First firearm recommendations?

[LeMat]

Hi everyone,

I'm just getting started with shooting, having just passed my PAL and RPAL exams and currently in the waiting period. I'm mostly interested in target shooting --- I had a great time doing it in the army reserves ages ago and am excited to try my hand at pistols in addition to rifles.

The advice I've received so far is that even if I'm ultimately interested in a larger caliber, I should start off with a .22LR pistol and a .22 LR rifle. Cheap and interchangeable ammo, light frames, low recoil... learn the basics and develop good habits before blowing a hole in something. That seems to make sense, and since I'm interested in target shooting I'm in no rush to move up to bigger bores beyond the fact that it's fun to make loud noises. (And it is.)

I'm currently in Toronto, which means I'm going to have a really hard time finding a place that will both let me try out a firearm and sell it to me. I've probably got a maximum budget of about $1000 each, but I'd obviously prefer to keep costs down for something possibly more exciting later.

So just a few questions:

1) Do you agree with the advice about starting with the rimfire guns, or should I start with the calibers I'm interested in sticking with?

2) Do you know of anyplace in or around Toronto where someone can try out a range of firearms before buying them? Ideally someplace with a large selection?

3) Would you recommend choosing from the range of firearms available at whatever range is also a retailer, so that I can be sure it's something comfortable even if I don't find a "perfect fit"; or should I buy something I really like and is well-regarded and then get used to it?

4) If you agree that .22LR is a good starting point and that it might be a good idea to buy before trying, I was thinking about the Sig P226R and the Ruger 10/22. Thoughts? Alternatives?

Thanks!

[lone-wolf]

I never had a .22 pistol, and went straight to a 45. I think you should get the pistol and calibre you want.
There's a million ruger 10/22s out there, it's a fine choice.

[goosesniper]

Do your own personal comparisons on the following:
Looks, functionality, colour, caliber, weight, materials, price and of course recommendations.
Myself I like the marlin 22 over the Ruger 22. Rifle
The savage axis is a very accurate rifle. Not as smooth as the more expensive brands but way cheaper.
If money is no object. Buy what you want. If you're on a limited budget then go all out up front with the pistol. They are expensive.


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[Eel]

Myself I like the marlin 22 over the Ruger 22. Rifle

Why do you prefer the Marlin over the Ruger? I'm thinking of getting a .22 and have shot Rugers many times, but never a Marlin.

[DasMauser]

Why do you prefer the Marlin over the Ruger? I'm thinking of getting a .22 and have shot Rugers many times, but never a Marlin.

I'm in the same boat as well, have a Marlin 795 and love it, for a couple reasons:
They're substantially cheaper than a ruger 10/22
You can get 25 round mags for them without having to worry about the rcmp's "prohibition limbo" that the ruger 25 round mags are currently in
Now these are rare, but I have seen them in canada, there are also 70 rd drum mags for the marlin, if you can find them

Marlin is just as accurate, if not more, than the Ruger. But the one flaw it has is the plastic trigger guard/mag mouth, eventually it will break. But, you can order a solid aluminum one out of the states for about $75 or so shipped to your door, and still be well under the cost of the Ruger, just did it myself a few months ago.

[Eel]

I'm in the same boat as well, have a Marlin 795 and love it, for a couple reasons:
They're substantially cheaper than a ruger 10/22
You can get 25 round mags for them without having to worry about the rcmp's "prohibition limbo" that the ruger 25 round mags are currently in
Now these are rare, but I have seen them in canada, there are also 70 rd drum mags for the marlin, if you can find them

Well this is very interesting indeed. I am going to have to look into a Marlin I think. Besides, everyone and their dog has a 10/22, and I like different, that's part of the reason I got my T/C. Thanks for the tips!

[goosesniper]

Why do you prefer the Marlin over the Ruger? I'm thinking of getting a .22 and have shot Rugers many times, but never a Marlin.

I have shot both as well. I like the barrel on the marlin. More like a bull barrel. Microgrove riffling. Better accuracy. I bought the birch stock with stainless finish. Shoots awesome and I wasn't interested in spending loads of doe on mods. So I went with the marlin sd60


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[Justice]

"...let me try out a firearm..." Few shops, anywhere, will allow that because the firearm instantly becomes a used firearm and they can't sell it as 'new'. You can try a handgun on for size in most shops though. Mind you, most shops don't have a range either.
In any case, for restricted, you have to join a club anyway. By far most shooters tend to go out of their way to help a new shooter. That includes letting you try their firearms.
A Sig 226 isn't a target gun but if a member has one, it's not impolite to ask if you can look at it and that usually leads to an invitation to try it. That pistol has a few advantages though. Al Flaherty's(2066 Dufferin Street) will sell you a .22 conversion kit for $489. Only downside is the mags are friggin' expensive.
As daft as it sounds, in TO, it's easier to shoot a handgun regularly than it is a rifle. For rifles it's Guelph, Cambridge or Oshawa. Which one depends on where you are in TO.
"...maximum budget of about $1000 each..." That's entirely reasonable. You don't have to spend it all at once either.

[LeMat]

Thanks for the feedback! Very useful to know I'm not necessarily making a mistake in purchasing a firearm without shooting it first.

Where do you stand on the .22 issue? A natural place to start, or should I just go find the pistol I like the best?

[DasMauser]

The .22 definitley is the practical first-choice, easy to learn on, and ammo is dirt cheap, just picked one up myself not too long ago.

That being said, my first handgun was a Beretta 92. Always wanted one and was in all the good action movies growing up. I would be tempted to say buy what you want first, and the .22 handgun will come in time, they're cheap enough to just buy whenever