Tips on purchasing a first semi-auto pistol

Ruthless

Ruthless

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Hi everyone :50cal:, I'm looking to get my first semi-auto pistol and don't know where to start...

budget $600 (preferably new)
Lots of questions:

1)Manufactures to consider

2)weight, safety

3)accuracy, reliability

4)ease to clean and maintain

5)caliber

saw Norinco pistols too, should I consider them too?

Also to consider, I'd like my pistol to be stainless steel, I really like that look, I know some may say that factionality is more important but I think that if I like the pistols look I would tend to use it more often :evil:

all other tips are welcome

Flame on............:ninja:
 
If you are not familiar with shooting a pistol, I'd suggest investing in a 22lr semi-auto. They Cheap to shoot, you can develop a good skill set before moving up to a larger caliber.

The Ruger Mark III is a classic 22lr semi auto and in SS in well under your budget. I also think the Browning Buckmark would make a good choice. Its in your price range as well.

Both of the pistol are durable units.

My 2 cents

Brian
 
Brian James is bang on in terms of developing a good skill set...though I personally envision getting bored with your .22 mighty fast when everyone else has bigger guns.

Someone else made a good point in one of the previous similar posts...better to invest in something that'll shoot well out of the box. Better learning when you know it's your fault instead of not being certain whether it's you or the gun...
 
Canuck44 said:
Might help if you tell us what you are going to use the gun for.

Take Care

Bob
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I'd sure like to shoot few competitions eventually, so to start with bullseye and so on

I was thinking more in the 9mm caliber as it is cheaper than most and easier to shoot than some

ps. starting to reload as well will pick up pistol dies too :ninja:
 
New pistols are like new cars. Great to have a new one but for your first adventure - shop carefully, get a good pre-owned shooter and take some lessons. The EE is excellent for finding pre-owned firearms... but be careful. Find one that appeals to you, do the research on the internet and ask a few questions of the guys on CGN. You'll come up with a sensible direction after all this.

Brands and type's...

- .22 cal Ruger's are a great way to go - learn the skills, go for something bigger after you master the basics

Easy guns to shoot...

- S&W in double single - 9mm - 3900 series, 5900 series and so on

- Ruger P89 - rugged, durable, accurate as hell - 9mm (a bit chunky and not for the 'small' handed shooter)

- CZ's are very nice too - have 2, love them both - very inexpensive, shoot well, lasting value

- Norinco - have owned several, would likely not own another. No lasting value, dicey slide to frame fit, not great accuracy, breakable (as every gun is - but these more so than others)

- you may want to consider avoiding striker fired 9mm's for now. They are great firearms and certainly have their place, but a single double or double action only (especially a revolver) will help you understand trigger control a little better. Once you have stance, grip, sight alignment and trigger control - ya' got it all (almost).

And last but not least - find a good range, hire a pro (don't take lessons from your friends) and learn the basics. Even plinkers like to hit the center of the target once in a while.

And don't forget to have fun.
 
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Handguns are like potato chips. Hard to stop after just one. Don't buy a handgun. No, buy two. Get a 9mm and a .22 target pistol.

Don't discount the .22 suggestion. If you want to become a good (excellent is possible if you work had at it) a .22 will get you there quicker and cheaper. You can pick up a box of .22s for one tenth the price of center fire ammo.

Repetition is what you want. You want to train your body and your mind to do the right things without having to concentrate on every detail. This is easier to do without a lot of recoil and noise.

If you need to have a higher power gun right now then buy one but you may want to wait a bit. If you wait (and it doesn't have to be that long) you can shoot the .22 and start to get decent. While at the range you can talk to some of the other shooters and likely be able to shoot their guns. You will get a feel for what you would like.

Handguns are funny. They have to fit you in order for you to do well with them. The size and shape of the grip, the weight and balance of the gun, the trigger, even the look of the gun will make a difference.

In either case what you want to do is actually shoot a number of guns before you buy one. A gun that feels good in the store is not always one that you feel good with on the range.

Having said all that I would suggest looking at the CZ75 line. Very good gun liked by a lot of people. Has good weight to it so it is a little easier to hold steady than some of the lighter pieces of sh*t out there. Oops :redface: now how did that come out. :evil:
 
Ultimately it is what fits best in YOUR hand. Easy to see the sights when you raise your arm.
Join a club, try as many as you can and then decide. Most members are willing to encourage a newbie and will let you try their firearm(s) if you ask...
 
With your budget you can take a look at CZ 75B, S&W M&P, Glock 17. They all about $600's. Add a little Starbuck money and you can buy a NIB. They are all good gun, reliable and a lot of people love them. M&P is stainless but with black finish on the slide make the gun look hot.

Trigun
 
Glock 17 will help you learn about guns, be easy on your head maintenance and cleaning wise, and you can get a good resale for it if it turns out not to be the gun of your dreams.
 
Lots of very valuable info, I'm just trying to digest all of it, but mostly I understand that I should first try a few handdguns at the range for the feel and comfort.

As for the grip I got fairly large hands plus a weight of a pistol doesn't scare me much ;)

I'm currently leaning towards a 9mm and possibly cheap .22 used, so I can just work on my grip, aim, stance and so on
 
G37 said:
Toss in another $100 and get a Glock - You won't regret it and the resale is decent.
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I know how it starts :D

thats how I started with my first rifle build.....with $350....ended with $1400 :D

I'm sure I'll have more than one pistol, just with time

my main goal is to have one of each: rifle, pistol semi, revolver, shotgun-pump, semi-rifle AR, shotgun-semi, flint-rifle, break-open shotgun :D:D:D:D:D
 
Ruthless said:
I know how it starts :D

thats how I started with my first rifle build.....with $350....ended with $1400 :D

I'm sure I'll have more than one pistol, just with time

my main goal is to have one of each: rifle, pistol semi, revolver, shotgun-pump, semi-rifle AR, shotgun-semi, flint-rifle, break-open shotgun :D:D:D:D:D
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Dare you forgot a lever action:D

Trigun
 
After you put down an order at a shop and you're waiting for paperwork/shipping...

Buy the case and locks BEFORE you go pick up the pistol. That way you wont run the chance of getting stuck with some plinky locks that you don't want, and a case style you don't like.

Basically get everything for storage, transport, and maintenance squared away ahead of time if you can, before the day you pick it up.

N.
 
Nizetti said:
After you put down an order at a shop and you're waiting for paperwork/shipping...

Buy the case and locks BEFORE you go pick up the pistol. That way you wont run the chance of getting stuck with some plinky locks that you don't want, and a case style you don't like.

Basically get everything for storage, transport, and maintenance squared away ahead of time if you can, before the day you pick it up.

N.
Click to expand...

The only storage he need's is an ankle holster. ;)
 
"GET RID OF THAT NICKEL-PLATED SISSY PISTOL AND GET YOURSELF A GLOCK!!!"

But seriously though... if you can find the money, get yourself a USP.
 
I'll be the devils advocate here. Don't buy a Glock. I have shot a few and still haven't seen one I like. I can only assume they have not shot anything better. You'd be much happier with a cheap Norinco 1911. You Glock owners will have to tell me why you like them so much? I personally didn't like the feel or the trigger pull. But to be fair it does take a little getting used to something different. I really don't like shooting Tupperware. I much prefer steel and single action with an external hammer.
 
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