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Be sure to enter the NES/Pioneer Valley Arms February Giveaway ***Smith & Wesson SD9VE 9MM***
First Firearm?
- Thread starter ryanm1987
- Start date
- Joined
- May 1, 2009
- Messages
- 3,164
- Likes
- 460
what do you want to do with the gun, or rather what do you want it to do?
Some say start with a 22 - well, mileage may vary on that.
Cant really go wrong with a sturdy wheel gun - in 357. A S&W 686 or ruger security six are popular places to start. Start off with 38 special, then you have the room to grow into 357 magnum - in the same gun. Versatile, robust, relilable and will last a lifetime.
You could also consider a used Glock, Beretta or S&W M&P in the semi-auto area. Small calibers are cheap to feed and easier to lean how to shoot with.
For rifle's - a nice bolt action, AK, or starter AR are good ideas. Fun to shoot, can be cheap to feed if you pick a cheap caliber.
Cabinet or safe - six one, half a dozen the other. Whatever you get, you will wish it could hold more in a few years. Like TVs, there is no such thing as too big.
Some say start with a 22 - well, mileage may vary on that.
Cant really go wrong with a sturdy wheel gun - in 357. A S&W 686 or ruger security six are popular places to start. Start off with 38 special, then you have the room to grow into 357 magnum - in the same gun. Versatile, robust, relilable and will last a lifetime.
You could also consider a used Glock, Beretta or S&W M&P in the semi-auto area. Small calibers are cheap to feed and easier to lean how to shoot with.
For rifle's - a nice bolt action, AK, or starter AR are good ideas. Fun to shoot, can be cheap to feed if you pick a cheap caliber.
Cabinet or safe - six one, half a dozen the other. Whatever you get, you will wish it could hold more in a few years. Like TVs, there is no such thing as too big.
Independence Arms
Instructor
classifieds, Glock 19 gen 4 for $750. Not a bad Ma price. Nightstand gunvault.
congrats on the LTC!
congrats on the LTC!
22 rifle cant really go wrong with a ruger 10/22 and can be tricked out to no end also hold resale pretty good.
12g shotgun Remington 870 older ones are better IMHO.
I happen to love older 22s
Handguns
Ruger Mark series 22 pistol---another cant really beatthem for the money and they can be tricked out to no end.
Just stray away from the cheaper super tacticool semi autos....
12g shotgun Remington 870 older ones are better IMHO.
I happen to love older 22s
Handguns
Ruger Mark series 22 pistol---another cant really beatthem for the money and they can be tricked out to no end.
Just stray away from the cheaper super tacticool semi autos....
My first gun was a M&P9 and I would definitely recommend it. Also you can't go wrong with a Glock 17 or 19. Just see what gun feels best for you. I have also heard good things about the Ruger Sr9 and Sr9c and I think you can get them for a pretty good price.
45collector
NES Member
There will NEVER cease to be new members coming here who are new to firearms and aren't sure how to search for the answer to their questions... We must be patient with them and try not to get frustrated at their lack of knowledge about things some of us have known for decades. We must embrace their curiosity and help them along with their new found hobby.
To the OP:
For Christ's sake dude! Don't you know how to use a GD computer?!! What the hell is wrong with you?!!! You want me to pick out the pants you're going to wear tomorrow morning too?!!!! Or how about I tell you which movie you're going to go see tonight?!!! Aaaaarrrghhh!!!!!!!!!
Just kidding. A good .22 plinker is always a good idea for a new-to-the-sport shooter. Besides being cheap and pleasant to shoot, it helps you get your fundamentals down as you're not shooting a large caliber firearm which can spook you into creating bad habits like flinching, bad sight alignment, improper stance etc...
one-eyed Jack
Manufacturer
If you get a pistol (not a Glock) be sure that it's a .45, not a 9mm. Jack.
It really all comes down to finding what works best for you. Handle as many as you can before you settle on a particular kind. If you are left-handed, I recommend M&Ps and Rugers.
dwarven1
Lonely Mountain Arms
My first three guns were: S&W Model 19 (4" bbl medium-frame .357 Magnum revolver)
Ruger 10/22 rifle
Ruger Mark 1 Std.
In that order.
The only things I'd change now (30 years later) would be that the .357 would most likely be a S&W 686 (or a Ruger Security Six) as the 19 won't stand up to a steady diet of .357s and I'd get a Ruger Mark II Target or a Mark III of some kind (I prefer the Mark II because it doesn't have all the lawyer-mandated crap like magazine disconnects and loaded chamber indicators)
I'd still start off with a .22 and a .357.
Fourth gun would be a 9mm semi-auto or a .45 auto.
Good luck with whatever you decide to get!
Ruger 10/22 rifle
Ruger Mark 1 Std.
In that order.
The only things I'd change now (30 years later) would be that the .357 would most likely be a S&W 686 (or a Ruger Security Six) as the 19 won't stand up to a steady diet of .357s and I'd get a Ruger Mark II Target or a Mark III of some kind (I prefer the Mark II because it doesn't have all the lawyer-mandated crap like magazine disconnects and loaded chamber indicators)
I'd still start off with a .22 and a .357.
