Buying a gun

[DznyFan]

THANK YOU FOR ALL THE GREAT ADVICE!!!

Good luck - keep us posted.

 

[Hercules10]

If you get the JUDGE let me know how you like it. We've been looking at that one for awhile now, but I think a rifle will be next on our gun purchase list.

I have one and love it. LOUD with the 3" shot shells but overall another great revolver from Taurus.

Also if anyone has done all the research and safety training, then a gun show is the best place to pick up bargains. Usually dealers will be there also. Crap-shoot as to whether you get the best deal because sometimes they go fast and sometimes you get the best deal on the last day of the show.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

I know for a fact that the OP was asking about the best gun.

To the op, a 9mm is a good idea, but most Law Enforcement recommends a shotgun of some type loaded with bird shot. I called my neighbor for his recommendations--he's a 20+ year Law Enforcement veteran.

With all due respect to your friend in law enforcement, as far as home protection, I'd suggest loading your shotgun with something a little more lethal than birdshot. Yes, it can kill at close range, but there's a chance that a home intruder could also survive, opening a legal can of worms, depending on which state you live in. Something I learned in my concealed weapons class, if you're serious enough about pulling a gun on another human being in self defense, make sure you shoot to kill, not maim or injure.

 

[xoprincessmomxo]

With all due respect to your friend in law enforcement, as far as home protection, I'd suggest loading your shotgun with something a little more lethal than birdshot. Yes, it can kill at close range, but there's a chance that a home intruder could also survive, opening a legal can of worms, depending on which state you live in. Something I learned in my concealed weapons class, if you're serious enough about pulling a gun on another human being in self defense, make sure you shoot to kill, not maim or injure.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Hey, if you're gonna be a bear...be a Grizzly. Otherwise, save your guns for the shooting range and invest in a big dog and a good burglar alarm.

 

[xoprincessmomxo]

Hey, if you're gonna be a bear...be a Grizzly. Otherwise, save your guns for the shooting range and invest in a big dog and a good burglar alarm.

I have a miniature pinscher. Are they known as good guard dogs???

 

[Hercules10]

I have a miniature pinscher. Are they known as good guard dogs???

Honestly? Yes. With bad guys it's not the size of the dog but it's bark. Anything that will attract unwanted attention and alert others is a good guard dog. And as any road lizard will tell you...it's those little ankle-biters you really gotta worry about!

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

I have a miniature pinscher. Are they known as good guard dogs???

Hear tell, they don't come any meaner!!

 

[cruellababy]

I have found this thread very interesting. I have always been interested in owning a gun; but I'll have to wait till my kids are grown/gone. The "what if" makes me too nervous to even think about it while my kids are small. But, someday I'd like to have a gun and learn to shoot it well.

 

[Lil' Grumpy]

...we have the unfor. luck..of having a very aggressive neighbor
who move in a house..next door to our 20 acreas. [recreational
property ]. currently he is facing 5 charges...after he fired a
gun..., intending to scare us [ me & my hunting buddy] but
instead of us, it was the game warden.

i have never purchsed a weapon for self defense until now.
not only this person exhibited mental illness, he has many
past charges..from recieving, vandalism, dwi, disorderly &
fighting..so on & so on. alot of his behaviors are very similar
to those we see using crack.

we know from work, the more any person using/abusing etoh &
crack...,we can expect loss of self control and poor judgments.

shooting & killin another..is something....i hope i never have to
do. but i believe....in the statments ted nugent told. i rather
had the mother, of 2 kids...to killed her intruder instead her
being raped & killed.

...we have 2 concerns, one is confronting him on our property
and shooting us. the second, him hiring his drug buddies to
ambush us....* note we have caught them several times...
following & waiting.

based on our needs to have protection, here what we purchased,

...the ruger lcp, . 380. it holds 6 shells in a clip, that pops in.
cocked the gun..& your ready to aim & fire. * the other benefit is
for my wife..it's light as a toy. she does "call" for nuclear med.

addressing the ambush issue. hi-point, makes a model 995 carbine.
very light where i can shot it with one hand, and it will fit right
besides me...on the front seat. magazine capacity...is 10 cartridges-
9mm shells.

* its too bad, bear traps..are illegal. well we do have a coyote problem,
..and this person..has stolen /destroy..a brand new field camera,
...2 hunting blinds, ladder stands..so forth, & so forth.

our response..were to have had the game warden & the state's investigator
over.

what kind of person ...are we setting limits with?...he put his locks on
my gate.

* i like the having the "clips", like the .380.....might not be as powerful,
but....i think....an intruder....hearing...the shots..over & over..is going
to bolt.

any person..breaking into my residence....while my family there, i'm not
asking...why?...i 'm getting the my 12 gauge semi..with deer slugs.

while this thought..is scary,...and life is so precious.....it also a reality,
that intruders....do not share any of this..& will do harm... even over
my dead body. so i understand...why..the classes are teaching shoot
to kill.

