Pistol Purchase - First One - Questions!

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vanshooter

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Hey All.

So, I've picked up a few rifles over the last couple of years, and now I think it is time to get rolling with some hand guns. :cool:

I have my restricted, but limited exposure to shooting a handgun. Just once really at a local range where the instructor was kind enough to spend some time with my son and I, and let us shoot a few of his guns.

I imagine that I would like to start a collection of handguns, so not really looking for a one gun fits all scenario. However, I do want to make good purchases, and get the right gun at the right time (ie: not likely want to start off with a huge caliber revolver to start).

I plan to get a membership at the local range, and hopefully go shooting once a week with my son (he has done the courses as well).

So, looking for some advice on the first one or two to get. What caliber, make, and model. Also some links to get review sites, etc.

For caliber, I'm thinking I would like a 9mm for sure. No reason other then it seem pretty popular, ammo reasonable, and decent power. I've heard some people say to get a 22 as well, that it is a good warm up pistol, cheap ammo, etc, but I dont know..

For make/model, hard to say. I would like to stick to pistols for the first couple, but I would like to get a nice revolver down the road as well.

Glocks seem popular, but not sure I like the look so much.
I have a Browning x-bolt (love it), but not sure about their pistols.
The Beretta 92 looks good.
I like the look of the CZ 75/85, and I think I held one in the gunshop last year and liked the feel.
I also held a Beretta Neos 22, and like the feel of it.
Never fired any of the above....

No real budget in mind. I'm not looking for any special order rare firearms here. I figure if I get a decent firearm that is well respected, it will hold it's value.

So, hopefully that will be enough info to get the ball rolling. Let me know what you think. Any input appreciated.
 
A .22 and a 9mm are great starter pistols. First is what fits your hands the best. I have spent more than 3 or 4x's what the pistol is worth in ammo over the years. May as well get something you like / feels good to start with.
 
If you wanna shoot with it, don't expect it to hold value very well, and get the one you can operate (trigger reach, all controls), that's comfortable for you to hold and the one you can actually shoot well with. It may be well worth it to try a few at a range that rents them to get rough idea.
Think of features you may prefer to have, like metal vs polimer frame, extermal hammer, DA/SA or SA or so...
 
Your user name suggests that you're located in Vancouver. If that is the case then there is just one place to go for the moment. And that is for you and your son to get your butts over to DVC (indoorshootingcentre.com) and try out a bunch of their rental guns. They've got a bucket load of different 9mm options to try out.

Yes, you'll drop what seems like a lot of money on them trying a bunch of options. But it's money well spent if you and your son end up finding THE gun and can then buy your own copy of it secure in the knowledge that there's nothing else out there that you should have gotten instead. Factor that against the cost of finding out you DID get the wrong one and the loss involved in selling the old and buying the new and suddenly the money spent on renting the guns isn't so bad looking.

Don't go on a Friday since that's Lady's night and by 6:30 the place is packed and you won't get a good selection of pistols to try. Much better to go on a Wednesday or Thursday evening or a Sunday afternoon.
 
I second the DVC idea, you gotta try a lot of them before you pick something to your liking. Most of the gun that you mentioned are top notch product, if CZ 75/85 is your cup of tea, you may also want to try out the shadow as well.

Trigun
 
BCRider said:
Your user name suggests that you're located in Vancouver. If that is the case then there is just one place to go for the moment. And that is for you and your son to get your butts over to DVC (indoorshootingcentre.com) and try out a bunch of their rental guns. They've got a bucket load of different 9mm options to try out.
Click to expand...

Actually, the "van" part of my username "vanshooter" is in reference to my dutch descent (My last name starts with "Van", as do many dutch names).

I live in Southwestern Ontario, about 100Km west of Toronto.

Any other input on gun brands, models, and a place to shoot out here is appreciated.
 
Wednesday nights are the cheapest with 2 for 1 deal at DVC, go to their website>special_events>wednesday_night_specials; there is a new 'twist' for every Wed.
 
vanshooter said:
Actually, the "van" part of my username "vanshooter" is in reference to my dutch descent (My last name starts with "Van", as do many dutch names).

I live in Southwestern Ontario, about 100Km west of Toronto.

Any other input on gun brands, models, and a place to shoot out here is appreciated.
Click to expand...

Another vankoughnet? Ha! Cz75bs feel nice in the hand but so did the gp100
 
Take a look at Sigs, glocks, springfield xd's, aswell as .22's.
A lot of brands offer different cals and configurations.
Best bet i know of is to go to target sports in stouffville and rent a couple of handhuns and see what ones you like best.

you want my opinion go with sigs. That was my first rental and first owned and i still love it.
 
VanShooter,

There is a range in GTA that has rental guns as well, and will allow you to get first hand feel for the gun, before you buy.

Target Sports in Stouffville, call them first as they are quite busy on weekends, but they do take reservations.
Work days allow for more flexibility.


http://www.targetsportscanada.com/
 
If you don't mind the drive to Burlington, I'd be happy to bring you to my range and let you try my Beretta 92FS, Sig 229 in.40 and a Sig 226E2 in 9mm

PM me if you're interested.
 
Obviously the "look" of the gun is important to you (I'm the same), but quality I would think is important too.

Buy a SIG and you will have both looks and quality/performance. I've owned quite a few handguns in the past and I've always come back to the sig, or FN (love the FNP).
 
I have had many pistols and what I find the most comfortable to shoot is my IWI Jericho 941 (Baby Eagle) in 9mm. It has a very nice weight. comfortable grip and has never had any stoppage of any kind with any ammo Ive fed it. It is also very accurate. Zero'd in for 25 yards. Combat sights, decocking lever and a nice size slide release.Very nice trigger in both SA and DA.

If you look at .22 pistols Id recommend a Browning Buckmark. Feed it high velocity for the first thousand and whatever ud like after that.

Sigs are beautiful to shoot and operate and are very reliable and good looking.
CZ I dont have any experience shooting but the Baby Eagle is based on the CZ75....and many people love CZ's
Beretta is very nice and if you like very light pistols Glocks are awesome.

You cant go wrong with any of these options. Try 'em out
 
ok.. for handguns.. I got a GSG 1911... its a .22 lots of fun and shooting it wont break the bank... I have a Bond arms snake slayer.. I shoot shotgun and 45 long colt out of it.... Lots of fun hard to hit the target at over 6 yards :p it has allot of recoil with mag shotgun loads in it :p

I also have a 45 acp 1911 its not cheap to shoot but its lots of fun.. shoot it lots and you go broke.. I like the 357 revolvers and thats my next buy a stainless ruger gp100 good price can shoot 38 for light recoil and 357 for something more manly :p
 
OP, don't look at the cost of ammo, as you can reload 45acp ammo for nearly half the price of factory 9mm. You do have to invest in some reloading equipment for the savings, but at least you won't be faced with choosing a gun because of the cartridge it uses.
 
lanis said:
VanShooter,

There is a range in GTA that has rental guns as well, and will allow you to get first hand feel for the gun, before you buy.

Target Sports in Stouffville, call them first as they are quite busy on weekends, but they do take reservations.
Work days allow for more flexibility.

http://www.targetsportscanada.com/
Click to expand...
Cool. Good to know. Thanks!

:cheers:
 
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