If I had never owned a firearm, but seriously thought I might want to buy a handgun for self-protection and for the necessary practice, practice, practice (which could be a great hobby), where should I buy my first handgun and is it a good idea and time given this political environment. Also, appreciate any recommendations as to which model would be a good choice.
first handgun; timing
- Thread starter riskwary
- Start date
Where? Local gun shop, try to support the local stores unless they are a rip off, then get it from where you can get a good deal.
Political Environment? Who cares! You wouldn't let others dictate your life in other matters, why do it when it comes to firearms.
Which model? hmmm, thats a big decision...for self protection and a beginner, I'd recommend a 9mm. Now which 9mm, I'll list a couple known companies and their positives.
Ruger - Inexpensive, rugged, reliable...not the most refined weapon but very good.
Glock - Midrange in cost, extremely durable these babies are tough as nails, very reliable, light plastic wonder.
Sig Sauer - High midrange to expensive, very refined, reliable, accurate.
Size of pistols will depend on your own hand and preference. I'd stay away from subcompacts since this would be mainly a house and range gun, unless you have small hands.
Hope this helps,
~bamf
Political Environment? Who cares! You wouldn't let others dictate your life in other matters, why do it when it comes to firearms.
Which model? hmmm, thats a big decision...for self protection and a beginner, I'd recommend a 9mm. Now which 9mm, I'll list a couple known companies and their positives.
Ruger - Inexpensive, rugged, reliable...not the most refined weapon but very good.
Glock - Midrange in cost, extremely durable these babies are tough as nails, very reliable, light plastic wonder.
Sig Sauer - High midrange to expensive, very refined, reliable, accurate.
Size of pistols will depend on your own hand and preference. I'd stay away from subcompacts since this would be mainly a house and range gun, unless you have small hands.
Hope this helps,
~bamf
Chipperman
New member
Welcome to TFL, riskwary!
It would help if you gave a little more background. Have you fired hanguns before? If so, were they revolvers, autos or both? Have you tried diferent calibers?
Go to a good range and rent a bunch of guns before buying ANYTHING. You need to develop some preferences before throwing money away on something you'll end up hating. Guns are like cars, they come in all shapes and sizes. You need to find what is best for YOU.
It would help if you gave a little more background. Have you fired hanguns before? If so, were they revolvers, autos or both? Have you tried diferent calibers?
Go to a good range and rent a bunch of guns before buying ANYTHING. You need to develop some preferences before throwing money away on something you'll end up hating. Guns are like cars, they come in all shapes and sizes. You need to find what is best for YOU.
Robert Foote
New member
STRONGLY suggest that you find and take the NRA Personal Protection course if you can find one in your area (Check w/NRA for info).
I help teach one of these courses, have instructed for years plus being a retired LEO instructor. No offense intended, but most people in your position know about as much about guns as I do about computers. When I bought my daughter in college a laptop I just sent her to see a computer-literate friend of mine and wrote the check when they announced their decision.
Bear in mind that people giving you advice on this have nothing to lose (and in a gunshop, something to gain). That said--you cannot go wrong with a .38/.357 double action revolver that fits your hand, Smith or Ruger. Easy to learn with, simple, reliable, and all you really need for the rest of your life.
You're not embracing a religion--it's just a tool. For what it's worth...
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I help teach one of these courses, have instructed for years plus being a retired LEO instructor. No offense intended, but most people in your position know about as much about guns as I do about computers. When I bought my daughter in college a laptop I just sent her to see a computer-literate friend of mine and wrote the check when they announced their decision.
Bear in mind that people giving you advice on this have nothing to lose (and in a gunshop, something to gain). That said--you cannot go wrong with a .38/.357 double action revolver that fits your hand, Smith or Ruger. Easy to learn with, simple, reliable, and all you really need for the rest of your life.
You're not embracing a religion--it's just a tool. For what it's worth...
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internetfish
New member
Riskwary,
Welcome!
I'll give you my two cents...Buy a revolver...I know, I know, they are ancient technology.....BUT THEY WORK!
Revolvers are far simpler than autos, the have fewer moving parts, they are easy to clean and learn to use properly, and they almost NEVER fail to fire when taken care of. They can be harder to carry concealed, but this goes only for the big, big revolvers. Look at the S&W Airweights in .38/.357, like the 442 Model. Easy to use, easy to become proficient with, with practice of course.
