First handgun

[Phill318]

I'm seventeen, and I have never owned a handgun.
I've shot a few, and I'm saving up money to buy one.
Any recommendations?
I really can't decide between a 9mm and a .357.
I realize that they are pretty different, but they're both sort of generic basic handguns...
One being a revolver, and one being a semi-auto.
Anyways, give me your thoughts.

[Sandhiller]

Hi, Phil, and welcome to the group.

Don't buy ANYTHING until you have a chance to handle and shoot a selection of handguns that appeal to you. Try to find someone who would be willing to help you on that score. Taking a basics class from an NRA instructor is always a good place to start. Call NRA if you need to to find one near you.

Also, I would recommend that you start with a good .22, whether an autoloader or a revolver. Starting out with bigbores is almost always a mistake. If you want to be very good someday, start small and work up as your skills grow.

Best of luck to you.

[tuna]

What sandhiller said. Try to get to a range, or find a friend that will let you handle and if possible shoot some different handguns to see which you like best. You don't need a reason to like a revolver or an autoloader, either choice is fine, and welcome to the wonderful world of guns. Whichever you choose, someone will tell you that you are wrong and someone will say you're right - that's part of the fun of guns is making up stuff to argue about.

One note - like sandhiller said, start with a .22 in whichever platform you like. Once you get your main pistol, it will help immensly in practice, and cheaply too. Get a mid sized .22 though, don't go too small - it will be tougher to shoot well, and won't be good training for you to start on. You don't want something too huge, but that is less of a problem.

Good luck.

[pioneer461]

What do you want to do with it? Home defense, concealed carry, just plinking, competition, ____________?

I'd also recommend beginning with a .22. Instead of buying a gun that doesn't turn out to fit you well, see if you can find a range which rents guns. Or perhaps, a friend or family member who has different kinds you can try. No matter what, do not use what you see on TV or in the movies as firearm training. There's no such thing as a "wonder bullet" that will knock someone down each and every time.

Ditto what Sandhiller said. Get professional training. Despite good intentions, your 2nd cousin's brother's neighbor, who used to be a corrections officer, may not be the best firearms instructor.

Some folks may tell you that you need this kind of gun, or that kind of gun, or this caliber, or that. What works for one, does not work for all. Find what works best for you.

Welcome to the gun culture. Not just a sport, but a way of life.

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb294/pioneer461/police.png

[HDSam]

.22's are fun, inexpensive, and if you don't care for it, you're not out a ton of money.

You can get 500 rounds of Remington Thunderbolt .22 for less than $18.00. 500 rounds of Speer Lawman 9mm runs about $110.00.

Go .22, it's your first handgun, not your last. Definitely not your last...

[Sandhiller]

I use a lot of Federal bulk HPs. $11.96 for 550 at WallyMarto.

Phil needs to find a mentor. Used to be the way it was done. I guess those days are gone forever. I had one and am glad I did.

[nodaywithout]

All great advice, i can tell you that i rented a different gun practically every time that i went to the range until i found one that i was happy with then i bought the xd .45 acp service model, i am still happy with the decision as i wanted a glock and was pretty new to shooting, after my ccw came in i got a glk 30 aka baby glock, since i then felt comfortable with carring a chambered weapon with no true safety/decocker on the pistol it'self.

If you are going to carry thing in advance, will this be the gun that i am going to carry? Will carry it in the hotter month's, colder months, or both? do i want to carry inside the waist band, on the hip, will i even have to conceal and just open carry?

my first and second pistols were .45's and now i am in the market for a 9 or 40 for cost of ammo at the range and thus i may get a full frame instead of a baby size which is easier to carry but more interesting to shoot with my large hands.

[VegasGeorge]

One nice thing about a .22 is that we all either have one, or want one. So, you won't be wasting your money. You will have a real gun that's fun to shoot and cheap to feed. It's a perfect way to get into shooting while deciding which way you want to go for that bigger caliber gun your itching to get. I personally like the Ruger 22/45 because the frame is the same size and shape as the 1911. I feel right a home shooting it.

[junglebob]

Phil, You do know that you have to be 21 to purchase a handgun. Have you talked with your parents about purchasing it for you when you have the money saved?

What state are your from? Your state may have a minimum age for possession. I believe you have to be 21 to buy handgun ammo as well.

A Walmart employee asked me recently when I bought some .22 ammo if it was for a handgun. I asked why he needed to know, he should have known I was 21 plus, been so for almost 40 years. The Illinois Firearm Owners ID card has your date of birth on it anyway, so it seemed like a dumb question.

[Sandhiller]

Interesting about WM asking whether .22 ammo was for a handgun. I always recoil dramatically and say "A handgun? Oh, my! NO!" Just a bit of fun. When I asked what would happen if I said it WAS for a dirty, filthy, dangerous handgun the clerk just shrugged and said "Nothing. We just enter it."

So what's going on with MW and their "need to know"?

[tuna]

So what's going on with MW and their "need to know"?


Just a stupid policy, I'd guess. Although I've heard that some places won't sell "pistol ammo" to under 21, even though you can have a rifle in all of the standard pistol calibers.

I like having the cashier take my LTC and study it, and then quiz them on the info when they give it back:
"So, when does my license expire?"
"I dunno"
"Shouldn't you have looked at that?"

I was in Dick's once, buying round balls for my muzzleloader, and the cashier asked for my LTC. Her manager came over and scolded her that she didn't need to see my license. When she said that she thought she needed to ask for ammunition, she was told by her wonderful manager, "Yes, but those are only bullets, not ammuntion" and away she walked. I took pity and spent a minute explaining it to her.

[Evil Ernie]

Phil, depending on the state you're in, you may be able to carry openly w/o a permit at age 18. Most CCW permits require an age of 21 to apply and CC.
For example, Colorado allows 18 yr olds to OC a sidearm, but not purchase a handgun or apply for CCW. Rather strange, but that's the way it is. I believe that it stems from back in the day when ranches were more common and young boys would ride out and tend livestock. They needed that sidearm or long gun to protect against predators both animal and human.

Walmart has gotten strange in their ways. Seems they've sold out to the anti's in that they now have video record of all firearms transactions, and ask silly questions about ammo.