hey guys, im looking to buy my first handgun. I was originally planning on getting a glock 17 but i've read they're not great for beginners because they don't have safeties. I've also considered a 9mm 1911 from norinco or SAM from wolverine. However im not sure of the quality of these. Can anyone recommend me any "first guns"? Thanks for the help!
First Pistol
- Thread starter prevost12
- Start date
I don't know what the sam is but all of them sound fine for a first gun. the glock has a trigger safety, it is my wife's fav gun. I don't know what a safety would even have to do with it. finger off the trigger and not loaded until your on the line is your safety.
Your first rifle should be a .22LR.
Your first revolver should be a .22LR.
Your first pistol should be a .22LR.
And, for a first centrefire pistol, a 9mm Glock is a fine choice.
best 9mm handgun below $1000?
<http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=680692>
What's the best 9mm handgun for all-around range shooting?
<http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?p=5796761>
I'll say what I say to everyone of these threads...go and shoot them. Or at least handle them. how the gun shoots/feels in your hand will all but make the decision for you. Some people love glocks (1911's, M&P, etc), some hate them. you'll never know which one you are till you try. My advice is handle as many as you can and try to narrow your search based on likes, dislikes.
I agree that first handgun should be a .22lr. If you are set on a 9mm then there are literally dozens of choices. If you decide on 1911 platform PLEASE get a SAM 9mm over a Norinco. Not bashing norinco but the 100$ difference is worth it for the SAM just for the much better trigger not to mention fit/finish/frame to slide fit etc etc it is just a better gun.
If you go with a striker fired polymer pistol you have to atleast hold the choices out there. For example the grip on the g17 just doesn't fit my hand but the grip on the M&P9 fits my hand perfectly with the large inserts. I shoot much better with the M&P for that reason. Try before you buy if at all possible, if it doesn't feel right in the hand you won't shoot it for SHNIT!
If you go with a striker fired polymer pistol you have to atleast hold the choices out there. For example the grip on the g17 just doesn't fit my hand but the grip on the M&P9 fits my hand perfectly with the large inserts. I shoot much better with the M&P for that reason. Try before you buy if at all possible, if it doesn't feel right in the hand you won't shoot it for SHNIT!
handofzeus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Trout Creekish Ontario.
I agree with half ^^^^^. My Norinco was accurate out of the box and functions flawlessly. My Ruger P944 I also got without handling and shoots 6-8 in. left and low no matter what, plus it feels like crap in my hand.
I've used a hammer and block but still can't shift the rear sights. Hold as many guns as you can and I'd pick a .22 as my first. It'll be the one that you'll probably have years down the road, even if you don't shoot it every day. When you buy and trade more handguns, I think you'll always find yourself bringing that one (or two!) .22 along just for the hell of it!
You can't go wrong with a .22 as a first pistol. A good used one off the EE will be low cost and get you going with regards to handguns. Down the road it will also serve to help get friends and family interested in the hobby/sport. I won't think of selling mine. Sure you'll move on to bigger and better guns but it'll still be fun and cheaper to feed than some of the other stuff in the safe. I still really enjoy shooting mine to tell the truth.
i think what ever gun feels good in your hand and you like the looks of. any cal is fine .22- .357 for beginners. you can start with anything from a colt SSA to a glock. what ever you like the feel of. i started with a S&W MP9 and found it hard to aim and hard to load so i got rid of it. you have to make sure your happy with the little things first even before you shoot. i have a 1911 now and its good for me. i like the looks and feel and have fun shootting it even if its abit harder on the hand then the m&p.
See if you can hook up with some guys at the range and try some guns first. It's all about fit with your hands and what feels and works right for you. Buy some ammo and show up at one of the handgun practice sessions listed on some club's calender. Most folks are so keen on getting new shooters started out and like their own guns so much that they'll be happy to let you try their gun.
Rental ranges are good too. But I don't recall reading of any in Winnipeg.
Rental ranges are good too. But I don't recall reading of any in Winnipeg.
- Location
- Edmonton, Alberta
I agree that .22 gets boring. At least it did for me. If I had the cash I would buy both as I still shoot my .22 cause its cheap. If I had limited cash I would go to 9mm right away.
