I am new to the forum and was hoping you fine folks can give me some suggestions. I live in Florida, am a left handed male, and have never owned a firearm of any sort before. I have fired a few 22 rifles as a kid but nothing recently.
Im interested in a handgun that can be used both as a good home protection weapon and also easy to carry as I expect to get a concealed carry license and may carry at times. I have looked thru the forums and am pretty sure I want a revolver but from there Im lost. I dont know if there are "lefty" pistols, etc..
I was hoping that you all could help me with some suggestions and from here I can rent them and try them at the range. I am trying to stay under a grand for the whole purchase (case, rounds, triggerlock? )
What will I need to keep the gun in good working order.. I guess what Im saying is I am a total noob and any help is appreciated.. LOL
A revolver is a really good left handed handgun. And a 38 revolver like the S&W 642 is a great choice for CCW and for a first handgun.
Check out the manufacturers Websites (like S&W, Ruger, etc) and try to go to a fully stocked gun store and hold and feel and look at as many as you can. Buy the one that fits you.
And join the NRA
*edited to add - Buy quality. Stick with the major brands.... read reviews (use google). A Ruger or S&W may cost more than a Rossi or Taurus or other name no ones ever heard about, but theres a reason. They are proven and worth it.
__________________ The patriot's blood is the seed of Freedom's tree.
Last edited by evilblackrifle; 03-03-2008 at 05:18 PM.
Reason: Automerged Doublepost
Shoot several and see what best fits you. For a house/car gun, a 4" .357 is hard to beat and you can shoot .38 rounds in it as well for practice or if the .357 is too hot initially for defense. Ruger makes the GP-100, and Smith and Taurus also have good guns in this category.
For CCW, you'll probably be in a compromise between portability and BBL length. A 3" ish BBL SP-101 or Smith is not a bad idea--2" OK too, but shorter sight radius. Ruger, Smith, and Taurus make good snubbies -- I'd just suggest you take a look at their websites and screen for a few candidates that might fit the bill for you. I have an SP-101, Smith new model 40 and 340 PD which have been good guns. My Tauruses have worked great for me, but other folks on the site have had some problems so do look around a bit. Also have a Charter Bulldog pug which did take some maintenance from the factory but is now back up and running. The steel frames are easier to shoot, but heavier. The Light Snubbies are easier to tote, but tough to shoot accurately. They are intrinsically very accurate, but the short sight radius and light weight will demand practice. The 642 is a great gun in this category, but, again, the sights make it more difficult to shoot well. You want both a gun you can shoot well AND will always tote with you. If you have to err on one of these sides, the gun you will always tote with you is the winner (1st rule of gunfighting: Have a gun). If you start leaning toward a snubbie, please do shoot it first and see if you can shoot it well (focus on the front sight and press....................)
The S&W 340 PD has the hi-viz front sight, and some of the Smith shorter barrels have improved night or hi-viz sights. These are great for me -- really improve my sight picture.
Welcome, and good luck !
__________________
God gives us free will; the statist tries to take it away
BlkCL500; Sir; I like what I'm reading. RENT and SHOOT is the cheapest learning you can possible have.
Any one of us could and WILL recommend our favorites
Sir; this is about you. By trying different ones 1 will ?feel? right. You just made the grade.
Most of the Major manufactures stuff is good. Only occasionally will you find JUNK; and when you do; let it be someone elses problem.
I shoot dominant right and practice left. My drathers are BOTH hands. Much better control.
Glock, Ruger, HK, Cougar 8000, SW, and a bunch more. Revolvers: I believe in Rugers GP100 shoots either .38's for cheaper practice or the .357's. Versatile and balanced. Durable tough looks good and your greatgrandchildren will love you; for leaving something they will still be able to use. Don't misunderstand; I have Rugers, Glocks, SW that I shoot and carry at different times. So I know most of the others that WILL come along will have strong opinions.
Rent and shoot; report back and believe me; JUNK will be called JUNK. Not to insult just a matter of ?fact? These folks don't believe in JUNK
Welcome
__________________
Craig
Who refreshes others will be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25
Last edited by neophyte; 03-03-2008 at 05:55 PM.
