Questions about guns

[MaineShark]

1. All guns are always loaded.

I don't just treat all guns as if they're loaded. If they're not in the safe, they actually are loaded and ready for use. And they don't get unloaded just to go in the safe, either.

A fellow on the Texas CHL forum has a great signature: "I'm scared of unloaded guns. 'Unloaded' guns have killed many people. That's why I make sure all my guns are loaded at all times."

Indeed.  Most ND's* are by "unloaded" firearms.

*ND = Negligent Discharge.  There are no "accidents" with firearms.  If a firearm discharges, it was either intentional, or negligent.

Joe

[porcupine kate]

OK.  Here is my two cents on hand guns.  I agree with the guys on the safety rules and taking a safety class.  Find out if your area has a range where you can rent fire arms to try out.  They often have some one who you can hire to teach you if you don't have any "gun nut" friends to go with.  Try out as many different types of guns, different manufactures, and calibers of guns. When you try out different calibers Also shoot different guns in the same caliber. This will give you a feel for what type of gun is the best for you. 

Also research on the reliability of the firearm before you buy one.  Some are much better than others.  Some manufactures put out very unreliable guns.  You do not want a gun that you can't trust to work properly.

Keep in mind that 9mm luger and 45 ACP are very common calibers and are very easy to find.

Please check local laws before transporting and carrying the firearm anywhere.

The other thing to consider is holsters.  I really does pay to buy a quality holster for your gun.  Bring the gun (in the carrying case please) and a good belt to the store to try them out.  If you don't have a solid belt get one a little longer than normal if you get an inside the waist band holster.  Different holsters will sit and hold the gun differently.  They all will be a little uncomfortable and take time to get used to.  The very uncomfortable never get comfortable so be willing to spend a little more to get something you can wear for long periods of time.  There are both open carry styles and concealed carry styles.  I would recommend getting one of each even if you plan to conceal carry all the time.  Also look into getting magazine holders for your belt.  They make a great counter balance to the gun. 

Extra Magazines or speed loaders are something else you should also buy once you choose a gun.  Most people recommend having 3 to 8 magazines for each hand gun they own.

They have speed loaders and moon clips for revolvers so you can carry extra ammunition on you.

[Lex]

Keep in mind that 9mm luger and 45 ACP are very common calibers and are very easy to find.

.40 S&W is another very common caliber. It's a good compromise between 9mm and .45 ACP.

[MaineShark]

Also look into getting magazine holders for your belt.  They make a great counter balance to the gun.

So is a second gun!

Or, a flashlight.  A good tactical light helps greatly with Rule #4, at night.  Plus, if you blind your attacker with a bright light, you may have the option to disable him without using your gun, which can make your life easier.  Even if you still need to shoot him, well... I'm a very fast draw, but if someone is a danger to you it's likely because he already has a weapon out, and having a few seconds to get yours out may be the difference between life and death.

The other issue, once you are comfortable with how to operate a gun, is to understand what it would take (mentally) to actually pull the trigger.  It doesn't do any good to have one, if you won't use it.  They aren't talismans that ward off evil.  Think about it, and don't carry unless you truly believe you are ready to use it.

Regarding calibers, don't make the mistake of starting light and reaching your "recoil tolerance," then stopping there.  Different calibers have different "feel" to the recoil impulse.  9mm and .40S&W are very "snappy" in their recoil.  While .45ACP exerts more force, it does so over a slightly longer time period, giving it more of a "push" than a "punch."  I find .45 more comfortable to shoot than 9mm, personally.

Joe

[porcupine kate]

My H&K USP compact.45 is much more comfortable to shoot than my 9mm.  I can't conceal carry my .45 with out serious printing so I open carry with that one.  My 9mm is a small carry size that is great for conceal carrying but harder to shoot.  Not only is 9mm snappy but my kahr 9mm has a short barrel so it pulls up more after each shot.
Kate

[grasshopper]

PK, I love the KHAR .9mm    Great concealed carry.


