Just my thoughts
Of your options there, I would say Sig P22- line. I have a 220 and have had no problems with it. As well I use the P225 at work and again, no problems. I would like to recomend something to you. I know your looking for a 9mm or .45ACP as a first handgun as I did; but after I bought my 220 I found that owning a .22 handgun was a better first purchase. Below is a letter by a fellow CGN'r named bluebell. Recomend you read it. I now own a .22. After using .22's (mines in the mail) I don't think I'll be selling mine any time soon. (Bluebell...kept your real name out of it cause I wasn't sure if you wanted your real name posted.)
So You're Going to Buy a Handgun....
- the do's & don'ts of your first handgun purchase
"BlueBell", NSRA Handgun Instructor
Over the years I have had so many occasions to offer advice on the purchase of a first handgun that it seemed like a good idea to produce a written summary of my recommendations on the subject. The aim of this presentation is to guide the new shooter or the new-to-handguns shooter (who may have years of experience with rifles or shotguns) to obtain, as a first handgun, one with which he/she can develop shooting skill safely, in the quickest time, with maximum enjoyment, and at least cost.
The biggest hurdle to overcome is the preconceived notion in the mind of the prospective handgunner, of the type, or even the exact model, that they have got to have in order to make themselves into a complete man or woman. I have observed that people are much more subjective and emotional about handgun purchasing than they are about buying rifles. This probably explains why so many go wrong regarding their first handgun. Many are the times I have heard: "I want a 9mm....I'm going to get a.45......I really want a .357 mag.....I need (sic) a .40 S&W......,etc.,etc.". Question: Which of these is the best for a first handgun? Answer: None of the
above.
For a first handgun get a .22 rimfire. Whether it should be a double action revolver or semi-auto pistol depends mainly on what type of shooting you plan to do with the .22 and also what you intend to eventually obtain in a centerfire handgun (in the future you will undoubtedly want to get a centerfire, regardless of what you may think now - once bitten by the handgun bug, you stay bit). With your .22, If you plan to shoot ISU bullseye (one-hand) or NSRA service pistol style competitions it would be best to get a semi-auto pistol. Another factor to consider is that most new shooters do better with a pistol than a revolver even in slow, deliberate fire. This is likely because of the way a pistol sits in the hand compared to a revolver.
There are many reasons why a .22 should be your first handgun purchase. All of the target grade .22's, double action revolvers and s-a pistols, sit well in the hand with good balance and "pointability" (especially the pistols), have good adjustable sights, and most importantly - good to excellent trigger pulls AND you can shoot a lot at very low ammo cost. In addition to all of these features there is what is perhaps the most important reason of all: with a .22 you will develop your shooting skill without acquiring an accuracy-destroying flinch induced by noise and recoil. It is much more efficient and effective to start with a .22 instead of with a centerfire.
Initial practice with a .22 definitely develops competency more quickly and muchmore cheaply than does initial practice with a centerfire. Centerfire can come later after you are proficient with a .22 handgun.
Do not get the impression that a .22 is just something with which to start your handgun shooting, only to be sold or put aside later. Target grade .22's are high quality firearms which, with minimal care, have a very long life even if heavily used. All handgun shooters I have known still enjoy shooting their .22's even after they have acquired perhaps several centerfire handguns.
This article will not attempt to steer the prospective first handgun buyer toward which makes and models may be the best. I have some very definite opinions on that subject which I will gladly share with those who wish to contact me. As regards used .22 handguns, there are good buys available and it should be noted that .22 bores virtually never wear out because .22 bullets are fairly soft lead and are lubricated.
Finally, some thoughts on two things not yet mentioned: single action revolvers and .22 conversion kits for centerfire pistols. Single action revolvers are fun to own and fun to shoot, but they are not the thing to learn on - usually heavy, creepy trigger pulls and the awkwardness and slowness of loading / unloading are discouraging factors for the new shooter. Kits for converting centerfire pistols to .22: strongly recommend against using them. Conversion kits cause frustration and are a waste of time and money. They are prone to jamming and are never really accurate. The main problem for the beginning handgun shooter is that you will not be sure - is it me, or is it the gun that is spraying the shots all over the target? This is the sort of thing that you definitely do not want. Furthermore, I have a theory that your brain
and "muscle memory" will be confused if, in the same gun, you sometimes shoot, say 9mm, and other times shoot .22. Much better,in my opinion, to shoot centerfire and .22 in separate guns. Over time, practice with a good .22 will make you a better shot with your centerfire, regardless of what many of the gun magazine writers say; of course, you will need some centerfire practice also.
Footnote: The author of this article does not have a .22 handgun selling
business.
