Turning 21 soon...what gun to get?!

i know it is not politically correct but if u are an American if is your first hand gun buy American and support your own people it is bad enough the rest of the country doesnt care but we could fix alot of problems if we took more care of ourselves that said i love thhe 1911 and you can buy good reliable american made basic gi model that will shoot all day long without a glitch and a 45 will make nice hole in something inexpensive and support your own people
 
Handgun on a budget:

Glock (pick your caliber)

S&W M&P (pick your caliber)

Springfield XD (pick your caliber)

I'd personally lean toward the 45 caliber in any of the above.

My best advice:

Save a little and get a HK45 or HK45C and never look back.

Also, wait on the 1911's until you can buy a great one. Owning a Springfield Professional, Wilson Combat, or Ed Brown can be very rewarding.
 
Revolvers can be cool and custom, too:

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The rear was done a few years ago by "pt night sights" in their shop. I've heard some horror stories about their turn-around time lately (if they still exist), so do your own research there.

PT did a stake-on front, but I had it re-done by my local 'smith, who leveled, dovetailed and checkered the top of the barrel.
 
just sent you a pm about those sights... very nice! you just answered my question. I would love to have a nice carry rig like that.
 
Most people with Glock 19's love them. I think it would serve you well. It's got a lot going for it to include Glock reliability, not too big, not too small, effective and very commonly available caliber (9mm), great capacity, not too heavy. The biggest complaint I hear about them is that some people find the grip not for them. That can be corrected with some sandpaper wrapped around a dowel rod to shape it just the way you want it.
 
College student acknowledged, I suggest first a .22LR! Then a 12 guage for big bang, then maybe a 9mm pistol. Ammo cost is going to be a huge factor!
 
I wouldn't rule out considering a Bersa Thunder Plus 380 as I love mine. It is a great all around gun for personal carry and accuracy. The barrel is fixed and VERY accurate. I'm tempted to buy one of the pro models in .40 but my Sig is functioning perfect in that role. Edit: Forgot to mention that at around $300-$350 it would leave you a little extra to pick up a holster and maybe have some left for new INFI! Customer service is excellent too.
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Price-wise Taurus is always a good choice for bang fot the buck
They presently sell a 1911 that has custom features that would cost twice their list price anywhere else.
Smaller calibers that good for EDC are well represented as are major calibers that will mess up your wrist before you learn how to shoot accurately.
Advice to visit a shooting range with a good variety of guns to try is right on.
And being on a college student's budget buy something you can afford an ample supply of ammo for. 45 is cheaper than 40...22 long rifle cheaper by far than 22 mag.
Nothing is more frustrating than having a new toy and nothing to feed it!

CP
 
In addition to your handgun search, you may want to consider ammo.

.45 ACP prices are out of sight...you may want to get a basic reloading kit after not too long.

.40 S&W prices are no better...heed the warnings if you plan on buying cheaper lead loaded ammo for the HK,Glock, etc. arena

9mm...realistic and affordable, reloadable if you want to learn the hobby

.357 Mag (benefit of using .38 Special)- the .38 Special is for practice, competition, fun, and is affordable, etc. .357 Mag is for everything else;)
 
Strabs said:
In addition to your handgun search, you may want to consider ammo.

.45 ACP prices are out of sight...you may want to get a basic reloading kit after not too long.

.40 S&W prices are no better...heed the warnings if you plan on buying cheaper lead loaded ammo for the HK,Glock, etc. arena

9mm...realistic and affordable, reloadable if you want to learn the hobby

.357 Mag (benefit of using .38 Special)- the .38 Special is for practice, competition, fun, and is affordable, etc. .357 Mag is for everything else;)
Click to expand...

This is true. Ammo will definitely play a role as to what gun I decide to get!
 
sig 226 9mm easy cleaning, and breaking it down, super accurate, ammo can be found every where in many different flavors, very reliable, fast follow up shots.
 
Strabs said:
In addition to your handgun search, you may want to consider ammo.

.45 ACP prices are out of sight...you may want to get a basic reloading kit after not too long.

