First Handgun...

Ruger SP-101 in .357 is 5 round only. It is available only in 2 and 1/4 and 3 and 1/16 inch barrels. There was a 4 inch model I have seen those in .22 long rifle, I think they used to be available in .357 in 4 inch. But, there never was a 6 inch SP-101.
 
Not much of a selection at the store I went to today (only one open when i got off work) but they had a Glock 19 and a CZ 75 compact. The Glock felt good but the CZ felt like it was formed to my hand. More searching tomorrow...
 
Getting a feel for the gun is a great first step. When I went to buy a 9mm, I was Glock all the way. I knew it was a great gun at an affordable price point with a long track record of reliability...then I picked one up and it didn't fit my hand at all. It was way too blocky for my liking. I can see why it gets the love that it does, but it was not comfortable to me.

Instead, I went with the Ruger SR9. 17 round mag, typical Rugerly over-built, and several safety features that I wanted in a plinking/woods/last ditch home defense gun as a handgun n00b. On top of that, this bad boy is slim and fits my hand well. It even has a switchable grip padding should you like a straighter or more rounded purchase against your thumb/pointer webbing.

I'm really happy with it. It shoots cheap and didn't break the bank. However, as a stand alone home defense weapon, it's not my favorite. I want something that both myself and my wife can use. She does not like shooting, but she needs to know how to fire the gun in an emergency situation. Also, no matter how many safeties there are, I just don't feel comfortable with a gun that has to be cocked with a live round for a near instant use. For me, that is no problem. However, I know that my wife would freeze up under the stress of holding in the slide catch, pulling back on the slide, and letting a round load (without pinching the daylights out of her hand).

Our typical load out at home is a 12 gauge 870 with buckshot. She knows how to rack it, shoulder it, and fire it. Furthermore, as a just-in-case when I'm out of town, she has a snub nose .38 loaded and ready to go. In a high stress novice shooter situation, it's hard to beat a revolver...except on capacity.

I still really enjoy shooting my 9mm. Like I said, it's cheap and good practice. My true love is my 686 .357 with a 4" barrel. Points well, shoots well, and gives me the option of fairly cheap ammo in .38 special as well as a bit more thump with .357.
 
Not much of a selection at the store I went to today (only one open when i got off work) but they had a Glock 19 and a CZ 75 compact. The Glock felt good but the CZ felt like it was formed to my hand. More searching tomorrow...

The CZ 75 is a nice gun IMO. My shooting buddies brother has one in .40 S&W and it's great fun, comfortable in my hand too. As to the Glocks check out a few more, some fit my hands and some do not even in the same caliber.

Good luck on with your search. BTW if you can find a used SIG P6 AKA P225 snag it. The P6's are Germen Police surplus, can be found for a good price and in good condition. Mine set me back $300 last spring. 9mm with 8 rounds with a pretty decent grip. :)

Getting a feel for the gun is a great first step. When I went to buy a 9mm, I was Glock all the way. I knew it was a great gun at an affordable price point with a long track record of reliability...then I picked one up and it didn't fit my hand at all. It was way too blocky for my liking. I can see why it gets the love that it does, but it was not comfortable to me.

Instead, I went with the Ruger SR9. 17 round mag, typical Rugerly over-built, and several safety features that I wanted in a plinking/woods/last ditch home defense gun as a handgun n00b. On top of that, this bad boy is slim and fits my hand well. It even has a switchable grip padding should you like a straighter or more rounded purchase against your thumb/pointer webbing.

I'm really happy with it. It shoots cheap and didn't break the bank. However, as a stand alone home defense weapon, it's not my favorite. I want something that both myself and my wife can use. She does not like shooting, but she needs to know how to fire the gun in an emergency situation. Also, no matter how many safeties there are, I just don't feel comfortable with a gun that has to be cocked with a live round for a near instant use. For me, that is no problem. However, I know that my wife would freeze up under the stress of holding in the slide catch, pulling back on the slide, and letting a round load (without pinching the daylights out of her hand).

Our typical load out at home is a 12 gauge 870 with buckshot. She knows how to rack it, shoulder it, and fire it. Furthermore, as a just-in-case when I'm out of town, she has a snub nose .38 loaded and ready to go. In a high stress novice shooter situation, it's hard to beat a revolver...except on capacity.

I still really enjoy shooting my 9mm. Like I said, it's cheap and good practice. My true love is my 686 .357 with a 4" barrel. Points well, shoots well, and gives me the option of fairly cheap ammo in .38 special as well as a bit more thump with .357.

A .357 Mag revolver is a great thing. Love my Ruger Blackhawk (Single Action) and would love to get one of there GP100 with a 6" Barrel.

Heber
 

Ummmm, you did read these, right? Or were you just "Google-bulking" stuff together?

The first citation relates to an "Astra INOX" revolver... a p.o.s. so bad that it doesn't even warrant a listing in the Blue Book of Gun Values. Many subsequent posters here did add their well reasoned vote with posts about name brand, high quality well made revolvers. (and 12 gge pumps) Apples to apples, here.

I understand that aside from only bothering to post a personal attack, as you said: "I'm not even going to bother with going over everything thats wrong with your post". Well done, lad.

I liked the last thread (http://www.thehighroad.org/archive/index.php/t-198482.html) you listed the best.

That said it all. But it's irrelevant as the OP has now made an informed decision.

Watch here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbxdDV7V_VA as an obvious expert deals with an unusually balky 1911.
 
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ndeezl, Roland Deschain wouldn't be caught dead shooting a Glock now would he?:D

gotta love the Gunslinger!
 
The Glock felt good but the CZ felt like it was formed to my hand. More searching tomorrow...

I have shot the standard CZ75 and like it very much. CZ's are well made and present good value for money.

