The Firearms Thread

[gemini2281]

My gun collection has been thinned to almost nothing due to a job layoff, move, divorce, etc.

Currently I have:

Ruger Blackhawk .357 Mag
Mossberg 500 12ga
Remington 1100 12ga
Thompson Center Renegade .50cal

 

[DirtyHarry]

Are these usually allowed at ranges for target practice? Thanks for the response

Depends on the range, but even here in CA one can usually shoot a 00 load in an indoor pistol range. My local indoor ranges tend to frown on birdshot due to a perception of ricochet issues, but slugs and buck are usually OK. Outdoor ranges are even more open to ammo types (which is one of the nifty things about the shotgun - vast versatility).

I currently am down to my Ruger mini-14. That's it.

But at one time I had a 92FS (looking to re-acquire this one, since I still own several hi-cap mags), a .44 Vaquero (that I got because I bought a used western holster that actually fit me... yeah, those were in the days when I could lay down $300 to fill a $5 flea-market purchase), a Mossberg 500 (Big-5 special), a tricked out 10-22 with stupid scope, floating barrel in custom stock, trigger mod, etc. etc. (total "toy" gun; great for sniping used - and sometimes full, and yes I'm aware that's alcohol abuse - beer cans while on camping trips), and a Springfield M1A1.

Sold most of them when I got "dot-bombed" 10 years ago; it's taken me that long to get back up to my salary level of 2000 and start buying again.

Inspector (no; I have NOT owned a mod. 29... but I want one... now that they're practically collector's items... saw a brace of AutoMags a couple years ago for a mere $1900... not going there...) Callahan

 

[Hoosier]

Are these usually allowed at ranges for target practice? Thanks for the response

As noted above, usually. It typically means ammo restrictions, but that is where a 12ga shines. Outstanding ammo selections abound.

I would suggest practice at a local Izaak Walton League if they have a beginners trap night. I've done it with a pump and had a good laugh when the guys with $5k trap guns got out shot by my beatup old Mossburg 500.

If you are really interested in practice, send me a PM with the name of the town/city where you would prefer to practice & I can look up ranges for you. Or you can do so yourself at the NRA site & IWLA site. The local Boy Scouts might have some ranges near you too, but they usually have restrictions on who can enter those.

Call the ranges before you go to get a once over on their gun & ammo restrictions. Never spend time at a range that makes you uncomfortable. Know the proper handling techniques before touching off that first round. I have encountered too many students that were scared of shotguns because they did not know the right way to hold it before they shot it the first time. It takes longer to train the fear out than it does to teach the right way to hold the gun so it does not "bite" the shooter.

 

[Mestra]

I am a Glock Certified Armorer. I received the certification while i was in the military and my unit was testing the Glocks. I swear by them and will never own another hand gun this is my personal opinion and i am very biased.

My collection includes
a G19 (9mm Compact) G21 (45 ACP Full Size) G23 (40 S&W Compact) G33 (.357 SIG) G38 (45 GAP Compact)

Most have the tritium sights which is a must have imo.

The G38 was actually what i carried when working for the local PD. bought the rest for collectors purposes. will eventually get one of every model except for the 18

Of all of them the 21 is my favorite the 38 is 2nd i have never shot the 33 or the 19 (but i have shot a 19) the 23 just is eeh

next will be a G39 i want something in 45 sub compact and the GAP grip and clips fit my hands better

 

[ZERO]

Great Thread....

 

[DirtyHarry]

I am a Glock Certified Armorer. I received the certification while i was in the military and my unit was testing the Glocks. I swear by them and will never own another hand gun this is my personal opinion and i am very biased.

Glock owners == Mac owners.

(in terms of brand loyalty, evangelism, etc... not saying all Glockers own Macs or vice-versa... 'tho that would be cool...)

-Harry Callahan

 

[bestthingever]

I woud love to get some advice from some of you seasoned gun owners. I am a women, and I feel that sometime in the near future I would like to purchase a handgun for personal protection. My husband owns a .357 that is WAY too heavy for me to use effectively. A wobbly wrist (from the sheer weight of his gun) does nothing to make me look menacing to a would-be attacker, lol.
Someone once suggested that I would probably do best with something like a .22
Whatever I get, it needs to be small. I intend to be properly trained in how to use it, btw.
What would you suggest, what should I expect to spend, and where do I go to buy it ? Do I buy new or used ?
*******************************************************
"When seconds count, the cops are only minutes away"

 

[ZERO]

Hi bestthingever,

My wife had a similar experience as she was intimidated by handguns period and would refuse to go to the range with me.

