Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Guns and Ammo => Topic started by: road.kill on March 02, 2009, 11:38:25 AM

Title: handgun shooters, barrel length
Post by: road.kill on March 02, 2009, 11:38:25 AM: Im thinking of investing in my first handgun. I havent shot handguns but a couple times and was wondering your opinions on barrel length?

Im thinking of getting a Springfield XD in 9mm. This gun probably will not be carried and will be mainly for target shooting or plinking etc.
I am thinking of getting either the 4" barrel or the 5" barrel. What are the pros and cons of each? I was thinking that the 5" would give better accuracy and less muzzle jump but I havent shot enough rounds through a handgun to have adequate experience? What do you guys think :dunno:
Title: Re: handgun shooters, barrel length
Post by: tlbradford on March 02, 2009, 11:41:15 AM: The longer barrel will always help with recoil and aiming. The only advantage of a smaller barrel is carrying, faster draw, and a little faster moving between targets.
Title: Re: handgun shooters, barrel length
Post by: MHWASH on March 02, 2009, 11:55:50 AM: Barrel lenght doesn't neccisarily make a handgun more accurate. It's the longer sight radious that can make a different. I have a 4" XD-45 and like it extreamly well. 99% of my hand guns have a barrel less than 5".
Title: Re: handgun shooters, barrel length
Post by: Bofire on March 02, 2009, 02:49:39 PM: I think you ought to get a Ruger 22. very cheap to shoot. perfect first pistol. any length you want
Carl
Title: Re: handgun shooters, barrel length
Post by: MHWASH on March 02, 2009, 02:55:27 PM: Quote from: Bofire on March 02, 2009, 02:49:39 PM
I think you ought to get a Ruger 22. very cheap to shoot. perfect first pistol. any length you want
Carl

+1. I shot several of my handguns yesterday. My Ruger 22/45 is the funnest and I can hit the best with it. I also took out a new shooter with me. He had just bought a XD-45. He did not come out and say it, but I sure he would of rather had that .22 than the .45. They are cheap to shoot and great to learn on. I always say if I lost all my handguns the 22/45 would be the first I replaced.
Title: Re: handgun shooters, barrel length
Post by: tlbradford on March 02, 2009, 03:27:20 PM: Good advice on the .22, I would agree with that totally, unless you are going to use it for home defense.
Title: Re: handgun shooters, barrel length
Post by: Slider on March 02, 2009, 06:55:42 PM: 22's are good cheap fun!!! This is my 22/45 with some old cheap ammo at 25yds.
Title: Re: handgun shooters, barrel length
Post by: Huntbear on March 02, 2009, 09:41:24 PM: Quote from: tlbradford on March 02, 2009, 03:27:20 PM
Good advice on the .22, I would agree with that totally, unless you are going to use it for home defense.

Get an 870 for the house, and the 22/45 for out in the field!!!
Title: Re: handgun shooters, barrel length
Post by: FALFire on March 03, 2009, 06:06:12 AM: I agree with the .22 pistol idea. I would also like to suggest the Browning Buckmark line of semi autos, they are a very good and very accurate starter gun. For plinking and having fun, the .22 is all you will ever need.
Title: Re: handgun shooters, barrel length
Post by: magnanimous_j on March 04, 2009, 07:03:33 PM: I love shooting my .22's. I don't get that "wallet getting lighter every time I pull the trigger" feeling :)

Other than that, 9mm is a good round. I've got a CZ 75d, and I've never had a single misfire in it. A word of advice though, get a full sized auto until you develop really good shooting skills. My CZ is dead accurate, but its a lot harder to control than its full sized brother.

Whatever you decide to get, practice practice practice. It's really satisfying to watch your skills improve