Help! I need to choose a first pistol.

Ar180shooter

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Ok, so I've had my RPAL for a while now, but I don't have a pistol yet. I've been looking at the Norinco 1911, CZ and Sig knock offs from Marstar, but am unsure about the quality of these pistols (as compared to the real ones). So... the big question is does anyone here have both (i.e. a CZ 75 and a norc clone), and what are your impressions of them. I'd rather pay for something expensive once than have to pay for a bad one twice. I'm not planning on using them for IPSC or anything fancy (just for target practice and the CQB matches :D).

Any and all suggestions/comments are appreciated.

Thanks,
Ar180shooter
 
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You didn't write about your experience with handguns. If you've shot a lot, then find whatever suits you. If you haven't, you might think about starting with a .22, and after a while transitioning to a heavier caliber. Whatever you buy, find something that fits your hand well. For instance, the little Remington Model 51 is the best pistol I've ever shot because it fits so well and I can hit with it without having to work too much at it. The large frame guns with US Government Model type grips are just too big for me to shoot well (or comfortably). The H&K P7 works very well for me. It all comes down to what you can shoot that you can hit with.
 
You didn't write about your experience with handguns. If you've shot a lot, then find whatever suits you. If you haven't, you might think about starting with a .22, and after a while transitioning to a heavier caliber. Whatever you buy, find something that fits your hand well. For instance, the little Remington Model 51 is the best pistol I've ever shot because it fits so well and I can hit with it without having to work too much at it. The large frame guns with US Government Model type grips are just too big for me to shoot well (or comfortably). The H&K P7 works very well for me. It all comes down to what you can shoot that you can hit with.

For experience, I've shot around 500 rounds through various pistols. Mostly from a 9mm 1911, but I've also shot an M&P 9 and an M&P 40, G17, CZ85 and Uberti Cattleman. I've also handled a sig P226 (didn't get to fire it though :(, but I liked the feel of it). I have medium sized hands, so I found that all of the above pistols mentioned fit my hands well and were comfortable to shoot.
 
If you've shot a lot, then find whatever suits you. If you haven't, you might think about starting with a .22, and after a while transitioning to a heavier caliber.

ok, not to pick on you specifically - but doesn't this type of "advice" ("thou shalt buy a .22 and not something that you actually want to own") get old really quickly? i remember seeing it on motorbike forums where a 250cc bike was rammed down EVERY newcomer's throat no matter what, as if all other choices were taboo and forbidden and suicidal.


that aside, i'm also kinda interested in the quality of Norinco pistols. seems a lot of people like them cuz they're cheap and make good platforms for upgrades, but does that mean that most of what's already part of the gun is crap so that you HAVE to upgrade to make it a truly good gun?
 
Of the two you mention, I think the 1911 model would be the surest bet. They appear to conform to standard design and can easily be worked and upgraded to be fine shooters. 45 is a nice gun to shoot. It can be loaded down to make a fine target pistol.
 
Of the two you mention, I think the 1911 model would be the surest bet. .......... and can easily be worked and upgraded to be fine shooters

does that mean that without work & upgrades, they're NOT fine shooters? just wondering if they're loved for being good affordable guns, or for being upgradeable to make them what they SHOULD be?
 
Never owned a Norinco but look at it this way.
Ugly communist crap:
czn.jpg

Most beautiful thing I've ever seen:
cznn.jpg
 
does that mean that without work & upgrades, they're NOT fine shooters? just wondering if they're loved for being good affordable guns, or for being upgradeable to make them what they SHOULD be?

Even a new Colt has a stiff trigger and no doubt so will the Norincos. Trigger and sight upgrades are par for the course with most base model 1911's. I'm not a Norinco 1911 owner, but I hear they work fine.
 
Get a Browning Hi-Power. Easy to shoot, accurate, cheap to feed, easy to strip/clean, and reasonably priced, and a slice of patriotism (sort of, Canadian forces have been using Brownings/Inglises since WWII). I find them to be pretty perfect pistols.
 
CZ design is uglier then a Glock, so I don't see anything that could attract people to this pistol...maybe if it's the only one your money can afford...LOL
buy a SIG or a Beretta and never look back!
 
ok, not to pick on you specifically - but doesn't this type of "advice" ("thou shalt buy a .22 and not something that you actually want to own") get old really quickly? i remember seeing it on motorbike forums where a 250cc bike was rammed down EVERY newcomer's throat no matter what, as if all other choices were taboo and forbidden and suicidal.

Lol...no, just most of us who didn't listen to this advice, wish we had, and try to pass on what we learned from ignoring it.
You could always go out and buy the gun you want AND a .22. They you will have a good gun to learn how to shoot and one you can try to look cool with :D
 
The glock 17 is the same money (or cheaper) than cz75b. Yep the glock design is truly unique. Not too many people can make their best gun and their cheapest gun look exactly the same - a plastic brick with no hammer.

CZ design is uglier then a Glock, so I don't see anything that could attract people to this pistol...maybe if it's the only one your money can afford...LOL
buy a SIG or a Beretta and never look back!
 
Lol...no, just most of us who didn't listen to this advice, wish we had, and try to pass on what we learned from ignoring it.
You could always go out and buy the gun you want AND a .22. They you will have a good gun to learn how to shoot and one you can try to look cool with :D


Ha ha, yeah that's what I did this week! A Buckmark Plus Stainless for plinking and an M&P Pro 9 for fun! :D
 
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