Your first purchased handgun and why

[Black Majik]

Mine was a Colt Government 1911 when I turned 21. I always wanted a 1911 when I was a kid, and had some experience with it prior to turning 21. So for me it was easy, my decision was set. Only question was, which 1911?

Figured I start plain jane and get a Colt

 

[kbheiner7]

My first purchased handgun was a Beretta 92FS.

Why, I liked he looks and reliability. Proved to be every bit as good as advertised. I put many thousands of rounds through it with no problems.

Sold it when I found the 1911 and .45 ACP - never looked back.

 

[el44vaquero]

Springfield 1911

Belonged to my great uncle and was his sidearm during ww2.

 

[daysleeprx]

USP9 compact, because I had read good things about it. I really liked that gun, and it fit me much better than any of the fullsize USPs did. I think one day when I can afford to expand my collection without selling / trading something first, I'll have to pick up another one.

I ended up giving it to my dad as a present, since he liked it so much.

 

[GunnyBob]

Bought a 1911 that struck my fancy during a trip to SE Asia in '68. Wanted a sidearm at the time, and the $20 was well spent. Hid it in a secure place, retrieved the thing on my second tour, and more than once was glad I had it.

 

[MD_Willington]

S&W-5906

Wanted something that was:

• 9mm
• Under $300
• Stainless
• Reputation for boringly reliable
• Used as a service pistol (aka good enough for the police)
• Safety with decocker
• Well crafted by a domestic manufacturer

Met all those criteria, so I bought it.


MD

 

[Confirmedkill]

Glock 17

My first firearm turned out differently than I expected. I was doing some research and decided that I was going to purchase a Sig Sauer P226 in 9mm. I went down to my local gun store and took the handgun safety course. I passed it and I asked to see the Sig. Then I noticed the price I then looked at the Sig Pro and H&K, still sqeamish about the price the salesperson suggested a Glock. I listened to him and how reliable Glocks are (which is true) so I decided on a Glock 17. I don't regret it and I still have it today. But buying firearms is kind of an addiction. I can't stop buying them!

 

[BobMcG]

The year was 1980 and the handgun was a 6" S&W Model 28 (.357mag) with target grips.

The reasons:
1) It was a friend's and I enjoyed shooting it.
2) He knew I loved it and let me have it for a fair price.
3) It was a "real" version of a pair of Crossman 6" .22cal Co2 pellet pistols (S&W clones) I had owned over the years and thus it felt right at home in my hand and to my eyes.
4) Having put thousands of rounds through the Crossmans and with the feel and sight picture being similar, I did quite well with it from the start.
5) It had a long enough barrel for hunting, which I intended to do with it, and the fact my friend had already taken a Whitetail and a Black Bear with it told me it would do the job.
6) Simply adding a set of dies for it made it inexpensive to practice with and practice I did.

The result:
Shortly thereafter I added the models 17, 18, 29 and 10 to round out my collection and shooting pleasure.

 

[wildburp]

first gun

Why get a gun? kill targets or bad guys? that is the question. many guns are available for targets, varmits, et cetera at various ranges. telescopic sights can put the cross hairs on the bulls eye, but what about the bad guy? for bad guys, get a .45 auto or .45 LC and just point at them - they will die trying to go away, or go away dying. the primary function of guns is to kill attackers, but killing deadly water-filled plastic jugs is good too; it teaches us to shoot straight and ask why the government is so screwed up. It also reminds us to teach our children civics - the study of government, and our responcility to keep it running as our fore fathers intended.

wildburp

 

[wildburp]

first gun

My first gun was a Colt .45 SAA w/ 7 1/2" bbl purchased in Eugene, Oregon, from an old fashioned family owned hardware store downtown on Willamette street about 1965. I saw it, and immediately fell in love, and plunked down $10 toward the $125 purchase price. That was when Colt still built the original design (current, at least), unlike the abominations vomited up for the public today. I once hit an old pot from about 100 yards in a pasture without even trying. It shot straight. Where it was pointed.

Yeah, that was my first. Like my first (and last) wife, Colt just got worse. Too bad - want a good SAA? - check out USFA (US Firearms). Want a wife? Checkout UWAA (Used Wifes Are Awful), as old girls tell us. Old ladies were once young girls. Yes, it is true. But young guns are forever. Bang, bang. Get a .45, and stay alive.

wildburp

 

[4fingermick]

My first pistol was a used Ruger 22, bull barrel Bi Cent model, My wife and I joined a target pistol club. Picked up a well worn 22 Browning medallist for her. We dropped out of the club for awhile and we sold mine to feed kids (they would not stop eating and wearing clothes out!). I still have her Browning and got it done up for her about 6 years ago. She doesn't shoot any more as she broke her wrist and does not have the strength. I fancy buying myself a smick new target pistol, but kick on with the old Medallist. I should get Browning to really do it up.

