I am so sick of it...

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Ooff..As I said before, the whole "rags to riches" thing need not apply to the world of handguns. Who starts with what is of no real concern.

The main concern regarding an individual just starting out [in the world of shooting] is that he/she maintains interest long enough to become proficient. If starting out with a very expensive handgun helps in maintaining this interest, Id say its a good thing. If this is not a requirement, just as well.

Now, Im not saying that a very expensive weapon is the key to reliability or whatever. Im merely saying that if the beginner chooses such an item, who cares? More power to them. The shame comes not from what is spent on the weapon, but from how (or if) it is used.
 
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I don't know... I am a '55 model. I seem to be able to remember kids in High School that were born with a 'silver spoon in their mouth'. One of my lifes greatest lessons was you get what you pay for.

My first sidearm was a High Standard 22 revolver, bought with 'muskrat' money and carried on the trap line. Different world today.

I am very happy to see young guns with high end stuff. I think that people that whine about other folks well thought decisions probably are suffering from some form of latent penis envy...
 
"One of my life's greatest lessons was you get what you pay for."
Nope! What I've learned is that you always pay for what you get, but you don't always get what you pay for. It's about people who buy things; not because they're more expensive, but because they pay more. That's the person who's showing up to the range with their first pistol: a gold plated Desert Eagle, then tossing it around like it was a Jennings.
My dad has never really been into guns and most of what he has is due to me, so he never had anything to teach me on. I always had the idea that if he had, that those would've been my first guns.
 
I did at first consider a hi-point. A customer of mine said "Oh good lord no!" I asked why. He went to his truck and got his, took it to the office, where he jiggled the slide and it rattled! He had sent it back to get it fixed, the pistol was returned to him in the same condition with a letter stating there was nothing wrong with it. I saw the letter. I guess the pistol will work, it just doesn't instill confidence in me that it's going to be there if I needed it.
 
Sorry, I have discovered that if you pay a little amount of money for a POS you generally have gotten what you pay for. However if you pay good money for a good product that is what you have.

I think you that complain the most, do so out of disgust at the lack of respect some folks show towards good equipment. It also appears to me that someone with disposable un-earned income will neither respect or care for what ever they decide to play with this weekend. As others have stated, hang around and pick up their cast-offs at a yard sale.
 
there are way to many generalizations about people on this thread.

"anyone who's first gun was a nice one must have a silver spoon in their mouth"

bahh humbug.
 
PlayboyPenguin - I feel your angst. These pretty new guns these young kids are buying are like some snotty nosed punk coming on a car fanciers forum and saying "I just got my first car and it's a Lamborghini Murcielago - anyone want to share theirs?" and your first car was a POS with two working cylinders and no spare tire, LOL!!!!!!!!! Believe me I know exactly what you mean as I read these posts. My "first" gun was a Crossman BB gun which was all I had for YEARS. I had to save up hardcore for my first REAL gun which was and still is a very nice pistol, and I was 24 years old when I bought it. It required making some sacrifices for me to be able to save up for.
 
The world is built on generalizations and stereotypes, nola! No worries. It's just how people assemble their false realities to keep their world from crumbling. lol.. :D

youp, I've never believed in the whole "you get what you pay for" line. It applies to some situations, but not as often as some suckers would like to believe.
My point? Porsche, Kimber, and Harley Davidson.
Case closed. :eek::D:D:p

But in all seriousness, I couldn't really care less what people buy as a "first" gun. (And I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that PBP doesn't care, either... :))
 
I with you, these kids need to shoot clunkers like Taurus and Kimber before they are allowed to step up to the big boy toys.

:D

<dawn flame suit>
 
I find this thread of particular interest today, as I just took two friends out to purchase their first handguns on Saturday. Both are in their mid/late 20's, and neither were born with silver spoons in thier mouths. Not by a LONGSHOT, but they had saved up some money after taking the required saftey course, and licencing process here in Ma.

They asked my advice, and if I'd go to the local range/shop with them so they could look at various pistols.

I was more than willing to share my personal experiences and to point them toward a "quality" pistol, and NOT to make the mistakes that I had made.

I ended up with a Charter Arms Undercover , that I paid WAY too much for as my first. It was a HORRIBLE revolver that would lock itself up after about 4 cylinders full. Tried, with some help of some experienced friends that I had made AFTER the purchase of the C/A to sort it out, but never could. Traded it in, for a S&W pre-model 12 that cost LESS than the Charter, and never looked back. Only "quality" guns from there on out. I now carry a Colt Python, and Colt Cobra after owning some other fine S&W's , Berettas and Colts. DID NOT want see them make the same mistakes.

