Good beginner's gun?

[Riot5]

What's good for a new person ?
Reasonable price, handles well, etc.
I was thinking a pistol, but I'l leave the question open.

[agrin2005]

What is your price range..

[ed316]

Have you shot a gun before? What is your purpose of owning a firearm? Defense or shooting for fun?

[Hollis]

Hard question not knowing anything about you. Age, pass experience, where you live, etc.

My son's first firearm was a Chipmunk, Single shot 22 LR rifle built for kids (very short reach).

I would suggest NRA safety class First and Foremost. Bolt guns are probably the safest to begin on. Then revolvers. Autos are easiest to have a accident on, if your not 100% on them.

22LR are great, very low recoil, cheap to shoot. Big calibers can cause all sorts of bad habits, unless you have experience and have a good instructor. Also a lot of big caliber first time buyers, never shoot over a box a cartridges and wind up giving some other gun enthusiast a Great Deal.

[aartamen]

In any case a good beginner pistol is a .22LR Try Ruger or S&W. Once you get used to handling firearms and ammo, you can sell it. Also try renting guns at the place you shoot or borow someone's else. There's nothing like hands on impression.

[Createdeemcee]

Take these guys advice. A .22 is great for beginers. In any form, rifle or pistol. Another great beginner round is the fairly new .17 HMR rimfire cartridge. Its actually a hair smaller than the .22 yet has some extra benefits like 2500 FPS. and greater accuracy. This weapon is very deadly with that velocity, with barley any kick. So not only light maintanance and recoil, you get some stopping power with it. Taurus makes some revolvers chambered for this round. I am waiting myself on a semiauto to be made.

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/images/taurus_17CSS2.jpg

http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976804390.htm

Here you are $189.00. You are in FL so it should get to you quickly. A great deal. This is brand new and retails over 300$.

[agrin2005]

I am for a 22 as well great to learn the basics on..

[Seraphim]

Rifle, I would get a Ruger 10/22 more fun than you can shake a stick at.

[Irish_11]

Rifle, I would get a Ruger 10/22

x2, that was my first gun. .22 is great starter. But like everyone said we need more info. There are a bunch of .22LR rifles on the market, im a fan of the ruger 10/22 cause if you want to change it down the road there are plenty of options. If you looking for a pisol ruger makes a great set of .22's. Highstandard .22 pistols would work too. That was actually one of the first guns I shot, my grandpa had one and now its mine, it'll probably be what my kids learn with. .22's are just a great starter and cheap to shoot (only $.02) a round in most cases.

[Geezah]

Rifle, I would get a Ruger 10/22 more fun than you can shake a stick at.

x3.

Great starter plus it can be upgraded to an absolute tack driver, loads fun for everyone.

Also, follow HOLLis's advice, or if you can go shooting with a competant firearm owner, someone that can drill it into your head the dos and don't of firearm ownership do it.


The Four Rules of Firearms Handling

#1
ALL GUNS ARE ALWAYS LOADED

The only exception to this occurs when you have a firearm in your hands and you have personally unloaded it for checking. As soon as you put it down, Rule 1 applies again.

#2
NEVER LET THE MUZZLE COVER ANYTHING YOU ARE NOT PREPARED TO DESTROY

You may not wish to destroy it, but you must be clear in your mind that you are quite ready to if you let that muzzle cover the target. To allow a firearm to point at another human being is a deadly threat, and should always be treated as such.

#3
KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOUR SIGHTS ARE ON THE TARGET

This we call the Golden Rule because its violation is responsible for about 80 percent of the firearms disasters we read about.

#4
BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET AND WHAT IS BEYOND IT

You never shoot at anything until you have positively identified it. You never fire at a shadow, or a sound, or a suspected presence. You shoot only when you know absolutely what you are shooting at and what is beyond it.

[Herrmannek]

I know you guys will kill me for this. Never handled it, but for the price fun/exotic factor and else: Hi-points :) There is also great community around them...

[AR15_Fighter]

I agree that you should probably start with a Ruger 10/22. Loads of fun and stock is inexpensive.

[Createdeemcee]

Hi-points


Never Ever!, 10/22 or any other .22 Rifle.(I've seen a .45 High Point melt around the barrel). Good try tho Herrmannek!

[Biglug]

Essentially everyones advice of going with the light caliber .22 is right on as is getting proper training for the safety of you and anyone around you, but...............................................................................................





...since that's already been done I'll take the non-serious fun route and say just go for the gusto and get one of these, a couple thousand rounds of ammo and go to town!!!!!! http://www.websmileys.com/sm/evil/1382.gif




http://pof-usa.com/DSC00353.JPG



that is non seriously though, so buy a nice .22 and get some instruction.http://www.websmileys.com/sm/happy/059.gif

[LthrnckZero]

Hard question not knowing anything about you. Age, pass experience, where you live, etc.

