Handguns - Where to start?

I think starting with a .22 pistol or revolver is a great idea! Almost all the shooters I know have a .22 pistol. Not only are they fun to shoot but they're great when you want to share the joy of shooting with someone else, it makes for an easier learning experience with less power; I atleast started that way. I started shooting by using a variety of .22 handguns and later moved into 9mm semi-autos and .38 special revolvers. It really brought me into good habits and created a mystique and excitement to get into higher powered rounds.

Welcome and goodluck, this is a great place,
Tim.
 
I may express a somewhat strong opinion but between CZ, G17 and S&W M&P, I'd most definately go for CZ 75/85 before G17 and waaaay before M&P. M&P is a good gun on paper but not nice or fun or accurate to shoot. G17 is solid and accurate and there are parts and followers everywhere. CZ would have been what Glocks, Berettas and SIGs are if Czech Rep. wasn't ex Russian ally. CZ beats them in pretty much every department and quite a few US and British LE agencies regretted they were not allowed to switch to CZ back in '80s.
If you can afford 1911, go for it, if not, go for CZ and enjoy having one of the best ever designed and made.
 
If I were you I would try and define which of the various handgun competition sports you are gravitating towards, and then look at designs that will take you in that direction. Try as many as you can before you buy because, trust me, gun designs are as different as opinions. Buy the best you can afford and budget for as much practice ammo as you can.

You'll save money and headaches if you can narrow your focus this way.
 
As others mentioned, start with 22. Try some revolvers and pistols and see which one fits you. If you want to shoot centerfire handgun, ask yourself do you want to reload. If so, your best bet is DA revolver, S&W or Ruger. Easy to load and unload, easy to check if gun is loaded, safer to handle than any other handgun. And you do not have to chase brass on range...
 
Join a club and try out as many guns as you can, it's a great way to make friends as most shooters are proud of their toys and like to show them off.
To stay interested in shooting you will need to pick a game to play. You may decide that the zen like quality of slow fire bullseye is for you, in which case a decent .22 such as the Browning Buckmark is called for. You may find that the andrenalin of running around and blasting over steel plates, slamming through doors, perforating cardboard and generally acting like a wally is more your game, in which case a 9mm such as the Glock or CZ75 would be a good buy.
I recommend being a wally. take up IPSC. Zen is what you practise when the fish aren't biting. IPSCers put a fuse in a can of gunpowder and chuck it in, so zen isn't required.
Look at the videos here: http://www.hosercam.com/ to get an idea of what we do.
 
prproulx said:
Most rifle guys are used to a little recoil! I'm just being argumentative because I remember wanting to buy a handgun and dreaming of .45acp and 357 magnums.
So that's what I bought.
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yes they/we are...most guys when they think way back will say they started with a pellet gun, graduated to a .22 and went cf from there. I've got to fess up my first hg was a .357, my second a .45acp, third a 9mm, next a .44mag....could go on for a while and still don't see a .22, but will be ordering a .22 conversion in the spring.
 
I see most recommend the 9mm and nobody has mentioned Beretta.
Two questions (and I am a neophyte at handguns... have RPAL but no handgun as yet).
1. Is there a reason for 9mm over the 40 S&W and if so why?
2. I was looking at the Beretta 92FS Vertec on their website along with all the other Beretta models... any reason why nobody above has mentioned Beretta? Is price an issue? I own a Beretta O/U shotgun that I bought for skeet and love it. Bought it when I had money!!
 
CeeZer said:
I may express a somewhat strong opinion but between CZ, G17 and S&W M&P, I'd most definately go for CZ 75/85 before G17 and waaaay before M&P. M&P is a good gun on paper but not nice or fun or accurate to shoot. G17 is solid and accurate and there are parts and followers everywhere. CZ would have been what Glocks, Berettas and SIGs are if Czech Rep. wasn't ex Russian ally. CZ beats them in pretty much every department and quite a few US and British LE agencies regretted they were not allowed to switch to CZ back in '80s.
If you can afford 1911, go for it, if not, go for CZ and enjoy having one of the best ever designed and made.
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I agree! I have both CZ 75B and G17, my grouping with G17 is a little better than CZ 75B but G17 is not a better gun than CZ. I shot several 92F and I found they are better gun than my CZ.

Trigun
 
meadowmuffin3 said:
I see most recommend the 9mm and nobody has mentioned Beretta.
Two questions (and I am a neophyte at handguns... have RPAL but no handgun as yet).
1. Is there a reason for 9mm over the 40 S&W and if so why?
2. I was looking at the Beretta 92FS Vertec on their website along with all the other Beretta models... any reason why nobody above has mentioned Beretta? Is price an issue? I own a Beretta O/U shotgun that I bought for skeet and love it. Bought it when I had money!!
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1. Price mostly.
2. Beretta is great gun but for me the DA trigger pull is too long. A little more pricey than the plastic guns too.
3. I recommend any gun you like to shoot and half the fun is buying them and trying them out.
 
Thanks everyone for the feedback... lots of interesting opinions and some good ideas. Still not too sure where i'll start (or when for that matter) but Im definitely looking forward to getting into the handgun shooting.


Cheers
 
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