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Posted: 8/28/2015 12:13:51 PM EDT
I am about to buy my first ever handgun, what should it be? I will take it to the range, hunting(sidearm), and general plinking. Small enough to CC is not important, I am going to buy a smaller pistol specifically for that. I do not have a budget, but nothing crazy, so less than $900. I am just getting into firearms so if i say something wrong, be gentle
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Why not consider something like a Browning Buckmark or the Ruger? Not to expensive, no recoil...good quality. Then later look at a larger caliber piece, semi-auto or revolver. With that budget I bet you could get both!
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What do you like? What have you shot and have any experience with? Do you know a range that rents guns so you can try different stuff before you buy.
Any of the modern polymer wonders are great choices..... Glock 19\17, Sig P320, HK VP9, Walther PPQ, S&W M&P, SA XDm, Sig P228/229, HK P30, FN FNX\FNS, CZ 75...... list goes on of great options but you need to find what you like and works for you. |
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I certainly wouldn't get a glock 19 for a hunting sidearm. How about a ruger gp100 with a 6 inch barrel? Probably the ideal hunting sidearm for someone who lives in Texas. Ammo is cheap because you can shoot 38's. It's deadly with 357mag even on the biggest game in Texas. It'll be a great range gun too because you can shoot it single action for increased accuracy. Many people use them for home defense too. If you do decide to go this route, you should look at a simply rugged sourdough pancake holster.
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Full sized Glock... I prefer 45..
Can't go wrong with a 1911 either... If you have a $900 budget, could do 2 handguns.. |
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Why not consider something like a Browning Buckmark or the Ruger? Not to expensive, no recoil...good quality. Then later look at a larger caliber piece, semi-auto or revolver. With that budget I bet you could get both! View Quote This exactly. Get a Ruger Mk or 22/45 first and use it to learn and sharpen fundamentals. I shoot my 22/45 Lite almost every time I go to the pistol range, and I have no doubt it's my highest round count firearm at this point. I can't put a price on the training value or the fun I've gotten out of that pistol. For range use, plinking, and hunting, you're talking about full size guns. The big decision to make here is semiauto or revolver. For things like that, I prefer revolvers. A clean used Ruger GP100, S&W 686, or even a Dan Wesson if you can find one would be excellent in these roles. A semiauto would be a much better choice if home defense is part of the equation. The guns to look at if that's a concern are the CZ SP-01, the Glock 34, the M&P Pro Series 5", or maybe a Beretta 92A1. |
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With a $900 budget I'd suggest a new .22lr semi-auto from Browning or Ruger along with a good used .357 revolver from Ruger or S&W.
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G-26 IMHO about the best GP pistol out there because of the different mags/capacity you can run threw it. With that kind of budget you could get a G-26 and all the fixens and get yourself a Mossberg 500 shot gun with an additonal slug barrel then you would have hunting, cc and home defense bases covered with maybe alittle change left over.
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a Ruger 22lr pistol to learn the basics of pistol shooting then what ever you want.
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I'm betting you could walk out of your local fun store with two pistols if you felt like. A used Glock 19 and a new .22 caliber would be a great start.
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CZ p07, buds has them on sale again for $399.
Use the money leftover for range ammo & upgrades like night sights, mags, extensions, + weaponlight or some cgw goodies. |
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Fuck all these plastic guns. Get a SP- 01 for 700 with tax, and spend the rest on stuff from Cagun gun works.
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Stick with the tried and true basics . More to chose from on the used market and if you end up not liking it resale is better.