 

[teacups]

...we have the unfor. luck..of having a very aggressive neighbor
who move in a house..next door to our 20 acreas. [recreational
property ]. currently he is facing 5 charges...after he fired a
gun..., intending to scare us [ me & my hunting buddy] but
instead of us, it was the game warden.

i have never purchsed a weapon for self defense until now.
not only this person exhibited mental illness, he has many
past charges..from recieving, vandalism, dwi, disorderly &
fighting..so on & so on. alot of his behaviors are very similar
to those we see using crack.

we know from work, the more any person using/abusing etoh &
crack...,we can expect loss of self control and poor judgments.

shooting & killin another..is something....i hope i never have to
do. but i believe....in the statments ted nugent told. i rather
had the mother, of 2 kids...to killed her intruder instead her
being raped & killed.

...we have 2 concerns, one is confronting him on our property
and shooting us. the second, him hiring his drug buddies to
ambush us....* note we have caught them several times...
following & waiting.

based on our needs to have protection, here what we purchased,

...the ruger lcp, . 380. it holds 6 shells in a clip, that pops in.
cocked the gun..& your ready to aim & fire. * the other benefit is
for my wife..it's light as a toy. she does "call" for nuclear med.

addressing the ambush issue. hi-point, makes a model 995 carbine.
very light where i can shot it with one hand, and it will fit right
besides me...on the front seat. magazine capacity...is 10 cartridges-
9mm shells.

* its too bad, bear traps..are illegal. well we do have a coyote problem,
..and this person..has stolen /destroy..a brand new field camera,
...2 hunting blinds, ladder stands..so forth, & so forth.

our response..were to have had the game warden & the state's investigator
over.

what kind of person ...are we setting limits with?...he put his locks on
my gate.

* i like the having the "clips", like the .380.....might not be as powerful,
but....i think....an intruder....hearing...the shots..over & over..is going
to bolt.

any person..breaking into my residence....while my family there, i'm not
asking...why?...i 'm getting the my 12 gauge semi..with deer slugs.

while this thought..is scary,...and life is so precious.....it also a reality,
that intruders....do not share any of this..& will do harm... even over
my dead body. so i understand...why..the classes are teaching shoot
to kill.

Your neighbor sounds horrible!
We have a bad one too... but he's a lawyer. Not all that different.... just a bigger mouth.

 

[Lil' Grumpy]

oh, we have...a very good watch dog, a jack russell.....he only

..weighs..about...20 lbs, but 15 lbs..are teeth!

here's his picture,



http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i75/mrmerlin56/Picture3-1.gif?t=1232392886

.oops, pay no attention, i was just getting out of bed~


here's the cutie,


http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i75/mrmerlin56/100_0279.jpg?t=1232393292

&

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i75/mrmerlin56/100_0052.jpg?t=1232393404


..hymmmm, maybe there's something..to..forget..the dog, fear the

owner? * esp. before coffee?

 

[JDH]

For home defense I think a 12ga. or 20 ga. shotgun with an 18" barrel with #1shot is a better choice that any pistol. Remember, even with laser siting, you have to step into the perpatrators line of fire to hit anything much less anyone. With a shotgun only your arms are exposed and the pattern of pellets cover the whole field of fire. Not to mention the sound of someone racking a shotgun may scare them off.

 

[GeorgeG]

...we have the unfor. luck..of having a very aggressive neighbor
who move in a house..next door to our 20 acreas. [recreational
property ]. currently he is facing 5 charges...after he fired a
gun..., intending to scare us [ me & my hunting buddy] but
instead of us, it was the game warden.

i have never purchsed a weapon for self defense until now.
not only this person exhibited mental illness, he has many
past charges..from recieving, vandalism, dwi, disorderly &
fighting..so on & so on. alot of his behaviors are very similar
to those we see using crack.

we know from work, the more any person using/abusing etoh &
crack...,we can expect loss of self control and poor judgments.

shooting & killin another..is something....i hope i never have to
do. but i believe....in the statments ted nugent told. i rather
had the mother, of 2 kids...to killed her intruder instead her
being raped & killed.

...we have 2 concerns, one is confronting him on our property
and shooting us. the second, him hiring his drug buddies to
ambush us....* note we have caught them several times...
following & waiting.

based on our needs to have protection, here what we purchased,

...the ruger lcp, . 380. it holds 6 shells in a clip, that pops in.
cocked the gun..& your ready to aim & fire. * the other benefit is
for my wife..it's light as a toy. she does "call" for nuclear med.

addressing the ambush issue. hi-point, makes a model 995 carbine.
very light where i can shot it with one hand, and it will fit right
besides me...on the front seat. magazine capacity...is 10 cartridges-
9mm shells.

* its too bad, bear traps..are illegal. well we do have a coyote problem,
..and this person..has stolen /destroy..a brand new field camera,
...2 hunting blinds, ladder stands..so forth, & so forth.

our response..were to have had the game warden & the state's investigator
over.

what kind of person ...are we setting limits with?...he put his locks on
my gate.

