new gunner....need advice on a beginner handgun

W

Wacko

New member
hey everyone, this is my first thread. i just turned 21 and im a criminal justice student. career goals are to be in law enforcement. therefore i want to be proficient in firearms i also find them very interesting. i have little to no experience. after getting my LTC and what not i plann on buying a semi-auto handgun. mostly for target practice but i will occasionally use it carry and conceal just to get a feeling for what its like to carry a gun. i was looking at the new Walther p22 for a starter gun. i know it is a hit or miss gun but is that true anymore since they redesigned it. I am not looking to getting a revolver of any type (not used in Law Enforcement anymore!:( )or a .22 lr target pistol because they do not feel or look like a "real" hand gun. seeing i have no experience for the most part what are your suggestions is the Walther p22 a decent gun to start with
 
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I guess i will start off by asking why you want a .22 for a carry pistol. If you want to go with a 9mm, look at the PX4. I hear alot of good about them. Maybe you should start off with a .38 super like the taurus pt38.
 
A .22 lr IS a real hand gun, get that fixed in your head first. You can get a few different ones that are similar to other caliber semi-autos. Sig actually has a .22 LR that you can order a slide and barrel for and convert to a 9mm.

If you want to join law enforcement, I'd find out what they use where you plan to apply. The most common is probably going to be a glock something or other, probably .40 . You may or may not want to get something similar to what you'd be using on the job. You can always sell it later and buy something else once you get your police issued weapon.

Otherwise get something that fits your hand.

Oh, and take a NRA class or something to learn how to shoot etc.
 
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Wacko:

Up through the first half of the 20th century it was expected that law enforcement officers were to be excellent marksmen... and many of them went on to be world class instructors or firearms researchers after their law careers.

Now, though? Not so much.

Frankly, unless you really have an attraction to firearms as objects of precision and quality... hold off until you hit the academy. Learn the platform they issue to you.

If, however, you are enamored with the firearm as a representation of man's mechanical cunning... get yourself a good .22. Shoot it alot. And I mean a LOT. Get so good with it, it becomes an extension of your hand or arm. When you surpass the skill of 95% of the people at your local range, then move up in caliber. And become shooting-buddies with that other 5%.
 
Once you know what your standard carry pistol is going to be, then either find the .22lr conversion unit that fits your duty pistol, or purchase the .22lr version of your service pistol.
 
hey everyone, this is my first thread. i just turned 21 and im a criminal justice student. career goals are to be in law enforcement. therefore i want to be proficient in firearms. i have little to no experience. after getting my LTC and what not i plann on buying a semi-auto handgun. mostly for target practice but i will occasionally use it carry and conceal just to get a feeling for what its like to carry a gun. i was looking at the new Walther p22 for a starter gun. i know it is a hit or miss gun but is that true anymore since they redesigned it. I am not looking to getting a revolver of any type (not used in Law Enforcement anymore! )or a .22 lr target pistol because they do not feel or look like a "real" hand gun. seeing i have no experience for the most part what are your suggestions
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Welcome to TFL!

I think getting a .22 pistol is a great place to start. Once you get your safe gun handling skills down and learn the basics of accurate handgun shooting, you could get a good reliable 9mm handgun to use as a back-up or off-duty gun.

There's nothing wrong with a good revolver. Although not in first line service anymore, many officers do use small framed .38 Spl revolvers as backups and for off-duty use.

Best of luck on what you decide.
 
Join a local range that has leagues and learn to shoot there. It is the rare exception where the veteran members are not friendly and helpful. Many handgun leagues use 22lr so it's great place to start. It will help you learn marksmanship and trigger control. Most places have center fire leagues also so you can move up to something a bit more carry worthy in a short time.
 
disadvantages and advantages

From an instructor's point of view:

Some instructors like to have an in experienced person rather than someone with lots of bad habits. With that said, it's nice to have someone that is familiar with the basics of marksmanship.