If you can live with the cosmetics being less than perfect there is no reason not to buy used . Glock 17 or 19 (9mm full sized or mid sized) reliable , accurate , good to go from factory or can be customized . $500-550 new . $375-450 used S&W 686 (357 revolver) Shoots a wide range of ammo from mild 38 special target stuff on up to full power 357 magnum. $850 new , $600-700 used For your second or third gun consider a 22lr semi auto . Ruger Mark I , II or III or a Browing Buckmark . About $450-650 new depending on model and $275-400 used . Rule of thumb is mid to full sized are generally easier to shoot and make it easier to train yourself to shoot well . (sights , weight , grip size all have play in this ) little compact guns can be useful and fun but are little stinkers to shoot well unless one has lots of experience |
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Go fondle and shoot if you can before buying. Welcome to the game we play called "What is my favorite pistol". It's a never ending game that may cost you some money but really can be a fun thing. Also frustrating at times.
I've shot many a type of pistol and own and have owned some and I really don't even know what to tell you. There are so many good choices. But also keep in mind, you say size isn't an issue, but if you think there is a chance that you might carry some day, you might want to put that in the back of your head while making a decision. If you go with strictly a huge gun for the range or hunting, you may kick yourself down the road for not trying to look for something that you can actually carry. But one CAN get away with carrying a full sized gun, it's just that a compact is much easier. Or subcompact. But yeah, a .22 handgun to learn has always seemed to be good advice. I think. |
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+ get a 9mm pistol with what's left over. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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a Ruger any 22lr pistol to learn the basics of pistol shooting then what ever you want. + get a 9mm pistol with what's left over. Or a quality 9mm pistol with a .22 conversion set-up -- best of both worlds and cheaper/quieter practice with identical controls, operation, and feel (except recoil, of course). Several good choices out there that would fit that bill. I have a few myself. |
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Go fondle and shoot if you can before buying. Welcome to the game we play called "What is my favorite pistol". It's a never ending game that may cost you some money but really can be a fun thing. Also frustrating at times. I've shot many a type of pistol and own and have owned some and I really don't even know what to tell you. There are so many good choices. But also keep in mind, you say size isn't an issue, but if you think there is a chance that you might carry some day, you might want to put that in the back of your head while making a decision. If you go with strictly a huge gun for the range or hunting, you may kick yourself down the road for not trying to look for something that you can actually carry. But one CAN get away with carrying a full sized gun, it's just that a compact is much easier. Or subcompact. But yeah, a .22 handgun to learn has always seemed to be good advice. I think. View Quote Go to a pistol range and spend serious money trying out as many different pistols as they rent. I like Glocks and 1911s, but any modern pistol by a major manufacturer will do. Don't overlook revolves and rimfires. |
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I'd suggest a midsize pistol. CZ PCR or P07, Glock 19, etc.
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First: A Ruger SR22P .22LR or a Ruger Standard Model 6" or one of the many Ruger semi auto steel .22LR pistols.
Second: After you learn to shoot that well, a Glock 17 or 19. The 19 if you have any intention of carrying it. Third: After that, a Shield, LC9s or LC9s Pro, or a Ruger LCR .38 Special. By then you will know what you want. |
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I am about to buy my first ever handgun, what should it be? <snip> Small enough to CC is not important,<snip> I do not have a budget, but nothing crazy, so less than $900. View Quote Springfield Range Officer. Can be found as low as $700, but typically closer to $800 retail. |
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If I could do it all over again, my first handgun would be a S&W Model 686 Plus 4" revolver. Good for the range, plinking, and hunting sidearm. Can use .38spl for cheaper plinking.
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Someone on here once suggested this and it has really resonated with me, since I got caught in the 2013 mess with only 2 mags:
Whatever you spend on a pistol, match that amount on mags for it. If you buy a $500 pistol, you can get roughly 20 mags for that price (depending on make). With 20 mags, you can set 10 aside in the package for backups and use the crap out of the other 10. Mags are critical to the operation of an autoloader and if you lose or damage them, your pistol is useless. When the next panic/run happens, IF you can find mags for your pistol, they will be probably double the price. There will be no shortage of pistols during the next panic, it will be most likely be mags and ammo. |
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For my first handgun I got a SIG p250 9mm. Double action only was easy to get used to handling a gun. Once I was comfortable I branched out.
