Guns for wife and I

[Steve S]

I'd like to buy a couple of handguns for my wife and I. Neither one of us has ever owned a handgun before so know nothing about them. I'm 61 yrs old and my wife will be 60.

We want to learn how to properly shoot at shooting ranges. Do they teach newbies lessions? What are the qualifications of having a permit?

Can you give me some models of handguns that my wife and I would be comfortable using? Why you would recommend that pistol?

[bwv1013]

it's hard to go wrong with a revolver, especially as a first handgun. they are reliable, simple to use and maintain and come in all manner of calibers. a .22 is a fun little plinker and the ammo is dirt cheap. you might also look into a .357, they can also be loaded with .38 special, a bit cheaper ammo than .357 IIRC and the recoil may be more manageable.

many shooting ranges will allow you to rent handguns so you can try different models and see what's right for you. happy shooting

[MJ5150]

What do you want guns for?

-Mike

[Deluge Of Sound]

Why?


Cheaper, Sleeker, less arm fatigue = more time for sexy time with Mrs.SteveS... life is short, "shoot" buckets, not bullets.

[Catbuster]

I carry a Sig Sauer P230. I've got a Kel-Tec .32. I've also got a Para-Ordanance P12, which is my favorite of all. I carry the P230 most, though. It's in .380, which is easily managabe for anyone, as long as you're over 10 or under 90.

[Alucard817]

I have a few friends who are Police officers, and when I was considering a firearm they suggested a 9mm beretta.
These are light weight, with very little recoil.
http://www.berettausa.com/default.aspx
Just make sure you follow every law in your area concerning firearms.

[arcaidy]

As said above, a revolver would be good to look at. This is what my wife has. It’s a .38 special and she has no problem handling it. A .357 packs a bit more punch, but it’s also heavier and has added recoil. I have a .32 long I like a lot and use it as a woods gun. It is small, accurate, and will do anything I need of it.

When it comes to a gun, a properly placed shot is better than hoping a bigger round hits “somewhere”. Find something that fits your tastes and don’t worry much about the round size. A .22 can kill…

Find a gun store with an indoor shooting range and ask for assistance. Start small and work your way up. Gun and ammunition prices jumped a bunch a few years ago. If you find something you like when shooting and think it might be a bit too costly, you can check out http://www.auctionarms.com. I have purchased from there before with no issues. You’ll need to ship your purchase to a local licensed gun dealer and they’ll usually charge about $25.

Check state and local laws about guns rules. Some places it’s easy, others are just plain stupid.

[Pilgrim]

I've used firearms for 50 years - I echo the suggestion above to go the revolver route. Much less technical than semi-autos, and if you're newbies you don't need technicality.

Yes, ranges will provide lessons and they work with beginners (of all ages) every day. no problem there.

BUT - the question of why you want/need firearms is relevant. If you keep them in your home loaded you will need safety locks or other mechanisms to prevent accidents.

Most important, my opinion is that more people are killed through ignorance or safe firearms handling than anyone realizes. If you buy firearms, you need a firm commitment to each other that you will take lessons before you load them - and that during those lessons, you will burn up at least a couple hundred rounds of ammo. You also need to shoot them on a regular basis, not park them in a closet and leave them untouched for years.

You don't even BEGIN to build safe handling habits until you have run hundreds of rounds through a weapon. Bottom line is that there's little reason to own a firearm unless are willing to use it in defense of you or your wife. If that happens, you will be in a high stress situation, and therefore highly dependent on having established a set of reflexes around handling that firearm.

I personally think that in a revolver, either .38 Special or .357 calibers are both good solid rounds, and controllable with practice. For a beginner I'd prefer to start out with a .22 firearm and move up, but if you go with the larger caliber, shoot .38s. The .357 mag cartridge is much more intimidating to shoot than the .38 Special.

One more thought - handguns make lousy clubs and they are useless unless you are prepared to use them. If you use them against another human, the only possible justification for that act is that your life or someone else's life is in immediate danger - therefore, the only logical way to use that handgun is to shoot to kill. If you're not prepared to shoot for the center of mass on another human, don't buy a handgun. There is no such thing as shooting to wound. Any firearm is a deadly weapon.

