help with first gun purchase

[packing in sac]

I would like some help please. I ve been around guns but never bought one.
Its been years since I have been shooting. Looking for the best gun to buy first. I need to get my skills back. I am looking at the sig sp2022 and the springfeild sub compact.

[kdmmcc]

First Gun

I recommend sticking with any of the fine .22 pistols out there... Ruger MK III or 22/45, Browning Buckmark, (lots of variants), etc. Cheap to shoot, no recoil and the fundamentals of marksmanship are the same as a larger caliber weapon.

[gotime]

What type of shooting will you be doing? The fact you listed 2 pistols (one a sub compact) suggests you are looking for a defensive weapon. There are so many options out there you are going to get inundated with responses. Here on CalGuns we have fanboys for basically every manufacturer out there.

Perhaps start to narrow your search by selecting a caliber first. 22lr, 9mm, .45, etc etc. That's a whole other beast, but it's important. I started with a .22, now I have everything from most of the pistol rounds to shells to rifle cartridges. It's an addiction.

[DSA_FAL]

Get a .22 first (maybe a Mosquito since you want the SP2022) and once you've mastered the marksmanship of it, buy the full caliber pistol that you want.

[packing in sac]

thanks for the help. so Ive shot .380 9mm 10mm .40 .45 in many styles. semi and revolvers. do you think i realy should start back small. I am in line for a ccw in sacramento. I plan on going to the range a lot.

[Chester]

No reason to start small unless you specifically want to for some reason. My first gun was an AR15, second was a Glock 22, and my fifth gun was a .22.

If you're in line for a CCW, I'd suggest you get whatever it is you plan on carrying.

[OHOD]

I like the idea of a Ruger MKIII to learn the finer points of marksmanship.

With that said, my first handgun was a 357 snubnose.

[ripcurlksm]

Dont start small, buy what you want and are comfortable shooting. If you bring a friend to the range, they let you rent their guns (must have an extra person with you though) and you can try different models and calibers.

Start with a pistol, but also dont rule out rifles and shotguns. Shooting rifles at 100+ yards and tray/skeet with shotguns is a hoot.

I started out hot on pistols and now I find rifles more fun.

[Mute]

If you're not completely inexperienced and this is for CCW then you should purchase the gun you will want to carry. I also suggest taking a good defensive handgun training course.