Can you guys give me some gun buying advice?

[Sonoran]

I've been thinking about buying a pistol and I just wanted some advice...

What is a good general caliber for a pistol? What brands are reliable?  I was hoping to get a pistol with a magazine instead of a revolver.

It seems like pistols are very expensive!  I've looked at a couple of brands online...glock and S&W; they start out at like $500.00! I went to a gun store and it was pretty much the same thing.

Do I just need to shop around at different gun stores and price match...or are gun stores generally equally priced?

Is there anything important I need to know when I go in to buy a pistol...do I need to bring anykind of paperwork?  Thanks guys, I look forward to any advice you can give me.

[rwanders]

Kind of depends on what you want a pistol for-----general plinking or target shooting is one thing, personal protection is another. If you are inexperienced with handguns, a big magnum would probably not be effective for you in either circumstance.  I would suggest a 9mm auto or perhaps a .380 if you prefer a lighter load (a 380 is a 9mm "short").  You might try to find a private seller for a used weapon at lower cost to get started----got a friend who is familiar with guns to help out?

[John_C]

   You sure know how to open a

You don't say what you want it for..  self defense?  hunting?  plinking?  concealed carry? competition? Are you going to buy ammo or get into reloading? 

For self defense something like .38 special +P  and upward in power would be a good place to start.  In an autoloader that means a 9mm with suitable ammo and IMO a .45 would be better.

For hunting deer size game something like a .44 Mag would be at/near the top of the list.  It also make a nice combination with a .44 rifle.

I'm not up to date on current offerings from the manufacturers but some of the less pricey brands like Taurus have built a solid reputation.  Several of the Ruger's seem reasonably priced... again I'm not familiar with their newer guns.  The GP series was a good revolver for the price.

Smith, Glock, Sig-Sauer, Walther, Beretta, Springfield Armory (my fav) will all be pricier.  Keep in mind that a good gun, well maintained will outlast you, if the politicians don't take them away.

What you need to buy the gun will vary greatly by State, County, City.

Get a bit of instruction both safety related and how to shoot accurately and for self defense reasonably quickly.  Not necessarily fast.....  you can't shoot fast enough if you miss.  Try to find a range where you can shoot different guns.  Shoot a box or three of ammo through each of the guns you are thinking about.  Some will feel better and "point" more naturally for you than others.

Once you get a gun practice, practice some more ... a lot more.  Whether for self defense or hunting you will be way better off if you are completely familiar with the gun.

Good luck.

[muldoon]

I agree with rwanders that it depends on what you intend to do with it.   I would also step back from pistols for a second and consider all your options.  As for paperwork and such it will depend on your state, also the laws pertaining to carrying it will and the laws relating to how and when you are authorized to discharge it.  Be aware of what the obligations are. 

I would also offer the advice of looking up an NRA or other gun group in your area and see about some shooting classes.  They are available all over and a pretty good idea to get started with some basics around gun safety and responsibilities. 

Then go to a range and shoot some, for pistols I like both the glock style and basic 1911 frames, I own 2 glocks now - a .40 and a .45 but used to have a 1911 I liked alot.  A good friend has a great Kimber 45 (talk about pricey!).    Those are just personal preferences, your milage will vary - but getting a quality firearm is worthwile because you want it working when you need it.  You basic care your grandchildren can use it.  It would be reasonable to expect to pay 500~ish for a good quality handgun, however I wouldn't turn my nose up at a pawn shop pistol or a used one from a gun show. 

Like I was saying above, dont discount long guns either.  a shotgun is about as versatile as possible, good for hunting and self defense.  In fact, with different loads you can go from squirrel and dove to hogs and deer during the day and then load it back up with 2legged critter load for home protection that night.

[NM_Shooter]

Yeah... whatcha want it for?

Consider getting a "starter" pistol.  Learn to shoot it, and then move on to something more specialized. 

There are some really decent .22s.   The Ruger MKII target is good, as is the browning buck mark. 

They are cheap to shoot, very accurate, and you can learn the skills without dealing with recoil. 

After you get the hang of things, buy your other pistol for defense or hunting or whatever.

-f-

[harry51]

What is a good general caliber for a pistol?

Depends on how you will use it. How you will use it is also the deciding factor as to whether a pistol is even the right firearm to buy, as opposed to a rifle or shotgun. The only two advantages of a pistol are portability and concealability. If those two factors are not high on your priority list, it's possible a rifle or shotgun would be a better choice.

What brands are reliable? 

There are lots of good brands available, including Smith & Wesson, Colt, Sig Arms, Ruger, Glock, Beretta, Heckler & Koch, Hi Standard, Taurus, Springfield Armory, Styer, Walther, and others.

