9 or .40 for a newb?

9mm only because its cheaper

22lr is better to learn on "only because its easyier to see your flinch"

You could get a 40 S&W and a 22lr kit
 
I opted for a 9mm and a .357mag , all at once. Hell, I was going to buy them anyway. The 9mm is fun and affordable to shoot, IMO. Shot a .40, meh.... looked at the price of ammo for 50 rounds, that made me like my 9 that much more..:D
 
How serious is the budget you're on and how often do you plan on shooting? If money is a little tight a .22 will both teach good habits and you can shoot roughly 5 times the amount of shots per buck.

But I know that not that many like the lowly .22 since it's not much different than shooting a pellet gun. So if you really must go ahead and get a 9mm. Skip the .40 though due to the added ammo cost.

WHEN (not if) you develop a flinch issue that you just can't seem to break remember how we all mentioned the .22 option. If you are VERY good at self analysis or find someone to aid you a flinch can be beaten while shooting 9mm. But it's not that easy and it will cost you a bundle in ammo. I know because I tried. It wasn't until I started with a .22 that I truly beat the flinch issue and started shooting well.

It depends on the shooter of course but I find I really enjoy my .22's. I'd better since I just added my ninth .22LR handgun to the collection. And none of them are safe queens... er... make that "safe princesses" since they are the smaller caliber :D

Anyhow, best of luck with your new toy.
 
If this is the 1st time you are shooting a pistol, start with a .22 cal. Ruger, Browning, GSG/Sig are popular among shooters. Once you are comfortable, move up. Try both 9 and .40 since these are popular calibers in any club you go. Grip, trigger, weight and sight are major factors in considering a pistol.
 
Lot more cheap 9mm ammo to be had than 40S&W. XMas sale at ISG had 1000 for $200. MFS is freq. on sale 500 for $100.

Don't see too many sales on 40S&W nor 45ACP.

Serious shooter will eat up 1000 rnds quickly at 2-300rnds per range visit.

22LR is fun but without the recoil you have to go 9mm+ to learn recoil mgmt.

22LR allows anyone on tight budget to continue shooting after those expensive boxes of 9mm+ are done.
 
Everyone needs a .22 pistol IMO.

I stared with a 9mm, second gun was a .44mag but a few guns later I got a .22. Whenever I go to the range I always start with it even it's for a few mags. My first .22 was a Norinco - great value, reliable and accurate pistol, but later upgraded to a GSG... had a few other .22s along the way as well.
 
IM_Lugger said:
Everyone needs a .22 pistol IMO.

I stared with a 9mm, second gun was a .44mag but a few guns later I got a .22. Whenever I go to the range I always start with it even it's for a few mags. My first .22 was a Norinco - great value, reliable and accurate pistol, but later upgraded to a GSG... had a few other .22s along the way as well.
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agreed. i do the same thing...any sort of .22 will do.

i use a S&W Model 17-3 revolver to practice trigger control. i find i always shoot better when i start off with .22 at the start of a range visit.
 
get a decent 9mm pistol for what you think you might do with it for a few years (from casual plinking to competing), and look into reloading if you start to like it.
 
9mm or 40 cal

My first gun years ago was a s&w 357. you can shoot 38 or 357 out of it. I sold it though and regret it. I have shot both 9mm and 40 cal . I find the 40 cal more snappy . 9mm is cheaper as the others said.

a 22 pistol is a nice addition but it does get boring after a while . to this guy anyways. check out a CZ 75 9mm . they have a nice grip and if you get into reloading you can load cast bullets . you won't get bord with a nice 9mm as your first gun . good luck in your choice and happy shooting. :)
 
I started with a .40 and had a big head thinking I was far superior to the "tiny little 9mms." I immediately bought reloading supplies and I made soft loads (Just enough to function reliably) to make the gun feel more manageable as I learned. Was my baby .40 loads superior than a 9mm?? No, in fact I think my target loads had less recoil than most factory 9mm. Am I less of a man now that I shoot 9mm? No, Those paper silhouettes are still dieing with great enthusiasm.

Oh ya, I also bought a .22 (Seems like you can't post here without suggesting one of these) My wife and my 6 yr old son really like it :D
 
as far as recoil goes there isn't a significant difference between .40 and 9. i haven't bought commercially manufactured ammo in a long time but i beleive the prices are comparable. If you reload or ever plan to i would go with .40 because you can load them light and they will feel more like 9 or you can load them to full power. Brass is plentiful for both calibers. if you have no interrest in reloading maybe go with 9 because it is a bit cheaper to shoot.

As far as being a beginner, so therefore you need to start with 9? bs. my first handgun was a .45 ACP
 
Many thanks to all who replied. I went with an M&P 9 Range kit.


"If you had a TV on your forehead and could breathe through your ears, you'd be perfect!"
 
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