Best first gun to own? Need advice!

[bonillamktg]

I am ashamed to say that I am 30 years old and do not own a gun. I grew up in a house without guns and never really thought about it until recently (as I started a drastic shift from being politically agnostic to a staunch conservative Constitutionalist) and now I am a new homeowner and new father and every day I think about needing to get multiple firearms. I need to start somewhere but, other than getting recommendations from a few friends I respect, I am a bit lost, having never fired a handgun before (I've shot several rifles and shotguns before).

My question is: What recommendation would you give me as the first gun I should own? I want this first gun to be easily carried concealed (I plan on getting my concealed carry permit ASAP), a good weapon for protection of my home, easily usable by my wife (who has never shot a gun in her life), and ideally, I'd like to get armed for $300-400.

[rahbert]

SIG 232 (.380) is gentle in the hand, easily concealed
and quite controllable even for a novice.

[rahbert]

SIG 232 (.380) is gentle in the hand, easily concealed
and quite controllable even for a novice.

[BlueLancer]

"Don’t forget the triple concertina, fugas, trip flares, claymores, motion lights, trip alarms and an M-60 on the roof just in case."

In 1985, I bought 1.5 acres of old mobile home park to put my house on. After I put a barbed wire fence around the property line, I moved in about five feet and planted a perimeter of buckthorn trees/bushes. I got the buckthorn seedlings from all over the area, telling perfect strangers throughout Central Texas that, if they wanted to get rid of the buckthorn seedlings in their yard, I would do it for them.

Then, 10 feet in from the buckthorn, I planted an inner perimeter line of Texas red cedars eight feet apart all around the line. Didn't cost me a cent, as I just dug out seedlings under the larger cedars already in the yard and went from yard to yard offering to dig up all of their little cedars. The seedlings varied in height from six inches or so to two feet tall.

After they were all planted, I went out to the open range on Fort Hood after a major field exercise and policed up about 50 rolls of concertina wire. I unrolled the concertina wire over the seedlings and carefully monitored their growth over the next five years.

Now, the buckthorn is growing along the inside of the fenceline, backed up by some very nasty 20-foot tall red cedars, with their branches interlaced through growth.

Inside that cedar hedge, at a varying height of between two and five feet, is a coil of very sharp, very rusty concertina razor wire.

My late wife wanted bunkers and machine gun nests, but I had to draw the line somewhere. [smile]

------------------------------------------------------------------------

RESISTOR

Swear allegiance to the flag, whatever flag they offer;
Never hint at what you really feel.
Teach the children quietly for, someday, sons and daughters
Will rise up and fight while we stood still.

Der Elite Møøsënspåånkængrüppen ØberKømmändø (EMØØK)

[WayneS]

I'll concur with that.

I'll also recommend a Ruger 10/22 .22 rifle; for fun, plinking and inexpensive marksmanship practice; of course that means getting your first and second guns at the same time, because I would definitely not recommend the 10/22 as your only gun. p> I'll also recommend taking a firearms safety course.

[bolobaby]

Oh - whoops, scratch Remington 870. Didn’t see the “easily concealed” part.

[Durus]

I think you are putting the cart ahead of the horse. While a handgun is a relatively simple point and click interface the concept of carrying and self defense are much more complex. My suggestion would be to initially get a double action revolver. Shooting a revolver (in double action) forces trigger control and a .22 rimfire makes for enjoyable and cheap range time. Range time is what you need more then anything else. Look for local NRA run courses on the subjects you want to learn. Once you have some familiarity with a handgun then consider what you would want to carry by shooting every make and model you can.

Starting with a bolt action .22 rifle and a local Appleseed event, after a hunters safety course, would be the better way to get started IMO.

[WayneS]

I'll concur with that.

I'll also recommend a Ruger 10/22 .22 rifle; for fun, plinking and inexpensive marksmanship practice; of course that means getting your first and second guns at the same time, because I would definitely not recommend the 10/22 as your only gun.

I'll also recommend taking a firearms safety course.

[stylin_geek]

Rock Island Arsenal makes an excellent 1911 Tactical 45. In CA, they retail for around $500.

I would expect they’re cheaper elsewhere.

