New Pistol Scenario

[johnwilliamson062]

Since I originally started this thread I have picked up a single six from Ruger.
I haven't actually fired it yet. I bought some snap caps though.
Dry firing might be as much fun as I have actually firing any of my other pistols.

 

[predecessor]

Semi-Auto .22 LR

My first pistol was a Walther P-22. It was affordable and I was able to practice the trigger type and skills of a centerfire of similar ilk. It is concealable if needed and light enough to enjoy on a backpacking trip. Perhaps it's price and versatility is what attracted me to it as my first.

Of course, it all depends on where you want to go with your next pistol when it comes to better determining your first.

Wanna become an NRA Expert Marksman and Competition target shooter? Then a Single Action pistol with a 6" barrel is the best place to start.

I personally very much enjoy rimfire/centerfire pistol combinations and find it ideal for training new shooters and ideal inexpensive practice for old ones.

 

[briandg]

You said "to get started"

I'm going to make a couple of assumptions. First, that there is an ability to follow up this purchase as soon as desired, with purchase of another weapon. Second, that the buyer is serious in wanting to learn how to shoot, and not just have a gun and make noise with it. Third, that this is going to be a keeper, and not something that will just be dumped when the next purchase is made.

You can't learn to shoot with a .45 or even a .38, as ammo cost and even availability are not conducive to the number of hours of training and practice necessary to become even fairly proficient. So, I'm going with .22.

With a semiautomatic, so far, I have yet to see a beginner who didn't start out with sloppy techniques, and spend far too much time rapid firing, and occasionally just emptying a clip into the general vicinity of a target, not really caring where the bullet went, just having fun dumping a lot of rounds. That is SERIOUSLY counterproductive to learning pistol skills.

my preference, at this point, is a double action .22 with a 4-8 inch barrel, from a good maker like smith, ruger, colt, so forth. I admit reality, in that a good DA revolver usually costs far more than another .22 that can offer equal accuracy and reliability, like the buckmark or ruger.

Seeing all the limitations, I'm going to have to say that the choice is narrowed down to a single action .22 revolver, because of simplicity of design, accuracy potential, low cost, low cost of ammunition, and many other strong benefits to really learning to shoot.

The only thing I can think of off hand would be a ruger single in a six inch barrel. My experiences with the cheap H&R, and any of the other $100 turds on the shelves are that a squirrel at 50 feet would laugh hysterically at anyone who had the audacity to take such a ridiculous piece of garbage into the field. I own 1 (inheritance) and have fired others, and other than a high standard, none of them were worth the steel that they were made of. I was more accurate with a bow than I was with the inherited .22.

So, If it were me, I'd suggest a SA .22, then either a mid bore centerfire, either a 9mm, a DA .357/38 or a .22 semiauto. Whatever order you buy, I think that every real shooter needs to have one of each of these, at least. A proficient shooter can branch into more powerful and specific pistols, like a contender, a .44 magnum, 10mm, so forth. These cover any basic needs. Paper punching, plinking, home and self defense, some phases of concealed carry, and training and practice.

 

[Jimbo-Indy]

First pistol was a Colt Commander in 9mm. At the time (1973) is was disapointed in this selection because: 1) I couldn't hit anything consistently, 2) it threw brass everywhere making it hard to find and I intended to get into reloading soon. Traded it off for a 7 1/2" Blackhawk in 45 Colt (still three screw at that time) and enjoyed shooting much more. In hind-sight, I would have been better off with a 22 rimfire. Could have learned more about basic skills and wouldn't have worried about brass. Wish I still had that old Ruger. How was I to know they would only make it for 2 years before changing over to the "New Model".

 

[Kreyzhorse]

I grew up around guns so it's hard to be objective, but just by seeing firearms on TV, I think you can tell that a revolver is simpler gun to operate.

I'd start with a revolver and from a cartridge standpoint, I'd be tempted to go .357 or .38 because all revolvers seem to be chambered in that right? A salesman might talk me into .22lr, but, I'd likely still want the .357 / .38.

Now, the actual first pistol I bought was a Glock 22. The first handgun I likely shot was a .357 mag.

 

[2cooltoolz]

I grew up with rifles and shotguns, but probably never shot over a dozen or so rounds with a handgun till I was in my early 20's.
The first handgun I ever owned was a Model 36 J-frame. Bad place to start. Zero fun to shoot. Couldn't hit the broadside of a barn, from inside. Took it out to practice twice, over a period of several years. Bedside gun, never carried it, might as well have bought a 6" barrel.
When I was in my mid 30's, my wife asked what I'd like for a birthday gift. I said I'd like to have a .22 pistol to plink around with. Amazingly she, on her own (no doubt with guidance from a good salesperson), gave me a Browning Buckmark.
Man, I loved that little gun. Shot the hell out of it. Now my 14 year old daughter (not yet born when I received the pistol) goes to the range with me and she shoots that Buckmark.
I've been hooked ever since. Obviously, I still have the Buckmark. I have the J-frame, too, still by the bed, doing backup duty to a P226.
The Buckmark still gets a couple hundred rounds a month through it. The J-frame, while been kept cleaned and maintained, hasn't been fired in years.

I voted .22 lr semi.

 

[TailGator]

A first gun is, at least for a while, an only gun. Since most new shooters are likely to have self and/or home defense as one of the reasons for purchasing a handgun, it is probably wise to guide them to a 9mm semi or .38 revolver so that the gun can do double duty. Then have them get a .22 for practice, as soon thereafter as the budget allows.

My first handgun, though, was a .22 revolver, and it was a great learning tool, and I probably shoot better today because of owning it. I still plink with .22LR.

 

[qwik]

Working construction out of town a lot, got a ruger security six ss 4' barrel 30 years ago. now hanging behind bed first three 38's next 3 357's loved it then still love it now

 

[Misssissippi Dave]

A .22 revolver is the easiest pistol in my opinion to learn to shoot. The main problems you might have will all be ammo related in most cases. Most of the double/single action revolvers have a nice trigger in double action as well. It is also one of the easiest pistols to teach someone to use. Once you have learned the basics moving to either center fire revolvers or any other pistol for that matter becomes much easier to do.

I still have some .22 revolvers and they do get shot every few months. It is hard to wear one of them out. I shoot semi-autos the most these days but the revolver will always have a place at my house.

 

[Coltman 77]

I started back in the mid 70's with a Ruger .22 target pistol, moved to a .380 German PPK/S (had to have the James Bond pistol),
followed rapidly by a 9mm Browning Hi Power and Colt Series 70 Gov't Model in .45 acp.

 

[elad]

First was a 9mm semi for home and personal defense. Would do it again.

 

[CjAl]

I think most first handguns are bought for HD or SD so I wouldn't agre with the 22 although I think a 22 would be great to buy at the same time or second. You can use it for targets and it helps you with proficiency that most people with only one gun (for HD or SD) don't usually have. they tend to put it in the night stand and not touch it.
I think i'd vote for a sp101 in 357. it is a great gun and can shoot 357 or 38's.

My first handgun was a P89DC in 9mm. I love that gun. Actualy a few years back when hard times hit us it is the only gun I didn't sell.
Why did I buy it? well, it "spoke" to me. lol I buy a lot of things because of that it seems.