Help a beginner - first pistol

G P

G P

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So I am thinking about getting my first hand gun soon. I am a member of the local gun club already for shooting trap and rifle. Going to take the restricted firearms course next month.

So my questions are what medium-large caliber have relatively cheap bullets? Obviously .22 is going to be the cheapest, but I am interested in something with a bit more power like a 9mm or a .45 acp.

Secondly, what is a good make and model for a beginner? I would like something with a bit of history behind it like a m1911 or a S&W 29. But I need something that is reliable, long lasting, and good for target shooting since this may be the only handgun I ever get.

Thirdly, where is a good place to purchase handguns? I don't think there are many places locally (in NL). Might want to reply to this question with a private message.
 
If you're not really interested in a .22, 9mm is probably the way to go for cheap (er) ammo. 45 ACP is pretty expensive if you're not reloading.
 
If you're not going to get a .22 I'd say you should go for a .357 magnum and shoot .38 spl. out of it. Learning on an automatic (to me) is not the way to go, plus you'll get more accuracy out of a revolver.

Have fun.
 
First, what is your price range??? That sould be known first before you decide on a pistol.

Second, I would stay away from the bigger calibers as there are a lot more expensive to shoot (ammo). I would go 9mm if your dead set against a .22 a S&W M&P9 or a Glock 17 would be a good choice. I would try and find someone local that has one to maybe try them out before you buy. I bough a M&P9 and sold it as I wasn't happy with that type of action. Lot of people love them, just wasn't for me.

Third, supporting you local dealing is the best option (also can be the most expensive to). Some dealers on the site have shipping included on the purchase of a handgun.
 
Would you recomend an m&p 9 over an m9? They are within about $100.00 of each other. I think those are the two I am choosing between for my first handgun.
 
The M&P in 9mm is a great deal, you will have a modern gun with good sights for a quite good price, check out Can-am (dealer here) prices
 
Buy a S & W 686 used for around $500-$600 and its basically a free gun, as you can always sell it for what you paid for it. If you reload and shoot 38 spl cast bullets with Winchester 231 powder you can shoot for cheap and have a gun with nice sights and trigger that is accurate and fun to shoot. I don't find the auto's have good triggers unless they are single action, like the 1911. To me, its trigger and sights that make a gun a pleasure to shoot.
 
Grizzlypeg said:
Buy a S & W 686 used for around $500-$600 and its basically a free gun, as you can always sell it for what you paid for it. If you reload and shoot 38 spl cast bullets with Winchester 231 powder you can shoot for cheap and have a gun with nice sights and trigger that is accurate and fun to shoot. I don't find the auto's have good triggers unless they are single action, like the 1911. To me, its trigger and sights that make a gun a pleasure to shoot.
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Also,again just me, but 9mm would be the last caliber I'd try and learn on. Nasty sharp recoil.
 
redtory said:
Would you recomend an m&p 9 over an m9? They are within about $100.00 of each other. I think those are the two I am choosing between for my first handgun.
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I recommend you try before you buy. Every pistol will fit evey person differntly. What I person will like, another will hate. There are lots of variable's like grip, feel, wieght (poly vs. stell frame) caliber, trigger (SA vs DA/SA or DAO). The list go's on...
 
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G P said:
So my questions are what medium-large caliber have relatively cheap bullets? Obviously .22 is going to be the cheapest, but I am interested in something with a bit more power like a 9mm or a .45 acp.
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As a rule of thumb, the smaller caliber will be cheaper to shoot (and reload)... it's too bad you don't want to start with a .22lr, it's a great way to learn the proper technic and get range time for not much $$...

Yeah-yeah, I know... some people have started with 454 casull and they are excellent shooters and can hit a 2"x2" block single handed at 100y... but they are the exception. There are no real secret in pistol shooting, if you want to be good, you'll have to practice... Unless you only shoot of a bench/sandbag all the time.


G P said:
Secondly, what is a good make and model for a beginner? I would like something with a bit of history behind it like a m1911 or a S&W 29. But I need something that is reliable, long lasting, and good for target shooting since this may be the only handgun I ever get.
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See if any guys at the rang will let you try their pistols... and set a budget... and be a little more specific with your def. of "target shooting"... you won't get the same advice if you have $300 or $3000 to spend... just like you won't get the same advice if you want to get into ISSF shooting with the target at 50M or you mean to shoot at a paper target at the 5M line...

G P said:
Thirdly, where is a good place to purchase handguns? I don't think there are many places locally (in NL).
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Look at the top of the page, there are a whole bunch of sponsor that can fix you up. If you want to buy from a guy on The Rock, Arms East Inc are located in St-John...
 
redtory said:
Would you recomend an m&p 9 over an m9? They are within about $100.00 of each other. I think those are the two I am choosing between for my first handgun.
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There's no way those two guns are within 100.00 of each other unless someone is overcharging for the MP and/or undercharging for the Beretta. Don't get me wrong I like them both but there's a three hundred dollar difference more likely. YOU GOTTA TRY THEM OUT SOMEWHERE to see which firearm you should buy. I'm convinced that holding/fondling them in the store is almost useless when you're new. Try as many as you can ON THE RANGE.
 