For CCW, I’d look into a Glock chambered for .45 (I much prefer to have as much continuity of ammunition as possible)

Glocks, though, aren’t cheap.

[Eepsy]

This caught my eye the other day:

http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1747394

[RatBastage]

Your first priority should be for home defense, and basic food gathering. Preferably something the spouse can use.

20 gauge shotgun. Mossberg 500 for example. Get the youth/bantam model as it has a small frame which is easier to maneuver when clearing a hallway, and if your spouse is of smaller stature she can use it too.

Use buckshot for home defense, not the target loads you practice with, and a you don’t have to be a good shooter to hit a bad guy w/ a shotgun. additionally, it’s good for small game, even turkeys, if you need to hunt.

The farmers out on the plains during the last century all at least had a shotgun.

[Still Thinking]

I’d get something for home protection first. Get a pump or auto shotgun, 12 gauge or whatever your wife feels comfortable shooting. For CC, try a 9mm semi-auto, lots of good choices. And practice, practice, practice. As you build up your “arsenal” (liberal speak for anything more than one weapon and five rounds of ammo), you can start to have specialized weapons, i.e. something you like but the wife won’t shoot, etc.

[Elderberry]

I agree that his first handgun should be a .22. A Ruger Single-Six would be an excellent choice.

And practice. At least a box, once a week, for as long as it takes.

[GovernmentShrinker]

Semi-autos are easier to carry concealed, because they’re flatter. But revolvers are a lot more reliable, especially for inexperienced shooters.

[the long march]

Why don’t you do the really smart thing? Go to the range, take instruction, THEN figue out what gun to purchase.

[Double Tap]

Didn’t bother reading through the thread, I’m sure some fine firearms have been mentioned.

You have never been around guns, so you should absolutely NOT go out and buy one until you have some training. Enroll in an NRA beginners course and move up from there until you are competent to have one around you and your family.

[AreaMan]

You could give these a look-see, they might work for your application.

Thunderwear

[teacherwoes]

Find out what the local/state police have. Try not to get anything bigger than what they are using. The reason being is that if use the gun to protect yourself then you don’t have to explain why you have a larger gun then the police have.

[kempo]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrSGiJG25E4&feature=related

[WayneS]

What about the Boucing Betties? Doesn’t ANYONE use Bouncing Betties in their home-defense plan anywmore?

;-)

[Illuminatas]

Ok, here goes.

I would never recommend a handgun as the first firearm for someone who has never used any firearm before.

First, get a decent .22 rifle to use. Ruger 10/22 comes to mind immediately. Start with open sights, no scope. Get comfortable with it, take a NRA Safety Course, take it plinking, take it small pest hunting (gopher, prairie dog, rabbit, etc.) Burn at least 1000 rds through it. Get comfortable with the sight picture, sound, care and feeding of the rifle. $299.00

Second, get a pump-action shotgun in either 12 or 20 Ga, preferably 12 Ga. Remington 870 or Mossburg 500 family. I have a Mossy 590 personally. Start with bird shot, take it trap and skeet shooting or shoot melons. More recoil, louder bang. Work up to 00 buck and slug loads. Keep it simple, say no to “tacticool” upgrades until you know it inside and out. This should be your home defense weapon of choice, load it with OO Buck at home. I keep mine with the tube full and the slide at release with nothing in the chamber. This weapon is the equivalent of a tactical nuke within 15-20 ft. $250-450.00

Now when you have these down. Get a pistol. Again start with .22, either revolver of semi-auto. I think comfort of the grip and natural sight pattern are the most important things to consider here. You dont want to have to fight the pistol. Shoot it a lot. Burn another 500-1000 rds. Take a course, ask questions, get help, get comfortable with it.

Now, get a centerfire pistol. 9MM, .40, .45, .357/.38. I dont have a bias against any of them and there are tons of good manufacturers. For a beginner, try a 9MM semi-auto. Load it with jacketed hollow-points (JHP) and it is a damn fine defense pistol. Ruger, Taurus, XD, Sig-Sauer, Baretta whatever feels right.

Remember, shooting is supposed to be fun. Dont feel intimidated by anyone. Hell, I take my air-rifle to the range, along with my other toys.