a guide to purchasing first handgun? aka suggestions, for a newbie

There is also Better Buy Sports on Mountain Road by the bowling alley, they have hand guns there. There is a gun show the first weekend of May at the Legion in Irish Town as well.
 
I'll have to call and see if they have similar restrictions as the other store you mentioned, rpal required to handle firearms.
I went in there a few weeks back just to look around. But now I'm getting more and more idea what I want, hopefully the staff
is helpful.

ty. I've tried to find some shows in around, but I didn't find this peticular show. I've added that to my calendar so i won't forget.
 
Officially you can't handle a restricted weapon unless you show the RPAL. Store can get into trouble.

There is a show in Fred'town Sept long weekend at the F'town motor inn and one in Sussex, not sure when.
 
What I did was...
Did some research online so I had a few guns I thought I'd like. I really didn't limit myself by price/calibre/future ammo cost. I wanted my first handgun to be more of a keeper than cheap.
When I got my RPAL I made a trip to a few gun stores to at least get some of the guns I liked in hand.
I found I didn't care for the feel of the polymer guns so that helped me narrow my search down further.
I did a bit more research on the remaining guns that had a good fit.
I ended up choosing 2, a sig p226 tac ops 9mm and a sig p220 dark elite 45ACP.
So far I've been pretty satisfied with both.
I'll likely add a .22 conversion at some point later.
This is one approach. To each their own though.
Good luck :)
 
No worries.
I am on my 2nd week of sending in my application, so I can be a little patient.

I'll try finding the sussex show. I did find the fred... show.




JimmieA. said:
Officially you can't handle a restricted weapon unless you show the RPAL. Store can get into trouble.

There is a show in Fred'town Sept long weekend at the F'town motor inn and one in Sussex, not sure when.
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It was funny I too had the same problem but by the time my restricted showed up I had already purchased 2 guns and were sitting in the store vault waiting for me to show my license. My first purchase was the gsg 1911 it is a nice gun and is inexpensive to shoot. My other one was the ruger sr1911 in 45 acp. When I first went to the range I fired off 5-6 clips of the 22 then jumped right into the 45. That was awesome. But yes I was allowed to handle and play a bit at the store to get a feel.
 
Most people will recommend a .22 to start with as its cheap to feed, no recoil, and helps establish good form. I however would suggest 9mm. It's probably your cheapest center fire options, allows you to try out shooting sports like ipsc and idpa, and to be honest.... Rimfire is boring comparatively.
 
Hotvw1 said:
It was funny I too had the same problem but by the time my restricted showed up I had already purchased 2 guns and were sitting in the store vault waiting for me to show my license. My first purchase was the gsg 1911 it is a nice gun and is inexpensive to shoot. My other one was the ruger sr1911 in 45 acp. When I first went to the range I fired off 5-6 clips of the 22 then jumped right into the 45. That was awesome. But yes I was allowed to handle and play a bit at the store to get a feel.
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Unfortunately I need to save up a bit first, but I've e-mailed one or two places and see what their
policies are for reserving firearms.

I fired a GSG1911 .22LR and STI Spartan 1911 .45ACP the other day. I liked the overall feel of 1911, the fake suppressor for the gsg1911 is kinda cheasy but its in my maybe pile for my first .22lr.

I plan on making a trip to self proclaimed "largest dealer" in my area to try a few guns when I'm licensed. I'll be a chance to look at pistols and some long rifles..

prevost12 said:
Most people will recommend a .22 to start with as its cheap to feed, no recoil, and helps establish good form. I however would suggest 9mm. It's probably your cheapest center fire options, allows you to try out shooting sports like ipsc and idpa, and to be honest.... Rimfire is boring comparatively.
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I found the 9mm to be very comfortable shooting. The only problem, I can see, is initial investment might be a bit more than a .22lr. I do like the caliber, I don't need a lot of "stoping power" just for target shoot. I think if I had the money I'd get a .22lr and 9mm for now, and they would do me for a bit.


rooster22 said:
This thread says it all for 22LR.

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?862282-My-22-Is-More-Accurate-Than-Yours!
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I was fortunate to shoot the ruger earlier this week. They were (obviously) alot more accurate than I was.
My impression of the ruger was it was a nice gun for beginners, I liked shooting it.
edit: one of the things that concerned me was people saying field stripping/disassembly was tough... But youtube to the rescue.
 
