Beginner Handgun Owner

G

geoffthesnake

New member
I've done a fair share of research on various makes and models. The intended purpose of my first handgun is primarily a range gun, a gun I can take to the range and develop my handgun shooting ability. Its secondary purpose is for HD, however I do have a 12ga shotgun with 00 buckshot so I can always grab that too if need be.

I like what I have read about Ruger handguns, their gp100 seems to have a positive following and I've found them used right around 400$ which is well within my price range. I like the basic design of the revolver. I've also read nice things about the p95 and p345 as far as semi-auto goes, those are within my price range as well. I went to one local dealer today and held a p345 and it seemed good enough in my hands. I also held a gp100 which had a little more heft. What do you all think about these 3 handguns as far as being someones first handgun? I also saw a used Beretta 92fs for 399$, I thought that was a steal.

I know some will mention buying a .22 handgun to get started with, but I have a .22 rifle for my plinking/squirrel/rabbit purposes. Also another question I have is with a CCW. Can I purchase a handgun and store it in my house without having a CCW? Would I need a CCW if I intended on taking that gun to the shooting range that is 25 miles away from my house where I would have to drive?

Thanks!

-Rob
 
Also another question I have is with a CCW. Can I purchase a handgun and store it in my house without having a CCW? Would I need a CCW if I intended on taking that gun to the shooting range that is 25 miles away from my house where I would have to drive?
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CCW only applies to carrying it concealed on your person. There is also open carry which is carrying it unconcealed on your person. In the state of texas, you can keep your gun loaded in your house and your car(out of plain sight) without a permit

A full sized 9mm handgun is a fine choice for a beginners pistol
 
I believe that any handgun, within reason, can be a first gun. That is if the owner is willing to familiarize himself with that platform inside and out. Start shooting it with low power rounds, work on accuracy and not flinching. My first handgun was a S&W Mod. 686 and I had absolutely no problems (of course, I am a huge gun nut). Research, study, think on which ever gun you want, then get it.

As far as your last question: you don't need a CCW to own or transport an unloaded handgun. This is America, after all. There are a handful of places here that have some pretty fascist gun laws, but they are the minority. Ask at your local gun store whether there are any restrictions or regulations that apply to your circumstances.
 
Gun rules and regulations vary by state. You can do a google search of gun laws for your particular state and or city to find out.

As for a first gun, a good .357 revolver is very hard to beat, and the Ruger GP100 is one of the best available. You can shoot cheap .38 specials for target practice, and use .357's for everything from hunting to self defense. I suggest a 4" barrel, as it usually the best size for an "do everything" gun.
 
As for a first gun, a good .357 revolver is very hard to beat, and the Ruger GP100 is one of the best available. You can shoot cheap .38 specials for target practice, and use .357's for everything from hunting to self defense. I suggest a 4" barrel, as it usually the best size for an "do everything" gun.
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Ya thats what I have read/heard. The gp100 that I held had the 2" barrel on it though.

Thanks for the help everyone.
 
Ya thats what I have read/heard. The gp100 that I held had the 2" barrel on it though.
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I think you may be confusing the GP100 with the SP101. The GP100 is not offered in a 2" barrel.

SP101:

ruger-sp101q.jpg


GP100:

53l_9fdd.jpg


The GP100 is a medium framed revolver with a 6 shot cylinder and adjustable sights (except on the 3" version). The SP101 is a small framed revolver with a 5 shot cylinder and fixed sights. The SP101 comes in lengths of 2.25" and 3.06", while the GP100 comes in 3", 4", and 6" versions.

If this is your first gun, I would recommend the GP100 over the SP101, as the GP100's heavier weight will soak up more recoil, and the trigger is usually not as heavy as the one on the SP101.
 
Ah I must have mistook the revolver today for the one I really like haha. Either way, that sp101 that I held still felt like a sturdy, strong, and reliable handgun.

I'll check out those other models you posted aarondhgraham, thanks.
 
entry level handguns...

Hello
Im not sure of your budget, training level and uses but in general, I'd suggest a simple DA only .357magnum revolver like the Ruger SP101, GP100 or the S&W model 686+(7rd). A well respected gunsmith like Clark Custom Guns or Gemini Customs can remove the spur & single action notch. To remove the spur will speed ignition, be easy to carry and prevent bogus claims of ADs or accidents while holding a felon at gunpoint.
You can add a Crimsontrace lasergrip too; www.crimsontrace.com .
DA only pistols like the SIG Sauer DAK or HK lem models would do very well but they are not cheap. CPO or pre-owned SIG models are out there. I saw a brand new surplus NYPD P226 9mm on www.gilbertsguns.com . It would do well for CC, home or vehicle protection.
 
If you are thinking about revolvers for Range/HD use, then I'm really going to have to point you to one site in particular...

www.jgsales.com

They have some fantastic sale prices on some old police trade-ins. I'm not sure how familiar you are with handguns, but they tend to be very Unlike cars as they age. They can literally function well for a hundred years or more; ESPECIALLY these old dog revolvers. They have some deals on some 4" Smith and Wesson model 64's in .38spl for around $250 bucks door to door. They may show some exterior wear, but inside, they are usually functionally perfect and will do you very well for your intended purposes.

Hope this helps you,
~LT
 
We can't help you much with the actually requirements and law part..

unless you tell us which state you are in.

Most places, you can have what ever you want in your home.... some places have specific requirements of how the handgun will be stored while going to and from the range...

again, it depends on where you live.... and every state has different often screwy rules.... here's an example:

In my state of S.C. there is no open carry.... to conceal carry you have to have a permit which is going to cost you around $150 with the class and licensing and a day of your time and then 3 months wait... but, if you are going to or coming from your gun / shooting club or a shooting event you can open or conceal carry legally with out any gov. paperwork. 95% of the citizens of this state, even the ones with a permit don't even know this.

