Suggestions for my first purchase? Something using 9mm.

[ScatPackLife]

Kel-tec Sub2000 could be a good choice. They are easy to handle, light, very transportable, and very reliable. If a rifle is what it after I would say go with that.

I personally don't like the Hi-point Carbine. They have a good reputation and work for some people but are clunky and oversized IMO. They feel cheap to me. (I mean, they are cheap). YMMV. But they do work.

JRC makes a carbine that runs around $550. It's AR like, it looks and handles like an AR but have a different operating system.

If you want a revolver in 9mm Sportsman's has a Ruger LCRx on their website right now. But the price is $670 so it might be out of your price range.

The issue right now is availability. Stuff is coming back on the shelves but it's slow.

 

[ScatPackLife]

Looking through this thread and it looks like you got too many opinions, lol.

Looks like your up in Vancouver. I go out shooting just passed Camas from time to time with friends. I have a few CZs and a few M&P in 9mm. Bring your own ammo and you can shoot them all you want. PM me if your interested. Sorry, I don't own any 9mm carbines, yet.

One more thing, 22LR can be fun but not as fun as larger calibers. I don't think people learn as much from 22 as they do from 9mm. I also think that it's a myth that striker guns are better for a first gun that hammer guns. The firing function is the same, rack the slide and pull the trigger. I brought a female friend shooting for the first time and she preferred the hammer fired guns in 9mm over a striker 22lr and a rifle in 22lr. Also, you shouldn't rule out shotgun's, shotguns are tons of fun. More so than 9mm or 22lr IMO. Just shoot each caliber at a watermelon and you will see what I mean. However, Truly mastering a shotgun is not something for beginners. Anyone who thinks a shotgun is a good first gun reads too much internet dribble. I have seen a lot of new shooter struggle with 12gauge. I can just shoot them okay. But man they are fun.

Sorry for the long bubblegum post. I have more advice than most people want. I mean, hey, it's the internet.

 

[Hueco]

One more thing, 22LR can be fun but not as fun as larger calibers. You shouldn't rule out shotgun's, shotguns are tons of fun. More so than 9mm or 22lr IMO. Just shoot each caliber at a watermelon and you will see what I mean.

 

[ScatPackLife]

View attachment 994789

Oh no, I learned to shoot low recoil buckshot a long time ago.

 

[RVTECH]

shotguns are tons of fun. More so than 9mm or 22lr IMO. Just shoot each caliber at a watermelon and you will see what I mean.

The problem is with this is you are just indiscriminately splattering watermelons with no real quality shooting - I mean there ain't no real accuracy skills required - just point and shoot. Kind of just a 'visual' thing is all it really is to simply satisfy the need to see something 'splatter' - especially with a shotgun. And really, how many watermelons are you going to carry out with you to shoot?

I think the OP is on the right track with finding a good 9mm to learn on and to see the results of target accuracy.

Later on he can go send pine cones flying !

 

[nammac]

When new to guns, the first three purchased, in order were:
Browning Hi Power (9mm)
Beretta 84FS Nickel (.380)
S&W K-22 6" (.22 lr)

That S&W saw the most range time of the three by far. Would perhaps shoot 100 rounds of center fire and then have fun plinking with a brick of .22, back when it cost a whopping $5.00

 

[2ndtimer]

When I have been asked by prospective new gun owners this same "what should I buy?" question, my response is usually a Glock 19, since they usually preface the question with saying they only want to buy an all around firearm, sufficient for defense, reliable,
accurate, affordable and cheap to shoot. If the Glock isn't budget capable, then I suggest a Taurus G2C. At about half the price of a Glock, it is a decent option for the money. And most of the people that buy one are probably only going to shoot a box or two a year (especially in the last year or so since ammo costs have double)' but still want to have a gun "just in case".
The OP sounds more like someone who is embracing shooting as a hobby, and so I would echo the others in encouraging him to try out different firearms to discover what his personal preference is. While I still have my original Glock 19, and carry it the most, I prefer CZ auto loaders for range shooting and have considered replacing the Glock with a CZ P-07 (I really like my P-09 and prefer hammer vs. striker fired pistols).
I also shoot my .22 pistols at the range more than my centerfires, and would happily suggest considering a Ruger 22/45 or S&W M&P 22 Compact to practice with prior to moving up to a centerfire pistol. While rimfire ammo has also doubled in price in the past 18 months, it is still around 1/4 the cost of bulk 9mm ammo.

 

[80G26FTW]

In the vein of, "go big or go home..."

Gatling Gun

tippmannarmory.com

 

[Hopeful_Vet]

Extar EP9. NUFF SAID

They're actually in stock right now! https://www.extarusa.com/shop/pistols/ep9

 

[DeanfromOregon]

Find a gun show or go somewhere with a lot of selection, try literally everything on your hand and see what you like.

I bought my wife the Beretta Tomcat 32 as her first gun, she hated it, I was an idiot.

Went to the gun show, she walked away with a glock 19. Her only gun, she doesn't let me touch it.

Daughter, tried on all my guns, liked my 1911 or a Model 19 S&W. Both big and heavy for a person of small stature, I did get her a 1911 in 9mm and had it customized a bit. It's a good range gun. She went gun shopping and "tried on all the guns", ended up with an M&P 2.0 in 9mm.

Currently have a 9mm bobtail EMP 4 that she's drooling over, so I bought another one for her birthday.

 

[Knobgoblin]

In the vein of, "go big or go home..."

Gatling Gun

tippmannarmory.com

I keep forgetting about the glock mag fed gatling.

 

[OldBroad44]

Find a gun show or go somewhere with a lot of selection, try literally everything on your hand and see what you like.