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freeballer said:
While I'm waiting on my restricted PAL I'm trying to do some "homework". I've never fired
a handgun, but it is something I wanted to try. We don't have that many gun shops in town,
and its a mixed bag when it comes to sales/clerks. I'm hoping that you all might offer some
tips for first time buyer. Some of the recomendations on the web have also been a mixed bag.
Some don't even help me. For eg. None of the retailers have a firing range. One store just has
a binder, no actual riles or handguns in store.

At first I didn't want to post just yet but I found I needed a little help to get started. And this
was the best place to get my feet wet.

Thanks,
Geoff
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I don't personally think you need to try out guns first before you buy them. The thing is, you are a total newb, as you say so maybe you can generally see what feels nice to you and looks nice but you are not going to have any clue about what you should actually be looking for. You could try out a few different guns as a beginner and find out you like one then buy it, then down the road once you learn more and get more practice you might not like the gun at all.

Personally I would go for a 9mm first. I would not personally get a .22LR gun to start. That is just my opinion other people will disagree. For me, 9mm is much more fun to shoot, you run into less malfunctions, a lot of the .22 LR guns have little problems and are not super reliable. 9mm is still a small enough caliber to be good for a beginner and it can also be purchased cheap especially if you buy factory reloaded from companies such as Canadian BDX Inc.

For me reliability is more important then anything, even if you are not in the Afghan mountains or out protecting the streets where you need to rely on your gun for your life or others lives, I still think reliability comes first. I see people at the range shooting their unreliable pistols and it never looks like they are having fun dealing with all the malfunctions and constantly complaining.

That is why, my first choice would be a Glock 17. That is a full sized Glock in 9mm. It is very reliable, the most reliable pistol in my opinion. It is also very simplistic, both in function and in design. As far as function is concerned, there is only one trigger pull, you don't have a double action and a single action like on a Sig or CZ. There is also no safety or decocker so that simplifies things as well plus there is no hammer. As far as design goes, there are very few parts and it is extremely easy to dissemble, clean, maintain and even modify. Just youtube what ever you want to do and follow the video. You can also use it and have it be reliable without maintaining it at all, although I would not recommend this.

I personally prefer the 3rd generation Glock 17, but I also used a 4th Generation which was supplied to me through a training course overseas in a harsh desert environment and I abused the gun. It worked flawlessly without a hiccup. It also had more grip on the stock grip although I always put skateboard tape on my grip anyways so that would not be a issue for me.

The accuracy is not the best, not as good as a 1911, or even a CZ or Sig but I guarantee it can out shoot most shooters. The trigger is a little weird and takes some getting use to but if it is your first gun then you can learn to be very good with it as long as you practice both live fire and dry fire. Plus, if you get good at shooting the Glock then I guarantee you will shoot wonderfully with every other pistol.

Besides the Glock my personal favorites although I would not recommend them to a total beginner unless they really want one are a good, quality, reliable 1911 and a Sig P226. I also don't mind a CZ75B but it is lower on my list since I have run into reliability issues with them.

I hope this helps.
 
I agree with most of what Gurkha said. I went through the same "which gun" debate several months ago. I decided on the Walther PPQ. I love it! The .22's do not excite me at all. The 9mm (and a quality one) was a great choice for me. No need to upgrade as all I do is target shoot.

Gurkha said:
I don't personally think you need to try out guns first before you buy them. The thing is, you are a total newb, as you say so maybe you can generally see what feels nice to you and looks nice but you are not going to have any clue about what you should actually be looking for. You could try out a few different guns as a beginner and find out you like one then buy it, then down the road once you learn more and get more practice you might not like the gun at all.

Personally I would go for a 9mm first. I would not personally get a .22LR gun to start. That is just my opinion other people will disagree. For me, 9mm is much more fun to shoot, you run into less malfunctions, a lot of the .22 LR guns have little problems and are not super reliable. 9mm is still a small enough caliber to be good for a beginner and it can also be purchased cheap especially if you buy factory reloaded from companies such as Canadian BDX Inc.

For me reliability is more important then anything, even if you are not in the Afghan mountains or out protecting the streets where you need to rely on your gun for your life or others lives, I still think reliability comes first. I see people at the range shooting their unreliable pistols and it never looks like they are having fun dealing with all the malfunctions and constantly complaining.

