Beginner Handgun Owner

If you only want 1 handgun, and it's principally for range use, second for home defense, get a nice mid-frame .357 Magnum with 4-6 inch barrel. Only two models that I'd consider - Ruger GP100 and S&W 686. Smith is a little more refined, and the Ruger is a little tougher, both are great guns.
 
First gun

First guns - a good S&W or Ruger 357 mag. double action revolver, a good 22 revolver. Autos are great, but I like to see folks start with a double action revolver. You will never outgrow a good 357 revolver. Just this mans opinion.
 
Thanks for all the replies again. I'm trying to weigh the pros and cons of the 1911 and a 357 revolver. The one thing in my research that remains pretty constant is that a solid, well built revolver, will just about last me my entire life.

I did see a used ruger security six locally, I think the price was around 470$ or so, I think it was a 6" model also. That price is a little steep, but I could be mistaken. I'll continue to shop around and save my $$
 
Geoff, either of the Ruger models you've mentioned (the GP101 or the SP101) are fine guns, extremely solidly built, and fairly forgiving of beginner mistakes. The GP101 would be more fun to shoot, especially full-power .357 ammuntion, but the SP101 is quite manageable. You can also save some money and your hands by starting with .38 special ammunition in any .357 revolver -- the lesser recoil and flash will probably help you avoid developing bad habits.

I carry a close cousin to the SP101, the Smith & Wesson Model 60. I got it last spring, back during the early Obama Administration gun rush when you couldn't find an SP101 or most any Ruger anywhere. There are reasons that they were so rare, most of them being summed up with, "Good, tough, inexpensive." I don't regret getting the slightly more refined S&W; it's a wonderful gun. But I also don't think that you can go wrong with the Ruger.
 
If you are inexperienced in both revolvers and semi-auto handguns I would suggest getting a .22 caliber in either or both platforms ( several brands and models of both can be gotten in the $ 200.00 range ) to be trainer guns and later on as plinkers. Learn the basics and practice with both until you are ready to move up. Then decide on a larger caliber revolver or semi-auto. I'll bet by then you will be hooked and get several of both.
Starting off with a large caliber handgun has caused many folks to develop bad shooting habits that are hard to correct later.
 
If you are inexperienced in both revolvers and semi-auto handguns I would suggest getting a .22 caliber in either or both platforms
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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.
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:eek: You were right!

Jeoff, any of the guns that you've mentioned interest in will make a great first handgun. Give it a couple months and you'll want something else. This is just how it works. As to getting a .22, they're hard to beat for cheap plinking. I've got a .22 rifle for plinking, but I sure do wish I had a couple of .22 handguns for the same! If there is a range with rental guns in your area, go and shoot! If not, find out how far you'd have to travel to visit such a range. Then, you can have some real experience to decide which gun you like the best.

Big bores get expensive to shoot. Mid-bore handguns are usually a good economical choice for a plinker that can double for defensive purposes. If you get a .357 Mag, you can plink with cheapo .38 Spl and then load up with the fancy $1.00/round defensive recipe Magnums for when the zombies attack. Or if you get a 9mm, you can get really cheap imported ammo for practice and load up with the defensive +p's for the zombies. Unfortunately, I haven't found any cheap ammo for my .45 ACP or .44 Mag recently... :mad:
 
Thanks for the replies again. I still have yet to make up my mind on what it is I want. The reliability I keep hearing from Ruger and S&W revolvers keeps ringing in my ears, but I'm not sure if I like the feel of a revolver in my hands.

There will be an auction here in my town in August where they will be auctioning firearms, I'll go to that and see if I can't find something, maybe I'll get a really good deal and have enough $$ left over to get another gun.
 
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