Best Gun for a Beginner?

[HarleyD]

Whats a good higher caliber handgun to start off with? Something easy to clear if it jams with solid stopping power?

[spikes40]

i always the say glocks and the springfield xd's are the most user friendly

[chrismia]

get a revolver

[Dan]

get a revolver

:+1:

[ss1]

"High caliber" would be .357magnum/.40S&W and up. Once you know and practice the clearing drill for most semi-auto's, they become easy to clear pretty much most "jams". While I would normally look at the "jam" situation and adjust accordingly, usually if you follow these steps to clear and make safe the weapon, you can then assess whether it is safe to continue to fire the weapon. This is from memory and not some official NRA procedure, so YMMV.


make sure the gun is pointed in a safe direction (either down range or towards the ground)
keep finger out of trigger guard
release magzine. If you have a double feed, you may need to pull or force the magazine out.
keeping weapon pointed in a safe direction and finger still out of the trigger guard, grasp slide and pull back. If you have a slide lock, lock it. If not, hold it back to release tension on and casing(s) or unfired rounds in the chamber and magwell area and clear. (sometimes it is easier to do this step before #3, but in cases where there is no slide lock, you should follow the original order)
Visually inspect the chamber and magwell to make sure it is clear.
Make sure the barrel has no obstructions.
Visually inspect the casings and rounds that caused the malfunction and look for unusual issues.
99% of the time, jams are caused by user error, dirty gun, magazine issues or ammo issues. It's the 1% that requires additional review by an experienced shooter or qualified gunsmith. If you keep the gun clean and lightly lubricated, you shouldn't run into issues with quality firearms.

The guns already mentioned are certainly "easy to clear". A revolver is a very simple gun to use and become proficient with. I guess it really boils down to budget, purpose (home defense, concealed carry, target shooting, etc), and what you feel you are going to be comfortable with.

[M@D-M@X]

IMHO...

You can't go wrong with any reputable brand name like Sig, Colt, S&W, Glock, Baretta, H&K, Springfield & yes! even Taurus:bolt:. There will be differences between these brands, but they will function with dependability.

"Something easy to clear if it jams" Well, revolvers have the least chance of having any issues compared to automatics but they also have dissadvantages like round capacity and trigger pull on double action/repetition shooting. Clearing a jam in an auto may seem difficult for any novice but once the right technique is applied together with some practice, it becomes 2nd. nature.

If your decision ends up on an auto pistol, I would choose it in 9mm. Overall good performance, huge variety found for this caliber and not much of a kick. Next step up, I would pick a .40. This one will kick a bit more than a 9mm due to the bullet's weight & power.

If your decision ends up on a revolver than I would have to say .38 Special. Easy to handle even on compact models but it does lack a bit of power. The next jump up, I would pick a .357 magnum. This one will kick, so handling it might be a bit rough but you've got plenty of power behind it.

There are other calibers far off & between the ones I mentioned but I feel that the ones mentioned are overall good performers and are very common.

P.S.
Ohhh and I forgot...
I'm no instructor:secret:

[Chris]

smith and wesson 357 revolver

[Cris]

.38 revolver is the way to go. No clearing of any jams. It doesn't fire, just pull the trigger again.

[RCSRT8]

smith and wesson 357 revolver

I like the way you think, love mine, hate Cris's

[Secpro]

.38 revolver is the way to go. No clearing of any jams. It doesn't fire, just pull the trigger again.

:+1::+1::+1:
JUst a bitch to clean!:rich:

[liquidsniper]

If you go with the revolver get the 357, that way you can shoot very mild 38spl in range sessions and keep full power 357 on tap when you carry.

For an autoloader I would get a glock or an XD. Simple, reliable, and user friendly.

For starters tho a good 22 pistol is a great way to familiarize yourself with weapons. I know my girl loves to shoot the 22. Letting her shoot my .40 glock subcompact would just scare her and completely turn her off to shooting. In the last 2 range sessions with her she used up an entire 550rd box of 22lr. She is gonna be even more thrilled now that I have my 22 suppressor :D

Where are you located? Some of us might be nearby or can give reccomendations on where to go to rent guns so you can try before you buy.

[spikes40]

i love my suppressed p22

[lino]

i love my suppressed p22
I want to try that one some day

[spikes40]

I want to try that one some day


Whenever you want just let me know..may hear up to the pistol range this weekend

[lino]

Whenever you want just let me know..may hear up to the pistol range this weekend

I may go to the range on Sat..

