Looking for a first pistol - Cheap or Expensive?

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ace_himself

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I just got my restricted PAL and I want to buy my first pistol. In order to learn to shoot on the advice of a friend I've already got lined up to get an old Ruger MKII from him since I heard it's good to learn on a .22 because ammo is cheap and you get the techniques down without learning a flinch.

But I'd also like to get a 9mm as my first "real" pistol.

I'm torn between getting something cheap since it's a starter or going all out and getting a good quality pistol that will last.

So on the cheap end I'm thinking of getting either a Norinco SIG or 1911 clone in 9mm.

Or on the more expensive end I was considering either a USP, SIG 226 refurbished which is a bit cheaper but still high quality right?, or a CZ75.

Which route would you reccomend for me? Thanks a bunch!
 
Buy what you want. This is just the beginning. It is the handgunners mandate to own and shoot every pistol ever made. You will buy one, shoot it, keep it or sell it and buy something else.
Even if you try other peoples guns it won't be the same.
So think about a handgun you want, look for the best price, and get going!
When you think you want to get into competition shooting, then a little more thought is required.
 
geologist said:
If you're near a gun store, try handling some of these pistols to see if one feels and points right.
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Oh I've been and I've tried out a few at the range with friends but I'm just looking for opinions on something that is for the most part accurate and low maintenance, reliable if you will.

So far my front running choice is a USP, I know they're pricy but I've got money for it and I figure if you get something high quality it's going to perform better and longer and if I get tired of it I'll get a better resale value right?
 
"So far my front running choice is a USP, I know they're pricy but I've got money for it and I figure if you get something high quality it's going to perform better and longer and if I get tired of it I'll get a better resale value right?"

Sounds like you're answering your own question.:D
 
Pick whichever model/manufacturer fits comfortably in your hand. Close your eyes bring the pistol up to eye level and see if you can natural see the fron sight. For me these are the two most important components.
After that most 9mm are fairly accurate - so then appearance becomes a question of personal preference.
Final consideration is how much money you want to spend.
End of the day - I have a Beretta 92FS Brigadier Inox -because it works for me.
 
Trust me, the first pistol will sell very soon as you get into the game and really find out something good for yourself. However a cheapy will more likely to get a lemon and let you down. As mentioned a good used Glock, browning high power, Baretta and CZ will serve you well.

Trigun
 
I've just started myself and my one and only pistol is a brand new CZ in 9 mm.

Have no regrets. I think that I would have found a .22 boring but your mileage may vary. Have heard the arguments before about starting with a .22 and developing good habits. The arguments may well be sound.

But I still think that you might as well start off with what you really want. I bought my CZ from a great retailer in Alberta and the total cost to my front door here in Ontario was less then $700. As I say, no regrets.
 
You can get a .22lr rifle (10/22) that is non-restricted and can reliably go through 25 rounds per magazines (butler creek mags); the .22lr pistol restricted and can only hold 10 rounds (as mentioned above, get boring fast).

Definitely go centerfire - Glock 17 is a safe first pistol and you can get a .22lr conversion for them (same with the CZ75B).
 
Buy used STI Trojan in 9 mm. Thin grips may be replaced, lot of spares,very accurate and durable, easy to sell and reasonable price for good quality.
HK USP grip is not comfortable for everyone.
 
prproulx said:
Buy what you want. This is just the beginning. It is the handgunners mandate to own and shoot every pistol ever made. You will buy one, shoot it, keep it or sell it and buy something else.
Even if you try other peoples guns it won't be the same.
So think about a handgun you want, look for the best price, and get going!
When you think you want to get into competition shooting, then a little more thought is required.
Click to expand...

My attitude exactly (although I have a problem when it comes to trying to sell a gun. Can't do it). When I started in handguns I never would have dreamed I would end up where I am now.

My first gun was a Ruger Mark I target. My second was a Desert Eagle in 44 magnum. Then I started to fill in all the spaces in between. One important note. Get a big safe. When I had mine built I thought it would be more than enough for my needs.

Img_7527.jpg


I now have an overflow container for those that wont fit in the safe. Thank God I have enough trigger locks.

Start off by buying quality guns. After that don't worry about picking up guns that you like but are not realy great (in other people's opinion). Consider these fun guns. Guns you will only shoot in a blue moon but you like the look of or the history.

ace_himself said:
In order to learn to shoot on the advice of a friend I've already got lined up to get an old Ruger MKII from him since I heard it's good to learn on a .22 because ammo is cheap and you get the techniques down without learning a flinch.
Click to expand...

Sounds like you are getting some good advice. Wish more people would do this. You don't learn to drive by starting with a semi. Typically when guys start with a higher power handgun they are also shooting full factory loads. After a few times on the range they have to adjust the sights because the gun is shooting low and to the left (unless it is shooting all over the place). It's not the gun guys its you. You have to train your body to not react to the shot. Hard to do with the recoil and the noise of a full load.

If you can try the guns before you buy them. Talk nice to your fellow shooters. Most will let you try their guns. It takes a while to learn the small differences. The more you shoot the more those small differences will add up (positive or negative).
 
