Best choice for first handgun?

fulci lives · Post by **fulci lives** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 9:18 pm

Thanks for all the advice guys!

Vagrant · Post by **Vagrant** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 4:46 am

The only centerfire I would reccomend for a 1st gun is the .32 H&R magnum. It is near a .38 special in power but will also shoot the less powerful .32 S&W and .32 S&W long

[Reccomened for low power practice. Mine will also fire .32 autos about 1/2 the time

Not reccomened but safe and adds another "emergency" ammo option "in a pinch" even if it take 2 or 3 shots to get one to fire

Shown with 3 of the rounds it shoots reliably.

NRAJOE · Post by **NRAJOE** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 7:03 pm

Ruger P95 DC stainless....

Can't go wrong....had mine for 9 yrs now....

Vagrant · Post by **Vagrant** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 9:16 pm

NRAJOE wrote:Ruger P95 DC stainless....

Can't go wrong....had mine for 9 yrs now....

A 9mm is not ideal for a 1st handgun, IMO

That was the question.

Baliman · Post by **Baliman** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 7:32 pm

I'd look at these:
Plinker- Ruger mark III-450-550 I got 500-14
Protection- Model SW40GVE Pistol - 400-500 A bulk buy of 300 shells is 70
Target Practice-Model SW9VE Pistol-400-500 900 shells = 135

Markco the Mad otter · Sat Mar 24, 2007 9:33 pm

JerrBear wrote:Mr fulci,

A "snubby" is not a target pistol!

Are you looking for a revolver or an auto?
Either way, I can't see how you could go wrong with a Ruger .22 - Good quality at a decent price.

I would start with a revolver for simplicity and easy maintenance...

I agree with the Bear!

.22 shells are also not too expensive so ya can practice without taking out a morgage.

NRAJOE · Post by **NRAJOE** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 6:56 pm

Vagrant wrote:
NRAJOE wrote:Ruger P95 DC stainless....

Can't go wrong....had mine for 9 yrs now....
A 9mm is not ideal for a 1st handgun, IMO
That was the question.

Why not?
Low recoil...ammo not to expensive....

Get ya ready for bigger toys.

I have a S&W 22A with target grips that I love to shoot also...

Post by **tr4252** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 11:07 pm

I'd be included in the Colt Woodsman or equivalent camp.

Just my biased opinion, but did you know you can easily convert a 1911 Colt auto to .22 with an inexpensive conversion kit? Best of (some) worlds; you can have a beer can killer, or a compact car engine stopper, all-in-one. I learned to shoot/strip & clean on one such at the age of 8, hence the bias.

Tom

Vagrant · Post by **Vagrant** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 5:45 am

NRAJOE wrote:
Vagrant wrote:
NRAJOE wrote:Ruger P95 DC stainless....

Can't go wrong....had mine for 9 yrs now....
A 9mm is not ideal for a 1st handgun, IMO
That was the question.
Why not?
Low recoil...ammo not to expensive....

Get ya ready for bigger toys.

I have a S&W 22A with target grips that I love to shoot also...

The problem with working your way up is - You're likely to keep working and not know where to stop. If you you start small you get lots more "in-between" stuff. Before you end up really big. Like this TC Contender in .45-70

Dick Carroll · Post by **Dick Carroll** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 9:39 am

Don't know about it being the "best" first gun but the TC Contender surely gives you options. I have the pistol in 30-30 Win. and a carbine kit for it in 22 Hornet. It comes with a whole bunch of options for caliber changes. It is a single shot deal but an excellent shooter. Like Al said, you could wind up really big....and it's always a laugh with people around you plinking with small handguns and you touch one off like the 30-30 or the 45/70....the meek might inherit the world but they are probably gonna do it from a distance....

Trey45 · Post by **Trey45** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 4:32 pm

Just my 2 cents here, for a great .22lr that won't break the bank ($199.99) You might want to look at the SW22, I got the cheapest one they carried in a 5 and a half inch barrel, they also have 7inch bull and field barrel models.

Al said above that a 9mm isn't a good 1st gun and I agree, but Glocks are all the same regardless of what caliber they are, if you've seen one glock, you've seen them all. Here's another borg gun.

Mine's a G17, the pistol that started it all for Glock, 9mm, polygonal rifling, accurate, dependable, light weight. This has become my daily carry gun over my Beretta 92FS and my HKUSP40.

Vagrant · Post by **Vagrant** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 5:15 pm

Dick Carroll wrote:Don't know about it being the "best" first gun but the TC Contender surely gives you options. I have the pistol in 30-30 Win. and a carbine kit for it in 22 Hornet. It comes with a whole bunch of options for caliber changes. It is a single shot deal but an excellent shooter. Like Al said, you could wind up really big....and it's always a laugh with people around you plinking with small handguns and you touch one off like the 30-30 or the 45/70....the meek might inherit the world but they are probably gonna do it from a distance....

I have a .30-30 barrel too

and a few others including a .218 Bee.
The Contender is very versatile, but probably not the ideal first handgun but a great second one