First Gun/Newb advice

[slow06]

I'm looking to get my first gun here in the next few months and I'm looking for some good sites to read up on buying and caring for guns (besides here of course). Id be using it just to shoot at the range, and carry every once in a while after I get my CHL. I'm a total gun newbie, so any help would be appreciated. Feel free to throw in your suggestions on a first gun too.

[jwalk]

My favorites are:
Glocktalk.com
packing.org

[Chrm10SPkZ28]

sent you a PM.....

[Trip McNeely]

I started on a Ruger P95. It was a great gun, very reliable, and was relatively cheap. I didnt rent any before buying which might have been a mistake, but for a shot in the dark i ended up picking a good one to start with. Might try shooting one and see if you like it. Its a nice size and polymer frame as well.

[5111]

My recommendation is that you get a .22 first and put a couple thousand rounds through it before looking for something bigger. It will let you know if you really like to shoot pistols, the ammo is dirt cheap, and it will help you get the basics down first.

[srt-4_i_swear]

unless they've improved the slide spring i would highly vote against a P95. Starting with a 9mm would be my suggestion as it is relatively cheap to shoot, and does give you some home defence.

[Trip McNeely]

unless they've improved the slide spring i would highly vote against a P95. Starting with a 9mm would be my suggestion as it is relatively cheap to shoot, and does give you some home defence.
Care to elaborate? I never had any problems with the slide spring.

[propellerhead]

Go to a gun range. Tell them what your needs are. Have them pick out 5 guns for you to try. Rent them and shoot them. Come back the next day and rent the top four from the previous day. Shoot them. Come back the next day and shoot the top three. Do it again the next day and you'll be down to two. You should know what you want by then.

Elk Castle in west Fort Worth lets you shoot as many guns as you want per single rental fee. Other ranges charge you a rental fee per gun you touch.

[srt-4_i_swear]

Care to elaborate? I never had any problems with the slide spring.


when you take the slide off, the sping is on a guide pin, if you try to clean the spring the retainer barely sits on the pin and can fly across the room.

[Trip McNeely]

when you take the slide off, the sping is on a guide pin, if you try to clean the spring the retainer barely sits on the pin and can fly across the room.
Well mine never came off during cleaning. :confused:

[OC]

Elk Castle in west Fort Worth lets you shoot as many guns as you want per single rental fee. Other ranges charge you a rental fee per gun you touch.


Thanks for that info, gonna head out there next time I go shoot ;)

[slow06]

Andrew, got your pm, thanks for the info and ill hit you up once i get closer to making a decision.

[slow06]

Thank all you guys for your help. Went to Academy yesterday and Arlington Guns and Ammo this morning to look at/price some stuff. I found some cheap brands (don't remember the name) for about $150, but id rather go with a name Ive heard of. I was hoping to get something in the $250-$300 range, but from the looks of things its gunna be closer to $400. I don't want to be a cheap ass, but I don't want to buy the best gun out there being this is my first.

Keep the info coming, the more the better.

[Casper]

Another consideration is to look for sites/forums that cater to a specific caliber. For instance, you will hear a mess of praise from the 10mm forums about this or that pistol, although the consensus in those places is usually that the caliber in question is the greatest thing since sliced bread.

[1985GT]

guns are just like everything else in this world. you get what you pay for. you need to go get the feel of some and then buy what feels the best to you regardless of price. you will probably end up in the $400-$600 range. You can just about get any brand name nice quality gun for that price. The pistols that cost more than that are just fancier, thats about it. Anything less that than, and you are looking at mostly junk. Trust me... I have owned plenty of the junk guns.

[That_Is_My_El_Camino]

although the consensus in those places is usually that the caliber in question is the greatest thing since sliced bread.If they're saying that on the 10mm forum(s), they're 100% correct.