Like eveyone says.. Go fondle and shoot some guns. There are tons of good guns out there and you may be surprised how quickly your opinion changes.
I can however attest to the SAM. I own one and shoot it all the time. I think its the best 1911 you can buy near that price range.
Like eveyone says.. Go fondle and shoot some guns. There are tons of good guns out there and you may be surprised how quickly your opinion changes.
I can however attest to the SAM. I own one and shoot it all the time. I think its the best 1911 you can buy near that price range.
This there ever any durability issues with polymer framed guns like the glocks? My concern with getting a .22lr is that i'll be bored with it quickly and just buy another gun right away. The 9mm shouldn't really recoil enough to cause bad habits should it?
a glock 17 would make a great first handgun. 9mm ammo is cheap and easy to shoot. I personally dont care for glocks, they do not fit well in my hand. i like the idea of a glock tho, striker fired guns tend to shoot nicer than DA. I would go for a 1911 in 9mm. RIA 1911s are decent and can be had for around $600 new.
The STI spartan is about the nicest 1911 for the price ihmo. about $750.
The STI spartan is about the nicest 1911 for the price ihmo. about $750.
as far as "bad habbits" a little bit of quality instruction will go a long way. some may say you will be a better shooter if you start with .22. Maybe, maybe not. I started out shooting .45 and quickly bought a .22 simply so i could shoot more. i think that is the most important thing for your first handgun. the ability fo get lots of trigger time. thats how you improve. a .22 will certainly let you do that. 500 rounds of .22 go for $20 while 500 9mm start at $100. 500 .45 starts at about $220.
Not great for beginners? Glocks are great for everyone! Well, they don't fit me as well as the M&P but you won't hear me NOT recommend one.
What you need to do though is head down to Cabelas and Wholesale Sports and first price out the ammo for the different rounds and figure out which one suits your budget most.
The you need to handle all the guns. Line up the sights and get a feel for the controls and balance. Ask a lot of questions! Some of the staff aren't exactly brilliant with handguns but some are pretty good (esp @ Wholesale).
I would strongly suggest handling the following pistols:
Glock 17
Smith & Wesson M&P 9mm/.40 S&W
Ruger SR9/P345
Sig P226/P220
Beretta 92FS/92A1
CZ 75/75 SP-01
any 1911 (Kimber is well-represented locally)
H&K USP
Make notes about which one feels best in your hand, which one points most naturally, which has the nicest sights, the best balance, the controls you can reach and manipulate easiest, the most comfortable weight, and the most comfortable price (then buy it from a board sponsor!)
There are no rental ranges out here unfortunately. There's the Firing Line on Turenne and Winnipeg Revolver and Pistol on Miller, but in both cases you need to go with a member to do some shooting and you're stuck using just their guns unless you can find someone else willing to let you try theirs (the people are pretty friendly though!).
I'd let you shoot my .45 but it gets old quick with just one gun, maybe some of the other lurkers here can speak up
Since no one has mentioned it I will. Based on my experience and numerous treads on here I would recommend you consider a revolver early in your gun ownership experience. Not necessary a .22 cal but the revolver seems a lot easier to shoot accurate, if that can be said about a hand gun! My experience is that the semi-auto kicks up and to the right at the same time and it is not that easy to shoot, plus you loose the brass about 1/3 of the year in the snow. the lighter the semi and the faster the bullet is the worse I think. The revolver just kicks up so less to deal with on recoil. I would suggest a Ruger convertable in 9mm and .38/.357 Mag. It is a single action so that has it's issues but both the 9mm and .38 special ammo is cheap and the .357 ammo gives you lots of snap if you want that, and you will. Personally I would go for a longer 6 1/2 inch bbl. but there are shorter bbls as well that maybe better balanced but have less bullet velocity and kick more.
Hope you enjoy the hand gun hobby. The cost of the actual hand gun is just a small fraction of what you will spend on ammo so might as well buy a good quality gun and be done with it.
JimmieA.
Hope you enjoy the hand gun hobby. The cost of the actual hand gun is just a small fraction of what you will spend on ammo so might as well buy a good quality gun and be done with it.
JimmieA.