* i like the having the "clips", like the .380.....might not be as powerful,
but....i think....an intruder....hearing...the shots..over & over..is going
to bolt.

any person..breaking into my residence....while my family there, i'm not
asking...why?...i 'm getting the my 12 gauge semi..with deer slugs.

while this thought..is scary,...and life is so precious.....it also a reality,
that intruders....do not share any of this..& will do harm... even over
my dead body. so i understand...why..the classes are teaching shoot
to kill.

It sounds like you're sitting on a time bomb. I suggest discussing it with the local law enforcement and see what they suggest. I would also keep something loaded and handy as well... the shotgun seems appropriate.

 

[JMD]

For home defense I think a 12ga. or 20 ga. shotgun with an 18" barrel with #1shot is a better choice that any pistol. Remember, even with laser siting, you have to step into the perpatrators line of fire to hit anything much less anyone. With a shotgun only your arms are exposed and the pattern of pellets cover the whole field of fire. Not to mention the sound of someone racking a shotgun may scare them off.

How would you not be in the intruders line of fire with a shotgun? And a big misconception with shotguns is you don't have to aim it properly. At close ranges, the pellets are still in a very tight pattern. A shotgun should be shouldered and aimed properly just like any other firearm. Spray and pray tactics are a bad idea.

 

[Hercules10]

A shotgun should be shouldered and aimed properly just like any other firearm.

As a early victim of; "Go'head. Shoot that 12gauge from the hip. It doesn't have any kick...." I concur.

 

[ntsammy5]

As a early victim of; "Go'head. Shoot that 12gauge from the hip. It doesn't have any kick...." I concur.

Try an M-79 with a canister round sometime - big kick but very, very effective!

 

[kimluvswdw]

I have a Kahr PM9, 9mm and I love it. It is very easy to conceal and shoots very well.

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Make sure you go with your husband shopping for the gun. It needs to feel comfortable in your hands. We have a gun that is a bit larger than I feel comfortable holding. The grip is a bit too large for me and the trigger is almost a stretch for my small fingers. Keep things like that in mind. You want a gun that doesn't feel too heavy and that has a good grip for you. IF you ever needed to use it in self defence you don't want someone to easily be able to take it away from you because you can't get a good grip on it.

My husband says the following because he knows his stuff:

Keep it light; keep the trigger pull smooth & crisp to make sure you can pull the trigger, he says a double action. He would go with a stainless steel finish that way you don't have to worry about smudges or nicks. He doesn't think a 9mm is the best choice if you are not already familiar with guns. If you insist on a semi-automatic he definitely prefers something that has very little feeding problems and very good accuracy like a Sig or Beretta which are easy to take down and clean, few parts to worry with. He would advise against a Glock or an M&P because although some people consider those guns perfection they have been known to blow up in people's hands.

More importantly than the gun is the ammo. Pick an ammo that is clean burning, that doesn't dirty up the gun too bad, that doesn't jam the gun, cycles well. As far as caliber goes, 40 caliber you can't go wrong. With a 9mm you have to be a lot more finicky about your selection of ammo. The design of a 9 mm round is prone to hollow point clogging, meaning the bullet won't open up when it hits the target, and it has built a nasty reputation as over penetrating.

For the Sig look at a P228 and for the Beretta most any model they have will do.

He thinks you will be better off with a revolver overall because they are easier to learn, easier to clean, less to have to worry about, no jamming, etc.

Please let me know if you have any more questions. I hope I didn't just over load you!

He took me on my first shooting range trip last year to teach me about our gun. It was very interesting, especially seeing how the different bullets shot. We are looking at getting me a smaller gun this year that I can handle better. I want to do more target shooting.

Sorry, but I must disagree. I have been a firearms instructor since 1990, and was carrying and firing various small arms many years before that. I have never seen a documented case of a Glock "Blowing up"

And an interesting point, the only gun I have ever had jam on me was a revolver! A S&W 686. The gap was so tight between the cylinder and the back of the frame, that it jamed when some factory ammo that had non-flush seated primers rotated into it. (yes, an ammo problem, but a jam none the less)

I have shot, and trained people to shoot with S&W, glock, beretta, SIG, and H&K semi-autos, and all of the brand name revolvers.

A good starter revolver would be a Ruger. They are well made, and inexpensive. I suggest buying a .357, and then only shooting .38 special in it. The reason is that the .357 is designed with higher pressure tolerences, so it you get some "hot" ammo in .38, it will still be below the recommended load.

In semi-auto, it depends on how big your grip is. I have taught female students with a single stack s&W 9mm, and they can handle it much better that the double stack, as that if just enough more width on the gun to case them to slip, even slightly, on recoil, and that is a bad thing!

Either way, I would do like a lot of PP have said, some ranges at gun dealers actually have "rentals" so you can try the most popular types of handguns.

Another source that you might think about is going to the rangemaster of your local police department. Some departments actually sponser citizen groups on a course to familerize them with various types of weapons.

 

[transparant]

Sig Sauer P226. Its comfortable, and very accurate! I also have a Glock 19 - but I like my Sig better.