What is a good gun for a beginner shooter?

Question

I am a 27 year old man who has never had the chance to learn to shoot. I want to learn how to shoot both rifles and handguns but i do not know what types to buy or where to go for assistance in learning. My wife will also be joining me in this adventure!!! Currently i own a few rifles and a .45 handed down to me from family members but i believe that these may not be good starting weapons. Any advice would be great!!!

Answer 1

Jeffery,

I will give you the same advise I'd give a 10 year-old beginner.  Start with a good .22 rifle.

For a kid, I'd advise a single-shot for his first rifle, but since you are n adult, I will suggest you get a manual repeating rifle, i.e. a bolt-, pump-, or lever-action.  Nothing against .22 semi-autos, but with the manual repeater, you won't get distracted buy flying brass.

If possible, get professional training, a hunter safety course at a minimum.  If you can't afford professional training, you can probably find a gun savvy friend who will be happy to help you get started.  (Just shun the sort of folks who would hand a novice a .44 Magnum revolver or a large bore rifle for his first range visit.)

There are sevseveralasons I recommend a .22.  For one thing, the ammunition is much less expensive than centerfire rifle or pistol ammo.  You can buy 500 rounds of .22 ammo cheaper than the cost of 20 centerfire rifle cartridges of 50 handgun cartridges in many calibers.  There is only one way to become a truly proficient marksman, you must fire thousands of rounds at targets.  Using centerfire ammunition would be ruinously expensive.  In addition to the more modest cost, the .22 LR has a mild report and negligible recoil, both important factors in learning marksmanship.

After you've spent a year or so learning safe gun handling skills and marksmanship with a .22 rifle, you can easily move on to centerfire rifles, and .22 LR handguns.  I generally recommend .22 LR Revolvers, but since you already have a .45 ACP pistol, you might prefer a .22 semi-automatic, both Ruger and Smith & Wesson make good entry level .22 semi-autos.

Good Luck and good shooting.

Doc

Answer 2

i would start with a 22 in both handgun and rifle

Answer 3

When you're starting out with a gun, it's good to get cheap ammunition that doesn't have much of a kick, so you can focus more on stance, breathing, aiming, yadda yadda.  For your pistol I'd recommend anything chambered in .22 or 9mm, and for your rifle I'd say either .22 or 7.62 x 39, they're all cheap and mild rounds.

Answer 4

I'm a firm believer that the best gun for a beginner is a rifle in .22LR. The reasons are pretty simple. The ammo is cheap. That means you can afford to shoot enough to develop good shooting skills. The report and recoil are mild enough you won't start flinching. And good quality guns tend to be inexpensive compared to large bore brethren. Finally an added bonus is that they make perfect small game rifles for animals like squirrel and rabbits if you're so inclined. Once you've mastered the basics with a .22 rifle, you can move up to larger calibers or move to pistols.

As for a specific gun, I've mentioned in other questions that I think bolt-actions are very good choices for beginners. The Savage Mk. II or the Stevens model 300 (both of which should be quite affordable) or one of the Marlin bolt action .22s would be a good choice. The Savage model 64 or the Marlin model 60 are also good choices for inexpensive .22 rifles, but they are semi-automatic. This doesn't really make a lot of difference as far as shooting goes, but you have to remember that the gun automatically reloads itself until the magazine is empty. That's why I recommend a bolt action for beginners; you have to manually cycle the action. That means you're more likely to remember whether the gun has a round in the chamber. To me, its more a new shooter safety issue than anything. Regardless any of the guns I mentioned should make a dandy first rifle and small game rifle.

Answer 5

Find a good instructor and take some classes.  A good .22 rimfire is great because you can practice alot without spending alot on ammo and you will learn good technique.

Answer 6

Glock 17 for your hand gun & .243 win for your rifle. Most quality ranges have weapons for rent, so you should really start there. Best of luck to ya.

Answer 7

Jeffery, welcome to the sport of shooting. From your question and experience I would recommend the following options to you.  First make a few phone calls around your area and find a gun range that offers a fire arms safety course. There are several that the NRA and some leagues offer. Some ranges have retired military veteran range masters and police instructors available for these classes. Make sure to involve your wife in these classes as well. Next is the weapon choice, over the past 25 years I have found that starting out simple and learning the basic skills will help you develop into a better marksman in the future. That being said I would reccomend that you find a 22 rifle and pistol to start out with. 1- they are inexpensive compared to alot of other firearms. 2- they are not as intimidating as other firearms in terms of noise and recoil. 3- they are cheap to shoot and the ammo fits both firearms. 4- your wanting to learn the basics and work up from their. You mentioned that you already have some other firearms, get your skills and comfort level in place and then move up with your other firearms. 5- ask questions, if your at the range ask the folks around you for pointers. 6- enjoy your time shooting, I can't tell you how many people get discouraged or stressed out the first few times they shoot. Hey none of were born a Davy Crocket he had to learn too. If you have a bad range day, learn from it.