She was introduced a few years before we met to large caliber handguns (.357mag-.44mag) heavy and ergonomically uncomfortable for her.

I explained to her that 1. The Firearm has to fit her hand comfortably. 2. She needs a caliber that she can control (recoil). I also asked her if the firearm was something she wanted to CCW (carry concealed weapon) or just a range pistol. She wanted a dual duty firearm(CCW, Range).

Here is a partial list of semi auto pistols that we tested:

• Sig Sauer p239
  [*]Kahr K9
  [*]Glock 19
  [*]Walther PPK
  [*]Sig-Sauer P232

I actually had her first shoot my revolver GP100 with 38. Special ammo just to get her reintroduced to firearms, its heavy but recoil is minimal...Pure Butter…

Here is a list of “her” Pro’s and Cons from each pistol tested:

>Sig Sauer p239: Caliber 9mm = Pro: Loves the thin profile, Sights, ergos, trigger feel. Cons: Price, Heavy, Holds 8 rounds without Magazine extender.

>Kahr K9: Caliber 9mm= Pro: Loves the thin profile and ergos, compact, natural point of aim, Cons: DAO, Price and she did not like the stock sights.

>Glock 19: Caliber 9mm=Pro: Price, Weight, Holds 15+rounds. Cons: Awkward thick grip, plastic sights, trigger feel, she did not like a striker type firearm.

>Walther PPK: Caliber .380 ACP=Pro: Sexy looks Cons: She did not have fun firing this one due to recoil and muzzle flip. She said James Bond can keep it..LOL

>Sig-Sauer P232: Caliber .380 ACP=Pro: Ergos, weight. Cons: price, recoil, caliber and magazine release style.


Ultimately she picked the Kahr K-9 for it’s size, weight, caliber and is able to CCW comfortably.

I buy new and pre-loved firearms, if you find a model that you have decided on but is a bit pricey new, search local Gun Stores for consignments, local Gun shows etc. I highly recommend that you take a self defense class first and then go to a local firing range with your husband and rent and fire several firearms before purchase. Also take into consideration the firearms main duty? Is it Range, CCW? If just range duty, I have a completely different list..

I told my wife for home defense grab my Remington 870 SG, the simple racking sound will put fear in most would be intruders….

Good Luck and keep us posted!

Just my 2 cents…..

 

[Mestra]

Glock owners == Mac owners.

(in terms of brand loyalty, evangelism, etc... not saying all Glockers own Macs or vice-versa... 'tho that would be cool...)

-Harry Callahan

I hate Mac's but i do agree and understand what you are saying. I just like glock's after seeing what tests they put them through and the durability of them i have no reason to own anything else (i know i know mac mentality lol)

 

[FadedLine]

My little collection so far.



-Kimber Custom TLE II
-Russian SKS
-Benelli Nova pump
-Ruger Mini 14
-Remington 700 w/leopold

 

[supernicguy]

these are mine as of now, as soon as i turn 21(3months) im getting a handgun. top one is a Mossberg .22LR plinkster semi auto and the bottom one is a Mosin Nagant M44 7.62x54R bolt action

 

[Hoosier]

I woud love to get some advice from some of you seasoned gun owners. I am a women, and I feel that sometime in the near future I would like to purchase a handgun for personal protection. My husband owns a .357 that is WAY too heavy for me to use effectively. A wobbly wrist (from the sheer weight of his gun) does nothing to make me look menacing to a would-be attacker, lol.
Someone once suggested that I would probably do best with something like a .22
Whatever I get, it needs to be small. I intend to be properly trained in how to use it, btw.
What would you suggest, what should I expect to spend, and where do I go to buy it ? Do I buy new or used ?
*******************************************************
"When seconds count, the cops are only minutes away"

ZERO has some good suggestions and I would lean more towards the Sig's even with the expense as they have many features that make the whole arm nicer to use, but all of them are good choices.

You may also want to look at the Lady Smiths. They are lightweight, 5 shot revolvers in .38 special. I like the trigger pull feeling for these over the semi-autos particularly for newer shooters. (They do not fit my hands worth a bean, but I have hands that have been compared to a polar bear's paws.) Revolvers have the simplest safety, they only fire when you pull the trigger. I am partial to Smith revolvers though, so I may be biased.

I usually find it easier to train new shooters on revolvers because there is no chance that a weak hold will cause a feeding malfunction, the controls are the simplest, and I've never met anyone that did not have the hand strength to reload and chamber a new round.

The best thing you can do is visit a gun show and hold a few models. Do not listen to anyone as to what they suggest for you, at first, just feel. Does it fit? Can you reach all the controls? Are the sights easy to acquire? Does the weight feel comfortable? Remember it will weigh more loaded. Write down any models you believe met these criteria. Then look again later at just the models on your list.

