Handgun suggestions

Tinman, if it has not been said yet then you only have one answer to satisfy your needs. Take a fistful of cash over to DVC in Coquitlam and try a bunch of guns. You're in Surrey so you're only a short drive away from being able to answer your own question far better than we can.

.22 is the cheapest of course. 9mm is about double the cost to shoot. .40S&W slightly more than 9mm. .45ACP is about 1.5 to 1.7x more costly than 9mm.

Revolver ammo.... .38Spl is about the same or a little more than .40S&W. And anything that says Magnum is stupid expensive.

So I'd focus on the .22 and 9mm. But at least try a revolver and some .38Spl. You may not like the .22 for excitement but it is a very good round to use for learning and developing good habits. So I feel that if a .22 is not your first hand gun it should darn well be your second hand gun.

As for which ones there's no substitute for holding and shooting them yourself.

Be sure to find out when they are not overly busy and go in during that time. Even if it means a day off work to sneak in during the afternoon. You'll get better one on one time with the RO and they'll have more time to give you some pointers on holding and how to smoothly pull the trigger for best accuracy. Plus if they are not too busy you can switch guns half way through a box of ammo and save some coin.
 
Totally agree just cause I luv revolvers.

If the next questions is I need to buy a car I suggest one with four wheels; one on each corner of the vehicle.
GLS_1956 said:
Start with a revolver, they're simpler and safer. You have to take action to make them ready to fire each time, no automatically loading the net round into the chamber as cocking of the hammer. I'll even go so far as to say a single action revolver is best for learning. My preferred brand of single action revolvers is Ruger. My preferred caliber for a first gun or a first handgun is the 22 Long Rifle. Now Ruger offers four (4) 22 rimfire single actions based on the excellent Single-Six and three (3) based on the Bearcat. I own two Ruger Single-Sixes, one blued and one in Stainless steel. Remember the Single-Six comes with an extra 22 Magnum cylinder too.
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Newbies get really confused when you introduce them to too many calibers. After 3 or 4 they have no idea what they shoot.
Recall one time did 22lr, 9mm, 45ACP, 357; Never got to 40, 44, 50; too many in one trip. Next time just 22lr, 9mm, 357.
BCRider said:
Tinman, if it has not been said yet then you only have one answer to satisfy your needs. Take a fistful of cash over to DVC in Coquitlam and try a bunch of guns. You're in Surrey so you're only a short drive away from being able to answer your own question far better than we can.

.22 is the cheapest of course. 9mm is about double the cost to shoot. .40S&W slightly more than 9mm. .45ACP is about 1.5 to 1.7x more costly than 9mm.

Revolver ammo.... .38Spl is about the same or a little more than .40S&W. And anything that says Magnum is stupid expensive.

So I'd focus on the .22 and 9mm. But at least try a revolver and some .38Spl. You may not like the .22 for excitement but it is a very good round to use for learning and developing good habits. So I feel that if a .22 is not your first hand gun it should darn well be your second hand gun.

As for which ones there's no substitute for holding and shooting them yourself.

Be sure to find out when they are not overly busy and go in during that time. Even if it means a day off work to sneak in during the afternoon. You'll get better one on one time with the RO and they'll have more time to give you some pointers on holding and how to smoothly pull the trigger for best accuracy. Plus if they are not too busy you can switch guns half way through a box of ammo and save some coin.
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Myself I purchased a IWI Jericho 941 9mm range kit. Because I thought it looked different and cool. Love that gun.

I also have a GSG 1911 .22 on the way because the no recoil and cheap cheap ammo.

I'd go to a shop and have a look at a few, find something you like and BUY BUY BUY!!
 
Depends on size of your hand. Maybe something with interchangeable backstraps like an M&P 9, HK sfp9, gen 4 g17. Maybe even a sig p320. All priced fairly well.
 
I say, think of the one handgun that had really motivated you to take up the hobby, the one that had captured your imagination and had you drooling over from the first time you have seen it, whether it was in a movie, a poster or in someone's holster. Save up your penny's and buy it. You will not regret buying your dream gun as your first gun. I have it on good authority that the .22 Gods are OK with a rimfire as your second gun.
 
burnaby said:
Newbies get really confused when you introduce them to too many calibers. After 3 or 4 they have no idea what they shoot.
Recall one time did 22lr, 9mm, 45ACP, 357; Never got to 40, 44, 50; too many in one trip. Next time just 22lr, 9mm, 357.
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Since he's within a short drive it's not like he has to decide in only one trip. And in this case going to school is a lot of fun! ! ! ! But yeah I agree with you that it's easy to become overwhelmed. I'd say a first trip and keep it fairly short. Try a gun from each group. Maybe two from the 9mm side of things along with the one revolver. That should be enough to decide on which caliber. Well, that and pricing out the ammo. THAT should scare him into a 9mm or a .22 all by itself.

Tinman, assuming you see the logic behind staying with a 9mm due to ammo price go back a second time and this time take notes and work up to the one you like the most. Take pictures with your cell phone and take notes on which seems to fit best and gives you even slightly better accuracy. And even which ones you like the looks of the most. It's a toy for us here in Canada so you're allowed to like looking at the gun. If you come away without a clear winner go back the next week and try those two or three top choices for a shootout... er... you know what I mean :)

All this won't be cheap. But at least you're shooting and trying a whole bunch of guns. You'll come away with a lot of experience. And best of all you can go shopping for your first handgun knowing exactly what you want instead of buy, try, reject, sell, buy, try and so on until you get lucky.

After all, what fits us does not mean it'll fit you. So go around to DVC and make up your own darn mind! ! ! :)
 
I inherited a bunch of pistols when I got my rpal. As a new shooter I felt more comfortable and gravitated to the revolvers, especially one in 22lr. Early on, any thing bigger was just for fun and I wasnt really good at it. After a while the sw K22 got boring and I moved up to a 9mm semi auto.
 
If you have the money go straight for a CZ 75 if you want a semi-auto or a Smith & Wesson 686 if you like revolvers. The Smith and Wesson 617 .22lr is also just as nice as the 686 and will be something you hand down to your kids.

I love my617 but don't shoot it as often as my 686 anymore as I can reloading .38 special for close to what .22lr is selling for these days.
 
Desert Eagle or S&W 500. Go big immediately and ruin shooting for yourself right away!

In all seriousness, a 9mm Glock would serve you well. They're plentiful, there are more options for them than you can shake a stick at, and they hold their value well for when/if you decide to go another way.

The first pistol I bought was a Glock 22, and I wish I had gone with the 17. I eventually sold the 22 and got a CZ Shadow. I'll never look back.
 
I have owned a lot of stuff over the years; my all time favorite is nothing special, it is an old High Standard Sportsman-M. Basic, fixed sights, 6" barrel, 10 shot mag. Any good .22 semi, Colt Woodsman, Browning Buckmark, Ruger Mark I, II, III, IV, and while I don't know much about them, I have heard the S & W Victory is a good gun too. These are all fun guns to shoot, they hold their value (Basic High Standards (no longer made) in good condition sell for as much as most of the others new; target versions, way more).

For fun, I just picked of a Zastava M57, brand new manufacture for less than $250.00; great deal! Lots of noise, fire, manageable recoil and lots of power; cheep ammo too!. Beautiful made gun, great fit and finish, basic military front and rear sights, and a fairly heavy 2-stage trigger. So far, just under 100 rounds through it, and not a single malfunction.

Get the 22 first, learn to shoot well and have fun. Then, figure out which direction to go, and if you are inclined, get something like I did that us just for fun.
 
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