Reason: Welcome
I personally love the S&W J-frame as a carry weapon (almost as much as my Springfield Armory 1911 in .45). It's small, relatively light, packs a punch, and is damn durable! Anyways, you really just need to go to a range and try out a variety of weapons to find your favorite and go from there!
Welcome to the forum, I would have to agree with what most of the other people have said. Go to a large gun store that has a shooting range and rent a few. Pick the one that you can handle the best. A S&W, Taurus or Ruger revolver would be a good start. As far as simi-autos are concerned, a Beretta 92FS is great if you have large hands or a Beretta PX4 if you have small hands. A Taurus PT92 is one of the best guns I have ever owned and it is a lot like the Beretta 92FS except it is about $100 cheaper. Stay with the name brands, Beretta, Ruger, Glock, SIG, CZ, Springfield XD just to name a few. A Taurus PT92 and a Ruger P-95 both cost under $400. I have herd some bad things about the Taurus 24-7 though. One thing to watch out for, if a employee at a gun store tries to talk into something just because it cost more, beware.
__________________ Peace Through Superior Firepower !
There's a wheel barrow load of semi-auto pistols for right and left hand shooters feller !
Get yourself down to the range and check out what they have to rent and also strike up some conversations with other shooters.
Tell them your new to firearms and I'll bet you by golly some Coon dick tooth picks you get an ear full of gun education.
Remember 3 things #1 Keep your finger off the trigger till your ready to shoot.
#2 Keep the end of the barrel pointed down or away from humans you'll get your feelings hurt if you don't do this.
#3 The chamber is always loaded and ready to go off even if it's not loaded.
Good Luck feller...A.H
Thank you EVERYONE for all the great responses and welcoming me to the forum. I think I have a direction to go from here. Im going to the range to try them for sure but i wanted to get a few ideas from you all on where to start first.
Seems that Ruger,SW, and Taurus are good brands to look at. Ill make sure I try quite a few before I decide what is best for me.
There's a wheel barrow load of semi-auto pistols for right and left hand shooters feller !
Yeah I just didnt want to try a whole barrel full when I can ask the experts :-) And yeah - I have a friend and business partner with firearm experience who has agreed to walk me thru this so I feel more secure.
Excellent advice from everyone thank you very much! Cant wait to get down to the range and try em out. ANd yes, Ill be joining and supporting the NRA from here on out.
I would also recommend taking a basic NRA pistol course. I took a 2.5 day course in order to get my CCH permit, and it improved my pistol shooting by a fair amount. I was glad I took the longer class instead of the minimum 4 hours required.
Also, instead of renting, if you put out some feelers I'll bet you find you know at least 1 person with a hoard of handguns you can try. Most of us are more then willing to take a noob to the range and show off what we have a little.
Definatley get a revolver for home defense, the reasons they are better for that application than autoloaders are too numerous to mention. I like the k-frame Smith&Wesson's in .357, DO NOT GET a barrel less than 4". Snubby .357's are the suck, all smoke and no sizzle.
Welcome ! The only thing I would like to add to all this great advice is; in addition to your CCW class, actualy prior to IF IT IS NOT INCLUDED is, take a Firearm Safety Training course. In Alaska where I took the CCW class I was very disappointed that they barely touched on firearm safety. There were people in that class in the same position as you or even less familiar with firearms... never even fired one prior to the class. I had very tough time with the fact that someone was able to get a CCW permit while not having a basic understanding of firearm safety. It is something I think everyone should know. And I second the suggestion of joining the NRA. Have fun choosing your handgun !
Thanks everyone! I am "absorbing" all this advice and will update you all when I decide what handgun to get. I am gonna take a safety course for sure since my level of knowledge is to not point it at people unless you mean to shoot them...
All good advice so far. I recommend a DA revolver for your very first. It helps you to master the trigger. One of the big three is usually best but most important is the one that has the ergonomics that fit your hand best. From the Master Instructor, try them all for size at the largest gun store you can buy. If you like there are some good parameters to follow that will help. I have them available on e-bay.
