First Handgun
- Thread starter FLYBYU44
- Start date
I have actually handled/shot a GSG 1911, it was okay but the example I tried seemed pretty toy like and rattled a bit. Maybe 8t had been just shot a ton, who knows. Also shot a S&W 22 revolver, it was very nice but the fellow had paid well beyond my budget for it, so I didn't consider it.
I'm going to join the chorus in recommending the Browning Buck Mark. Mine was the first handgun I bought and while I now have pistols and revolvers in 9mm, .38spl, .357, .40S&W and .45 I still shoot the Buck Mark regularly and enjoy it everytime. I also have a Beretta 71 but find the Buck Mark to be more accurate at least for me......mostly due to the sights I'd guess
- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
Once I had my list down to three handguns I went to a local indoor range that offers rentals and shot all three, really helped me decide on which ones fit my hands the best. If you have access to somone or somewhere to do that I highly recommend it.
I'd buy a purpose designed .22, many examples cited above, rather than a .22 that either mimics another design, such as the GSG, or one that is a conversion or trainer for one (M&P, Sig...).
Too many compromises in those, be it the lousy M&P trigger or the pot metal construction of the GSG.
My advice is to buy used, and an older model. The Ruger MK-II is all steel, has no goofy magazine safety or ugly loaded chamber flag. You can get them for $300-$350.
Revolvers... The only one that I know personally is the S&W model 17, and you're going to have to be both patient and picky to find a very nice one within your budget.
There's Alfa and Ruger as well, but I've never tried either and, having a Smith, I'm never going to.
.22 can be lots of fun. Shoot paper to develop skills then get into reactive targets - cans, plates, etc... I've come back to both .22 and .38 special after years of thinking they were too boring (when you're young you want boom). It's how you approach something that's going to keep it interesting for you.
Heck - I bought some sub sonics and had a blast with a gun that was now more quiet than an air pistol.
I hang pop cans from the target returns with a string - you need some skill to make them dance, since it requires a hit near the top or bottom, where there's more metal to punch through. Or try to shoot the string to bring the whole thing down.
If you find .22 boring, you're approaching it with the wrong mentality - the boom mentality.
Boom is great too, but there's more out there than boom.
Too many compromises in those, be it the lousy M&P trigger or the pot metal construction of the GSG.
My advice is to buy used, and an older model. The Ruger MK-II is all steel, has no goofy magazine safety or ugly loaded chamber flag. You can get them for $300-$350.
Revolvers... The only one that I know personally is the S&W model 17, and you're going to have to be both patient and picky to find a very nice one within your budget.
There's Alfa and Ruger as well, but I've never tried either and, having a Smith, I'm never going to.
.22 can be lots of fun. Shoot paper to develop skills then get into reactive targets - cans, plates, etc... I've come back to both .22 and .38 special after years of thinking they were too boring (when you're young you want boom). It's how you approach something that's going to keep it interesting for you.
Heck - I bought some sub sonics and had a blast with a gun that was now more quiet than an air pistol.
I hang pop cans from the target returns with a string - you need some skill to make them dance, since it requires a hit near the top or bottom, where there's more metal to punch through. Or try to shoot the string to bring the whole thing down.
If you find .22 boring, you're approaching it with the wrong mentality - the boom mentality.
Boom is great too, but there's more out there than boom.
^ X2 Yes, very well said Mark-II
I went quickly to the boom mentality not long after I was first licensed. I'm now starting to shoot my .22's more again. (I still like my .357's and .45's but I can appreciate what .22 can offer as well)
I went quickly to the boom mentality not long after I was first licensed. I'm now starting to shoot my .22's more again. (I still like my .357's and .45's but I can appreciate what .22 can offer as well)
Well I went to the range today and a fellow was there with some handguns. He had this enormous revolver that sounded like a cannon when he shot it. I went to check it out and it was a 500 S&W revolver. He asked if I wanted to try it, but I chickened out, he almost hit is forehead with the front sight so I wasn't going to try it. 
His friend had a Ruger SP101 revolver in .22 (apparently you can get it in .357mag too) and he let me shoot it some. I used my .22 shells and shot several cylinders in both single action and double action. I really liked it, pretty much on my short list now. It is above my budget but my work just gave me a $300 Cabelas card for some good work I did, so that will ease the pain some. The Ruger is a super solid gun and has a really nice trigger. I will probably look at some of the other suggestions too, the fellow with the Ruger said Ruger Mk3's are pretty solid too if I want a semi. I like how the empties aren't flying everywhere with the revolver though.
His friend had a Ruger SP101 revolver in .22 (apparently you can get it in .357mag too) and he let me shoot it some. I used my .22 shells and shot several cylinders in both single action and double action. I really liked it, pretty much on my short list now. It is above my budget but my work just gave me a $300 Cabelas card for some good work I did, so that will ease the pain some. The Ruger is a super solid gun and has a really nice trigger. I will probably look at some of the other suggestions too, the fellow with the Ruger said Ruger Mk3's are pretty solid too if I want a semi. I like how the empties aren't flying everywhere with the revolver though.
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