My son's first firearm was a Chipmunk, Single shot 22 LR rifle built for kids (very short reach).

I would suggest NRA safety class First and Foremost. Bolt guns are probably the safest to begin on. Then revolvers. Autos are easiest to have a accident on, if your not 100% on them.

22LR are great, very low recoil, cheap to shoot. Big calibers can cause all sorts of bad habits, unless you have experience and have a good instructor. Also a lot of big caliber first time buyers, never shoot over a box a cartridges and wind up giving some other gun enthusiast a Great Deal.


Perfect advice here. A Chipmunk is the way to go, it's what I learned on. Don't bother with bigger calibers until you can group consistently, otherwise you may develope a flinch, and that is almost impossible to get rid of.

[lightcav]

If you want a cheap automatic pistol with little recoil but will fill almost any role. Get a Glock 19. Very simple to operate and maintain and will never jam.

[RECON DOC]

Here's what my pops started me off on.

http://naoruzanje.paracin.co.yu/m2-2.jpg

[Hydro]

Here's what my pops started me off on.

http://naoruzanje.paracin.co.yu/m2-2.jpg



Good for concealed carry, that.

[American Patriot]

Ruger Mark II

[RECON DOC]

Good for concealed carry, that.

True, but it can be a bit unwieldy in elevators and Hondas and such the like.

[Hydro]

True, but it can be a bit unwieldy in elevators and Hondas and such the like.



It can be, but it's the price you pay for being able to shoot through elevators and Hondas.

[GoSka37]

Gonna have to say what everyone else is... .22

I suggeest a Ruger 10/22... fairly cheap. Around 120 dollars. Nice little rifle for target practice. Just gotta get yourself some 40 round magazines and, if you want, a New body with Pistol Grip/Folding Stock... Well.. at least that's what I'd like to do with ours.

[RECON DOC]

It can be, but it's the price you pay for being able to shoot through elevators and Hondas.

That's a very valid point. I've been eyeing an .88 cal pistol, it shoots through schools.

[Hydro]

That's a very valid point. I've been eyeing an .88 cal pistol, it shoots through schools.



omg gun freek sicho!!1


I trained on bolt action .22's when I started shooting. Very very handy little rifles to learn the basic marksmanship principles and safety, and cheap as hell. You can iron out bad habits before you progress to larger calibre weapons, and they are excellent to return to if you feel the need to brush up on skills and drills and don't want to be out of pocket on ammo.

[RECON DOC]

omg gun freek sicho!!1

Hahahaha, its's a line from the movie 'Johnny Dangerously'

[Blade_Zero]

The ultimate 10/22 accessory?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIQpCabs6Po

[Hollis]

Here's what my pops started me off on.




This is my daughter when she was 9.

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k226/Hollis6475/Lena1919.jpg

And this is with her AK, same shoot.

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k226/Hollis6475/lenaAKM.jpg

[RECON DOC]

This is my daughter when she was 9.

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k226/Hollis6475/Lena1919.jpg

And this is with her AK, same shoot.

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k226/Hollis6475/lenaAKM.jpg

I wish my old man had been 1/10th of 1% as cool as you. That's awesome.
I hope I can get up to Ecotopia someday, I hear it's really beautiful up there and I hope that offer for the beer is still open.

[LaoSexMachine]

Nice Hollis. Wish my pops was into guns.

[GoSka37]

Hahahaha, its's a line from the movie 'Johnny Dangerously'

You Fargin Icehole.

[Old Dominion]

If you want an accurate, reliable, and affordable pistol. You might want to check out a Makarov. Bulgarian, Russian, E. German etc. The Bulgie will be the cheapest.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v429/TimDawg/IM000093Medium.jpg

[RECON DOC]

You Fargin Icehole.

Hahahaha, "Knock down that fargin wall, that fargin wall and that fargin wall".

[Hollis]

I wish my old man had been 1/10th of 1% as cool as you. That's awesome.
I hope I can get up to Ecotopia someday, I hear it's really beautiful up there and I hope that offer for the beer is still open.


Yep, the beer offer is still good, and if the weather is OK, Bar B Q.

[RECON DOC]

Yep, the beer offer is still good, and if the weather is OK, Bar B Q.

Cool bro, I'll bring some killer steaks.

[GoSka37]

Hahahaha, "Knock down that fargin wall, that fargin wall and that fargin wall".

Hah! Such a great movie.

