Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski
You can get a Armscor/Rock Island Arms 1911 for $400. It will be a good/reliable 1911 that shoots .45
Don't forget though, no matter what firearm you get, you need to get Eyes and Ears (shooting glasses and ear protection).
a .22 is ok to plink with, but if you want a mans gun you need at least a 9mm. 9mm, is still cheap and is almost never out of stock, unlike .45 and some rifle rounds.
If you want a rifle, you can get either a .22lr for around $100 at Academy for a basic one up to $300. If you're going to spend $300 on a rifle, I would suggest getting an Romanian WASR-10 AK clone. I got mine for $330 and it's a blast to shoot.
If you live in a rural part of the state, check the laws about firing on public land. I know in Texas you can shoot outside of incorporated cities and in small towns as long as you are not firing across a road way. We go up to the Red River and shoot into Oklahoma, and shoot logs that float by in the river.
Originally posted by: Jeffwo
If you never shot anything b4 start with a BB gun. They are just about as fun as a .22 and operate just alike, except that you can shoot them in your backyard. I own 2 myself that I use to stay in practice.
Originally posted by: CadetLee
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Originally posted by: Jeff7181
So I've been trying to find a hobby that's not as expensive as buying crap for my car or constantly upgrading my computer and buying the latest video games. I've decided shooting would be a fun hobby, I just don't know where to start.
Should I take some kind of gun safety class before heading to the shooting range?
How would I find out where local shooting ranges are?
Would they have guns for students to learn with or would I need to buy my own first?
What kind of gun would you recommend I start with and what kind of price tag are we looking at?
I got news for you. Guns aren't cheap and neither is ammo or range time.
You're looking at $500 at least for a decent handgun plus ammo and range time. Everytime I go to the range I probably drop at least $40-50.
Ruger 10/22
Aaaaaand the solution presents itself.
Originally posted by: Quasmo
I think you picked the wrong hobby if you dont want to spend alot.
Originally posted by: upsciLLion
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Originally posted by: Jeff7181
So I've been trying to find a hobby that's not as expensive as buying crap for my car or constantly upgrading my computer and buying the latest video games. I've decided shooting would be a fun hobby, I just don't know where to start.
Should I take some kind of gun safety class before heading to the shooting range?
How would I find out where local shooting ranges are?
Would they have guns for students to learn with or would I need to buy my own first?
What kind of gun would you recommend I start with and what kind of price tag are we looking at?
I got news for you. Guns aren't cheap and neither is ammo or range time.
You're looking at $500 at least for a decent handgun plus ammo and range time. Everytime I go to the range I probably drop at least $40-50.
Let me guess. You love the Koch.
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Originally posted by: CadetLee
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Originally posted by: Jeff7181
So I've been trying to find a hobby that's not as expensive as buying crap for my car or constantly upgrading my computer and buying the latest video games. I've decided shooting would be a fun hobby, I just don't know where to start.
Should I take some kind of gun safety class before heading to the shooting range?
How would I find out where local shooting ranges are?
Would they have guns for students to learn with or would I need to buy my own first?
What kind of gun would you recommend I start with and what kind of price tag are we looking at?
I got news for you. Guns aren't cheap and neither is ammo or range time.
You're looking at $500 at least for a decent handgun plus ammo and range time. Everytime I go to the range I probably drop at least $40-50.
Ruger 10/22
Aaaaaand the solution presents itself.
Meh, once you get one gun you'll just start wanting more of them and the Ruger will collect dust in the corner. I have a Ruger 10/22 and I never shoot it anymore. When I go to the range I usually bring 2 or 3 handguns and 6-8 boxes of ammo.
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
You're looking at $500 at least for a decent handgun plus ammo and range time. Everytime I go to the range I probably drop at least $40-50.
Originally posted by: TallBill
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
You're looking at $500 at least for a decent handgun plus ammo and range time. Everytime I go to the range I probably drop at least $40-50.
Yikes, I wish it was that cheap.