Your wobbly hold can be eliminated with a little training.

 

[bestthingever]

Hi bestthingever,

My wife had a similar experience as she was intimidated by handguns period and would refuse to go to the range with me.

She was introduced a few years before we met to large caliber handguns (.357mag-.44mag) heavy and ergonomically uncomfortable for her.

I explained to her that 1. The Firearm has to fit her hand comfortably. 2. She needs a caliber that she can control (recoil). I also asked her if the firearm was something she wanted to CCW (carry concealed weapon) or just a range pistol. She wanted a dual duty firearm(CCW, Range).

Here is a partial list of semi auto pistols that we tested:

• Sig Sauer p239
  [*]Kahr K9
  [*]Glock 19
  [*]Walther PPK
  [*]Sig-Sauer P232

I actually had her first shoot my revolver GP100 with 38. Special ammo just to get her reintroduced to firearms, its heavy but recoil is minimal...Pure Butter…

Here is a list of “her” Pro’s and Cons from each pistol tested:

>Sig Sauer p239: Caliber 9mm = Pro: Loves the thin profile, Sights, ergos, trigger feel. Cons: Price, Heavy, Holds 8 rounds without Magazine extender.

>Kahr K9: Caliber 9mm= Pro: Loves the thin profile and ergos, compact, natural point of aim, Cons: DAO, Price and she did not like the stock sights.

>Glock 19: Caliber 9mm=Pro: Price, Weight, Holds 15+rounds. Cons: Awkward thick grip, plastic sights, trigger feel, she did not like a striker type firearm.

>Walther PPK: Caliber .380 ACP=Pro: Sexy looks Cons: She did not have fun firing this one due to recoil and muzzle flip. She said James Bond can keep it..LOL

>Sig-Sauer P232: Caliber .380 ACP=Pro: Ergos, weight. Cons: price, recoil, caliber and magazine release style.


Ultimately she picked the Kahr K-9 for it’s size, weight, caliber and is able to CCW comfortably.

I buy new and pre-loved firearms, if you find a model that you have decided on but is a bit pricey new, search local Gun Stores for consignments, local Gun shows etc. I highly recommend that you take a self defense class first and then go to a local firing range with your husband and rent and fire several firearms before purchase. Also take into consideration the firearms main duty? Is it Range, CCW? If just range duty, I have a completely different list..

I told my wife for home defense grab my Remington 870 SG, the simple racking sound will put fear in most would be intruders….

Good Luck and keep us posted!

Just my 2 cents…..

Wow, Zero ! Thanks for taking your time to post all this. This gives me some good information to think about...
By 'range' I assume you're talking about stuff like target shooting (for fun), etc. Nope, I want CCW. Well, what I really want is to shoot the bad guy's legs out from under him if he even THINKS of home invasion or similar. I find the older I get, (and the state of the world that we find ourselves in)the more fearful I'm becoming. Not smart to get panicky, of course, and I'm not doing that. I just want to feel a little more secure.

Recoil will be an issue for me, I already know.But hey, I want sexy too !

Going to a gun show is a good idea, so that I can see & compare different models. The city I live in has them several times a year, I think, so that should be easy enough.

Don't know what a Remington 870 SG is...SG = shotgun ? I've had ppl recommend those to me as well. Yes, I can see where hearing the sound of any firearm preparing to unload on you could make someone think twice !

 

[bestthingever]

ZERO has some good suggestions and I would lean more towards the Sig's even with the expense as they have many features that make the whole arm nicer to use, but all of them are good choices.

You may also want to look at the Lady Smiths. They are lightweight, 5 shot revolvers in .38 special. I like the trigger pull feeling for these over the semi-autos particularly for newer shooters. (They do not fit my hands worth a bean, but I have hands that have been compared to a polar bear's paws.) Revolvers have the simplest safety, they only fire when you pull the trigger. I am partial to Smith revolvers though, so I may be biased.

I usually find it easier to train new shooters on revolvers because there is no chance that a weak hold will cause a feeding malfunction, the controls are the simplest, and I've never met anyone that did not have the hand strength to reload and chamber a new round.

The best thing you can do is visit a gun show and hold a few models. Do not listen to anyone as to what they suggest for you, at first, just feel. Does it fit? Can you reach all the controls? Are the sights easy to acquire? Does the weight feel comfortable? Remember it will weigh more loaded. Write down any models you believe met these criteria. Then look again later at just the models on your list.

Your wobbly hold can be eliminated with a little training.

