Bruiseleee
CGN Regular
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Get the one you like not because it's cheap. Shoot it, enjoy it, then get a 22.
Which pistol for a beginner?
- Thread starter SoBored
- Start date
That is by far the most varied and highly different list of first guns I've ever seen.... 
I'm sort of gathering that you'll be getting more than one over the next year or two. So the question is which do you want NOW to get you going.
The Ruger is a great shooter but if you're already doing pellet pistols then it won't be a big upgrade for training. But since you're already going to reload right away the cost of the .45 won't bother you either. Still, there's a lot to be said for a 9mm or a revolver that will shoot .38Spl and .357Mag.
But if you go for a revolver I'd suggest bypassing the SAA cowboy guns for the moment and go with a S&W or Ruger DA/SA in some form. The grip shape on these guns produces a more definite hold that leaves less option for user mistakes. I own a few of both S&W hand ejector types as well as a couple of SA cowboy types for my cowboy shooting. They are all great guns but I'm having to adapt to the SA grip shape to achieve properly centered and close groupings. Something that didn't occur when I moved from semis to the S&W DA shape.
There's a fellow shooting a Chaparral in my cowboy shooting group. He's doing fine with it and there's no issues but he's only shooting cowboy soft loads through it. I ended up going with Pietta for my own pair after buying a used one off the EE and examining it for quality. The trigger feel and overall finish both internally and externally was excellent so I bought a new one from Marstar to make up a cartridge pair to support my black powder cap and ball pair of Uberti Remingtons for the wetter days when I'd rather not deal with the extra efforts needed for shooting black powder guns reliably.
If you go for a revolver you can't do much better than to select a nice used Model 19 or 28.
Oh, one other thing. The cowboy fixed sight guns need to have their front blade filed down and re-blued to match to the ammo you're shooting. That's fine for me and other cowboy shooters that will reload to suit and stick to one weight and speed for the bullet. But if you want to run a variety of ammo the adjustable sights of the more "modern" S&W or Ruger guns will allow you to shoot a variety of ammo loads more effectively. Defintetly something to consider.
I'm sort of gathering that you'll be getting more than one over the next year or two. So the question is which do you want NOW to get you going.
The Ruger is a great shooter but if you're already doing pellet pistols then it won't be a big upgrade for training. But since you're already going to reload right away the cost of the .45 won't bother you either. Still, there's a lot to be said for a 9mm or a revolver that will shoot .38Spl and .357Mag.
But if you go for a revolver I'd suggest bypassing the SAA cowboy guns for the moment and go with a S&W or Ruger DA/SA in some form. The grip shape on these guns produces a more definite hold that leaves less option for user mistakes. I own a few of both S&W hand ejector types as well as a couple of SA cowboy types for my cowboy shooting. They are all great guns but I'm having to adapt to the SA grip shape to achieve properly centered and close groupings. Something that didn't occur when I moved from semis to the S&W DA shape.
There's a fellow shooting a Chaparral in my cowboy shooting group. He's doing fine with it and there's no issues but he's only shooting cowboy soft loads through it. I ended up going with Pietta for my own pair after buying a used one off the EE and examining it for quality. The trigger feel and overall finish both internally and externally was excellent so I bought a new one from Marstar to make up a cartridge pair to support my black powder cap and ball pair of Uberti Remingtons for the wetter days when I'd rather not deal with the extra efforts needed for shooting black powder guns reliably.
If you go for a revolver you can't do much better than to select a nice used Model 19 or 28.
Oh, one other thing. The cowboy fixed sight guns need to have their front blade filed down and re-blued to match to the ammo you're shooting. That's fine for me and other cowboy shooters that will reload to suit and stick to one weight and speed for the bullet. But if you want to run a variety of ammo the adjustable sights of the more "modern" S&W or Ruger guns will allow you to shoot a variety of ammo loads more effectively. Defintetly something to consider.
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- London, Ontario
The .45 is expensive to shoot and kicks alot....same with the .357 on both things. .22s are lots of fun and cheap to shoot alot so I'd go with that, and you can't go wrong with a Ruger
<snip>That is by far the most varied and highly different list of first guns I've ever seen....
Yeah, the only thing that is common is the price range of $300-$500.
My tastes are a little off the mainstream to say the least. I was always getting oddball looks from the old guys when I went deer hunting with my M14.
I was looking at Epp's site and they only Mark IIIs they have are the bull barrel. I wanted tapered, you know, the poor man's luger! I might buy the Norinco to satisfy my thirst for muzzle blast, (and before they go out of stock when HBO starts playing "The Pacific"), and order a Mark III target Tapered barrel to get the ball rolling.
Sounds like I should push the `73 off till next year and maybe start saving for a better model than the Chaparal. In my opinion the `73 Colt is an important pistol, and I'd like to have one even if it means bumping a DA revolver from my collection plans.
Thanks for all the tips/suggestions guys, please feel free to keep adding them.
top break
yes all version of the colt SAA are slow to reload, you have to savour each round fired.
I just bought my first pistol from a fellow CGN member, its a used(like new condition) CZ-75 Nickel. I went to quite a few local stores handling about 20 different things, and the CZ fit me perfect. So, I would say that everyone is different and it is'nt a clear cut answer.
I could of had a brand new Glock for what I paid for the gun I bought, but it did'nt fit me as comfortable, nothing against Glocks because I liked them also.
Really I think that everyone looking for a new first gun should take the advice that was given to me from experienced shooters and go "test drive" several guns, just like you would when buying a car.
I don't know about everyone else, but to me a 9mm gives you enough of a Bang, to keep you interested and the ammo is alot cheaper than .45, but I may end up getting a .22lr pistol also just so I can do some volumn shooting for cheap, but if a .22lr is all I had, I know I would get bored pretty quick.
I could of had a brand new Glock for what I paid for the gun I bought, but it did'nt fit me as comfortable, nothing against Glocks because I liked them also.
Really I think that everyone looking for a new first gun should take the advice that was given to me from experienced shooters and go "test drive" several guns, just like you would when buying a car.
I don't know about everyone else, but to me a 9mm gives you enough of a Bang, to keep you interested and the ammo is alot cheaper than .45, but I may end up getting a .22lr pistol also just so I can do some volumn shooting for cheap, but if a .22lr is all I had, I know I would get bored pretty quick.
While back I sold a Ruger 2245, very nice little shooter, I bought it because I can kill some more time at the range but it is no fun at all. On the other hand when you have a centerfire, you can really learn to shoot a real gun and best of all, reload give you more fun.
Trigun
Trigun
x2 on the 22.That was my first pistol and glad i went with a 22 to learn.See people show up to the club with their first pistol,in 45 or 44mag and all one can say is thank god that 4x8 sheet of plywood is behind their target so they can see where the shots are going.
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If you're buying a handgun to go shooting, get the 22. Teaches you proper breathing, trigger control, sight acquisition and hold. If all you want is a gun to fondle or shoot at the TV, get whatever tickles your fancy. A good 22 is never a waste of money. You'll use it to teach yourself, you'll use it to introduce other people to shooting, you'll use it to cure a flinch. - dan
