Handgun info

[baconoclock]

Well, after going out and doing a fair bit of shooting this weekend I think I'm going to get a handgun. I enjoyed shooting a friends and its definitely different than shooting clays that I'm used to. I forget the brand, will ask later, but it was a 9mm.

Not looking to get it for home defense (that's why i have my shotgun), just something I can take to the range or out into the country to go shooting.

I've never owned before so I need some advice.

Preferred brands?
Features to look for?
Cost?
Caliber ?

I would prefer not to spend a ton on it, and i know some ammo is more expensive than others.

[Skud]

Are you looking for semi-auto or revolver, Bacon?

If you're looking at semi, 9mm is about the cheapest to shoot (besides 22 cal., of course).

As far as brands, I'm not sure what price range you're looking at. Most of the decent brands seem to start around $500 (sale price) in my area...I don't think I'd get anything that costs much less than that (my bro bought some off brand for 350 and you cannot hit a thing with it), unless you get a little .380 or something which you might find a decent quality for around 400. I really love my Sig Sauer, but that's a bit more than that. I had a Glock 40 cal once that's more in the 500 range that was alright...some folks love em, I didn't like the feel of it. Also had a Magnum Research Baby Eagle which was pretty nice in 9mm. There are a lot of decent brands out there...a big part of the selection is finding one that you like the feel of in your hand. I could go on, but my experience is limited with other brands...pretty much I only see Sig Sauer or HK for semis when I think of larger caliber pistols...and Smith and Wesson for revolvers.

[baconoclock]

Are you looking for semi-auto or revolver, Bacon?

If you're looking at semi, 9mm is about the cheapest to shoot (besides 22 cal., of course).

As far as brands, I'm not sure what price range you're looking at. Most of the decent brands seem to start around $500 (sale price) in my area...I don't think I'd get anything that costs much less than that (my bro bought some off brand for 350 and you cannot hit a thing with it), unless you get a little .380 or something which you might find a decent quality for around 400. I really love my Sig Sauer, but that's a bit more than that. I had a Glock 40 cal once that's more in the 500 range that was alright...some folks love em, I didn't like the feel of it. Also had a Magnum Research Baby Eagle which was pretty nice in 9mm. There are a lot of decent brands out there...a big part of the selection is finding one that you like the feel of in your hand. I could go on, but my experience is limited with other brands...pretty much I only see Sig Sauer or HK for semis when I think of larger caliber pistols...and Smith and Wesson for revolvers.

Yeah 9mm semi-auto.

I was looking 3-600 area. Guns are fairly cheap here. The Gun we were shooting was a Ruger 9mm (I forget the model, was a 2 character model). I was thinking get something on the less expensive side to get experienced with, then go nicer later.

A coworker is offering to sell his S&W sigma 9mm for 300, not sure on that. We're going shooting in a couple weeks to see if i like it.
I might drive up the road here to one of the local stores and hold a few different ones just to see what i like. Then go price shopping later.

[SIR Rossy]

Move to australia lol over here if you live in the country you have to get a simple licence which requires no criminal record then you can shoot anything on the crown land from from a 22 rifle to a 50 CAL depends on which state you live in me and my mates go shooting every week everyone on CL should visit Australia at some point in there lives this is not relevent to the subject but i felt like making a post

[Skud]

Yeah 9mm semi-auto.

I was looking 3-600 area. Guns are fairly cheap here. The Gun we were shooting was a Ruger 9mm (I forget the model, was a 2 character model). I was thinking get something on the less expensive side to get experienced with, then go nicer later.

A coworker is offering to sell his S&W sigma 9mm for 300, not sure on that. We're going shooting in a couple weeks to see if i like it.
I might drive up the road here to one of the local stores and hold a few different ones just to see what i like. Then go price shopping later.

I'm not too familiar with the S&W semis. I have one of their .357 revolvers, and it's great. My brother got one of their semis about a month ago, but I'm not sure that he's had a chance to shoot it yet. They're definitely a good name in revolvers...I'm sure they can't screw up the semis too bad.

I would suggest getting the nicer gun right off, even waiting a bit to do it if you have to. It'll be better to practice with, get experienced with. Also, once you buy the nicer gun the other will just collect dust. Buy your dream gun first...it'll save you money in the long run.

[baconoclock]

Move to australia lol over here if you live in the country you have to get a simple licence which requires no criminal record then you can shoot anything on the crown land from from a 22 rifle to a 50 CAL depends on which state you live in me and my mates go shooting every week everyone on CL should visit Australia at some point in there lives this is not relevent to the subject but i felt like making a post

I was just there

Work needed me in our Sydney office, so i was down there for 6 weeks from Feb - early April.

[MR_MADHATTER]

If you're looking at semi, 9mm is about the cheapest to shoot (besides 22 cal., of course).

If you really want to keep it on the cheep side, get a .22 caliber. Even if you don't get a .22, you can find .22 conversion kits for many models. All you do is swap out a few parts, takes a couple of seconds, and you can switch between dirt cheep .22 ammo and $$$$ ammo. And .22 is nothing to sneeze at. A silenced Ruger .22 is many a hitman's weapon of choice. At close range, a .22 is just as deadly as a larger caliber weapon.
http://www.22lrconversions.com/

Also if you are going to save and resell your empty brass, a revolver is easier than crawling on your hands and knees picking up shells that get tossed to who knows where by semi-autos.

[SIR Rossy]

I was just there

Work needed me in our Sydney office, so i was down there for 6 weeks from Feb - early April.

ha cool did you enjoy your time in australia ?

[baconoclock]

ha cool did you enjoy your time in australia ?

Oh yeah, loved it there. I was in Sydney for the whole time except one weekend when I flew to Melbourne to visit a friend. We ended up getting drunk and doing everything Australian i needed to: ate 'roo (which is pretty good!), got drunk, watched footie, tried Vegemite.

Overall It's an awesome country, a bit expensive for my tastes(seriously, 25-30 AUD for a 6 pack of beer?) but still awesome.

[GeneralSnake]

Sig Sauer.

[Skud]

Sig Sauer.

yes yes

[Atomic Sloth]

When I was shopping for a pistol, I test drove the S&W Sigma. The trigger was a bit stiff...which could mess with your aim. You could change out the trigger later for one with a softer pull. In the end I decided to go with the .40 Glock 22.

[mapes]

I have a couple of friends who love Glocks and some of they're models do shoot quite nice. I can only have one pistol so I got the HK. I would suggest going to a indoor range. You can rent a bunch of pistols and try em out. See what fits in your hand and see what trigger pull you like. Like Skud I would highly suggest getting something good to start with. I also agree with Mad that some of the automatics have a 22 conversion kit. Basically you swap out the barrel and slide and your good to go. Although depending on the pistol it may not be worth it. It may actually be more cost effective to just by a decent 22. For example a bud of mine has a Kimber 1911. The conversion kit (at least the Kimber one) costs as much as a decent 22 target pistol.

[baconoclock]

Went to a local store today, held a few of them.

The one i liked the best was the springfield xd subcompact. Didn't purchase it (i wanted to check prices). They did end up having the cheapest around the area at $444 for it with two clips. Might go purchase it tomorrow.

[Skud]

Went to a local store today, held a few of them.

The one i liked the best was the springfield xd subcompact. Didn't purchase it (i wanted to check prices). They did end up having the cheapest around the area at $444 for it with two clips. Might go purchase it tomorrow.

Springfields are nice.