Picking out my first gun..

[AGENT-006]

Any good tips to what to look for to pick out my first gun. I am looking into getting my first gun along with a membership at the range. Ive never really shot guns before but would definitely like to learn how to shoot properly. Especially considering I want to be an officer eventually. My sister has offered to get me one for my 21st birthday next month.

[wyoming zl1]

May i suggest that you visit the NRA web site and look in your area for a Hand gun class. It would be very good for you before you get a gun. Lots of info and they let you shoot different styles so you can decied what you like. Its best to arm yourself with info up front. http://www.nra.org/nralocal.aspx

[Atlas]

Check out calguns.net. Get familiar with the legalities and restrictions of owning a firearm in California. Visit some reputable brick and mortar shops, two of my local favorites are 'We the People' and 'PRK Arms.' Choose a caliber, most likely 9mm since it is less expensive to shoot and train with. Determine what you want from your gun. Guys will side with XD's, others will swear by Glocks, I own both but prefer my single action Kimber. It all depends on you the shooter. Your interface with the firearm is paramount. Dont choose based on what works for other guys because you're not them. Most importantly, drill firearm safety! Muzzle awareness, proper loading and unloading of your firearm, manual of arms, etc. Properly operating a firearm, especially a handgun is a learned trade. Have fun, take it slow, and most importantly be humble and safe

[destroyerofu2]

Originally Posted by Atlas

Check out calguns.net. Get familiar with the legalities and restrictions of owning a firearm in California. Visit some reputable brick and mortar shops, two of my local favorites are 'We the People' and 'PRK Arms.' Choose a caliber, most likely 9mm since it is less expensive to shoot and train with. Determine what you want from your gun. Guys will side with XD's, others will swear by Glocks, I own both but prefer my single action Kimber. It all depends on you the shooter. Your interface with the firearm is paramount. Dont choose based on what works for other guys because you're not them. Most importantly, drill firearm safety! Muzzle awareness, proper loading and unloading of your firearm, manual of arms, etc. Properly operating a firearm, especially a handgun is a learned trade. Have fun, take it slow, and most importantly be humble and safe

^^^lot of good stuff here^^^

this>>> drill firearm safety! Muzzle awareness <<< I have personal carried for almost 20 years now, and I have tought my kids gun safety, and I go to the range and see people with no regaurd that bullets come out the pointy end and just wave it around like nothing. even when I sell one of my guns to a newbe, I give them a small lesson before I'll sell the gun to them (I only personal sell so its my choice who i sell to).
but nothing is more important than safety. and remember when you drill safety do it with an unloaded firearm.

[Hammer St. James]

To me it depends on the intended use of the firearm. For home security nothing beats a 12 gauge pump shotgun.

For CCW, and seeing this is your first firearm, I would suggest a revolver in the line of a .38 Smith & Wesson Bodyguard. There are less things that can go wrong in comparison to a pistol. Simply put, with a revolver if it doesnt go bang just squeeze the trigger again.

[PalmerGA]

They still let citizens buy guns in California? Wow... better get one quick.

As advised above; do some research, check your local NRA, take a class. I would keep it simple while you're learning to shoot and handle handguns safely. I'm with Hammer - a nice .38 revolver is good for starters. Simple, nice balance, plenty of punch.

Good luck and be SAFE!

[PIPE]

Do Research, Take a class , and for the love of God go to a gunshop and stick as many guns in your hands as possible. Get the feel of it first. If its not comfortable in your hand before you start fireing it sure as hell wont be when you fire. I agree a revolver for a first gun is the best IMHO. Less complicated and surely more reliable. I'd suggest for the money get a 357 Mag. Basically you have 2 guns in 1 for the money. A .38 special will fire in a 357 mag. Use and practice with that awhile first. When you wanna step up in firepower get some 357 mag rounds and go from there. Good luck and be SAFE. Safety first my friend

[PalmerGA]

Originally Posted by PIPE

I'd suggest for the money get a 357 Mag. Basically you have 2 guns in 1 for the money. A .38 special will fire in a 357 mag. Use and practice with that awhile first. When you wanna step up in firepower get some 357 mag rounds and go from there. Good luck and be SAFE. Safety first my friend

Pipe - Not a bad idea, but I was trying to keep it as simple as possible. I have a .357 Mag and love it. I use .38s to target shoot because of the expense. I suppose it would be possible to restrain from the urge to load .357s while learning the gun, and just use .38s for a while.

