(VANITY) What is the best gun for a beginner?

[Minus_The_Bear]

I've grown up in Oklahoma and went through Boy Scouts (am an Eagle Scout) learning to shoot various types of firearms but haven't even touched one in 5+ years. Now that I'm about to leave college I'm thinking of getting a firearm of some kinda but don't know where to start.

What should I be looking at and why?

[YouPosting2Me]

Red Ryder...

[Pukin Dog]

A loaded one.

[rattrap]

Depends on what you want it for. A little more info would help.

[HOTTIEBOY]

No he'll shoot his eye out!
hope I was first on that one.

[Americanwolf]

Start with what is comfortable and inexpensive... don't by a gun just for a name first...... that being said Ruger is one of the best built guns you can get... perhaps the p89 9mm or p95 9mm also.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Eaker's slightly used M1.

[Shanda]

I think a medium sized, medium caliber revolver such as a .38 special is pretty much considered the ideal beginners gun. I think that conventional wisdom is correct too.

[MileHi]

I'm thinking of getting a firearm of some kind...

To use for what?

[DannyTN]

MOAB launcher

[HOTTIEBOY]

BTY...
IB4TZ

[Mogollon]

A Remington .22 caliber bolt action.

[ConservativeBamaFan]

But conventional wisdom is so, I dunno, conventional.

[MineralMan]

The most important question is: What use do you plan to make of this firearm? Answer that, and we can help.

[Lancer_N3502A]

A Smith and Wesson M686 revolver. Uses both .38 Special and .357 Magnum ammunition. Learn to shoot with a revolver first, them move onto autos.

[HEY4QDEMS]

This one looks kinda cute.

[txroadkill]

The first hand gun that I ever bought was a Rugar P89. Still own it and still love it.

[IndyTiger]

A .357 mag revolver with a four inch barrel would be a good starting point. You can shoot .38s out of it as well for reduced recoil. S&W 686 or Ruger GP-100 are two models of this.

[OXENinFLA]

GLOCK!

[evets]

Start with something small...

May I suggest the S&W .50 cal...

[YourAdHere]

water

[Tijeras_Slim]

Gesundheit!

[OXENinFLA]

What are you going to be using the gun for?

Protection?

You gonna carry?

[yarddog]

Not sure what you plan on using it for but there is nothing more useful than a .22.

If I could only have one gun it would probably be a .22 model 17 S&W revolver. A Ruger single six would be nice too, as would any of around a dozen good .22 auto plinker/targe types.

[JoeSixPack1]

...I'm thinking of getting a firearm ...

Go to the local indoor range. Bring cash, Rent and fire every gun on your "A" list.

You'll find yours. :-)

[Buffettfan]

THIS is my rifle. THIS is my gun. THIS one's for fighting. THIS one's for fun.

Semper Fi'

[dirtboy]

For home defense, a pump shotgun.

For concealed carry, a .357 wheelgun - you can use either .357 or .38 rounds.

To start learning to shoot a rifle, a .22 Marlin or Ruger, and then eventually graduate to .308 or 30.06.

So a lot depends on what you want the gun for.

[linear]

You can usually drop a beginner at up to 30 yards with a 12 gauge. If you want to hit them from further out, you need a rifle.

What do you have against beginners that you want to hunt them?

[HOTTIEBOY]

"Say hello to my lil friend!"

[GregoTX]

First ... what kind... do you want

A. Handgun

B. Shotgun

C. Long Gun (rifle)

D. Carbine

after that we can narrow it down a little

[BulletBobCo]

[OldFriend]

Somebody's trolling on FR!

[Red Badger]

MOABs are dropped from Aircraft.......

[Red Badger]

The boy'll need a diagram for that.......

[Concho]

You'd better find you a range in your area, go down there and talk to the people. Tell them your wishes, rent and try some different guns and get some instruction from the pros there. Then make your own decision.

[OXENinFLA]

And I say get Glock because they're very reliable, and you, not a "gunsmith" can do a complete detail strip of the entire gun with only a 3/32" punch.

[Kimmers]

I think you need to go to a good gun store to clarify what you want to do. They should be able to help you.

[Psycho_Runner]

My first gun was the S&W 44 magmum, long barrell. If I were to do it all over I would opt for the 357 Magnum. This revolver is the most versatile as you can shoot 3 or 4 different rounds.

Revolvers are the most reliable, most accurate and easiest to maintain.

[Dubh_Ghlase]

A Smith and Wesson M686 revolver. Uses both .38 Special and .357 Magnum ammunition. Learn to shoot with a revolver first, them move onto autos.

If you want this one, buy one that's ported. It keeps the barrel down for subsequent shots and reduces the kickback. Nice gun...

[YouPosting2Me]

An Eagle Scout should be able to make his own WEAPON (like the Buffettfan says... keep your gun out of it!)

[Onelifetogive]

A Ruger .22 and go through a couple thousand rounds. (<$15 worth of ammo.) You'll learn how to shoot, load, clean, etc. before you invest much money.

[Natural Law]

My first gun was an old over-under Stevens .22/.410. I would recommend it as a first gun to anyone.

[ArrogantBustard]

I've been having the worst luck with pictures, lately:

[RightWhale]

No kidding. The BB gun is right by the door at all times. I shoot it every day and haven't broken a window in decades.

[yarddog]

I think you probably meant that for someone else. My range is in my back yard, I have over a mile with no structures.

I already am a certified instructor, or should say was one as I let my certification lapse when I retired.

[phatoldphart]

>Red Ryder...

I had one of those in the very early fifties, Red Ryder was on TV.

What gun? a .22

ammo is cheap
gun is cheaper than other calibers.

move up from there

[pcottraux]

For a beginner, I would recommend a .22 semi-auto or bolt-action rifle. If you get the semi-auto, though, you may need to shoot with someone more experienced in case it jams up.

[Americanwolf]

now that is just a little above the beginners level! But oh so sweet looking!

[fella]

Does anyone still have the jpeg of that "Hellfire 2000"? It's the perfect beginners gun because it has everything.