Fourth gun would be a 9mm semi-auto or a .45 auto.
Good luck with whatever you decide to get!
I'm a new shooter and did almost exactly what dwarven describes.
1) 22 pistol - Ruger 22/45 - Cheap to shoot = Lots of practice!
2) 357 Revolver - S&W 686 - Versatility of 38spl + 357
3) 22 rifle - Ruger 10/22 - Cheap to shoot + Lots of fun
4) 9mm Pistol - S&W M&P9c - Carry gun
1) 22 pistol - Ruger 22/45 - Cheap to shoot = Lots of practice!
2) 357 Revolver - S&W 686 - Versatility of 38spl + 357
3) 22 rifle - Ruger 10/22 - Cheap to shoot + Lots of fun
4) 9mm Pistol - S&W M&P9c - Carry gun
Also new to the action, and I did very similar:
1. Sig P226 9mm,
2. S&W 617 .22 (mostly because my wife adores that revolver),
3. Henry Goldenboy .22 lever rifle (again, wife fell in love with lever guns after watching Top Shot)
4. AR15 in 5.56 (just because),
5. Sig Mosquito .22 (cheap to practice with, wife & I both love this toy),
6. Walther PPK .380 (because it was a fancy engraved limited edition & looked totally cool)
We're discussing whether the 12 gauge or a .357 revolver is next, and I have a feeling an AK-47 is in my future...
I'd say it's a sickness but I'm having too much fun!
SSW
NES Member
Try before you buy. Head to a range where you can rent some guns, go green and meet some NES members who will let you try thier guns, but honestly don't just walk into the LGS and buy what "looks" good through the glass.
Enjoy!!!!!!!
Enjoy!!!!!!!
My recommendation is similar to others... go rent a few and see what you like.
Popular self/ home defense rounds: 9mm, .40, .45... 9mm is less $$.
I wasn't worried about conceal carry (yet) so here are my first few acquisition:
1) M&P 9mm full size - felt great in the hand, couldn't shoot 20 in a row w/o a jam, currently at S&W for repair.
2) XDM 5.25" in 9mm - love it, love it, love it.
3) Winchester 582 bolt-action rifle in .22 - .22 are the ultimate in cheap to shoot. fun too!
Popular self/ home defense rounds: 9mm, .40, .45... 9mm is less $$.
I wasn't worried about conceal carry (yet) so here are my first few acquisition:
1) M&P 9mm full size - felt great in the hand, couldn't shoot 20 in a row w/o a jam, currently at S&W for repair.
2) XDM 5.25" in 9mm - love it, love it, love it.
3) Winchester 582 bolt-action rifle in .22 - .22 are the ultimate in cheap to shoot. fun too!
Don't have my license yet but I'm planning the same exact thing... I think a good .22 rifle and pistol are two of the most important guns you can own because the ammo is dirt cheap! You can get .22 ammo for like 3-4 cents per round. Even the "smaller" of the larger calibers (38 special, etc) run more like ~30 cents/round...
Grab a ruger mark 3 or 22/45, a 10/22, a box of cheap 22lr ammo and shoot all day for 20 bucks
![[mg]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/036.gif "Machine Gun [mg]")
My first gun was a .12 made by Ithaca. Not the best gun maker, but fun gun. It was a single shot. I think a .12 is a good gun to start off. Soon enough I got a Browning auto 5 and went duck hunting same day I got it!
dwarven1
Lonely Mountain Arms
I see you're close by, so if you want... I don't have a 12GA but if you want to try out a .357, I've got a few... couple of Model 19's (2.5" & 4") and a 686 (6"). We can meet at Harvard Sportsman's or if you belong to a different club, we can meet there.
Rather than tell you what to buy, I’ll give you a few rules I like to give to new gun owners:
#1 – First figure out WHY you want a gun, and then buy to suit those needs. Maybe you want a gun for self defense around the house. Maybe you want a gun for concealed carry. Maybe you want a gun for competition. Maybe you just want a gun to bring to the range and learn to be a better shot. Each need may push you to a different firearm.
#2 - Buy a gun you LIKE to shoot. You can have the “perfect” gun, on paper, or the gun that everyone on an internet forum says is the “best,” but if you don’t like shooting it, if you’re not comfortable with it, and if you aren’t going to shoot it enough to become proficient, than it might as well be the worst gun in the world.
These days there are few “good guns” or “bad guns” on the market, and there certainly is no “BEST” gun. The difference between one gun and another usually comes down to fit, function and features. The latter two depend on your answer to question #1, but the first depends entirely on you. Does a big gun or a small gun fit better in your hands? Do you prefer the grip angle on a GLOCK or a 1911? Are you more comfortable with the ‘snap’ of a 9mm, or the ‘boom’ of a .45ACP? Can you handle the weight of a heavy frame, or the recoil of a lighter frame? Do you like the feel of polymer & rubber, or steel & wood? Only YOU can answer these questions, and the only way you can tell is by getting to a range and trying out each gun.
