As a matter of opinion, what's the perfect gun to get as your first firearm?

reply to post by rockymcgilicutty


rockymcgilicutty, I couldn't agree more! I have both, a 20 gauge shotgun and a 38 snubnose among others....for starters, those 2 are fantastic. I have heard some folks call a 20 gauge a "sissy gun". Far from it, They have great knock down power and great for home defense. When hunting, I used my shotgun more than my 30/30 Savage bolt action rifle. I never missed what i was after...be it fowl, squirrel, or deer. My Mossberg was comfortable for me. They do make shotguns with shorter stocks and comfortable for women folk anyhow. The lady mainly needs a good stance, (feet positioning) and a strong grip held into the shoulder and it's great. I started with buck shot and such before slugs...gives you more confidence as you practically can't NOT hit what your aiming for if you are doing everything correctly. Less recoil than some shotguns but a 20 is NOT a sissy gun as far as I feel about it.

The 38 snubnose is pretty accurate and easier to tote around if need be.

Also, The main thing that concerns me once someone becomes a gun owner are the safety issues. Since it was stated that there are experienced gun owners in the family, that is a great plus. Once you own your gun, they will be a great help! The rules are always pretty much the same....tho, in the woods hunting, it is a big difference then home defence. Woods...be sure of your target. When out in the woods hunting shooting, never shoot at just a noise, color or movement...know your target. Always be aware of where your muzzle is pointing and treat every gun as a loaded gun. Make sure the gun is clean and free of debri. That's just a few of the basics..there are more your helpers will teach you. If target practicing in woods, gotta always be sure of where your helpers are, be sure of your target and where your gun is pointing when walking or holding it. Best not to load it until at target area. If hunting, things a little different in some regards relevant to some of the above.

If someone is kicking down door or window, a little different. It's true, just the sound of sliding one in the chamber is scary.....a shotgun is devastating but great protection. I hope you never need it but good to have and to know how to use it. Is sad we sometimes need such in these days and times or anytime. And again, they do make versions that are a little easier to manage and not real cumbersome...shorter stock and depends on material made of as well. My most recent one is quite comfortable and I like it a lot. Some people would say they are a kiddie gun or some such but for real, they are most definitely not. There are all kinda 20's to look at and choose from. Good luck.

An assualt rifle you can't go wrong 1 of them unless your a newyorker then you better just get a super soaker to be on the safe side .

reply to post by XxNightAngelusxX


I find a good 22time revolver 5 shot very small. You never know when u dont want it seen fits in your pocket.

Last ight I showed your thread to my boyfriend, and he had some suggestions I hope they can help you. He suggested you take a look at a Hi-Point carbine (but not the Hi-Point handgun). they are automatic but dont have the hi capacity magazines and also they are inexpensive. He also said most officers he knows, owns one, and they are pretty durable. Also he recommended a website called defensivecarry.com. There are plenty of women there, and many woman-gun topics. Lots of good information. Hope this helps

I'm deeply concerned about all the posters advising the OP to purchase a 22 caliber.

Besides the obvious concern about stopping power (for self defense you want something that will put an attacker down with 1 shot regardless of where you hit them). A 45 is the obvious choice for this but you can also use various types of ammo for smaller caliber weapons such as "DRT rounds" (aka "dead right there", these projectiles contain a fine powder which creates huge amounts of trauma / damage. There are combat reports on this ammo killing insurgents instantly with "non lethal" shots, including the legendary special ops report of a shot in the ass killing the insurgent instantly).

The larger concern w/ a 22, however is that it is a very high velocity round especially so in rifles. The risk of the round going through a wall or walls is much higher which could put your family at risk of being hit by mistake. It's also a round that tends to ricochet easily which is another very negative potential result, most especially in a confined space / close range.

22's are great for high accuracy shooters and very small targets. It is not suitable for a new shooter to use for defense, the only good you would get from one would be cheap range practice and low recoil.

The perfect gun for your first firearm would be a "free one" I kid. It really depends on you and how much expereince you have with firearms. I would suggest you find a "Gun range" Or Gun Club. Most ranges will let you rent out their arms as so you can determine what is best for you. Make your decision based on your comfort level with said firearm.

You may find a shotgun a little unyielding and bulky. You may find some pistols are heavy and cumbersome. Comfort with your weapon is the key. My wife carries a Glock 17, with 15 round magizine. I would not want to be the one she's shooting at. I carry a Glock 22. I might suggest a The Judge a revolver witha twist, it chambers either 410 gauge shotgun shells or .45 long colt. A beast of a hand gun for home protection, 410 gauge shells are not that expensive and they come in rifled slug. Tremendous knock down power in close quarters, and most homes are close quarters.

Pick the firearm YOU have the most comfort level with. Can't go wrong there. Unless you are areally accurate shot, a .22 does not have the knockdown power you seek for home protection. Unless it's a head or heart shot the odds of a single .22 round stopping an assault is minimal at best. You want to stop the perp, not piss them off even more.

