The very first thing you should build should be an IFAK. Need to have a TQ and be able to stop bleeding, so take atleast a stop the bleed class.
Glock 19 is going to be the standard due to abundance of parts and they shoot good. HM are glock 17 and 43, some people prefer those especially the 43 for concealed carry. If you’re going to CC then i suggest getting a Philster Enigma, they are the best purchase you can make after buying the gun.
For rifle get an AR15. Other than legally not being able to get one, they’re is very little reason to go with something else as your first. Brand doesn’t matter too much, Palmetto State Armory is probably the lowest quality i would recommend going with but you really shouldn’t spend a crazy amount, 450 to 750 will get you something good.
After you buy your guns, throw a red dot on them get some ammo and start shooting. You’ll next want to look into holsters, slings, and other fun parts of the hobby.
IFAK is underrated advice. Unless you’re living in gangland, then statistically you’re more likely to shoot yourself than you are to shoot someone in self defense. Some community events may even offer first aid/stop the bleed classes for free. Knowing how to patch someone up will make you a better defender than a majority of American gun owners.
Should disclaim that red dot advice does not apply if you have astigmatism. TRY a red dot before you BUY a red dot. 1-8x scopes and prism sights are both valid alternatives.
a .22 so you have something to shoot on the cheap
Another thing, I would avoid Glock.
They are 100% reliable. They’re the Toyota/Honda of pistols - reliable and parts are ubiquitous. However the prices don’t reflect that. New ones are usually $400-600 even after sales. Meanwhile, other models with Glock inspired/copied designs go for the same price while having higher quality improvements out the box, potentially saving you hundreds in aftermarket parts. CZ P10 series and M&P 2.0 series can frequently be found at sub $300.
Regarding aftermarkets, it’s one of the most common reason for why people like glocks. But I personally advise against aftermarket parts for self defense purposes outside of grip tape, lights, sights, optics. Internals should be kept stock at all times for maximum reliability. And if you maintain this philosophy, then nearly every other pistol has the same accessories available.
However, if you must get a glock, find a used/barely used police trade in. These can be found for around $300-$400 with extra mags and upgrades and be just as reliable as brand new ones. Because glocks are so ubiquitous, magazines and spare OEM parts will be easy to find. Magazines can be as little as $10 whereas other brands will be in the $30s.
AR-15. It is the most popular gun for a reason. Any compact 9mm for concealed carry if you want to do that. Anything else is only if you want it for fun/reasons other than self defense.
What about if you live someplace that's banned semi-auto rifles?
You can essentially get a “pistol” that is functionally a rifle
In some parts of America, this is still considered a pistol, including the 50 round drum mag
PS90.
I just like stargate SG-1. It's a terrible first gun, I just really want one.
Forget buying "good" guns as your first. Go with only the most practical self defense options: A Lady's Home Companion and a homemade punt gun
Stargate SG-1 was the first show I watched to completion and I could barely watch an episode now, it just reeks of a libs idea of what the US military is (or should be) :(
I like the P90 from a "let's do it different to see what's up" sense
I personally can't shoot very well with Glocks, but otherwise agree with the other comments. Get a 9mm pistol, and an AR rifle in .556 or .223 Wylde. This is mainly about the ubiquity and relative cost of those ammo types, as well as the parts for the AR.
a .22 pistol. you can take it to the range for cheap, and carry it if you need to.
if you are buying two guns, I would say a .22 rifle, and a centerfire pistol in the caliber of your choosing (stick with 9 mm, .40, or .45). Glock is reliable, and probably has the largest aftermarket market if you ever feel like customizing it. Ruger is inexpensive and reliable.
some cz pistol just so i could show my grandma it
Classic short rail cz-75
Relevant but old posts and comments: https://hexbear.net/post/2830
https://hexbear.net/comment/2565959
https://hexbear.net/post/204709
My answer from a previous time this was asked
I'd go to a gun range, rent several double-stack polymer 9mm pistols one after another, and buy the one that feels right. I'd also buy a Ruger 10/22.
Then an AR, a shotgun, and a 22 pistol, in no particular order.
I bought the double barreled shotgun from bugs bunny and a Colt revolver.
I want a side by side shotty. No practical use for it, but, they are pretty.
And I figure it's easier to hit something with a shotgun, as long as it's not a wascally wabit.
