hey all, well i turn 21 july 30. if i am able to purchase a handgun (my situation had already been discussed on another post called "MD gun law question (below)", i would like to purchase on. how do u guys go about buying handgun, especially a first one? do u guys just go in the store and find one you like by looks? do you shop by caliber? do you shop by necessity? i mean there are so many pistols to chose from, what makes you chose one over the other. Also, what were your guys first handguns you had? do you have any pics of them? i hope my question makes sense, lol, i guess im jus asking what makes you chose one particular handgun over another. thanks
i hope my question makes sense, lol, i guess im jus asking what makes you chose one particular handgun over another.
Icant just chose one over the other myself - in my opinion thats why you have to have more then one.
Diffent ones for different uses & reasons & in diffent sizes( frames) & calibers ,finishes & actions( Da action single action, revolver, semiauto, single shot, target , hunting etc& just because i dont have one are all good reasons to have more then one i think.( but i dont know if that answered your question)
I didnt see the Md gun laws question/thread - yet.
What are you going to use it for- your first one- handgun?
My first handgun was made mostly out of wood i think ( but that one wouldnt count right?
Rugers Redhawk , blackhawks,gp 100, sp101 are all nice....(and many others)
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Things ain't what they used to be and probably never was. ~Will Rogers
Tomorrow hopes we have learned something from yesterday.
"Shouldn't someone tag Mr. Kennedy's 'bold new imaginative program' with its proper age?" "Under the tousled boyish haircut it is still old Karl Marx—first launched a century ago.
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Im thinking of picking up another ruger single six- one of those in 22.lr& 22. mag ( withextra cylinder) stainless- just because
It would be nice to have one of each.
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Let others praise ancient times; I am glad I was born in these.-- Ovid (43 B.C.-A.D. 18)
Things ain't what they used to be and probably never was. ~Will Rogers
Tomorrow hopes we have learned something from yesterday.
"Shouldn't someone tag Mr. Kennedy's 'bold new imaginative program' with its proper age?" "Under the tousled boyish haircut it is still old Karl Marx—first launched a century ago.
There is nothing new in the idea of a government being Big Brother to us all. R.Reagan-1960
Just as with rifles or knives or golf clubs, each handgun has sort of a purpose. For self defense against human vermin, IMO the snub nose 357 Mag, 40 S&W and 45 ACP rule the roost. For hunting small game you can't beat a 22 or 22 Mag handgun with a barrel of 6 inches or more IMO. For big game hunting you should check your local hunting laws but the 357 GP 100 with a six inch barrel or the 41 or44 Mag with a 6-8 inch barrel is about perfect. You can add the 45 Long Cols Ruger to that list if its legal where you hunt. If you want to go bigger yet then the 454, 480, 460 and 500 S&W are good choices but really not needed in the lower 48 states and recoil and muzzle blast will not make them a fun to shoot gun.
You can really hunt about everything in North America with a 22, 357 and 44 Mag. Again this is my opinion but I have done several tons of hunting and competition handgun shooting.
I would by all means pick up a .22 right from the start. I'm partial to the ruger MKII but any would suffice. They are generally inexpensive, you can put a lot of rounds through them (cheap ammo), and youcan reallytake the time to learn how to hold and shoot properly. Once you haveyour technique down, it's hard to go wrong with a 357 revolver that can also shoot 38 specials for fun or to carry. I also picked up a .44 magnum Encore strictly for hunting, but that is a significant investment.
I guess what I'm saying is that I agree 100% with what James posted above.
My order of purchase was Ruger MKII .22 Semi-auto, Ruger Single Six w/ .22 magcylinder revolver, S&W .357 Magnum revolver, and an Encore .44 Magnum. This was primarily due to finances, and secondary that I don't carry concealed. These take care of all of my needs.
What is the purpose for a handgun to start?, plinking, hunting, personl protection, yada yada yada!. Second, scout out some gun stores that have shooting ranges, most will rent by the hour for you to get a good feel on what you are shooting " if you are a first time handgun shooter ask for some help", dont be bashfull, even experts need some help from time to time. Last and by all counts not the least, get some training, there should be some kind of formal training in your area, esspecially if it is going to be used for personal protection, laws get a little wierd when it comes to handguns. Make your first experience a GOOD one.
As for my own. I have had several and can't hit a thing with any of them but the Ruger 22 autos...MK I, MKIII, and Colt Woodsman. I have a S&W MP 40 that is a fine carry/defense gun, thus the moniker Military/Police 40cal.
IMO it beats the Glock for handling, shooting and should withstand just as much. I also have a S&W mod 29 44magnum (dirty harry gun) it is on the classified for sale. That is a lot of gun for someone new to handguns. But then again, it's a lot of gun for anyone. I think you need to decide what you want a gun for first. Hunting, go with a revolver. .357 is a minimum, I would go bigger. Carry, a sp101 in 357 is good, so are the many autos on the market. The .40 S&W is hard to beat for all around carry use. 10mm and .45's are heavy and a little overkill. 9mm is small and not enough to stop a drug crazed attacker unless you take out his haircovered computer on the first shot. A good old .22 cal. in whichever type (revolver or auto) fits your fancy is just hard to beat. Fun, low recoil, most will shoot well and not too heavy.
Good Luck, let us know the purpose of said handgun and we can be of more finely tuned assistance.
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Bowhunting is just like church....only quieter
i would probably get a 460 ruger because you can shoot I think three different rounds through it. 454 casull, of course 460, but I cant remember the last one if threre is one.
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-If your to busy to enjoy Gods great outdoors, than your just to busy!!
thanks alot guys for all the info. yea i jus want something to go to the range with, target practice, maybe even carry while im hunting on my land while bowhunting (have to see if its legal, but if its my land, i beleive i should be able to) also for a little protection in my parents house, i doubt anyone would ever try to break in, but if they did i would feel much better knowing i have a compact 40 cal or somthing opposed to my benelli nova pump lol.
is it true that glocks can be submerged in water and still work? i have heard that but not sure. if so, can any other gun do that? or can all? i wouldnt think all can, but im no expert. i like the glock models, they are beautful guns if ya ask me. and they have a thousand different types. ITS GONNA BE SO HARD to chose my first lol. thanks for the info guys
deciding on a pistol
( but i dont know if that answered your question)
( but that one wouldnt count right?