  Enjoy the sport and I find it admirable that you want to include your wife, good luck.  

Answer 8

possibly a 9mm auto like a glock or Beretta. For a rifle, a .22LR marlin is great.

Answer 9

Welcome! It is great to have a new couple to the world of firearms.

I am not much of a rifle shooter but I can give some suggestions on handguns.

I would start with .22 caliber semi-auto but if you want something defensive as well go with 9mm. Glocks are not good starting weapons. I would look at Taurus 24/7s or Springfield Armory XDs as they have external safeties and better overall comfort to the shooter. The XDs are alot easier to take down for cleaning than the Taurus (the Taurus is not impossible though).

But yeah, I would start with the smaller caliber and work up to the .45. I suggest going to a gun shop and just start picking up and holding as many makes and models as possible to see what fits best for you and your wife.

.22 cals

http://www.sigsauer.com/Products/ShowCat...

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/s...

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/s...

9mm

http://www.springfield-armory.com/xd.php...

http://www.springfield-armory.com/xd.php...

http://www.taurususa.com/products/produc...

http://www.ruger-firearms.com/Firearms/F...

Good luck, I hope I helped.

Oh and as always learn safety and practice safety. No matter how many safeties are on the gun, the shooter is the most important one.

Answer 10

Don’t start with loud recoiling guns. The 22 rim fire will let you learn, cheaper, quieter and won’t cause you to flinch.

Flinching can send accuracy to h**l, its when you jerk the gun in anticipation of the gun shot. It’s the worst enemy of the beginner.

So get a 22 rifle and pistol. There are many kinds but a 22 revolver or a 22 semi-auto pistol well get you on target and teach your hand and brain that all is well when you pull the trigger.

Semi-auto rifles and pistols are more dangerous to learn on, simply because once you fire its ready to fire again and with many if you drop it then it will go off.

Single shot or bolt action rifles are better for beginners to learn on. As are revolvers or single shot pistols.

So I would go with a 22 revolver and a 22 bolt action rifle to learn on. You can but both used for less than one new high powerd rifle.

Or if you are fimilar with semi-autos go with a semi auto 22 pistol like the Ruger Mark III or 22/45, they are fun!

Foremost learn gun safety, take a class and be careful. Owning and possessing firearms is a big responsibility. Their not for use when under the influence of any mind altering chemical, especially booze. Responsible gun owners are often the first to detour a crime. Your local law enforcement has gun safety class and much valuable advice for you.

Once you are a crack shot with the 22's your ready for the big guns.

Have fun and be safe!

NOTE;

As for the thumbs down, add up the cost of a few thousand 22 Lr rim fire rounds and compare it to a few thousand rounds of 9mm or any center fire round. A beginner needs to shoot; LOTS! By the time you learn to be a crack shot with a .45 acp you will have shot enough ammo to have bought another gun.

Answer 11

Good starter calibers for handguns are:  The .22 LR (revolver or pistol); the .38 Special revolver (or a .357 Magnum loaded with .38s); the 9mm pistol.  

Since you already own a .45 (persumably a .45 acp?) don't bother buying a 9mm as it would just be an extra expense.  If you don't want to start off with the .45 acp then get something like a Walther P-22 (.22 LR pistol) or the Sig version, the Mosquito.  Really, that .45 acp with target ammo is okay to start with.  Take the gun safety course and never point your gun at anything you are not willing to destroy.  If you really know nothing about guns get someone to coach you at least.

Good luck.

H

Answer 12

a 10-22 ruger would be a great starter rifle.  its easy to use and easy to clean.

Answer 13

well a 22 would be a good start but you could start higher in the area of a 223 or 357 magnum lever action rifle but its always good to have a 22 around and you need to get a rifle license before you get your handgun and a good starting handgun for a man is something like a 38 special which btw you can shoot out of your 357 mag rifle but NEVER shoot 357 magnum bullets out of your 38 special pistol because they are too long and will cause a catastrophy

Answer 14

My first suggestion to you is to visit an outfitter or gun dealer with a range that offers instruction on firing a gun / rifle and gun safety.

