New shooter looking for first pistol advice

As a woman, I think maybe your wife, like myself, wants her gun to be visually pleasing as well. A .22 Ruger MkIII is a good start. Learned on a MK I when I was 14 and still own one.

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Then she can move up to something like this.

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I agree, 9mm vs .45. My .45 reloads pack less punch than some factory 9mm.
 
OP lots of good (and sometimes conflicting advice). MP9 range is a good value and this was my first choice when I got my first. My suggestion would be an MP9 and an MP22. That way you can work on motor skills and conditioning with the MP22 and your wife can use it as well. You will save $ and build up you skills.
 
I am not a fan of buying a 22 as a first pistol, as second pistol sure, but not first. Why? Because I've seen a lot of people be unhappy with the 22 as their first pistol and just stop shooting. I've never seen people do that with 9mm or bigger (although I'm sure it happens). What I have seen is they get a 9mm, like it and like to shoot it, but costs make them go to a 22, but they stay in the game, and still have the 9mm. So buy a 9mm, then get a 22 later.
 
I bought both this time last year when I started shooting. The 9mm goes to the range with me every weekend, the .22 frequently stays home. Since then I have added three more handguns to my collection, all centerfire.
 
kschneider said:
As a woman, I think maybe your wife, like myself, wants her gun to be visually pleasing as well. A .22 Ruger MkIII is a good start. Learned on a MK I when I was 14 and still own one.

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Click to expand...

+1 , my daughter began with the same Ruger Mark III Target Hunter at 12yrs, she still love it and I shoot with it occasionaly, nice shooter to begin....
 
As a first time shooter I went to the range with a .22, .40, and a .45. I was most accurate with the .45, not much difference between .40 and .45. Depends on what your comfortable with spending IMO
 
Look at the Grand Power guns.

The grip has the ability to take 4 different backstraps to suit her hand perfectly.
The trigger is excellent in SA, short and crisp.
The force needed to rack the slide is minimal, as the rotary lock up doesn't require a huge shearing force.

The K22S or K22 X-Trim are great .22lrs and the K100 or K100 X-Trim are ideal 9mm guns to start out with.
The recoil feel is straight back, with little torque.

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While IPSC, IDPA and even SASS cowboy action do not allow rimfire guns in their events rimfires do well in some other competitions. There's classic bullseye shooting of course but there is also Steel Challenge or other similar speed steel events. Two of the clubs in my area host steel events which allow for rimfire categories within the rules. So even a .22 can have a competitive side to it depending on the events hosted in a given region.
 
Thanks for the advice, everyone. I've never considered .22 but there's good thinking behind it, especially with me wanting to get my kids into shooting. As a rank novice, I figure I'm a few years out of competition shooting and even more still, it just doesn't interest me *yet*. My wife will be getting equal time behind the guns so there's a distinct chance she'll want to start with a .38. There's just so much choice out there and we're interested in so much of it. Finances are all that's holding us back.
 
If financial is an issue, then go for a 22lr, either a Ruger Mark III or Browning Buckmark, ammo is really cheap...., this is because of my 22lr that now shooting target is a family hobby, if I would began my wife and daughter with more powerful guns, I am not sure that they would like it as much as now ...

Even shooting a .38 was to much for my wife at first...
 
Personally I would go with a beretta. I've owned m&p's and glocks and they are very good handguns but I still have a soft spot for the beretta. I think glocks and m&p's are good if you are using them as a duty pistol at work but as for just a plinker gun I like the beretta m92fs.
 
tazik said:
If financial is an issue, then go for a 22lr, either a Ruger Mark III or Browning Buckmark, ammo is really cheap...., this is because of my 22lr that now shooting target is a family hobby, if I would began my wife and daughter with more powerful guns, I am not sure that they would like it as much as now ...

Even shooting a .38 was to much for my wife at first...
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My wife's favorite. in a Revolver .
 
First thing to do is to hold off buying a handgun.

Second find your local ranges and see if they are taking members. Once you found a range you like and are able to join, see how long there probationary period is and what is involved. My range is 3 months and 12 probationary shoots, under an RSO using their firearms. This will give you plenty of time to try out different firearms and see which one you like best.

Third buy the gun you like and can afford to shoot.

Four wait 4-8 weeks for you long term ATT to be issued (as you're in ON).

Buying a handgun and having to wait 1-2 months is bad but buying one and having to wait 1-2 months and a probation period is painful.
 
big_e said:
First thing to do is to hold off buying a handgun.

Second find your local ranges and see if they are taking members. Once you found a range you like and are able to join, see how long there probationary period is and what is involved. My range is 3 months and 12 probationary shoots, under an RSO using their firearms. This will give you plenty of time to try out different firearms and see which one you like best.

Third buy the gun you like and can afford to shoot.
Four wait 4-8 weeks for you long term ATT to be issued (as you're in ON).

Buying a handgun and having to wait 1-2 months is bad but buying one and having to wait 1-2 months and a probation period is painful.
Click to expand...

That a good idea especially in the GTA
 
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