First Handgun!?!?

T

TrueSh00ter

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Hello!

I'm 22 and looking to make my first handgun purchase. It will primarily be used for basic target practice and self protection. Open to any brand/model but looking for best bang for buck also.

Hoping to hear some good suggestions!
 
if..

If this is you first ever purchase, I will probably start with a .22!

It's very easy to use and cheap to shoot! You will be able to acquire the basic of marksmanship while having a lot of fun.

Walther P22 is a good choice, Ruger MK III are great, and there is also Sig Mosquito!

Welcome!
 
target practice + self-defense + best bang for the buck...

.22 = best bang for the buck (500 rounds for $13), generally not well-respected for self-defense
9mm/.38 Special = good self-defense (I carry a 9mm Taurus 905 revolver and a .38SPL S&W Model 10 revolver for SD), more expensive to feed

"target practice" could be done with either...

I'd get a .22 and a 9mm or .38 Special in the same format--either both semi-autos or both revolvers. If I could only choose one, then I'd get a 9mm pistol: 9mm is currently the cheapest centerfire round available ($9 for 50 rounds of practice ammo), and in most pistols there isn't excessive recoil, so learning how to shoot it won't be too difficult.
 
My first gun was a Glock 19 (9mm). I recommend that. A 9mm is good for self defense, and it is not too expensive to shoot at the range. It is also not hard to learn to shoot and is low in recoil. A .22 is the easiest thing to shoot and is extremely cheap in the ammo department, but if you can only get one gun right now and in the next couple of years, I would get a 9mm for self defense purposes.

Take a look also at the Springfield XD and S&W MP as they are similiar to the Glock and even a little less expensive. I have never shot them, but many people like them. Try them to see which one fits your hands best. That being said, I fully recommend the Glock 19 as a first gun as it is a great all around gun. It is great for shooting at the range, great for home defense, and if you decide to start carrying later, it is very easy to carry. Have fun shopping!
 
I don't think there's a clear consensus.

My own first handgun choice was a Ruger GP100. As a revolver, it's pretty fail-safe in an emergency. It's chambered for the potent .357 Magnum round, but also fires .38 special ammo for economy at the range.

Good luck with whatever you choose.
 
For a frist hand gun a 22 revolver would be a great starter a smith & wesson ot a tarus in 22 Long rifle. next a 22 auto like a quality Browning " Buckmark" various grades and models from a plane basic plinker to real fancy ones a very good semi-auto 22 firing the 22 LR cartridge.. a nice 9mm semi auto pistol like a S&W M&P or a used Sig Sauer "CPO" previos owned but reconditioned by the factory with a warrety "A good buy for around $500,00 or a nice 38 special revolver. you need to go some where they rent guns and shoot them on their range sww what you like or ask friend what they shoot and try theirs. Good Luck
 
I also like the rent and try it out idea.

For self defense a .22 is not a real good choice.

If you think this will be your one and only gun, then a 9mm semiauto is a good choice. Glocks are excellent guns, will give you years of good service, and are dead reliable. Hard to go wrong. Springfield XD is another pistol in the same catagory. Both are carried by lots of cops, which should tell you something.

That said, I carry a kahr mk9 (9mm), which is much like a glock being a double action, no frills, semiauto. its much smaller but only holds 7 rounds. it is all steel, which i prefer to the plastic framed glocks and XD's. you can get kahr's in plastic too, the PM9 being the brother of the MK9.

I have bought several guns to carry, such as a Colt Defender (.45), a Colt Mustang (.380), and a Bersa CC (.380). I also have a Ruger SP101 (.38/357)with a laser sight. I end up carrying the Kahr because its very accurate, points great, and has never failed. The ruger is in the car. I hate to carry my colts cause i like them too much! The bersa is fine, but .380 is pretty weak, so i let my mom have it. she is getting on, and cant rack the slide of larger guns.

good luck, and be safe. follow the 4 rules and you will never shoot someone accidently, including yourself. take them serious as death.

you may be like many of us, who just keep buying one more gun....
 
22lr is a lousy SD caliber. Couple that with the fact that I have trouble staying awake when I practice with one and it's off my list.


If you are buying one gun for practice and self defense it is difficult to justify much of anything besides 9mm. It is the least expensive, lowest recoiling, SD adequate caliber with probably literally hundreds of offerings from dozens of gun makers.


If you have SOME experience with handguns and don't mind the price differences from one caliber to the next then you can get just about anything and learn to shoot it well. My first gun was a Glock 33 in 357sig but I've done plenty of shooting and the price difference of about .10/round doesn't bother me.
 
I'd get a .22 and a centerfire.
Probably less expensive to get both in semi-auto.

Plenty of quality used guns out there.
 
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 $2,000 Kimber, either.
 
Either the S&W Sigma SW9VE 9mm semi, with the heavier safety trigger for around $300, or a Ruger P95 9mm semi for just a little more. The ruger is a little easier to shoot because it goes into SA after the first shoot.

If you want a revolver, a S&W 637, 638, or 642 Airweight .38spl +P would be a good light carry piece.

Do a search on these guns and you'll see they are proven good values, and reliable.
 
what to buy

I agree with some if your not exp. I would practice with a 22 but it is too light for self defence althrough I would not like getting shot with anything.I would look for a 357 mag revolver this way you can start out with a light load 38 spl. and as you get more exp.you will be able to go to a 357 mag start w/a light load and increase as you get in your comfort level.
 
There are thousands of choices out there. You should look at gun shops, or retailers, get one of those big fat books like Guns Annual or whatever it is called, and take some time to figure out your own short list. Then ask opinions when you pare it down a bit. And don't take alot of money to the gun store the first time and make an impulse buy. Unless it is something like a high demand used gun at a steal price, there will still be guns there next time you go back. This is like asking what ammo is the best, just too much variety to answer well in one thread. Do some homework.
 
M&P 9 or M&P 9C... There is a reason that the M&P line has been issued to over 370 LE departments and government agencies since it was introduced in 1996. Hold and fire one and you will be hooked.
 
Here is something I have been thinking more about. Everyone says get a XX caliber. I have recently been thinking of getting rid of my Ruger 22/45 and going to a conversion barrel set up for one of the other guns. You might look for a handgun that has the availability of a 22 conversion set up. Sigs come to mind, do not know if they make a set up like that for Glocks or S&W but you might look into it. Gets you the added advantage of becoming familiar with only one gun as well.
 
No brainer, IMO. Get a reliable .22 like a Ruger or Browning. Cheap to shoot, so you can practice a lot. It's an ideal foundation for 9mm, etc., IMO.
 
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