9mm Ruger?
 

I am looking around for a 9 mm ruger handgun to go target shooting.. Is there any good handguns taht i can use for target shooting?

I am a woman. Do you have any suggestions of waht kind of handguns i should look at?

i am keeping a open mind!;)

I am very curious about what you like the most and why?


I am also looking for a handgun for target and protection.. any suggestions? I am glad to hear ur opioions.:)

RE: 9mm Ruger?
 

The Ruger is a solid, well made handgun. But in the past, they did not have a reputation for accuracy. Maybe the newer models are better. As far as semi-auto's go, you may want to handle a few. The reach to the trigger may be an issue depending in the size of your hands. I have a Sig 226 9mm. It is extremely accurate and unquestionabley reliable. I had a Taurus 92, but I didn't like the heavy trigger pull. There are a lot of great handguns out there. A Browning P-35 might be worth trying. They are slimmer than most and have an excellent reputation. Good luck.

RE: 9mm Ruger?
 

As Wingbone said the Rugers are good guns, but they have never been target guns. I personally don't care for the way they feel, but that's a personal thing. You'll get a ton of "buy the one I've got", but you need to handle and shoot if possible as many different brands as you can. Sigs and Berettas are generally accurate guns, but they may not fit your hand well. Take your time and shop around.

RE: 9mm Ruger?
 

Hi Hunteress22,

I have a Ruger P94, (albiet chambered for .40 S&W), and it is a solid, reliable gun. I also have a Taurus AF92PT, chambered for 9mm and it also is a good, reliable autoloader. And I would have no qualms with recommending either model to someone.

Recently my brother-in-law bought a Springfield XD 4" chambered for .40 S&W and liked it so well, (his wife as well), that within a month he bought another chambered for 9mm for his wife. It is also a 4" and is a good compromise between portability and ease of use. The 4" 9mm is now my sister-in-laws "house gun". They are both very happy with them.

My wife and I have fired them both....and they are very "user friendly"....great ergodynamics.

Good luck with your search!

RE: 9mm Ruger?
 

If you don't have to use it for self defense, but only targets, you might want to think about getting a Ruger Mark II. THey are very accurate guns that are really cheap to shoot.

RE: 9mm Ruger?
 

Okay, first of all, find a gun that fits your hand. Don't worry so much about the brand, you MUST find one that fits and that you are comfortable with. Make sure the grip isn't too big or the gun isn't too heavy. I have seen so many people run out and buy a glock and it doesn't fit their hand and they are clumsy with it. I have seen people say they have to have a semi auto yet they shoot a revolver 10x better. So you see it's all about fit NOT about brand or style.

One problem i have seen with the rugers is the size. they are a big gun. i would suggest looking at CZ or glock. They are smaller, and may fit your hand better.

Again, just make sure the gun fits and don't worry about who makes it at first. Some gun shops let you try a few different guns. It would benefit you to shoot your top two favorites.

RE: 9mm Ruger?
 

I have had quiet a few handguns. I have had revolvers of different manufacturers and i have owned semi's. In terms of what I have liked from my experience, I had a Colt 1911 in .45 cal. It was a good shooter, but I replaced it with a Ruger P97 in .45 cal that was stainless and the Ruger out shot the Colt hands down. I also have had a Browning p-35 in 9mm or some call it a Browning Hi-Power. It was a very accurate handgun. I have owned Smith and Wesson Revolvers, Rossi revolvers, and the Heritage Revolvers in .22 cal. The others were in .38 special and 357 mag. Out of all of these, the Ruger seemed to fit my hands better than the others. I felt the Ruger was not as chunky as the others. However, in the .45 cal P97 Ruger's, the magazine and consequently the grips were smaller than all other Ruger models because it was a single stack magazine. That could be why it felt better and less clunky than the others. Hope this helps some. Good Luck.

RE: 9mm Ruger?
 

You mean 9mm Luger? Ruger is a gun manufacturer that has some pistols chambered in 9mm Luger or Parabellum (different names for the same cartridge). If you want to start target shooting try a 22 LR.

RE: 9mm Ruger?
 

Ok, I really mean no offense by this, but the way you worded your post, I'm kind of wondering if you don't mean you want a 9mm Luger, not Ruger...simple mistake.

That said, I completely disagree with the statements above about ruger autoloading centerfire pistols not being very accurate target pistols, I had two 1911type pistols (what the military has used for almost 100yrs), one a Colt 1911A1 and one a Ballister-Molina-I sold both of them because my new Ruger P-97 out shoots both of them. Short of getting a competition target pistol, I'll probably never own another pistol than a ruger. I'm a .45acp shooter, but I've owned and shot many 9mm's, my lil'lady shoots them and loves them-they're a great women's gun.

