Newbie question about pistols. . .

H

Hantra

New member
Hey all. .

I am a real newbie when it comes to guns, but I have talked to a lot of people, and they all have different opinions. I want to get a pistol. Preferably semi-automatic. I have fired a 9mm semi-auto, and a 357 revolver before. That's all my experience with guns.

What I want is a really good gun that feels good in my hand and has minimal kick. Something really nice quality. I have been to the gunshow but didn't know anything when I went there.

The most comfortable gun I held there was a HK USP. Some people say, great gun, and some say, "No get a SIG.".

So what do I do? What are your opinions?

Thanks,

B
 
The best advice you'll ever get (and which will be repeated time and time again) is to invest some time and money and find a range that rents weapons. Try a large variety and figure out what feels comfortable and you can shoot well. Prior to that, you should have evaluated your needs/desires (ie. concealed carry, home defense, target shooting). When you find a weapon that fits your needs/desires, skill level, and is comfortable to you, that's the one for you. Then, get some training (safety course at a minimum).

Sigs are great, HKs are great, as are Glocks, S&W, Kahr, etc. Each has particular benefits/drawbacks which must be considered. After you do your hands on research, come back to TFL and ask around and search the archives. You should find the answer to nearly any question. But only you can decide what feels best and what will best serve your needs.
 
> What I want is a really good gun that feels good in my hand and has minimal kick. Something really nice quality.

That sounds like a Hammerli SP-20. It's only $1400 and worth every penny. :D
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Hantra:
The most comfortable gun I held there was a HK USP. Some people say, great gun, and some say, "No get a SIG.".[/quote]

Well, the answer is obvious. Get the HK! (But try it at a rental range first!) Everyone will have their favorite brand, some people prefer Sig, some prefer HK (like me). ANY gun that dosn't feel comfortable in your hand will not be enjoyable to shoot.

[This message has been edited by jcoyoung (edited March 08, 2000).]
 
All major brands are worth considering. I of course have my favorites, as do others, as will you eventually. Try out the guns you are interested in, and even some you are not, so that you have a broad base of experience to help you make a more informed decision. Good luck!

Erik
 
The above mentioned advice is very good. I really agree with trying the gun before buying. You wouldn't buy a car without a test drive would you? Sometimes a gun will feel good in the hand at the store but not so good when fully-loaded (too heavy) and/or when fired.

I know that when I was looking at the HK USP it thought it felt pretty good and was going to get one, until I fired them; didn't like them at all. I would have been very unhappy if I bought the USP without firing it. So, you can save yourself some money and heartache by doing this.

Professional instruction will also save you some money and heartache in the long run because by learning proper technique you will have better shooting skills and won't be wasting ammo and getting frustrated by missing your target. Semi-auto pistols are nice, but don't discount the revolver. They are very simple to operate and have less to go wrong. Finally, I'd suggest a .22 for your first gun, Browning Buckmark or Ruger Mark II. They're cheap and the ammo is cheap so you can shoot all day and build your shooting skills; plus, they're plain fun. Good luck.
 
buzz_knox said it best. . Go to the range try some guns. Try some friends guns. Just go to some retailers and atleast hold some different styles and brands. RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH!!!! Its all part of the fun of buying your gun. Talk to people. Ask questions. There is nothing that a gun owner likes to talk about better than his favorite gun. Then take about 50% of what that guy said and disregard it. Come to your own conclusions, just take bits and peices of info. You know. Good Luck

------------------
A Kimber in one hand and a Glock in the other. All of the bad guys are looking for cover!
 
Welcome to TFL Hantra :) And if I may add my .02 cents worth, All the above mentioned advice is worth its weight in gold. Now if only you could spend it to buy a gun.
Let us know what you decide :)


Happy Shooting

------------------
We preserve our freedoms by using four boxes: soap,ballot,jury, and cartridge.
Anonymous

[This message has been edited by loknload (edited March 08, 2000).]
 
What do you want to do with the gun ? You would not buy a convertable car if you live in maine ?! Because you are new to guns and do not want to be discouraged at the range, I would suggest Glock 19. It feels like the HK(compact). I also have the USP compact and every beginner (father, mother, sister, brother, friends, fience,...)that I took to the range shot and liked the G19 best. And it is by far the easiest and most accurate gun for beginers. Plus you get to shoot alot more for less money (9mm). Also one can find losts of after market parts, armorer for service and new/used high capacity mags. Good luck !
 
Greetings, and Welcome To TFL; As many have
said, find a range that has guns for rent;
try as many different makes and models as
money and time can buy, then return and
ask questions about the weapons that appear
on your "short list". There are several
makes and models I'm sure you will fall in
love with; buy what best suit's your needs,
build, grip, etc. Caliber selection is also
very important. For defensive purpose's
select the largest caliber that you feel
comfortable with and can conceal easily.
Most locale LEO's don't think too kindly
of persons trying to pretend to be Matt
Dillon!!! :( Hope this helps some. :)

Regards,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
 
Buy the best you can afford, and make sure the cost of ammo for the caliber you choose is not so outrageous it'll break you wallet.

