Advice needed: A good first handgun?

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ToyotaNSaturn

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Been thinking of getting a gun lately. The last time I went shooting was on my wedding day. There's a gun show locally this weekend, I went 1st thing this morning but the line was far too long to wait in as my back would be paying the price if I stood there for a long time...I'll go back later today or tomorrow.

What's a good gun for home defense and for fun shooting at the range? I went to a couple sporting goods stores where they only carry shotguns (is that a law in TN?), the wife doesn't want a shotgun, only a handgun.
 
4 inch .357 mag revolver.

Simple, effective, cheap to shoot (.38 sp), if it does not fire, pull the trigger again and just a BLAST of gun.

Add a couple of speed loaders and you are good to go.

Now if you added carry the answer would be different.

.38+p out of that gun would be the perfect defense load. You wife would handle that combo with no issues.

Take care, bill
 
I agree with Bill that a revolver would probably be the best choice. When I have someone who wants a gun I take them to the scottsdale gun club ( largest indoor range and gun selection in the state) and we rent a few diffrent guns and calibers and see what they feel comfortable shooting.

The problem with semi autos and "most" females is that if they were to get a malfunction like a stove pipe it is very difficult for them to correct. With a revolver the chances of a malfuncton are very low. Size and weight are usually better with most revolvers as well, in the compact category.

As far as the gun show goes, I was just at the one in Phoenix. Total disappointment!!! Most of the stuff was chinese garbage and the real stuff was marked way up. And even used guns seemed to be higher than most of the local gun shops. Buying from a gun shop is the best option in my opinion because they will take care of you and can give you recommendations on what will work best as far as a complete combo, gun, holster, ammo, TRAINING!!! I like the idea of a .357 mag since you can shoot .38's out of it! Do you plan on carrying this weapon?
 
I agree on a revolver. I would also add that a hammerless revolver is good in that you cannot cock the hammer as it is internal. In some trials, apparently, a person who did this before shooting was considered to have shown pre-meditation and was convicted. A hammerless prevents this and also does not snag on clothing if used as a carry gun. Stick with Ruger, S&W or Taurus revolvers. A 2-3" barrel is sufficient for home defense and personal protection. Buy a gun that can handle +P loads in the .38 or else get a .357 that can fire the .38 special load as well. Purchase good self defense ammo (hollow poinmt, low muzlle flash). A revolver can be left loaded for years without fear that any springs will "take a set", etc. It is always good to go.
 
Thanks for the responses! I'll just look around the gun show rather than buy something. My wife said "wouldn't it be cheaper at a gun dealer in rural parts rather than buying something at a show?" She has a good point.

How much does a .357 or .38 go for usually?

I have a small bit of experience with guns. Went the range several times with my friends more than a decade ago, but lost interest.

Well, I don't plan on carrying this with me, purely as a something in the home for self defense or for the occasional range shooting.


cheers3.gif
 
Originally Posted By: ToyotaNSaturn
Thanks for the responses! I'll just look around the gun show rather than buy something. My wife said "wouldn't it be cheaper at a gun dealer in rural parts rather than buying something at a show?" She has a good point.

How much does a .357 or .38 go for usually?

I have a small bit of experience with guns. Went the range several times with my friends more than a decade ago, but lost interest.

Well, I don't plan on carrying this with me, purely as a something in the home for self defense or for the occasional range shooting.


cheers3.gif


A good one will be between $450 and $600 depending on brand and finish.

I just got a steal on a older .357 today! I'll snap a shot and post it here.

Most gun shows are NOT the place (esp after the election) to buy stuff.

Take care, Bill
 
Originally Posted By: Bill in Utah
Originally Posted By: ToyotaNSaturn
Thanks for the responses! I'll just look around the gun show rather than buy something. My wife said "wouldn't it be cheaper at a gun dealer in rural parts rather than buying something at a show?" She has a good point.

How much does a .357 or .38 go for usually?

I have a small bit of experience with guns. Went the range several times with my friends more than a decade ago, but lost interest.

Well, I don't plan on carrying this with me, purely as a something in the home for self defense or for the occasional range shooting.


cheers3.gif


A good one will be between $450 and $600 depending on brand and finish.

I just got a steal on a older .357 today! I'll snap a shot and post it here.

Most gun shows are NOT the place (esp after the election) to buy stuff.

Take care, Bill


What Bill said. Gun shows are a complete waste of time at this point. Way overpriced. Buddies tell me that standard Bushy XM15 E2S rifles are now being priced around 1200 bucks at multiple gun shows. That is about 300 bucks too much IMHO. My stripped lowers I paid 80 bucks for six months ago are 150+ at the shows. Panic buying and new gun owners eager to get their hands on a possibly banned weapon are driving up prices.

I know one thing, if you want an M&P right now, it is the time to buy. Bud has them for 399 with a 50 dollar off rebate from Smith. 350 bucks for an M&P is THE best deal going right now.

Revolver prices will remain consistently fair as no one expects them to be targeted on a ban.

I monitor a lot of firearm auction sites and other vendors and the hand gun prices are starting to fall a bit now. AR and AK prices remain high from the panic buyers.
 
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I agree that gun shows are a total waste of time these days. You'll get a better deal through a local retailer than at a show right now.

