first pistol purchase
I'm an avid hunter and thus far have only used shotguns and rifles. I'm in the market for my first pistol which will primarily be used at shooting ranges. Looking for something that is cost effective and the rounds not too expensive, something that is durable and will be a smart, safe purchase. Thanks and Gig'em
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In this ammo market and you experience level you can not go wrong with a revolver. I would suggest a ruger single six. 0 -
I have both, and would lean to a S&W model 63. The single six is certainly also a fine plinker, and does have the advantage of convertable cylinders. Stick with .22 for your first. 0 -
For casual plinking, mindful of budget constraints, cost of ammo, etc, you may want to look at a USED Ruger .22 Auto. They are durable (have been shooting mine since 1970) more accurate than most shooters, mild recoil. If you want something with more authority, would look at a .38/ .357 revolver- S&W, Colt, Ruger are hard to go wrong. Gives you the option of light recoiling .38 Wadcutter for practice, or .357 Mag for serious social purposes. DO look around at the used items here on auctions- while it CAN be done, it is pretty hard to wear out a well made handgun. 0 -
Ruger MkII, BuckMark, for .22lr. Both very good for semi autos. Colt Trooper is a great .357mag. Any Ruger Blackhawk. My 2 cents 0 -
Start out with a .22 and then move to a .357 platform which will allow you to shoot .38/.357/+P/+P+ for max flexibility. I agree with the Ruger .22 auto, Mark II or III. Buy one new and have it for life. Accurate, dependable and really fun to shoot. If you want to start with the best, get a used Browning Medalist or a Smith 41 but they are expensive even used but are the best at the range. For the .357 a Ruger GP100 is great, or a Smith 13/19/66 used. I have them all and all are durable and really fun to shoot. You can't go wrong. Another cheap but accurate .22 that is great, in SS, and accurate (but not made any more) is the Colt .22 which shows up from time to time on GB at really good prices. Good shooting! 0 -
For fun at the range, handgun training, and low cost shooting, you want a .22LR gun. That's a no brainer.
Next issue is going to be what your budget it, but as a first pistol, you can't go wrong with any of the Ruger semiauto .22s (eg Mk II, Mk III, 22/45 etc), or the single-action Bearcat revolver.
Smith 22a is a reasonably good "plinker" that isn't too expensive that could work.
Smith revolver is even better, but those are fairly pricey.
If money were no object, I'd suggest the Smith 617 with 10 shot cylinder and 6" bbl. This is a full sized (ie heavy) revolver that is built like a tank, super accurate, and will last forever.
Revolver is easy to use, easy to clean, low maintenance, and unlike most .22 autos, will reliably and safely cycle ANY .22 ammunition, including .22 shorts, longs, LR, low velocity "CB" ammo, and high velocity ammo. 10 shots make this equal to the autos in terms of capacity, and the long barrel makes it both easier to shoot accurately, and a little bit more powerful.
Its a great training gun for larger caliber revolvers, is a good "first" gun for the novice adult shooter, and is certainly viable as a target or hunting revolver. I think its a good fit for your "smart and safe" criteria, but unfortunately, its pretty expensive (ie around $600).
A used Smith model 17 or a Colt .22 Trooper would each also make excellent choices along the same lines. These will only give you six shots, but should cost a little less than the Smith 617.0
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