(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?

[Rummyfan]

It's pretty good..... had it also back in July. Lots of goodies to choose from.

[BadAndy]

"Glock was my first handgun. I find it very easy to use and keep clean....very reliable and a lot less maintenance than an 1911.....basically idiot proof, which works for me!"

Glocks are great but very unforgiving if you make a mistake. I would hesitate to put something with a light trigger pull and no external safety into the hands of an inexperienced shooter. Novices tend to out their fingers on the trigger at inappropriate times, a little too much pressure and you have an AD.

[JZelle]

[300magnum]

Didn't Colt stop selling to the general public about the same time S&W signed the treaty with Klinton?

[WKUHilltopper]

"It probably varies a lot from school to school. I taught skeet at a large Southern University. When I first started, I phoned the chief of security and asked him what the students should do who wanted to use their own guns for the class.
He simply said to tell them to keep them in the trunk or if a pickup, behind the seat. Now I don't know what the official policy was but doubt anyone would get in trouble there for just having a gun on campus."

When I was in college living in a dorm some 20 odd years ago, I kept a double barrel 20 ga. shotgun in my closet in full view of anyone who walked in the room. Every Saturday morning (well just about every Saturday--unless there was a football game), I'd go squirrel hunting. It helped defray the cost of food! Sometimes I'd get lucky and kick up a rabbit.

But it was no big deal when I was in school. Although it kept me from starving! The Resident Advisors all saw my "smoke pole" and thought nothing of it during room inspections. They were more concerned about hot plates than anything. I used to love watching the city slickers go nuts and green watching me fix a big mess of biscuits, gravy and fried squirrel! LOL

Funny how I didn't blast everyone that moved on campus...how could that be? Well, if I did, my dad would hve come down there and beat the piss out of me! LOL

[Dr Snide]

like everybody else, depends on what you plan on doing with it. For home protection I got my wife a good, reliable shotgun and buckshot for when I'm away. Figure even if she's anxious she won't miss. For myself .38 revolver works just fine, although I would still grab the shotgun if someone comes into the house.

[Eastbound]

Well, if you're determined, you may as well have some fun.

[Tijeras_Slim]

About that time, not that Colt's quality/price ratio was anything to shout about. Shame, I have some of their products from the 1920's-1950's that are absolutely amazing.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Founder's Ranch... about 4 miles from the Slim homestead.

[Revolting cat!]

May I suggest the S&W

S&W?

[Tijeras_Slim]

Nah, that's the Colt Peasmaker.

[Disambiguator]

Revolvers are a good choice, especially if smaller women may eventually be in the picture.

As an instructor, I've seen too many women who could not work the slide on a semi-auto pistol.

That could be disastrous in a life or death situation.

[WKUHilltopper]

Ok. I'd go with a .38 revolver. I'd start off by shooting wad cutter ammo. The pistol won't kick as much shooting wad cutters. Once you feel comfortable shooting the wad cutters and get used to the pistol, graduate to regular .38 special ammo.

Or you could get a .357 magnum. You can shoot .38 wad cutter ammo and .38 special ammo in it. Then when you're very confident, you can slip in the .357 mag shells.

Personally, I prefer the .45 ACP but you can't go wrong on the above. Stick with a revolver to start out with. It will be more simple to gain confidence with a wheel gun, more simple for beginners, than an automatic.

[Obadiah]

Yeah, that's my choice for squirrel hunting. Funny thing is, my stupid dog can never find the darn thing to retrieve. 'Suppose I need a new dog.

[stevem]

I always wanted a modern day equivalent of a Colt .45 Peacemaker, Frontier Model. When my kids moved out so the wife was less nervous about such things, she bought me a Ruger Blackhawk that shoots .45 caliber long colt ammunition. I load my own ammunition so can shoot it for about 5 cents per round. It is an extremely rugged weapon, and more that fun to shoot. My son likes it, although his hand gun is a nine millimeter auotmatic. He is in the military, and that is the firearm he must qualify each year. The Ruger is simply enjoyable. My youngest daughter thinks it's OK, but a bit heavy for the lasses. P.S. Even though my wife was nervous about firearms when my kids were young and mischievous, she did want me to teach the kids to shoot using my Dad's weapons. Also, she would make a grand Second Amendment Sister, as she has proven time and again that she is a far mor accurate shooter than am I using the hand guns.

P.P.S. Finds something inexpensive to buy and shoot (possibly a .22 revolver). You can shoot one of those all day long for about $8.00. Then start looking in the sporting good store magazines to start zeroing in on one that grabs your attention.

[pcottraux]

Actually, my Uncle got a Yugoslavian SKS recently and while we were firing it at the range, it jammed up every time and even fell apart at one point.

I'm not doubting you; maybe it was just the one he had.

[Redbob]

"I thought we were boycotting S&W for being wishywashy and favoring CLinton's gun ideas."

Some of us still are;
they've never renounced their "agreement," and apparently have no intention of doing so, in spite of changing hands since it was signed.

[GunsareOK]

Based on the assumptions, I also like this advice. I would add: See if a local range or gun store offers instruction and various rental firearms for use on the range. Get some instruction and try out all the firearms that you think may appeal to you--this will help avoid a poor choice and will prove to be money well spent.

Start off with the 22/22 magnum or the 38/357. You can move up to the larger calibers when you feel ready.

Over the years, I wish I had done this more faithfully myself.

[lepton]

but the 38 S&W is the predecessor of the Special, a pre-1900 round that the old Safety Hammerless pocket pistols were chambered for. You can find it, but it's pricey.

Ooops. Thanks.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Now you too can be a keeper of useless firearms trivia! :)