Newbie to Pistols

[cgturner7]

I'm looking for some advice.  I am considering purchasing my first pistol.  I'm new to pistols but not firearms- I hunt whitetails in TX with a H&R .308.  I've shot pistols, .22lr, .38, and a .45 that I couldn't hit anything with.  I've read much of the Chuckhawks site and see that he recommmends starting off with a .22lr.  Is that what y'all would recommend as well?  Also, what would be a good used pistol?  Thanks for your help.

[oso45-70]

I'm looking for some advice.  I am considering purchasing my first pistol.  I'm new to pistols but not firearms- I hunt whitetails in TX with a H&R .308.  I've shot pistols, .22lr, .38, and a .45 that I couldn't hit anything with.  I've read much of the Chuckhawks site and see that he recommmends starting off with a .22lr.  Is that what y'all would recommend as well?  Also, what would be a good used pistol?  Thanks for your help.

Welcome to Handgun Discussion, My advice would be just as Chuckhawk says, Start with a good handgun and learn to handle it ( Trigger release ) and go from there. If you know some one that is a pistol shooter get him or her to help you. I would think a 22 handgun would be a good place to start so you don't develope a flinch, Good luck .......Joe........

[Redhawk1]

I have to agree with starting with something that is fun and easy on recoil.  

[Questor]

If you're shopping for a used 22, some good ones to look at are Rugers revolvers and autos,  Browning buckmark autos, and Smith and Wesson revolvers. After you've handled a few you'll know what you like. Just be sure that you are getting one with a relatively light and crisp trigger pull-- this is very important with pistols.  You really need to get one with adjustable sights or you'll always be compensating your aim to suit the offset inherent in the fixed sights.

[rockbilly]

As a first pistol, don't pass up a H&R 929 or 926.  They are inexpensive little guns and are of fairly high quality and very accurate.  You should be able to pick one up for about $100.  What ever you buy, make sure it has adjustable sights. :wink:

[unspellable]

No better cartridge to start with than the 22 LR.

What to shoot it from is a bit more complicated.  First decision is revolver vs self loader or semi-automatic pistol.  The revolver is a bit simpler in concept and for that reason a bit safer to handle for the beginner.  But if you are the sort who is willing to read the instructions then the self loader is simple enough.

In the self loader category I recently bought a very nice used Browning Buckmark for $200.  You will pay more than that for a nice S&W revolver.  You might find a single action Ruger for less than the S&W but its not likely to have as good a trigger.

[hardertr]

Hey cgturner7....I'm just down the road from you (San Angelo)!

The last 5 deer I shot have been with a Taurus 44.  Once you start hunting with a pistol, it's pretty hard to leave it behind.

My favorite pistol is my Ruger 22/45.  It's a 22lr on a "45 frame".  I get the feel of my bigger autos, but all the fun of a VERY accurate 22 pistol.  You should be able to find one fairly cheaply (around $250) in these parts since most of the guys around here are "too manly" for a 22.

It's a good starter pistol because you can afford to shoot it A LOT and it get's you used to shooting a pistol.

[hardertr]

Hey cgturner7....I'm just down the road from you (San Angelo)!

The last 5 deer I shot have been with a Taurus 44.  Once you start hunting with a pistol, it's pretty hard to leave it behind.

My favorite pistol is my Ruger 22/45.  It's a 22lr on a "45 frame".  I get the feel of my bigger autos, but all the fun of a VERY accurate 22 pistol.  You should be able to find one fairly cheaply (around $250) in these parts since most of the guys around here are "too manly" for a 22.

It's a good starter pistol because you can afford to shoot it A LOT and it get's you used to shooting a pistol.

[JJ79]

I'm looking for some advice.  I am considering purchasing my first pistol.  I'm new to pistols but not firearms- I hunt whitetails in TX with a H&R .308.  I've shot pistols, .22lr, .38, and a .45 that I couldn't hit anything with.  I've read much of the Chuckhawks site and see that he recommmends starting off with a .22lr.  Is that what y'all would recommend as well?  Also, what would be a good used pistol?  Thanks for your help.

You'll shoot a lot more if you get a .22 - ammo is MUCH cheaper than anything else.  However, it depends on what you want to do with the gun; if you're looking for something that's easy to shoot/learn with, but would still function as a home defense gun, I'd recommend a .38 Sp or 9mm.  If all you want to do is plink around with it, then definitely get the .22.

Most important, get some good instruction on how to shoot a handgun; it's a whole different ball-game than shooting a rifle...  Good luck!!