Originally posted by: yuppiejr
For someone new to shooting, the first dollars you spend should be on a firearms safety and familiarization class. Just because someone you know shoots doesn't mean they are safe or know the first thing about proper shooting techniques (grip, stance, breathing, trigger control, sight picture, etc...) that will make you a better marksman in the long run.
I think a .22 is the only way to start since it's cheap to shoot and will let you learn good habits though repetition. If you start with a larger caliber handgun and are recoil sensitive it's much more expensive and difficult to train with.
If you are going pistols, I suggest the Ruger Mark III over the Browning Buckmark. I've owned both and found the Ruger held up better without needing to be cleaned compared to the Buckmark. I traded my Ruger Mark II in for a Buckmark long ago and still regret the decision. The Browning is a fine pistol but is much more cumbersome to field strip and needs cleaning more often to keep shooting without malfunction (primarily because of a poorly finished feed-ramp that's common in this design).
As for rifles, the Ruger 10/22 is an ok choice if you are small statured - however I find it's a little small for my tastes. You could always pick up a barrel = stock upgrade kit (they are really easy to work on) however this will add greatly to the initial investment. Marlin and Remington make an number of good full size .22 rifles in semi-auto and bolt action configurations that are worth considering in their "out of the box" configuration as alternatives. I would avoid the airsoft/BB gun route if at all possible, if you are serious about wanting to learn how to shoot there's no substitute for the real thing. Also, most mid size-large cities/counties have ordinances that forbid the discharge of firearms which, in their definition, includes air powered rifles/pistols (including paintball), etc...
Originally posted by: Quasmo
I think you picked the wrong hobby if you dont want to spend alot.
Originally posted by: Jeff7181
Originally posted by: Quasmo
I think you picked the wrong hobby if you dont want to spend alot.
Are guns that expensive? I honestly have no idea... I've never priced a gun before.
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Originally posted by: upsciLLion
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Originally posted by: Jeff7181
So I've been trying to find a hobby that's not as expensive as buying crap for my car or constantly upgrading my computer and buying the latest video games. I've decided shooting would be a fun hobby, I just don't know where to start.
Should I take some kind of gun safety class before heading to the shooting range?
How would I find out where local shooting ranges are?
Would they have guns for students to learn with or would I need to buy my own first?
What kind of gun would you recommend I start with and what kind of price tag are we looking at?
I got news for you. Guns aren't cheap and neither is ammo or range time.
You're looking at $500 at least for a decent handgun plus ammo and range time. Everytime I go to the range I probably drop at least $40-50.
Let me guess. You love the Koch.
The Koch? As in Heckler & Koch? No, I don't own any HK guns.
Originally posted by: alkemyst
Originally posted by: Jeff7181
Originally posted by: Quasmo
I think you picked the wrong hobby if you dont want to spend alot.
Are guns that expensive? I honestly have no idea... I've never priced a gun before.
It's usually the ammo, not the gun that adds up. Expensive is subjective though. For around $500 you can buy a pretty decent handgun. Customization and specialty weapons could push that to multiples.
Originally posted by: yuppiejr
As for rifles, the Ruger 10/22 is an ok choice if you are small statured - however I find it's a little small for my tastes. You could always pick up a barrel = stock upgrade kit (they are really easy to work on) however this will add greatly to the initial investment. Marlin and Remington make an number of good full size .22 rifles in semi-auto and bolt action configurations that are worth considering in their "out of the box" configuration as alternatives. I would avoid the airsoft/BB gun route if at all possible, if you are serious about wanting to learn how to shoot there's no substitute for the real thing. Also, most mid size-large cities/counties have ordinances that forbid the discharge of firearms which, in their definition, includes air powered rifles/pistols (including paintball), etc...
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Originally posted by: upsciLLion
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
You're looking at $500 at least for a decent handgun plus ammo and range time. Everytime I go to the range I probably drop at least $40-50.
Let me guess. You love the Koch.
The Koch? As in Heckler & Koch? No, I don't own any HK guns.