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Quoted:
Go to a pistol range and spend serious money trying out as many different pistols as they rent. I like Glocks and 1911s, but any modern pistol by a major manufacturer will do. Don't overlook revolves and rimfires. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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Go fondle and shoot if you can before buying. Welcome to the game we play called "What is my favorite pistol". It's a never ending game that may cost you some money but really can be a fun thing. Also frustrating at times. I've shot many a type of pistol and own and have owned some and I really don't even know what to tell you. There are so many good choices. But also keep in mind, you say size isn't an issue, but if you think there is a chance that you might carry some day, you might want to put that in the back of your head while making a decision. If you go with strictly a huge gun for the range or hunting, you may kick yourself down the road for not trying to look for something that you can actually carry. But one CAN get away with carrying a full sized gun, it's just that a compact is much easier. Or subcompact. But yeah, a .22 handgun to learn has always seemed to be good advice. I think. Go to a pistol range and spend serious money trying out as many different pistols as they rent. I like Glocks and 1911s, but any modern pistol by a major manufacturer will do. Don't overlook revolves and rimfires. I will be doing this, even if it is expensive it beats spending money on agun I don't like! |
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A CZ-75 or SP-01
ETA put a Kadet kit on it for .22. Range, home defense, plinking, all in one. |
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Someone on here once suggested this and it has really resonated with me, since I got caught in the 2013 mess with only 2 mags: Whatever you spend on a pistol, match that amount on mags for it. If you buy a $500 pistol, you can get roughly 20 mags for that price (depending on make). With 20 mags, you can set 10 aside in the package for backups and use the crap out of the other 10. Mags are critical to the operation of an autoloader and if you lose or damage them, your pistol is useless. When the next panic/run happens, IF you can find mags for your pistol, they will be probably double the price. There will be no shortage of pistols during the next panic, it will be most likely be mags and ammo. View Quote This here is solid advice. |
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He said he wanted to take it hunting and unless he's talking small game the autos listed here are illegal in this State for that purpose; best check out the laws before heading down that road. I'd go with a 6" 686, 27 (prelock) or GP100.
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I am about to buy my first ever handgun, what should it be? I will take it to the range, hunting(sidearm), and general plinking. Small enough to CC is not important, I am going to buy a smaller pistol specifically for that. I do not have a budget, but nothing crazy, so less than $900. I am just getting into firearms so if i say something wrong, be gentle View Quote What kind of hunting? This effects the decision greatly. |
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He said he wanted to take it hunting and unless he's talking small game the autos listed here are illegal in this State for that purpose; best check out the laws before heading down that road. I'd go with a 6" 686, 27 (prelock) or GP100. View Quote I read that as in a backup gun to have while hunting with another weapon. Op, can you clarify? |
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Ruger GP100 in .357 mag. Out of everything I have, that is the one gun I love shooting the most.
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I read that as in a backup gun to have while hunting with another weapon. Op, can you clarify? View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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He said he wanted to take it hunting and unless he's talking small game the autos listed here are illegal in this State for that purpose; best check out the laws before heading down that road. I'd go with a 6" 686, 27 (prelock) or GP100. I read that as in a backup gun to have while hunting with another weapon. Op, can you clarify? I read it the same way. Like at beginning of deer season down here snakes are still an issue. I find it easier to shoot snakes with my Glock 19 than with a scoped 30-06. |
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I'll second the Ruger GP100 .357 Mag. It's a pussycat to shoot with .38 special, and a much more viable hunting gun with .357s than any 9mm.
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Ruger 22/45 5 inch if you can go rimfire. Revolver in .357 if you need centerfire. Recommend S&W personally.
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Cz 75 sp01 or a sig p226. Be a man and buy a pistol that will last a lifetime
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There are way too many compact pistol suggestions in this thread. Did you guys even read the OP?
He's looking for a range and field gun, not a concealed carry gun. |
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