendations. There are so many choices. A lot of people like the Kel-tec's (pocket pistol); don't have any experience with them.

Go to a well stocked gun store during the week and really handle a lot of guns. Then do the rental thing at a range. Get what fits for you.
 
My first gun was a Glock 26. I learned to shoot with that gun. It's good to start with a .22, but if you're going to use one gun for target shooting and home protection, and you want a centerfire, I'd probably get a full size 9mm. A CZ-75 or Beretta 92 would have soft recoil but also be plenty adequate for defense. A 4" .38 revolver might also be a good choice.
 
I would suggest a Glock 19 or a S&W 686 4". You can shoot .38's out of the 686 until you are ready for the .357's. The G19 is just an all around great gun for range or carry. Plus the 9mm round is very inexpensive comparitivly. Check out Topglock.com for prices. They seem to be the consistantly the cheapest as far as I have seen. Their price on a G30 is 525, last time I checked. The G30 is highly regarded by those who shoot it. I used to own one and loved it. Sold it to a friend so I could buy a 1911. It is now his favorite handgun and I still get to shoot it. I think the 1911 is smoother but it is hard to compare the two.
 
Good quality 22lr revolver as a first handgun. Get some rounds down range, develop your 'style' and then get something that suits your wants & needs. The 22 will allow you ALOT of trigger time and they are ALOT of fun
 
Maybe the 9 mm, eh ?

Nick_90 said:
I would forget about .22's and directly go for a 9mm. They are good guns for self-defense (which .22's are not) and quite cheap to shoot. Try for example a SIG 220 or 226 ( I am Swiss so I am biaised towards SIG's, but, anyway, go for a 9mm, they are easy to shoot but quite powerfull).
Click to expand...


You make a very good point. The nines are ( I think ) the cheapest "serious" defense rounds to shoot lots of in a reliable, accurate, and concealment-friendly platform. A used Glock wil probably cost less than a brand new, high quality .22, and if you have to, you can bet your life on it. Enjoy !
 
I would recommend a Ruger MkII .22LR as a first pistol. Cheap and fun to shoot.


Then, in no particular order (or quantity):

S&W 686
1911 style
SIG 226
SIG 220
S&W 629
S&W J-frame
Glock 30

The list goes on.......
 
Isaman2000 said:
Right now I'm leaning towards a Glock 30 or Glock 33. What's the msrp and performance on these guns?
Click to expand...

Among the Glocks those are two pretty different guns. A G30 is fatter and short and shoots the .45 and the G33 is a subcompact shooting the .357 Sig...from your choices it seems you may be more interested in concealed carry than range use. Both guns run in the $500 to $550 range from what I've seen. .357 sig is a little harder to find than 'ol .45acp when buying ammo in places like Wal-Mart. Both are good defensive calibers, but in my opinion if this is your first pistol go with the G26 in 9mm with a couple of mags with the pinky extension and one without (for carry). 10 rounds of 9mm is plenty of firepower and its alot cheaper to practice with. Of course you may not care what ammo prices are! I don't know your finanacial position. 9mm is a pretty easy shooter too and you may find yourself wanting to shoot it more. A G19 would also be a good choice for range and concealment. Handle them all, because the G30 does feel signifigantly fatter in many people's hands.
 
If you intend for it to be a self defense weapon, 9mm is a great 1st pistol. The ammo is cheap enough to encourage practice and it is adequate for stopping power. Get a commonly accepted and proven brand that fits your hand well. Rent a few first to help decide what manual of arms you prefer. Don't go too cheap. SIG Glocks Berettas HK Smith Ruger Walther P99 all are proven systems that offer some nice choices. A .22 is great for practice, but is not a good choice for personal protection. If would be asked, These would be tops on my list for a first 9mm.
SIG 226 or 228
Glock 19 or 17
HK USPF / USPC / P2000 (a bit expensive but very nice)
Keep us posted on your choice!
 
I like the Glock 19 but im realling digging the subcompact Glock 26. I really like the smaller guns. Does the size of the gun matter when comparing these two?
 
Its the size of the grips that will feel different. The 26 grip will be shorter even with the mag pinky extension.
Like I said above I have a G19 and I think it is the perfect size.
 
glock 26 is easier to conceal and has less ammo capacity (assuming you use the native G26 mag) then a G19, but other then that they both shoot about the same. Either model is a winner. I own a G17 and a G26, and love em both (the G26 is my carry gun naturally).
 
