Handguns-where to start?

edgy

edgy

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the wife and I just wrote our Rpal's and are looking to get into handguns, just punching paper at the range, however other than the 1911 used in our course we have never handled handguns. How does one determine what they like? I was thinking perhaps we could go to a range in the lower mainland that rents handguns and try a few different types? Or would it be better to take a handgun course with a professional, as there is supposed to be a real good instructor in Abbottsford which is fairly local? Or perhaps asking at the local range to see if owners would let us handle their handguns( unloaded of course ) just to see how they feel?
I know we are both interested in semis not revolvers, and I'm thinking 9m with a .22 conversion for a first handgun? All guidance would be appreciated :)
Edgy
 
Renting guns is a good idea. Also get a membership to a range. Members are usually very friendly and will let you try out their guns.
 
Renting a few is a great idea and going to the various gun stores to handle some as well will help you decide. Lots of good stuff out there. it really will boil down to personal preference. 22 if it is for both of you, makes sense to start, or get both a 22 and 9mm. You are probably better off getting two dedicated guns rather than a conversion (you don't save much with a conversion and many are not that reliable).
 
If your local range rents firearms just rent something really nice to try out. Then as you are mingling and talking with other members have this same discussion with them and I bet 90% of them would offer a few shots with their pistol. I would also get two separate pistols rather than conversion kits. Then you and your wife can shoot at the same time. And two guns are always better than one, because once you start buying and shooting you will always want another.
 
Definetly join a range. CFO generaly ask proof of membership anyways to complete restricted transfers and if you want to shoot the things your only option in Canada is at a shooting range.

Most members will be very happy to meet a new shooter and give you pointers and even let you try their guns, I know I would.

As for choice of firearms its entirely personnal preference but a good .22 is first priority. Conversion kits are OK but I prefer a dedicated .22, again that is personnal preference.
It is easy to shoot, not much felt recoil and in most cases lighter to handle for (kids?) and Mrs. edgy.
It is cheap to shoot, most .22lr cartriges will run between .5 and .10 a pop compared to .25 and .35 a pop for 9mm. Yes reloading is cheaper but not that much.
And in most cases the firearm itself is cheaper to buy. You will get a top, TOP quality .22 for the price of an entry 9mm.
Conversion will run you about the same price as a dedicated .22 but they can be a good practise tool for your eventual primary handgun of choice.

Now, I would say get a revolver first. Either a single action or double action doesn`t really matter but I find it is much easier to teach someone to shoot and learn trigger discipline with a double action revolver. You also go through ammo a lot slower.
Ruger offers some solid choices in revolvers be it single action like a single six or double action like a sp101. Smith & Wesson as a well deserved reputation for their double actions like a 617, but are a bit more expensive. Yes they are worth every penny.

If semi-auto is your preference you have about as much choice as there are pages in the bible. Some are good some are bad, some are really good and some really bad. You need to research what you want and don`t want and find something that will fit your hand. Looks are also important in my books so you need something you will enjoy taking out and shooting and showing off. Like when you bring new shooters with you at the range and let them try out YOUR gun :)

Talk about it with your wife, what kind of gun she likes, what kind of guns YOU like. Internet exists for a reason type in .22lr handgun and go from there :) Most importantly congratz on your RPAL, welcome to the community and have FUN!
 
Unless youve got miney to burn, try before you buy, each brand of gun has slightly different ergo's and each person connects just a little differently.
That being said, a .22 sig 226 is a gun that very few could ever complain about, and you can get a 9mm exchange kit in the future if you like.
 
Doesn't matter what others tell you on here, that's why there are so many different guns out there, when you ask here you are getting info back on what others think is best, their personal opinions. Did you ever buy a car like your neighbours because there are several on your street ?. What I own now is entirely different than what I started out with, your wants change as you shoot more. What you desire is not what others tell you to want, and you wont know until you shoot ! lol Expensive hobby ! get out there and get started !
 
Thanks for the info folks, I think maybe a dedicated .22 and a 9m may be the way to go, never considered the fact that with a conversion we only have one handgun,and there are two of us,lol. Our local range doesn't rent handguns but there are a few in the Vancouver area that do. We are looking forward to a whole new world to us, thanks for the help
Edgy
 
Can't what is or not is not for you and your wife, but I can say for me, I started out with .22LR but quickly moved to 9mm (could have saved money by moving to 9mm right away). 9MM is a good starter gun as recoil is very manageable.

