New shooter looking for first pistol advice

Bloedman

Bloedman

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My wife and I just got our R/PALs a few days ago so I'm looking for some advice on our first acquisition. There's an almost infinite list of rifles I'd like to eventually own, so I'm figuring on getting a pistol first since my taste there seems more selective.

Since I'm new at it, I figure 9mm vs .45 is a no brainer, for ease of handling. I have every intention of getting a .45 next but am figuring on skipping .40 from what I've been reading. Third on my list is a .357/38sp revolver.

For my first acquisition, I need help with choosing Jericho, Smith & Wesson M&P, CZ75b (or Shadow?) and Beretta 92fs, all in 9mm and polymer frame where possible. I acknowledge that between the selections I made it goes down to personal taste and I'm mostly inclined to the Jericho, something about it just calls to me. If I've made a glaring error, please let me know for my first choices as a new shooter.

Now for something I've been a bit mystified with in this endeavor. I'm seeing some sales here and there online but for the most part all my selections are in close dollar value to each other. I am noticing that I may as well buy new since the Equipment Exchange here on CGN is generally listing the same price or remarkably close to new for their used items. What's with that? Firearms just that good at retaining their value? Since I'm not venturing into collector areas, I'm a bit perplexed (and pleased) that the pricing is so similar.

With all of this in mind, am I overthinking my selection list? Considering if I dislike my choice, I can simply turn it over for essentially the same price and move on to another pistol on my list?

Thanking everyone in advance!
 
I really like my Jericho 9mm, I also like my Glock 17's, I have shot the M&P and the Beretta 92fs but prefer the Glock and Jericho. I have never shot a CZ75b.

If I could make a suggestion, find people at your club that own these pistols and shoot each one, decide from there based on what you like :)
 
Ruger 22's are nice to start out with. (Mark II, Mark III, 22/45's). No brass to look for and pick up and refill, cheap to shoot.

I tried to like 1911's and have had several, but ended up with Glocks. Just have to try them and see what you like.

For wheelguns, your 357 idea, I'd go with a S&W revolver.
 
If possible, it would be best to try out various handgun for yourself. How ? have friends with handguns or where you are located, do you have a range that rents guns (like DVC in Poco, BC) ? Unless you are reloading, ammo from .40 cal up can get very expensive. .22LR (as mentioned) handguns are good starter guns and inexpensive to shoot. Good luck in your en devour and find the handgun that both you and your wife like (note that the same handgun may not 'fit' or suits both of you and may end up buying different handguns)
 
Firearms can keep (or in some cases increase their value) but for the most part people that are trying to sell on the EE just don't want to lose any money on their purchase. Any good deal on the EE is usually gone within a few hours at most, sometimes within minutes of being posted.

As for your choices, like you said if something feels right for you then go with that one. But make sure that at the very least you try to hold it first before deciding. Ideally you'd want to put some rounds through it as well, but don't buy something based on looks and try to change your wants to fit what you already bought. More than likely you'll be purchasing one for yourself and one for your wife (but that way neither of you have to stop shooting for the other to get a turn). If you want you can also go to the search engine here and change the settings to look years back and type in "first pistol." You'll find dozens of threads on this very topic.
 
Bloedman said:
Since I'm new at it, I figure 9mm vs .45 is a no brainer, for ease of handling.
Click to expand...

"Got to disagree".

"Try both calibers then, if you can before buying". There's no big difference in managing either and recoil etc isn't an issue with either. If you can hammer a ten penny nail into a 2x4 you have roughly double the strength you're gonna need to manage a 45 ACP or a 9. The biggest consideration is the cost of the ammo. A 45 ACP is the costliest to run and needless to say, .22 is cheapest.

IMHO the worst possible choice for a new pistol shooter is a cheap UNRELIABLE model regardless of caliber. These are dangerous in the hands of inexperienced shooters and though "yes" you do need to learn to clear a jamb, it shouldn't be lesson 1. I started with a POS Ruger .22 Jamb Master and learned more about anger management than shooting until I got rid of the thing.

Don't dismiss a good 1911 in 45 ACP as a first choice. They are ubiquitous among shooters and for good reason. Hand fitment and natural pointing are almost universal with a 1911 and, sans a lot of whistles and bells, all but the most foreign of crap are very reliable. If the 45 ACP is your eventual goal anyway, and you can afford the practice ammo, take a long look at a 1911. Every damn manufacturer that makes a gun makes a 1911 so the world is your oyster as to choosing a brand.
 
I like CZ's personally. Jericho's are 'nice' but they are a copy of a copy of a CZ. Unless you like their aesthetics, you will get better support with a CZ. I have always loved the look of a Beretta 92fs. They are '###y' and look like a proper pistol. Not like those modern, plastic, lego guns. Another "9" is a .380 - or 9 X 18mm Makarov Interammo sells. It is like a simplified walther PPK - and cheap. It might make an excellent first/ practice gun. Half the price, and you can risk accidentally scratching it. Single and double stacks available.

