Im applying for my hand gun permit this weekend. i know I wont get the permit for awhile yet but whats a good hand gun to get as a starter? ive never shot a handgun before. only rifles and shotguns with family members when we have gone out hunting. Do weapon places let you fire handguns in shooting ranges before buying so you can see if you like the gun or not?

 

MOST commercial shooting ranges tend to have a sales counter and a loan a gun program

have you ever fired a handgun before?

revolver or semi auto?

AT LEAST get a 9mm dont get anything smaller unless you plan on bringing it with you everywhere- my wife has a bersa thunder .380 that is really light and easily concealed, double action my ONLY beef with it is the fact that the safety is push up to fire - sorta backwards we paid 300 new for it

i have a taurus pt145- one of the smallest .45 acp handguns you can buy - only beef is it tends to have magazine problems i have to send mine back for warranty cuz it nosedives the bullet and jams- hammerless double action very light for a .45 paid 350 new

for a revolver i LOVE taurus revolvers- cheap dependable, double action, id get at least a .38 special

 

Go find a shooting range and fire some guns there. Most/all will have guns you can rent. They don't allow you to shoot the gun before you buy it unless they have one set aside for actual rent.

"What gun is best for me?" -- Well, this depends on a bunch of things...

1-What body size are you?
--Small - requires something fairly small like a .22 or 9mm caliber
--Medium - Can go with .22, 9mm, .40, .45 caliber
--Large - Can go with any caliber you want. (you're really not limited, but those are some decent ideas)

2-What are you going to use it for?
--Target shooting - .22 is cheapest to shoot frequently; ammo is cheap
--Home defense - most will say .40 or .45, but if you can get enough 9mm rounds off into an intruder, you should be fine.
--Concealed carry - Most small frame guns would work, 9mm, .40, .45 caliber would be best

3-How much do you want to spend?
--You can find deals everywhere, shop around, check out gunbroker.com and all your local shops

4-Semi-automatic or Revolver?
--Personal preference here, but revolvers won't jam, but then again, if you get a good s-a, you won't have that problem either

5-Metal finishing?
--Many guns come in different finishes; personal preference here


A note on caliber: .22, 9mm, .40, .45, .50, etc are the diameter of the bullet they shoot


If you find a gun you like, check out youtube and google for reviews, videos, tips, etc. Take your time finding a gun to make sure you will like it. Buy from a reputable shop and ask questions if you're unsure. Ask about gun classes to help you familiarize you with your gun and shooting.

 

Go to a good gun store at the very least and handle several different types and models of pistols to see what you like.

If you're going to carry it for protection the smaller and lighter the better as long as it handles well, you can shoot it well, and it's powerful enough to stop a man.

If you're just target shooting for now get a .22 because it's way cheaper to shoot than any other cartridge and you can shoot one all day without the recoil becoming uncomfortable. A .22 is cheaper (in general) than larger caliber pistols also, so you can save money all around.

Once you handle some pistols make sure to get names of models you liked and we can guide you a little bit better. Price range is going to effect what you can buy also. IMO you can get many serviceable semi-autos for $550 new. You can find some good revolvers for that also, but the leap to something like a S&W scandium alloy .357 Mag (great line of pistols) is going to set you back around $1k. I don't think going much above $1k is necessary even if you want a great gun.