But a quality revolver like Steely_Gunz's S&W 686/586 or maybe their N frame based Model 27 and 28 or the smaller K frame Model 19 or stainless steel Model 66 or any the various Rugers already mentioned.

If you can find one in your price range a Colt Python .357 Magnum revolver would be a great choice, they are often referred to as the "Rolls Royce" of revolvers, and are my personal favourite wheelgun of all time.:D
 
As I read these comments, I am reminded of a friend who asked for advice on a first handgun. My advice was the classic, "Buy a revolver". He went out the next day and bought a Glock 17. :rolleyes: I asked why he bothered to ask for my advice. He said that he had already decided on the Glock and was hoping that I would reinforce his decision.

For the last 15 years I have worked part time (I'm retired) for a gunsmith. Even though we are not the usual store front gun shop, we get a lot of phone calls asking about our product. More often then not, these folks have already made up their minds about what they want. The simply want confirmation that they are making the right choice.

From what I read here, the OP has already made up his mind and has no interest in a revolver. Am I wrong?
 
As I read these comments, I am reminded of a friend who asked for advice on a first handgun. My advice was the classic, "Buy a revolver". He went out the next day and bought a Glock 17. :rolleyes: I asked why he bothered to ask for my advice. He said that he had already decided on the Glock and was hoping that I would reinforce his decision.

For the last 15 years I have worked part time (I'm retired) for a gunsmith. Even though we are not the usual store front gun shop, we get a lot of phone calls asking about our product. More often then not, these folks have already made up their minds about what they want. The simply want confirmation that they are making the right choice.

From what I read here, the OP has already made up his mind and has no interest in a revolver. Am I wrong?
Heck that is most people, most of the time when they ask for advice.

My favorite is when you give them a reasoned professional opinion, and they start arguing with you. :rolleyes::confused:
 
If you are looking for a home defense gun I would suggest a .357 Revolver. They are easy to shoot and maintain. You can get a nice Taurus for under 500.
 
I would also recommend a .357 revolver for a first handgun. You can't go wrong with a decent one -- S&W, Ruger, any quality gun...

I've got an old S&W Model 13 (4 inch) that is in perfect shape after countless rounds and feels like an extension of my body and is insanely accurate and tough.

Meanwhile, my 9mm USP, even after firing something like 7,000 rounds or so, just doesn't have the same feel to me. Great gun. Only had one FTF in all those rounds. Deadly accurate, too. But it still feels fiddly to me and it just lacks something...magical.... that the revolver has in spades.

If, god forbid, I encountered a circumstance where I needed a gun for SD, I would grab the S&W without a second thought -- I always hit what I want first time with the revolver.

I like semis fine. They're fun. But when crunch time comes, it's a revolver for me.

But hey, what do I know, I prefer lever guns over black rifles and like muzzle loaders best of all :)

Whatever you get, make sure you shoot it a LOT.
 
As I read these comments, I am reminded of a friend who asked for advice on a first handgun. My advice was the classic, "Buy a revolver". He went out the next day and bought a Glock 17. :rolleyes: I asked why he bothered to ask for my advice. He said that he had already decided on the Glock and was hoping that I would reinforce his decision.

For the last 15 years I have worked part time (I'm retired) for a gunsmith. Even though we are not the usual store front gun shop, we get a lot of phone calls asking about our product. More often then not, these folks have already made up their minds about what they want. The simply want confirmation that they are making the right choice.

From what I read here, the OP has already made up his mind and has no interest in a revolver. Am I wrong?

You are wrong if you are assuming that I posted this thread hoping for reinforcement of what I wanted, and that I have made up my mind. In fact for the past month or two I have been leaning towards a Ruger .357. It is only in the past week or so that I have started to consider a pistol. I appreciate all of the comments and advice given in this thread, but it is not my only (or main) source of information that i will base my decision on. I will have made up my mind when I plunk down the money for whatever I end up buying. Until then it's still up in the air. Thanks again, and the search continues tomorrow.
 
You are wrong if you are assuming that I posted this thread hoping for reinforcement of what I wanted, and that I have made up my mind. In fact for the past month or two I have been leaning towards a Ruger .357. It is only in the past week or so that I have started to consider a pistol. I appreciate all of the comments and advice given in this thread, but it is not my only (or main) source of information that i will base my decision on. I will have made up my mind when I plunk down the money for whatever I end up buying. Until then it's still up in the air. Thanks again, and the search continues tomorrow.

Then you are rare individual. Buy that 88. One round is all you need. :D

Let me repeat one thing that has been said here and in the thread over in W&C. Is there a range near you where you can try different handguns? If not, then you pays your money and takes your chances.
 
There is a range where I live that you can try different handguns at but the selection is quite small. I'm taking a drive to Tampa tomorrow (today really damnit) to check out a few things and I may be able to find a good range there.
 
and I may be able to find a good range there.

I hope you are able to do this as it really will help more than a thousand posts.

Nothing beats hands on experience with something as subjective as to what gun feels 'right'!

Good luck!:thumbup:
 
i actually asked a similiar question on BF earlier this year for my first handgun. i knew i wanted a revolver and i wanted versatility but pretty much everything else was up in the air. i got recommendations for the ruger and S&W .357 models while the majority said get a .22 first

i ended up with the .22 and feel like this was the best way to learn for me so i thank the BF crowd. i think next i would like to get a ruger vaquero to play with in .45LC then maybe that versatile .357:D guns can be as addictive as knives!
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Nice .22 wheel gun crossada! Wouldn't mind getting a DA .22 revolver, but they seem a bit expensive new.

I would definitely go to a range and check some out. I would recommend a .22 first but 9mm would work. Check out CZ 75/P01, Glock 17/19, Ruger P series, Ruger GP/SP revolvers, and springfield armory XD.
 
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