Help a Newbie

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Barnard308

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Hey Guys/Gals
Just getting into the handgun scene and looking for some guidance. What I am think about is this, get a 45 acp that has a conversion kit for .22 ? Reasons so my kids can shoot it and I don't go broke on 45 ammo, will be considering IPSC once I am more familiar with shooting handguns in general. So what do you guys think and what manufactures would you suggest?

Please don't turn this into a PI$$ing contest of which is better than the other, I am just looking for somewhere to start looking, in the end I will decide by the feel of it in my hand not the brand.
 
If I can ask.........why .45ACP? It's not the cheapest to shoot unless you reload. Also, shooting .45ACP in IPSC brings no advantage whatsoever in your scoring. To make "Major" you can shoot .40S&W which will make Major power factor just fine. There are no bonus points for using a .45.

My humble opinion is to get a 9mm since you're just getting into handguns. You can shoot IPSC production (like the majority do) and find ammo to feed it much easier (relatively speaking) and cheaper than .45ACP. As well, many platforms offer a conversion kit to go from 9mm or .40 to .22LR by just switching the slide/barrel/mag while keeping the same receiver and trigger, so you don't have to relearn another trigger or hold. Sig Sauer and Glock are 2 that come to mind.
 
I prefer the two gun but have never tried a conversion so you need some one with experience using them to weigh in.
You can pick up an un-loved target grade .22LR pistol for about the same money as a conversion.
 
Fairly new to the sport but from my own experience and a lot of reading here
I would recommend starting with a 9mm, and a separate .22 as they can be finicky so get one that works
buy 9mm in bulk to get the best value for your cash.
I love,love my .45 (did I mention I love my .45 lol) but the costs add up quick.
 
For the simple costs of the ammo I'd also suggest a 9mm as your center fire gun. If you only shot a few boxes of ammo a year this wouldn't be a big deal. But if you're considering IPSC it suggests that you'll end up as a regular range rat and shooting a lot. In no time at all you'll have shot far more in ammo than what your gun costs. So keeping the price of ammo lower is more important than you may think.

Flipping the conversion kit back and forth quickly gets to be a pain. Especially if you'll be there with your kid(s). Just get two guns. And besides a whole dedicated rimfire gun is the same cost or barely any cheaper than a conversion kit anyway. Also most conversion kits require at least a small bit of fitting to work on any specific frame. It also makes switching back and forth from rimfire to center fire a cinch when you find you need to work on banishing your own flinch issues.

If you're looking ahead to IPSC or any other handgun competitions then be sure you buy a gun that fits the rules and for the category you wish to shoot in.

Most folks start with and many stay with the Production class. The need for a DA first shot means that one does not have to think about a safety and when to work it as part of their training.
 
When you say ".45 ACP" do you mean a 1911?

If so, I'd recommend you go with the 2 gun approach and get a 1911 in 9mm and a GSG in .22. The GSG is about the same price as a conversion kit and you don't have the pain of having to switch slides. A 9mm 1911 will be far less expensive to shoot than a .45 and will be just fine for getting started in IPSC Classic Division. There are a number of good quality 1911 pistols chambered in 9mm - the STI Spartan is hard to beat in the "bang for the buck" department.
 
Boys, the first order of business is to develop that all important trigger pull. It's a mind trick similar to rubbing your stomach and patting your head or riding a bicycle. Once you have it, you are off to the races. You can expect any gun of reasonable quality to shoot for you after that. My advice is go down to the gun shop or on to the EE - find a deal on a Ruger .22 auto and buy it! Then get two cases (cases, not bricks - 10,000 rounds), and go to the range. Shoot at least twice a week, no more than 40 rounds. Do that slow-fire, and make every shot count. By the time you've gobbled up that first case you will probably be shooting very well, and like a champ by the time the second case is gone. Practice is king. Go to competitions and tournaments. Stink the place out with poor marksmanship from time to time and laugh it off. Talk to the cool kids here and make friends.

I am a .45 fanboy myself. I reload under protest, and hate every minute of it! (I got so damned sick of it I bought a Dillon progressive in a fit of rage and haven't looked back!). The .45 is an old veteran - shooters and gunsmiths know it forwards, backwards, and inside out! I like it because mine have all shot well with cheap cast lead. Master the .45 ACP - and you are ready to take on the challenges of higher powered calibers for IPSC, or the big magnum six guns for long range target and silhouette work. (If you like 9mm or .40 - do that too...but just watch out for leading with cast lead pills. With cast bullets you want to keep them slow if possible).

Further down in the posts here you will notice the boys have a '25 Yard Freestyle Postal Shoot' going on - jump in if you can! I spent the afternoon cheating...er...practicing ... and will post a couple targets myself! Welcome to the sport!
 
I agree with two guns versus just one and make one the GSG
If you want to try a .45 buy a used norinco put some lead down range get some extra mags, holster etc and play around with it as is find out for yourself what you like and if you want to build it do so or sell it for more or less what you put into it and finance a 1911 from the multitude of companies out there.
Get what you want dont settle.
 
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