Just purchased my first handgun!

[Mossberg Kid]

On Friday, I pulled the trigger – pun intended – on my first handgun purchase, buying this Smith & Wesson M&P22 LR.

Of course, I have to wait for my seven-day waiting period to expire.

Can hardly wait to get my baby and take 'er to the range and pump a ton of lead down range!

I'm starting off with a .22 cal to work on my marksmanship fundamentals, and to use as backup home self-defense (with hollowpoint rounds) to my Mossberg 500 12 ga, with the expectation I'll eventually improve enough to buy a Glock 23, with 9mm and .40 cal barrels.

I've recently fired a Glock 19 9mm and a S&W 22S, and while I know nearly everyone suggests using a larger caliber, I did SO MUCH BETTER shooting with the .22, it's not even funny. So I figure, when using this as a home defense backup to my Mossberg, something I can actually shoot reasonably well -- with some hollowpoints -- would be better than something I can't fire very accurately or comfortably, at least at this early point in my shooter evolution.

 

[tech24]

Nice! Nothing wrong with a .22 cheap and and a blast to shoot...matter of fact I need to get another one. Let us know how you like the M&P cause thats one of my choices.

 

[gooder]

Congrats on your purchase. I've rented the M&P22 several times. I liked the accuracy and 12 round capacity. From what I've read you could modify the magazine to accept 14 rounds.

 

[CPT Ethanolic]

Given the price of ammo, absolutely NOTHING wrong with a .22. I bought a 9mm because I need a second mortgage to shoot the .45.

 

[Mossberg Kid]

Nice! Nothing wrong with a .22 cheap and and a blast to shoot...matter of fact I need to get another one. Let us know how you like the M&P cause thats one of my choices.

Will do. It can be a tough call. So many good options to pick from.

But that's better than not enough, right?

The new Shield looks good too...

 

[Mossberg Kid]

Given the price of ammo, absolutely NOTHING wrong with a .22. I bought a 9mm because I need a second mortgage to shoot the .45.

Some members have mentioned the importance of practice and shot placement versus just sheer high caliber stopping power; being a noob, that's one thing that's stuck out for me. I figure I'll try to become a decent shot first, then upgrade to something more powerful when I'm a bit more accomplished.

Hey, can't have too many, right?

 

[pwoolford]

Congrats! I bought the Beretta .22 Neos for my boys to shoot and I shoot it more than they do. With the prices of ammo going through the roof shooting a .22 is a great idea.

 

[Mossberg Kid]

Congrats! I bought the Beretta .22 Neos for my boys to shoot and I shoot it more than they do. With the prices of ammo going through the roof shooting a .22 is a great idea.

I thought about that one too when I was shopping at Atlantic Guns. It felt good in my hand, for sure, and seemed to dry fire nicely.

They had PLENTY of good choices. I wanted to get 2 or 3 but FORCED a little Spartan self-denial upon myself.

;-)

Yeah, right.

 

[Zombie_013]

Congrats man! You will always remember your first.

 

[wreckdiver]

Cool. Is the slide steel or aluminum?

 

[Mossberg Kid]

Congrats man! You will always remember your first.

Thanks, Zombie!

This will be my third firearm -- after my Mossberg 500 12 ga and my Marlin 60 .22 rifle -- but my first handgun.

I was hoping to use my grandfather's old revolver but it's not functioning and not worth repairing, so that will be permanently retired, with the S&W taking its place for "active duty."

 

[Mossberg Kid]

Cool. Is the slide steel or aluminum?

S&W says it's aircraft aluminum.

The company didn't say if it was RADAR-EVADING STEALTH aircraft aluminum ...

Probably not.

My over-active imagination just got the best of me there for a moment.

 

[Brew2]

Congrats on the new purchase. Have fun and be safe once u get it.

 

[matt]

I bought the M&P22 about a month ago. My live in girlfriend now refers to it as "My [her] gun".

It's accurate, a blast to shoot (it has around 800 rds on it) and easy to clean and handle. I think it's one of my better purchases in a while!

Enjoy your new gun! Also, joeboboutfitters.com has (last week) extra mags that are hard to find.

 

[Threeband]

...Can hardly wait to get my baby and take 'er to the range and pump a ton of lead down range!

...

That'll be 350,000 rounds of 40 grain bullets.

388,889 if you shoot 36 grain hollowpoints.


Don't lose count, or you'll have to start over.

 

[MauiWowie]

My first was a 22LR Mosquito
Then I became a recoil junkie

Congrats on the purchase!!

 

[fivepointstar]

enjoy!! Congrats on your first buy!

 

[southern71]

Very sound purchase. You could have done a lot worse but I doubt you could have done much better. Good looking .22 and it will provide countless hours of plinking fun.

 

[Mossberg Kid]

That'll be 350,000 rounds of 40 grain bullets.

388,889 if you shoot 36 grain hollowpoints.


Don't lose count, or you'll have to start over.

Ha ha ha!

LOVE that!

Hopefully, I WILL lose count.

 

[Mossberg Kid]

Thanks for all the positive feedback, everybody.

It's encouraging and reassuring.

I'll definitely keep you all posted on how my first shooting goes and how much I like it.

This 7-day waiting period is getting to me... I'm eager to get it on already!