Reccommend a first gun?

Nostril Cheese · 04-22-2007, 02:04 PM

Ok,

over the weekend I went to a shooting range with a couple of friends and man, that was a blast. I like the smell of gunpowder on my fingers, lol. I've never really shot anything with the exception of a 9mm and my dad's old Winchester 30-30.

Granted I am not up on a lot of the terminology, and really just know a little about them. What I fired yesterday was a Smith and Wesson .38 revolver. I imagine I'd want to fire a bunch of different sizes to figure out what I like.

I'd just kind of like some links or places to start looking. I'm not looking for any sort of sniper/crazy large stuff, just something i could take to the range every now and then. I imagine $500 could get me something decent.

A lot of you guys seem to know your stuff. edumacate me.

Rick V · 04-22-2007, 02:15 PM

Rugar Mk II
It is a 22cal, semi auto pistol. You can shoot all day long for cheep. Very accurate, and reliable.
The Mk III is basically the same pistol with a couple of bells and whistles and an added pricetag. It does have a better mag. release system.
A couple of hunderd dollars and you are a target/plinking machine. I love mine to death and any time I go to the range I always bring it.

Joeaksa · 04-22-2007, 02:22 PM

Where do you live? Makes a difference as guns are frowned in some areas. If you are in the Mid-West or West no one cares, but other areas are not "gun friendly" and you will find more shooting ranges that will rent. As well there may be some Pelicans in your area who could go to a range with you and let you try out their guns.

Go to a gun store with a range, or a shooting range that rents. Try both an automatic and a revolver. Do NOT try the biggest or most powerful one they have. Start with something that feels good in your hand, and does NOT have a powerful recoil.

Try a .357 magnum with .38 cal shells in it. Do not try the .357 shells for now. Try a .9mm. Then try a .40 cal automatic and so on.

The .357 will shoot both magnum and normal shells in it, and the kick is a lot less with the normal shells as well as being quite a bit cheaper. The reason I say to try the .357 is that the frame will be a bit stouter and thus the recoil less.

Personally I am not a 9mm fan but lots of people like them. The .40 cal is a lot better caliber. That said, the old 1911 .45 automatic is one of the best pistols ever made and "massaged correctly" is as accurate as any gun out there.

Nostril Cheese · 04-22-2007, 02:41 PM

I live in Oregon, Joe. Plenty of ranges.

um, whats the difference between a magnum and a normal round?

Joeaksa · 04-22-2007, 02:46 PM

NC,

The .357 round uses the same size bullet (more or less) and cartridge as a .38 special. Difference is that the .357 cartridge is about a 1/4 inch longer, which allows you to put more powder inside, which makes more power.

You can shoot it with the smaller, less powerful rounds and save money, your ears and your wrist. Same thing as shooting .22 shorts in a gun that will take .22 long rifle cartridges.

If you like the .38/.357 mag cartridge, then get one and shoot only the .38 until you get feeling very comfortable with the gun. Then grab some mag rounds and try it out. Big difference but by then you will be accustomed to the gun.

How big are your hands? Fingers? My ring finger is size 14, so I have pretty big hands, so I always liked a larger framed gun. How your hand and fingers fit around certain pistols will tell what weapon you will like, and thats why a range that rents would be a good place to start, or a friend who has several types of guns.

jyl · jyl's Garage

I'd start with a .22LR as mentioned above, and the Ruger is a classic.

Reasonably priced, high quality, accurate, low recoil. Not a disposable beginner's gun, 20 years from now you'll still be shooting it. A guy at my old range had a scope on his (Mk 3, bull barrel) and at 25 yds freehand would keep them all in a 1.5" diameter circle, which is damn fine shooting. You should be able to get one used.

The reasons for starting with a .22LR are (1) low recoil means less likely to develop bad habits (2) ammunition cheap so you can shoot a lot (3) inexpensive, don't spend a lot on a gun until you know what you want.

Also, far more important that what gun to get is how to handle and store your gun safely. It is a device that, when the trigger is pulled, will destroy whatever is in front of it, not caring if that is a paper target or your loved one, and not caring why, by who, or with what intent (or no intent) the trigger was pulled. There were two threads here, over a year ago, in which we shared our personal rules for gun safety. Those are worth finding and reading, maybe someone can do a search.

Oh, I found one

Shooting range Tips

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

I recommend the Sig P239 in 9mm for a 1st handgun.

MRM · 04-22-2007, 04:08 PM

Starting with a .22 handgun and a .22 rifle is a great way to get into shooting. I'll bet anything that most of the gun people here on the board started that way. It's a great way to learn the fundamentals and a lot of fun. With no kick to worry about you get good fast, ammo is cheap, and people on the range don't cringe and grap their heavy ear muffs when they see you coming. Don't get too big of a gun at first or you'll pick up bad habits.

jriera · 04-22-2007, 05:03 PM

I started with air guns, BEST way to learn the fundamentals, boring as h#ll but the way to go. What some people can do in the 10m range is simply amazing!! The 'next step' is a .22 short, then a .38

If you want the gun just for weekends, go to a range, rent a few 22's, 9mm, 40's, .45's and revolvers and choose the one you feel comfortable with. The combinations are almost endless (I'm getting a FiveSeven this week), some guns will not feel 'right' in your hand (I have that problem with Glock's), some calibers will be too soft or too hard in your wrist, and so on.

Just try ... and enjoy.

Joeaksa · 04-22-2007, 05:08 PM

Hey there, just had a thought.

Come to the UPM 2 here in Vegas in a month and go to the range with the rest of us Pelicans and try all sorts of guns!

VincentVega · 04-22-2007, 07:11 PM

There are several similar threads out there, lots of good advice.

I like the idea of renting at the range for a while. Try several different makes, frame sizes and so on. It's usually dirt cheap to rent a pistol, try a bunch a decide what you like.

Jim Bremner · 04-22-2007, 07:13 PM

a fricken 12gauge duh!

try several out.
I like 1911's the best for pistols, they point well
and all of the controls are easy to reach with your thumb.

oh and the triger works in a straight back motion with out an arc.

but is it the best first gun?

HardDrive · 04-22-2007, 07:34 PM

Why do I have this strange sense of deja vu?

HardDrive · 04-22-2007, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by azasadny
I recommend the Sig P239 in 9mm for a 1st handgun.

+1

Excellent weapon.

My first was a Sig 226R in .40. I like it, but its substantially more expensive to shoot than a 9mm.

alf · 04-22-2007, 09:06 PM

Sig 228 or 229 gets my vote. But you should try various platforms to see what fits your hand best. Glock, HK, Sig, S&W, SA are all good.

Visit www.Sigforum.com for the Pelican of Guns.

Seahawk · 04-23-2007, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jyl
I'd start with a .22LR as mentioned above, and the Ruger is a classic.

Reasonably priced, high quality, accurate, low recoil. Not a disposable beginner's gun, 20 years from now you'll still be shooting it.

Shooting range Tips

I've owned the bull barrel version for over 20 years...THOUSANDS of rounds and still looks brand new.