Information wanted on possible first gun purchase

[Brickboy240]

Welcome to the addiction. Remember, safety needs to rule the day, no matter what you buy.

That said, I would also say that unless you have some sort of physical handicap or are incerdibly petite and small, you should be able to handle one of the fullsize 9mm pistols just fine. My wife is 5ft, 3in and can easily shoot any of my 9mms and even handled the Colt 45 autos just fine.

I know...I know...the little 32s and 380s are cute and might fit your hands a tad better, but like the 22, you're giving up alot of stopping power. As much as I swear by a 40 or 45 for defense, they're more expensive to shoot and do have a little more recoil.

The 9mm, with good ammunition, is what I consider the absolute minimum and its not as expensive to shoot and ammo can be found everywhere. I really, really think you would be best served with some sort of 3.5" to 4" 9mm medium to fullsize service type pistol.

Handguns are a very personal thing. Like shoes, many might be well made, but not all will fit your hands right and point naturally. an ill fitting pistol will make for some not so good shooting, so its got to fit and feel right in your hand.

There is enough to learn when starting out in shooting a pistol, so the simplest ones will have the shortest learning curves. You don't want to be trying to figure out safties or a de-cocker or other aspects when you're starting out.

Really, the XD-9 Services or Subcompacts or the Glock 19s or 17s have alot going for them as beginning guns. No external safties or de-cockers and overall are simple and fairly easy to shoot well. None of these are hard to control or overly large or hard to manipulate. Both can be had at no-so-dearly prices, too.

Sure, there are less expensive choices like Taurus and Bersa, but the reliability and quality goes down from the XD or Glocks. Its not THAT much more for a Glock or XD...later on...you'll be glad you spent the extra 50-125 bucks.

If you can try an XD or Glock before buying, that would be best. Also, try these in the 40SW caliber if you can - for a little more snap, you get more stopping power and the 40 is not terribly more expensive to shoot than a 9mm.

So thats my choices if I was going to outfit a beginning shooter. Yes, these two pistols are not inexpensive, but they're not the most expensive in their class, either. Both will live longer than most shooters. God knows I ran cases and cases of 9mm ammo through my old Glock 17 and it never so much as hiccupped. Ditto for the XD-40 I currently own.

Revolvers? Well, the 38 Special is an absolute minimum caliber and there are good ones out there like the Smith & Wesson and Ruger SP 101, but alot of times, the double action trigger pull makes for a heavier and longer pull and many women find the trigger pull to be too long and this can affect your accuracy. Its not a bad choice, but I'd really think seriously about an automatic. Again...shooting both before buying will tell you volumes about which is better for you. If the revolver feels tons better and you feel more confident with it, then that is the best choce for you. The pistol thingy is never a one-size fits all type decision.

Good luck and let us know what you're looking at before you buy and what they're asking for them. Some shops LOVE to stick it to new shooters...so as with everything else...be a smart shopper.

- Brickboy240

[Etta Place]

Originally Posted by Brickboy240

Welcome to the addiction. Remember, safety needs to rule the day, no matter what you buy.

That said, I would also say that unless you have some sort of physical handicap or are incerdibly petite and small, you should be able to handle one of the fullsize 9mm pistols just fine. My wife is 5ft, 3in and can easily shoot any of my 9mms and even handled the Colt 45 autos just fine.

I know...I know...the little 32s and 380s are cute and might fit your hands a tad better, but like the 22, you're giving up alot of stopping power. As much as I swear by a 40 or 45 for defense, they're more expensive to shoot and do have a little more recoil.

The 9mm, with good ammunition, is what I consider the absolute minimum and its not as expensive to shoot and ammo can be found everywhere. I really, really think you would be best served with some sort of 3.5" to 4" 9mm medium to fullsize service type pistol.

Handguns are a very personal thing. Like shoes, many might be well made, but not all will fit your hands right and point naturally. an ill fitting pistol will make for some not so good shooting, so its got to fit and feel right in your hand.

