My first pistol, suggestions?

sphen

sphen

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
50   0   0
Location
Toronto North
Figured I should hurry up and get the rpal and a pistol before it's too late. I have the rpal coming up next week and am going through the process for a local range membership. I'm looking for suggestions to help narrow down my choice of pistols. Budget is under a $1000, anything saved under that goes towards my AR. It would be for kicks at the range and not much more else right now, no competition for me. None of my friends have pistols so I'd be the first initiating them to it...figure it will catch on pretty quick.

I'm looking for a few suggestions to narrow down the search, I've googled and got enough answers to make my head spin. I'm hoping for a bit of a consensus here.... If I can narrow it down a bit I'll hit the local pro shop and handle a few of them to see how they feel in-hand. So.....What would you guys suggest I consider as a first starter (caliber, styling)?

Thanks!
 
+1 on the buckmark, if you like the fit of it in your hand.

.22LR pistols will get you far more trigger time, which means more fun (and more skill development) for you.

FF
 
sphen said:
Figured I should hurry up and get the rpal and a pistol before it's too late. I have the rpal coming up next week and am going through the process for a local range membership. I'm looking for suggestions to help narrow down my choice of pistols. Budget is under a $1000, anything saved under that goes towards my AR. It would be for kicks at the range and not much more else right now, no competition for me. None of my friends have pistols so I'd be the first initiating them to it...figure it will catch on pretty quick.

I'm looking for a few suggestions to narrow down the search, I've googled and got enough answers to make my head spin. I'm hoping for a bit of a consensus here.... If I can narrow it down a bit I'll hit the local pro shop and handle a few of them to see how they feel in-hand. So.....What would you guys suggest I consider as a first starter (caliber, styling)?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

If you're brand new to shooting and want to actually hit something, it's going to take some practice.




Here's the advice I wish I had when I started shooting:


1. Got deep pockets? Unless you make a very healthy income, do yourself a favor and get a .22 you can shoot all day for $30. Don't like .22 and want a 9mm or bigger? Ok, plan on spending a min of $100 per range trip on ammo for only yourself.

2. Find out if there's a handgun match at the range. Go and ask a bunch of questions and get the old guys to show you the shooting basics. You'll shoot better much much much faster!


To answer your original question: get a CZ SP01 AND Kadet 22 conversion kit. You get your centerfire 9mm with the CZ SP01, then you get to use the 22 conversion kit to save you money and learn on. CZ SP01 is a quality pistol used by many many top competition shooters


Happy shooting! :)
 
I have been a Glock guy for almost 30 yrs.
Today, I actually shot my first CZ SP-01 Orange. I am in love!
Hit a duelling tree target at 20yds 6/6 shots first time using another CGNer's pistol. This is one amazing pistol! I don't think there is a better factory DA/SA trigger on the market!
If you got the coin, the CZ should be the first pistol you should consider!
 
like many have said get what fits in your hand best.................................or a 1911.
 
my vote goes to the cz sp-01 as well.
my glock has become a safe queen since i got my shadow. it shoots amazing out of the box but shoots even better after changing the recoil spring and hammer spring (less than $20 for both springs, i think).

sphen, you can come as my guest to target sports one day if you'd like to try my shadow. i can even bring my glock for you to try so you can compare them.
 
thechineseguy said:
my vote goes to the cz sp-01 as well.
my glock has become a safe queen since i got my shadow. it shoots amazing out of the box but shoots even better after changing the recoil spring and hammer spring (less than $20 for both springs, i think).

sphen, you can come as my guest to target sports one day if you'd like to try my shadow. i can even bring my glock for you to try so you can compare them.
Click to expand...
The CZ will win based on trigger pull alone. I love my Glock 19 but I can't outshoot a -01 with it!
 
Well I would be after 22lr and 9mm. 22lr cheep to shoot, 9mm considered full pistol round but still cheep is. I'd 15 bucks for 50 rounds is about as hood as it gets with pistol rounds. 45 for example best I have seen is 20 bucks for 50 shots but usually 25 to 30 is more common for 45. So ya want to shoot 22lr want center fire then 9mm
 
I would vote on a decent quality .22 like others have said. The beretta 71 is an awesome one, especially for the money. (Saw a 6" one at sportsmans den in redder for under $300)
Have you ruled out revolvers? My old 686 with .38 special is accurate and not super snappy. Damn easy to get used to.
 
Well I would be after 22lr and 9mm. 22lr cheep to shoot, 9mm considered full pistol round but still cheep is. I'd 15 bucks for 50 rounds is about as hood as it gets with pistol rounds. 45 for example best I have seen is 20 bucks for 50 shots but usually 25 to 30 is more common for 45. So ya want to shoot 22lr want center fire then 9mm
Click to expand...

Excellent suggestions GT_Hawk. (and Wbaad) I would second that as excellent advice. :)

My choices to start for example were a Beretta 75 in .22 and a Sig 226 in 9mm.
 
Last edited:
Like its been stated above, you have to try as many as you can to see what fits you.

Starting out, .22 for sure (I went with a DA revolver) check out S&W 617 and Ruger SP 101, semis in .22 can be picky with ammo. You will shoot a lot, and .22 ammo doesn't hurt the wallet when you shoot 100s of rounds per range trip. Plus it's great if you will be introducing your friends to handguns. Then get a CZ 75 SP-01 (fits best out of all the 9mms I've tried). Then get a 1911 in .45 because you are going to want a .45, or skip it because you will soon want the bigger bang/adrenaline rush. Then you will want a DA revolver in .357 mag (S&W 686 or Ruger GP 100) or .44 mag (S&W 629 or Ruger Redhawk) (Get the .44) By this point, you just have to accept the pain of your monthly ammo bill means you have to heavily invest in reloading. At least this is how it has worked for me, and it keeps going on...

Try as many as you can, guys at the club are usually happy to let you, and rent what you can. It's all about what works for you. I'm interested to hear what you purchase. Safe shooting.

Cheers.
 
Last edited:
best advice i ever got was, go to your local gun store and hold a bunch of them in your price range, , get what feels good to hold and what you can afford, and be prepared to get addicted, i swore i was only going to have one, currently making arraignments for restricted number 4 and 5 in the last 6 months..lol
 
Thanks for all the advice guys, I think I agree about starting with the .22. It will let me know how much I enjoy the pistol option without spending a ton on ammo. Pockets aren't deep enough to support multiple disciplines so sort of need to figure out first where I want to spend the bulk of my ammo funding. I'm also in the middle of an M14 build and saving for an AR...so keeping ammo costs down makes sense for now.

thechineseguy said:
my vote goes to the cz sp-01 as well.
my glock has become a safe queen since i got my shadow. it shoots amazing out of the box but shoots even better after changing the recoil spring and hammer spring (less than $20 for both springs, i think).

sphen, you can come as my guest to target sports one day if you'd like to try my shadow. i can even bring my glock for you to try so you can compare them.
Click to expand...

That would be awesome....although Silverdale is a hike for me, I'm up by Barrie. With that said, Silverdale is on the bucket list if I can escape the family stuff! I'll tuck this away and look you up should I be able to schedule a day trip down there.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom