[harper]

Hey guys,

I'm looking for a good first pistol. I'd only really be using it for recreational shooting and varmint control when I visit my parents out in the country. I'm looking for something that's both easy to fire and service, while being respectably accurate. I'm not afraid of recoil, as I have pretty strong wrists (make all the jokes you want ). As far as price goes, I have a maximum budget of about $800, maybe a little more if the pistol is particularly nice. Also, please no funky calibers, I don't wanna have to order some oddball hand-crafted ammo from an old man in switzerland every time I wanna go out shooting .

thanks guys

 

[Fuelburns2]

I would recommend a S&W model 10 or similar .38 special Smith revolver. You should be able to find a nice example for $400 or maybe less. .38 special is more than adequate for most varmints and cheap enough for target practice.

 

[Captn66]

How about a .22? Browning and Ruger both make some nice semi auto's. If you want a revolver there's the Ruger Single Six. Hard to go wrong with a .22 for a lot of plinking - cheap to feed

 

[Asylum Keeper]

I would say go for a revolver as a first pistol. Easier to opperate, clean/maintain/service, very robust and reliable. Not that an auto would be unreliable!
If you want to keep it on the cheap, go for something in .22LR.
Easy to shoot, easy to carry, ammo is cheap. If you want something "bigger" get a .357 Magnum, you can shoot cheap .38 specials when you are just plinken, and full house magnum loads if the gun is being used for defence or hunting, very multi purpose You also have to decide if you want single or double action. Single being that you have to cock the hammer each time you want to fire. Double being that you can cock the hammer OR just pull the trigger. Single actions load one at a time through a gate. Doubles can be loaded fast because the cylinder drops out to the side giving access to all the ammo at once. For your $800 price limit you could get just about anything, new!

My Dad has a S&W 317 Airlite .22LR 10 shot. He loves it. Carries it in his coat pocket when he is camping/hunting to shoot ground squirrels/birds, ect. He said its so light(even loaded) that sometimes he forgets it is in his pocket, untill he needs it of course.

 

[harper]

What do you guys think of the CZ85? There's a fairly nice used one at a shop nearby for about $500. It seems to be in near-new condition, and it comes with 3 mags. I'm not really intimidated by the internal complexity of an automatic (I'm an engineering student). As far as ammo is concerned, I can get 9mm fairly cheap through a friend in NorCal, and the only pistol I've ever fired was a 9mm (a browning High-Power if I remember correctly). Would this be a good choice, or am I jumping into automatics too fast?

 

[Fuelburns2]

Autos and revolvers are different but there's no mandate that you have to start with one or the other. 9mm is a good all around caliber with great variety in ammo selection. I don't know about the specific model CZ you're considering but there's nothing wrong with getting a 9mm to start with.

 

[Asylum Keeper]

CZ makes great guns. I dont know if $500 is a good deal or not. 9mm is a great starter!! Very popular, lots of ammo out there. Main thing would be it needs to fit your hand and be comfortable. So if you like it go for it!!

 

[harper]

Main thing would be it needs to fit your hand and be comfortable

that's the main problem. I have really big hands, so most pistols feel kinda dinky in my hands, even supposedly big ones like a 440 Taurus or a 1911. Can you get new grips for CZ pistols? Like a rubber slip-on or something?

 

[wwb]

Re: re: A good starter pistol

that's the main problem. I have really big hands, so most pistols feel kinda dinky in my hands, even supposedly big ones like a 440 Taurus or a 1911. Can you get new grips for CZ pistols? Like a rubber slip-on or something?

Aftermarket grips from Hogue, Pachmayr, and others are available in many different styles to fit most name-brand pistols & revolvers.

Check their websites....

http://www.getgrip.com/

http://www.lymanproducts.com/pachmayr/index.htm

 

[StealthBeast]

Rent before you buy.

Thats something I regret not doing.

 

[hoashooter]

Have you considered the Rugers that offer two cylinders??? .22-.22 mag-45LC/45ACP-.357/9mm 8)

 

[darkgael]

My first pistol was a Ruger Mk.II Gov't. I have never regretted that buy. It was and is very accurate. Cheap to feed, it shoots virtually any .22lr ammo. It's extremely reliable and pretty much bomb-proof. Though I have added many guns, revolvers and autos, to my personal inventory and shot many more, I never hesitate to recommend the Ruger as a first gun.
Pete