Anyways yeah... that Arkin thing is a bit crazy. 1000 dollars?! Jesus! It might as well come with the damned Rifle at that price! Hell! Might as well get a real assault Rifle at that price!

[kamarian]

"You shouldn't grab me Johnny. My mother grabbed me once......ONCE!"

What a great movie! Have to see it again! Along with Bugsy Malone!

[RECON DOC]

"You shouldn't grab me Johnny. My mother grabbed me once......ONCE!"



http://www.dvdbits.com/images/reviews/JohnnyDTwo.jpg

[Riot5]

Oh crap, I'm sorry guys!
I didn't think that so many people would answer my thread!

Ummm...I'm 19, I've taken a gun safety course recently so I have shot a gun before, I guess $200 could be the max amount I would spend of a gun, I'd be shooting for fun/practice, and I live in Florida.

Hope that's enough info for now.

[GoSka37]

Well our Ruger 10/22 was about 300... worth every penny though!

[unpleasant]

=====Remington 870 12 ga Express Magnum.
$249 at ANY sporting goods shop in the US

Beginner - Very simple operation and breakdown for cleaning
Hunting - no mods needed, diff ammo for differen't game
Home defense - buy shorter barrel, shogtuns safe for home
****ing around - ammo is cheap, fun to shoot

downside: recoil will make weekend shootathon's painful for the next day.

The other option would be a .22
=====Ruger 10/22 ($220 at walmart) or Remington 597 ($149 at walmart)
Fun to shoot, lots of accessories, low recoil, excellent for hunting and target shooting, you can make these rifles real tackdrivers.

you can buy .22lr bricks of 550 rounds for $10. That's a good afternoon worth of plinking.

downside: picky about ammo, accessories get pricy, gun costs can easily jump up to $500+ after glass,barrels,triggers,hammers etc.


My suggestion would be to get the 870 first.. it's an excellent all purpose weapon and everybody should start with it.

[onefast93z28]

Whereabouts are you in Florida? You should see if any ranges around you rent guns and try some out. That will give you an idea of what to look for.

[Icarus1]

My first own gun I got as a present after basic military training. It was Colt 1911 80ies series with nickel finish. A real beauty!

As a starter gun I woulod go with a Glock 19/17. Not too expensive, easy to handle, cheap ammo.

[gaijinsamurai]

As has already been written many times on this thread, go for a Ruger 10-22! It was the second gun I ever owned (the first being a single-shot H&R 12 gauge), and the one I've put the most rounds through.
You'll probably be able to get a decent used one for around $200 if you look long enough. Practice with that for a while, and when you want something bigger or want to go hunting, progress to an SKS (for fun) or a M94 30-30 (for hunting), or perhaps a bolt-action rifle.
If you want a pistol, I recommend a Ruger MKII or Single-six. My Single-Six comes with both 22 LR and 22MAG cylinders, so I can shoot both economical rounds as well as those with a little more 'zing". When you feel a little more comfortable, progress to a 9mm, 40SW or .45 ACP, or perhaps a .357/.38. Lots of people will tell you things like "SIGs are the best" or "go with a Beretta" (or Glock, or CZ, or HK....), but what really matters is what is best for you. Try a few out, and get what YOU like best.
Finally, try to get someone you know well, who seems mature and responsible, to teach you the basics of gun safety and marksmanship, and go with you the first couple of times you shoot.

Good luck!

[bghon]

Both hands up for GLOCK 17...used & fire them in the water,sea,river,lakes...on land & extreme brutal treatment (don't clean it for a year) WOW...works perfectly fine...do ve stoppages b4 but due to the ammo quality...so better be equipped with the knowledges of stoppages clearing!!!goodluck....

[H2O MAN]

Yeah, go with a Glock 17 even if you have to spend a little more.

[Riot5]

I live in Parrish, which is a small town.
I know we have 1 pistol range nearby (It's in Palmetto, another town)
I'll look into the Ruger 10-22 thingy then.
Thanks!

[ZeroZ]

I live in Parrish, which is a small town.
I know we have 1 pistol range nearby (It's in Palmetto, another town)
I'll look into the Ruger 10-22 thingy then.
Thanks!
in that case i recommend any of these http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.reedercustomguns.com/information/stupid/50bmg.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.reedercustomguns.com/information/stupid.htm&h=397&w=595&sz=18&hl=en&start=1&tbnid=w55I01uRCy_Y8M:&tbnh=90&tbnw=135&prev=/images%3Fq%3D50%2Bbmg%2Bpistol%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DG

[Durandal]

Get a Ruger 10/22...

Like what half the other people said.

[Riot5]

What about a beginner's pistol?

[American Patriot]

What about a beginner's pistol?

Ruger Mark II