[Sir Nuke]

Originally Posted by wyoming zl1

May i suggest that you visit the NRA web site and look in your area for a Hand gun class. It would be very good for you before you get a gun. Lots of info and they let you shoot different styles so you can decied what you like. Its best to arm yourself with info up front. http://www.nra.org/nralocal.aspx

Originally Posted by Atlas

Check out calguns.net. Get familiar with the legalities and restrictions of owning a firearm in California. Visit some reputable brick and mortar shops, two of my local favorites are 'We the People' and 'PRK Arms.' Choose a caliber, most likely 9mm since it is less expensive to shoot and train with. Determine what you want from your gun. Guys will side with XD's, others will swear by Glocks, I own both but prefer my single action Kimber. It all depends on you the shooter. Your interface with the firearm is paramount. Dont choose based on what works for other guys because you're not them. Most importantly, drill firearm safety! Muzzle awareness, proper loading and unloading of your firearm, manual of arms, etc. Properly operating a firearm, especially a handgun is a learned trade. Have fun, take it slow, and most importantly be humble and safe

Originally Posted by PIPE

Do Research, Take a class , and for the love of God go to a gunshop and stick as many guns in your hands as possible. Get the feel of it first. If its not comfortable in your hand before you start fireing it sure as hell wont be when you fire. I agree a revolver for a first gun is the best IMHO. Less complicated and surely more reliable. I'd suggest for the money get a 357 Mag. Basically you have 2 guns in 1 for the money. A .38 special will fire in a 357 mag. Use and practice with that awhile first. When you wanna step up in firepower get some 357 mag rounds and go from there. Good luck and be SAFE. Safety first my friend

and MORE


The three posts above, will be the best advice you will ever get......heed it and all will be good in your world!

[destroyerofu2]

Originally Posted by Hammer St. James

To me it depends on the intended use of the firearm. For home security nothing beats a 12 gauge pump shotgun.

For CCW, and seeing this is your first firearm, I would suggest a revolver in the line of a .38 Smith & Wesson Bodyguard. There are less things that can go wrong in comparison to a pistol. Simply put, with a revolver if it doesnt go bang just squeeze the trigger again.

I have found a good CCW and home security gun



410 judge
I load .410 double buck and bird shot for home
and 45 colt and 2 1/2 hollow slug for personal
its light weight and with the double buck and bird it doen't kick much (the wife likes it for home also)

[1o.f00t.570rk]

Definitely echo the safety classes. Many folks don't take the time to learn good habits, and they end up putting themselves and the folks they shoot with in danger.

When you're looking at your first firearm, don't discount the SIG pistols, although they are among the most expensive options out there. The P226 is the official sidearm of the SEALS, so if it's good enough for them, you can be sure it'll work for you reliably as well. The P226 also has a .22LR conversion slide, so you can practice technique without burning more expensive ammo.

I've also had friends with good success with CZ pistols. Both the SIG and CZ pistols are in the "more rounded" style grip, along with Berettas and 1911s. Glocks, HK's, and the XD mentioned earlier are in the more "squared" grip style. It's best to hold both and see which you like better, as the comfort of the pistol will play a part in how often you shoot.

Lastly, it's best to define what is "sufficient" marksman skill for you. You could spend 200 bucks a week on ammo, or 50 bucks a month, or even less, to get to and maintain the level of marksmanship you desire. Knowing what that level you desire ahead of time helps predict the long-term costs and can influence ammunition choices.

[Mr Twisty]

Great 1st gun is a .22, you can get them as a revolver or semi-auto, accurate and can shoot all day without breaking the bank.

Take a course, learn the proper way to handle a pistol, then spend a good chunk of time at the range practicing what you've learned.

I've been shooting since I was a little squirt, 45 years now I guess.... learned bad habits from brothers, better habits from dad. Repetition is a good thing with firearms, learn the correct way and do it over and over.

I open carry a full size 45 and compact 40, semi-auto's are inherently more dangerous than a revolver, the big advantage is higher capacity. (If you can't hit your target with 6 rounds you didn't practice enough)

NEVER put your finger on the trigger until you're ready for the firearm to fire!
I can't tell you how many times someone has brought out a pistol with a hair trigger, and put a bullet in the dirt before they ever got the barrel pointed down range. Bad MOJO

Re-read the red sentence above.

Read it again.

Memorize it.

[PsychoRS]

First of all, are you buying a rifle or handgun?

I recommend going to your local gunshop and tell them what you're looking for and to handle several different types of handguns and/or rifles to see what feels the best in your hands.

Do some research on the firearms that you like and on the different types of ammunition available for said firearms.

I also recommend taking a firearm safety class.

