[quote]sen say wrote:
I need some help in getting She Say a gun for Christmas. Not sure what facts you lot would need to help me, but:
- We live in MD
- She’s never shot a gun
- I asked her last night if she would want a rifle or a handgun. She said handgun. I’m trying to keep it a surprise, so I didn’t just say, “Hey you want a gun for Xmas? What kind?”
I was also thinking I’d get her this gift certificate for the intro. pack here: http://www.gilbertindoorrange.com/Beginner.html
So…any suggestions?[/quote]
First,
This is a fantastic gift. Getting her a gift certificate is a great idea. I also think she should get to “pick” her gun. It will go a long way to making her feel like it is “hers” and making practice enjoyable.
I think there are a lot of good options for the “second” hand gun. I have strong opinions about what the first should be.
I would have her pick from the .22’s for her first gun. For semi-automatics I strongly recommend anything in the Ruger Mark II or III line, including the 22/45 style. These are fantastic autos and are a great value. I also like the Browning Buckmark series. There really is not a bad choice in these lines. They are cheap to shoot and easy to shoot well. They also stay fun so that even if she grows to love shooting and owns a ton of other guns, they will still get used. Finally, if properly maintained they are multi-generational firearms. Meaning her son, daughter, or grand child may someday learn on “her” first gun.
If a revolver will ultimately be desired(say for carry/self defense) than both Ruger and Smith and Wesson have fantastic .22 cal double action revolvers. These are more expensive than the autos, but .22 is cheap and learning to fire a double action revolver with accuracy and at speed pays great dividends. I suggest that if you go the revolver route, that you get a model with a longer than “snub” barrel and adjustable sights. The longer the distance between the front and rear sights the more visual “feed back” there will be about alignment and the easier it is to see and correct errors in aiming.
None of the above choices are ideal, or even good, choices for defense against 2 or 4 legged threats, but I would feel more comfortable with a .22 revolver than an auto if my other option was finger nails and bad language. Rimfire ammunition is less reliable as a whole than the centerfires, and the immediate action drill on a revolver is to simply press the trigger again as opposed to a more elaborate manual of arms.
Again, these are all great choices and any of the above should give great service for years and years. I would avoid the Sig Mosquito line and the Walther p22. Neither of these guns is made in the same factory as the namesake and the quality control associated with them is very hit an miss. There are better options.
I would also avoid Taurus firearms because of quality control AND customer service issues. If you get a good one they can be great guns, but the ratio of lemons to “good” is way higher than it should be. I owned a Taurus 85 that had multiple issues relating to tolerance stack.
I have no first hand experience firing either the Smith and Wesson M&P 22 pistol or the Ruger SR22, but have heard good things about both they seemed nice enough when I handled them.
I would not get a “service” caliber (.38 special, .357 magnum, 9mm, .40 S&W, .45 acp) to start. The ammunition is more expensive and I think putting at least a few thousand rounds through a .22 and shooting other people’s “serious” guns will give your wife a better idea as to what else she might like, if anything.
I absolutely caution against getting a lightweight(aluminum or scandium frame) .38 or .357 revolver for a first gun. These are typically 1 pound guns, with 12 pound triggers, small and difficult to use sights, and serious recoil. I know several individuals who tried to go with a “snubbie” for a first gun who never got past the “making smoke and noise” level of shooting(think 12 inch “groups” at 5 yards, slow fire) until they purchased a larger, easier to shoot gun and started working fundamentals. Again, a .38 or .357 revolver could be a fantastic “second” gun, but it is a rugged choice for a first. (The SP101 in PushHarder’s post has been on my list for about 10 years. I don’t know what I would do with the damn thing, since I have 2 9mm’s that offer more capacity, less weight, and similar terminal ballistics compared to such a short barreled .357. I do know I would call her Blasty.)
For similar reasons I would caution against getting a “micro” 9mm like the Beratta Nano or Kahr PM9/CM9. These are not the easiest guns to shoot well. Even among folks who claim to be able to use them “just fine”, a shot timer and a comparison with a larger framed auto usually reveals that a lot of performance is lost moving down so far in size.
I mentioned “terminal ballistics” before. There is a thread in the combat sub-forum if you wish to read more about that topic.
Sorry for being so wordy. I hope at least some part of that was helpful.
Regards,
Robert A