- DA/SA: CZ75 75D Compact/ CZ P-01
This has a decocker, so it provides the benefit of not having to fiddle with a manual safety like a striker fire, while providing more control for extra safety (e.g. heavier first trigger pull (with light follow up trigger) and thumbing the hammer so it can’t go off even if the trigger is snagged accidentally). CZ is also one of the few manufacturers that still makes carry sized DA/SA pistols, but their classic full sized pistols are also good if you plan on just leaving it as a home gun; you’ll also find more DA/SA if you look for full sized. People tend to exaggerate the difficulty of DA/SA because of the two trigger pulls, but honestly just think of it as stepping on the pedal to accelerate to a certain speed then letting go and lightly tapping to cruise at the speed. 75D compact = classic cz75 design; P-01 = has a rail for light but no classic ‘ridge’
- DA/SA alternative: P07/P09
CZ is stupid with its naming conventions so I don’t remember what’s what, but these are basically the polymer versions of the CZ75. They come in decocker versions too. These will be very light since the frame is plastic.
- .22 pistol: Taurus TX22 or Ruger MK IV
Even when .22 is expensive, it’s still cheaper compared to 9mm. You’ll get more shots off with these which will help you be more comfortable with the explosions and practice fundamentals. You’ll likely be using this a lot when times are bad and ammo prices are ass. It won’t make you a pro with your primary weapon, but it’ll reinforce the fundamentals which transfers to most pistols. Alternatively, think of it as fitness conditioning. You won’t gain a lot of muscles from just cardio, but cardio will help you endure strength training a lot more.
Pro tip: the only American made pistol worth having from a self defense standpoint is the M&P 2.0.
Pretty much all the true and tested pistols are European.
- Glock
- CZ
- Walther
- HK
- German/Austrian Sig Sauer (I don’t think anyone has ever questioned the quality of Sig until the Americans acquired, designed, and manufactured the guns)
Springfield has the XD, Hellcat, and Echelon, but these are imported from Croatia. They’re G2G.
As for ARs, you’ll find quality in US and EU. Quality AKs will usually be from Balkans, Romania, Poland, and if you can find them, Russia and China.
Coming in with a suggestion that I'm surprised isn't more common: get yourself a revolver.
All guns are "in case of emergency" items (if you aren't a hunter or a plinker). So if you want something that you can leave in a safe/nightstand for 5 years, and then feel completely confident it's going to fire if/when you need it, you need a piece with the fewest possible moving/degradable/high-maintenance parts, which is a wheelgun. If you aren't looking to disassemble and maintain it regularly (or go out to a commercial range/shop and pay to have them do it for you every year or more), it's really the only option you can feel confident in 10 years down the line.
It's also a great first because if you do end up collecting more, you'll still always have a near failproof backup.
you need a piece with the fewest possible moving/degradable/high-maintenance parts, which is a wheelgun.
This isn't really correct. Revolvers have quite a few moving parts and they can absolutely break and their timing can go out or just straight up fail. A striker fired gun that you can tear down yourself and re-assemble is a much simpler and easier to diagnose and fix weapon than any revolver.
Revolvers are way more complicated than pistols.
It is both allowed and encouraged
My first gun was a Glock 19X and I love the hell out of that thing
For to learn: a 22lr. 10/22 if you like rifle, Ruger mkiv or browning buckmark for pistol. Very little recoil, cheap to shoot, good fun guns.
For defense: a 9mm pistol if you want to conceal (biggest one you can reasonably conceal. Small guns are harder to shoot), or an AR-15 for home/community defense. There is a reason right wingers love this gun - it's great and easy to maintain.
Get a good light for your defense implement of choice, and a sling as well if it's a rifle.
idk but I want a handgun that shoots FN 5.7
but with a shredder instead
lol. But they have kinetic energy on par with 9mm and very high magazine capacity!
guns
Rules (Under review):
-
- NO BUYING, SELLING OR TRADING of guns or accessories. Take that to Reddit and /r/GunAccessoriesForSale or Armslist.com
-
- Censor all personally identifiable information in posts including serial numbers on firearms.
-
- Any post or comment advocating illegal action will be removed and the poster warned. A second infraction will result in a ban.
-
- Unironically suggesting the SKS as a usable rifle in the 21st Century when there are things like the AK and AR that cost only a bit more might result in a ban, it depends on how we feel.
-
- Discussion of hunting is acceptable but please put "CW: hunting" in post titles. Debating the ethicality of hunting is also fine, but keep it civil and don't derail other people's threads.