Good suggestions, Hoosier. The Lady Smiths sound interesting, and I'll be sure to keep an eye out for those.
Your advice seems very sound to me, especially regarding what feels right.

 

[ZERO]

Wow, Zero ! Thanks for taking your time to post all this. This gives me some good information to think about...
By 'range' I assume you're talking about stuff like target shooting (for fun), etc. Nope, I want CCW. Well, what I really want is to shoot the bad guy's legs out from under him if he even THINKS of home invasion or similar. I find the older I get, (and the state of the world that we find ourselves in)the more fearful I'm becoming. Not smart to get panicky, of course, and I'm not doing that. I just want to feel a little more secure.

When friends ask my wife what she would do if someone broke into our house while she was alone? She says:

"If you want to dance I will bring the band"

Recoil will be an issue for me, I already know.But hey, I want sexy too !

Going to a gun show is a good idea, so that I can see & compare different models. The city I live in has them several times a year, I think, so that should be easy enough.

Don't know what a Remington 870 SG is...SG = shotgun ? I've had ppl recommend those to me as well. Yes, I can see where hearing the sound of any firearm preparing to unload on you could make someone think twice !

Correct.. IMO, A Remington 870 is a perfect Home defense 12 gauge shotgun.... here is our home security detail...

..........Good Luck in your search!

 

[ZERO]

Great suggestions Hoosier! I totally forgot about the Lady Smiths...

As you can tell I am more of a pistol shooter than a wheel man...

 

[DirtyHarry]

Bestthingever... first and foremost:

I absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your av (long time Siamese "slave" here) My fiance even giggled over it.

Zero and Hoosier said it all, really - find what "fits" you best, and then train, train, train.

For in-home defense, nothing beats a shotty for versatility, ease of use, and intimidation factor. For CCW, you probably want at least a 9mm in auto or .38 spl in wheel. While smaller calibers may be more "comfortable" at the range, they'll often lack the punch needed when the situation become serious.

(long, multi-threaded and multi-paged flame-filled technical discussion/argument of bullet types, powder loads, and calibers deleted to avoid glazed eyeballs and general disgust at the geekishness of gun-geeks like me)

While there are Learned Article after Learned Article published all across the media, discussing a myriad of parameters (size/shape of firearm, expense, ergonomics, caliber, action type, etc. etc.) for CCW - you can find a library's worth of pages of them - you quickly learn that they all tend towards the same conclusion:

Try a bunch of them, and go with what works for YOU.

Don't be afraid to experiment, and don't take anyone's advice as True Gospel. This is a very subjective choice you are making; give yourself plenty of options.

-Inspector 2211

 

[bestthingever]

Bestthingever... first and foremost:

I absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your av (long time Siamese "slave" here) My fiance even giggled over it.

Zero and Hoosier said it all, really - find what "fits" you best, and then train, train, train.

For in-home defense, nothing beats a shotty for versatility, ease of use, and intimidation factor. For CCW, you probably want at least a 9mm in auto or .38 spl in wheel. While smaller calibers may be more "comfortable" at the range, they'll often lack the punch needed when the situation become serious.

(long, multi-threaded and multi-paged flame-filled technical discussion/argument of bullet types, powder loads, and calibers deleted to avoid glazed eyeballs and general disgust at the geekishness of gun-geeks like me)

While there are Learned Article after Learned Article published all across the media, discussing a myriad of parameters (size/shape of firearm, expense, ergonomics, caliber, action type, etc. etc.) for CCW - you can find a library's worth of pages of them - you quickly learn that they all tend towards the same conclusion:

Try a bunch of them, and go with what works for YOU.

Don't be afraid to experiment, and don't take anyone's advice as True Gospel. This is a very subjective choice you are making; give yourself plenty of options.

-Inspector 2211

Thanks, Inspector ! Glad you like my avatar; while I love all kinds of cats, there is something special about the Siamese, isn't there ? If I could, I'd have a bunch of 'em.
Plus, the look on his face reminds me of how I feel when the mailman brings me a package with new juice enclosed, lol.

Everyone on this thread has been so helpful ! Don't you love the looks of Zero's Remington SG ? I want one of those, lol !

 

[NCC]

I don't have a lot of surplus cash. I have thought how gratifying it would be to puchase a cheap handgun, dismantle it to its smallest components, smash them to hell with a sledge hammer, and then toss those fragmented bits into the bay. It would make me feel good.

Naturally, I'd prefer to do that with some state of the art semi-automatic modified to full auto. But, that's too expensive for a demonstration.

 

[ZERO]

Lighten up Francis......