I was hoping to get a pistol with a magazine instead of a revolver.

Semi-autos and revolvers both have their advantages and disadvantages.

It seems like pistols are very expensive!  I've looked at a couple of brands online...glock and S&W; they start out at like $500.00! I went to a gun store and it was pretty much the same thing.

Quality costs, but it's worth it, especially with firearms that you may stake your life on. Check out  http://www.gunbroker.com  to get an idea on prices.

Do I just need to shop around at different gun stores and price match...or are gun stores generally equally priced?

Never hurts to shop around! Beyond price differences, you may also find one store more friendly and helpful than another, etc.

Is there anything important I need to know when I go in to buy a pistol...

1. How you will use the pistol.

2. Consider your level of experience with firearms in general and pistols in particular. If you are just getting started, think about taking a class from a qualified instructor. http://www.nrahq.org/education/training/find.asp

3. Many ranges have various firearms for rent, and you may have friends or relatives who have guns you could arrange to shoot. Try as many as you can before you buy.


do I need to bring anykind of paperwork? 

Depends on the state, county, and city you live in and/or will buy the pistol in.


Hope this helps!

[peternap]

Like the others said...depends on what you want it for. I'll take two guesses and two suggestions.

Guess 1.
You want one to carry in the field with, hunt with and maybe a little target shooting.
Suggestion.. Thompson Center Contender (It has a better trigger than the Encore)
With the frame and a couple barrels, you can shoot everything from 22 rimfire to the big 50's. Add a rifle barrel and stock and you have an excellent rifle.

Guess 2.
Home and personal defense.
Suggestion....
A Taurus revolver in 44 magnum and shoot 44 specials in it until you are comfortable with it....unless you want something to conceal, then I'd go for a Ruger GP in 38/357

These are real general. Give me a little more information and I can help pinpoint it.

[Sonoran]

Thanks for the information.

I was thinking more along the lines of self-defense so it looks like a .45 would be the best, and I just found out I know someone who can reload .45's.

I get the main idea...self defense...big bullet...target practice...small bullet.
It looks like eventually I should by two guns, so for now I think I will start with a .22.  If worst comes to worst and I do need to protect myself I will have to make due. 

So...in the meantime, since I am buying a .22 is their a particular ammo that would work best for self defense? Just so I can make the best out of the situation.  It's okay to laugh.

I guess when it comes to brands the thing I am interested in is the underdog brand that still makes nice pistols.  It is the same in every industry...you want the best performance and quality, you have to pay the most money.  However, I have found in many circumstances, that if I really search I can find the underdog brands that still make a good product for a lesser price.  I just have to get around the placebo effect that comes with the largest price tag.

[NM_Shooter]

I'm guessing you read the bullets / ammo / reloading thread where we discussed the idea of using a .22 for self defense. 

If I was using a .22 for self defense, I would want the heaviest, longest .22 gun I could find, since it would probably be swung as a club instead of a shooter.

High velocity .22 ammo is usually hollow point, which doesn't provide much penetration.  If that hits a bone, it probably won't penetrate.  That being said, a lot of deer have been killed with a .22

In many states, a .22 is not allowed as a caliber for concealed carry.  Look at the ballistic charts, and get the heaviest, fastest, non-hollow point .22 round you can find.  Note that this ammunition will not be the most accurate for your target practice.

[apaknad]

you'll most likely need a permit from the local law agency depending on where you live. shop around, prices vary. cabela's is the cheapest around here(southeast, mi.) previous posts all have good ideas/points. .45 springfield is my personal choice.

[Sonoran]

In many states, a .22 is not allowed as a caliber for concealed carry. 

Why would a .22 not be allowed as a caliber for concealed carry?  It seems like they would not want people to carry weapons that are more dangerous.

[peternap]

Here are a few links that let you see some of your state's laws

http://www.usacarry.com/
http://crime.about.com/od/gunlawsbystate/Gun_Laws_by_State.htm
http://www.gunlaws.com/links/

I also like the Springfield Government model. I did not recommend it or other autos because they take a lot of practice to be proficient and can be downright dangerous for beginners.

[Sonoran]

I have been doing some searching trying to find the difference between a round that is .45 and .45 auto, but I have been unsuccessful. 
Is a .45 auto a round for a gun that is automatic and .45 for a semi? 

