If you had to choose one handgun to own for recreational purposes what would it be??

I'm looking at buying one this summer and can't decide what I want.

myself i like a midsized hand gun, they are enjoyable to shoot, with medium recoil, and gives you rapid fire power if you would ever need it, and with large calibers you don't get that, it takes to long to recover from the recoil.

I have a Glock Model 22 in 40 S & W. and i think it is a great caliber, and fun to shoot.
and if i ever had to, i could hit a man size target at 30 yards, every time, just as fast as i could pull the trigger. JMO

Kevin

You mention "recreational purposes", with that said you could shoot a .22 all day and not put a big dent in your wallet. They're great for plinking. If you want more out of it Kevin has already made a great suggestion.

Well I was leaning towards a glock but I wasn't sure between the .40 s&w or a 9mm. If anyone else has a different model I would love to hear suggestions. I don't know very much about handguns.

I would much rather have the .40 than the 9mm, jmo

Dale.

Does anyone else have a handgun?? I could really use every piece of advice anyone has to offer!

Are you actually wanting to hunt with it?

i like a 357 mag but thats all ive ever shot in a hand gun

For just plinking around, I would like a .22 in some version. Autoloader or revolver would be just fine with either choice. For a larger caliber and still be economical to shoot, there seem to be a lot of offerings in 9mm. I have seen Rugers (P89, P90, P95) at a lot of gun shows go for a reasonable price. I recently picked up a P95 blued in 9mm for $135. Have not shot it yet but it fits my hand well and I can make out the sights quickly. I have yet to shoot a Ruger that I did not like. Either of these choices would be my advice for "recreational" shooting. If your definition of recreational is different or you plan to hunt with it, there are a lot of other suggestions....

I also have the Glock 22. I love it. It's what I carried when I was in law enforcement years back in SC. A 9mm to me is a tv gun...not much practical use IMO other than target shooting.

You are asking one thing and then saying something else...

I have 3 handguns...A Ruger Blackhawk in .357 mag...This is a single action, meaning that you have to pull the hammer back to shoot it...These are some pretty popular guns because they look like a cowboy gun...It was my dad's and he died in 1975, that's when I got it...I plink with it, you can run .38 Specials through it and save some money but with ammo prices it's expensive to shoot much...I have also used it on snakes with the shotshells avaliable...

My second gun is what I would consider a recreational gun...It's a Ruger Mark-II in stainless steel with a 6 7/8 barrel...These are .22 caliber semi auto target pistols...Everyone should own one of these...I can keep my shots in a 1 1/2 inch circle at 25 yards...I use it to squirrel hunt, plink, shoot snakes when fishing, etc...If you prefer a revolver then Ruger makes a .22/.22mag revolver that is also popular...I prefer the Mark II because they are usually more accurate and to reload you can just install another magazine...I'm a firm believer that a persons first rifle should be a .22 and their first handgun should be a .22...This is where you learn to shoot and the basics are the same for a .22 or a .45...It's just much cheaper to shoot a .22 and to get good you need to shoot a lot...

My third pistol is a Glock 23...This is the .40 S&W caliber...I've had this about 10-12 years, I got it when I passed the concealed carry course...My instructor was a Deputy and the local Sheriff Dept carry these...This gun is for personal protection, it's use is to stop an intruder...I prefer the .40 over the 9mm simply because it's a larger diameter and when I did my research the .40 had a good reputation for it's stopping power...It's also avaliable in .45 but a double stack .45 grip makes the gun thicker and harder to conceal...

I have:
2, Ruger semi-auto 22’s (both EXCELLENT)
A Ruger Blackhawk in 357
A Ruger Super Blackhawk in 44 Mag
A Charter Arms stainless Bulldog Pug in 44 special
A Colt’s Government Model in 45ACP (deadly accurate at 25 yards)

The Pug and Colt could be used for personal defense.
The Colt gets regular use for “recreation”.
The Super Blackhawk could be used for hunting but generally gets use at the range…recreation?
The Blackhawk is pretty and doesn’t get much use because anything it can do, the Super Blackhawk can do better (even groups better).

The Ruger Marks are just plain fun…and deadly.
I have actually done more hunting with those two than all the others combined.

I guess you could say all of my handguns except the Charter Arms are “recreational” handguns.
It’s all about what you want to do.

I suggest you start with a Ruger Mark and learn pistol craft well, before moving into something more expensive to shoot and harder to master.

SPeters1

As most of the entries have mentioned. If I was choosing one pistol to do all. I would also go with the Glock 22 Pistol in 40 S&W Cal. Hands Down! The 9mm Model would be less costly to shoot but not as effective for personal protection as the 40 Cal is. I have several of each and the 40Cal. is my choice for personal protection as well as shooting. I also have a Model 27 Glock Compact in 40 Cal that shoots exceptionally well and is easier to conceal. Any good quality 22 pistol is good if you just want to plink or target shoot because of reasonable expense of ammunition but limited on personal protection applications. And to protect myself in the woods on a hunt the 40 is my choice. Close to ballistics of a 45 ACP.

AR

These three are the ones i use the most, one is a browning .22 auto that i use to squirel hunt with, the big one is a T/C contender 30-30 that i use to deer hunt with and, the little one i carry everywhere i go for self defence, its a ruger .357, they all shoot really well and are a ton of fun.

http://s343.photobucket.com/albums/o452/da...pg&newest=1


http://s343.photobucket.com/albums/o452/da...nt=DSC00195.jpg




Dale.