Go to your local gun store and ask around. Find a good deal on either a new or used gun. Go to a Certified NRA Instructor and get some decent training. Learn properly the first time so you will develop no bad habits. A gun is a tool, simple as that...nothing more. It's a tool that can put meat on the table or protect you and your loved ones. Above all, know what you are buying. If you are unsure, go with a friend who is familiar with guns, especially the type you are considering. Buy wisely and you will have a silent partner that will take care of you when you most need it. Have fun. Shooting is a wonderful sport, it's both relaxing and stimulating at the same time. Good luck...let us know what you buy and why.
Welcome!
I'll give you my two cents...Buy a revolver...I know, I know, they are ancient technology.....BUT THEY WORK!
Revolvers are far simpler than autos, the have fewer moving parts, they are easy to clean and learn to use properly, and they almost NEVER fail to fire when taken care of. They can be harder to carry concealed, but this goes only for the big, big revolvers. Look at the S&W Airweights in .38/.357, like the 442 Model. Easy to use, easy to become proficient with, with practice of course.
Go to your local gun store and ask around. Find a good deal on either a new or used gun. Go to a Certified NRA Instructor and get some decent training. Learn properly the first time so you will develop no bad habits. A gun is a tool, simple as that...nothing more. It's a tool that can put meat on the table or protect you and your loved ones. Above all, know what you are buying. If you are unsure, go with a friend who is familiar with guns, especially the type you are considering. Buy wisely and you will have a silent partner that will take care of you when you most need it. Have fun. Shooting is a wonderful sport, it's both relaxing and stimulating at the same time. Good luck...let us know what you buy and why.
Apple a Day
New member
Riskwary,
Welcome!
IMHO the best way to begin is to
a)do some research here at TFL. LEARN THE RULES OF SAFETY BEFORE YOU BEGIN HANDLING FIREARMS
b)if you have friends who own handguns then go with them to the range and try what they have. That may give you an idea of what seems to fit your style & physiology. You can also rent pistols at the range and try them out. Again, find something with which you are comfortable.
c) when you finally settle in and buy something then do more research and find out as much about that particular gun as you can. Half the fun- at least for me- is learning the function and history of the gun. If you know how it works and how to clean it then you are much more likely to keep it clean and functioning properly = safely. Manufacturer web sites are good sources of info as well as TFL and some of the links.
Politics are like the blowing wind. It switches direction frequently and with little apparent reason. What won't change is that one of the bricks in the foundation of this nation is the right of the people to defend themselves. It is your right.
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Those who use arms well cultivate the Way and keep the rules.Thus they can govern in such a way as to prevail over the corrupt- Sun Tzu, The Art of War
Welcome!
IMHO the best way to begin is to
a)do some research here at TFL. LEARN THE RULES OF SAFETY BEFORE YOU BEGIN HANDLING FIREARMS
b)if you have friends who own handguns then go with them to the range and try what they have. That may give you an idea of what seems to fit your style & physiology. You can also rent pistols at the range and try them out. Again, find something with which you are comfortable.
c) when you finally settle in and buy something then do more research and find out as much about that particular gun as you can. Half the fun- at least for me- is learning the function and history of the gun. If you know how it works and how to clean it then you are much more likely to keep it clean and functioning properly = safely. Manufacturer web sites are good sources of info as well as TFL and some of the links.
Politics are like the blowing wind. It switches direction frequently and with little apparent reason. What won't change is that one of the bricks in the foundation of this nation is the right of the people to defend themselves. It is your right.
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Those who use arms well cultivate the Way and keep the rules.Thus they can govern in such a way as to prevail over the corrupt- Sun Tzu, The Art of War
Revolvers are great if you want a state of the art firearm in the 19th century. If you want a good handgun for today buy a good quality semi auto in 9mm or better. The glock is simple and nearly as easly to operate as a revolver. Revolvers are harder to shoot well are harder to conceal and are slower to reload and they need to be reloaded much more often.
PAT
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I intend to go into harms way.
PAT
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I intend to go into harms way.
MountainGun44
New member
Welcome!
If you really want to do it right:
Start out with a nice .22 pistol like a Ruger Mark II or a Browning. Learn to shoot without worrying about recoil and muzzle blast. You will never regret owning this pistol. Next, move to a .38/.357 revolver or a 9mm semi-auto like a Glock. Wear double hearing protection at the range. You don't want the blast of some guys .44 distracting you.
