Good choice for first handgun?

[RRR70]

I'm looking to get my first pistol as well actually, for range shooting and home defense.

Thinking revolver, budget is around $500 (not including ammo/accessories). I want something that's not too big/heavy, durable and accurate for range shooting, and looks cool (I'm vain like that). An all-black revolver would be ideal, none of that cowboy shit, lol.

I'm mostly considering S&W and Ruger.

Also, what are my odds of getting a CCW permit in Oakland? Not good?

Ruger SP101 .357Mag

Your chances of getting a CCW in Oakland ... LOL ... you would literally have a better chance of a monkey flying out of your ass and handing you a winning lottery ticket.

That's about right

 

[dissolvedego]

Ruger SP101 .357Mag

Beautiful, will definitely be looking into that one. Thanks!

That's about right

That makes sense... Oakland is such a safe place there's pretty much no legitimate reason for a law-abiding citizen to carry a gun here. Plus cops are super friendly and can teleport to your exact location in 2 seconds. :|

Shit I might just take my chances and carry anyway in some neighborhoods... I'd rather risk legal penalties than my life. I almost got car-jacked the other night.

 

[Arminius]

Ruger SP101 .357Mag

That's about right

I'm guessing those first 2 shots near the center were your first to shots and then those other 4 climbing shots to the right were the next 4. Then you reloaded and tried to correct and put 2 right together just to the left of your very first 2. You then tried to bring the next 2 shots over to the right a little but brought them a lot further than you wanted and just said fuck it and didn't shoot the final 2 rounds in your gun. At least this is how my pattern is some times which is why I guessed the way I did.

 

[RRR70]

I'm guessing those first 2 shots near the center were your first to shots and then those other 4 climbing shots to the right were the next 4. Then you reloaded and tried to correct and put 2 right together just to the left of your very first 2. You then tried to bring the next 2 shots over to the right a little but brought them a lot further than you wanted and just said fuck it and didn't shoot the final 2 rounds in your gun. At least this is how my pattern is some times which is why I guessed the way I did.

Nope.
Four shots lined up below and to the left of center and one right above it was one group, rest of them, other group.
Shot by my friend, and it was her first time shooting a handgun.

BTW, she loves .357Mag.

 

[stigeon]

i meant to comment earlier. was it mentioned that when picking a weapon you should pick the ammunition that best suits your purposes first and then choose a weapon that receives that ammo?

 

[Arminius]

BTW, she loves .357Mag.

Don't all women love magnums?

For the first time shooting she did awesome!

I didn't notice your Ruger is a 5-shot revolver. I just assumed it was 6.

 

[Aluisious]

i meant to comment earlier. was it mentioned that when picking a weapon you should pick the ammunition that best suits your purposes first and then choose a weapon that receives that ammo?

Anything .380 and up is going to get something done. Ain't no bullet big enough to make a miss count.

 

[Arminius]

i meant to comment earlier. was it mentioned that when picking a weapon you should pick the ammunition that best suits your purposes first and then choose a weapon that receives that ammo?

I guess that could be true, but I think it's more important to pick a weapon for a situation and then pick a caliber and then buy as nice of one as your budget permits. If it is for home and self defense, it's hard to get any better than a .45 ACP. I know a lot of people will say shotgun, but I think a pistol is much easier to store and access and much better in a confined space and much better if you have to be more careful with shot placement.

 

[Aluisious]

I guess that could be true, but I think it's more important to pick a weapon for a situation and then pick a caliber and then buy as nice of one as your budget permits. If it is for home and self defense, it's hard to get any better than a .45 ACP. I know a lot of people will say shotgun, but I think a pistol is much better to access and much better in a confined space and much better if you have to be more careful with shot placement.

Frighteningly, I'm going to have to go with BLU here. I've got a full 1911, an 870, and an AK and when I reach for something for apartment defense, I grab the 10/22.

No, I grab the .45. TBH the 870 would kick 15 kinds of ass with 00 buck, but I could prop the damn thing up between some of the walls in my place. The pistol is handy and .45 is no slouch.

 

[tuxumino]

some might choose a M-1 carbine for home defense: easy to shoot, small enough to be manuverable in tight quarters, high muzzle velocity and because it's longer than a pistol easier to be accurate.

 

[Critter]

Good first handgun: Charter arms .38 special. Sweet lil revolver for under $400.

 

[RRR70]

Good first handgun: Charter arms .38 special. Sweet lil revolver for under $400.

 

[Climber]

some might choose a M-1 carbine for home defense: easy to shoot, small enough to be manuverable in tight quarters, high muzzle velocity and because it's longer than a pistol easier to be accurate.

You must live in an area of widely seperated houses, because you could easily hit your neighbors with something like that if you lived in an apartment complex or some of the on-top-of-each-other housing developments.

What's wrong with a shotgun for home defense?

 

[Aluisious]

some might choose a M-1 carbine for home defense: easy to shoot, small enough to be manuverable in tight quarters, high muzzle velocity and because it's longer than a pistol easier to be accurate.

I can't imagine who would buy an M-1 carbine.

Seriously though, shotguns are just too long for some housing. To get one from my closet to my front door takes more maneuvers and pirouettes than a figure skating routine. And any round effective out of a shotgun will still punch through walls and kill neighbors, they're not magical.

 

[Inkman]

So did the OP ever buy or decide on a handgun?

 

[RRR70]

So did the OP ever buy or decide on a handgun?

His ass never showed up at the shop.

 

[Lovedoc]

I'm thinking BARF is loaded with good pistoleers. I can't hit center black 10/10 at 7 yards with anything except a .22, and shooting the airweight .38, especially the the .357 gives me some flinch. Not so much the Glock 23.

 

[Inkman]

I'm thinking BARF is loaded with good pistoleers. I can't hit center black 10/10 at 7 yards with anything except a .22, and shooting the airweight .38, especially the the .357 gives me some flinch. Not so much the Glock 23.

I'm not a great shot by any stretch, but i'd be way worse if i never practiced. Learning right and practice is the key in any sport.

 

[2strokeYardSale]

7 yards is a "gimme" ... I need to start paying attention to sight picture and trigger control at 15 yards. (6x11 target in a 18x24 background.)

Now with a shoulder-fired gun, that's still a gimme!

I shoot a handgun in competition because it's hard, it's a challenge to hit the center of every target quickly under stress. When choosing a weapon with which to defend myself, I don't want one that is difficult to accomplish its ultimate task. I carry a handgun for defense only because a long gun won't fit unobstrusively under a jacket. There are no such restrictions in my home or vehicle.

 

[Aluisious]

If you can't hit at 7 yards pull the trigger slower. Not many people have a problem with aim, they have a problem with jerking it around.