[JJ79]

suggestions on pistols - for .22s...

http://www.ruger.com/Firearms/FAProdView?model=10119&return=Y

http://www.ruger.com/Firearms/FAProdView?model=621&return=Y

revolvers...

http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?model=65SS4&category=Revolver  (you can shoot .38s in this also...)

semi-autos...

http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?model=24/7-9SSP-17&category=Pistol

http://www.glock.com/g17.htm

http://www.kahr.com/pistols_KT9093.html

[corbanzo]

Like JJ recommended, for a starting pistol, I would look for a single six in .22/.22mag, there are quite a few used ones out there, and they retain their quality extremely well.  Also, you should know what you want, as in there are revolver guys, and there are semi-auto guys, who are very proficient with one, and that is what they hunt with.  If you have a preference, then decided with that in mind.  Of course, if you really want to get into pistols, you are going to have both at some time.  If you want to look for something a little bigger, you could look for a .357, and start out shooting .38's.  There are quite a few low power .38's, and if you wanted to get into hunting medium sized game with a pistol, a .357 is a good starting point.

[cgturner7]

Thanks for all the advice.  I am leaning towards a revolver- I don't know why, just am.  I like the idea of a double action.  Question- can a double action be fired quickly?  I can see having to squeeze off several quick shots at a running jackrabbit.  Is it tough to get shots off quickly with a revolver?  Maybe I should be looking at autoloaders.  Besides the fun factor, the main reason for getting the .22 is it being a trainer.  After I get proficient shooting the .22 I will shop for a larger caliber.  I'll still keep the little .22 to use when my sons get older, that, and it's always fun to go blast some tin cans.  I hope to get to a gunshop this weekend to handle a few pistols and see what fires me up.

[JJ79]

Thanks for all the advice.  I am leaning towards a revolver- I don't know why, just am.  I like the idea of a double action.  Question- can a double action be fired quickly?  I can see having to squeeze off several quick shots at a running jackrabbit.  Is it tough to get shots off quickly with a revolver?  Maybe I should be looking at autoloaders.  Besides the fun factor, the main reason for getting the .22 is it being a trainer.  After I get proficient shooting the .22 I will shop for a larger caliber.  I'll still keep the little .22 to use when my sons get older, that, and it's always fun to go blast some tin cans.  I hope to get to a gunshop this weekend to handle a few pistols and see what fires me up.

CG...if you can hit a running jackrabbit with a pistol, you must be a way better shot than me!! :shock:   to answer your question, yes, a double action revolver can be fired VERY quickly if you know what you're doing...however, what you gain in speed you lose in accuracy.  in my experience, its harder to shoot a double action as accurately as a single.  i know there are DA fans who would disagree, but to give yourself some idea...imagine shooting your .308 with a 13 lb. trigger pull!!  of course the benefit of a DA is you can have it both ways; just cock the hammer when you want to be more accurate.

the .22 will be great to learn with...there's nothing as fun as shooting a .22 pistol at cactus...best free target in the world, and ya'll have plenty of them around Fredericksburg!!  

[Old Griz]

:cb2: The .22 is the best idea for learning to shoot well. Most people get automatics. My first .22 was a S&W 2206 .22 automatic. I lucked out. Didn't know what I was getting. Turned out to be a fantastic gun. Too bad they don't make them any more. However, now days I lean toward revolvers. All .22 automatics are finicky on what they like to eat. A .22 revolver is not picky at all. They will digest anything. It never jams. I have a Ruger Bisley .22, a S&W 617 (the best and most accurate), and a .22 Ruger SP101. It's hard to go wrong with any of them. Sticker shock my get you on a new S&W 617, but they are worth every nickel if you get one. Ammo is soooooo cheap, and like you said, it would be great to train your sons—and wife—to shoot with.

I found a used S&W M10 (.38 Special) that looked brand new, though it was made in the 60s. Some will say (I used to—not now) to get a .357 and shoot .38s in it. That way you have a gun that will shoot both. However, I have several .357s and all of them shoot .357s better than they do .38s. My M10 is amazingly accurate, and it's so much fun to shoot. Being a S&W, it has a fine double action trigger, and if you're going rabbit (coon, opossum, armadillo, cat) hunting, a .38 would be an excellent choice. So if your reason for getting the gun is to shoot .38s, I'd get a gun chambered to shoot .38s. Plus, .38 ammo won't break the bank. Especially if you get reloads. It's a great caliber for teaching the wife and kids to shoot, too.

Either one—.22 or .38—will give you hours of fun without pain or wearing you out. Have fun, and let us know what you get!