First handgun questions

[Leland Yee]

I don't shoot a lot and bought my first gun (ar15) around the panic time since my friends kept telling me this was my last change to buy.

I didn't use it as much until now because ammo was a lot of money when I got the rifle. recently a coworker of mine is really into shooting so we started going to the range and I am wanting a handgun.

I shot his hand gun for the first time and liked it more than the ar15. I want to get my own but dont know where to start.

The gunstore choice are overwhelming... I shot the glock but i found other brands that look the same and cost about the same.

I just want something for target shooting with cheap ammo so i can practice.

[mnichols]

First, read this:

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=397489

Then,
What's your budget?
What is the gun for?
Caliber preference aside from cost?

[AeroEngi]

What was your friend's gun that you shot and liked?

[Garv]

Go to a range and rent guns and try them out

[Leland Yee]

What was your friend's gun that you shot and liked?

his gun is the glock, i liked it and wanted to buy one buy the store told my friend said they dont make one that shoots .22

i wanted cheapest ammo so i can practice

[Leland Yee]

Go to a range and rent guns and try them out

All the rentals look like glocks, and they have a lot of silver hand guns buy most of them are out of my price range

i only want 22

[Sleighter]

Have you thought about asking Shrimp Boy?

[Sleighter]

But seriously...let us know what area you're in. Calguns groups put on shoots regularly in most of SoCal if you're in this area and many members will allow you to shoot their guns, that way you can try a lot of different kinds.

Other than shooting them, you've got a lot of decisions to make: striker fired, hammer fired, Double action, Single Action or both. Safety or no safety. How heavy you want the gun to be.

There are a lot of options, but some of the best things you can do is start picking up guns and seeing what fits your hand and what you like or don't like. Also, remember that buying a gun doesn't need to be a commitment for life. Especially if you buy used here on the marketplace, you can almost always turn around and sell it if down the road it just isn't working out for you and you decide to go another direction.

[Garv]

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=1100822

Check this one out too.

[Lumpia is sarap!®]

Take a basic handgun class at your local range. Rent guns and make your decision from there.

[asphaltcowboychip]

Going to the range or shooting more of your friends guns will be the cheapest way to find what you'd like. Better than spending 600+ on a gun only to not like it.

[jsigone]

I'd say skip the 22 for the first pistol. Get a 9. Ammo prices aren't that bad if you shop at walmart or bulk. Basically half the price of the AR15 to shoot the 9. 22ammo is hit or miss, pay mark up prices when in stock. And will get old really quick.

If you plan on shooting it, the handgun purchase will be the cheapest part of the equation, ammo cost down the road and other gear will out weigh the $500 glock....

[highpower]

You have a HUGE information mountain to climb and without even the basic knowledge of what type of gun you are likely to buy you have no way to determine the validity of the suggestions you will get.

What you need to do is to go to a range that rents guns and try as many different types/brands as you can. Rest assured that once you buy the first one you will eventually start to consider others, so don't look at your first purchase as being your last.

My own experience with being swayed by others was many years ago and wound up with me buying a Ruger Super Blackhawk in .44 Mag during a period when I when I was interested in handgun hunting. That gun remains today the one revolver that I absolutely hated and I pretty much wasted my money and time getting it.

[Varg Vikernes]

A Buckmark or Ruger 22lr will probably be the best bet if you want a 22.

[dyson]

9mm is pretty cheap these days and you can use it for self defense