That is why, my first choice would be a Glock 17. That is a full sized Glock in 9mm. It is very reliable, the most reliable pistol in my opinion. It is also very simplistic, both in function and in design. As far as function is concerned, there is only one trigger pull, you don't have a double action and a single action like on a Sig or CZ. There is also no safety or decocker so that simplifies things as well plus there is no hammer. As far as design goes, there are very few parts and it is extremely easy to dissemble, clean, maintain and even modify. Just youtube what ever you want to do and follow the video. You can also use it and have it be reliable without maintaining it at all, although I would not recommend this.

I personally prefer the 3rd generation Glock 17, but I also used a 4th Generation which was supplied to me through a training course overseas in a harsh desert environment and I abused the gun. It worked flawlessly without a hiccup. It also had more grip on the stock grip although I always put skateboard tape on my grip anyways so that would not be a issue for me.

The accuracy is not the best, not as good as a 1911, or even a CZ or Sig but I guarantee it can out shoot most shooters. The trigger is a little weird and takes some getting use to but if it is your first gun then you can learn to be very good with it as long as you practice both live fire and dry fire. Plus, if you get good at shooting the Glock then I guarantee you will shoot wonderfully with every other pistol.

Besides the Glock my personal favorites although I would not recommend them to a total beginner unless they really want one are a good, quality, reliable 1911 and a Sig P226. I also don't mind a CZ75B but it is lower on my list since I have run into reliability issues with them.

I hope this helps.
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Hi Geoff,

Here is an article from Chuck Hawks website which might be helpful to you.
I will copy paste the article as well as attach the link if you need to look into his website for more additional info regarding hand guns.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/selecting_first_handgun.htm


Good luck.


Selecting Your First Handgun
By David Nash

Preparing to buy your first handgun can be quite daunting. They aren't cheap, new handgun prices range from about $250.00 to $2,500.00. And to complicate the matter even further, there are many different manufactures and choices.
I tell people in my carry permit course that there are as many different types of handguns as the manufacturers can talk people into buying. What is probably most confusing to new shooters is the fact that for every make and model of handgun there are 3 gun magazine writers telling their readers that particular brand or caliber is the best, and 3 others saying that the gun in question might get the reader killed.
Yesterday I was asked my opinion about Glock pistols. I said that what I thought didn't matter; it wasn't my money or my safety on the line. My preferences do not matter in the decision to buy your gun. My wife likes Glocks; I feel the same about revolvers. Our preferences differ, and as long as you know your gun, why you chose it, and it fits your needs then it's the best gun for you. Now, that being said, let's discuss the benefits and drawbacks of the two main types of service, concealed carry, and home defense handguns: semi-automatics and revolvers.
Revolvers
Revolvers are a type of pistol that has a rotating cylinder containing a number of firing chambers. They traditionally hold six rounds, each in its own firing chamber. They are generally cheaper to purchase than a semi-automatic, with the 2005 MSRP of typical .38/.357 caliber revolver from a major manufacturer such as Ruger or Smith & Wesson being in the neighborhood of $450-$675. The major benefits of this type of handgun include:


  • [*]Easier to learn to manipulate, because there is generally fewer functions than a typical semi-auto.
    [*]Easier for weaker handed persons to operate. This is due to the lack of a slide.
    [*]More reliable
    [*]More choice of ammunition
    [*]Typically more accurate out of the box
    [*]Not as training intensive as a semi-automatic pistol (more about this later).
I prefer revolvers for home defense, as a home protection weapon will be stored loaded for an extended period of time and the springs in a revolver are relaxed when the gun is loaded and ready to go. Revolvers have fewer moving parts, which in turns makes them less sensitive than semi-automatics to a lack of cleaning and maintenance.
I also recommend them for someone who is not going to train as intensively as recommended, because this type of handgun has fewer functions to remember. In order to manipulate a revolver, one only has to operate the trigger and the cylinder release, whereas a semi-automatic pistol generally has a trigger, a magazine release, a slide lock, and usually at least one safety lever.
Revolvers do have disadvantages, and it is because of these disadvantages that police departments around the county have changed from them to semi-automatics. These disadvantages should be understood if the reader wishes to make a decision; therefore I will list them:


  • [*]Slower to reload than the typical semi-automatic (if previously loaded magazines are available for the semi-auto and a speed loader is not used to reload the revolver). Using a speed loader (which loads all six chambers of a revolver simultaneously) it takes only about one second longer to reload a revolver than to insert a new magazine in a semi-auto.
    [*]Sometimes harder to conceal, due to width of cylinder.
    [*]Normally not as many rounds (6 rounds compared to 8 or 10 rounds in a semi-automatic.), although there are 7 and 8 shot .38/.357 revolvers on the market.
Because a revolver contains separate chambers for each round, to fully load a revolver the operator must put a round in each chamber (6 actions for 6 rounds), and close the cylinder (one final action). Then the trigger may be pulled to discharge the weapon.
To fully load a semi-automatic the operator has to insert cartridges one at a time into a magazine (one action per cartridge), and then load the magazine into the pistol (one more action), plus the final action of racking the slide to chamber a cartridge. Then the trigger may be pulled to fire a shot.
But, if previously loaded magazines are available, the chore of loading a semi-automatic pistol is reduced to only the last two actions mentioned in the paragraph above. Loading magazines is, however, a slow process. Starting from an open box of ammunition, it is much faster to load a revolver than the magazine of an auto pistol.
Semi-Automatic
A semi-automatic pistol fires a single cartridge each time the trigger is pressed. It automatically extracts the spent casing and prepares to fire another round. A semi-automatic is sometimes (erroneously) called automatic; the difference being that a true automatic weapon can fire multiple rounds per trigger press.
A modern semi-automatic pistol holds its rounds in a single device called a magazine (it is possible to offend some hard-line gun enthusiasts by calling a magazine a clip). This magazine is normally inserted into the grip of the handgun. These handguns are the most popular, and they are that way for several reasons; some of the most recognized reasons are:


  • [*]Holds more rounds than a revolver. Normally a semi-auto magazine holds 8 to 10 rounds, but there are magazines capable of holding 15 to 30.
    [*]Faster reloads from previously loaded magazines.
    [*]Due to popularity, there is a wider choice of accessories such as holsters available.
    [*]Easy carrying of spare ammunition via preloaded magazines.
    [*]Usually easier to conceal for a similar caliber gun due to thinner action than a normal revolver.
It is due to the amount of rounds easily carried upon ones person in magazines, and the amount of rounds in the pistol that caused the semi-automatic to replace the revolver in the arming of most of our nation's police forces. What has kept it there are all the different features that are possible in a semi-auto. A police force (or a private user) can decide the type of safety devices or modes of operation that they want in a firearm and buy a brand or model that has those features.
Semi-automatic pistols also have disadvantages. Examples of some common disadvantages are:


  • [*]Very training intensive. Before one begins to carry a self-defense semi-automatic it is recommended that the user fire 2 to 3 thousand rounds of the type of ammunition they intend to carry in their firearm in order to fully understand the function of their firearm.
    [*]More complex. That means more prone to failure. While modern firearms can fire thousands of rounds without malfunction, malfunctions can and do happen more frequently with semi-autos than revolvers.
    [*]Can be more expensive than a revolver. A typical 9x19 caliber autoloader from a major manufacturer such as Ruger or Smith & Wesson has a 2005 MSRP of $425-$950.
    [*]Harder for people suffering from arthritis or of weaker stature to manipulate slide.
    [*]Typically less accurate out of the box, although there are some very accurate autoloaders.
    [*]More sensitive to ammunition type. Some types of semi-automatics are more prone to jam with certain types of ammunition, which is another reason that it is suggested to train with the type of ammunition you intend to carry.
Conclusion
The semi-auto type of firearm is very well represented in the world of guns. Because of this sales popularity there are many different functions and characteristics. Comparing this is like comparing pickup trucks to cars, there are many brands of pickups (revolvers), but generally they all are basically the same. In the car (semi-autos) world, they have sedans, sports cars, wagons, convertibles, limousines, economy cars, and luxury designs.
You can buy a vehicle or a firearm based only upon an arbitrary reason such as looks, what the marketing hype in a gun magazine tells you, or popularity. You may also buy a tool such as this by intellegently determining your needs and weighing your options.
 
stones93 said:
I agree with most of what Gurkha said. I went through the same "which gun" debate several months ago. I decided on the Walther PPQ. I love it! The .22's do not excite me at all. The 9mm (and a quality one) was a great choice for me. No need to upgrade as all I do is target shoot.
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It is so funny you mention that because just after I posted, the Walther PPQ came to mind. I have never owned a Walther but I did recently shoot the PPQ and it was a very nice gun. I guess I did not mention it because I lack experience with the gun and I do not actually own one. The person who let me use it liked it very much. I was even thinking about getting one for myself, or my wife which would pretty much be like getting it for myself, haha.