[Jim Campbell]

Originally Posted by Steve S

I'd like to buy a couple of handguns for my wife and I. Neither one of us has ever owned a handgun before so know nothing about them. I'm 61 yrs old and my wife will be 60.

We want to learn how to properly shoot at shooting ranges. Do they teach newbies lessions? What are the qualifications of having a permit?

Can you give me some models of handguns that my wife and I would be comfortable using? Why you would recommend that pistol?

contact a local shooting club....most i've talked to are friendly and helpful...if you plan on sport usage your needs will be different than home defense.....

[DigMe]

I would get a modern design semiauto in 9mm. The Smith and Wesson M&P are "soft shooters" (guns that have less perceived recoil while shooting) and would be a good choice IMO. I would NOT recommend a revolver as your first gun. A revolver in a .38 or larger typically has more felt recoil than a comparably sized semiauto. A lot of people recommend them because of simplicity but shooting the typical semiauto is far from brain surgery and if you're learning to shoot for the first time it's not that big of a deal between learning the steps in shooting a revolver versus the steps in shooting a semiauto. The gains that you have by going semiauto will be quicker reloads and up to a 13 round increase in capacity depending on the gun that you end up with along with lower felt recoil. I also greatly prefer the grip on most semiautos, especially the modern ones. The M&P comes with interchangeable backstraps so that you can customize the grip to fit your hand.

The Springfield XD is another good choice. I have shot XDs for about 6 years and they're great guns. Both the XD and the M&P are dead reliable guns.

Having said all that though if you can get together with a gun owner/collecter and safely try out a bunch of guns that would be ideal.

bc

[MJ5150]

Remember this....holding it sideways is the kill shot.

-Mike

[sloasdaylight]

I second the suggestion of the Springfield XD for a beginner's semi-auto pistol. They're reliable, Springfield has a great return policy, and, more importantly in my mind, they're available in a double stack .45ACP, which, in my mind, is the absolute best cartridge out there.

Second, I would absolutely not suggest locks for your guns in your home if you're going to keep them there for home defense. With proper gun handling, negligent discharges are a minuscule risk, and if you're going to be relying on that firearm to save your life late at night, the last thing you want to do is fumble with a lock.

I do however agree that if you're going to use a firearm in defense of yourself or a loved one, aim to turn their skull into a canoe or their chest into pudding. Do not shoot to wound, shoot to kill. If you can't see yourself doing that, then don't own a gun.

[Steve S]

There's a gun show at the fairgrounds near my house this weekend. Is it better to purchase the guns there or at a store?

[DigMe]

You will most likely find a better price at the gun show. You may or may not get better service and return policy at a gun store depending on the store.

bc

[MJ5150]

Street gangs have all the good guns, and you don't have to wait three days.

Seriously, if it were me, I would buy from a local shop so you can establish a relationship with a dealer who can help you with the purchase and education.

-Mike

[Kyon`]

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

I've used firearms for 50 years - I echo the suggestion above to go the revolver route. Much less technical than semi-autos, and if you're newbies you don't need technicality.

Yes, ranges will provide lessons and they work with beginners (of all ages) every day. no problem there.

BUT - the question of why you want/need firearms is relevant. If you keep them in your home loaded you will need safety locks or other mechanisms to prevent accidents.

Most important, my opinion is that more people are killed through ignorance or safe firearms handling than anyone realizes. If you buy firearms, you need a firm commitment to each other that you will take lessons before you load them - and that during those lessons, you will burn up at least a couple hundred rounds of ammo. You also need to shoot them on a regular basis, not park them in a closet and leave them untouched for years.

You don't even BEGIN to build safe handling habits until you have run hundreds of rounds through a weapon. Bottom line is that there's little reason to own a firearm unless are willing to use it in defense of you or your wife. If that happens, you will be in a high stress situation, and therefore highly dependent on having established a set of reflexes around handling that firearm.

