Your first handgun?

Jambone · Oct 23, 2013

My first gun purchase was a S&W 686 6" .357 and I'm now thinking it wasn't the smartest first handgun purchase. I shot for years with friends from time to time so I wasn't completely new to shooting. Unfortunately, I think owning a "big gun" first may have helped to create some bad shooting habits. I think I developed a little bit of a flinch that I'm trying to reduce. I can shoot the gun fairly accurately, I think, but I struggle a little with other handguns. I recently picked up a Sig 226 in 9mm and I'm working on improving my techniques. Both are awesome guns but the 226 is definitely a little more affordable to shoot, when ammo is available. My second gun was a GSG 1911 in .22, I don't think that was a wise choice for me either. I did however learn a lot about what I like and don't like about 1911s.

Just my 2-cents.

krob · Oct 23, 2013

my first purchase was a beretta 92 fs i probally have shot 5k rounds through it totally reliable love it still to this day first handgun i ever shot was my grandfathers s/w .38 revolver

amoebicmagician · Oct 23, 2013

an old 1911A1 my dad gave me. I had been shooting it since I could walk. Still have it in the safe. Looks a little beat up, and the bushing is a little loose, but it shoots great.

Had some problems a few years ago, but once I replaced the recoil spring with a Wolff, all was well.

New mags help too, the springs in the old GI mags wear out.

amoebicmagician · Oct 23, 2013

TexasGirl said:
Ruger SR9

I've been a Ruger girl ever since.

The SR series is great. I'll take my SR40 and 40c over a glock 27 any day of the week, and I LOVE my glocks.

Never going to sell my G23 gen 3- never

jc1240 · Oct 23, 2013

krob said:
my first purchase was a beretta 92 fs i probally have shot 5k rounds through it totally reliable love it still to this day first handgun i ever shot was my grandfathers s/w .38 revolver

I think my second purchase (whenever that happens) will be a 92 fs. My brother-in-law has a 90-Two and it's a comfortable grip. I'll also check out an M&P 9 and go from there.

Mike H · Oct 23, 2013

My first handgun (and the only one until my pre 281 purchases) was a Dan Wesson .357 with a 6" barrel. Was a blast to shoot 30 years ago and still fun today (or actually yesterday at MSA).

Absolute · Oct 23, 2013

My first purchase was a H&K USP40. I am still happy with it to this day.

balext · Oct 24, 2013

My first was a Taurus 92.

rmiddle · Oct 24, 2013

Enzo_Guy said:
Tried searching for this one and couldn't find anything, but my apologies in advance if it's a duplicate of something I missed.

Anyways, I was curious to ask some of the members here what was the first handgun you purchased or received that you shot on a consistent basis and what did you like/dislike about it?

I figure this might be a good resource for those first handgun purchasers so they can see some of the possible pros and cons to something they might be considering or maybe even get an idea for something they never thought of.

As far as my personal experience it is very limited with handguns. I'm a smaller guy and I would opt for a shotgun to defend my home over a handgun. That being said I prefer a handgun that is solid with a little weight to it but in a low recoil plinking caliber with cheaper ammo. I haven't fired many handguns but I certainly like my .32ACP Beretta M1935 quite a bit, except for the fact that the mag release is no fun for extended target shooting.

I started with a Walter P22 it is cheap and shots smoothly but it has issues and it only lasted about a year before I can no longer use the weapon. I have bought several other guns but I found a Glock 19 to be the best fit and the cheapest non .22lr to shot. I bought an adapter for the G19 to also shot .22lr but mine has an issue and I just mailed it off to be repaired.

With that said. If you are only looking for 1 handgun then you best bet is to go to a range that will let you rent handguns for a set price plus the cost of Ammo most seem to be about $10 to rent a gun plus range fee and ammo in cost. That will let you try a bunch of different guns and that is a good way to find out what type of gun you like.

I would recommend you try a Glock 17 or 19 and a Sig Sauer 226 or 229. I have found there are pretty much 2 basic frames out there. The Glock frames with a fat frame works best for people with big hands and the sig sauer frames it is thinner and works better with smaller hands. Once you find witch of those two you like better you will find most handguns fit in one of those 2 groups and you will find the rest of the differences are much smaller.

Thanks
Robert

rafael · Oct 24, 2013

First fired: Sig P226 in 9mm

First owned: Same. Purchased in/around 1985. Still have it today, in fact, had the Sig service done to it, and it shoots great. Lower left in pic.

Mowens86 · Oct 24, 2013

Death_In_E_Minor said:
Just picked up today. I own some rifles, but wanted buy a handgun before this Oct 1st BS. I am not ashamed of my Hi-point

Nice! I have the same one. No complaints once I open my feed lips a little on my mags.

AJRB · Oct 25, 2013

After watching what seemed like hundreds of video reviews, testing at the range, I decided on S&W M&P 9MM for my first pistol.

Mega · Oct 26, 2013

My first was a 6" High Standard 9-shot .22cal R-103 "Sentinel" revolver, and I still own it.

ihriec · Oct 29, 2013

Since I had never shot before and wanted to start with the basics, my first purchase was a Ruger Single Six. It's a pleasure to shoot and very accurate. I also like the 22 mag. All of my kids have started out learning with this gun.

Petar · Oct 29, 2013

S & W 4506-1, still own it today

wt71 · Oct 29, 2013

My first handgun was colt series 70 stainless

jomill613 · Nov 3, 2013

Mine was the Taurus 24/7 OSS 9mm

capac2727 · Nov 3, 2013

S&W M&P40 and I freaking love that pistol. It fits my hand well and is comfortable to shoot. I know a lot of people hate the snappiness of .40 over 9mm but for the shooting I do it's a great gun. Liked it so much that my AR had to be a S&W M&P15. :-)

willy · Nov 3, 2013

very crusty .32 h&r

MontaniSemperLiberi · Nov 4, 2013

HK USP .40... sold it to my dad in 2008, bought it back and have made a few mods this past September. The first of many HKs!

(About 60,000 rounds down the pipe, rebuilt twice... my dad never shot it, lol)

Your first handgun?

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