Thinking about buying a gun. Any advice?

[A Cyrenian]

I'm thinking about buying Smith & Wesson SW22 pistol to start target shooting. I've thought this could be fun for a while and now have the opportunity to join a local gun club.

What advice can you give me on owning a small caliber pistol?

Thanks.

[philman_36]

What advice can you give me on owning a small caliber pistol?

Regular rounds for practice, hollow points for self defense.

[ChuteTheMall]

If you are planning to join a group, see what they shoot first.

Nothing wrong with that S&W Victory, but there are good reasons that you may find more Ruger 22’s than all other brands combined. Especially in target shooting competition.

But it doesn’t matter, because it won’t be your only gun for long.

[ChildOfThe60s]

My brother has Mark II. Fun to shoot and quite accurate. Huge PITA to reassemble after cleaning. Were it not for a youtube tutorial it would probably be sitting in pieces on the gun bench.

[Tennessee Conservative]

My dad taught all of us gun safety and how to shoot when we turned 12. We started with a .22 rifle and .22 revolver. His theory was that they are accurate while not being too 'scary' and powerful. We advanced from there to shotguns.

My handgun of choice now for self-defense is my .38 Special Ultra-Lite revolver. I have had several other calibers and types but always grab the .38 revolver first. It's easy to operate, small, light weight, fits in my bicycle bag or handlebar, and has enough ummph to do the job. I'm a small woman and it's perfect for me.

For starting out and target practice a .22 is good. Ammo is not as expensive. :-)

[patriot08]

I want a. 22 rifle. Procedurures? Approximate cost? Permit required?

[Bringbackthedraft]

A 22 cal is really only good for target shooting. ........................ use “Stinger” 22 cal. rounds, a couple of those rounds would hurt or kill an attacker.

[fatboy]

Hi Cyrenian

Lots of advice here and I’m sure your totally confused so please allow me to throw another log on the fire.

I’ve been around gunz since age 8, started competitions at age 11 and have a few in my collection. About 5 years ago I decided to get my carry permit and get started with handguns as I had only rifles and shotguns to that point.

In my collection of handguns are semi autos and revolvers, target and carry. I have a little bit of everything and I also reload all of my center fire ammo and compete in steel and action pistol competitions. As other have said target pistols and carry weapons are not the same.

In my collection are two (2) Ruger Mark IIIs which is similar to the S&W SW22 Victory that you are contemplating. The day after the election last November I wanted to celebrate in some way so I picked out one of those Victory pistols, I have one that has a threaded barrel for a silencer. I think I paid around $400.00 for it, have purchased (4) more magazines and replaced the fiber optic insert in the front sight from green to red as the rear sight also has green and I personally need a color contrast.

I have shot many rimfire pistols and owned one of the famed S&W M41 (which cost well over $1000.00). The S&W Victory is less expensive than the new Ruger Mark IV and has almost as much aftermarket support. You can buy for the Victory tons of stuff to make it into a very versatile target machine, my plan for mine is to turn it into an open rimfire gun for Steel Challenge next year.

I shot in the PSA Shoot-Out which is I think the largest knock-down steel match in the country last spring. Of course a 22 isn’t going to knock down steel but Smith and Wesson (the main sponsor of the match)had a bunch of guns for us to demo and one as an open configured Victory that worked just fine.

So to answer your question, I have one and like it, intend to keep it. You can buy with confidence.

I personally think that rimfire pistols are a great choice for the beginner but your not going to use one for self defense. The thing is there really isn’t any one gun that does it all. Others have said it and it’s so true hang on to your wallet because once your started there is no end in sight. Joining a club is good advice. Our home is on 4 acres of land so I can shoot in my back yard but still I belong to a club(s). There are many options here, personally my advice is a private club with active competitive shooters. Make friends and get involved and ask for advice and take that advice.

The main club I belong to is home to a bunch of competitive shooters and we host many competitions (USPSA, IDPA, ICORE, Steel Challenge, knock-down steel matches and so forth). I personally know some of the top shooters in the country including one of the top 5 revolver shooters. All of this has happened within the past 5 years. I personally suck but still I shoot at least twice per week and will shoot over 20 matches this year, most are steel. So I’m in it deep LOL!

I personally shoot revolver in steel competitions, I shoot a S&W 929 with a bunch of after market improvements This is an 8 shot 9mm revo. This is not for everyone and is an expensive option. After you get going and if you decide to get involved in competitions, steel challenge is a great way to go and there are many divisions depending on the gun you use. If you want to move up to a striker fire semi-auto that you might use for protection (Glock 19, Springfield XD and so forth) you would be competing in production class with others using similar equipment. Fun in the extreme.

So to get started either the Ruger Mark IV or the S&W Victory are keepers. But the main thing is get out and get shooting, just be safe and keep in mind that anything firearms related is going to cost some bux.

