I have a little bit of everything from .22 to .50BMG.

The handgun that is pretty much always on my hip is a Star Ultra .40. It uses a polymer frame, so it weighs in a little heavier than a Glock (which you couldn't PAY me to own!) The .40 has a little higher "one shot stop" % than a 9mm. It also only has a 4" barrel so it is a lot more comfortable to carry than a full frame 1911.

Your best bet is to find a range that will let you test out the handguns they have in inventory. Everyone is going to have different preferences in firearms. Personally, I don't own many revolvers... why? Because my hand is large enough they fit like toy guns.

Good luck with your search.

-Nick

Re: Re: Re: First Handgun
 

Here's a link to the .22 auto page of their catalog. Enjoy,

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=11101&storeId=10001&cate goryId=15710&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=15708&top_category=15708]

Parts for CZs are easily available through CZ USA. I have a new extractor and spring that I ordered and received within a week. They're pretty tough pistols, tho!

Wolff makes springs for them, which are a good idea, since the factory recoil spring is a little on the light side.

Well, I ordered a two boxes of 9mm ammunition. Guess I better go find something to shoot it out of. ;)

Legion, please tell me you didn't order 100 rds. of ammo and pay to have it shipped. If you're gonna pay for shipping, assuming you can't buy the value packs at Wal Mart for a song, buy batches of at least 500-1000. It far cheaper that way. If you buy $500 worth for GA Arms, shipping is free. You'll use it sooner or later. Might as well save money upfront. Better yet, buy a lot more guns, so you have more ammo to buy to reach that free shipping amount.

If you like tinkering, there are plenty of aftermarket parts for Glocks and the guns are dead easy to work on.

E.g. http://www.custom-glock.com/

You should be able to pick up a used Glock G17 for close to your $300 point.

No...I just needed to add something else to my cart to get the free shipping. ;)

Back when Harbor Freight was still doing free shipping on orders over $50, a friend of mine bought an anvil from them just for the hell of it.

LOL!!! That is seriously funny man. :D

Alright. ENOUGH goofing around.

I compiled all the data, and had it sent off to NASA so their super computers could chew on it for a while. What did it spit back?

Ruger P89D 9MM, Decocker, Blue

http://www.impactguns.com/store/736676130023.html

$354 from Impact Guns, which means you can prolly get one for around $375 at Sportsmans Warehouse.

http://www.impactguns.com/store/medi...uger_70207.jpg

Here's another vote for the 22LR. I have a Ruger 22/45 Mark III. It's like a surgical instrument, it's so accurate out of the box. Get the 5.5 inch Bull barrel in blue and the price will be closer to $200 than $300. If you get the Hunter model, you'll get better sights and maybe a fluted barrel.

Ammo is cheap, so you can shoot to your heart's delight and come back the next day and do it again. I shoot bullseye targets at 25 yds and added a red-dot sight. You can keep score and work your way up the NRA Bullseye Certification levels for fun. Try the S&W and Browning too. See what feels best to you.

That said, I love 45 ACP. I don't own one, but I want one. I rent a Kimber at my favorite range, but I'm leaning toward a basic Springfield 1911 Mil-Spec. For launching a big slug of lead, the 1911 design can be very accurate.

A friend said to me, "22LR makes shooting affordable, but 45 ACP makes shooting enjoyable".

What is the difference between the P89 and P89D?

I'd be careful with any Ruger semi-auto handgun other than their .22's. The reputation for quality and function isn't high.

I have a number of Ruger rifles, but no handguns at all.

I'm not sure I would look to Ruger for semi auto handguns, either, other than the original .22. While Ruger makes some of my all-time favorite guns, they do not seem to do as well with these as with some others.

Ruger single actions are fantastic guns. Better than any Colt in every respect; well neigh indestructable. I currently own a 6" Single Six, a 4 5/8" Blackhawk in .45 Colt, and an Old Army cap'n'ball gun to carry while hunting muzzle loader seasons. Great guns one and all. All I really need now is a new Vaquero in the smaller frame size and I'll be all set.

As for rifles, I have a very soft spot for their Number One. Examples currently in the battery include a custom varmint rig with a 28" Lilja barrel in .220 Swift, a Light Sporter in .30-06, and a Tropical Rifle in .458 Winchester Magnum. Fantastic rifles one and all. Probably their best, and most unique, product.

I've owned Ruger M77's for a long time.
1. Early '70's round top, .257 Roberts in a long action, 24 inch barrel.
2. Mark II RSI, .30-06 18.5 inch barrel, mannlicher stock.
3. Mark II, round top, 6.5mm Swedish, 22 inch barrel.

Never have had a Ruger bolt gun; always been a Model 70 kind of guy. Now that they are gone (for now...) the Rugers look better and better. I didn't realize Ruger ever chambered the 6.5 Swede; one of my all-time favorites, I would love to have a Number One Light Sporter so chambered.

I did have a M70 Featherweight in the old Swede that I passed on to my oldest son. He killed his first antelope and mule deer with that rifle, with loads he assembled himself. At the ripe old age of 12. He loads it with the big long 160 grain Sierra; moderate velocity but killing power all out of proportion to its paper ballistics.

I shot my first deer with the .257 Roberts in a borrowed '98 Mauser. It was re-barreled and "sporterized" some time in the late '40's to early '50's, and actually was a very nifty little rifle. Peep sight, big old wing safety, military stock cut back and inletted to fit the new barrel. Another very good "little" cartridge.

The neat part of my M77 in .257 Roberts is that since it's the long action, instead of the more common short action in that caliber, it let's me handload the bullets way out of the cartridge case, in fact I did the "candling" to determine how far out to load the bullets so that they were just short of the rifling. I could load a 120 grain bullet with velocity very close to the .25-06, with a whole lot less powder. I took several mule deer with it, and one black bear with a 117 grain Nosler partition bullet, the bullet when through the bear.

I prefer the Hornady 350gr FP in a 45-70 loaded with 54g IMR 3031. It puts the bear on its butt before it goes all the way thru him. How much punch is there in a 350gr jacketed bullet going approx 2000 fps?

The 45-70, the one thing the gov did right.

Same with the old M98, Pat. Its standard length action allowed my buddy that I borrowed it from to seat bullets out as Ned had originally intended. Really is a better cartridge than the .25-06, which is a bit over-bore.

Snowman, I use the RCBS .45-400FN GC cast from straight wheel weights. Mine come out about 410 grains. It puts a lot more bullet down into the case, so the good old 3031 bulks up too much to get enough in there. In its place, I find a good stiff load of H322 will get them going to about 1900 fps. I have simply never recovered one from any kind of game animal; they go all the way through from any angle no matter how big the critter. There is a little bit of recoil in a seven pound rifle, though...

Yeh, my shoulder is still black and blue from the last test run.