Get lots of training. It is fun and will make you safe and proficient. Don't be afraid to ask for advice at the local range. Just say, "Excuse me. I am new to handguns. Could I ask you a question?" You probably won't be able to keep the guys away from you.
Try different guns before you buy. Read TFL.
Have fun and be safe!
If you really want to do it right:
Start out with a nice .22 pistol like a Ruger Mark II or a Browning. Learn to shoot without worrying about recoil and muzzle blast. You will never regret owning this pistol. Next, move to a .38/.357 revolver or a 9mm semi-auto like a Glock. Wear double hearing protection at the range. You don't want the blast of some guys .44 distracting you.
Get lots of training. It is fun and will make you safe and proficient. Don't be afraid to ask for advice at the local range. Just say, "Excuse me. I am new to handguns. Could I ask you a question?" You probably won't be able to keep the guys away from you.
Try different guns before you buy. Read TFL.
Have fun and be safe!
Gopher .45
New member
Everything so far sounds pretty good. Take things slow and easy. There should be no rush to get a gun in your hand for protection. Do take the NRA class and other classes. Hopefully your basic safety class will be like mine where we were allowed to shoot a variety of handguns to find out what different calibers felt like, different actions, sizes, and weights. Look for smaller classes where instruction is as close to one on one as possible. If you can afford it, ask for a one on one class. Some ranges will do this and you will hopefully get the specific attention you need.
Shooting isn't the cheapest of hobbies and getting proper instruction can make it that much more expensive. However, if you are thinking about self protection, then whatever a good class costs you is trivial compared to what it will cost you if you don't have the classes and don't practice and TSHTF.
Just a quick point, a lot of people buy a gun, shoot a couple of boxes of ammo through it, feel comfortable, and never practice again. Those people are dangerous. Be one of the safe people.
In looking at what Robert Foote said, I could not agree more. People who don't know how to use a computer can screw things up in ways you can't even start to imagine unless you have to trouble shoot for those people. When it comes to guns, screwing things up can mean bad things happen like shooting your TV or mirror (this seems to happen rather frequently if you regularly follow TFL and other boards) or the unintended loss of life.
Learn the law as well. If your state has conceal carry permits, take the class. Even if you don't plan on carrying all the time, the class will make you aware of the laws concerning what is proper and what is not.
Shooting isn't the cheapest of hobbies and getting proper instruction can make it that much more expensive. However, if you are thinking about self protection, then whatever a good class costs you is trivial compared to what it will cost you if you don't have the classes and don't practice and TSHTF.
Just a quick point, a lot of people buy a gun, shoot a couple of boxes of ammo through it, feel comfortable, and never practice again. Those people are dangerous. Be one of the safe people.
In looking at what Robert Foote said, I could not agree more. People who don't know how to use a computer can screw things up in ways you can't even start to imagine unless you have to trouble shoot for those people. When it comes to guns, screwing things up can mean bad things happen like shooting your TV or mirror (this seems to happen rather frequently if you regularly follow TFL and other boards) or the unintended loss of life.
Learn the law as well. If your state has conceal carry permits, take the class. Even if you don't plan on carrying all the time, the class will make you aware of the laws concerning what is proper and what is not.
You don't have a location listed so I have no idea where you are at.If you are in Northern AZ area email me and I will be happy to let you shoot some of my firearms and get you started.If you aren't in this area put where you are at and I am sure someone in your are that posts here would be happy to give you a hand.It is very hard for a new shooter to get started.It is allso hard to seperate the wheat from the chaf.If you can't find a individual to help find a basic class to take.This will get you started and the instructors should be a great help,plus other people in the class.
Good luck to you and please be safe.
PS If you live in a Concealed carry state the CCW course might be a good idea.
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Bob--- Age and deceit will overcome youth and speed.
I'm old and deceitful.
Good luck to you and please be safe.
PS If you live in a Concealed carry state the CCW course might be a good idea.
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Bob--- Age and deceit will overcome youth and speed.
I'm old and deceitful.
Thanks so much to all for the great advice. I've been out of town a few days. Live in MO which voted down concealed carry a few years ago. Greatly appreciate the offer from AZ. Fired a few rifles quite a few years ago in mandatory ROTC and in boot camp. Seemed to have a knack for it. Never fired a handgun. Just doing some due diligence, as suggested. Wary about registering anything with the Gov't. unless I have to do so. Thanks again!