Posted: 5/27/2008 4:13:51 PM EDT
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Ok. So i started this year owning zero firearms and now have 3, with another one on order and one more in the chamber, so to speak. I have bolt actions and autoloaders, and now its time for a pistol! I have set my sights on either an HK USP, or Walther P99/P22. USP tactical is probably my dream pistol, but its expensive! And price is a factor so i think i will hold off on that, for now. So, are there competitively priced USPs out there? What about the Walthers? I know the P22 is cheaper than the 99 but my concern is that it will feel more like a toy (its about 25% smaller than the 99, right?) and if i could get the real deal for only a little more i think that might be more worth while... I do wish to someday add accessories like a LAM and suppressor, so which one more easily accommodates that? What do you think? I'd like to hear from someone who has both, but all comments are appreciated! |
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Buy a Glock, and get an AA conversion for it, or buy a used USP in 9mm if you want the HK. I bought 2 handguns at the same time for my "firsts". I bought a P22 and a West German Sig P220, I shot both at the range and sought out professional instruction. I used the P22 for lessons maybe 3 times, while the Sig got used for dozens of training sessions. The instructor felt that it's not worth using a crappy gun to learn on when there are better options available to me(the Sig). I had competition rifle experience, but no pistol experience when I came to him and had no problem learning to shoot a handgun properly with a .45. 9mm is cheap compared to all others, and unless you're going to teach yourself to shoot by trial and error, a .22 IMHO is not necessary to learn to shoot a handgun. Plus when you learn to shoot your 9mm, you will not have to make the transition from no recoil to actual recoil from a handgun a la .22 to any centerfire handgun. ETA--If I were going to suggest a first handgun to someone who is considering cost, this Sig 225/P6 is what I would suggest or a used Glock 19. The Sig is a super quality gun at a very cheap price for what you get. If you can master the DA/SA of a Sig, all other triggers will work for you as well. The Glock, it just works, from day one until you are old and gray, it works well, and never ceases to do so. |
| Glock 19. Shoot it for a year or two and then look for something that fits you. I was talking to a friend a while back and between the two of us we knew no one who still carries even the TYPE of weapon that they started with. Some started on DA, ended on SA, etc. It's more important to get into a weapon you can learn easily and resell at a good price. |
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A lot of people think you should rent a bunch and buy what you like. I don't think so. At that level you aren't qualified to decide what fits you. It's like picking a car before you get your learners permit, or marrying the first girl you meet. Pick one, stick with it for a while, then decide what you like. Lots of guys end up with weird first handguns they end up ditching at a loss. They pick them because the grip matches their limp wristed shooting style and they saw one in a movie once. Pick a known quantity, roll with it, and when you can align sights and press a trigger go back and see what you still like. |
Yup. |
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Ok got back from the gunshow today with a a new (to me!) USP 9mm. $545 OTD. Also picked up 1k rounds for her. I'll post again when i've played with her a bit more :D I chose the USP because of price and even though i want both the P99 and USP... i've really wanted the USP much longer. I handled several P22's, but they were quite underwhelming. I'm not a small guy so they felt like toys in my hand. Plus seeing all of them lined up on nearly every table with the different color frames felt kinda tacky. Hell i even had a dealer try to pawn one of the longer barrel ones NIB onto me for $250 OTD because he hasnt been able to sell 'em. I got a GSG5 coming next week for my .22 plinking needs anyway :) Thanks again for al the comments guys! |
Great choice, I'd stay away from the Walthers, I see them at the range all the time having issues |
???? If not a .22, then what? There isn't any other caliber that costs less than 5X as much as the .22lr, nor is there any as accurate or low recoil. 
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I've seen people shoot .22's then step up to a real weapon and imedialy turn away from it due to the recoil, they were used to the .22 and were convinced that was the way a weapon should behave. I feel you should get a good low recoil 9mm or .38 as a first handgun. It's a good balance. I never had a single problem getting even the most dainty 90lb female to be able to shoot the Beretta M9 while I was in the military. |
True, but the standards for qualification in the military are low, and the ammo is free. If you want to become a really good shooter, .22lr is the only to go. |
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I wouldn't buy a P22. They tend to break a lot more than other .22 autoloaders. The slide is some cast zinc alloy and it apparently isn't meant to take a whole lot of use. I'd recommend the Browning Buckmark, or the Ruger models. I haven't been very impressed any time I've strayed from these. I do think it's important for shooters to own a .22 pistol. People tend to wave them off like they're a waste of time, eager to get to the "men's calibers", but there are few better ways to learn and ingrain the fundamentals. |