RPAL coming soon - What to buy first?

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Clocked92

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I just checked the status of my application and it says it has been sent out and should be here within 2 weeks. Now it's really time to start looking at guns to purchase.

I am really looking at a 1911 and then likely a 22 caliber for more affordable shooting.

My local Wholesale sports has a Kimber CDP II which looks like an unreal gun, unfortunately it's quite expensive. I don't plan on buying a lot of handguns so I figure I might buy just a couple really good quality guns. What's everyones opinion of the Kimber? Any other opinions on some handguns to buy?

Thanks!
 
Ruger 22/45 +/or GSG 1911 .22 lr

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OP…budgeting for a HG is the easy part. Feeding the pig can get costly especially when you're considering a HG in 45ACP.
Since you want a quality rimfire take a look at a CZ Cadet. Lots of folks report good things about them and they feel like a full-sized pistol.
For less $$ handle the Ruger MK's (for best fit). These HG's are built to last. The Sig 1911-22 I owned started to show early wear signs (slide catch notch) after a few hundred rounds. I sold it and went back to a MKIII (my third).
Good luck with your search…..
 
I would suggest starting with a .22 rimfire - range time not dependent on buying somewhat spendy centerfire or reloading centerfire. You'll do a lot more shooting if a .22 is in the quiver; you can trust me on that.

So I would start with a .22 while getting some good solid shooting basics down. After that, you'll also have a better idea of what appeals to you and what doesn't.

Aside from the usual suspects in the accurate .22 rimfire category, there are a lot of new .22's out over the last five years or so, from various manufacturers. For example:
https://www.gunsamerica.com/blog/brownings-miniature-rimfire-1911-22s-new-gun-review/
http://www.gunsumerreports.com/review_smith_wesson_M&P22_p1.php

So there you have a single and a double action example. I like single action, but that's for everyone to decide on their own, without somebody telling them what they SHOULD like.

And finally, you can choose a platform that offers a conversion kit in .22. I have an extremely accurate Hi Standard Supermatic Citation that I've owned for nearly 40 years, but if I was doing it again and knowing what I know know, I would have gone the conversion route instead. I have a .22 conversion for the Browning High Power, which works with both my 9mm and 40 S&W variants, and for my Dan Wesson 10mm CBOB I have a 40 S&W barrel and spring, as well as a .22 conversion kit. This doesn't work on the revolver side of things of course, where the closest thing is to have something like S&W K frames in both .22 and whatever centerfire.

The catch with going the conversion route is you have to have already known what platform is the one that calls to you, AND ensure that platform has .22 conversion kits available, AND you are going to have a much greater initial investment.

Except for conversion kits like the Marvels for the 1911 platform, it is pretty unlikely that a .22 conversion will be a tackdriver like a full on target .22 - the Marvel kits are crazy accurate, but the price tag reflects that. On the other hand, a .22 conversion kit allows you to have the same grip, the same trigger, the same ergonomics, etc whether you are shooting the centerfire caliber or the .22 rimfire. And you can change back and forth at the range in just a few seconds. There's a lot of good things to be said about that.

But either way, I would recommend starting out with a .22 rimfire in the quiver and expanding from there.
 
To start: a .22lr. Personally I favor Ruger Mark 3 and Smith and Wesson 41 (depending on budget)
Keep in mind that you will soon after want to buy a second one. I then suggest a 9mm (CZ SPO1). Then, you will buy numerous others...:rockOn:
I have several handgns of different calibers. I like them all but I still use my .22lr's regularly. They are fun and inexpensive to shoot.

Gilbert
 
Gillis2 said:
To start: a .22lr. Personally I favor Ruger Mark 3 and Smith and Wesson 41 (depending on budget)
Keep in mind that you will soon after want to buy a second one. I then suggest a 9mm (CZ SPO1). Then, you will buy numerous others...:rockOn:
I have several handgns of different calibers. I like them all but I still use my .22lr's regularly. They are fun and inexpensive to shoot.

Gilbert
Click to expand...

^^^ This Especially if you are really focusing on accuracy
 
I am going down to my local gun club early next week to get registered and go through their safety procedures. I tend to do lots of research a long time before I ever actually buy a gun so that's why I'm asking about guns now.
 
If it were me again, the first pistol I would buy would be a CZ75B in 9mm with 4 mags, a holster and mag holders and a lee turret press.
Personally I get just as much enjoyment out of shooting .22 rifle and air pistols in the basement so I don't own a .22 pistol and I've been hand gunning longer then I haven't been in life.
With that one gun you can shoot, IDPA, IPSC, PPC, and get really great groups at 25 yards. If you like the 1911 the CZ has a similar grip angle so will have a good fit too.
You could do what I did, own half a dozen .22 pistols then buy a .357 revolver and get good with it, then decide 22 pistols aren't for you. I used to win in 3 gun at our
club with my GP100 but now that the other shooters have got better its hard to compete with the wheel gun. My only regret is swapping my CZ if you go .22 first get a really cheap one like a used ruger to find what you like in a handgun first.
Last piece of advice go to a place with a lot of guns to try out put a gun in your hands close your eyes bring it up to where you would shoot then open your eyes. The one with the sights lined up is the one for you.
 
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Were you considering a 45 1911, or a 9mm 1911? If you are not reloading, the money will pour out of your pocket way faster with the 45. I own a 1911 in 45 ACP, and a Ruger Bisley in 45 Colt; I reload jacketed bullets for the 1911, and cast and reload for the Ruger. If I did not do that, I would stick with the 9mm.

The best setup I could say for you is probably a CZ SP01 Shadow (ready for IPSC and IDPA IIRC for weight changes for IDPA). with a Cadet top end. One of the members of the club has this setup and he practices constantly with the 22 Cadet slide on the Shadow frame. That being said, I would try one out of everything before buying. If you a friendly and willing to listen, many members of the club you want to join will probably have one of each of what you want to buy. A Shadow fits my hand like it was made for me, but one member built like a main battle tank finds the gun small for him.
 
my first was a 9mm second .44mag....few guns later I got a .22 and would recommend getting for sooner.

I find most 'standard' .22's a bit boring to shoot. GSG 1911 is reasonably accurate and a lot of fun for a .22 to shoot! single action revolvers are kinda fun too, and you go thru less ammo.
 
Looking at a 1911 45ACP. I won't reload but I also don't plan on shooting a ton of 45. I'd have a 22 for that.

Another option I'm looking at is the 22lr conversion kit from Kimber for a 1911. I could be a 1911 45 and then the conversion, then essentially have 2 guns that are the same.

When I go to the club next week, I will see what some guys there are shooting and ask if I can look at them and maybe take a couple shots.
 
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