The best gun to start with shooting first is a 22 cal handgun with light loads, ie shorts, or possibly a .38 cal for instance Smith and Wesson model 10 or 15 with 110 grain loads. With either of these guns try first with a 4" or longer barrel to balance the gun better and stop so much of the recoil until you are comfortable and accurate with it.

A rifle, I feel very much the same way, a great gun to begin with is a .22 single shot with short shells.There are several 22 rifles that will shoot both shorts and LR's (long rifle) The short of course has almost no recoil and the single shot forces you to aim correctly and accurately.

After you and your wife are comfortable with these firearms you can work your way up and after you have shot a few different guns you will develop definite likes and dislikes.

  The Smith and Wesson model 19 .357, so is a Colt Trooper are good all around firearms. For practice you can shoot .38 cal loads through it, then turn around and shoot .357 magnums. The key to all of these weapons is proper maintenance and the knowledge to use them.

  Hope this helps

Answer 15

Look through the collection for a 22 rimfire rifle. The cartridges are inexpensive, and there's essentially no recoil, so that's the place to learn proper technique. Start with the rifle and then move to handguns, and when you do, the 22 is again the place to start, for the same reasons.

Answer 16

Go get a 22 rifle and handgun and learn how, then you can move up to the bigger ones. If you dont have friends who shoot, see if you can find a range with instructors. Welcome to the fold, now if we can just get you hunting too.

I know alot of people start out with em but dont run out and buy a semi auto right off the bat. I would recommend also that you get a revolver for the handgun and a bolt, pump or lever action for the rifle. My dad started me on a single shot. Its just easier to be concious of safety that way.

Answer 17

.22

But my first rifle was a Mosin Nagant, 7.62x54R and I did just fine.  

Answer 18

If you don't know the basics in gun safety, shooting, maintenance, etc..., then I suggest you take a gun safety course first.  They usually provide information on cleaning, general shooting, and basic information.  Check around your area for classes offered.  Or check around about sportman's clubs in your area.  Also, some of the bigger gun shops have shooting ranges and offer instructions.

It really depends on what you are wanting to do with your shooting knowledge.  Hunting, target, self-proctection?  My advise is to start exploring in gun shops in your area.  Most clerks/managers/owners have a wealth of knowledge.  A more general store, like WalMart, Dicks, etc...  will most likely not provide as much specific information since they carry a wide variety of sporting goods.

Good luck to ya.

Answer 19

243 or 260 rifle. and a 38 special or 9mm handgun lol walmart sells guns. go to pawn shops and hunting stores too.

Answer 20

start out with a 22. whether its a handgun or a rifle. reason being . . . its important not to develop a flinch from the recoil. A flinch will evidence itself in your subconscious, and you'll expect the shock of the recoil before you pull the trigger. later you can gradually work your way up to something larger. the link below will offer you some more information about cartridges and getting acclimated to shooting.

Answer 21

What rifles do you own?

If you own a rifle chambered in 22LR you are golden, that is the gun to learn on.

If not, I suggest you first buy a 22LR rifle.  The Ruger 10/22 is a very popular rifle if you like semiautos, as is the Marlin model 60

http://www.impactguns.com/store/73667601...

http://www.impactguns.com/store/02649507...

But I personally would recommend a CZ-452 LUX, which you will be able to pass down to your own kids and grandkids  http://www.cz-usa.com/product_detail.php...

http://www.impactguns.com/store/80670302...

Honestly, I think a bolt action 22 makes a better starting gun than a semiauto, but the CZ might be a tad expensive for some folks

http://www.impactguns.com/store/SS-39887...  <--not as beauiful but a lot cheaper

You can take a basic NRA introductory course, or a basic Hunter Safety course, and that will get you started.

Look in the phonebook or on the net for gunranges and ask if they give lessens to beginners.

You are right that the 45 might not be a good starting handgun.  Just like a .22LR rifle is a great starting gun, a 22LR handgun is a great learning tool.  I suspect your 45 is a Colt 1911 or similar semiauto gun in 45acp, like you see in the world war 2 movies, right? If so, then probably the BEST handgun for you to get is this one

http://www.impactguns.com/store/73667610...

It is called a 22/45 because it shoots 22LR, but the handle is designed to be very similar to a colt 1911 45

If the 45 you have is a revolver like a cowboy gun or even a more modern one, it is probably a 45longcolt.  In that case, stick with revolvers and learn on this

http://www.impactguns.com/store/73667600...