To me, the Walther PPQ has a better stock trigger and is also much better looking then the Glock.
 
As tadosan said, you could also get a revolver. I just did not mention it because you seemed set on the semi auto.

For a revolver I would get a good .357 Magnum. Then you can shoot .38 Special which is cheap and easy to shoot and still have the .357 Magnum when you want more punch.

They fit under what I was talking about before in my post, if you buy a quality revolver then they are very reliable and are simple, both in function and design. A couple options could be a S&W 686 or a Ruger GP100. Definitely an option for a beginner.
 
ss1980 said:
Don't buy anything until you sign up with a club and do go through your probationary shoots. During the shoots, you will have an opportunity to handle all sorts of different firearms and you will have a feel for what you like and what not. Then, after the probationary shoot, normally between 6 and 12 weeks, the club may apply for your ATT and within a month or two you shall get it.

By that time, you will have a general understanding of what you like and what not.

Don't buy until they are ready to apply for your ATT and you're done with your probationary shoots.
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What a crock of horsepoo....12 weeks..Gotta love Bantario. Here in SK I challenged the exam, bought a membership when the RPAL came and bought what ever I want, when I wanted, and "GASP" no one got hurt.
 
Honestly... other then trying a few out and see what you actually like, the only advice I can give you is dont compromise.

If you like that expensive gun, but have enough for something else. Save up and buy what you want.

As your first gun, I'd also suggest going used, as the first will be your "abuse" gun. You will learn on it, you will learn what to do/not to do. You will abuse it. And in the end, it'll always be in your safe to rekindle the start of a life long hobby.... nay, scratch that... life style.

GL either way and enjoy the trip :D
 
Either a .357 magnum or .50 Desert Eagle...something to let other shooters at the range know you mean business!

Seriously though, I'd suggest a reliable name, something with cheap ammo and not a lot of kick. Sticking to 9mm or .22 would be a great idea since you'll be putting a lot of lead down range developing your trigger pull, stance, breathing...etc. In the end, you'll want something easy to shoot all day.

The first choice (IMO) would be whether to get a revolver, or semi-auto (hammer or striker fired). Then go from there.
 
senecaty said:
Either a .357 magnum or .50 Desert Eagle...something to let other shooters at the range know you mean business!

Seriously though, I'd suggest a reliable name, something with cheap ammo and not a lot of kick. Sticking to 9mm or .22 would be a great idea since you'll be putting a lot of lead down range developing your trigger pull, stance, breathing...etc. In the end, you'll want something easy to shoot all day.

The first choice (IMO) would be whether to get a revolver, or semi-auto (hammer or striker fired). Then go from there.
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I know you are poking fun but if a beginner was interested in a revolver, .357 magnum is actually not a bad choice because you can shoot .38 special which is a cheap and light caliber perfect for beginners. Then, down the road they have the option of also being able to shoot .357 magnum. For a lot of shooting and for beginners, .38 special is one of the best choices besides .22 LR. Most of the best revolvers which can shoot .38 special are chambered in .357 magnum.

.50 Desert Eagle on the other hand... definitely not... although I have seen some beginners with .44 magnum Desert Eagles, red dot sights and skull grips at the range, what a joke!
 
IMO, a total beginner (such as the OP) can't go wrong with buying a QUALITY .22LR semi-auto pistol for a first handgun. My recommendation would be the Browning Buckmark Camper (I'm still kicking myself for trading mine away). It's reliable, easy to clean and maintain, relatively inexpensive, and will eat just about any ammo you feed it (mine loved American Eagle 22lr solid nose). You'll learn the basics, and because ammo is so cheap compared to anything centerfire, you'll get a lot more practice for the same dollar. It's also a great tool for when YOU want to teach your wife/husband, girlfriend/boyfriend (as the case may be :D) or kids how to safely use handguns.

The Ruger MK III is a good choice as well, although I have heard that it can be tricky to reassemble after cleaning. I have no personal experience with this, just hearsay from some owners.
 
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