Fortunatly, the local shop/range has rentals, and will also let you try out some of the used guns if you are a serious buyer.

After a lot of discussion, and checking out multiple pistols, one chose a used Beretta 92 Centruion, and the other chose a used Sig P239. ;) Both quality used guns that should give them years of reliable service, and both were priced right in the used market.

I also helped steer a friend (my age, early 40's) and first time buyer looking for a good quality ,easy to maintain .45 toward a Certified Pre Owned Sig P220 that he got for basicly a "used" price. He couldn't be happier with it.

Now if I can only convince them to look into quality holsters. ;)

Seriously, I'd rather see people start out with something used and of decent quality , at a decent price, than get something less than reliable.

Just my .02
 
Wow I just lost all respect for Playboypenguin

So now I guess its wrong for somebody to start off with a top of the line gun?
You do know its the 21st century dont you? Just because we dont start out with a Red Rider BB gun and then your grandfathers .22 rifle does not mean we were born with silver spoons in our mouths!:mad:
 
I re-read what PBP said in his first post. I don't think he was referring to people like me who work hard for their money, do a lot of research and save up to buy something (I'm taking license here I know). I believe he was referring to people like a guy I went to college with. He had a credit card that had no limit. I saw him total a car and go buy another one, he put it on that credit card. If this guy saw something shiny in a magazine he bought it. He had never worked for anything in his life, probably still doesn't. He had no respect for not only his possessions but anyone else's. He destroyed my stereo. No problem, he just went and bought me a new one. A nicer one I might add. I think it was that guy PBP was referring to. I don't like that guy much either.
 
directed to DRice.72... - PBP and others that agree with him haven't really made much distinction between those young guys like myself who were born with a plastic spork, and those snobs born with a silver spoon.

It appears that to them, all young people with nice things must have used daddy's credit card to get those things.

I understand that the world is full of snobs, but it's just as full with hard working middle class / lower-middle class folks, many of which simply had the common sense to save up their peanuts for a quality piece of equipment.

and since people like playboypenguin obviously didn't have that common sense when they were first starting out, it seems to bother them when others actually do.
 
Wow, it really is scary how many people are completely unable to understand sarcasm when making a joke. It gets even sadder when you consider they even had it spelled out for them with the ":D :p :)" at the end of the sentence. How far up your own backside does a person's head have to be that they are really that clueless?

How hard and how many times does a person have to have been dropped on their head as a child to leave them completely devoid of a sense of humor? :D
 
Meh... Life makes you either better or bitter, it all depends on how you take it... and I'd rather curse the dark than change the light bulb:o
 
Me, too.

Playboypenguin
Wow, it really is scary how many people are completely unable to understand sarcasm when making a joke. It gets even sadder when you consider they even had it spelled out for them with the " " at the end of the sentence. How far up your own backside does a person's head have to be that they are really that clueless?

How hard and how many times does a person have to have been dropped on their head as a child to leave them completely devoid of a sense of humor?
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PBP,

Thanks for clarifying. I have read your posts in the past and thought your original post was uncharacteristically judgemental. Maybe you were just having a bad day. I'm glad you clarified.

I was only dropped on my head once, as a baby, but I have never been able to make sense out of those smileys. I though it was because I was too old. (Raised in the pre-computer age.)

My first gun was a Dan Wesson (which I still have) and first press an RCBS Jr. (traded off so I could get a RockChucker) But then, I was in my late 20's. However, even though I am past 60, I still behave like a snotty-nosed kid sometimes, much to my embarrassment (hopefully).

Lost Sheep.
 
Wow, it really is scary how many people are completely unable to understand sarcasm when making a joke. It gets even sadder when you consider they even had it spelled out for them with the " " at the end of the sentence. How far up your own backside does a person's head have to be that they are really that clueless?

How hard and how many times does a person have to have been dropped on their head as a child to leave them completely devoid of a sense of humor?
Click to expand...

*note to self* turn smilies back ON!
 
In 1984, when baby formula and diapers commanded a fair percentage of my take- home, I stashed away dollars and dimes for a solid year, just to buy the most perfect Browning High Power ever created. That gun was sold, literally 2 hours before I showed up to make my purchase, and the dealer didn't have another in stock. I frantically drove an hour to the nearest Browning dealer, and bought a Colt Gov't .45 acp instead.

That was my first handgun purchase, and I'll never forget fighting the urge to buy something more "attainable" during that long saving period, but I just wanted the first one to be a keeper.
 
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