What's a good first handgun?

For the basics:
Ruger Mark III bull barrell
SR1911 .45acp
Remington R1 enhanced .45acp (any 1911 should be a .45acp)
CZ Shadow (9mm)
Beretta 92fs (9mm)
zasvata M70A (9mm) (instead of the TT33)

and for plastic toy :
Glock 17 gen4
 
Regardless of what anyone says, the best thing to do is to pick one up, literally! It needs to fit your hand size / shape. If it does not fit you or is uncomfortable for you to shoot you will not do well with it regardless of its name, price or brand reputation. Join a club, get to know some people and ask to try out some guns. I've seen many newbies get turned off with their first choice because of fit / feel / recoil. Just my $0.02


James1873 said:
So I finally signed up for my restricted class, couple weeks away, day is booked off from work. It's happening lol. Probably way premature but I figure if start saving my pennies now for something when I get the rpal.

What's a good handgun to start off with? Looking for something that is nice enough that I wouldn't feel the need to upgrade the brand/sell it later on, but not overboard like a 2k handgun. I don't know much about handguns, the only one I have ever fired, or handled even, was a ruger p90 in 45 acp.
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CZ 75 B 9mm you can shoot it for 10 years and give it to your heirs and they can give it to their heirs.
The on to STI brand in 45 acp at a later date. See Freedom Ventures site.
 
tigrr said:
CZ 75 B 9mm you can shoot it for 10 years and give it to your heirs and they can give it to their heirs.
The on to STI brand in 45 acp at a later date. See Freedom Ventures site.
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This.

The 75B is about as good as it gets and only gets better with age. (Buying used the 85B, 85C, & SP-01 Series are all essentially the same gun - think Chevy, Pontiac, Buick, Olds etc.

The Girsan line if you are tight on a budget either the FS or Compact. Great value for what you get.

Take Care

Bob
ps 22 Ammo is darn near as expensive as 9MM these days but another vote for the Ruger Mkes. Find one and buy one. You won't be disappointed.
 
[QUOTE Bob
ps 22 Ammo is darn near as expensive as 9MM these days .....[/QUOTE]

Are you kidding? I pay $0.31-36/rd of 9mm like Blazer Brass, PMC Bronze, FOC etc buying bulk and $0.10/rd for CCI Mini Mag HV. Apparently, 9mm is three-fold more expensive or more than 22LR.
 
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Revolver in .357 mag such as 686, 627, TRR8, or GP100, semi auto in 9mm such as Glock 17, or CZ. I started with .22's, quickly tired of them ymmv, but love my revolvers more and more. As has been mentioned, try as many as you can, go to the range, admire others guns and they will often let you shoot them, as I do. IMHO, all name brand handguns are pretty good, after all, they have to compete, what counts is what fits you and what you like.
 
05RAV said:
[QUOTE Bob
ps 22 Ammo is darn near as expensive as 9MM these days .....
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Are you kidding? I pay $0.31-36/rd of 9mm like Blazer Brass, PMC Bronze, FOC etc buying bulk and $0.10/rd for CCI Mini Mag HV. Apparently, 9mm is three-fold more expensive or more than 22LR.[/QUOTE]

Hell no go to the range and unload 250 rds of 22 vs 50 rds of 9MM. Try reloading. I can reload for about $2.25 a box of 50 9MM using my own cast bullets. At 10 cents a round for mini mags your mini mags are twice what I am reloading my 9MM for. 250 rds of your mini mags would cost $25.00 vs $17. for 50 Commercial 9MM and you can;t reload your mini mags.

So no I am not kidding, 22 LR is not cheap to shoot. Not as expensive as I suggested but way more expensive then it should be.

Take Care

Bob
 
tazik said:
and for plastic toy :

Glock 17 gen4
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Dont worry about the glock haters. They are just jealous and unhappy... The "plastic" guns are still guns. And they can still be purty. :)
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^^Love mine. Its my first pistol and I had it to the range for the first time a couple weeks ago. I shot some really decent groups for a complete newb because of its awesome trigger. Very easy pistol to use, take down is simple, and the build quality is top notch. And for a newb getting into handguns the price is unbeatable. The tp9sa has tons of youtube reviews from respected people in the firearms community and the vast majority really like this pistol.
 
Lonesome Donkey said:
Well, my opinion is old school. But, I think that your first pistol should be a good quality target .22 semi-auto pistol like a Ruger Mk.2 or 3.
To really shoot well, you need to learn the fundamentals of sight alignment, target hold, and trigger squeeze.
You can do this best not distracted by recoil and by being able to shoot quite a bit of ammunition cheaply.
After that you can buy any pistol that suits your fancy and progress to any form of pistol shooting that you prefer.

Even a Glock.
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I recently got my first hand gun, and I went the .22 route, for the very reasons you mention. Figured I would learn the fundamentals first, ended up getting a GSG 1911 .22 pistol. If you plan on practicing and putting a lot of ammo down range, .22 ammo will also save you a lot of money vs. centre fire ammunition. Don't get me wrong, can't wait to get my first centre fire pistol as soon as funds allow (leaning toward 9mm, and probably CZ), just figured being able to afford more ammo would benefit me in the long run.
 
Good thread, thanks guys. I'm also looking to buy my first pistol, and am new to firearms. Before handling any I was convinced I'd be buying a Glock. I was handling them at the local Cabela's and the guy behind the counter said that the SIG p226 was also popular. Handling that gun was like magic, and then I realized how utilitarian the Glock had felt while holding it. The difference was amazing. So... then I started researching the multitude of P226 models. However, a good friend has suggested the CZ 75 SP-01 (or 02) or the Sig P320 as good alternatives. Now I'm waiting to head back to the store to hold a CZ for comparison to the p226.

It's all very new and I'm hoping to make a good purchase right out of the gate.
 
I just picked up a CZ P-09 off EE for a smokin deal. First pistol, wanted something different and I am digging it. Will be an upgrade or two coming but for now it fits me well. Happy with my first purchase.
 
Mutt58 said:
Ruger single six would be a good pistol to start with.
Safe accurate ,slow which helps with accuracy .Built tough.
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One disadvantage of using a single action revolver on the range is proving it safe. Some ROs require that the cylinder be removed as part of the process. No big deal, but it does slow things down.
 
I owned a 9mm Jericho and have recently switched to a S&W mp22 a better first time learning gun, fairly reliable , cheaper ammo closely matched to M&P 9mm in ergos
Nothing wrong with a 941 but it's more a Tatical sidearm all steel da/sa clubšŸ˜Š
 
trebor2880 said:
One disadvantage of using a single action revolver on the range is proving it safe. Some ROs require that the cylinder be removed as part of the process. No big deal, but it does slow things down.
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muist be an ONTARIO thing- or a made up rule by your r/o- lots of " these guys " have conjecture about being "safe"- some of them are just downright STUPID- single action revolver- hammer down on a EMPTY CHAMBER is SAFE- PERIOD- ALSO WITH THE GATE OPEN AND SHOWING EMPTY CHAMBER IS SAFE- although you may have to go to 1/4 to half #### to get the cylinder to rotate- your r/o should KNOW this
 
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