[anthony20031]

I think I am going on Saturday as well lolol...need to try out my new 22 as well as that Stone Hart 5.56

[spikes40]

I think I am going on Saturday as well lolol...need to try out my new 22 as well as that Stone Hart 5.56

im not going to go to markham i dont think...probably arizona

[anthony20031]

You suck...jk...yh def. gonna go to Markham...wanna shoot the ar at 100 yds....What's the best distance to zero in an AR?

[spikes40]

You suck...jk...yh def. gonna go to Markham...wanna shoot the ar at 100 yds....What's the best distance to zero in an AR?


I would start at 50 yards to get on paper...then start moving it back

[ss1]

You suck...jk...yh def. gonna go to Markham...wanna shoot the ar at 100 yds....What's the best distance to zero in an AR?
If you zero at 50yrds, your point of impact will zero again at 200 yrds. That means anything you shoot at in between 50 and 200 will shoot high, so you adjust your hold under/over according to the distance of your target. I believe the military uses 300 yrd (meters actually) as the zero for their AR's which corresponds to a 37 meter zero. I have used special zeroing targets specifically for the AR in Bushido's Carbine class.

[lino]

im not going to go to markham i dont think...probably arizona

and Ill probably go to Trail Glades

[spikes40]

and Ill probably go to Trail Glades

My p22 doesnt travel to the MIA:bolt:

[lino]

My p22 doesnt travel to the MIA:bolt:


Ill get you a fake green card...

[JaxChris]

C3PO, you are correct on 300m for the standard M16. The M4 though is typically zero'd at 200m. Then it is "aim for the gut and you'll never miss" for anything closer than the zero range.

[anthony20031]

Yh it is zereod in right now at 25 becuase that is what Bass Pro's range is. So a zero at 50 would result in:

<50 yds impact would be low
>50 but <200 would be high
>200 would be low

Correct?

[lino]

Yh it is zereod in right now at 25 becuase that is what Bass Pro's range is. So a zero at 50 would result in:

<50 yds impact would be low
>50 but <200 would be high
>200 would be low

Correct?


:think: C3PO

[ss1]

sounds about right

[anthony20031]

:think: C3PO

Confuse you Lino? lol

[lino]

yep... :rich:

im simple folk

[Puffer]

get a revolver

AGREE !!!

1. A revolver
a. Simple = Ready, to go, just pull the trigger The "learning curve" is easier & faster.
b. In a "stress" situation, . ( Most individuals, sad to say, do not train regular so KISS = your life
c. Very unlikely to jam. ( I have had one jam, but it was a rare mech. prob. with the gun( a Taurus & could not open cyl. to reload ). This was the only time in over 1,000s ++++ rounds+
I have also shot them ( under stress) crudy as H^&L.
They will not jam if you "loose wrist them". etc.
Are not "sensitive to ammo choice. ( as long as it is good stuff)
d. Cleaning & take down is a "snap"

2. Semi autos
IMHO, even the best do not meet the above.

Again, for the beginner in a "stress situation , KISS = YOUR A*S

Puffer

[JaxChris]

LOL, you can speak freely here Puffer. No need to censor your spelling. This isn't some liberal nazi site. =)

[Satan_3pc]

The seven dirty words are:

* Shit
* Piss
* Fuck
* Cunt
* Cocksucker
* Motherfucker
* Tits

[JaxChris]

All perfectly acceptable here.

[lino]

puffer is a gentelman... do not insult him with your blatant vulgarity.. :fu:

[ss1]

The seven dirty words are:

* Shit
* Piss
* Fuck
* Cunt
* Cocksucker
* Motherfucker
* Tits
And I thought clips would be one of them......

[Secpro]

puffer is a gentelman... do not insult him with your blatant vulgarity.. :fu:

Yes unlike the cubans he is a decent guy.:bolt:

[lino]

Yes unlike the cubans he is a decent guy.:bolt:

:comppunch:

[Satan_3pc]

And I thought clips would be one of them......

No, I wasn't saying you can't say those words. Clips is on the list of words you can't say, right along side of using "Obama", and "good", in the same sentence.

[JaxChris]

And I thought clips would be one of them......

Only when not talking about wheel guns.

[Secpro]

Yes unlike the cubans he is a decent guy.:bolt:


:comppunch:

:hehe: Love you man! :prettyplease::rofl:

[ss1]

Yes unlike the cubans he is a decent guy.:bolt:

:comppunch:


:hehe: Love you man! :prettyplease::rofl:

Wow, multiple quotes! Damn you are learning... :hehe:

[Secpro]

SCREW YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!

[Satan_3pc]

I thought the line was, "Fuck you very much!"

[Secpro]

I thought the line was, "Fuck you very much!"

That ones my favorite.