Advice on first handgun

extremefishin00

extremefishin00

Joined
Mar 24, 2001
Messages
584
I am looking to buy my first handgun, and was wondering if anybody had any advice on what to get. I plan on using it for target shooting, and in a couple years, as a concealed carry weapon. I'm trying to keep the price around $400, so of course I'm looking in the used market. Prefer 9mm or .45 caliber. The main brands I've been looking at are S&W, Sig Sauer, and Glock. Any info would be appreciated.

C.Mapp

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"A sharp mind is just as important as a sharp knife."
 
Target shooting for now and then in a few years CC?? That is two "extremes" of a handgun. Just as an answer for what your asking I would say a .357 with a 3" barrel. That gives you the option of .38spl for targets and .357 for CC. Maybe a Ruger SP101 or something along those lines. How much target shooting and what type of target shooting are you planning??


Blades

[This message has been edited by Blades (edited 04-21-2001).]
 
Personally I would start with a good .22 rimfire in the form of target revolver or if you have help with instruction, a ruger target auto. Then by the time you get your concealed carry license buy another defense only piece. The .22 will teach you more than most centerfires for you will tend to shoot more due to cost of ammo. As far as home defense, while not "ideal" the .22 would work,especially if you were proficient with it.

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If You Abide in Him then,"All His Promises are YES and AMEN"
 
Sorry, should have been more specific. I didn't mean target shooting in the competition sense. Should have said plinking, mostly recreational shooting. I've already had experience handling a few handguns, mostly 9mm's such as a Browning Hi-Power, glocks, and one S&W. The only .45 I've fired was a Colt 1911. The only pistol I had any trouble with was a mini glock in 9mm and that was because I just did not like the grip. Oh and you were right about starting with .22's tallpaul. I started out shooting my mom's .22 revolver(some Czech model) and a friends Ruger .22. Learned a lot like that, and still find it very fun to take them out and put them through their paces. I was actually looking for a Ruger SP101 in shotgun news and gunsamerica, and didnt' have much luck in finding one. Heard they're tough as hell and accurate too. Sorry this one ran so long. I'm probably getting ahead of myself asking this question now, but I guess it doesnt' hurt to start looking early

C.Mapp

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"A sharp mind is just as important as a sharp knife."
 
You might want to take a look at the Glock 30, very accurate and reliable. Plus an all around fun gun to shoot and very easy to carry concealed.
 
You won't get one for 400.00, but I have yet to see a .45 of any description that I like better than my Colt 1911. Hey, call me a traditionalist.
 
I would choose a revolver for carry and plinking, nothing like keeping it simple.
smile.gif
 
Glock 21 or 30. Both pistols are as simple as revolvers, and as durable & rugged as they come. Both mine shoot better than I do.
biggrin.gif


AJ
 
Anyone have an opinion of the Sig 220? Found one in my price range and I'm thinking about getting it.

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"A sharp mind is just as important as a sharp knife."
 
Since you are just starting out, I would suggest a Glock Model 17 or 19 in 9mm.

After you have gained some experience, I'd suggest a Glock Model 22 or 23 in .40 S&W.

...And some good training to safely use the pistol.
smile.gif
.

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Dann Fassnacht
Aberdeen, WA
glockman99@hotmail.com
ICQ# 53675663
 
Hmm, in your price range, I would look at these and in the order of least expensive to most.

NIB Makarov 9x18 $150
NIB HS 2000 9mm $289
NIB FM P-35 9mm $300
NIB CZ 75B 9mm $320
NIB CZ 75B .40 $380

These are some of the prices I saw at a gun show yesterday and represent some of the better deals that I saw. The prices can vary greatly, so beware. You may get really lucky and find someone who is selling a pistol privately (if that is legal in your state) and get a really food deal. I sold my SIG Sauer 239 .357 SIG (very good condition) for $375.
 
extremefishin, if you found a SIG 220 for around $400, jump on it. If it is in good condition that is a real deal!
 
Haha. I'm planning on getting that Sig if I can just scrape the money together. Looks like I'm going to have to sacrifice one of other guns to get it, but oh well. Thanks for all the suggestions guys. I've been writing them down. Just curious, has anyone fired the FEG version of the Hi-Power? I see these for real cheap, yet I'm afraid of their quality.

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"A sharp mind is just as important as a sharp knife."
 
A Sig 220 for $400.00?? Is it in sound shape?? Buy it!
smile.gif
I'd love to have a 220.
You can't go wrong with a Rugar SP101.


Blades
 
My advice is to take the best steps so that you're most-skilled when it's time for concealed carry. Given the choice, I'll always start a beginner out with a revolver. There are drills you can do with a revolver -- such a skip-loading -- that will shake you of your bad habits and get you shooting better than 90% of the folks you see at the range in no time. Or, you can just start off with an auto that's too powerful for you at the beginning -- like a .45 -- and shoot like ****, like most people at the range.

