Newbie needs advice please ....

[PurpleDog]

Hiya folks ...

I shot a couple of pistols last week down in Tampa with my brother; it was the first time I've ever fired a gun. I shot
a Hi Standard 22 long, and a Ruger 380. We had a lot of fun, and I'd like to buy a 22 pistol for myself. I'd use it mainly
at the range down in Roanoke and out in the woods on my property. I'd use it primarily for target shooting.

The local Gander Mountain store has a Smith & Wesson 22 with a 7" barrel for like $300 bucks. Is that a good choice
for a newb like me or is there something else out there that I should consider ?

Thanks in advance !!

[zephyp]

Hello and welcome. Hope you stay a while. S&W are great pistols but for a .22 check out Brownings Buck Marks. Here's a link. Nice shooting, reliable, and they come in bunches of flavors...

http://www.browning.com/products/catalo ... flag_=006B

[Vahunter]

First off welcome to the forum. A .22 is an excellent choice for a first handgun. I'm not familiar with the S&W since you didn't mention a model but have you taken a lokk at Rugers ? They have .22's in revolvers and semiauto's that are well made a very reliable. I have a MKII bull barrel .22 with over 25K rounds through it with never a problem.

[zephyp]

The Rugers are nice ones too...and I think their a little cheaper than Browning.

[moss20]

Welcome

If your looking for something good and inexpensive, Heritage makes a nice single action revolver that shoots well for under $200.00. My wife loves to shoot mine. Ruger's Mark series or a Walther P22 are also good choices.

[PurpleDog]

The S&W I was thinking about is this one:

http://www.gandermountain.com/modperl/p ... rchID=4006

[OakRidgeStars]

The S&W I was thinking about is this one:

http://www.gandermountain.com/modperl/p ... rchID=4006

That looks like a good choice to me, and not a bad price either

Welcome to VGOF!

[PurpleDog]

What a great forum !! I've learned a lot already by just reading the various topics. Thanks for all the advice !!

[gunderwood]

My preference would be the Ruger. Not a big fan of S&W any more. Their quality is definitely not like the old ones. Don't get me wrong, they aren't bad, just not what made them a house hold name.

On another note...

If you care, there is always the politics of a gun company to consider too. Ruger http://www.thegunzone.com/rkba/papabill.html. S&W http://actionamerica.org/guns/swbetray.html. Personally, I prefer something like Barrett's take on things http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1389702/posts.

Why buy from a gun company who sells out their civilian market? That being said, I do own from those companies too, so

[viiiball]

My wife loves to shoot mine. Ruger's Mark series or a Walther P22 are also good choices.

I will second the vote for the Walther P22. I bought this for my son but my wife adopted it because she likes to shoot it so much.
http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/ ... sFirearm=Y

[newdovo]

A .22 is a great choice, especially for a first gun. I'm with the Ruger crowd on this one, as far as handguns go. If you have opportunity to try a revolver, they're fun, too.
Ruger also has the super plinker of .22 pistols, the Charger.

charger.jpg (41.29 KiB) Viewed 3862 times

Parry

[zephyp]

What a great forum !! I've learned a lot already by just reading the various topics. Thanks for all the advice !!

It is indeed. I sleep here often its so good...

[ynoty3k]

...
On another note...

If you care, there is always the politics of a gun company to consider too. Ruger http://www.thegunzone.com/rkba/papabill.html. S&W http://actionamerica.org/guns/swbetray.html. Personally, I prefer something like Barrett's take on things http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1389702/posts.

Why buy from a gun company who sells out their civilian market? That being said, I do own from those companies too, so

2nded, Get it? SECONDed. But seriously, Vote with your wallet if nowhere else,

[PurpleDog]

Well, I almost bought a nice Ruger MKIII at Gander Mountain, but my application was denied. I'm 53 years old, and was convicted 2 times of felonies [back in 1981 and 1983] of intent to sell and possession of marijuana down in Florida. I thought that those convictions were sealed but apparently were not. I have not used any illegal drugs in over 25 years.

Is anyone out there familiar with the the "real world" restoration of firearm rights in Virginia ?? I've done some initial digging on Google the process is not clearly described.

I can understand folks being convicted of a robbery or murder or something really serious never being able to own a gun, but this is 2009 and the selling of weed is now legal in some states to anyone who claims they need it as medicine. I cant belive that my youthful screw up will cause me to not be able to own a gun !!

[OakRidgeStars]

I'm not a lawyer, but this is what's on the VSP site pertaining to denials.

http://www.vsp.state.va.us/Firearms_Denied.shtm

[GS78]

First gun? skip the 22's and go right for the Desert Eagle.....

[PurpleDog]

I moved this thread to: Virginia Laws and Regulations

[zephyp]

I moved this thread to: Virginia Laws and Regulations

You shouldnt be able to move anything. It looks ok here unless one of the other mods want to move it.