.40 S&W prices are no better...heed the warnings if you plan on buying cheaper lead loaded ammo for the HK,Glock, etc. arena

9mm...realistic and affordable, reloadable if you want to learn the hobby

.357 Mag (benefit of using .38 Special)- the .38 Special is for practice, competition, fun, and is affordable, etc. .357 Mag is for everything else;)
Click to expand...

bmilla35 said:
This is true. Ammo will definitely play a role as to what gun I decide to get!
Click to expand...

I tell ya, its been really nice to never have to worry about finding good quality .38 special anywhere I've shopped and at about $17 or $18 for a box of 50 (not wadcutters!) you cant complain.

And you can still find .357mag pretty easily for a decent price - I've always been able to find some form at at least one of usual places I cruise for ammo (gander, walmart, dicks & sports authority is my routine). I usually can always pick up American Eagle or Winchester for about $24 per 50.


.
 
TrailWolf said:
I tell ya, its been really nice to never have to worry about finding good quality .38 special anywhere I've shopped and at about $17 or $18 for a box of 50 (not wadcutters!) you cant complain.

And you can still find .357mag pretty easily for a decent price - I've always been able to find some form at at least one of usual places I cruise for ammo (gander, walmart, dicks & sports authority is my routine). I usually can always pick up American Eagle or Winchester for about $24 per 50.


.
Click to expand...

Plus, a .357 Mag probably has the most combinations of loads (or loadable cominations) available than just about any other gun that I can think of when you consider the .38 special options:thumbup:
 
It is amazing how long this thread has become....I guess there are lots of "options"....

I would endorse trying before you buy and see what "works" for you ....

I presently suggest CZ pistols for first time buyers at present .... they are amazing value for money in both fit and finish, accuracy, and reliability. The World Pistol Champion in the "out of the box" category shoots a CZ and they can be used as well for comps as practical carry ....regularly beating Glocks in the past few years and that is probably down to the better trigger pull .... Glocks unless you are lucky ... suffer in this department in my experience...

I personally shoot pistols Internationally and use a Sig P210 but this is way more expensive than the CZ and the CZ would be my second choice....I have found the ones I have used incredibly accurate... check out their web site and see for yourself...

You can stick with one of these and if you practise you will still be able to shoot it as a competition pistol decades later... I have had my Sig for 20 years...and it still shoots as well now as it did back then....the CZ will be the same....
 
I just sold (2/6) a s&w 686-6 7shot on gunboker.com for $525 which was the
min bid.The gun only had 200 rounds thru it.I paid $500 in 2004 so I got all
my $ back.

Im saying when you decide what you want you can save at least $100-$150
over the cost of a new gun.My s&w goes for $700 new now.

The ffd (federal firearms dealer) ive been going to for 20 yrs. can only save
me $60-75 on a new gun vs going to gunbroker.com.Youll need to go thur a
ffd to have the gun sent to you.

Maybe this can save you some big $$$.
 
I agree with GLOCK 26 as far as starting out with a .22.I bought Ruger Single
Six revolver and on to bigger cals.Recoil may have you flinching at first.
My Ruger only cost $150 in 1979...theyre at least $500+ now.

Id get a Ruger .22 auto if you decide to go .22 to start.
 
clockman said:
I just sold (2/6) a s&w 686-6 7shot on gunboker.com for $525 which was the
min bid.The gun only had 200 rounds thru it.I paid $500 in 2004 so I got all
my $ back.

Im saying when you decide what you want you can save at least $100-$150
over the cost of a new gun.My s&w goes for $700 new now.

The ffd (federal firearms dealer) ive been going to for 20 yrs. can only save
me $60-75 on a new gun vs going to gunbroker.com.Youll need to go thur a
ffd to have the gun sent to you.

Maybe this can save you some big $$$.
Click to expand...

I'll check it out. I'm registering now...
 
I would definitely go with a .22. I would suggest a Browning Buckmark or Ruger if you want an autoloader. My first was a Buckmark, and my collection has grown from there.

If you want a "bigger" gun, then a 9mm is a great choice due to the availability and price of ammo. One thing for sure is with your first, you will want to do a lot of shooting, so get something relatively cheap to shoot.
 
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