Looking for reccomendations.

A Ruger Single Six might suit you well. It's a single action .22 revolver (you have to manually cock the hammer before each shot) that is simple to shoot and maintain. Prices aren't bad on new ones and you should be able to track down a used one with some effort.

 

That's it. Smith & Wesson and Ruger both make new .22 autoloader pistols that are in your price range, and most people never have any problems with them, but they are a little more involved than the Ruger Single Six.

 

I agree with the Ruger Single 6. If you reall feel you must have a semi-auto the Ruger MK11. In my oppenion these are the 2 best in their class for accuracy and value. I own both and they shoot far better than you can hold them.

 

I would go with a double action revolver next .

While single actions especially Rugers are fine guns I consider them to more of either a serious hunting weapon if in a substantial caliber or a nostalgia gun/toy if one has grown up watching westerns and something that can be acquired after guns that have an intended purpose .

At some point in your young life you will come to the brutal realization that the world is a dangerous place and nowhere is truly safe and this is the reason the majority of us own guns . At that moment your focus will be on serious weaponry and if money is tight and your collection still limited you will kick yourself for buying a less than adequate arm for the same money one would have cost you .

I suggest a 4 inch barreled 357 magnum that can be fired with 38 specials to acquire the skills needed with a handgun for either defense or even hunting if that may be in you future .

Taurus makes fine guns and a model 66 would be just the ticket in 357 , if you insist on a 22 they have the model 94 a 9 shot double action revolver .

If you can hold off and spend a bit more Smith & Wesson makes excellent guns that will be of higher quality than a Taurus although it is debatable if the quality is high enough to account for the increased price for a new gun .

good luck

 

Smith & Wesson 22A can be had in several barrel lengths and color combos in a price range of $240 to $300 including shipping from Buds Guns. Nice for target or hunting, easy to mount a scope or other optics, cheap to shoot 22lr.
I have been very happy with mine. John. Here is the link to Buds.
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/...id=1fc7043c234bec2f91b3df1ee551e4f8&x=16&y=11

 

The Rugers are great semiauto 22's both rifle and pistols but , I strongly suggest before you buy it you call Ruger and see what their repair policy is on second hand guns .

Autos are more prone to problems than revolvers and if it should have a problem you might want a general idea what you could be getting into .

Gunsmith work isn't cheap .

 

I agree with Big001, and $240 is not a bad price for the Ruger if it is in good shape. John

 

A problem could be expensive not to mention being with out your gun during repair. I would go for new over used if possible, just for the warrenty and knowing how the gun has been taken care of from day one. John

 

If you want to save a little extra money, you could purchase something like the Heritage Rough Rider and use the leftover to buy something more useful in a self defense role.

My first handgun was a 4" S&W Model 19 that I found in a gun shop for $299. That was two years ago. I don't know what you'll find in your area, but two guns for about $500 might fit the bill for you.

That would give you a nice little plinker and a .357 for serious work.

 

I wouldn't say that. Being new to guns may make it less attractive to you until you know what to look for. I've only had guns for two years, but I've only bought three new guns, the rest have been used. Just because someone sold a gun that you see at a gunshop or show doesn't mean it's no good. It may be something someone didn't like shooting or didn't like how it felt in their hands, or it was more gun than they wanted. If you see something at a shop, ask if you can have a gunsmith inspect it before you buy it, or if they'll let you return it after taking to be examined. Of course, they probably won't let you shoot it, but a smith should be able to see if there's anything wrong with the gun without shooting it.

It's sort of like buying a used car, someone else paid full price for it and you get it at a discount....

 

If you are using the gun for target shooting and plinking you may want a little longer barrel, also you may want to think about stainless steel over blued, no rust worries. Check this link they have many Rugers http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/...&ITATR_list[8]=&ITATR_list[9]=&ITATR_list[0]= John

 

Painted I never said not to go used , just check to see if the maker will repair it with you being the second owner .

Another option is if the gun shop will give you a written return/repair policy that clearly spells out that you CAN test fire the weapon .

Semiautos can malfunction for something as simple as improper cleaning and lubrication .

You may well get a great gun at a great price Used , "I have a few times" or you may get one that simply needs a minor part replacement such as a spring or the ejector .

I just think you need to go into it with your eyes open .

 

The next caliber up is the .25, but it's not really cheap. The 9mm luger is the next up that's cheap. The .32s and .380s are out there, but they cost more.

410 bore is the smallest production shotgun, but the shells are pricey. 20 gauge and twelve gauge are about the same price, but the 20 is sometimes harder to find. Especially if you're looking for buckshot.

If you get the Rough Rider, let us know how you like it. I've considered getting one myself....

 

rugers make great target pistols. .22lr is also a great round to learn and practice basic marksmanship skills. all advanced shooting is rooted in basic markmanship. Body position/grip, trigger squeeze, sight picture, breathing. find out (if possible) how many rounds have been put through that used mark II. it's like mileage on a used car. also look for wear and tear on the muzzle and chamber, feed ramp, firing pin etc.