There is enough to learn when starting out in shooting a pistol, so the simplest ones will have the shortest learning curves. You don't want to be trying to figure out safties or a de-cocker or other aspects when you're starting out.

Really, the XD-9 Services or Subcompacts or the Glock 19s or 17s have alot going for them as beginning guns. No external safties or de-cockers and overall are simple and fairly easy to shoot well. None of these are hard to control or overly large or hard to manipulate. Both can be had at no-so-dearly prices, too.

Sure, there are less expensive choices like Taurus and Bersa, but the reliability and quality goes down from the XD or Glocks. Its not THAT much more for a Glock or XD...later on...you'll be glad you spent the extra 50-125 bucks.

If you can try an XD or Glock before buying, that would be best. Also, try these in the 40SW caliber if you can - for a little more snap, you get more stopping power and the 40 is not terribly more expensive to shoot than a 9mm.

So thats my choices if I was going to outfit a beginning shooter. Yes, these two pistols are not inexpensive, but they're not the most expensive in their class, either. Both will live longer than most shooters. God knows I ran cases and cases of 9mm ammo through my old Glock 17 and it never so much as hiccupped. Ditto for the XD-40 I currently own.

Revolvers? Well, the 38 Special is an absolute minimum caliber and there are good ones out there like the Smith & Wesson and Ruger SP 101, but alot of times, the double action trigger pull makes for a heavier and longer pull and many women find the trigger pull to be too long and this can affect your accuracy. Its not a bad choice, but I'd really think seriously about an automatic. Again...shooting both before buying will tell you volumes about which is better for you. If the revolver feels tons better and you feel more confident with it, then that is the best choce for you. The pistol thingy is never a one-size fits all type decision.

Good luck and let us know what you're looking at before you buy and what they're asking for them. Some shops LOVE to stick it to new shooters...so as with everything else...be a smart shopper.

- Brickboy240

I guess when we talk about guns, there's very little conflict. That's nice.

I don't know if you saw, but I already bought the Beretta Neos .22 caliber gun. It's kind of weird looking, but it was inexpensive and felt very comfortable in my hand. I thought it would be good to buy an inexpensive gun to start out to see if I like shooting. I'm getting my gun on Tuesday and getting a lesson on Thursday.

If I decide to buy another gun in the future, it does seem like the 9 mm is quite popular. Or, maybe I would buy a rifle. Don't know yet??

[Reeek]

Originally Posted by Etta Place

I guess when we talk about guns, there's very little conflict. That's nice.

I don't know if you saw, but I already bought the Beretta Neos .22 caliber gun. It's kind of weird looking, but it was inexpensive and felt very comfortable in my hand. I thought it would be good to buy an inexpensive gun to start out to see if I like shooting. I'm getting my gun on Tuesday and getting a lesson on Thursday.

If I decide to buy another gun in the future, it does seem like the 9 mm is quite popular. Or, maybe I would buy a rifle. Don't know yet??

I've found that I gravitate to the handgun because the long arms are "too easy" in comparison. The pistols are so much more of a challenge. Enjoy! I'm relatively new to handguns myself.

I bought my first handgun in July and as described by Brickboy, it's rather addicting. I'll be purchasing my 4th handgun today since July . . .

And at risk of being flamed here, I will state that I havene't even shot any gun except a nice target pellet gun in the past 20 years perhaps. I certainly felt I never needed a handgun for anything. Then I had that encounter with a dog while standing in a river flyfishing and everything has changed since then. Politically, I'm a moderate

[robinsre]

Originally Posted by Reeek

I've found that I gravitate to the handgun because the long arms are "too easy" in comparison. The pistols are so much more of a challenge. Enjoy! I'm relatively new to handguns myself.

I bought my first handgun in July and as described by Brickboy, it's rather addicting. I'll be purchasing my 4th handgun today since July . . .