------------------
johnnyb
A slow hit beats a fast miss.
 
My two cents--

Buy a reasonably priced full frame 9mm (CZ75 or the like) semi-auto.

Shoot two hundred rounds through it.

Learn to field strip and clean the gun.

Buy eight copies of gun magazines on the newstand and look at all of the pretty pictures.

Spend five nights a week reading the Firing Line forum.

Begin to feed your new addiction with a bi-monthly purchase of a new caliber weapon. Don't repeat a caliber until you've exhausted all of the popular ones.

Move on to bigger weapons like rifles and shotguns.

Repeat the process.

Have you wages garnished by your wife's attorney.

Live happily alone until you can find a woman to date who either A)collects the lane-rental fees at a range or B)works in a discount store and can get you great deals on factory ammo.

Become a single-issue political voter.

Polish your first 9mm and smile when thinking about how uncomplicated your new life is.

I'd say that about sums up my life since I first began to contemplate a handgun purchase...



------------------
Triggers exist to be pulled... again and again.
 
The above post is soooo correct, and all the other advise is just plain good. But one gun I haven't seen here is the ruger.
A very good gun in all caliber's try there autos and there revolvers. You wont be disatisfied.

Tonyz :)
 
Oh Gremlin, Your Killin' me!!! :) :) :) :)
That was too funny! Since everyone is now giving there opinions for guns which I tried not to do. If this is your first gun a "Double Action Only" might be the way to go. Like a GLOCK. If you are going to use it for CCW or Home defense. They are the easiest to learn and in high stress situations you dont worry about anything just point and shoot.

------------------
A Kimber in one hand and a Glock in the other. All of the bad guys are looking for cover!
 
I'm in somewhat the same situation.

I found a local range that has lots of different
rental weapons, and I'm working my way through
their inventory. It costs me $350/year for my
son and I. That seems like a wise investement
to me, given that I'm having fun, and comtemplating
and investment that might cost me $500 - $800.

It's also probably the only way I'll shoot an H & K P7M8.
It's a wonder of a weapon, but the chances that I'm
going to have $1200 to spend on a weapon before
the kids are done with college are pretty remote.

At any rate, I'm having a lot of fun. It's also
true that I'm not looking for a weapon for self
defense right now, I'm just having fun. So I'm in
no hurry to buy. I can imagine renting and trying
different weapons for some time.

Have fun,


------------------
ahlan wa sahlan
PCV Yemen 1984-86
 
model66.jpg

S&W Model 66

It's not glamorous, flashy, new, or expensive... but IMO nothing is better for a newbie than a K-Frame Smith & Wesson .38 Spl/.357 Mag revolver. A stainless steel Model 66 or 65 with a 4" barrel is the perfect "house gun". .38 Spl is great for practice, hardly recoils. .38 Spl +P is adequate form home defense. And nothing has proven better than .357 Mag as a man stopper. Police trade-in revolvers are inexpensive, you'll pay $200 to $250 at gunshow, and they're generally in excellent condition. Put a Hogue Monogrip on it, what could be better? 15 bucks for a couple of speed loaders and that's all you need.

Revolvers are perfect (meaning the safest and most effective) for the non-enthusiast because they're easy to load/unload and they don't have a lot of buttons, levers, decockers, catches, hammer drops, safety switches, etc, etc, etc. Basically: load, point, pull trigger, eject cases. Repeat. Don't be fooled by the Hollywood mentality that you gotta have a semi-auto "crunch-n-clicker" and 20 plus rounds in the magazine. In a home defense scenario if you empty 20 rds into some dirtbag kicking down your door you'll be the one looking at the long prison sentence. -- Kernel
 
Hantra, unfortunately, rental ranges aren't a big hit in some places like they are others. I can't find one here in Colorado at all. That's ok, though, because here's what you do:

Go shooting with some friends. Make sure these friends bring all the different types of guns you're looking at (and even some you're not). In other words, they have 9mms, 357's, .45's, .380's, .38's all kinda calibers, sizes, and actions. You don't need to shoot the exact gun you think you want...just calibers and auto vs. revo. Oh, yeah, pay for the ammo you shoot up. Some shooting classes can help you with this...here in Co., there's a great place that I can direct you to.

Now that you've done this, you know what kinda power you can handle. Rule of thumb is buy the largest caliber you can shoot well. If you can't shoot anything well, first buy a .22 and practice a lot. Say you can shoot a "X" caliber well, and you like a revo or an auto...what's the purpose? Do you want to target shoot, hunt, personal protection? Typically, the size is not important for target shooting, home protection, and hunting, but for carry, size is a concern.

In other words, Hantra, save yourself from listening to the Ford vs. Chevy debates (here and in other places), and the propeganda in magazines, and analytically decide what suits you, your power needs, and your intrests. Again, the MOST important thing is to shoot several different calibers and guns before you buy!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top