Whats a good handgun to get?

Question

I wanna start target shooting in the spring.. well my friend got me into it!! We have a range a few miles from my home.. I wanna get something accurate with a little power to it.. Any suggestions??

Answer 1

I would start with a .22LR. Either a S&W 617 if you want a revolver, or a Ruger Mk III if you want an auto. Once you are accurate and comfortable with that, I would suggest a good .357 Magnum revolver, either from S&W or Ruger. You can shoot .38 Specials in it at first, and then move up to .357 Magnum ammunition when you are ready. I suggest either a 4" or a 6" barrel for this revolver. Shorter will give you too much blast and power loss, and longer will not be very useful for you.

The .22LR is good to start with because if you want to be any good at this, you will need a LOT of practice, and .22LR ammo is very cheap compared to centerfire ammo.

Answer 2

When you invest your $$$$ by buying a 357 Magnum, you get two (2)* handguns for the price of one (1)*, because you can shoot 38 caliber ammo in the 357 Magnum also.* It can be used for Target, Hunting and self defense.* It is a proven man stopper.* It is comfortable to shoot.* I prefer the Smith & Wesson Brand Revolver.* Nothing less than a 4" barrel & 6" is better.*

Answer 3

Informal target shooting? A Smith & Wesson 686, .357 mag., is a good choice. Double action, stainless steel, can shoot .38 cal. rounds or the more potent .357 mag. round. The Ruger GP100 is another good choice. Many of these two guns on the used gun market for very reasonable prices. Ammo won't rape your wallet either.

Competition shooting? Depends on which type you get into. The Action Shooting games relies heavily on semi auto pistols. A good quality 9mm, 40 cal. or .45 ACP is what is required. Lots of good quality choices out there. Research is half the fun.

Enjoy your new hobby. . .

Answer 4

An S&W M-17 or M-617 in .22 LR will be your best tool to learn bullseye type shooting. Then you also need a Colt Gold Cup .45 ACP.

I personally prefer revolvers for daily carry, but the bullseye game is dominated by .22 LR revolvers and finely tuned .45 ACP pistol.

If you plan on competing in bullseye matches, you will need both the .22, and the Gold Cup (or a M-1911-clone set up with adjustable sights, target trigger, match grade barrel, and set up as a "softball" pistol).

Doc

Answer 5

Ok your question wasn't the most specific so my answer is broad. There are 3 reasons for getting a gun sometimes it's just one or all three; Target shooting only, home defense, or concealed carry.

Caliber:
I prefer 9mm myself for all of the three reasons. First, for target shooting 9mm is the cheapest caliber to practice with, except for a .22, but that caliber is not adequate for concealed carry or home defense. Second, for home defense or concealed carry 9mm is a fast accurate round and as any expert will tell you shot placement is what counts when disabling someone right away, IE hitting a vital area.

Brand:
Glock is of course my favorite handgun for all around use, I own 2 of them both in 9mm, a G19 and a G34. Glocks are reliable, relatively cheap to buy, accurate when shot well, and simple to operate. A Glock will last you a LONG time, you can pick one up for about $500 new and to give you an example of longevity with regular cleaning, my tactical instructor has a G34 he has owned for 9 years it is still going strong and he has put over 150,000 rounds through it. All the original parts are still in it except for the trigger spring has been changed 3 times (His own preventative maintenance).

As far as models go
G34 - 9mm Tactical/Practical model, full 5" barrel for greater accuracy and velocity. Awesome gun for range use or home defense. Takes same magazines as the G17

G17 - Full Size duty model 9mm 4.25" barrel. Great gun for home defense or range use, may be use for concealed carry but will be bulky and requires come good carry clothing to be worn.

G19 - Great all around gun. Compact 9mm 4" barrel. Small enough for concealed carry (this is what I carry). It's not too small though, you can still use this at the range or for home defense (NYPD uses this model 9mm as their duty weapon.)

Those are the 3 Glocks I recommend, if you don’t want a Glock and are dead set against one some other brands that are of good quality I can recommend are; Beretta, SIG, Springfield Armory, and H&K. I hope I answered your question feel free to contact me at [e-mail] if you have any other firearms specific questions. I will try to answer them, and if I cant I probably know someone who can :D.

Answer 6

If this is going to be your first handgun, get a 4" .357 mag revolver. Start off shooting light .38 spl. wadcutters and work your way up to magnum loads.

Answer 7

I'd start with a Ruger Mk.I or Mk. 2 .22. If you want more power than that, yeah, go up to .357. You can shoot both .38 special and .357 through it. A custom or accurized .45 would be good, but expensive.

Answer 8

Start by getting to a range where you can try several pistols and revolvers. Get some safety training and then you should KNOW what you like.

Answer 9

start with a revolver you can use a 357 magnum and fire wad-cutters at the range then work your way up in power as you grow accustomed to it and the control is better .

Answer 10

Matilda