A .357 is the best choice, because you can start off loading it with .38 rounds at the beginning, as you learn trigger control, how to avoid flinching or anticipating, etc. Then move up as you go. A 4" barrel will give you enough barrel and weight that everything comes a little easier. When you can tell your skills are good, get one of the autos people are suggesting here.

I guarantee you that if you take this route, your skills will be much much better a year from now, than if just buy a .45 today. Guarantee.

Make sure you start out each session with dry firing, then move on to skip-loading. If I"m with a friend, I have him do the loads, otherwise I put in a random pattern trying not to remember what I did, and then spin the cylinder so I don't know the final position of the rounds.

Joe
 
Joe,


Thanks for the advice. I must admit you have made some pretty good points. Revolvers also require a little less maintenance, and tend to be more accurate under most conditions. I've actually tried not loading some cylinders in a revolver, and even though it was a .22, and had no recoil at all, I still caught myself flinching. So I think I'll take your advice and the advice of a few other forum members and go with a revolver. Any suggestions of brand? I really haven't handled any besides a little .22

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"A sharp mind is just as important as a sharp knife."
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by extremefishin00:
Joe,


Thanks for the advice. I must admit you have made some pretty good points. Revolvers also require a little less maintenance, and tend to be more accurate under most conditions. I've actually tried not loading some cylinders in a revolver, and even though it was a .22, and had no recoil at all, I still caught myself flinching. So I think I'll take your advice and the advice of a few other forum members and go with a revolver. Any suggestions of brand? I really haven't handled any besides a little .22
</font>
Click to expand...

Back when I shot revolvers a lot, everyone in my PPC league was shooting S&W 686s (except they had 6" barrels and were all tricked-out). Smith & Wesson has lost its cachet these days, what with the recent furor over gun control, but that's what everyone shot back then, and I like mine very much.

Back then, Colt still had a good reputation, don't know if they still do.

You might consider leaning towards, say, a Taurus. I know they still have a good reputation, and they might save you some money, which you can put aside for that 9mm or .40 someday.

I start people off with the lightest-kicking rounds I can -- usually *full* wadcutters. Lots of dry firing and skip loading, emphasis on trigger control and not flinching/anticipating (if you flinch, the rounds fly anywhere, but usually high; if you anticipate, the rounds consistently go low). Start off each session at the range with at least 20 dry fires and then 15 minutes of skiploading at least. Good luck!

Joe
 
If you want to consider a revolver I would highly recommend the Taurus 627 Tracker in .357 Magnum. It is within your price range unless you go for the titanium model.

If I had to pick a single firearm for everything I do it would be the Tracker. It's a little large for easy concealment (4" barrel), but it can do anything from that to target work to hunting deer. Just pick an appropriate load from light .38 Specials up through .357 Magnum +P+. It comes with an exceptional rubber grip and full porting that make even the hottest .357 loads comfortable to shoot. "My" Tracker actually belongs to my wife these days.
smile.gif


If you want something smaller take a look at the Taurus 617. It has most of the benefits of the Tracker, including excellent factory porting, but it comes with a 2" barrel.

--Bob Q
 
Hi extremefishin.

I'm a Colt D Frame fan, so I wish I could recommend them. Unfortunately, they seem to be out of production.

Taurus sounds good to me. I have a PT-22 semiauto (based on the old Beretta M-20 series) that I like. It's reliable, and when the firing pin broke on some Russian steel case ammo, I sent it back and Taurus promptly fixed it and for some reason replaced the stocks, too! It's a fun little gun, double action only, with a magazine safety
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that I don't care for, but you may like. Unlike the Beretta versions, the sights are quite usable as well.

Of course a .22 is kinda small, so one of Taurus' revolvers might be a better choice. I would steer away from the lightweight frame materials and the porting. Unless you are experienced, the lightweights might be too much and the porting will probably increase the noise a little bit. A steel 5-shot .38 small frame Model 85 with 2 or 3 inch barrel shouldn't pose too much of a problem, and would be concealable. Start training with target wadcutters and work your way up from there. (My load of choice for my Colt Agent is the Federal Nyclad 125 grain HP "Chief Special" load.)

I'd be careful about buying that SIG 220 too quick. Check it out carefully if you do! I like SIGs as fas as "traditional" double action autos go, but still prefer either the Browning design single action autos or "double action onlies" (DAOs). Also, SIGs seem to have a little more muzzle flip due to their relatively high bore line (compared to a 1911 or Glock).

If I were you, I wouldn't max out my funds on a deluxe semiauto. Instead get something in a less expensive revolver and have money left over for ammo, holster, belt, a couple of HKS speedloaders and a pair of Bianchi speed strips (these carry extra ammo very flat and can be used for tactical reloads).

And don't forget good eye and ear protection!

And the best tactical firearms instruction you can find/afford.

Good luck!
Karl



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"Celebrate the diversity of inclusive, self-esteem nurturing, multicultural weapons arts." Karl Spaulding, The Safety Guy
 
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