Not to denigrate Glocks -- but I strongly advise against any Glock for a first pistol. Highly recommend any traditional double-action (DA/SA) for one's first semi-auto, the reason being one can then get used to both the longer DA trigger pull and the lighter SA pull. Glock's trigger pull is unique, and I have seen cases where newer shooters, having been exposed first to Glocks, have had significant problems when then using TDAs, SAs or DAOs ...

I'm also in the camp with those who recommend a 9mm for someone's first autopistol. Easy shooting, accurate, inexpensive. Not substantially more difficult to learn on than a .22 in my opinion.

Perhaps a pistol such as the CZ-75 C (or PCR or P-01) would be an excellent choice. Available in decocker models or with a safety, small enough to conceal quite effectively, great fun at the range (also relatively inexpensive, high-capacity and stone reliable -- as well as usually capable of excellent accuracy).
 
Find a shooting range that rents pistols you're interested in and try them all out. Nothing better than the actual experience of shooting the gun to tell you which one is just right for you. Pistols with shorter barrels are not as easy to control as longer barreled one's, especially for one just getting started. I shoot my 5' 1911 .45acp better at 50/25 yards than I do my S&W 37 "snubnose" with 1-5/8" barrel at 21 feet. For the range, I shoot .22lr's at lot (NRA Bullseye). Nothing beats $99/5000 rounds of Aguila SE ammo. For CCW, I have a Glock19 9mm and a J-Frame S&W37 .38spl.
 
I don't necessarily buy into the "buy a .22 first" camp - I think ya should go w/ a 9mm - The rounds are fairly cheap, and it is also a good defensive gun.

I love my Glock 34, which comes w/ a stock lighter trigger pull, but I never did shoot any other Glock decently.

For a first gun - I think the Beretta 92FS would be a good gun. Metal gun, so not as much muzzle flip. A Walther P99 with the AS trigger is also a good gun - great ergonomics.

Ruger semi-autos are probably the cheapest gun I would buy and still rely on - they are built like a tank. But, many people, once they get into guns further, end up trading this gun because the triggers are not the best.
 
Thanks for all the info everybody, my next question is which is the better gun for self defence/shooting range?- A Glock 9mm(19,26) or Glock 30?
 
This question is sure to start up the debate on shot placement vs. size of wound channel etc. Also up for debate is the ability for quick, acurate follow up shots. I would personally go for the 9mm as you would be able to follow the intitial round with more acurate follow-up shots. Oh heck, just buy both, once you get a Glock you will want another one anyway.:D
 
Isaman2000 said:
Thanks for all the info everybody, my next question is which is the better gun for self defence/shooting range?- A Glock 9mm(19,26) or Glock 30?
Click to expand...

For self-defense, "9mm vs .45ACP" is one of the hugest debates to ever arise on any gunboard. Long/short, there are tons of educated individuals arguing for either side, so just try both and go with your gut.

For range use, I'd definitely go 9mm: it will have even less recoil (not that .45ACP is bad), and more importantly, .45ACP ammo tends to cost 50% more than 9mm. So you'll get more bang for your buck with the 9mm, literally.

Plus the 30 is a little chunky in the grip for some folks, since the .45 round is wider than the 9mm round, so the G19/26 will be easier to grip for a wider range of folks.

If you're only going to have one gun for a while, definitely get the full-caliber first, for defensive reasons. But a .22 pistol will be a great addition should you find yourself shooting on a regular basis. As mentioned above, you can get a conversion kit, but I prefer to have two independent firearms (so two folks can shoot at the same time, or so that one damaged frame won't put both pistols out of commission). I love the Ruger MkII, many folks love the Buckmark. Or if you want something to contrast with your semi, check out the Ruger Single Six (full-size .22LR cowboy-style revolver).

Not to dissuade you from getting a Glock, but it wouldn't hurt to glance at the Springfield XD or CZ 75 pistols if they have them at your store. Similar quality, slightly lower price, and each has their own very devoted following here on THR.

You really can't go wrong if you buy a good-quality 9mm pistol and practice shooting it, so don't stress out too much. Find a 9mm that appeals to you and start shooting. Stay safe,

-MV
 
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