This is a great start

Designed for ladies well worth a look

I like the 115mm Howitzer, but the ammo is a little spendy.

Just get a 10mm Glock for or Smith & Wesson Governor . 410 Shotshell /.45LC Revolver.


Posted Via ATS Mobile: m.abovetopsecret.com

Originally posted by unb3k44n7
As for a gun to own to use as an actual weapon if necessary, the next step up from a .22 handgun, would be a .45acp handgun. This is what I would recommend for actual usage. I've done research and the .45acp seems to be the most popular choice amongst many. It has more recoil than the .22, as it is a more powerful gun, but it's still very tolerable and easy to reset your aim quickly. There's also the 9mm. 9mm's will work too for what you want it for and can be just as good as the .45acp, but I would still prefer the .45acp amongst the 9mm IMO.

edit on 15-1-2013 by unb3k44n7 because: (no reason given)

Fourth from right is .45acp, and the last one is .22lr. There are many steps up from a .22 that are pleasant to shoot, especially for smaller people (.32, .380, 9mm, .40). The question becomes, do you want 19 rounds of 9mm, or 10 rounds of .45 in a magazine. Is the difference in stopping power enough to justify having half as many rounds?

If you're looking for a smaller framed semi-auto for conceal carry I would recommend the Walther PPS. I have one myself, and carry it often. It is one of the thinnest 9mm handguns you'll find, fairly light (polymer frame/grip), and almost vanishes when conceal carrying (especially when matched with a good quality, properly sized holster). It is a single-stack design, so you'll only get 8 rounds max (it comes with a smaller 6 and medium sized 7 mag depending how "small" you want the gun to be overall), but I don't feel that is really much of an issue at all.

You'll also get the benefit that all 9mm's have, basically zero recoil once you are comfortable with it

Originally posted by cody599
This is a great start

Designed for ladies well worth a look

I love those little pink .38's. The model 351PD is a good starter too if interested in a wheelgun (can't beat them!) 22mag air-light, so it's basically a feather in the pistol world.

.38 revolver

Reasons:

Stopping power
Point and Shoot
Holds enough rounds to stop intruder
Small for lady hands
Revolvers have less maintenance and less misfires
Common round
Decent priced ammo

Originally posted by XxNightAngelusxX
As we all know, guns are under attack here in the states.

I, being a currently unemployed 19 year old female, am finding it hard to find a gun. So, I made a tough decision in order to ensure I can get at least one. I'm going to barter my playstation 3 for a firearm of some kind (I'm gonna miss it so much, but I don't have the money to buy one right now).

I always wanted a 12 gauge shotgun, but since semi-autos are under the scope, would that be smarter?

It's just educated opinions I'm looking for. I don't want to be unarmed and out of shape, when and if the civil war breaks out. I've been working my arse off, burning the extra weight on me (finally) but I am still gun hunting.

I was supposed to get my first firearm a few months back, but some things came up... and my money vanished.

It's entirely for emergencies and home protection, nothing more.

But it unnerves me, knowing I don't have one.

Plus, not having a playstation will give me a little less leeway to sit around and do nothing, and give me more motivation to get up and whip back into shape in my spare time.

ANYway, according to you, ATS, what do you think would be a good first firearm? And why?

My first and biggest question is have you shot a firearm?

If not go to a gun shop and find a range or someone to shoot with or take a education course on how to shoot!

Then join a gun club, being a girl you could probably find a few guys with arsenals that would allow you to shoot their guns and then decide for yourself.

Biggest mistake most first time gun owners make is buying too much of a gun, the second not spending enough time learning how to use it!

Also after re-reading check the laws in your state you might have to be 21 to own a handgun.

This is:

www.gibraltar-arms.com

Absolute #ing beauty.

Originally posted by knowledgedesired
.38 revolver

Reasons:

Stopping power
Point and Shoot
Holds enough rounds to stop intruder
Small for lady hands
Revolvers have less maintenance and less misfires
Common round
Decent priced ammo

I agree with this. Revolvers are extremely easy to operate and maintain. The 38 spl is a proven effective round in more than one situation and most have little recoil to throw off a less experienced shooter. Personally I prefer a 357 for the ability to use more than one type of ammo. A 357 can shoot 38 spl, 38+P and the full house load 357. They are usually a little heavier so felt recoil can be lessened more. Depending on model they can be carried with ease as well.
If there's no desire to carry it or it's just a home defense weapon then I think a shotgun makes a wise choice. 22 rifles are great if plinking/target shooting is your desire. I'm a huge fan of the Ruger 10/22 as well as the Marlin/Glenfield models. If a bolt action 22 rifle is your flavor then I toss Savage into the mix.