And at risk of being flamed here, I will state that I havene't even shot any gun except a nice target pellet gun in the past 20 years perhaps. I certainly felt I never needed a handgun for anything. Then I had that encounter with a dog while standing in a river flyfishing and everything has changed since then. Politically, I'm a moderate

It's just a different challenge. 300m Iron sights with a good rifle can be one hell of a challenge. I've never been able to master it (partially because I just can't spend that much on rifle ammo), but I imagine the feeling of completion is an exhilarating rush.

[Etta Place]

Originally Posted by Reeek

I've found that I gravitate to the handgun because the long arms are "too easy" in comparison. The pistols are so much more of a challenge. Enjoy! I'm relatively new to handguns myself.

I bought my first handgun in July and as described by Brickboy, it's rather addicting. I'll be purchasing my 4th handgun today since July . . .

And at risk of being flamed here, I will state that I havene't even shot any gun except a nice target pellet gun in the past 20 years perhaps. I certainly felt I never needed a handgun for anything. Then I had that encounter with a dog while standing in a river flyfishing and everything has changed since then. Politically, I'm a moderate

What happened with the dog?

[Reeek]

The dog . . .

I was flyfishing in the middle of the East Fork of the carson River near Gardnerville, NV. There was a family playing in the river about 75 yards from me. No men, all women and children.

One of the two dogs, which by happenstance was a pitbull with a fashionable collar adorned with 2 inch pointed spikes, came running up to me at full gait and stopped 4 feet from me and stared at me with a stiff tail. He was assessing as a threat. Not to be petted in any way. I froze not knowing what to do. I was in the middle of the river but the water was only 12" deep. In my head I as reheasring what I would do if he attacked. I would have given him my left arm then grabbed his collar or whatever with my right hand, sit down on him and drown him. Anyway, he stared at me for about 5 full minutes or so. The family made no attempt to get the dog back. It finally turned and walked back slowly while looking back at me.

I started to walk further away at that time but a few minutes later he did the same thing. I thought it was going to happen that second time but the same thing occured as the first.

I bought my XD45 Service withing a week.

[Etta Place]

I get to pick up my gun tomorrow any time after 12:21 p.m. So exact!

Anyway, I will need to get eyewear and ear protection, as well as a cleaning kit and ammunition. Does anyone have any suggestions for this stuff?

[Frenchy]

Originally Posted by Etta Place

I get to pick up my gun tomorrow any time after 12:21 p.m. So exact!

Anyway, I will need to get eyewear and ear protection, as well as a cleaning kit and ammunition. Does anyone have any suggestions for this stuff?

Clear wrap-around safety glasses, a good set of earmuffs and a standard cleaning kit should be available at the gun store. Have them help you pick them out.

[retired]

Etta, congratulations on your new gun. I had checked out the Neos also, but didn't care for the looks nor the top heavy feeling. But, that is just my experience. It sounds like you will enjoy yours.

Did you go to the San Marcos or Kearny Mesa Turners. I have never been to either, but I noticed on their website, they are the only ones listed in your area.

As far as getting back to you, I must apologize as I completely forgot about this thread. I'm glad to see you were able to locate a range and instructor.

Please let us know how the class goes and your experience shooting. After all of these pages, I know we are all interested.

[Etta Place]

Originally Posted by retired

Etta, congratulations on your new gun. I had checked out the Neos also, but didn't care for the looks nor the top heavy feeling. But, that is just my experience. It sounds like you will enjoy yours.

Did you go to the San Marcos or Kearny Mesa Turners. I have never been to either, but I noticed on their website, they are the only ones listed in your area.

As far as getting back to you, I must apologize as I completely forgot about this thread. I'm glad to see you were able to locate a range and instructor.

Please let us know how the class goes and your experience shooting. After all of these pages, I know we are all interested.

Thanks retired. I went to the Kearny Mesa store. The sales people I dealt with were very helpful.

I will let you know how it goes.