first handgun recommendation

I agree with the others, a .22 is the way to go. My daughters are your age and they have .22 rifles, pistols, and revolvers and they love them all. They are also NRA Life Members.

Best part is that ammo is cheap enough that our last range trip burned up about 1500 rounds which cost us only about $33. That's 1/10 the cost of .38 ammo!

If you really want something bigger go for a .38 Special or .357 Magnum revolver. The .38 ammo is available in the widest variety of of loads, from very light to fairly heavy so you can always match the ammo to the job at hand. The .357 gun will shoot .38 ammo as well as the very powerful .357 ammo.

.38 ammo is usually cheaper than 9mm and I don't like auto pistols for beginners anyway. Most people don't follow through with the extensive training required to achieve and maintain competency with an auto. A revolver is much safer and easier to learn.

I like Smith & Wesson revolvers (the older ones without that stupid key lock) but Colt and Ruger are also very good.

For someone with mid-sized hands you should stick with the S&W J frame (small) or K frame (medium) guns.

The J frame models 34 and 63 are .22s and the models 60 and 36 are .38s. Get the 3 or 4 inch barrels, the 2 inchers are too short which makes them harder to shoot accurately.

The K frame models 15 and 67 are .38s, the models 17 and 18 are .22s, and the models 19 and 66 are .357s. Smith mkaes other .38 and .357 models but the ones listed have adjustable sights and I wouldn't buy a revolver without that. I can't give a better endorsement to the models 19 and 66 than to say that I have 4 of them!

The Ruger Single Six (.22) is very good, as is the Ruger Blackhawk (.357).

Try going to a range where you can rent or borrow different guns and try them out. Buy what fits you best.

without a doubt the first handgun should be a .22 and I prefer either a revolver, or a ruger pistol. This allows you to shoot a lot for very little cost. You gain experience and accuracy as well as safety. If you want a larger caliber, I suggest that a new shooter go with a revolver chambered in .38spcl. again, this is a fairly in expensive caliber, gives you a feel for recoil but doesn't have a horrendous muzzle blast. A 4" or 6" barrel (6" being more accurate) and away you go. I would avoid starting out with a semi auto pistol until you gain some experience and learn how to clear jams work a safety etc. Also, the Glock is the worst choice a new shooter can make. The "safe action" trigger has gotten more new shooters, and even some experienced ones into trouble. I applaud you and your parents decision to get you some firearms training, listen to the instructor, ask lot's of questions, and shoot safe.

at 5-5 you say you have midsized hands, which you may for your body size, but midsized hands on a 5-5er should look like big mitts!

I suspect you are a bit off on the true size of your hands.

That being said, I am with these guys, a 22 pistol is a great place to start, but if your dad already has one or you something, then you are golden, you get all the benifits of a 22 pistol, but your first gun can be a centerfire handgun.

Okay, as stated, I suspect you are a bit off on your hand fit estimation. I find many people who first hold handguns hold them so their hand goes around the grip almost fully, but the gun ends up canted off to one side a bit. Once you properly position the gun, what was once a fine fit soon becomes 'hummm, maybe this one is a bit too wide for me.

I think very highly of the Sig 239 and the new Walther PPS and the Smith and Wesson 908 is a good gun too. They are all great single stack 9mm handguns.

Otherwise, a nice medium framed revolver in 357 magnum which also allows you to shoot 38 special is going to be a wonderful choice as well. Get one with adjustable sights and a barrel at least 4 inches long.

Hahaha. I like how at the age of 14 you already know not to take any liberal crap! You've obviously been raised right!

My oldest son is just about exactly your size. He's 5'6", about 135, and 14 y/o. He is very muscular and athletic (wrestling/football) and can shoot just about anything. But I think his favorite calibers would probably be the .40 or 9mm. So, I recommend one of those for a first time gun. Probably like a Glock or Springfield should be affordable and reliable.

He's even shot the .500 S&W. Although it was a lot of recoil, it was definitely good for some laughs.

If it is only going to be used for "plinking" or target shooting, the .22 recommendations are good because of the cost of ammo. The low recoil will also allow you to easily see and correct for mistakes in your technique. For a larger caliber, I would recommend the 9mm, because it has reasonable cost, can be used for self protection as well as recreation and the recoil is very manageable. The Glock 17, or 19, is a good choice. This is one of the most reliable and safest handguns available today, if you follow the rules of gun safety. The only problems people have with the Glock are caused by failure to follow the rules. Semi-auto pistols are really no more difficult to maintain than a revolver, in fact can be easier since you don't have to be concerned with the cylinder remaining "in time". You should consider that a good pistol will remain useful for over 100 years, so get one you like. The advice to rent different ones and try them out is good advice. You also will probably find that your preference will change as you grow and gain experience. Good Luck and be safe.

For your first introduction to a handgun it needs to be a 22 L.R.** Get a Ruger MarkIII 22/45 Target Model first before moving up to a larger caliber.* They are inexpensive to shoot, very accurate, reasonably priced, quality handgun, rugged and dependable.* Believe me, you have to creep, before you can walk.* You are not ready for a 9mm, 38, or 357 Magnum, however when you are get a 357 Magnum because you can also shoot 38 caliber ammo from a 357 Magnum.* You get two (2*) handguns for the price of one.* You can never go wrong with a 357 Magnum.*

By far the best first pistol, just like a rifle, is the .22, either semi-auto (Ruger or Browning) or a revolver (Ruger, Taurus, etc.)

The best all-around centerfire handgun for someone learning is a .357 revolver with at least a 4 inch barrel. Start with light .38 special ammo and work your way up.

If you insist on getting a semi-auto centerfire pistol, start with 9mm. Here you have a wide variety of good pistols, but I would recommend a single-action pistol, such as a Hi Power or a double-action with a safety, like a Beretta, before going with a striker-fired (no hammer) pistol with no safety like a Glock.

The 9mm ammo can be cheaper and the Glock is a reliable gun that easy to field strip and clean. But a .357 magnum revolver might be more fun depending on your personal preference, and the .38 specials are cheaper to shoot than the .357 magnums. And revolvers are easier to maintain than semi-autos.

If you can, try to rent both guns at a range and see which one you personally enjoy firing more before making a purchase. Or first buy one, and then later, when you get the funds together, buy the other since both are good and that way your budding collection will have both a revolver and an autoloader.

I have a G17 and I like it very much. A .22 is a good start too but you'll get bored with it and want to move up. The 9mm out of the G17 is very managable and not hard to shoot.

I think the G17 also has a straight forward manual of arms and 9mm ammo is the cheapest out there next to .22.

I'd go with the G17 it's something that you'll be able to keep for a long time and not get bored with and they are extrermely tough and simple weapons.

Good luck

Kurdis

The Glock 17 is an excellent choice. Be sure and take the gun safety course, keep your trigger outta the trigger guard until you're ready to shoot, never point your gun at anything you're not willing to destroy, etc. As soon as you're old enough get your CCW.

H