hey there fellers....i`ve already bored you to tears about how restrictive our gun laws are here so i wont put you through it again, but when my club probation is up in 6 months(government requirement) i will be able to buy 2 handguns...1 air pistol OR 1 .22 plus 1 centrefire pistol. you blokes will know a heap more about handguns than i ever will so what would you reccomend that i get??? i wont bother with the airpistol, just a .22 and a centrefire...the regulations here state that a revolver must have a minimum barrel length of 4 inches and a pistol barrel must be at least 4 and 3/4 inches...i know where i can get a secondhand ruger mark 2 .22 for $800 (i told you they were expensive here) but are they any good to learn with??...i`ll take any advice you all want to give as i`ve never had much to do with short guns before (you got to remember i live in a dictatorship). after i`ve been a member for 12 months i can legally buy more, there doesnt seem to be any restriction on how many i can have as long as i shoot a few disciplines.

That Ruger is a great gun to learn on. Another great choice would be a Browning Buckmark. As far as a centerfire handgun what will you be using it for? A hunting handgun or for target shooting? Its hard to beat a 44 mag Ruger SuperRedhawk for hunting, or maybe a Thompson Center Encore in just about any Caliber you want, and a 1911 style Colt or Springfield for target/competition shooting.

thanks curt...i`ll take your advice on the .22...as for the centrefire one..we are`nt allowed to "LEGALLY" use them for anything except punching holes in paper targets i know the 1911, someone i know has one, his dad brought it back from vietnam for him in the 70`s. ...also while i`m here...silencers have been banned here since ~99 but hypothetically speaking if someone was to have one but they couldnt thread their barrel how do you think they could attach it? just for the seke of talking, lets say it`s got a half inch unf thread.(1/2x28 tpi) all hypothetical of course.

You know, I can't tell you about the silencer, but these guys probably can.
http://concealedcarryforum.com/forum/
http://specialtypistols.infopop.cc/eve/forums
http://1911talk.com/forum/

Hello Dan and welcome, I know you fellows over there got some crappy things going on, I spend alot of time overseas and work with several fellows from down under, Brisbane, up around Darwin, Melbourne. Might say just all over there. Get to talk all about shootin' irons with them.

As to your hypo question, just about impossible to do and if hypo it was done trying to get a 1911 to function right is kinda pain to do. I know I do alot with them as I am a Class 3 dealer and aspiring gunsmith. I will try to answer anything you got just give a shout as I understand a small amount of all the international gun laws some with my travel and folks I work with everywhere.

Have a good one

Greg T.