As for your choices... I'd not put the SP101 on my 'first' list. I think either the GP100 or the P95 is a good choice... but you have to decide on semi- or revolver... the GP is going to have a lot less potential for problems at first... I would suggest if you go that route to practice and learn with standard 38 police specials and not 357 mag rounds... and especially not the over lauded 125gr stuff... 357 is designed for 'heavy weight' bullets like 158gr and the 125 stuff is just not fun to shoot... you can shoot that pistol with 38's all day long and not get tired.
 
The "best" gun is the one YOU like, not anyone else. It will be a compromise of:

1. Fit - It should fit in your hand like you were born with it there.
2. Reliability - It should go BANG about 99.8% of the time you pull the trigger.
3. Accuracy - In YOUR hand. It's how well YOU shoot it.
4. Concealability - It should be comfortable enough to wear and easy enough to conceal so you won't leave it laying on the dresser at home.
5. Cost - You don't want to scrimp on your "life protector" weapon, but you probably don't need a $1,000 Kimber, either.
 
Would I need a CCW if I intended on taking that gun to the shooting range that is 25 miles away from my house where I would have to drive?
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Most if not all states have an exception to needing a CCW permit on gun carry to go to the range, repair shop, hunting, bring the gun home from the store etc. The details of what is legal on how you take it to and from the car and where you can carry in the car varies a lot from state to state.
 
Thanks again for the additional replies everyone. I'm familar with h n g sales, but not with their handguns so thanks for that link.
 
My advice, having bought and sold more handguns than I would like to admit...

Rent as many as you can first. The gun that feels 'ok' in the hand at the counter may shoot like crap for you. The trigger system may not suit your needs.

Understand the SP101 has a very stiff DA pull. Even after I changed the hammer spring in mine to a lower power, it still was difficult to use. 357's were a real crowdpleaser but unpleasant to shoot more than a few. It'll shoot 38 Specials as well, but the 9mm is on par with the 38's and you get a lot more with the semiauto.

So again, go borrow or rent a few and see what you like. Try a CZ.:cool:
 
I bought my very first firearm 2 mos ago which was a stainless 4" GP100. Fired mostly factory .38 spl ammo for the first 2 weeks until I started getting into reloading and I've fired off hundreds of rounds of 38 spl and mildly loaded .357 since then. It's an absolutely great gun. I then bought a 2" SP101 and it's every bit as solidly built as its big bro, but the trigger really is much stiffer though. The GP100 and SP101 were mostly my range guns up until a couple weeks ago when I picked up a Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan 2.5" 44 mag. It had a very smooth trigger and was an absolute joy to blast 44 specials down the range, it made bigger holes, had a bigger boom but had less recoil than the 357 which was hard to believe.
 
Thanks for your thoughts zombie44.

Not to beat a dead horse, but I've continued to do some research and looked up information on the site about the RIA 1911. I read through the majority of the threads discussing it and after it was all said I done I remembered seeing one at my local shop.

So I went down and really loved the feel of it, however the asking price was 469.00 for a new one. The model name I took down for it was "Rock Island Armory Gov 1911A1". I did a search when I got home but couldn't find anything online. After seeing that asking price and seeing the prices on centerfiresystems.com I was a little confused as there was about 100$ price difference. However, I figure after shipping and FFL transfer fees both guns would be about the same price in the end. I know my local gun dealer pretty well I think he would cut me a deal if I talked to him.

The nice thing about all these guns I'm looking at is the people who have owned and used them all have great things to say. So I think I'm on the right track as to getting my first handgun. I will say I liked the feel of the RIA 1911 in my hand more then the Revolvers I've held. Just something about the revolvers being bigger makes my hands feel unsteady or something.

Thanks again for everyones help, and if anyone has anything to say about the Rock Island Armory 1911 please feel free to drop in!
 
The Rock Island Armory 1911's are made by Armscor in Manila, Philippines, from the reputation I've heard not bad guns. Metro Arms is located there as well, they make the "American Classic II" model of the 1911, also used to make one for Bersa under the "Firestorm" nameplate. I own an early model AC-II imported to the US, it's a 3 digit serial number, and has better than 3,000 rounds down the tube with no problems. Good shooter, more accurate than I am, and a good solid gun.

You'll get some 1911 lovers that swear if it ain't a Kimber or other big name 1911 that it's junk. I generally don't have near a grand to drop on a gun on a whim. I'm sure they're fine guns, but if I have the extra cash to buy more expensive guns, I'll expand my Carbine collection with a maker I don't own. The lower cost 1911's are a good start for that style gun, and you can rebuild them with premium parts as well as it becomes possible within your budget for guns.
 
RIA 1911's have a very good reputation in the 1911 world. While they may not be much to look at, most people comment that they are very well built, reliable, and accurate. And with a price around the $400 mark, that's hard to beat. If I didn't already have a Springfield G.I., I would buy one.

I would not pay $469 for one though. Centerfire Systems has G.I. models for $380, and Tactical models for $420.
 
A good 1911 will never do you wrong.... but......

you need to shoot one or more first to realize what you are getting into.... There is a big and I mean BIG difference between shooting a 22 cal rifle and a 45acp handgun!

I venture to say even if you 'like' the way it shoots it is going to take numerous range sessions and hundreds of rounds to become comfortable with it. Not saying don't go with the 1911, just that you need to be prepared for a little more learning curve and expense.
 
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