For cost and training purposes I would recommend you get a .22LR

You'll be able to practice with literally thousands of rounds of .22LR than any other caliber assuming your not a trust fund baby. Ammo is quite expensive to just practice for a newbie. Look at it this way. A good practice session will involve at least 200-300 rounds of trigger time. If you are shooting even 9mm you're going to be spending about $60-$80 not to mention range fees and targets. While if you were shooting a .22LR you could literally shoot 1000 rounds for $30.

Good marksmanship is but not limited to:
1) Good stance or posture
2) Grip
3) Sight Picture
4) Trigger Control

Breathing - for me not so much for pistol. Your arms are able to "bounce" with your breathing. I know a lot of people mention this but it's truly for Bullseye or rifle shooting.

If you can do start off with an instructor at a local range. He or she will be able to get you on target with the basics and then you can practice to perfect your shooting skills. Look at it as a good investment.

So, now to.... "Is a .22LR a self defense gun?"
Truly no... but the first rule of a gun fight is to have a gun. As anyone has ever been shot at will tell you it doesn't matter what they're shooting at you but how well they are shooting you. So, placement is key.

Of course, as anyone would agree if I was involved in a shooting. I'd be the one fully armed and padded but you can't always know what the future will bring you.

Best of luck to you. Get an instructor and start off on the right foot.
 
I recommend a good S&W .22 revolver, like a K 22 with a 6 inch barrel.

Learning proper trigger and sight control on a DA revolver trigger pull was invaluable when I first learned how to shoot.

If you master a heavy and long trigger pull and still manage to shoot with precision, you will be able to shoot well with just about any type of trigger pull, and more importantly you will be forced to eliminate bad habits more easily as the long and heavy trigger pull will magnify what you are doing wrong, as well as condition your trigger finger more efficiently and completely, IMHO.

If not a .22, then the next best option would be a 4-6" .357 magnum revolver that you should learn to shoot with very light .38 special target loads, like the old 148 grain wadcutter loads, that have very little recoil.

The advantage to having this gun is that you can also use it as a self defense weapon.

If you insist on a semi automatic, center fire handgun, I'd definitely not go bigger than 9mm, and I'd get a full size handgun to facilitate proper training and to avert picking up bad shooting techniques (jerking the trigger, anticipating recoil, flinching, etc).
 
walther p22 problems

the walther p22 is a poorly made poorly designed piece of garbage. i liked mine for about the first 500 rounds. the first problem that i noticed was the placement of the mag release - if you are not careful you will release the magazine when you are firing. after a couple hundred rounds the safety lever would enable itself during firing, not a big problem but a pain in the butt. also if you are with someone who is not careful they will drop the quick load button off the mag - not a big deal but a pain once it is gone. after a few hundred more rounds the slide would stick, requiring a little push every now and then to chamber a round. dissassembly is really annoying if you have that pointless fake muzzle brake thing. and if you dont have taht thing reassembly is a pain because you have to have the little recoil spring guide tool (or other improvised object) to align the spring guide. as i have searched the internet and forums online the eventual inevitable major problem is that the slide will break during firing just behind the front sight post. it will fly back and can hit you or someone nearby in the eyes, face, or anywhere else. this is a dangerous problem and very annoying. if yours breaks within the first year (unlikely) you can go through the hassle of sending it in and waiting for them to repair it - that is if you can get in contact with walther/s&w. they will ignore and have horrible customer support. if you are past the warranty date i believe they will charge you 90$ to fix it..... only to break again after a couple thousand rounds. i own s&w semi autos before and never liked them. their old revolvers are good (dont know about the new ones); but other than that i will never buy nor recommend a s & w or walther. just my opinion but i think they both went to crap after the merge.

walther, smith and wesson, s & w, p22, semi auto, broken slide, dangerous, poor construction, bad quality materials, issues, problems
 
I agree with MTS840.

As a learning, training gun, it's tough to beat a .357 magnum. If you can master the DA trigger pull on the revolver, the DA/SA or DA only autos will be easy.

I think it is relevant, because the most common BUG is a smith airweight or Ruger SP101. At least those were the choices by my buddies when I wore the badge.
 