First centrefire? 586 Smith bought well worn to shoot in Law Enforcement Olympics in 1988, still got it and it has serious miles on the clock!

First SA? Ruger 44Mag Vaquero, started a love of SAs, have a lot now!

 

[Buzztail]

The first handgun I purchased myself was a Norinco 1911-A1. Why? Because Col. Cooper said so.

GunnyBob, Great story!!

 

[MaterDei]

My first handgun was a CZ-75 that I bought in Germany at a Rod and Gun club in the mid 80s. I bought it because it was cheap (this was before you could easily buy a CZ in the US) and I thought it would be fun to shoot. It was very fun to shoot. When I left Germany I left the gun with a 'friend' who was going to ship it stateside for me. Never saw it again. I'm still cursing that 'friend'.

 

[45. caliber]

The first firearm i purchased was a .25 acp Tanggfolio Guiseppe for $50 !!!!!
It was a score, it was brand new and in excellent condition but had gotten stolen, that was 1 year ago.

 

[MCgunner]

My first was a Hawes single action .22LR with a .22 mag cylinder. My first center fire (not including a .25 auto) was a Ruger Security Six 4 inch stainless .357 magnum.

 

[jamz]

I bought my first two handguns at the same time, but I filled out the paperwork on the 1911 first, so I consider that my "first gun".

S&W 1911 Stainless "first gun"

Walther P-22 "Second gun, about a minute after the first".

I'd done my homework you see, and I knew that 1911s were the best, and that averyone needed a .22 as a first gun.

 

[Redneck with a 40]

357 = versatility

My first purchase was a Taurus Tracker 357 magnum 4" stainless. Why? One word = versatility. I can shoot 38 special wadcutters at 700 fps all the way up to 180 grain magnums at 1300 fps. The price was right back in 2002, $350 new in box, about $200 cheaper than the Ruger or Smith. I'm completely satisfied with it, I've had no problems with it. The seven shot cylinder and factory barrel porting is another bonus.

 

[22-rimfire]

First handgun was a H&R 999 22 revolver. Needed something to plink with, carry out in the woods, hunt rabbits, and shoot cotton mouths or water snakes. Later got rid of it and picked up a 4" Colt Diamondback 22.

 

[ZXD9]

I purchased an XD9 Tactical to use in USPSA Production Division. I wanted to try competition out without spending an arm and a leg. So far I don't regret the decision one bit after 1 year.

 

[motorheadjohn]

SiG P226R .40, got it 4 months ago. It's a little big for carry but more fun on the range and just what I wanted for home defense. A future purchase may be for a smaller pistol for easier carry, but for now this SiG is everything I wanted.

 

[SSN Vet]

a used 1911 Government model

Why? because the Navy's idea of proficiency training was not quite the same as mine.....one range session, shooting ~50 rounds a year (that's right....once a year).

Worse than that, all topside sentries were trained in a unique FTF drill......raise your right hand and wait for the range master to come and clear it for you.....

I needed to know that at least one person in my duty section could handle a weapon properly.....so I decided to make that one person me.

lot's of Saturday nights down at an indoor range in Charleston, SC.

That Thompson Auto. Ordinance .45 gave me lot's of practice clearing stove pipes

 

[PX15]

This one...

The used Colt Cobra I wanted was $65.00 :banghead:

The new Galesi was $35.00

I had $35.00

I still have it.. It is my 13th, 14th, well I forget.. But it's NOT my first choice for cc...

Good news.. It's STILL worth $35.00 (more or less)

Best Wishes,

J. Pomeroy

 

[cookekdjr]

First handgun I bought was a Browning Buckmark. I owned some other before that, but the Buckmark was the first one I bought.

 

[DerekF]

Sig P226

My first was a Sig P226 bought about 3 years ago. Why? I loved the gun the first time I shot it and wanted one for a long time. Then I happened to walk into a gun store with money in my pocket, saw a nice used one and decided to buy it. Been in love with Sigs ever since.

 

[chaim]

The first handgun I bought was a Taurus 82 revolver in .38spl. I searched for months, checking local stores, renting at the range, and decided I wanted to start with a .357mag revolver. I wanted a .357 because I was into revolvers and I was into .357s even before I ever shot a handgun, and I liked the idea that I could shoot both magnums and .38spl in the same gun. I saw average prices around here (about 6 years ago) were in the low $300s for new Taurus revolvers, upper $400s for new S&Ws. I found a used Taurus 82 in nice shape for $200 and decided to save a little money. I wanted it for fun- I can't carry in MD, and I didn't yet think in terms of home defense (though within a month or two of having a decent HD revolver, I did start thinking in those terms).