KY,

Have you got that young sportsman in the picture shooting yet?
Looks like a shooter and sportsman to me!
Nice weapons also!
AR

Nah, not yet, his mother is being a little over protective, havent been able to talk her into it yet, she's afraid the noise might scare him right now. I will soon though. Thanks.

Dale.

nice guns Dale

Kevin

Thanks guys for all the help!! I don't plan on hunting with whatever handgun I buy. I just want something to take down to the farm and have a little fun with. There sure is plenty of options to choose from.

Stick with a 22!

I just got a new sales flier from Cabela's, if you have one half way close to you, it might be worth the trip, they are having a sale on all in stock hand guns. the Glocks are $50.00 off. sale runs March 18 to 28. just a thought.

Kevin

Whewww, i wish i had one close, i would like to get in on that.

Dale.

Ya, it is 110 miles to the closes one for me, but i think i am going to make the trip one day next week .

Kevin

Yea, thats not too bad.

Dale.

You say for recreational purposes......I would choose the thompson contender single shot. You can add a variety of barrels everything fron the .410 shotgun to the 22 rimfire to the 30-30. Check them out....you wont be disappointed. JMO

Just for fun I looked up a Glock 23 in their gun library, see link. It seems that's a used pistol and they're asking $550. A buddy of mine just purchased a NEW Glock 23 from a dealer with case and 3 mags for $502. I'm not sure if gun prices are really that different from region to region but sometimes I really wonder how they sell guns at times. I always find better deals from local shops. Although, Cabelas typically has about one of everything in stock.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/content/...erarchyId=11647

I bought my Glock model 22, 40 S & W, from Cabela's last summer, New with a case and 2 clips for $520.00. it was on sale, and that was $60.00 less then i could buy it here in Kalamazoo.

Kevin

I guess prices do change by region more than I would have expected.

Here's something else to think about, when I was in Springfield MA I went to the S&W factory outlet/range which is right across the street from the S&W factory. I got talking to the guy there about the pricing. He told me I would be better off buying it in PA instead of there. Sure enough he was right, ~$175 less on a 617 as a matter of fact.

I know what you mean, last winter when i was in Alabama, i bought a Savage model 110 combo, in 30-06, just for a back up gun, for $400.00, that same gun here would have cost me $600.00.

Kevin

I work at Cabelas in the winter!! lol It's only 30 miles from me! Now I have to go find the flier that my fiance must have thrown away because she doesn't want me to see the good deals.

I wish my Cabela's was only 30 miles. if i go the back way which is the shortest way by far it is 110 miles, and about 2 1/2 hours one way.
Do you get a employee discount to ?. .

Kevin

Yeah but it's hardly anything on guns.. I'm actually going to check a local dealer tomorrow to see what his price is. I've decided with the Glock 17 9mm since I shot my buddies today and I loved the feel and I was really accurate with it.

I am sure you will like it, the Glock is a excellent gun, i looked at the 9mm to, but decided to go with the 40 S & W, it has a lot more punch then the 9mm and there isn't much difference in the recoil. and is still very accurate, and the Ammo is still pretty cheap, if you order it online.

Kevin

I also have a Glock 22 which I carried on duty before retiring. I still have it since the agency gave it to me upon retirement. And carry a Model 27 Glock as a carry gun. Both are in 40 Cal. S&W Cal.
However if you do not want a 22 pistol for plonking and burning up ammo. And not designated as a defence weapon only. You might look into the Glock 9mm pistols only because of price and availability of ammunition.
Although I would tell you get out there and buy one now and of the original Glock manufacture! Gaston Glock recently sold the Company to some investment group and the new Glocks they are producing with the new owners in my opinion is less than desirable. Certainly not the same weapon. They no longer even have Polymer Frames. And the action springs are well! Can't Say It here! The new ones being produced have interchangable back straps that is how you can tell. And very light frames.

AR

If you just want to have a little fun down on the farm, then any .22 will do. It won't take long to out grow. Eventually you will want to learn the art and science of pistol craft. The other end of the spectrum is "I want a multiple use tool with a combination of reliability, knock down power, flat trajectory, cost effectiveness and a modern action. When you get to that stage give me a shout.

S

The place to start when learning pistol craft is trigger control and sight picture. The easiest place to aquire those skills is with a Ruger Mark II semi-auto in 22 LR.
The platform also provides "...multiple use tool with a combination of reliability,... flat trajectory, cost effectiveness and a modern action".

When you have mastered the higher power handguns and believe you have "outgrown" the 22,you will return to that 22 and wonder "What was Ithinking?" Just because of all of the above.

I could not agree more with your comments except that .22s don't have much knock down power therefore it isn't much of a multiple use tool. I have a Sturm Ruger mark I... Hey, do you work for Ruger? I don't want to say anything about Ruger if you do.

But I think that he should find a good instructor, too. Learning on his own would certainly lead to internalizing bad habits even if he starts just having fun on the farm with a .22.

S

10-4 on that!

I am going to ask everone's forgiveness in advance, but if I don't get this off my chest, I am just going to bust! I think that he should get that new Sig 229 in .40 cal. I just love that pistol! Then get some of those man size targets that look like Tom Ridge. Find an someone who really knows how to shoot and how to teach how to shoot. Tuck them all under his arm and then go to the farm for some fun (and meaningful training, too, of course).

Stop at the IHOP on the way there, and Burger King on the way home. Make a day of it.

S

22LR either Bretta bobcat or a Ruger single six!