[John_C]

.45 is a caliber, roughly the diameter of the bullet.  There are several .45 rounds

the 45 Colt is an old revolver round. The case is looks like a 44 special or 44 magnum. It was the cartridge of many of the old west revolvers. Today there are single action revolvers, double action revolvers and some rifles chambered for it.

the .45 auto aka .45ACP is the round introduced with the Colt 1911 pistol.  It garnered it's fame as a long standing military round chambered in the semi automatic pistol. The 1911 pistol is a fine gun but it requires a good deal of practice and familiarity to use well and safely.  There are single and double action pistols and there have been a few revolvers chambered for this round..... some of them use "half moon" clips holding 3 rounds each.

There are several other .45 caliber rounds.  One reloading guide shows a total of ten different cartridges in .45 caliber.  Some like the .454 Casull are very powerful and would be very unpleasant to shoot in anything remotely resembling a carry gun.

There are a few automatic pistols around but that's NOT what you are looking for.   The common pistol is semi-automatic meaning it loads the next round and cocks the firing mechanism when fired. It only fires one round when the trigger is pulled. You need to release the trigger and pull it again to fire another round.

[NM_Shooter]

I lied....

You can carry with a .22 in NM, but you have to qualify with a .32 or larger round.

-f-

[NM_Shooter]

Buy from a private (non-ffl dealer if you can).  If not, this site will sell cheap and will help you find a dealer if you enter your zip code:

http://www.galleryofguns.com/

-f-

[MountainDon]

My 2 cents worth...  

I recommend you stay away from pistols and go with a revolver. They are simpler and when you unload it the cylinder it is empty, no bullet possibly still lurking in the chamber. I'll admit that is a purely personal preference.

I like Peters suggestion of a Taurus in 44 magnum. Taurus is reasonable quality and price (I have a 45 Colt, lightweight titanium model of theirs). The mentioned 44 special round can be used in the 44 magnum and has a lighter kick for getting used to it. The 44 magnum load carries quite a recoil.

If you do get into reloading at a later point you can customize loads.

You may find Davidson's Gallery of Guns, Gun Genie a help for finding prices and dealers. (I see Frank slipped that in as I was typing).   

http://www.galleryofguns.com/Genie/Default.aspx

[lonelytree]

My favorite is a 629 S&W Classic.

[MountainDon]

My favorite is a 629 S&W Classic.

But a lot of money for a first gun.  You could have a Taurus for about 350 less; still about 650 though. 

Dirty Harry's gun: "I know what you're thinking. "Did he fire six shots or only five?" Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement I kind of lost track myself. But being as this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you've got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?"

[glenn kangiser]

I have a lightweight gun - suggested by a cop - Baretta .380 auto model 84 not hard hitting but it does carry a lot of ammo.

http://www.gunsworld.com/beretta/84_us.html

9mm short or 380auto.  Nice shooting gun.

[lonelytree]

My favorite is a 629 S&W Classic.

But a lot of money for a first gun.  You could have a Taurus for about 350 less; still about 650 though. 

Dirty Harry's gun: "I know what you're thinking. "Did he fire six shots or only five?" Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement I kind of lost track myself. But being as this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you've got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?"

My boss is selling his for $475. It is MINT! They shoot so well, have a nice deep bark instead of a sharp ear splitting crack and the recoil is really now bad until you shoot my bear loads (then it needs a decent grip).

I took the side off of a Taurus. I was NOT impressed with the internal quality. If I had to get an alternate to the 629, I would get a Redhawk. Matter of fact... I already did. They are TOUGH.

[Sonoran]

Thanks for all the help guys!

[brian_nj]

A lot depends on the use but here is what I carry.

1. Kahr .40 around town when in normal clothing. Packs a lot of punch and is thin enough that I can conceal it (to say I am thin is a understatement)
2. In the mountains I generally carry a glock of one flavor or another as they are very durable and reliable in adverse conditions.

Here is why I recommend against a revolver for a first time shooter. 1. Price there are more choices and especially more used choices in a semi-auto than a revolver. 2. If you are going to carry a firearm always carry at least one reload (two is better) and reloads with a magazine fed pistol are simpler and faster. 3. Reloading a semi is a lot easier if you do not have use of both hands.

A firearm is only as dangerous as the person carrying it. If the golden rule is followed "Treat every weapon as if it were loaded" there should never be a problem

Brian

there is not such thing as an accidental discharge only negligent discharge.

[Mike 870]

Springfield XD in 45 Auto (or a glock I suppose)  has good quality for the price.

I agree with those who are suggesting you consider a revolver as a first time gun user.  Ruger SP 101 in 38/357 is a good double action that is high value for the price in my opinion. 

Shop around for used guns.  I got my Springfield 1911A1 Mil Spec for $520 out the door.  It was in like new condition.  I can't say enough good things about it.

You should pick up a 22 for plinking and practicing as well.