Two cents.

hey everyone, this is my first thread. i just turned 21 and im a criminal justice student. career goals are to be in law enforcement. therefore i want to be proficient in firearms i also find them very interesting. i have little to no experience. after getting my LTC and what not i plann on buying a semi-auto handgun. mostly for target practice but i will occasionally use it carry and conceal just to get a feeling for what its like to carry a gun. i was looking at the new Walther p22 for a starter gun. i know it is a hit or miss gun but is that true anymore since they redesigned it. I am not looking to getting a revolver of any type (not used in Law Enforcement anymore! )or a .22 lr target pistol because they do not feel or look like a "real" hand gun. seeing i have no experience for the most part what are your suggestions is the Walther p22 a decent gun to start with
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I'm brand new too. If I were you I would start off with a 9mm. You're going to want one anyway, and I think you would regret starting out with a p22.

Of the 9mm, if I were you I would go with a springfield XD.

Why?

I either looked at or tried out pretty much all the 9mm options. I definitely like the polymers better than the steel guns. They are lighter and feel more comfortable in my hand. Plus, many of them are striker fired so you don't have to worry about decocking the hammer on a live round as you do with many steel guns (sucks for a beginner because its dangerous). So, from there, the polymer options you would want to look at are...

1) Glock 19
2) Springfield XD or XDM
3) Smith and Wesson M&P
4) Beretta PX4

So which one would be best to start with? My reasoning, as a beginner, went like this:

1) Glock 19: Wildly popular gun. Extremely durable and reliable. However, it was a no go because I didn't like the lack of a manual safety on it as a beginner. Any time you pull the trigger on one of these (or get it caught on something), it will go bang.

3) M&P: Well made gun, but once again I didn't like the safety situation.

4) Beretta PX4. Great gun. Shorter track record but probably really well made, given its a Beretta. Less recoil than others. Extremely easy to take apart and put back together. Good looking. Has a manual safety/decocker. I almost bought this gun, but decided not to because it only has a one year warranty and Beretta supposedly has crappy customer service.


I ultimately chose choice #2:

2) Springfield XD or XDM. Extremely durable and reliable. Lifetime warranty and awesome customer service. Very accurate. High capacity magazines (19 in the XDM). Trigger safety and grip safety, which gives you the best of both worlds (there's no manual safety to fumble with in an emergency and any time you grip the gun it is ready to fire, but at the same time it's not going to go off just by pulling the trigger accidentally).



I just got done blowing through 200 rounds at the range tonight in my Springfield XDM 9mm. I think you would love this gun or its brother, the XD. If you don't mind the warranty situation, then the Px4 deserves a long hard look as well.

Good luck.
 
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A couple of suggestions from one who is not impressed with the Walther P-22:

> Ruger 22/45
> CZ 75 with a Kadet kit. That way you are training with a service pistol, transitioning from the .22 to the service round is trivial.
 
See what fits best in your hand

I would recommend going to your local gun shop or gun show and picking up as many guns as you can. See what feels comfortable. If you want something economical to shoot, to build your skills, grab a .22. If you want something similar to a service weapon, look for 9mm and up. As was mentioned in an earlier post, you can always sell it later, or even trade it in on another. Don't be afraid to look at used firearms either, just check it over, or have it checked over before its maiden voyage to the range. If you have never been trained in the basic handling of firearms, most gun shops can point you towards an NRA training class in basic firearms to get you started.
 
Find a good Instructor

Welcome NewGuns. For most of us here, shooting is a lifelong passion and i hope it becomes yours. I think it's pretty smart to ask experienced shooters about how to get started.

I did exactly what you are thinking of - my first pistol many years ago was a SW 422 in 22LR. Great gun, still have it, it's light, good looking, no discernable recoil, accurate, economical. I've trained several new shooters by starting them with that pistol. However, it only took 2 trips to the range before i wished i'd bought a bigger bore. So i did. My current carry gun is a Beretta 9mm, but my favorite shooter is defintely my .357.

