Quote Originally Posted by Troublco View Post
I'll second the safety class; best to get familiar with firearms before getting really hands-on with them.

After that, I'd say think about what you want to do with it. Self-defense? Recreational shooting? A combination? Then ask around, and make your decision.

Hard to go wrong with a .22 rifle to start with, though. You can always use one. My first was a Ruger 10/22, and I still have it.

My thoughts exactly... I still have that first 10/22 also. A tubular magazine 22 rifle is fun too. A fella can do a lot with a 22 rifle, small game hunting, target shooting, competitions...

After you get a few rounds down range you'll have a better idea of what type of shooting you enjoy and therefore what gun fits your style. Took me a bit of experimentation.