For a beginner, a 9mm is fine, not everyone wants to start out with a .22lr, it's a good idea for some, but there's no reason to really, the 9mm is a good starting point as well...most people just like to start with a .22lr because ammo is cheap so they can shoot/practice a lot more for the same dime, i.e. 550rounds of .22lr from walmart is $10, 50rnds of 9mm from walmart is $10-15. If you change your mind to a .22lr, get a Ruger Mark II, they ARE target pistols, especially if you get the Gov't target model or the 10" bull barrel!!!

If you stick with the 9mm, I highly recommend the Ruger P-95 for you, I'd get it in the stainless slide and Manual safety model, the kP-95, the composite grip frame makes it lighter, but more top heavy and balanced towards the muzzle (especially if you only load one round at a time-the magazine is heavy loaded)-this really helps to lessen the recoil of the shots, which the 9mm is a ***** cat anyway, but this would help, stainless guns are just easier on maintenance and a manual safety is a must for a beginner.

You might try to find some 9mm's in your neck of the woods that you could try shooting before you buy one, maybe check with your local police, they might issue them or if their officers buy their own-either for duty or pleasure, you could probably try one on if you ask politely.

RE: 9mm Ruger?
 

There used to be a company called Intrac than made an awesome gun. I am almost certain the Sprinfield Armory bought the company out or the patent of the Intrac 2000 that I had. The gun never jammed even when limp wristing and I would and did bet my life on that gun (CHL Carrier).

I have owned many pistols the Intrac being of a good price with good accuracy. There however is probably a better target shooting gun.

RE: 9mm Ruger?
 

One other comment I'd like to add...particularly on ammo prices. The Walmart in our area now sells Winchester "white box", (inexpensive), in 100 round bulk packs. The 9mm's run $10.99.....40 S&W go for $14.99....and .45 ACP goes for $18.99. These are all bulk packs of 100 and are Winchester brand. (If you don't mind cleaning your firearm a little more often...there are a number of former East block countries that sell pistol ammo for even less. They are NOT corrosive primed...but do tend to shoot "dirty". No harm...just cleaning more often required.)

The .22LR is popular because it is inexpensive....plentiful.....very easy to shoot well with (ie. lack of recoil)....and can be very accurate. But it makes a "poor" defensive cartridge if that is a consideration!

Handle as many handguns as you can....prior to purchasing. If the opportunity presents itself....shoot as many as you can prior to purchasing. Then make a choice.

Once again....good luck!

RE: 9mm Ruger?
 

If you are not very experienced and want a handgun for self defense as well as target shooting I would suggest a double action revolver in .38 or .357
With a revolver you dont have to remember to rack the slide when your life depends on it, no jams from a half rack, no jams if a second shot is needed and is just plain easier to for the average shooter to use. Plenty of revolvers made for the ladies specifically.

RE: 9mm Ruger?
 

I agree with GATurk. My girlfriend always liked the Berrettas cause of cosmetics. So I took her out and let her shoot my 92FS. She hated the trigger, the reach was very difficult for her. I then put a Mod 28 S and W 357Mag in her hands with 38 loads. She's hooked. I tried to get her to shoot my 1911, glock, and kimber, and she didn't want anything to do with them.

I also suggest against the 9mm. 40S&W is ideal all around plinker, home defense. 9mm ain't known to be a one shot knockdown pistol. I notice that my girlfriend had trouble pulling back the slides on the autos.

but if all that is managable, slide pull, and all, then the ruger will give you a lifetime of service.

RE: 9mm Ruger?
 

I don't know where you live but many bigger gun stores have indoor shooting ranges and you can try some of the guns on their range. Try to find one of them and shoot a few of the guns that feel good in your hand. Don't overlook the small revolvers as they are much easier for SOME PEOPLE to shoot. A small frame 38 special or 357 Mag is cheap to shoot and good protection. They are simple to use and very dependable. I have seen autos malfunction at about 20 times the rate of revolvers. I shoot both but when it comes to betting my life, I go back to the 4 inch Smith and Wesson or Taurus K frame size revolver. I will carry an auto but not before I run at least 500 rounds through it without a malfunction.

RE: 9mm Ruger?
 

First and foremost you must handle as many pistolas as you can. You need to find one that fits YOUR hand. After making sure the firearm is unloaded check the trigger as well to make sure you like the feel of it. My sister-n-law shoots quite a bit and really enjoys the Glock 17 the most but likes the CZ's in 9mm and 40s&w. My brother has many other 9's but those fit her best and if it doesn't fit you, you won't shoot it. You need to practice on a regular basis, so you will be able to use the firearm effectively if the time ever arises.;)

RE: 9mm Ruger?
 

The P89 (full sized 9mm) is a good solid reliable gun, and you should be able to get one with out breaking the bank. If your hands are very small you may have a hard time shooting it though. My wife is quite uncomfortable shooting it, but she has small hands even for a lady.:) I have found it to be resonably accurate, but certainly not a "match" pistol. But after 10000+ and never a misfire, still my favorite pistol.