I carry around a Smith and Wesson model 637 air-weight a lot of the time. It is extremely light and can use +P and 38 spl. With a pocket holster it carried very well and being it is so light I can hardly notice any difference between having it or not. Like many more carry friendly models it does only carry five rounds in the cylinder. But with speed strips or a speed loader you can carry more ammo if one feels the need. But I am, one that leans more to higher capacity does not replace ones need to learn to shoot well. In any self defense situation time moves very fast! It's not like the movies where they have time to rack a slide to chamber a round and do a lot of the other things you see Hollywierd do. A revolver deals with that with no manual safety and you always have a chambered round. Id a double action revolver there is a good bit of trigger travel as well as a much higher weight on trigger pull so there is no real reason to deal wit ha safety.

Bottom line though there is no perfect gun or caliber. I strongly advise anyone new to shooting go to a range that rents guns to allow the person to check out what fits them best. A 45 makes no sense if the operator can not use it properly. So the more different types you check out the better. I also think people should get some form of training in safety. A lot of ranges that are staffed will have an instructor on site. Also practice, practice, practice. Shooting is a perishable skill. The more you do it the better you get. The longer you don't do it the less accurate you will be. Provided of course you have been properly trained to begin with. I see many that shoot often but picked up bad habits in the beginning that only made it harder to get better as time goes on.

Originally posted by abeverage

Originally posted by XxNightAngelusxX
As we all know, guns are under attack here in the states.

I, being a currently unemployed 19 year old female, am finding it hard to find a gun. So, I made a tough decision in order to ensure I can get at least one. I'm going to barter my playstation 3 for a firearm of some kind (I'm gonna miss it so much, but I don't have the money to buy one right now).

I always wanted a 12 gauge shotgun, but since semi-autos are under the scope, would that be smarter?

It's just educated opinions I'm looking for. I don't want to be unarmed and out of shape, when and if the civil war breaks out. I've been working my arse off, burning the extra weight on me (finally) but I am still gun hunting.

I was supposed to get my first firearm a few months back, but some things came up... and my money vanished.

It's entirely for emergencies and home protection, nothing more.

But it unnerves me, knowing I don't have one.

Plus, not having a playstation will give me a little less leeway to sit around and do nothing, and give me more motivation to get up and whip back into shape in my spare time.

ANYway, according to you, ATS, what do you think would be a good first firearm? And why?

My first and biggest question is have you shot a firearm?

If not go to a gun shop and find a range or someone to shoot with or take a education course on how to shoot!

Then join a gun club, being a girl you could probably find a few guys with arsenals that would allow you to shoot their guns and then decide for yourself.

Biggest mistake most first time gun owners make is buying too much of a gun, the second not spending enough time learning how to use it!

Also after re-reading check the laws in your state you might have to be 21 to own a handgun.

edit on 16-1-2013 by abeverage because: (no reason given)

Really good advice. The age requirements of handgun ownership change form state to state. Some allow over 18 to get a long gun but 21 for a hand gun. My state you have to be 21 to own a handgun but if it's bought and given to a child by a parent then the rules change a little. I'm not a lawyer so don't take my advice as gospel. You can check out sites like www.gunlawsbystate.com...#!/home/terms-of-access-and-use/
But I would strongly suggest you talk with both law enforcement and a lawyer well antiquated with firearm law.

This site www.handgunlaw.us... might be of use as well.

Thank you very much for all your replies. I read all of them.

And I can say, I HAVE shot a couple guns. A nine and a 45. Haven't fired a shotgun before, though I have played with them a little bit.

I'd like to join a gun club, if I could afford it. Once I start getting paid again, I will.

Still, I think I'm gonna go with a 12 gauge shotgun. My baby.

I think it all depends...

Is this going to be your first hand gun? Are you savvy in firearms knowledge? Have you been around firearms most of your life or you've never even held a pistol before in your hand?

What do you plan to use this firearm for? Is it conceal carry? Is it for home protection? Is it for target practice? Is it for competitive shooting sports?

Depending on your answers, you should be able to better isolate exactly what type of gun you want to get as a first timer.

Also, choose a decent gun shop and also, avoid purchasing 2nd hand firearms at all costs!! Can't stress this enough. Do not purchase a used hand gun if you are not firearm savvy. If you do not know how to take the pistol apart and examine the authenticity of the make piece by piece, do not ever buy 2nd hand guns.

With that squared away, I have a few recommendations myself. These are purely personal opinions of course.

Get a revolver
*You can't go wrong with these. Point and shoot, never jams, simplicity at it's best. Good home protection weapon if you're not really a firearms fan.

Get a nice Glock 21

Get a nice Colt 1911

My personal choice of hand gun is the Heckler & Koch, Mark 23, Mod 0. Can't go wrong with the USSOCOM pistol. It's not cheap though, goes around $2,600+ retail. Or you could opt out for the cheaper H&K 45, which is around $1,200 or so.

And with all the new gun laws going ape # recently, it'll probably be less troublesome for you to just get a good Colt 1911, since there really would be no magazine capacity issue.