I bought my wife the Beretta Tomcat 32 as her first gun, she hated it, I was an idiot.

Went to the gun show, she walked away with a glock 19. Her only gun, she doesn't let me touch it.

Daughter, tried on all my guns, liked my 1911 or a Model 19 S&W. Both big and heavy for a person of small stature, I did get her a 1911 in 9mm and had it customized a bit. It's a good range gun. She went gun shopping and "tried on all the guns", ended up with an M&P 2.0 in 9mm.

Currently have a 9mm bobtail EMP 4 that she's drooling over, so I bought another one for her birthday.

Dinky little guns should be carried only by great big men who are also masochistic as well as experienced at martial arts. Little guns have much more recoil than the same round in a full size gun. The contact surfaces of the working parts are small, so the trigger will be heavy. The sights will be tiny and hard to see. Nobody shoots little guns as well as they can shoot a a bigger gun. And in a SD situation, the bigger gun is more intimidating, so increases the probability that you can chase bad guy away with no inconvenient bodies lying around that need to be explained afterwards. With a little gun, bad guy, being less intimidated, is more likely to try to take gun away and put it up your hooha. So best if you are a great big male, maximally intimidating in spite of the mouse gun, and capable of winning any physical fight that occurs and saving hooha.

 

[DirectDrive]

Hello hello,

I'm close to buying my first gun.
I've been shooting with friends a couple times and I'm hooked.

I have a couple ammo cans and 700rd of 9mm
I have another few hundred lined up for purchase.

Friends at work are leaning on me hard saying to buy a .22 or a shotgun however I have absolutely zero interest in these for now.

I want to start with something 9mm.
What is cheap and fun?
I'm in love with my friends Scorpion Evo and SKS.

Handgun or Something longer that uses 9mm?

Starting out with a minimal budget so $1500 for a Scorpion is not an option. $500 for an SKS is more attainable but I want to start with something fun using 9mm.

SKS might be my 2nd purchase in the near future. Then possible a fun .22 handgun?

Please feel free to inundate me with 9mm advice.

I'm not buying a shotgun or .22 so that advice will be disregarded ;(

1) Go to SafeFire indoor shooting range and rent/shoot to your heart's content.
You will have to go with a friend that has a pistol.
They will not rent to someone who has no gun with them (anti-suicide policy).

2) I recommend a full size pistol or a compact size pistol.
"Compact" is a misnomer, as they are not that much smaller than a full size.
"Sub-Compact" are the very small concealed carry type pistol.

Having said that, the top contenders are : (in no particular order)
Glock G17 (full)
Glock G19 (compact)
SIG P320 (full or full X-frame)
SIG P320 (compact or X-Compact)

I have both and really like those SIGS.
My X-Five is the easiest 9mm to shoot accurately.
Trigger is better than a Glock trigger.

 

[OldBroad44]

What about your second gun? Do hiking, camping, spending time in the woods or fields appeal? Have any thoughts about handgun hunting? If so I suggest your second gun be a 6" .357 mag revolver, either a SW 686 or a Ruger GP 100. You can hunt deer with .357 mag. Not advised with 9mm. Start shooting your .357 mag with .38 special. They have much less recoil than the .357 mag and are available in inexpensive practice loads comparable in price to 9mm.

 

[Flopsweat]

What about your second gun? Do hiking, camping, spending time in the woods or fields appeal? Have any thoughts about handgun hunting? If so I suggest your second gun be a 6" .357 mag revolver, either a SW 686 or a Ruger GP 100. You can hunt deer with .357 mag. Not advised with 9mm. Start shooting your .357 mag with .38 special. They have much less recoil than the .357 mag and are available in inexpensive practice loads comparable in price to 9mm.

Geez, let him get the first one sorted out, it's confusing enough. But you're right, everyone should own a revolver, especially .357. Fantastic woods gun, very fun at the range.

 

[ScatPackLife]

The problem is with this is you are just indiscriminately splattering watermelons with no real quality shooting - I mean there ain't no real accuracy skills required - just point and shoot. Kind of just a 'visual' thing is all it really is to simply satisfy the need to see something 'splatter' - especially with a shotgun. And really, how many watermelons are you going to carry out with you to shoot?

Yes, that's the point. Shooting doesn't always have to be about perfecting your skills. Shooting is about fun also.

 

[Flopsweat]

Yes, that's the point. Shooting doesn't always have to be about perfecting your skills. Shooting is about fun also.

If you roll your own low recoil slugs they don't cost much more than birdshot. Gotta cast the slugs to make it worth it though. It's a pretty big hoot putting giant holes in a target 5 to 25 yards away.

 

[RVTECH]

Shooting is about fun also.

I agree ! and like I said the OP can perfect his skills and eventually go send pine cones flying like I do quite often!

Something about shooting watermelons just seems goofy to me. Kind of a waste of money and good watermelon.

A better Idea is to head out onto the desert and chase jackrabbits like I have done all my life. Free, don't need to carry them with you and they feed the 'yotes and vultures when I am done!

 

[OldBroad44]

Watermelons are hard to grow in the maritime NW. Very wasteful to use them for targets here. And if you have some that are a little under ripe, they will probably ripen if you bring them indoors. I suggest instead shooting at under ripe winter squash. They will be inferior quality and won't store well or improve in storage.

 

[Andy54Hawken]

Ice is fun and cheap to shoot...
Freeze some water in various sized zip lock bags , muffin trays , cake pans , ice trays etc....
Toss 'em in a cooler....and bring 'em out to shoot when ready....easy and no mess to clean up.
Andy