Punching paper and steel, for myself, 9mm is sufficient and cheaper than .40cal and .45ACP... unless you are thinking about reloading .40cal and .45ACP (not worth reloading 9mm as there is no cost effectiveness but pure fun of reloading). As for my daughter, she started out with 9mm and enjoyed it tremendously ) As to which semi-auto. I have few, but I like Glock and so does my daughter. Everyone has their preferred hand-gun.
 
edgy said:
... if owners would let us handle their handguns( unloaded of course ) just to see how they feel?
I know we are both interested in semis not revolvers, and I'm thinking 9m with a .22 conversion for a first handgun? All guidance would be appreciated :)
Edgy
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All my HG's "feel" different. I learn to adapt to their ergo's and blast away (I shoot recreationally). I mostly buy my HG's due to "looks"(Oh the shame), quality build, simplicity and caliber. Don't be too quick to blow off revolvers.
I'm not a fan of .22lr conversion kits. For the $$ you can get a dedicated rimfire to go with the 9mm…..that way both or you can shoot at the same time:)
Enjoy the addiction…..
 
asking people about guns here is like asking whats your favorite thing to eat, too many different replies.

You and your wife are most likely both gonna like different guns so be prepared to buy a few :ar15:

don't be forced to shoot something you don't like or don't feel right using even if the other person likes it. As far as .22 again your gonna get varying opinions, feels too much like a pellet gun for me, not saying don't get one but im glad i went with higher calibers first and quickly got used to the flinching of a larger bullet, after that 22 was more of a pleasure to shoot. But definitely hit up some ranges with rent options and shoot as much as you can
 
I won't recommend any specific guns but to say that anything from a large manufacturer is most likely a good gun. Browning, Colt, CZ, Glock, Ruger, Sig, S&W, etc would not be in business if they continually made trash. Every now and then they may miss the mark, but it is rare. It's easy to get caught up in the online reviews and opinions, I'll admit I've done it, and by renting and borrowing you're doing yourself a favour.

I think you've just about picked the ideal start with a .22 & 9mm. The first handgun I ever shot was a 9mm and since then I've gone down to .22lr and up to .44mag. For recreational shooting a .22 will teach you excellent fundamentals: Sight picture, trigger control, weapon handling, preferred stance. A 9mm will teach you recoil management. Between the two you've covered your bases in the most economical way.
 
Find something with a good trigger.
The S&W SD9VE I bought had a crappy trigger that I upgraded, but it was the cheapest gun ($400) I could find to get me started and decide if I wanted to keep shooting a handgun.
1000 rounds later and it looks like I'm here to stay!

On the other hand, I love the trigger on my buckmark.
 
I took a pretty good ATT course a few years ago (I'd never shot a handgun before). We did one day of just revolvers (didn't interest me much) and one day of pistols but nothing bigger than 9 mm. I completely wiped out the bullseye at 10 yards with a 22 (boring), promised myself I'd never buy one. I bought a 45acp over the internet and have never looked back (reload at half price).
 
ren666 said:
I took a pretty good ATT course a few years ago (I'd never shot a handgun before). We did one day of just revolvers (didn't interest me much) and one day of pistols but nothing bigger than 9 mm. I completely wiped out the bullseye at 10 yards with a 22 (boring), promised myself I'd never buy one. I bought a 45acp over the internet and have never looked back (reload at half price).
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That's kind of what I was thinking, if we were to take a course with a good instructor then we would learn the basics , get some experience and take it from there on what to purchase, I'm not a big guy so I think starting with a 9m for the recoil would probable be best for me, and a .22 for the wife to start so she doesn't get " put off" by too much recoil?
 
edgy said:
That's kind of what I was thinking, if we were to take a course with a good instructor then we would learn the basics , get some experience and take it from there on what to purchase, I'm not a big guy so I think starting with a 9m for the recoil would probable be best for me, and a .22 for the wife to start so she doesn't get " put off" by too much recoil?
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My wife isn't licensed but I have taken her a few times. Yes, the 45 is too heavy for her so I bought a 9mm that she can use instead. It's a 1911 single stack for her smaller hands.
 
My spousal unit gets tired firing the 9mm fairly quickly.
If I get her a handgun it will be a .22 so she can put more lead downrange without feeling beat up.
 
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