buy my first handgun ??
- Thread starter patricktj
- Start date
- Location
- big sky country
A .22lr may be the way to go for learning purposes.
Then graduate to the caliber of your choice.
I like 9mm because it is cheap and ammo is plentiful.
Then graduate to the caliber of your choice.
I like 9mm because it is cheap and ammo is plentiful.
Do you want to learn to shoot accurately? .22lr
Ruger MK??, Browing Buckmark, SW 22A or 41 or 17, Ruger single six (.22 mag as well) etc...
Ammo is REAL cheap compared to CF.
If you must have a CF, I'd suggest the CZ75 and the Kadet conversion.
I prefer the .45 then .40 to 9mm if you are talking pistol, .44 for wheelguns.
Ruger MK??, Browing Buckmark, SW 22A or 41 or 17, Ruger single six (.22 mag as well) etc...
Ammo is REAL cheap compared to CF.
If you must have a CF, I'd suggest the CZ75 and the Kadet conversion.
I prefer the .45 then .40 to 9mm if you are talking pistol, .44 for wheelguns.
Last edited:
A little .22 is a good thing to have.
But for centerfires, you should try them out.
At the very bottom of the cost (and, if you ask me, quality) ladder you have Norincos. They're Chineese knock-offs of major pistols, dirt cheap but having seen some of them, you can tell that they're not made to the same standard as the pistol they've orginigally copied.
At lower costs, you have the Glock (I personally don't like them), Springfield, Smith and Wesson M&P and CZ pistols. And don't discount the EE forums, that's where I got my first centerfire pistol.
Berettas and Brownings are more mid-range in price, with the lower end HK at the top end of the mid-range.
Sigs (except maybe the factory refurb ones), Para-Ordnance, STI, those tend to be a lot pricier.
So, if buying new, you're looking at anywhere from 650$ and up unless you go for a Norinco. But a lot of gun stores have used pistols in stock and those are at a decent price.
Do your homework, and try some pistols out at your local range. Asking nicely and supplying some factory loaded ammo so you can feed whatever you've borrowed is never a bad idea either.
But for centerfires, you should try them out.
At the very bottom of the cost (and, if you ask me, quality) ladder you have Norincos. They're Chineese knock-offs of major pistols, dirt cheap but having seen some of them, you can tell that they're not made to the same standard as the pistol they've orginigally copied.
At lower costs, you have the Glock (I personally don't like them), Springfield, Smith and Wesson M&P and CZ pistols. And don't discount the EE forums, that's where I got my first centerfire pistol.
Berettas and Brownings are more mid-range in price, with the lower end HK at the top end of the mid-range.
Sigs (except maybe the factory refurb ones), Para-Ordnance, STI, those tend to be a lot pricier.
So, if buying new, you're looking at anywhere from 650$ and up unless you go for a Norinco. But a lot of gun stores have used pistols in stock and those are at a decent price.
Do your homework, and try some pistols out at your local range. Asking nicely and supplying some factory loaded ammo so you can feed whatever you've borrowed is never a bad idea either.
Hi
Start off with a .22. I happen to like the Ruger, but there are a lot of good ones out there.
Next step up would be something like the S&W M&P in 9mm. They are reasonably priced right now. The adjustable grip gimmick is nice if you have odd sized hands.
Once you are comfortable with shooting both of the above - shop for a 1911 in 45 acp. They are a *lot* of fun to shoot.
If you head right out and start out "big bore" you are likely to have trouble. It's *much* easier to work your way up.
Once
Start off with a .22. I happen to like the Ruger, but there are a lot of good ones out there.
Next step up would be something like the S&W M&P in 9mm. They are reasonably priced right now. The adjustable grip gimmick is nice if you have odd sized hands.
Once you are comfortable with shooting both of the above - shop for a 1911 in 45 acp. They are a *lot* of fun to shoot.
If you head right out and start out "big bore" you are likely to have trouble. It's *much* easier to work your way up.
Once
heavenIsAlie
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Abbotsford
someone did a review about the kimber kit and it wont work on a 9mm 1911, cant remember the exact reason why though
Hi
Cost *is* a factor when it comes to pistols. You can run out and buy one for $200 or you can spend > $4,000. Comparing two weapons, when one is 4X the price of the other will generally favor the more expensive.
Some people have a *lot* of disposable income. Most of us do not. A realistic assessment of how much you plan to spend will make this a much easier thing to figure out. I'm not suggesting you need a single specific figure, but defining a range of X to 2X can help a lot.
Bob
Cost *is* a factor when it comes to pistols. You can run out and buy one for $200 or you can spend > $4,000. Comparing two weapons, when one is 4X the price of the other will generally favor the more expensive.
Some people have a *lot* of disposable income. Most of us do not. A realistic assessment of how much you plan to spend will make this a much easier thing to figure out. I'm not suggesting you need a single specific figure, but defining a range of X to 2X can help a lot.
