Reliable first time pistol?

sam007

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I am relatively new to shooting and i was wondering what calibre and make of gun would be good for a shooter like me. I want something that isnt too expensive as i am on a budget though. I really like 1911s but that isnt going to happen for a couple hundred dollars used is it? 9mm is the cheapest ammo for a pistol right? I would rather shoot a .45 round though.
 
Are you male or female? A bigger person (6 foot plus with big hands) or a smaller person (under 5'5 with smaller hands)

If you want a reliable pistol for under $500, the only one I have experience with is the Ruger P85.

Great little gun, but a bit big on the grip. One can be had for around $250 to $350 depending on round count.

Yes 9MM is pretty much the most reasonable priced cartridge class out there when you are talking center fire.

Many here would also suggest a Ruger MKII or MKIII in .22 as a starter, but it's really a matter of preference.

My wife shoots better with 9MM than with 22.
 
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i would suggest you go to the gun store and see which gun fits you best.

A good starter is a one you can AFFORD to shoot!
 
You should really do your homework. Go to your local gunstore or range and see which pistol best fits your hand. Most guys at the local ranges would be nice enough to let you handle their firearm if you ask nicely. Whatever you do, do not impulse buy! I had to learn that the hard way. Actually I just learned that lesson not too long ago, again!
 
Avoid going cheap the first time. You will just end replacing whatever POS with something reliable. You can not go too far wrong with a 9mm Glock, Sig, HK USP or Berreta. They are all accurate and reliable handguns that have reasonable availablity of service and accessories. .22 is alright to start with as well, but it gets boring pretty quick compared to a centerfire. .45 is not really a good round to start with on a budget as it is considerably more expensive to buy factory ammuntion.
 
Mike K said:
Avoid going cheap the first time. You will just end replacing whatever POS with something reliable. You can not go too far wrong with a 9mm Glock, Sig, HK USP or Berreta. They are all accurate and reliable handguns that have reasonable availablity of service and accessories. .22 is alright to start with as well, but it gets boring pretty quick compared to a centerfire. .45 is not really a good round to start with on a budget as it is considerably more expensive to buy factory ammuntion.

My vote is for the SIG!
 
agree with Mike; get a decent 9mm, for couple hundred $ you not going to get much...

also always handle a gun before you buy it
 
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Musky Hunter said:
i would suggest you go to the gun store and see which gun fits you best.

A good starter is a one you can AFFORD to shoot!


ditto and remember buy right and buy once!!!!


Jamie Barkwell
 
You can get good one for around 500$

CZ75B
Ruger
Norinco 1911

Try some around, best to go to a range and try it out.
 
Get whichever .22 suits your hand. I started off with a .22 and have been shooting it for a few months. I've put at least 3k rounds through it at a cost of about 40 bucks. That's a good solid $700 in 9mm (commercial) and a guesstimated couple hundred or so if you reload. Don't have to worry about recoil either.

I chose a Ruger 22/45 Mk III but get whatever fits your hand. Be warned, price isn't everything; the P22 is a POS, IMHO, and is at least $100 more than the Ruger.
 
Mike K said:
Avoid going cheap the first time. You will just end replacing whatever POS with something reliable. You can not go too far wrong with a 9mm Glock, Sig, HK USP or Berreta. They are all accurate and reliable handguns that have reasonable availablity of service and accessories. .22 is alright to start with as well, but it gets boring pretty quick compared to a centerfire. .45 is not really a good round to start with on a budget as it is considerably more expensive to buy factory ammuntion.
I agree with everything Mike K said. As a first gun, you want something that shoots reliably right out of the box. If you get a POS, your interest in shooting is likely to decrease right away. Also, avoid buying used guns until you become more gun-savvy. Buying a used gun is always a bit of a crapshoot – you never know if the previous owner is selling because he needs money to buy something else or if he's trying to unload a gun that's been giving him problems onto an unsuspecting buyer. If you don't know what to look for, chances are you will miss the tell-tale signs of abuse, amateur gunsmithing, etc.

Oh yeah, and avoid Norinco. The quality of those guns tends to be hit and miss. Some are decent and some start falling apart after a couple hundred rounds.
 
If $200 is all you got, and you want shooting. Norinco M77B is the way to go. I'd rather see a new shooter start shooting sooner and get better guns down the road than save up for a better gun and can't afford to shoot it.
 
Mike K said:
Avoid going cheap the first time. You will just end replacing whatever POS with something reliable. You can not go too far wrong with a 9mm Glock, Sig, HK USP or Berreta. They are all accurate and reliable handguns that have reasonable availablity of service and accessories. .22 is alright to start with as well, but it gets boring pretty quick compared to a centerfire. .45 is not really a good round to start with on a budget as it is considerably more expensive to buy factory ammuntion.
What Mike said.....and I would add CZ as an accurate and reliable 9mm.
 
If $200 is all you got, and you want shooting. Norinco M77B is the way to go. I'd rather see a new shooter start shooting sooner and get better guns down the road than save up for a better gun and can't afford to shoot it.

Although I do agree with Mike K that you shouldn't go out and buy some garbage gun as a first toy, there is also no point in saving for something much better if you won't be able to afford to shoot it afterwards.
 
I would say get a rugerm mk2 or 3 in the configuration of your choice. And several 1000 rds later when you think you have reached peak proficiency, or you have had enough time to save some coin, buy a sig, glock, kimber, para, ect ect. I have been thinking about buying another rimfire, Just so I don't have to reload ammo. I would stay away from norinco, I bought the .45 as one of my first guns(because of all the praise on the board back then), It was a peice of crap in every sense, extreemly poor fitting, lockup was horrible, and had reliability issues. In my opinion they are worth maby half of what marstar is selling them for, in my eyes.
 
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If it's your first gun, starting with a .22 is the cheapest way to get into the sport. Ammo is inexpensive and easy to find. Center fire is always fun, but will cost a lot more in ammo until you start reloading and is harder to find.

And yes, I would also suggest not buying any cheap, Chinezey made guns if you can afford something better! Don't waste your time or money on a Norinco! Buy a quaility gun, not a dinky toy!
 
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