If you are looking for a revolver, you can't go too wrong with the Ruger. Another possibility is a reliable semi auto. I have a Glock model 17L in 9mm that has been unbelievably reliable after thousands of rounds.

I personally prefer my pistols from Kimber and STI but the price does increase.
 
Also check out the Ruger GP100 line of revolvers for a better price than a new Smith & Wesson. An excellent (but getting rarer) find would be a good used S&W model 10, 15 or 64 .38 special trade in...otherwise I'd look at the Rugers for the best value - around $439 for blue to $489 for Stainless Steel.

For a good combo to compliment each other, picking up a good double action revolver in .22 would be great for training and economical practice...unfortunately, a new S&W is pretty high, around $600...but a Taurus can be purchased for around $300 blue to $350 SS.

If I could only buy one right now, I'd get the .357 or .38 and just practice dry firing to get proper trigger control between range visits, this is where I prefer the S&W trigger actions but Rugers are doable....also, if you know someone who is trained in double action revolver shooting that could give you some good tips at the range you'd be surprised at the accuracy you could achieve shooting double action....learning to stage the trigger is one type of shooting where you learn to press the trigger until right before the hammer drops and have a slight pause to make sure the sights are lined up on target for an accurate shot...with practice, it all happens quickly with sort of a rythm to the cylinder rolling and locking in place before you drop the hammer...again, old S&W actions are excellent for this.

Search out some good target loads like 148 grain lead wadcutters or 158 grain lead semi wad cutters and for in home defense I'd stick with a 158 grain lead semi wadcutter in .38 +P ... a proven performer without that blast and kick of a .357 magnum.

Good luck in your search!
 
I went to the show this afternoon. I was amazed at how many different types there are. Like a noob going down a huge oil aisle I suppose...

Found a ma & pa retailer not too far from my house. He had some cheaper brand made in the USA for under $200. His prices seemed more reasonable than the others. I'll check him place out soon.

One of his assistants mentioned about ammo costs, that the 9mm ammo is cheaper than 22 or 45 (he didn't mention 38's). Does this sound true to you all?
 
Originally Posted By: ToyotaNSaturn

One of his assistants mentioned about ammo costs, that the 9mm ammo is cheaper than 22 or 45 (he didn't mention 38's). Does this sound true to you all?



Absolutely. Especially for large lots of practice ammo.

A 9mm semi automatic in all honesty is another great option.
 
Quote:
He had some cheaper brand made in the USA for under $200.

That is scary. Unless it is a quality used piece, don' buy it. Not a quality gun for that price if new.

Stick with Ruger or S&W. New S&W's have the dreaded trigger lock so I'g go with a 4" GP100 Ruger .357.

Getting a .22 for practice and plinking is also a great idea.
 
So,

I go to the Pawn shop today and there is a guy selling his .357 mag. The Pawn shop owner and I go back a long time. So he offers the guy a low fair price and told the guy selling the gun that maybe Bill here will buy it.
grin2.gif


So the guy selling the gun asks me if I'd be interested and I look over the gun. Nice fairly clean S&W model 27 .357 mag with 8 3/8 inch barrel. Pined and recessed cyl. The pawn shop offered him $350 and I offered him $360.

He took it and we both are happy. I bought lunch for the owner of the Pawn shop and a set of grips.

Here is the S&W.



Some one suggested a S&W 686;



(I sold my 686 6" last month)

And for the person who suggested a Ruger GP100 (when I'm out going around the outdoors this one is on my hip);



I love the .357 round. Have a few others in this caliber.

Take care, Bill

PS: you can tell I like the same grip... Hogue onepiece.
thumbsup2.gif
 
Originally Posted By: Tempest
Quote:
He had some cheaper brand made in the USA for under $200.

That is scary. Unless it is a quality used piece, don' buy it. Not a quality gun for that price if new.

Stick with Ruger or S&W. New S&W's have the dreaded trigger lock so I'g go with a 4" GP100 Ruger .357.

Getting a .22 for practice and plinking is also a great idea.



The trigger lock, while I don't like them either, is very nice on the Smith&Wessons and Taurus revolvers. Just turn a key and its locked - no need for a cumbersome seperate trigger lock that takes 5 minutes to install/take off. If you don't like the built in system - don't use it that's all.
 
Originally Posted By: GMBoy
Originally Posted By: Tempest
Quote:
He had some cheaper brand made in the USA for under $200.

That is scary. Unless it is a quality used piece, don' buy it. Not a quality gun for that price if new.

Stick with Ruger or S&W. New S&W's have the dreaded trigger lock so I'g go with a 4" GP100 Ruger .357.

Getting a .22 for practice and plinking is also a great idea.



The trigger lock, while I don't like them either, is very nice on the Smith&Wessons and Taurus revolvers. Just turn a key and its locked - no need for a cumbersome seperate trigger lock that takes 5 minutes to install/take off. If you don't like the built in system - don't use it that's all.

I agree, but I don't like parts on a gun that don't have to be there. There have been a few reports of them locking up due to the new lock as well.

Bill, NICE find on that 8" 27. A friend of the family has one that is very sweet. My father has a 6" 28 that is very fun to shoot.
 
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