[BowtieBelle]

Originally Posted by PIPE

Do Research, Take a class , and for the love of God go to a gunshop and stick as many guns in your hands as possible. Get the feel of it first. If its not comfortable in your hand before you start fireing it sure as hell wont be when you fire. I agree a revolver for a first gun is the best IMHO. Less complicated and surely more reliable.

THIS!

My first gun was a 9mm.

[HondaPowered]

My first gun which I bought a couple weeks ago is a Gen 4 Glock 21. It is .45 ACP and it feels and shoots so good. I am 21, and just graduated college, going into law enforcement, most of the law enforcement around here in TN use the .40 s&w models of glock whether it be the glock23 or the glock 22.

My .45 is for home protection and I'm almost afraid my fiance will steal it from me, the second time she shot it, she fell in love.

I recommend finding a range that does a rental program. And use 5-10 bullets per gun, and try it out. You will get a general feeling of whether you like it or not with those 5-10. Then narrow it down.

[VR Code R6P]

Not knowing which you are interested in, a long gun or a handgun, I would suggest a .22 cal for you to get a feel for how to hold, sight, learn a good trigger squeeze, and of course, safely use the weapon. It will have much less recoil so that you can develop the neccessary skills to become a competent shot, without being intimidated by it. The idea being is to hit the target, than scare it with big noise.

I try to start all my friends and family on a .22 cal that have never fired a gun before.

You could also start with some courses at a Gun Shop with a range, and rent the gun to start with, until you decide what your likes and dislikes are before buying any gun. Some guns you will not like, just like you might not like some cars, or whether or not it has an automatic or manual transmission.

Don't buy a "cheap" gun, it will frustrate you, and not let you enjoy it.

Just my 2 cents.

[AZCamaroFan]

considering your signature pic, i suggest a Walther

[nyrfan]

1st let me say guns are an addicting hobby! Purchased my 1st gun in 2004, a SA XD40, today my wife and I have a total of 16 guns. My most recent purchase was a Kimber Ultra Carry, love it but my favorite gun is my FN Five-seveN.

As many have said you really need to go and not only feel, but practice shoot many guns this way you have an idea of what you like. What you like, the next person may not so it's really hard for someone to tell you what to buy.

Good luck with your 1st purchase!

[txgoose]

I suggest that you buy your second gun first. Get something you can acquaint yourself with easily. Safety and accuracy would be the first things on the agenda. Once you've got that stuff down, you'll know what you want and what you want it for, plus it gives you something for your 22nd birthday.

[AGENT-006]

GREAT POSTS! THANKS to everyone for the great replies. I will be going to a local shop and getting a feel for the guns, and looking into some classes to learn the proper handling of the gun. Others have told me also that a .22 is great to start wit (cost wise and to learn to shoot with.)

[austinjames]

[HondaPowered]

A .22 is not necessary unless you are a 90 lb girl. The lowest caliber I would say to purchase would be a 9mm or .40.

A .22 is fun to just go and plink, but if you actually want to learn how to shoot, you must learn how to shoot properly. If you go and shoot just a .22 then pick up a .40 you will not be adjusted to the recoil. Practice with what you are wanting to shoot.

Another suggestion for you, is to talk with the law enforcement officers that you would like to be part of, and just ask them which guns they use on duty.

I know the two places that I have applied to, and I know which guns they use. University of TN police use the glock23, which is a compact .40. Metro nashville uses the glock 22, which is a full size .40.

If you still want a .22 then go for it, but as I said, practice with what you plan on using.

[nyrfan]

Originally Posted by AGENT-006

GREAT POSTS! THANKS to everyone for the great replies. I will be going to a local shop and getting a feel for the guns, and looking into some classes to learn the proper handling of the gun. Others have told me also that a .22 is great to start wit (cost wise and to learn to shoot with.)

I would not waste my time with a .22.

[SirMike]

Originally Posted by AZCamaroFan

considering your signature pic, i suggest a Walther

Ha Ha, I also love 007 and it was part of the reason I did get a Walther P99 a while back. However to be honest, I shoot better with a 911 any day of the week. I also love my xd, but as others have said try before you buy.

CALGUNS is GREAT!!! BTW, they just had the annual "hands on" shooting fair at Raahauge's June 1 weekend. They let you shoot all types of handguns and rifles (for a fee).

Good luck, shoot straight and BE SAFE!

[AdamZ]

If you are looking into LE look at a Glock 23 (.40cal) (what I use) FN Five Seven (5.7mm) (coolest gun I have ever seen. I am trying to get the dept. to switch to these), or a sig p226 9mm (probably the nicest gun out there).