   Hey, when you want to get together to shoot, I'm sute we can get at least a good 10 people some weekend.

[Pat McCotter]

Ruger SP101 .357 Magnum 2-1/4" barrel spurless. OWB carry under shirt/jacket. I practice with .38 Special. When I'm out in the woods I have a CCI snake shot as the first available round. Speedloaders in pockets.

[Bald Eagle]

Comfort uber alles.
If it ain't comfortable just holding it, it sure as crap won't be comfortable when you're trying to propel 800+ foot-pounds of projectile energy out of the front of it when you go for 2-to-the-body-1-to-the-head.

"Grip" (stocks), grip angle, and control location.

After that it's caliber muzzle pressure / barrel length and "stopping power".
357's be they SIG or magnum, have a lot of shock due to the high pressure of the muzzle gasses upon exit of the bullet from the barrel.  Doubling the barrel length halves the gas pressure, which in some instances can account for up to 2/3 of the felt recoil.

You can make up your own mind about stopping power, because decades of gun magazine opinion wars haven't resolved the debate between the "slow & heavy" and "light and fast" camps.  I used to be a dedicated light and fast guy until I read the A-square reloading manual "Any shot you want" and accepted that slow and heavy has a solid demonstrable history.  Slow and heavy is also usually easier to shoot for beginners due to the pressure issue discussed above.

Buy the best you can't afford and accrue some extra debt by buying lots of ammo and practicing "enough".  Dry fire. Dry fire. Dry fire. Dry fire. Dry fire. Dry fire. Dry fire.

Then dry fire some more.

For cheap and reliable, consider a mil-surp CZ52 "Czech canceller" pistol with a few extra mags and a replacement new-manufacture firing pin.  7.62 x 25 ball is DIRT cheap and is available from FMN in hollow point.

[Insurgent]

Comfort uber alles.
If it ain't comfortable just holding it, it sure as crap won't be comfortable when you're trying to propel 800+ foot-pounds of projectile energy out of the front of it when you go for 2-to-the-body-1-to-the-head.

I concur, from personal experience. If a pistol doesn't feel great and "molded right" in your hand, try something else. The caliber is a whole other issue.

[Pat K]

So this probably ain't a good first pistol then?

[Insurgent]

So this probably ain't a good first pistol then?

You're a stinker, PatK!

[KBCraig]

So this probably ain't a good first pistol then?

Oh, it's perfect!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzBvBqF7d3k
[youtube=425,350]lzBvBqF7d3k[/youtube]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVrV-Yjojf8
[youtube=425,350]xVrV-Yjojf8[/youtube]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzBvBqF7d3k
[youtube=425,350]lzBvBqF7d3k[/youtube]

[Lloyd Danforth]

1. All guns are always loaded.

I don't just treat all guns as if they're loaded. If they're not in the safe, they actually are loaded and ready for use. And they don't get unloaded just to go in the safe, either.

A fellow on the Texas CHL forum has a great signature: "I'm scared of unloaded guns. 'Unloaded' guns have killed many people. That's why I make sure all my guns are loaded at all times."

I love it in movies and on TV where they check their gun that they have been carrying, never out of their hands, to make sure it is loaded

[MaineShark]

I love it in movies and on TV where they check their gun that they have been carrying, never out of their hands, to make sure it is loaded

Or when the rack the slide, just before breaking down the door?  Dude, you just ejected the cartridge that was already in the chamber.  You had one in the chamber, right?

Joe

[grasshopper]

I love it in movies and on TV where they check their gun that they have been carrying, never out of their hands, to make sure it is loaded

Or when the rack the slide, just before breaking down the door?  Dud, you just ejected the cartridge that was already in the chamber.  You had one in the chamber, right?

Joe

Ya!  That is cool,  Cla CHINK "OK, you follow me, we'll have the advantage of suprise"!