Ever handled a Sig Sauer? I love the P226, but I keep hearing about Sig quality used to be better before. I've shot a 9mm ( cant remember what kind) 1911 .45cal, and two different SCARs ( 5.56 and 7.62mm ) Try out guns and see what you like. IM DYING OVER HERE!!!!!!!

 

*Grabs my AK-74* I will gladly help make it quick and painless for you!

 

Honestly I'd recommend a handgun chambered in .22lr Ammo cost is low and you can buy plenty of it to practice your fundamentals. I've got an M&P22 that is nearly identical to the fullsize M&P9 I have. Same ergonomics, different calibers, basic fundamentals still apply though.

If you're dead set on a centerfire caliber I would suggest buying a handgun chambered in 9mm. Minimal recoil and costs less than most centerfire calibers. Forget what you hear about 9mm not being strong enough. Shot placement is key. Here are some polymer handgun suggestions:

S&W M&P9
Glock 17/19
Springfield XD9
Ruger SR9
Beretta PX4

All of which are in the +/- $500 range... if you can find them.

 

Go to a range that has rental guns. Find one that fits your hand the best, one that you can shoot accurately and stick with that.

After you pick a pistol, get plenty of ammo and invest in some training. The shooter's skill is more important than the gear.

Software > Hardware.

 

Hey would you mind me shooting your 74 a bit? I'm still on the fence with 7.62x39 vs 5.45x39. I'll pay you in beer

 

Good choice

 

If you just want to plink something in 22LR is your best bet.
If I was buying another 22 it would be
Henry Repeating Arms | Fine Rifles Made in America and Priced Right

If you want a handgun, the Luger 22/45 is a lot of fun

 

You like?!

 

Also going to suggest either a .22 handgun if its just plinking. One of my favorite guns is my mosquito. Its cheap to shoot, easy to shoot, fun, and cheap. However, I would suggest a cheap pump action shot gun over a hand gun for an only gun. you can pick up a mossberg 500 or remington 870 brand new for under 350$ from a big 5. Shooting skeet/trap is infinitely more fun than shooting static targets at a legitimate range where you have to wait between shots, can't draw from holsters, etc... If you ever decide you want to hunt you can use it for that and shotguns make much better home defense weapons than handguns in most situations.

 

The Henry factory was pretty much shut down due to natural disaster a few years back, so finding one of those isn't exactly easy either. Reeds actually has one right now and the guy at the counter said it is the only new one he's seen in 4 years (yes it is sold, but still on the shelf). I'd like to get one of those myself I don't know if that is the same company, but I was pretty sure it was basically a replica with some modern internals under the original name (which this company bought), but they are supposedly going to be releasing one built closer to the original specs as well.

Ruger 22/45. The Ruger MkIII is also a nice .22 (more or less the same gun with a different grip which the 22/45 is based on) and since it will come up when talking about those two: the Browning Buckmaster .22 as well. (there are plenty of variants of those three also). Kind of a toss up between them. I shot the 22/45 and didn't like it as much as I thought I would. Wanted it (22/45 Lite) because the basic controls were intended to be identical to the 1911 - the feel is, but the operation is not, so it doesn't quite work as a trainer.

I'll mention it again: Ruger SR22. Compact but not tiny, plenty accurate and built like a tank. I was quite impressed with it for ~$400.

http://www.ruger.com/products/sr22Pistol/index.html?r=y

I do like the .22 M&P version and would probably buy one because I have my full size as well, but for the price, I felt the SR22 was a better gun. Reviews showed the SR22 to be slightly more accurate as well.

 

Ended up shooting an XD9 today. At 7 yards. Did okay, though... my groupings kind of suck.

 

Glock 19/XD9 or Remington 870. Especially if it is your first gun(s).

 

I shot a glock 17 and a 9mm sig and I found that since the glock is substantially lighter. I preferred the sig because it had less recoil and I good hit the target with rapid fire more accurately than the glock. I love the glocks thought because they are SO easy to take apart... You just go from shooting position, rotate your hand so your 4 fingers are on top of the slide and keep your thumb around the grip, squeeze so the slide goes back 1/4 to 1/2 inch and let go and it falls apart on the table. I still don't know what I want to get

 

I really dislike DA/SA pistols. To me, there's no reason to have a 12lb double action trigger pull on your first shot.

IMO, Glocks and 1911's are where it's at; A consistent 4.5lb trigger pull on each and every shot.

 

From initial impressions, I like the Glock over the XD. And I would probably choose the Glock over the XD if I had to buy one.