#3 - Buy a gun you can afford to shoot. Many young new shooters baulk at the idea of buying a .22LR – they want a tacticool 9mm or a big .45ACP. Then they take their first trip to the range and realize they’ve shot $100 worth of ammo in the first hour, and can’t afford to shoot again for another month. But if you talk to experienced shooters, instructors, competitive shooters, etc, and ask them what they shoot the most, they’ll almost always tell you .22LR.
So that being said, I’d suggest identifying the kind of firearm you want, and then getting a similar .22LR variant. For instance, if you want an AR-15, get an AR and a .22LR conversion kit, .22LR upper or .22LR AR-15 clone. Getting an M-14 or M1 Garand? Get a 10/22 with military sights. If you want a 1911, cough up an extra $300 and get a Ruger Mk III to go along with it. If you go with a .357 revolver (my first gun), get a .22LR revolver too.
Two guns are ALWAYS better than one.
#1 – First figure out WHY you want a gun, and then buy to suit those needs. Maybe you want a gun for self defense around the house. Maybe you want a gun for concealed carry. Maybe you want a gun for competition. Maybe you just want a gun to bring to the range and learn to be a better shot. Each need may push you to a different firearm.
#2 - Buy a gun you LIKE to shoot. You can have the “perfect” gun, on paper, or the gun that everyone on an internet forum says is the “best,” but if you don’t like shooting it, if you’re not comfortable with it, and if you aren’t going to shoot it enough to become proficient, than it might as well be the worst gun in the world.
These days there are few “good guns” or “bad guns” on the market, and there certainly is no “BEST” gun. The difference between one gun and another usually comes down to fit, function and features. The latter two depend on your answer to question #1, but the first depends entirely on you. Does a big gun or a small gun fit better in your hands? Do you prefer the grip angle on a GLOCK or a 1911? Are you more comfortable with the ‘snap’ of a 9mm, or the ‘boom’ of a .45ACP? Can you handle the weight of a heavy frame, or the recoil of a lighter frame? Do you like the feel of polymer & rubber, or steel & wood? Only YOU can answer these questions, and the only way you can tell is by getting to a range and trying out each gun.
#3 - Buy a gun you can afford to shoot. Many young new shooters baulk at the idea of buying a .22LR – they want a tacticool 9mm or a big .45ACP. Then they take their first trip to the range and realize they’ve shot $100 worth of ammo in the first hour, and can’t afford to shoot again for another month. But if you talk to experienced shooters, instructors, competitive shooters, etc, and ask them what they shoot the most, they’ll almost always tell you .22LR.
So that being said, I’d suggest identifying the kind of firearm you want, and then getting a similar .22LR variant. For instance, if you want an AR-15, get an AR and a .22LR conversion kit, .22LR upper or .22LR AR-15 clone. Getting an M-14 or M1 Garand? Get a 10/22 with military sights. If you want a 1911, cough up an extra $300 and get a Ruger Mk III to go along with it. If you go with a .357 revolver (my first gun), get a .22LR revolver too.
Two guns are ALWAYS better than one.
![[grin]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/041.gif "Grin [grin]")
I'd say get a Glock or a nice S&W Revolver.
Seems to me that everyone has missed the obvious point that it should be first guns not first gun! You are now going to want to bring the occasional friend to the range to share your new passion and it's more fun to swap back and forth than to just take turns with one gun.
As for me, M&P 9 and Ruger MK III to start, Henry Golden Boy about a month later, in the group buy for a Hi-Point now. 3 or 4 others on my short list but my wife just put in her LTC app and she"ll get the next couple of picks. Unless the Mosin Nagant buy happens first.![[smile]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/001.gif "Smile [smile]")
As for me, M&P 9 and Ruger MK III to start, Henry Golden Boy about a month later, in the group buy for a Hi-Point now. 3 or 4 others on my short list but my wife just put in her LTC app and she"ll get the next couple of picks. Unless the Mosin Nagant buy happens first.
I would tell you to go to a range where they have many different gun from different companies and types. Pick up and hold ( shoot) all that feel comfortable then choose which caliber. Asking other folks what gun to buy is like asking me what shoes you would like best. While all of us can tell you what worked for us, or in some cases, what did not, no one here can tell you howitzer will fit/ feel in YOUR hands. If you buy a fire arm and go to pull it out of a holster and you have to readjust your grip to get a good feel or you cannot hit anything, then no matter what gun you have, it is worthless in a life threatening situation.
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dwarven1
Lonely Mountain Arms
![[thinking]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/010.gif "Thinking [thinking]")
Ahh. The gun safe dilema. I just picked up a few handguns (Ruger Sr40c LOVE IT and SW .38 bodyguard which is ok) and wasnt planning on any rifles so i installed a wall safe that can hold a few handguns and some ammo. Right after i installed it, i bought a Mosin from a fellow NES'r (thanks China) so i had to order a larger safe. Now that the larger safe is here, i figured "what the hell?" so i got in on the recent Hi POINT group buy. Long story short....i only wanted a few handguns, now i have them along with two rifles and im thinking of getting a shotgun soon. hey, ive got the space for it! My girlfriend is getting worried.
![[wink]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/002.gif "Wink [wink]")
