Newbie w/ zero experience looking to buy a pistol...

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06gtpony

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Hey folks...

I know this issue has likely been beaten to death on this forum, but I'm in desperate need of advise.

I've always had an interest in firearms, and last year got my RPAL.

Now looking to buy a handgun and join a range but need a push in the right direction.

A friend of mine is an IPSC shooter and recommends I spend over $3gs on an STI.
My local firearms store suggests I go with the S&W 9mm M&P range kit because it comes with everything I need to get started.
I happen to like the look and feel of the Glock 34.
I've read a bunch of reviews and watched a bunch of videos online, but I'm still no further along in my hunt.

I don't want to break the bank, in case I suck at it or don't enjoy it ... But at the same time I don't want to invest in something too cheap that I'll have to upgrade in 6-months.

Can you guys possibly shed some light on what I should be looking for (or recommend a particular brand or model) to get me started off in the right direction? Or your experiences when you first started off?

Ps. I have no real experience shooting handguns other than the stuff at the Gun Store in Vegas lol.

Thanx.
 
Ruger 22/45
Master this one first, before moving up.
You won't break the bank and you'll be able to use it a lot.
It's important to shoot a lot if you really want to learn and ammo for this one is cheap.
 
Hey
I'm no expert at any means but see that your in toronto.....why not get your friend to take you shooting a few times with his/her firearms if possible to get the feel of what he/she is recommending the 3gs and or run up to Target Sports they have range guns you can use and see if they feel good before spending alot or alittle on a firearm..
hope this helps
Glenn.
 
Shoot what you can and see what you like. A Glock or M & P is a great starter gun and once you become a member at a club you will have a cornucopia of guns to try from the new friends you make.Then if you want to buy something to shoot a specific discipline (Defensive pistol, 3 Gun, IPSC, PPC etc) you can go from there.
 
The M&P is a good starter gun. The ruger 22/45 is even more affordable. Look at the prices of ammo and consider how often you'll have the opportunity to shoot. The .22lr is great for learning. When you're ready for it, the 9mm is nothing to scoff at either, and is fairly affordable in comparison to higher calibres.

Myself, the first handgun purchased was a Girsan Regard (Beretta clone) in 9mm. Every person has different preferences however. It's always recommended to try as many different firearms as possible to see what you like and don't like.
 
Join a club. As part of your probation period you will be able to shoot member's guns and get a feel for what suits you.

The M&P is a good pistol, although an Apex trigger kit makes it a lot better.
 
I have to agree with the above guys mentioning the Ruger 22/45 or any other Ruger .22LR pistol. The MK II or III are great pistols, designed for .22. You can shoot to your heart's content for a fraction of the cost of shooting 9mm or bigger. You can get good at shooting or decide how much you like handguns before spending $1000 or more on something else. It will retain it's resale value if you don't like it. And shooting .22 will help you develop good habits before you move on to bigger stuff.
 
Nestor said:
Ruger 22/45
Master this one first, before moving up.
You won't break the bank and you'll be able to use it a lot.
It's important to shoot a lot if you really want to learn and ammo for this one is cheap.
Click to expand...

What he said......took the same advise three years ago when I started shooting pistols....a 500 round brick of .22 is 30$ ...that's a lot of range time for little cost. I did however start with a gsg1911 .22, just fancied it...loved it. Whilst your at the range, chat with fellow enthusiasts..they more often than not offer to fire a few rounds...that's been my experience...good luk
 
This may get me some flak, but I learned to shoot on a 9mm, and it certainly won't break the bank as some suggest. Transitioning from rimfire to centerfire pistols can be difficult for some folks (I'm one of them) because of the weight and recoil increase. I like the .22s as plinkers, but to develop handgun skills I'll always recommend a 9mm simply because they are more consistent in ammo, and will better prepare you for hotter centerfire cartridges. With that most .22's feel a bit like toys in my abnormally large hands :D

If you like the feel of a Glock 34, you should by all means go for it. I find that the polymer wonders are a tiny bit harder to start off with in contrast to steel guns, but by no means does that mean you should disregard them. The Glock 34 is a great pistol for beginners and veterans alike, and I think that you'd be very satisfied with it if you went that route. Many agree that the M&P has a far inferior factory trigger, so I wouldn't recommend that as a starter when you've already toyed with the Glock.

