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First gun

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Old Jun 30, 2010 | 07:03 AM
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Default First gun

Im looking to buy my first handgun...Im looking at semiauto handguns but i dont really know a whole lot about them...can anyone recommend some guns for me to look at that have both good quality and price?
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Old Jun 30, 2010 | 09:07 AM
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Looking for:

Target or defense?
Size?
etc...
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Old Jun 30, 2010 | 11:03 AM
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First handgun? Go with a 9mm. The brand and model is best figured out by going to a gun shop and holding a few. Feel is important. I recommend the 9mm because rounds are cheap and it's easy to handle for beginners. You can move up to a .40 or .45 after you get proficient with the 9mm.

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Old Jun 30, 2010 | 02:16 PM
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Completely depends on your intended use.

If you're just looking to get something to plink with, no defense or carry, 100% go with a .22LR. If you want to get a gun that shoots great, you can't go wrong with a Ruger Mark III. If you want something that handles more like a typical semi-auto pistol a Walther P22 is a good choice. It still shoots well too, just not as precise as the Mark III.

If you want to plink/practice and have the capability to use the handgun defensively the 9mm is a great option. If you plan on shooting much, it might be cheaper in the long run to buy a .22LR handgun and a 9mm or larger caliber. Ammunition is that expensive. 9mm is going for $0.21/round right now if you buy in bulk and shop around. .22LR is going for $0.035/round, so you can shoot 6 rounds of .22LR for every round of 9mm. That's a lot of extra practice. 1000 rounds of 9mm would pay for a decent .22LR to plink with and 1000 rounds of .22LR.

If you are looking for a light carry pistol, a Bersa Thunder .380ACP is about as small as would serve you well. .380 is a bit small, but with the right ammo it can be as effective as a standard 9mm load. .380ACP is too expensive to plink with though.

If you're looking for a full sized service pistol for defense or heavy concealed carry, my favorites include the Kimber line of .45ACP 1911 pistols, and several offerings from Glock. If you want to be a bit different, the FN five-seven is a pretty nice pistol if it fits in your hand well with good power, range, and capacity.

If this is strictly home defense, it's hard to go wrong with a Taurus Judge. That is if you're set on a pistol, the best home defense weapon is a 12 gauge shotgun. Taurus makes crap and this is no exception, but it works every time and it shoots .410 shotshells so under pressure inside the home your chances of hitting the target are improved and the odds of a round passing through a wall and hitting a neighbor is reduced.
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Old Jun 30, 2010 | 07:59 PM
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QUOTE
If you are looking for a light carry pistol, a Bersa Thunder .380ACP is about as small as would serve you well. .380 is a bit small, but with the right ammo it can be as effective as a standard 9mm load. .380ACP is too expensive to plink with though.


That is my current carry weapon. I like the little thing, but ill be upgrading to .45 soon and the wife is getting the Bersa. Have kids and want to go overboard with safety, it has a nifty "key"ed safety on it. I have some special rounds for when its in defense mode and regular ammo for shooting at targets. Speaking of that.. it needs to see a range.
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Old Jun 30, 2010 | 08:21 PM
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My wifes bersa is loaded with buffalo bore ammo
I rock a Springfield xd 40 sc loaded with corbons I wouldn't recommend the Springfield as it only has a grip safety not good for a first time gun
I loved my beretta 92 great gun Donno why I sold it
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Old Jun 30, 2010 | 08:33 PM
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Can't wait to get my firearms rights back. First gun I'm buying is a Sig .40. Second is gonna be a Mini-30 7.62x39.
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Old Jun 30, 2010 | 09:19 PM
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ok i gotta ask

wtf do you mean cobra about getting em back
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Old Jun 30, 2010 | 09:49 PM
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Felon... non-violent. Hit a car on my bike going 75 in a 45 and killed the passenger.
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Old Jun 30, 2010 | 10:13 PM
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holey sh*t man i didnt know that

sucks hardcore i knew a local guy do the same thing...cept neither of them walked away (he was pulling a wheelie at 75mph in a 40, drunk driver couldnt see the headlight and pulled out in front of him)

how long ago was that?
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