Thinking about buying my first hand gun, any suggestions?

[Enfuego]

Yeah, I just finished up a shooting course where you would set your gun up with different types of jams and you have to clear them, reload and fire. When someone is breaking down your front door isn't when you want to be flipping through the owner's manual.

Most handguns break down into 5 or 6 pieces, so there's really no reason for someone to half-ass clean their gun. If you're depending on the gun to possibly save your life, why wouldn't a person take the time to do it right?

Everybody has different hand sizes and preferences. You need to make sure the gun fits your hand first of all. I've seen people with guns they couldn't handle, not much point really.

Probably one of the best guns I ever owned was a SW 686. It shot either .38's or .357's. That thing was accurate as hell. The drawback was it was also very heavy and it only carried 6 rounds.

I love my .45 though, as that's what I used in the military. The Marine Corps was just starting the switch over to the Beretta 9mm when I was getting out.

I didn't like that 92F at all.

I'd say a shotgun is his best bet. You can hit a damn target pretty easy especially if you aren't familiar with weapons. Also, if I'm a bad guy and I hear the shotgun get racked, it would intimidate me pretty bad.

 

[texansfan]

what should I be expecting to pay? and how easily is it to go get one?

Where do you live? Here in Texas, after the doctor slaps your ass after being born, you're automatically given a gun.

The best thing is to go to a firearms dealer and put your hands on different guns to see what's comfortable in your hand. I would look into a nice SW revolver. They are very easy to shoot and are very accurate. You're not going to get a jam either.

 

[texansfan]

what should I be expecting to pay? and how easily is it to go get one?

dup

 

[texansfan]

They don't look gangster.

They do if you hold them up sideways at eye level. @)

 

[CujoLatte]

looking into buying my first gun, not looking for anything too crazy, just something thats easy to shoot and can fit inside a drawer or security box. anyone have any suggestions, have not shot a gun in quite some time

Yea don't buy it! Odds are it will kill you or someone you love before it kills anyone else.... Fact............

 

[wolfie_cr]

I like Taurus....they have a lifetime warranty and the quality is very very good. I have the clone of the beretta 92F and if it has jammed 2 times in over 2k rounds over 12 years....it would be a lot

The problem with a shotgun....its that I hope there is nothing /noone nearby that you also end up hitting

I really dislike the spray-pray technique that magazines with 15 rounds encourage.....realistically if you have fired 5 rounds...and the shooting is still ongoing .....the problem is BIG BIG (few people will end up in such a megamess situation while defending a home )

 

[texansfan]

Yea don't buy it! Odds are it will kill you or someone you love before it kills anyone else.... Fact............

Is he going to be hijacking banks?

 

[texansfan]

Yea don't buy it! Odds are it will kill you or someone you love before it kills anyone else.... Fact............

Is he going to be hijacking banks?

 

[jb777]

You'll shoot your eye out kid...

 

[texansfan]

All joking aside, for home protection a person would be VERY well served into looking into pepper spray.

Who wants to get close enough to use it? I've used pepper spray a number of times, it doesn't always work. Same with a taser. A couple of .45's to the chest usually works well.

 

[texansfan]

I wouldn't use slugs in a shotgun for home use. On the streets though, different story. Trust me, most burglars would prefer the house empty. If you happen to be home, and they hear that shotgun racking, I'm betting most will leave immediately.

 

[wolfie_cr]

I like tasers because....if I catch a common thief in my house....who is not armed.....I can fire the taser once....then let him recover a bit and say "will you learn your lesson???? you are still alive...BUT JUST IN CASE IT WASNT CLEAR THE FIRST TIME...." and then I let go a second charge

 

[CujoLatte]

Quick question ...... How many of you guys have had your house burglarized by someone with a gun?? My guess is a big fat "0" I have a friend who's nephew is now a bed ridden paraplegic because when he was 11 and over his house he found his gun and almost blew his own head off.................... Oh yea the gun was not loaded the kid looked for, and found the bullets

 

[wolfie_cr]

Quick question ...... How many of you guys have had your house burglarized by someone with a gun?? My guess is a big fat "0" I have a friend who's nephew is now a bed ridden paraplegic because when he was 11 and over his house he found his gun and almost blew his own head off.................... Oh yea the gun was not loaded the kid looked for, and found the bullets

Raises hand. Attempted knife assault......

What you describe is of course a tragedy but you can't expect me to surrender the LEGAL defense of MY life just because someone else failed to secure his weapon.

The key is education, both to the gun owner and to anyone who lives in the same household. Had the father (I am assuming he didnt) properly thought the kid of the security measures/risks/how to handle a gun and remove all aura of 'forbidden' from it, chances are the accident wouldn't have happened.

 

[Enfuego]

Quick question ...... How many of you guys have had your house burglarized by someone with a gun?? My guess is a big fat "0" I have a friend who's nephew is now a bed ridden paraplegic because when he was 11 and over his house he found his gun and almost blew his own head off.................... Oh yea the gun was not loaded the kid looked for, and found the bullets

So obviously the gun and rounds were not locked up and taken care of? That's too bad.

 

[texansfan]

Quick question ...... How many of you guys have had your house burglarized by someone with a gun?? My guess is a big fat "0" I have a friend who's nephew is now a bed ridden paraplegic because when he was 11 and over his house he found his gun and almost blew his own head off.................... Oh yea the gun was not loaded the kid looked for, and found the bullets

As I mentioned earlier, most burglars prefer an empty house. As far as the kid who shot himself, the gun isn't to blame, the owner of the gun is. It's the responsibility of the gun owner to make sure things like that don't happen.

I've known quite a few people who have shot and killed a burglary, hell, a fellow officer just killed one about two nights ago. I'd rather have one than not.

 

[douglas]

I keep a 25 in my wife's purse .............

 

[gmenknicks]

I own the Taurus Millenium Pro and have put over a 1000 rounds through it and I love it..Good maintenance will prevent any problems. I also heard they are cheap but definitely have not experienced that.

Something to consider about home protection is that unless you are trained in CQB you are not going to be nearly as effective with a pistol as you may think. I know we are all badasses here but just getting yourself and your weapon in position to fire under a high stress situation is very difficult. Thats why I say the Mossberg for home protection. Even if you are in a complete panic and shoot into the ground, the sound a shotgun makes in an enclosed area would be enough to make both you and the intruder mess your pants.

 

[jesse1111]

Texasfan-do you have any insight on the beretta px4 storm?

 

[CujoLatte]

I understand it is the gun owners job to secure his weapon and ammo. The problem is all people don't do what they are suppose to do. Then some innocent person gets killed.........