Eventually will get both but 9mm or 22LR first?

T

T-MAC

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I've tried and would like to get a M&P as my first and second handguns just not sure on which order.

If I go with the 9mm first I'd take an IPSC type course and join the local shooting league. I've gone to a few matches but have always finished last place by a long shot.

Or do I get the 22LR version, go more often and try to learn on my own?

I will be buying one this year, then the other the following year.
 
I'm buying it more to just have fun with rather than to get into IPSC. I just figured that would be the best way to learn and get more practice in if I went the 9mm route.
 
You will get very bored with the 22......
Bought one for my wife, used it once....and got hooked on the 9 and never touched it again.
 
A .22LR gets boring after you shoot a 9mm,
a 9mm gets boring after shooting a 40S&W,
a 40 S&W gets boring after shooting a 45 ACP.
So now I`m shooting mostly .45, but I still say, get a .22 for your first gun.
You can shoot it lots, for cheap.
 
A .22 may be boring after a while, but it's easier to learn fundamentals like trigger control and grip and sight picture on one. Obviously, anyone can pretty much shoot anything, but the .22 would be my vote for a first gun. when you can place all your shots where you want them to go, and start getting bored, then move on. People with experience shoot different heavier calibers, but just about everyone has a .22.
 
I started with a .22 but it didn't help much when I got a .45ACP...the recoil is at first intimidating,an experienced shooter took pity on me and showed me a few things which help a lot. Now I can shoot the 45 as good or better than the .22 and the holes are visible at longer range, I need optics to see .22's at 25 yards.
You are thinking of 9mm but it is the same thing..."recoil" and .22LR just doesn't have much.
 
My cousin has the MP22 and hasn't been able to find spare magazines. If you go with the 9mm Carry & Range kit you can get three mags, a holster, a double mag pouch and a speedloader for not much more money. Better value, but more expensive to shoot obviously.
 
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If your going to do the IPSC,I would suggest getting a CZ Shadow.. excellant,accurate shooter with low recoil..and you won't be finishing last after a reasonable amount of practice time..
 
All my hanguns are .22lr. I have 2 revolvers and 2 pistols. I like the fact I can shoot 500 rounds for $20. The cost of a gun is the cheap part of shooting, it's the ammo that gets pricey with the larger calibers. To me the fun is trying to make as many holes as possible in the middle of the target. We can only shoot at paper anyways, and only at ranges. The range I go to has rental guns if I want to try something else. If I need to stroke my male ego and get a "big bang", I can just pull out my 12 gauge with slugs and shoot it.
 
If the M&P fits your hands well then it sounds like it would be OK for your first gun. But before you dive in see if you can arrange to try a few others as well. How the gun fits your hands is important. But equally as important is how you connect with the trigger. There is a big difference in feel of a striker fired trigger and that of a hammer fired trigger. I find that it's pretty much the second key factor in how well we connect with a gun and how well it shoots.

As for .22 becoming boring? I guess it depends on what the shooter wants to get from their shooting. Yeah, it doesn't have a lot of grin making kick to it. But rimfire is good for a lot of quality trigger time for working on the skills of shooting accurately. I shoot around 6 to 7 thousand rounds of .22LR a year from handguns and rifles. If that were center fire ammo? Well you can do the math. Boring? Not when I see tight groups thanks to the training it provides. Or see the little 3 inch steel swinger target repeatedly wobbling around at 25 yards thanks to hits from one of my rimfire handguns.
 
I don't think it really matters what you get first. .22 is really good for just having a fun day at the range or working on marksmanship skills. When you want a little heft to your shooting go to the 9mm. I think I would get the 9mm first and then when I wanted to save a little money get the .22.

Good luck,

Scott.
 
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I second the Shadow as a first gun, for IPSC you have the best Production pistol (I prefer the Tangfo Stock3 but it's a little pricier), the price is great and it's an excellent shooter. If your so inclined to shoot .22 you can always buy a conversion kit and be able to practice with the same gun! I'd say just get into 9mm reloading and shoot that vs .22 but that's just how I like to play.
 
I say 9mm because I think .22 remakes of popular center fire pistols are a waste. If you want a good .22 pistol get one that was designed for it, like the MKIII or buckmark and you will be much happier.
 
Decided to go with the 9mm range kit. Took it to the range and so far am happy with my decision. Next year I'll hopefully be able to buy the M&P 22 to practice with.
 
I just wanted to post an update that within a year I bought the M&P22 and have put many more rounds through it since it is so cheap to shoot. I believe it has helped me with my 9mm as well and looking back probably should have purchased the 22 before the 9.
 
T-MAC said:
I just wanted to post an update that within a year I bought the M&P22 and have put many more rounds through it since it is so cheap to shoot. I believe it has helped me with my 9mm as well and looking back probably should have purchased the 22 before the 9.
Click to expand...

Now you know why the majority say 22 to start..
 
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