First Handgun - Like a "Honda"

Danimal247

Danimal247

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Complete newb here, but can someone point me in the right direction to research information about my first gun?

I'm looking to target shoot only, and want something affordable but reliable (like a Honda)

I shot 9mm, .40, and .45 for the first time yesterday - all were fun, but the .45 was probably my favorite for the kick.

I think eventually I will broaden my collection to a sub compact-pocket type pistol, a 9mm and a .45, but to start out with I want to spend the least amount on repairs/accessories/etc to have a reliable weekend shooter.

I prefer fully polished handguns for asthetic appeal, double+single action, and would like to purchase new
 
s&w has a reliable 1911, if you can still call it a 1911.

sti makes wonderfully reliable hand guns
 
Danimal247 said:
I prefer fully polished handguns for asthetic appeal, double+single action...
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Glock - Fits neither of the above criteria. But the Kool-Aid is strong, apparently. :rolleyes:

SIG 220 maybe? (If you're looking for a .45, or a 226 or 229 if you're looking for a 9mm or .40) Shiny, DA/SA, and reliable. Of course, SIG has it's own flavour of brand-loyalty-beverage which I may have sipped. Everyone is going to give you advice based on what THEY own. Including myself. Your job is not to find out which pistol is most popular, what you need to do is find out what's going to work for YOU.

Always try to shoot a pistol you are considering before you buy one. No matter how shiny it may be, if the grip/sights/controls/whatever don't work for you, then you're just another crappy shot with a fancy pistol. There are enough of those already out there, thanks.

On the subject of trying before buying: Even if you don't live near a range where you can rent various pistols, or a specific one that you've got on the short list, don't give up. More often than not, you'll be surprised at how willing people are to let you shoot their pistols if you're upfront with them about wanting to learn. (Buy ammunition for them.) Try finding them on this board.



Of course, the best advice, (and the advice that you probably don't want to hear...) is to buy yourself a .22 for your first pistol, so you can shoot a ton for next to nothing, and develop good shooting habits rather than (flinchy) bad ones.

However it goes, have fun!
 
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After making a similar thread myself, fool proof choices seem to be your preference of the following:

Sig 226
CZ 75/shadow or 85
S&W M&P
Glock 17/22/34

.45 is expensive compared to 9mm so for you first gun that may be an issue, depends how deep your pockets are. I think everything I listed have .40 variants as well.

Anyways I'll let the more experienced guys respond but thats what I learned.

Mark
 
Pains me to say but- Glock, reliable and affordable.

A step up would be CZ (I have 3... and a glock)

All are good, some are better.
 
when i started shooting earlier this year, i had a good amount of trigger time with the Glock 21 (which is the .45ACP). my groups at 25 yards distance were around 5 feet or so. yeah, pretty abysmal. gave up on that, spent a few weeks with 22LR stuff, and by the time someone handed me a Smith & Wesson Model 41 i had nice 6" groups at 25 yards. oh, my groups in either case contain 30-50 shots. i pretty well shoot a mag, check my shooting with binoculars, shoot some more, and then after a while we walk up to the targets and patch up. so it's not like i look at just 5-shot groups.

i spent $50 on the ammo for one day on the Glock. and probably $50 on the ammo for a few weeks of the 22LR. yeah, i think the second $50 investment gave me a MUCH better ROI.

Ruger makes a 22LR revolver that's available in stainless. not sure if it does DA/SA or not, though. being a revolver, it ought to be even more reliable than a Honda.
 
wow - this forum is busy! not even an hour later and that many responses, very cool!

So I just googled the guns listed, but the Glock isn't pretty??! I kind of like the heft of the all metal guns, but I will have to try some more at Target Sports before making my decision.

The Springfield XDM is based on the Croatian HS-2000, very cool since my family knows more about it.

Is it difficult to find pricing online, as I haven't found consistent pricing online for any gun I have researched?

Maybe you guys can post the guns you recommend and a little blurb about the price/pros/cons
 
Danimal247 said:
....I think eventually I will broaden my collection to a sub compact-pocket type pistol, a 9mm and a .45, ......
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Ain't gonna happen. The subcompact stuff is what is called 12-6 class prohibited. As a new RPAL holder you cannot ever get a 12-6 classification unless you have a relative that wills you their prohib gun. And then you can only own THAT prohib gun.

So you're stuck with the full sized handguns like the rest of us new folks from the last 12 years from where the law was put into place.

Depending on where you are don't be in a hurry. Shop around and get a feel for as many as you can. And once you have a short list don't jump until you can actually try an example of the gun either at a club range or at one of the few Rent-A-Gun ranges that dot the country.
 
If you can afford $3g, you will see some bling, and hardcore performance here:

20z1rvs.jpg
 
Some initial observations...I do not like the styling of the Ruger, it's cool just not what I want to purchase. Revolver, interesting, but the only thing that appeals is a long barrel fully polished (ie http://www.eaglehurstsporting.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/taurus_44.jpg)


I shoot .22 rifles at the SRC but I'm not excited after shooting the .45 sig placing a large welt in the target paper (something about it is very satisfying)


I like the guns listed below, the Sig was suggested already but what about the Beretta?

Beretta 92fs
http://www.waffennoser.ch/img/beretta_92_fs.jpg

Sig P226
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...P226_img_1624.jpg/800px-SIG_P226_img_1624.jpg
 
BCRider said:
Ain't gonna happen. The subcompact stuff is what is called 12-6 class prohibited. As a new RPAL holder you cannot ever get a 12-6 classification unless you have a relative that wills you their prohib gun. And then you can only own THAT prohib gun.

So you're stuck with the full sized handguns like the rest of us new folks from the last 12 years from where the law was put into place.

Depending on where you are don't be in a hurry. Shop around and get a feel for as many as you can. And once you have a short list don't jump until you can actually try an example of the gun either at a club range or at one of the few Rent-A-Gun ranges that dot the country.
Click to expand...


Thanks for the heads up, I did not know - that's why I love forums, you can learn so much within a short period of time!
 
i like the beretta 92. i shoot it regularly at my range days (borrowed from the RO / club head honcho since i'm not yet equipped on my own). only thing i dislike about it is that the trigger is hard and abrupt. the beretta costs near $900, and the taurus equivalent (copy, reproduction, etc) costs around $600. three hundred bucks will get you either a lot of ammo, or a decent 22LR pistol.

revolver - well, you could buy one that's chambered for 357magnum and use 38special ammo in it for the first while. you COULD buy that taurus in 44mag, but i'm not sure how readily-available or affordable 44special ammo is (it can shoot both, and the special is less powerful and should be cheaper)
 
I found the Glock too big for my hand which made strangle it and threw my groups off. I found the trigger pull to be awful and knew I would have to put some more cash into it to make it work for me. I recently bought a Browning Hi-Power and it feels lighter than the Glock. Maybe just better balanced?

Fit and how you feel about the gun is very important. If you don't like it from the beginning it will be hard to get used to. Try closing you eyes and bringing the gun up to firing position, open your eyes and if the sights are lined up the gun fits. This is easier to do on a shot gun or rifle but will give you some idea of your Natural Point of Aim and how the gun fits your body. If it isn't exact don't sweat it. If it feels comfortable in your hand and is close it should be good.

CZ 75B is a great gun for the money.
 
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