Handguns - Where to start?

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Kdawg007

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Hi everyone!
I am interested in getting into handguns and eventually handgun competitions and stuff. I don't know a whole lot about handguns (or guns in general) cause I'm fairly new to all of it. I was just wanting to know what is a good handgun to start off with? and if possible, what is a good price range to start with?
Thanks for all the input,
KdawG
 
This question is asked twice a day here! I am assuming you have you restricted PAL.
There are lots of quality 9mm's on the market and they aren't too expensive. Glock 17, Smith and Wesson M&P, and CZ are a few that come to mind.
9mm is a good place to start IMO because it's cheap, low recoil and it's a real "handgun" calibre.
There will be those who say start with a .22lr, but you will be bored withing minutes!
 
Good Old Boring .22's

prproulx said:
There will be those who say start with a .22lr, but you will be bored withing minutes!
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Bored? I think if you took a poll of all Gunnutz, 99% of them would have at least one .22 in their collection. With the price of factory centrefire pistol ammo these days, it's a substantial disincentive to fork out $15+ for 50x9mm compared to 500x.22LR. You'll go to the range more often, learn better habits (no flinching) and then head upwards in power once you've got the addiction - reloading usually follows at that point.

Start with a new or used Ruger Mk. II/III :)
 
guys like me who went out and bought a M&P9, are now patiently waiting for a .22 conversion kit to be created.

A Glock 17 or M&P9 is a good place to start. You wont be dissapointed with either one.
 
As mentioned above, its a good idea to determine what your budget is for both the gun and the related ammo.

There are many choices now for a good .22 "starting" pistol that will help get you into the handgun sport.

Of course, lots of other fun stuff out there too.
 
pontcanna said:
Bored? I think if you took a poll of all Gunnutz, 99% of them would have at least one .22 in their collection. With the price of factory centrefire pistol ammo these days, it's a substantial disincentive to fork out $15+ for 50x9mm compared to 500x.22LR. You'll go to the range more often, learn better habits (no flinching) and then head upwards in power once you've got the addiction - reloading usually follows at that point.

Start with a new or used Ruger Mk. II/III :)
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Booooo! Hissss!:D I have never owned a .22 handgun except an Astra Cub and somehow I am able to hit my targets and learn not to flinch.:p

A few new shooters I got into it were told to get a .22 which they did. They went to the range a few times and then their interest died out.
Until I took them out to shoot some centrefires and an AR!
 
My S&W 41 in 22lr is my favorite gun. It's the most fun shooting and more accurate than any i own. I'd off all the rest if i could keep just one. It's not like i'm i'm using them for protection or anything.
Whatever you buy you'll enjoy.
I'd go for a 9mm Browning High Power (a quality and fun to shoot gun) for starters or a good 22lr.
 
absoulte first gun, ruger 22- first centrefire, gp100- then you can learn all about the other stuff-
 
Buy yourself the biggest baddest handgun you can find, scrimp and save enough money to afford a box of ammo, shoot it once and scare the hell out of yourself and give it up:ar15:. Then you can sell the gear at a loss to any of us here on the board:D..
Seriously, start with something you can handle and learn how to use it. You wont go wrong with a 22 and once your hooked, you'll find it the most affordable caliber for a new person(chix'll dig it too). You can always upgrade, but make sure its something you are going to enjoy. Meet some folks at the range and they may let you try their gun, but before you start running off into the sunset all excited and wanting a larger caliber, be sure you can afford it. A nice gun sitting in your lockup does nothing for you unless you can get out and shoot it.
Cheers
dB
 
For your first Hand gun get a 1911. There are lots of great quality inexpensice options. Norince being the Cheapest, then theres Tangfolio with their Witness line up. Then theres Springfield Armory with their GI model. Basicly just get a 1911 in either 9mm or 45ACP, ( If possible choose a 9mm, but .45 is okay as well ). Once you have that, get a .22 conversion kit which are EXTREMELY easy to put on. SO now you have a cheap .22 pistol to shoot and your also practicing with the same gun that shoots the higher velocity rounds. In my Opinion thats the best appoach. The same option is there for a CZ 75 as well as Glock G17. At least you get a pistol that looks like a pistol instead of a .22 dedicated pistol that kinda looks ... well..... dinky.... ( im gonna get flamed for this one )

Anyway, have fun :D
 
KodiakII said:
Most clubs have a .22 "club gun" for new people to train and learn on. Most rifle guys don't start out shooting .308's or .270's so why do it with a pistol?
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Most rifle guys are used to a little recoil! I'm just being argumentative because I remember wanting to buy a handgun and dreaming of .45acp and 357 magnums.
So that's what I bought.
 
Once you start you will need a considerable amount of cash-ola! Cha-ching!
Do NOT deceive yourself. You will want to try MANY different makes, models, and calibres. Remember, be patient. You can have most everything you desire--just NOT all at once.
 
Buy an HK USP or Sig P226 in 9mm. Both are stone cold reliable, and they hold their value fairly well. They retail in the same price range (about $1050).

Reliability is the most important criterion for a first handgun. Skip the .22LR semi-auto guns, and get yourself a solid, basic, 9mm from a reputable manufacturer.
 
The problem with the above advice (RDevigne) is that you have spent as much on a .22 conversion kit as you could have spent on a complete handgun that is more likely to be more accurate.

First find out where you can shoot. Then look at the type of shooting that is done there. Is it the type of shooting you would enjoy?

Shooting is a lot more fun if you can shoot with people. Even if you are not serious about competitive shooting it is desirable to shoot what others around you are shooting. Or if you don't like the style of shooting done there then find a place that shoots something interesting to you.

Find what you want to do, then pick out the type of gun that is appropriate.


prproulx said:
Originally Posted by KodiakII
Most clubs have a .22 "club gun" for new people to train and learn on. Most rifle guys don't start out shooting .308's or .270's so why do it with a pistol?
Click to expand...
Most rifle guys are used to a little recoil! I'm just being argumentative because I remember wanting to buy a handgun and dreaming of .45acp and 357 magnums.
So that's what I bought.
Click to expand...

If you read the original post Kdawg007 said "I don't know a whole lot about handguns (or guns in general) cause I'm fairly new to all of it." So he is not a rifle shooter that is used to recoil.

There are some real good reasons for him to start with a .22 handgun. You can learn how to shoot properly without developing a flinch. Also it is cheap to shoot. It gets you on the range at a low cost and then you can meet other shooters and get to know them. After that it's not hard to get them to let you shoot their guns. This is important because then you can figure out what you next gun will be. What kind of gun is right for you.

Some guys here have told you to drop a grand on a gun that they like. Who says that that is the right gun for you? Not all good guns are good guns for everyone. And the only way you are going to figure this out is if you shoot a bunch of them.

Buy a Ruger .22 for $300 (or something like it) and get out to a range and start shooting. Buy something else after a while once you know more. You always can sell the .22 later and get most if not all the money back.
 
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I bought 1911 in 45ACP as my first pistol. Now, few months and 1000's of rounds later, I am on the market for quality target 22 pistol. Go figure.
 
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