Now fast forward a few years - when i went for my CCW, the first step was taking an NRA-approved pistol instruction course. My instructor - Nick Erredes in New Britain CT, for anyone in the area - was a 25 year Marine, rangemaster, range instructor, and a great guy. We went through the safety materials, then practiced loading, handling, and unloading several different pistols. .22 revolver and semiauto, 9mm semiauto, .38/.357 revolver, and .45 semiauto. At the range, we shot all those different guns. For a beginner (most of his students, typically) shooting the wide range of gun types is hugely beneficial. Would you buy a car without a test drive?

Before selecting an instructor, you should talk to him and find out about his background. Pick someone you're comfortable with. I would never sign up blindly for a course at the local sporting goods store. You should definitely ask what different guns you will be trained on and firing during the course. Many instructors give you 6 shots with a .22LR and call you trained, and you should not settle for that. Ask about class size and multi-person discounts - bring a couple of friends and you might reduce your cost, learn the shooting basics, have some fun and get a semi-private session in the bargain.

Once you have some experience shooting different calibers, it becomes a choice among the various brands/models and the features they offer, what fits your hand, what fits your eye, and so on. Personally, i like an external hammer and an ambidextrous mechanical safety on a semi-auto. I would suggest you consider buying used. Like any quality tool or machine, a quality gun properly cared for will operate safely for many years. And the prices are generally much lower than for new equivalents.
 
Cost versus long term

One thing many people forget when giving advice is that it all cost. Shooting isn't cheap. Gun, Ammo and all the gear is spendy.

For you purposes of learning - the .22LR is the best choice as it's cheap as hell and you get a lot of trigger time.

IF cost was not an issue then you can consider upgrading to a 9mm, 40S&W or any other caliber. You can consider getting a conversion kit - so you buy your gun and get a .22LR conversion kit: this gives you the same grip but you shoot .22LR

The reason to start with a .22LR, even though, it may not appear "manly" is that you learn basic marksmanship without the moderate to heavy recoil.

I token this to having a new child learn how to ride a bike. If you have them start on a good tricycle.... they learn and then you graduate them to taking the extra wheels off their first bike. You don't throw them onto a 10 speed for a 5 year old for their very first ride. There are way too many things to learn - how to balance, steer, pedal, look around and avoid obstacles, go fast enough to go and so on.

This same idea goes for shooting. The .22 will allow you to focus and become proficient in shooting. You can take those skills now to riding a more difficult "bike."

The other way to look at it is cost. If you start with say a 9mm. You'll be paying for the ammo (it's not so cheap these days), shooting less and getting less trigger time. You'll have to overcome the recoil and when you start that's the first thing you need to do. You can't really focus on the basics as the recoil gets in the way. All that shooting to master the recoil and then your back to step one of learning the basics of marksmanship. All that money and ammo you just used to get over that recoil was in my mind a waste of money in terms of now your trying to just get to the basics of shootings.

But it's all up to you. You have to consider where you are and what fits your needs. Take the advice given here and other places and see what makes sense for you (and your financial situation).
 
From azredhawk44:
If, however, you are enamored with the firearm as a representation of man's mechanical cunning... get yourself a good .22. Shoot it alot. And I mean a LOT. Get so good with it, it becomes an extension of your hand or arm. When you surpass the skill of 95% of the people at your local range, then move up in caliber. And become shooting-buddies with that other 5%.

+ 1,000

Get a .22 that you like and shoot, shoot, shoot.
Also get out of the formal ranges and hit the backyard, gravelpits, woods etc., be safe (think), and have fun.
 
I have a Walther P22 and it has been flawless for a couple hundred rounds. But in your situation, I'd might opt for something else. Get what is approved or issued in the departments you are interested in joining. A compact Glock would work well and police turn-ins are available keeping down the cost. I prefer the 19 to the 23. Or get one of their sub-compacts as you may be able to use it as a BUG.

Now, if you just want to have a gun to get familiar with them and their handling and don't ahve much money. The Walther is fine. It is $250 vs. $500 and you can shoot it for a lot less. I set up "action pistol" course for mine at the farm. it is fun and much more like a carry arm than my Ruger MKII.
 
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