Since I'm waiting around for my license, I've been doing some researching on pistols and which I'd like to get for my first. So now I'm looking for opinions! I guess the biggest question is which caliber to get. Right now I'm between .357mag/.38 and .22lr. At first I wanted to go for a 22, because they are cheap and fun to shoot, but a couple seasoned gun owners told me that I may tire of that eventually and want something bigger. Now assuming shooting a 38 special is approx like a 9mm (they're about the same diameter really) I could go for that, and I'm told it is very cheap to reload 38 ammo; and I'd be interested in getting reloading also. Plus it has capability for the 357 load for some more kick. So here's the list so far for what I'm considering:
for .22lr:
-Browning Buckmark (new models illegal in MA, so I would have to find a pre-ban model in MA and customize it how I like from there), the grip feels good on this one (I have small hands)
-Ruger Single-six hunter, has a full length rail for scope, interchangeable cylinders for .22mag, and I like this grip also
-Ruger MKII or MKIII, I don't care for the feel of the grip on this, so I'd have to change it somehow and it seems that there are more products to do this on an MKII which I'd have to buy used. I've also read that to make it a really nice gun you have to change out some parts.
-S&W .22 revolver (forget the model), I've tried one of these, it wasn't bad
I'm not really considering the S&W 41, it's really pricey and it seems about on par with a good buckmark so the cost is hard to justify.
for .357mag/38:
-S&W model 60 or 686
-Ruger blackhawk, similar to the single six in style
Okay, well that is a fairly large list but it's what I've come up with so far! I'm sure I'd like to own all of these someday, but I'm looking at what I want to get first right now. Any opinions on any of this would be greatly appreciated! What's good, what isn't, or other guns I haven't looked into yet, etc. I can't beat with research the wealth of hands-on experience that is around these forums. Thanks in advance!!
Edit: I'll be using this just for target shooting at the range, not planning on any competition or anything like that, just want to shoot for fun right now.
-Tom
for .22lr:
-Browning Buckmark (new models illegal in MA, so I would have to find a pre-ban model in MA and customize it how I like from there), the grip feels good on this one (I have small hands)
-Ruger Single-six hunter, has a full length rail for scope, interchangeable cylinders for .22mag, and I like this grip also
-Ruger MKII or MKIII, I don't care for the feel of the grip on this, so I'd have to change it somehow and it seems that there are more products to do this on an MKII which I'd have to buy used. I've also read that to make it a really nice gun you have to change out some parts.
-S&W .22 revolver (forget the model), I've tried one of these, it wasn't bad
I'm not really considering the S&W 41, it's really pricey and it seems about on par with a good buckmark so the cost is hard to justify.
for .357mag/38:
-S&W model 60 or 686
-Ruger blackhawk, similar to the single six in style
Okay, well that is a fairly large list but it's what I've come up with so far! I'm sure I'd like to own all of these someday, but I'm looking at what I want to get first right now. Any opinions on any of this would be greatly appreciated! What's good, what isn't, or other guns I haven't looked into yet, etc. I can't beat with research the wealth of hands-on experience that is around these forums. Thanks in advance!!
Edit: I'll be using this just for target shooting at the range, not planning on any competition or anything like that, just want to shoot for fun right now.
-Tom