Above all, make sure to try hold several of your choice firearms before you buy. What might fit you, may not be comfortable for her. Comfort is paramount. You may have to buy a single stack pistol, or a 'thin' double stack. That's the most important part, I think. Cheers!

~ Tom
 
5 people have just given you the best advice for a "first pistol" and I will echo it. Start with a .22 just as most people start out rifle shooting.

Good shooting form, accuracy and FUN comes from lots of practice. If you take a 9mm to the range you will probably practice until you run out of ammo. If you take a .22 to the range you can practice till the sun goes down.

When you are ready to graduate to a bigger round you will keep the .22 and still have loads of cheap fun shooting it.

I actually have a couple pellet pistols, a .177 cal air and a .22 cal CO2 that I shoot around my yard or in the basement and carry with me to shoot grouse while out deer hunting.
 
Start with a .22, maybe a GSG or M&P. Both guns are loads of fun to shoot, the GSG you can get a bunch of mags for, the M&P not so much. But the main thing is to improve and with shooting 22, as stated above is very cheap and a great time for everyone in the family.
Everyone I personally bring out to the range starts with a 22 to get the general feel of firearms and gain confidence in what they are doing.
 
My first was a new Browning High Power Mark III 9mm. Love it! Fits the hand extremely well and very accurate.

I planned on reloading from the beginning so I bought a box of 1k bulk Winchester, giving me a supply of brass for later. Took me all throught this past summer for $350. Now I am making my own ammo.

I also have a .22 Browning 1911-A1. Never jams. Just have the odd fail to fire. Seems to be the ammo though because I rotate cartridge and they fire. They are fun... But nothing like the 9mm.
 
7offsuit2 said:
Above all, make sure to try hold several of your choice firearms before you buy. What might fit you, may not be comfortable for her. Comfort is paramount.
Click to expand...

really good advice. The right pistol to buy is the one you shoot the best.

That being said, i really think the M&P range kits represent a really good value. the trigger is a little gritty out of the box but with an apex kit these are really good pistols.
 
I guess I'll be the first one to disagree with the "go with a .22 first". IMHO, after observing and coaching many new pistol shooters, I firmly believe that with proper coaching, you will be able to master a centerfire pistol in a very short time if taught correctly.

A steel-framed 9mm has very manageable recoil, and allows you to start training right off the bat with the pistol you will ultimately be using. Unless you or your wife are recoil-shy, I don't see the benefit of starting with a .22.

I will admit that there is a small benefit of starting with a .22 pistol- if you decide you don't like handguns, you won't have a lot invested in either the firearm or the ammo.

Lastly, our lone .22 pistol rarely leaves the safe anymore. Both my daughters have graduated to centerfire calibers, and my older daughter even commented that she wished she started out with a 9mm, because, in her words, she had to "learn to shoot all over again" when she made the jump to 9mm.

Once again, JMHO.

Paul
 
I would Start out with a 22 first, like most of the recommendations so far.
Go to your local gun shop and see how they fit in your hand, or even better see if someone is willing to let you try theirs out at the range.
I have had many new shooters try out my different 22's to see which they like best
I have several 22s and every trip to the range starts out with shooting one of them to get warmed up.
It's economical to buy, economical to shoot. The recoil is a minimal and is benifitial in correcting shooting techniques.

Once you have done that follow the same criteria for purchasing a center fire.

A pistol is a personal thing and for each of us there are different prferences as to how they feel and how we shoot with them.
 
Yes, but not everyone can get the better coaching often enough to avoid a bad flinch.

My advice generally has always be that if a .22 isn't a person's first handgun then it should darn well be their second. A shooter can perform a LOT of various drills and generally work on their accuracy for cheap with a nice rimfire gun.

As for the 9mm vs .45 debate I agree with the others that have said that one can learn to shoot just as well with a .45. But what about the cost? You shoot roughly twice as much 9mm within a given ammo budget. So unless you've got a pretty good sets of income to where you simply don't worry about the cost of ammo I'd suggest that a 9mm is the way to go for your first gun.

However I'm with the others that suggest that a rimfire should/could be your first gun. Or since there's you and your wife perhaps go bonkers and buy two guns to start, a rimfire and a 9mm. That way when one or both of you develop a flinch or other problems that open up your group sizes you've got the cheap and low recoil kicking .22 to use as a great tool to aid in developing the proper hold on the guns and the proper focus and trigger control to banish the flinch issue.

And did I mention that they are just good cheap fun that gives you both a lot of trigger time for cheap?
 
It does bear mentioning, since a pistol's official raison d'etre in Canada is for sport shooting and sport shooting generally means IPSC or IDPA, that you won't be shooting either discipline with a .22. A 22 is cheap to shoot and that about sums up the benefit of owning one. A .22 may be the choice for you and well and good if it is. Just be aware it isn't the incontrovertible "starter" pistol some are suggesting it is. You'll find IPSC / IDPA shooters a pretty congenial bunch who are welcoming and helpful toward new shooters. You could probably get some great advice and a chance to try out a pistol or two "after a match" if you were to show up at a match in your area.
 
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