In case you want some other options, some examples of great steel guns are the CZ-75 Shadow and the Beretta 92fs among others. If you get the opportunity you might want to check them out; very accurate pistols from my personal experience, especially the CZ.

At the end of the day, all of the recommendations that the others have made in this thread so far will shoot straight and serve you well, just find what you like best :)
 
For once a local gun store is correct. The sw mp9 kit is the best beginners deal going right now. You can't go wrong with a glock,beretta, sig or cz75 either.
 
New to pistols and your buddy wants you to drop $3K on a STI racegun? Your buddy isn't doing you any favors unless you have deep pockets. Listen to the sound advice above. Try shooting some handguns first to get the feel and see if you like it. If you do like it, shoot it LOTS and when you feel your shooting skills are decent enough, sign up for the black badge course and go have fun.
 
Try different guns if possible and buy what YOU like and what fits best :). Nothing like spending 3K on something you may not be comfortable with.
My first gun was an M&P 9 then i bought a .22 to train.
 
First off you don't need to spend $3K in order to have a good serviceable pistol for recreational shooting. Neither is it necessary to begin your pistol shooting career with a rimfire pistol. The best bang for the buck I've heard of lately is to purchase the rimfire version of the SIG P226, and purchase the 9mm conversion kit at the same time. You should be able to acquire the pistol, in both .22 rimfire and 9mm, a decent holster, and a thousand rounds of 9mm ball for about half of what you pal suggests for just the pistol.
 
"run up to Target Sports they have range guns you can use and see if they feel good before spending alot or alittle on a firearm.."

Sounds like you have the option to try the range guns and see what you like... A great idea as something that looks good to you may not feel good while shooting. Make sure you compare polymer pistols (Glock, M&P) to steel (CZ, Colt clones) as the feeling is completely different and some prefer one to the other.

If you're only going to have one pistol you might as well figure out what you like best and go for it. Not sure what your money situation is like, but I wouldn't spend $600 for a M&P Range Kit if you don't love the pistol... To me, you might as well save a little longer and spend the $1100 on your G34, holster, et al. if that winds up being the one that floats your boat.

I've always started friends with 9mm... Yes, it costs a little more than .22, but not a ton... You can get 750 rounds for $180.

Another option could be something that works with a conversion kit.... The CZ Kadet .22 kits are great, as are the Sig Xchange series. I don't really like the Glock conversions, but maybe that's just me.... Note that for whatever reason it's cheaper to buy a Sig 226 in .22 and then get the larger calibre kits than it is to buy the 9mm/.40 sig and get the .22 kit!!!
 
Nestor said:
Ruger 22/45
Master this one first, before moving up.
You won't break the bank and you'll be able to use it a lot.
It's important to shoot a lot if you really want to learn and ammo for this one is cheap.
Click to expand...

This is really the way to go, and what I was going to suggest. Plus, once you get into it a bit, the ruger mk series pistols are great if you like to play with your guns like Lego. Lots of cool parts and bits to modify, swap out and replace, and tune. The only problem is that they can be a bear to RE-assemble after taking them apart the first couple times. My first time took me about 15 minutes to detail strip, and about 4 hours to get it back together :)
 
I'm a new shooter as well. I couldn't agree more with the advice to get a good .22 to start. Pistol shooting is fun as all get out, but not so easy to do well. Practice practice practice. To that end, learning to shoot with a .22 is more economical AND (IMO) easier for building basic skills.

For what it's worth, I started with a M&P 22 and I've since added a Sig P226 TACOPS.
 
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