Author Topic: Purchasing my first handgun (Read 808 times)

Charon · « **Reply #15 on:** October 07, 2003, 12:13:37 PM »

Quote

LOL Taurus better run fast.. the barrel fell off mine after it ejected a round I stood there looking at the gun in my hand with the barrel sitting on the floor about 4 feet infront of me. The guy in the next stall leaned over to check if I was okay because there was no loud bang. I was just standing there laughing.

You must have had a lemon. Mine's been trouble free and the company generally has a good reputation for quality.

Charon

Dago · « **Reply #16 on:** October 07, 2003, 12:31:27 PM »

The bigger the better.

jigsaw · « **Reply #17 on:** October 07, 2003, 12:37:41 PM »

A while back I had to take a "class" to get my CCW permit.
The instructor had this format for choosing a gun.

1) quality
2) comfort
3) calibur (bigger is better)
4) ease of concealment

As several people have mentioned though, if you're just starting out a .22 will be the least expensive way to learn. I'd also recommend finding a shooting class where you can try out several different types before buying. A decent handgun is an investment and doesn't come cheap.

A good class will also cover all your safety issues (can't be stressed enough), and should cover more mundane things like care and cleaning. If you don't know of a class offhand, check with local gunsmith shops or maybe even a college.

YUCCA · « **Reply #18 on:** October 07, 2003, 12:59:04 PM »

I have a ruger .22 pistol. A .38 super colt GI model. A 1911 .45 Colt. I love them all. Think the next one i get will be a thompson conttender.

BlckMgk · « **Reply #19 on:** October 07, 2003, 11:23:06 PM »

Thank you guys, very much appreciated. Some gun considerations I haven't even thought of.

Currently on my lists, is a S&W .40, which felt very comfortable in my hand, another S&W 9mm which is being sold at a "sale" price, because S&W is trying to knock Taurus out of the market, It's almost like a Glock, with maybe 1 extra piece, and the trigger spring is exposed Priced at $289.

And today the thing that suprised me the most was the .22's ammo 300 rounds for $10, but yes yes, Ammo shoots differently. The dealer I went to, showed me the .17 rifles saying that they're extreamly accurate, If i just wanted to plink some off.

Oh and WOW! I got to hold the 30 freakin pound m82 50 cal rifle. JEBUS! Ultimate in home defense haha let the robber get ohhhh 2 miles away, haha then knock one off " KA - BLAM!" haha ....

Anyways thanks again for the info.

Dune · « **Reply #20 on:** October 07, 2003, 11:38:40 PM »

The S&W are good weapons. They're price is down because they are also trying to get customers back. A few years ago, whent they were owned by a European country, they joined Clinton/Reno in some gun-control type of legislation. As a result, they were boycotted and their sales fell so hard it was sold to a company based here in Phoenix. The Phoenix owners have not followed the agreement (which was never really followed in the first place) and are trying to regain their market share.

I would wait on the .17's. It's a brand new factory offering that may or may not take. Much like the WSSM's and SAUM's, it remains to be seen if the consumers will buy enough of them to make factory ammo widely availible. If that doesn't happen, you'll end up with an expensive shooter. If you want a plinking rifle, buy a .22.

gunnss · « **Reply #21 on:** October 08, 2003, 04:10:27 AM »

Yer all brass case wienes......
I have a custom made .68 Black powder Revolver and use Pyrodex powder and Home cast Minne Balls it has a spare cylinder for quick reloads too, 50 to 75 grains of powder does just fine for target plinking too

Gunns

GRUNHERZ · « **Reply #22 on:** October 08, 2003, 04:20:35 AM »

Desert Eagle 50ae. Nice gun for newbie..

http://www.zvis.com/dep/depimgtmpl.shtml?/images/guns/depactn1.jpg

lazs2 · « **Reply #23 on:** October 08, 2003, 08:43:29 AM »

Ok... here is an alternative. My son gave me a tanfoglio "witness". This is a copy of the CZ75 pistol and it is a decent firearm... not as well finished as my Kimber or my revolvers but decent... people win matches with em...

Now... this gun disassmbles into the two main groups... frame and slide in seconds... Mine is a compensated .45 for instance.. easy to clean but... best of all... you can buy a slide/barrel goup magazine in .22 and in seconds the .45 is a very accurate and cheap to shoot .22 that weighs about the same as the .45 and feels the same and has it's own sights.

1911 style guns have conversion kits too but they are expensive and hard to install/uninstall.... Glock is also a good choice if conversion is needed or desired.

Otherwise... get a good smith revolver in .22 and another in .357
lazs

Mini D · « **Reply #24 on:** October 08, 2003, 08:59:49 AM »

Ruger Mk II (or newer) .22 pistol... preferably with a 6" bull barrel. There aren't many better guns for teaching you the neuances of the handgun trigger pull. Later... move up to a "double action" of some kind. A revolver or an auto... oppinions are definately mixed as far as which is better at what. But, a .22 is one of the best rounds for learning the basics of firing weapons for accuracy.

MiniD

lazs2 · « **Reply #25 on:** October 08, 2003, 09:07:33 AM »

yep deja... but the step up to a full sized revolver or auto after a ruger 22 is sometimes daunting. I would rather go with a 22 that felt like the big bore I was shooting.

This from someone who put about 1,000,000 rounds through a High Standard Sport King from the ages of 9 till present. That High Standard shoots sweet but it doesn't have the feel of any full size gun.

The witness is pretty cool in 22 conversion form.. it has the same feel (it's the same gun after all), it functions the same with double action and expossed hammer. It is very accurate as the 22 converion is straight blowback with no link.

I used to have a smith K22 masterpiece and a model 19 357.. that was a neat duo too.
lazs

Jack55 · « **Reply #26 on:** October 08, 2003, 09:13:06 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by lazs2
... This is a copy of the CZ75 pistol and it is a decent firearm... not as well finished as my Kimber or my revolvers but decent... people win matches with em...

I've only fired handguns in the military (.45 and .38), and never fired a CZ, but I've heard good things about CZ pistols. What is the your, and the forum's opinion of CZ?

Mini D · « **Reply #27 on:** October 08, 2003, 09:13:08 AM »

Not nearly 1 million rounds in a High Standard, but at least 10,000. We used to hop back and forth between the High Standard and Colt .45 match on a regular basis. Nobody really bothered with the Barettas much.

I do like the Ruger Bull barrels much better than the high standard. Much better feel overall. And... once again... it's all about trigger pull. Both guns (Ruger and Browning) are one of the better ways to learn it.

Don't know much of the revolvers .22s since I haven't fired them. But going from the ruger mk 2 to a .44 or .45 was never a problem. The basics are the same... the only real issue is learning not to fear the kick. But... one lesson at a time.

MiniD

Monk · « **Reply #28 on:** October 08, 2003, 11:34:18 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Jack55
I've only fired handguns in the military (.45 and .38), and never fired a CZ, but I've heard good things about CZ pistols. What is the your, and the forum's opinion of CZ?

I carry a CZ75 BD at work, nice weapon and easy to shoot.
No safety a very good defense weapon.

They also have a .22 conversion for the 75.

Cheap too.

Vermillion · « **Reply #29 on:** October 08, 2003, 11:49:29 AM »

If your looking for pre-ban clips (which are quite legal to own and purchase btw) here is a good website that I've bought from before. They also have good deals on ammo and military surplus stuff.

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com