9mm or .38Special are probably good candidates, for relatively cheap ammo without going down to .22rimfire. Of course reloading can make any calibre much cheaper in the long run.

As for having some history behind them, several revolvers from S&W, Ruger, and Colt in .38 could be considered classics, and for a 9mm automatic the Browning Hi-Power certainly qualifies. Also click on site sponsor TradeEx above and see their used (German police) Walther P1s and P38s - there's certainly history, not nice happy history, but history, associated with that design.

Looking at it another way, get something with some history ahead of it - Glock offers several models in 9mm and they are reliable, simple to operate, easy for most people to shoot, and reasonably priced. Or, if you can get over the fact that they are cheap Chinese copies of other people's popular designs (e.g. Sig, CZ, the Browning HiPower and the Colt 1911,) consider a Norinco. Many owners are entirely satisfied with the performance and say they are great value.

It will be a benefit that your criteria should lead to a choice that isn't hard to sell if you decide you don't like it.
 
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mackattack said:
There's no way those two guns are within 100.00 of each other unless someone is overcharging for the MP and/or undercharging for the Beretta. Don't get me wrong I like them both but there's a three hundred dollar difference more likely. YOU GOTTA TRY THEM OUT SOMEWHERE to see which firearm you should buy. I'm convinced that holding/fondling them in the store is almost useless when you're new. Try as many as you can ON THE RANGE.
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Sorry, $70.00 at William's Arms in Port Perry ON. They have a website but I think you have to google it, since they are not a sponsor.

M9 695.00
M&P 9 625.00

As for over charging or undercharging, I think I have seen the M&P for 599.00 somewhere else, but that is not a huge difference.

I definately believe you that there is no replacement for actual experience shooting the gun, but some guns may have known flaws that you may not experience from firing one a few times. For example, if they are known for jamming, or parts breaking, or if their customer service is awful etc. Which is where asking the "old pros" can come in handy! :)

I understand no one can really say, "yes, that is the gun for you." But they could say, "I don't care how it feels, stay the hell away from that one!"
 
I wouldn't rule out the .22 myself. i have a pile of pistols but my .22s get the most use by far. As sillymike stated they are excellent for learning and maintaining pistol skills with.if not then 9mm i suppose
 
since you're not intrested in a 22, i'd start , for a beginner, with a 38/357 ( either colt ruger or s&w) in a 6 inch- the 45 and smith 29 are DEFINATELY NOT for beginners- the 45 takes considerable time and expense when you're not shooting on a government nickel- the 44 will fire once, you will see the smoke , thunder and recoil, and it'll end up on the e&e as a fired once, and we'll lose you as a pistol shooter- it bites the hand that feeds it- so that leaves us with either a 9mm or a 38/357- question is DO YOU LIKE TO BEND OVER AND PICK UP YOUR BRASS- whether you reload or not , it STILL HAS TO BE POLICED- same deal with ANY AUTO unless you're in a war zone or something or it's done for you- as far as the 7.62 tok goes, a lot of that surplus ammo is CORROSIVE and that means CLEANING- and a lot of it, -
ok if you want to spend your time cleaning-
SO YOU WANT TO GET INTO PISTOL?- here'e the bottom line, real easy- 38/357 either s&w , or ruger gp100, or colt if you can find one- a modest reloading set up, maybe a turret press. stainless on the guns for finish-
i know everybody's into 9mm these days, and it's fairly cheap but you LEARN MORE with a revolver and it RECOILS DIFFERENTLY-
 
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Since your just getting into handguns, a revolver is easier to shoot as a beginner and often tend to be lower on maintainance as long as you do your part. There are lots of S&W model 10s, 14s 686s in .38cal that can be had on the ee at reasonable prices, a S&W model 17 in .22 cal is very similiar to the other models mentioned, and really is a very good starting revolver that once you are ready to move up to another caliber you will posibly like so much that you will keep it, however all these pistols tend to hold thier value if you chose to sell them.

If you want to go with a semi, think about a used SIG cpo in 9mm! Reason I say this is that they can usually be had at a good price, they are reliable, parts are readily available and you can get a .22cal conversion kit for them...actually you can now get a new SIG in .22 cal and get a 9mm,.40, .45 depending on wich model you have to fit the .22cal.

As mentioned there are lots of good revolvers or semis to be had, so handle as many as you can, shoot as many as you can, and just remember...I bet you cant stop at owning just one!!


ENJOY.
 
I recommend you re-think your decision not to start with a .22: re-read post #15- Sleeper has it right.
 
i stopped at 9 -2-22's( one short beretta, and an rinco m93) 2 9mm( beretta 92 and rinco tok) 2 45's ( one remington rand issue and a colt series 70) 2 44mags( both ruger redhawks) and a old army black powder- actually i've had the b/p and the 45 teh longest, and the 45 is very sentimental) but i got real tired of policing the brass and tht's why i got the 44 mags- i was already set up for 9mm in reloading, and that was basically a 38 special- besides, when you're reloading, it doesn't cost THAT MUCH MORE TO SHOOT a 44 than a 357
and your're at roughly DOUBLE the power level
 
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