Bob
Hi
Ok, that keeps you out of the super custom range, but keeps most everything else in play.
Here's one way to go:
Bereta Neos .22 LR $200
S&W M&P 9mm $450
Norinco 1911 in 45 acp $350
That blows the whole budget, but you have a good set of pistols to work with. I'm guessing a bit at the prices, but I don't think they are to far off.
Here's another:
Ruger Mark III in 22 LR $400
Norinco 1911 , still $350
That gives you a better .22, and you jump straight to the 1911. It also leaves you with a bit of cash in your pocket.
Finally:
SIG P226 Navy in 9mm $900
That blows the entire budget on one very nice pistol. It's a pistol that I have had first time shooters operate. They seem to do well with it. It's hardly unique, but they like it better than a number of other 9's.
So many choices .....
Bob
Ok, that keeps you out of the super custom range, but keeps most everything else in play.
Here's one way to go:
Bereta Neos .22 LR $200
S&W M&P 9mm $450
Norinco 1911 in 45 acp $350
That blows the whole budget, but you have a good set of pistols to work with. I'm guessing a bit at the prices, but I don't think they are to far off.
Here's another:
Ruger Mark III in 22 LR $400
Norinco 1911 , still $350
That gives you a better .22, and you jump straight to the 1911. It also leaves you with a bit of cash in your pocket.
Finally:
SIG P226 Navy in 9mm $900
That blows the entire budget on one very nice pistol. It's a pistol that I have had first time shooters operate. They seem to do well with it. It's hardly unique, but they like it better than a number of other 9's.
So many choices .....
Bob
sillymike
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Patrick,
Will this be for plinking only...
Then just about anything that fits your hand and your budget will do...
or are you planning on doing some competition?
Then you need to find out about the game you want to play, an IPSC shooter will not have the same selection criteria as an ISSF shooter.
Either way, a 22lr is a good first gun (or second, or third...). You can practice a whole lot, for very little $$. You can concentrate on your technic without having to worry about moise and recoil... and most 22lr will be more accurate then most centerfire pistol.
Just my 2cents
Mike.
Will this be for plinking only...
Then just about anything that fits your hand and your budget will do...
or are you planning on doing some competition?
Then you need to find out about the game you want to play, an IPSC shooter will not have the same selection criteria as an ISSF shooter.
Either way, a 22lr is a good first gun (or second, or third...). You can practice a whole lot, for very little $$. You can concentrate on your technic without having to worry about moise and recoil... and most 22lr will be more accurate then most centerfire pistol.
Just my 2cents
Mike.
604shooter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Neither here nor there.
X2. Don't forget to factor in the cost of shooting as well. I'd say 22 and 9mm.
Last edited:
sillymike
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Next question, The Caliber...
How many rounds/month are you planning on shooting?
Does anybody in your family reload?
If you are planning on shooting one box of ammo every few months, you won't notice the $ difference between a 9mm/40s&w/45acp... if you are hopping to be down to the range every other week shooting factory ammo, you'll soon notice that for the same $ you'll shoot twice as many 9mm as 45acp.
Reloading will greatly reduce the $ difference, allowing you to shoot more for the same $ (Forget about saving money and reloading, it is nothing but an urban legend... I've never met anybody who ended up saving money by going that route
)
And since I'm not into revolvers, I'll just skip the 38spl and other similar cartridge...
How many rounds/month are you planning on shooting?
Does anybody in your family reload?
If you are planning on shooting one box of ammo every few months, you won't notice the $ difference between a 9mm/40s&w/45acp... if you are hopping to be down to the range every other week shooting factory ammo, you'll soon notice that for the same $ you'll shoot twice as many 9mm as 45acp.
Reloading will greatly reduce the $ difference, allowing you to shoot more for the same $ (Forget about saving money and reloading, it is nothing but an urban legend... I've never met anybody who ended up saving money by going that route
)And since I'm not into revolvers, I'll just skip the 38spl and other similar cartridge...
Speaking from experience, I would strongly discourage you from buying a .40 or a .45 as your first pistol. I did, and regret it very much. Not at all because of the cost factor, but because you need to start small and work your way up.
I'm with pa guns on this. Go to your local gun shops and handle some pistols. What's even better is if you get to shoot them at your gun club. If you ask nicely, people will let you handle their handguns and if you ask right nice (supplying some factory ammo helps too), you can probably get a mag or two out of them to get a feel for how they shoot.
Take your time to find out what works for you. I've had people rave at me about how great Glocks are but to me they feel like I'm holding on to a toy that has a 2X4 as a grip.
Take your time in finding what you like and when you do, go for it. As I said, when the time to buy comes, don't overlook the EE here. There are lots of good deals available out there.
Take your time to find out what works for you. I've had people rave at me about how great Glocks are but to me they feel like I'm holding on to a toy that has a 2X4 as a grip.
Take your time in finding what you like and when you do, go for it. As I said, when the time to buy comes, don't overlook the EE here. There are lots of good deals available out there.
