I am interested in getting a hand gun but I have only ever dealt with rifles and shotguns. Uses for it would be target shooting and to have in the house for personal protection. No idea what caliber to get or what to look for. Don't even know which brands have best reputation in their handguns. Any advice would be good, thanks.
Handgun rookie, what to buy?
- Thread starter logan1080
- Start date
Wolfstrack
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Lower Mainland BC
for a start buy a 9mm (Beretta 92FS, SIG 226, CZ75) and a 22LR (Ruger MKIII, Browning Buck) !
Are you interested in a semi or a revolver? .22 would be a decent place to start or if you want a bit more bang I would recommend a 9mm or a .357 / .38 special for a revolver. Whatever it is you choose make sure it fits well in your hands. Really depends on what your budget is and how much you are planning to shoot. I have found that guns are the reasonable cost but ammo will cost you in pretty short order if you shoot much.
Personal protection IMHO one is better served with a 12 gauge from a legal standpoint.
Personal protection IMHO one is better served with a 12 gauge from a legal standpoint.
A Glock 17 is a very good choice, simple to operate and reliable, and its chambered in 9mm, it goes for about $700. If you want something cheaper for just target shooting a Ruger MkIII is good too, half the price and its chambered in .22lr, also very reliable.
- Location
- London, Ontario
Smith and Wesson M&P9
If you shot rifles and shotguns, you know what recoil is 
Skip .22lr all together. Get a 9mm like Glock 17 or Smith and Wesson M&P or CZ75/85. But first, go to a store and try a few, leave your wallet at home. Hit a range that rents guns, try the ones you liked at the store the most. Then make your mind up and start actual shopping, some local stores may be able and willing to match or get close to online prices. Consider that if you buy online you are to pay shipping too.
Skip .22lr all together. Get a 9mm like Glock 17 or Smith and Wesson M&P or CZ75/85. But first, go to a store and try a few, leave your wallet at home. Hit a range that rents guns, try the ones you liked at the store the most. Then make your mind up and start actual shopping, some local stores may be able and willing to match or get close to online prices. Consider that if you buy online you are to pay shipping too.
- Location
- Regina, SK
For target shooting go with 9mm cause it is cheap to buy ammo for, use as personal protection is illegal in Canada so that is not an option so mentioning it on a public forum such as this is probably not a good idea but I have heard that .357SIG or .40 or .45 ACP are good choices for personal protection but that is just what I have heard.
Got your RPAL?
"...target shooting..." Competition or just because it's fun?
"...for personal protection..." Don't say that anywhere else.
"...personal protection is illegal..." It's not, but you won't get a permit for that purpose.
"...target shooting..." Competition or just because it's fun?
"...for personal protection..." Don't say that anywhere else.
"...personal protection is illegal..." It's not, but you won't get a permit for that purpose.
formerfarmer
Regular
- Location
- Winnipeg, now
If at all possible go to a range and try as many different guns as you can find. Most shooters are only too happy to let a new shooter try their gun to help make up their mind. When first starting on pistols a 22 is a good place to start. Cheaper to shoot and you can always upgrade to big bore later. Odds are if you stick with it you will end up with more than one pistol anyway. ALWAYS look at lots of guns and buy what feels best in Your hand, not what buddy says is the "best" gun in the world.
Farlsincharge
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Saskatchewan
Years ago when I was in your shoes I bought a cz 75 with a .22 kit. If you watch carefully you should be able to get the same package for around $1000.
It was a good decision. I still shoot it more than anything else.
It was a good decision. I still shoot it more than anything else.
Picking up brass doesn't suck at all, every time I go to the range I bring 300-500 cases, and my spent brass too
the act of having to pick it up sucks. in a revolver, it doesn't go flying all over so the cleanup is easier (and they stay cleaner if you insist on keeping for reloading)
I had a revolver, and would still have it if didn't need money shortly after I got it. I still like shooting pistol in USPSA and IDPA. Well, I'm not that good with revolver anyway, I cannot shoot 6 rounds, reload and shoot another 6 out of revolver -- all in 3.4 sec unlike one guy.... all in at least A zone....
IMO you should get either (or both) a Ruger Mk II or III and see how you like shooting handgun. It is not easy to be good with it, unlike the way they are portrayed in the movies.....if you like shooting 22 then get a revolver.....357 is good but shoot 38 special loads - nice and light. See how you like that....go from there
There are lots of good used Rugers and good uses wheel guns for sale at CGN
And both will be easy to resell if you decide handgunning is not your game
And a good dog is the best home defense you can get and lots of fun too
There are lots of good used Rugers and good uses wheel guns for sale at CGN
And both will be easy to resell if you decide handgunning is not your game
And a good dog is the best home defense you can get and lots of fun too
Thanks for the replies. Well I enjoy shooting so I think I would go shoot targets quite a bit, only as a hobby though. I don't think I want a revolver. I have shot a .22 revolver once when I was younger and a 9mm, I liked the 9mm over the revolver. For a budget, I would probably spend around 1K. Changed my mind, I will stick with the good old phone call to the police for personal protection . Getting my restricting PAL is in the works.
. Getting my restricting PAL is in the works.
Silver_Back
CGN Regular
Depends on your needs.
Personally, i have started out with a .22lr handgun. My train of thought (having never shot a handgun before) was that i wanted to develop good habits, and also be able to put thousands of rounds down range, with breaking the bank.
Specifically, i went with a Sig Sauer Classic 22 P220. The benefit of this choice is that down the road i get get the conversion kit (the believe the offical name is the X-change kit) from Sig, and then convert the firearm to a .45ACP.
So (in my personal opinion) i got the best of both worlds!
Personally, i have started out with a .22lr handgun. My train of thought (having never shot a handgun before) was that i wanted to develop good habits, and also be able to put thousands of rounds down range, with breaking the bank.
Specifically, i went with a Sig Sauer Classic 22 P220. The benefit of this choice is that down the road i get get the conversion kit (the believe the offical name is the X-change kit) from Sig, and then convert the firearm to a .45ACP.
So (in my personal opinion) i got the best of both worlds!
I am (was ) in the same position you are. I have hunted for 30 years and finnaly wanted to get into pistal shooting,mostly for target because for protection nobody will ever convince me a pistal is better then a shot gun with #4bb.i just purchesed a beretta 90-two in a 9mm. cheap ammo with some recoil /nothing to worry about.love the pistal.fun to shoot lots of safty features.