Lever Arms Package Deal

For what it's worth, I just bought the Lever Norinco 54-1 Tokarev combination. You get the pistol, one 7.62 x 25 barrel, two 7.62 mags, one 9 x19 (Luger) barrel, one 9mm mag, and 1000 rounds of corrosive Czech 7.62 ammo. I bought it over the phone from Kin, the owner, a great guy to deal with. I called in the morning, faxed the order form (from the website) in the afternoon and three days later the courier drove into my yard. Is that good enough service for you?

The pistol appears well made as it's basically a Colt 1911, but with improvements. Takedown is slightly easier than the Colt because of the clip on the right side. It's better than some Colts whereby you have to be in just the right spot to get the slide stop pin out. This is Russian practicality at work. (No doubt some Jeff Cooper/IPSC type will have comments on this; however the clip is quite tight and if it had been problematic surely changes would have been made).

The trigger assembly lifts out, so cleaning is easy. This will be good for your peace of mind as you practice with the cheap corrosive ammo.

The safety is not great so don't use it. The original Russian Tokarevs did not have safeties. As a temporary measure the half #### positon works fine; otherwise load it, shoot it and learn not to rely on any safety. Hammer down is not an option here either. It is best just to cycle the slide when you are ready to shoot. If you need to stop, slide back, eject, then mag out.

So far I have shot several hundred rounds through each barrel. The 7.62 has quite a snap to it. The 9mm was some mystery surplus gold coloured ammo supplied by a buddy and was smoother to shoot than the 7.62. Both barrels performed excellently, no FTFs or stove pipes and with two different shooters. Accuracy is acceptable for what is essentially a military pistol. The barrels shoot to different points, but you will adjust.

I rate this pistol acceptible and good value, especially if it's your first gun. You will get to learn the Colt system, corrosive cleaning (no big deal), the ATT process, and have fun plinking cheaply with a centerfire cartridge. When you can afford it just switch barrels and shoot 9mm. Forget spending any additional money on one of these. It will get you out to the range where you can try other, better, more $$$$$$ guns. From there you will develop preferences that will drain your wallet for many years to come.

Good shooting, bc308
 
I considered exactly the same thing you did - I started out with a 22/45, then bought a Norinco NP-34 and a Norinco 1911A1. The 22/45 I don't like because even though it is accurate and fast, field stripping is a bi%$h. I know with practice you can do it easy, but I don't have the same problem with my other pistols so why bother learning the 22/45? Just skipping over it is a consideration - unless you plan to shoot a lot, in which case you will need a .22 pistol.

The Norinco NP-34 is not a very good pistol for someone trying to learn marksmanship, at least mine isn't, because I find it is not very accurate beyond 10 yards. On the other hand it seems to be reliable and eats anything and is extremely easy to strip and clean. But I think it is cheaply made and won't last as long as a real Sig. Newbies who are just there for a day on the range love it.

The Norinco 1911A1 is more accurate and can be modified to be very accurate. It is a durable gun as far as I can tell and will last you through many different uses and modifications if needed. It is very fun, though it is not as "pretty" and "fluffy" as a Springfield or Kimber. Plus trigger is tough and sights are NOT target sights, so you'd want to make some modifications there.

If you just want a pretty .45 to take to the range and have good target sights and groups to impress everyone, get the USP. If you want as close a copy as you are going to get to a G.I 1911A1, get the Norinco. I hope that helps. Remember - in terms of ammo costs, if you don't reload .45, you're screwed! Get a 9mm if you're shooting factory ammo, even though it is not nearly as fun.
 
BTW I reccommend like the poster above a refurbished Sig, which is what I should get (but they don't have any 228s, do they?)

Another good choice might be a good CZ or a used brand-name 1911A1 in excellent condition, or a special from Armco/Gunnar.

P.S. I have a Tokarev as well but it is not good for newbie beginners because it will jam if you limp-wrist it IMHO, plus it might not shoot where you want it to, plus it is not as ergonomic as the above choices.

I think the best first choice I could have made was buying a "prepped" 1911A1 from a reputable gunsmith
 
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Go for quality...

Get the highest quality pistol you can afford, even if it means saving up for awhile. If you have your heart set on a 9mm there are lots to chose from. I wouldn't sell myself short by opting for a cheapie econo pistol, though.
 
You said you were leaning toward a USP. From one new(ish) handgun guy to another, I picked up an HK USP in stainless because they're discontinuing sales on them in north america and I got a good deal, and I'll tell you, I wouldn't trade it for anything. That's me though, and different guns work well for different people. If you really want to find out - get your hands on as many as you can and put some rounds through them - the range doesn't lie.

One suggestion I might make - you said you didn't mind spending a lot on a high end pistol, but the CZ's are a ton of bang for the buck.
 
NAA said:
Get the highest quality pistol you can afford, even if it means saving up for awhile. If you have your heart set on a 9mm there are lots to chose from. I wouldn't sell myself short by opting for a cheapie econo pistol, though.
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Exactly. You might as well start with something that you'll be happy with for a while. If you become quickly disenchanted with a cheap first pistol, you'll spend more money by having to supplant it immediately.
 
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