First handgun

[GMtoblat]

I'm trying to figure out what handgun I should buy. I've only had dealings with one handgun, M9 Berreta, during my stint in the navy. I shot well with it but IMO POS. I dealt with too many broken locking blocks than i care to count.
What I'm looking for is:
9MM due to cheapness of ammo and easier re-loading.
full size
round bout 300 price range

I've been looking into this for awhile and I'm leaning towards the Ruger SR9.

any help or your take will be appreciated.

 

[jgreiner]

I'm trying to figure out what handgun I should buy. I've only had dealings with one handgun, M9 Berreta, during my stint in the navy. I shot well with it but IMO POS. I dealt with too many broken locking blocks than i care to count.
What I'm looking for is:
9MM due to cheapness of ammo and easier re-loading.
full size
round bout 300 price range

I've been looking into this for awhile and I'm leaning towards the Ruger SR9.

any help or your take will be appreciated.

Whatever you do decide to get, make sure it is a gun you LOVE. And don't ever trade it.

I still have my very first handgun ever purchased. And it shoots as great today as it did 30 years ago.

Also, cheaper isn't always better, especially in the world of handguns. Remember, these things are DESIGNED to have explosions take place inside of them. A better built gun tends to be a safer gun, for the shooter.

Ruger makes some very fine guns. My 1st one was as Ruger MK l. So does Smith and Wesson.

 

[quicksdraw]

I'm trying to figure out what handgun I should buy. I've only had dealings with one handgun, M9 Berreta, during my stint in the navy. I shot well with it but IMO POS. I dealt with too many broken locking blocks than i care to count.
What I'm looking for is:
9MM due to cheapness of ammo and easier re-loading.
full size
round bout 300 price range

I've been looking into this for awhile and I'm leaning towards the Ruger SR9.

any help or your take will be appreciated.

If memory serves, SOG (Southern Ohio Guns) has used S&W model 5906s on sale for just over $300 a pop. That's an outstanding price for a darn good handgun.

 

[GMtoblat]

If memory serves, SOG (Southern Ohio Guns) has used S&W model 5906s on sale for just over $300 a pop. That's an outstanding price for a darn good handgun.

Thanks just wikipedia'd it. looks just as to what im looking for do you know if it has ambidextrous magazine catch or atleast you can switch it to cater to a lefty?

 

[jgreiner]

Thanks just wikipedia'd it. looks just as to what im looking for do you know if it has ambidextrous magazine catch or atleast you can switch it to cater to a lefty?

Some of the them do.

 

[castle134]

I had a SR9. Good gun I really enjoyed it I think you will be happy of you go with that. I never had a single failure of any sorts with it.

 

[x10]

Can I suggest a 22LR for the First handgun,

Build skills Cheap
Still Viable selfdefense

Please come over the Hoosier Hills Rifle and Pistol Club, www.hhrp.org

Shoot with us, Shoot club members guns and decide AFTER you shoot a cross section of whats out there.

I don't want to see another good shooter get a gun they can't shoot on a regular basis and thier skills not get built in an efficiant mannor

I'm not pushing any one brand or type I just think you should develop the shooter before buying a lot of hardware.

You can shoot anything I have and do it in a fun enviroment, before you buy Hold out a couple thursday nights and drive over to Columbus

 

[Ripper]

Check out the Sig SP2022
SP2022 - Sig Sauer - Handguns - Firearms

 

[T4rdV4rk]

Can I suggest a 22LR for the First handgun,

Build skills Cheap
Still Viable selfdefense

Please come over the Hoosier Hills Rifle and Pistol Club, www.hhrp.org

Shoot with us, Shoot club members guns and decide AFTER you shoot a cross section of whats out there.

I don't want to see another good shooter get a gun they can't shoot on a regular basis and thier skills not get built in an efficiant mannor

I'm not pushing any one brand or type I just think you should develop the shooter before buying a lot of hardware.

You can shoot anything I have and do it in a fun enviroment, before you buy Hold out a couple thursday nights and drive over to Columbus

I second the .22 idea. Nothing at all wrong with a .22 lr. They're a blast, great training pieces, and well within your price range.

 

[GMtoblat]

Can I suggest a 22LR for the First handgun,

Build skills Cheap
Still Viable selfdefense

Please come over the Hoosier Hills Rifle and Pistol Club, www.hhrp.org

Shoot with us, Shoot club members guns and decide AFTER you shoot a cross section of whats out there.

I don't want to see another good shooter get a gun they can't shoot on a regular basis and thier skills not get built in an efficiant mannor

I'm not pushing any one brand or type I just think you should develop the shooter before buying a lot of hardware.

You can shoot anything I have and do it in a fun enviroment, before you buy Hold out a couple thursday nights and drive over to Columbus

Why would you suggest a 22lr? ah nvm thought the rest of your post was you signature lol. I already have the skills(served in navy as Gunnersmate) and i agree with "viable" self defense but i'd like a little more than viable and you cant reload .22. I'm wanting to get into reloading aswell. but yes i plan on getting my wife a 22 pistol eventually

 

[jgreiner]

Why would you suggest a 22lr?

1. Cheap to shoot. And practice is an important thing to consider when you decide to get your FIRST handgun.

2. Ammo is readily available.

3. Easy to shoot. Great way to get over the flinch reflex most have when they first shoot.

4. Great all around gun. Can serve in a pinch for home defense, you can hunt with it, varmint control, and just plain fun.

5. A good Ruger .22 or S&W .22 will last several lifetimes.

 

[FrankNstein]

My first was a 6" S&W 586 .357 magnum. Reloaded .38 SWC for pennys with Red Dot and hard rockin flame throwers with 2400.
$300 in 1986.

 

[GMtoblat]

thats cool but not into revolvers. not that ive shot one so i cant knock um but i dont think they will float my boat

 

[gsp83]

It's hard to get a new quality 9mm for around 300. But the Ruger SR9 is pretty decent. You could also look into getting the S&W sigma series. They're entry level for sure! I would stay away from the Kel-Tec PF-9. Worst gun I ever bought.

I think your best option is to try and get a used gun in good shape. Hit the local gun shops and see what's available.

 

[wizard_of_ahs]

Shoot as many as you can before you choose

 

[GMtoblat]

Shoot as many as you can before you choose

lol i'd love to, but living in bloomington affords zero ranges with less than an hours drive. and i havent made any friends that have private land. hopefully that will all change when i start work at Crane's small arms division

 

[SubicWarrior1988]

Save a little more money and pick up a Glock 17, a proven service weapon with world class reliability.

 

[KevinJ]

There are a couple ranges near by. One in Martinsville.
The other I have not been to:
Panther Ridge Training Center
Range Location:
2935 N Vandeventer Rd
Solsberry, IN

Office Location:
118 S. College Ave
Bloomington

 

[GMtoblat]

i know of panther ridge...whats the one in martinsville?

 

[wbrenda]

41 mag S&W 57 pinned and recessed 8inch barrel