Self-Defense Zone: Crime Prevention & Self-Defense Forums

17poundr · Newbie Joined: 09 Oct 2005 Posts: 3 Location: Finland

Hello, I live in Finland, and although I received extencive firearms training in my national service day's, I will only be eligble for my first firearm licence next summer.

Right now, I have to rent handguns at my shooting club.

I will be allowed a 22calibre handgun for my first firearm, and I wondered if anybody here would be able to give a good pointer.

Firstly, the pistol cannot be a short one. It has to be of a certain length.

So Walthers extended 22cal is allowed, but it's more stylish looking shorter one is not allowed.

Rugers are allowed. And so is the Smith and Wesson 22.

I have not looked into revolvers. For some reason the idea of a 22cal revolver seems odd to me, although I enjoy shooting the Colt Python at the club very much.

Now, I have heard this and that from vendor to vendor, I was going to put an order onto the Beretta neos, but the Finnish firearms board didnt let it into the country, something about a component in the firing mechanism... Rolling Eyes

I have heard Ruger many times, but to be honest the one's I have shot at the club seemed stiff and too heavy.

I kind of liked the Beretta, but I hear that it is difficult to get as a first weapon, I suppose it looks too much like the 9mm....???

I liked the walther, it looks sporty so the somewhat paranoid firearms board cannot get hysterical about my use of it, (I do not have any criminal record, and if I lived in the countryside, I would have a long barrelled firearm by now), but living in helsinki, and the sad fact that the underworld here uses primarily 22cal weapons, has made things a bit tedious for a man who has shot assault guns, light mg's, FN's, sniper rifles, Shotguns and more!

Somebody said that the reason that the ruger's were prone to having the spent case jam instead of ejecting, and why the action was so heavy, was that the guy's in the club didnt clean them...

Why the Walther and Beretta 22cal pistols operated without a problem, I cannot say...

Ofcourse having had specialist training in live firing exercises in an urban enviroment with FN 9mm's, I would prefer to have a Sig-Sauer 226, or perhaps a Colt Python, the two hanguns that I have fired that I liked the most.

Glock wasnt to my liking, a hefty long barrelled 357 S&W was just too heavy on the barrell, most 9mm were good enough, but the SIG was best, and that's what I would by.
Alas it has to be a 22cal. So, for target practice, and to think that this will be my sole gun for the next couple of years or so, which one would you get??? Question

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A firearm is a tool which is best used when one does not need to fire it at anybody.

avdrummerboy · Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2007 10:00 pm Post subject:

I don't have an opinion on any of those that you mentioned but that is kinda sad that in Finland you have to stick to long barrel 22 cal handguns especially after serving for them in their ARMED forces.
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PK
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hamour · Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 10:53 am Post subject:

A quality K or N frame Smith & Wesson in .357 mag. is hard to beat for what you describe. 6" bbl if target practice is your main interest. You can shoot 38 specials or .357 mag. When reloaded using scrounged lead and cases, you can get the 38's almost to 22 rimfire cost. With the .357 you can hunt big game or defend yourself. It lacks the # of rounds a good semi auto gives but makes up for this with the power available in each round.