I need to pop my cherry!

[hemiguy]

Hey guys,

My name is Louis I;m from Las Vegas, NV and this seems like a GREAT forums, glad to have stumbled across it!

I actually have a newb question that will probably get a lot of opinion responses, but I'm in need of help.

Heres the run down:

I'm 21, 22 in January
I;ve only shot 3 guns in my whole life, a cap gun, plastic pellet gun, and a actual 12-gauge while skeet shooting for 3 hrs straight. I;m 5'6" tall, about 240LBS very stocky guy, not really fat but I can handle a big gun.

I have excellent credit, no felonies, nothing of any kind. I;m married, and I wish to start a career in law enforcement soon.

In short, I would like to purchase my first HAND GUN.
I;m sure you hear this a lot from gun newbs, but I admire the Desert eagle 50. AE I just love the way it looks, the large caliber, the wide platform for modifications, finishes, brands, models, sizes... its great! (except the price)

I would like something thats not hard to shoot, nice caliber, nice weight, looks good, American of course, something that I can qualify for a concealed permit with ease, and one that I can carry with me for law enforcement, armed guard, and of course home and family protection. All at an affordable price!

I also very much admire the .45 1911 Colt of course, classic at its best!

Any ideas?

Thanks guys,
-Louie Two Shoes
-Louis

[Adaminak]

The Desert Eagle doesn't fit any of the requirements you've laid out. No agency uses it for law enforcement, it's not concealable (especially in 'Vegas), and it's not American. Furthermore, anything outside the standard LE cartridges of 9mm, 40 S&W and .45ACP is going to be cost prohibitive to shoot often, and when you get your first handgun you'll need to shoot it a lot.

I normally recommend a .22 revolver as an initial handgun, but that doesn't meet any of your defense/LE criteria. What it does do is allow you to get used to the mechanics of shooting a handgun while not being subject to the negative effects of muzzle blast and recoil.

That being said, guns are like shoes: You should pick the right pair for the job. You don't wear loafers to a concrete pour and you don't wear steel-toe boots to the New Year's Ball. Guns are the same. What works for concealed carry doesn't work as well as a duty weapon, and what works as a learning gun doesn't necessarily work as the best defensive weapon.

In the long run, I believe you'd be money ahead to gain the experience and buy a used 22 revolver from a gun store, then move on to larger and more complicated handguns as your skill increases.

[davemac]

Excellent advice, Adaminak

[patdaly]

X2 from me, another factor weighing heavily in the .22 for your first gun is the price of shooting. 20 bucks a 500 is much preferable to a buck a shot.

I would shoot many thousands of rounds before I would ever council you to carry a handgun.

[Mr. Bill]

all very good advice. I bought my first handgun this year, a nice ruger single six .22 revolver.