There are many handgun chat forums. I belong to and post on a few. Consider joining smith-Wesson forums, The High Road, The Firearms Form, the 1911 forum, there are several Ruger forums, BRIAN ENOS Forum (competition oriented) Handloaders Bench, that’s enough for now. If you want to send me freepmail and give me your general location I might be able to point you in the direction of who to introduce yourself to get on the right track. Nothing against commercial clubs or ranges but their main interest is in making money. But there is no guarantee that just because a club is private it is good either. Private doesn’t automatically mean expensive either, it all depends.

Good luck get shooting!

[IYAS9YAS]

Just passing this along. Apparently there's a fairly new recall on the Ruger Mark IV.

https://ruger.com/dataProcess/markIVRecall/index.php?r=y

Applies to all models manufactured prior to June 1, 2017.

[Hardastarboard]

You forgot the “Loop back and start over” after the second sentence. Other than that, your post is perfect advice. Because it’s exactly what I did (with the above addition to the instruction set). :-)

[Boomer]

Get a 9mm because the ammo is cheapest next to .22’s. Nothing wrong with a good .22 but have at least a 9mm to go with it. Some would say .45 or .357 or 10mm but then you get into more expensive ammo.

People tend to shoot the guns that shoot the cheaper ammo and shoot them more often.

[AlaskaErik]

Since I go shooting at outdoor and unofficial ranges I always have a defensive pistol on my hip, in addition to the weapons I am actually firing. No way am I going to be caught with just an empty pistol.

[xander]

Advice for he or she that is silent:

-read your state laws on firearm ownership (knowing neighboring state laws is wise, too)
-get ANY .22, accept USFA’s Zip22 (worst gun ever)
-keep your finger off of the damn trigger!!!
-read the manual
-take an NRA approved firearm safety course (your chosen range/club may offer them)
-practice, practice, practice (about right here is where you learn if it’s the right gun for you)
-clean it, oil it, and store it properly
-keep it if you like it, sell it if you don’t (know those laws)

Some clubs and ranges may rent guns you can try, but for liability reasons you may have to bring a gun you already own (own a gun already, less likely to commit suicide with a rental).

SW22 would be a fine choice.

[fini]

I am not certain I can add anything that already hasn't been said, but maybe it will emphasize something.

I've owned pistols for over 40 years and always qualified expert in the Marine Corps annual pistol qualification course.

You are smart to get a 22 pistol. Even after you move to a larger caliber pistol, you need to shoot the 22 to keep bad habits from forming. I typically shoot a 22 at the beginning and end of every range day. It is normal for me to have some glitches at the beginning and end of each session. Usually, I am flinching a wee bit.

I like a 22 revolver vice a semi, because they are easier to clean (22 ammo fires dirty) and are not prone to jamming.

Most modern guns are manufactured using computers, so the tolerances are better than 40 years ago. Consequently, even a lot of "cheap" guns shoot well. So unless you are going in to competitive shooting, you don't need an expensive pistol. I have a Heritage 22 single action that is just as accurate for me as my old S&W K22. Now the K22 is more accurate than the Heritage, but not in my hands.

If you can, borrow or rent the pistol that you want to buy at least twice. Think of the first time as a first date- you are enamored and are on your best behavior. The second time, you begin to notice the small things (good and bad).

Now the hard part- learn to love your gun. What that means is shoot that gun a lot and become familiar with that particular pistol so that you have muscle memory. I have a pile of pistols, but I keep coming back to the same three. Those three aren't the best or highest quality, but because I have used those guns for decades, I can just pick them up and shoot well. Why? Because I know at a subconscious level when the trigger will break, what it is capable of doing, how to manage the recoil and which ammo they like. Think of it like the car you drive daily, you probably don't even have to give parallel parking much thought,

[OldSmaj]

...and if your state allows for it...

And if it doesn't, move the hell out of it.

[fini]

Oh yeah, I forgot to add. .22s are very lethal, so give it the same respect as any other caliber. One of the largest grizzly bears ever killed was killed with a single shot 22 rifle. If I remember correctly, it happened in the 50s by an Indian woman who pretty much lived off the grid with her husband and both were trappers.

[oldasrocks]

I’d look at a 5.7 instead. If you can find ammo. Best of both worlds. Easy to shoot and stopping power.

[Geronimo]

One other piece of advice to you starting out...learn to shoot your pistol with both eyes open...it’s a little more difficult but it’s the best method if you ever need to get on target quickly...

[Billthedrill]

Count me in the "try before you buy" club. You never know what model will fit you best and even that tends to change over the years. If you're a real traditionalist, start off with a single-shot .22 rifle. Most of us over a certain age did. One shot at a time keeps the concentration level high.

Do think about other things, such as safe storage at home, especially if there will be children present. Do acquaint yourself with your state's laws. Do think about hearing and eye protection. All of that you can accomplish before you have to make The Decision.

[Keyhopper]

Don’t forget to bring all you guns and ammo on the annual creeper canoe trip

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

Having to re zero the Buckmark after cleaning is just too much trouble.

I’ll give you a Buckmark trigger tip. You’ll find videos on trigger jobs. You turn the trigger spring over. Your pull is about 2lbs. It really works if you want a hair trigger.