Handgun - What should I buy?

spittin bullets

spittin bullets

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Good afternoon! I'm still waiting on my RPAL. So leaves a lot of time looking and reading up on some new toys. What would be a good beginner gun? Something a little more then a 22LR of 22MAG. Which I'll probably end up buying anyways lol. Keep in mind I don't wanna break the bank on ammo too. Kind of hard to say that too with the price these days. Revolver vs semi? Something in 9mm? Or 40 S&W? Any personal experiences good or bad would be greatly appreciated,
Thanks
 
Something regular, widespread, relatively cheap, with a liquid second-hand market: Glock or CZ in 9mm. The rest is about how a particular model fits in your hands.
 
9 mm and 22 are the cheapest to shoot.
I shoot 45, but you want to be reloading if doing much,
I don't see any point to 40 sw.
I love shooting 38 special in a quality smith or colt revolver ,not much .357mag.
everyone starts out with a cheap ass gun, nothing wrong with that, but they they shoot a good steel gun and go shopping again.
I shoot 22 in semi auto target guns, good used ones are selling cheap these days on the auctions, not so much on the EE.
9mm I like the Jericho , same as a CZ75 , Beretta 92s surplus is cheap, My hands are a bit small for them, sights suck.
Glocks, O.K. I just don't like or shoot them.
Look at good used, but know what a new one is worth.
All mine are old guns.
 
spittin bullets said:
Good afternoon! I'm still waiting on my RPAL. So leaves a lot of time looking and reading up on some new toys. What would be a good beginner gun? Something a little more then a 22LR of 22MAG. Which I'll probably end up buying anyways lol. Keep in mind I don't wanna break the bank on ammo too. Kind of hard to say that too with the price these days. Revolver vs semi? Something in 9mm? Or 40 S&W? Any personal experiences good or bad would be greatly appreciated,
Thanks
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You should get to a local rental range and shoot a few, see what fits your hand and appeals to you. I would recommend 9mm for numerous reasons, availability, cost, and most big name 9’s can be customized to your liking. Enjoy finding the one you want :)
 
If you want a semi, definitely 9 mm for what you're looking for because it's the cheapest and most common. My general impression is that most people end up liking semis more than revolvers, but it's more a matter of personal preference and either is ok to start with. If you get a revolver, to start it should be a 357/38 (and shoot mostly 38 because of lower recoil). Even if you've tried something heavy like a 44 magnum, you'll shoot better with lower recoil and it's better to develop good fundamentals first. For that reason people often recommend a 22 to start with, but I don't think that's critical and you specifically said you want to start with something more than 22.

Even if you're able to hold or even shoot a variety of models before you buy, you'll probably find that some guns just feel better (e.g., grip, trigger pull) and you'll shoot better with some more than others. So, buying used is a good idea, because if you decide to sell you probably won't lose much value, if any.
 
spittin bullets said:
...I'm still waiting on my RPAL. So leaves a lot of time looking and reading up on some new toys. What would be a good beginner gun?
Click to expand...

Firearms are very specialized tools. You probably already have an idea of what sort of job you have in mind, even if you haven't thought of it in those terms. Ask yourself: "What do I want this gun to do well?"

Something a little more then a 22LR or 22MAG... Keep in mind I don't wanna break the bank on ammo too. Kind of hard to say that too with the price these days. Revolver vs semi? Something in 9mm? Or 40 S&W?
Click to expand...

Visit some vendor sites, looking for ammunition, and compare the 'bulk' prices, per 1000 cartridges (because if you intend to become proficient you're going to need to shoot). You'll quickly see yet one more reason why 9mm is recommended more frequently than is .40 (although the dramatic price differential is not the only reason to choose one over the other).
 
Going by your avatar, I would suggest a Pietta 1873 revolver in .357/.38spl. Pietta is arguably better than uberti and much cheaper. Learn to reload and you are shooting for $9.00 per box of 50 (cast bullets).
 
You could do what I do but it might get a bit spendy! I scan the used gun sections of MANY gun stores everyday looking for something that kinda jumps out and calls to me. Usually it's an old shotgun or the like but today things went a bit sideways. I've always liked the bulk of the Desert Eagle but hated the rails and notches that started to pop up on them over the years plus of course the price! Well today I stumbled across the picture of a burnt bronze mk vii in .41/.44 in as new condition for $1800 all in that I apparently couldn't pass up...... Doh!
 
I really like my jericho 941. I got the police surplus one thats got a hard chrome finish. I sold my glock 19 in favour of it. Some people will lose their minds over that but I am yet to regret it. I really liked my SD9VE as well, They are worth the going rate. The trigger is long and heavy but totally usable.

I have been tempted lately to get a glock 48 or one of the 1951 berettas that are for sale. Pick a style, I recommend striker or single action and then find one in a price range that feels good in hand
 
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marshall said:
9 mm and 22 are the cheapest to shoot.
I shoot 45, but you want to be reloading if doing much,
I don't see any point to 40 sw.
I love shooting 38 special in a quality smith or colt revolver ,not much .357mag.
everyone starts out with a cheap ass gun, nothing wrong with that, but they they shoot a good steel gun and go shopping again.
I shoot 22 in semi auto target guns, good used ones are selling cheap these days on the auctions, not so much on the EE.
9mm I like the Jericho , same as a CZ75 , Beretta 92s surplus is cheap, My hands are a bit small for them, sights suck.
Glocks, O.K. I just don't like or shoot them.
Look at good used, but know what a new one is worth.
All mine are old guns.
Click to expand...

Nah, I bought 2 pistols before I had my PAL- a no-dash 6" Smith 686, and a stainless Colt 1911.

But then I went out and bought a friggin 22lr 1911, because I didn't know any better. Lol.
 
Those 1911-22 are not great, though lots seem to like them, after up grades.
I know one fellow that bought a 454 C as a first gun. Brave fellow. But he doesn't shoot it.
Kind of like giving a young kid a light single shot full choke 12 ga. to learn on.
 
marshall said:
Those 1911-22 are not great, though lots seem to like them, after up grades.
I know one fellow that bought a 454 C as a first gun. Brave fellow. But he doesn't shoot it.
Kind of like giving a young kid a light single shot full choke 12 ga. to learn on.
Click to expand...

I waited until I was a few guns in before I bought the .50AE Desert Eagle :)

There are just SUCH better options than the 22 1911s. Ruger MK series, the Browning Buckmark, etc etc.
 
marshall said:
Those 1911-22 are not great, though lots seem to like them, after up grades.
I know one fellow that bought a 454 C as a first gun. Brave fellow. But he doesn't shoot it.
Kind of like giving a young kid a light single shot full choke 12 ga. to learn on.
Click to expand...

A few years before I got my RPAL, I was fascinated by the S&W 500 and thought, "I want to get a handgun license just so I can get one of those!" By the time I got licensed I realized the practicality of using common calibres and learning fundamentals with manageable recoil. Might get a 500 one day, just not a priority now.
 
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