I personally think that in a revolver, either .38 Special or .357 calibers are both good solid rounds, and controllable with practice. For a beginner I'd prefer to start out with a .22 firearm and move up, but if you go with the larger caliber, shoot .38s. The .357 mag cartridge is much more intimidating to shoot than the .38 Special.

One more thought - handguns make lousy clubs and they are useless unless you are prepared to use them. If you use them against another human, the only possible justification for that act is that your life or someone else's life is in immediate danger - therefore, the only logical way to use that handgun is to shoot to kill. If you're not prepared to shoot for the center of mass on another human, don't buy a handgun. There is no such thing as shooting to wound. Any firearm is a deadly weapon.

+1, though I'm sure if you are looking into buying one you already know the commitment.

[Jim Campbell]

Originally Posted by Steve S

There's a gun show at the fairgrounds near my house this weekend. Is it better to purchase the guns there or at a store?

better to wait.....try some out....i'd say the store is best for the new shooter.....may cost a tad more but you know what you're getting....

[sloasdaylight]

If you know what you're getting into, you're better off buying a gun at a gun show.

If you don't, go to a dealer and buy one there. I would still however go to the show, just so you can familiarize yourself with the different types of guns that are available. Hold a couple, see how they feel in your hand, the weight, etc. There's nothing better for getting used to a product than holding it in your hands.

[Munjibunga]

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

I've used firearms for 50 years - I echo the suggestion above to go the revolver route. Much less technical than semi-autos, and if you're newbies you don't need technicality.

Yes, ranges will provide lessons and they work with beginners (of all ages) every day. no problem there.

BUT - the question of why you want/need firearms is relevant. If you keep them in your home loaded you will need safety locks or other mechanisms to prevent accidents.

Most important, my opinion is that more people are killed through ignorance or safe firearms handling than anyone realizes. If you buy firearms, you need a firm commitment to each other that you will take lessons before you load them - and that during those lessons, you will burn up at least a couple hundred rounds of ammo. You also need to shoot them on a regular basis, not park them in a closet and leave them untouched for years.

You don't even BEGIN to build safe handling habits until you have run hundreds of rounds through a weapon. Bottom line is that there's little reason to own a firearm unless are willing to use it in defense of you or your wife. If that happens, you will be in a high stress situation, and therefore highly dependent on having established a set of reflexes around handling that firearm.

I personally think that in a revolver, either .38 Special or .357 calibers are both good solid rounds, and controllable with practice. For a beginner I'd prefer to start out with a .22 firearm and move up, but if you go with the larger caliber, shoot .38s. The .357 mag cartridge is much more intimidating to shoot than the .38 Special.

One more thought - handguns make lousy clubs and they are useless unless you are prepared to use them. If you use them against another human, the only possible justification for that act is that your life or someone else's life is in immediate danger - therefore, the only logical way to use that handgun is to shoot to kill. If you're not prepared to shoot for the center of mass on another human, don't buy a handgun. There is no such thing as shooting to wound. Any firearm is a deadly weapon.

Also, revolvers don't leave brass at the scene of the crime. Anyway, if I were to get a pistol, it'd be an S&W Model 29 .44 Magnum with at least a 6-inch barrel. Maybe even 8 inches. This is for the same reason many guys my age buy motorcycles and why I have 35-inch necks on most of my basses.

If you're going to shoot something, shoot it good. You shoot an intruder with a .22 or .25 caliber, and you're just likely to piss him off. With a .44 mag, he may not end up in one peice.

That said, I don't own any guns, and I ain't gonna get none. Pilgrim is right. You're introducing a huge element of risk into your lives, and you, as noobs, are more likely to be killed by your own gun than to successfully defend yourself with it. Further, if either of you are drinkers, I strongly recommend against introducing guns into your life. My sister was killed by her husband with her own gun.

For the record, in the Marines I was a rifle expert and pistol expert, and have fired weapons from M-60 machine guns to 3.5-inch rocket launchers. It's hella fun, but I don't need that in civilian life.

[Chebass88]

My thoughts:

1. A firearm is a deadly weapon. This cannot be stated enough. They have a single purpose, and can do that function VERY WELL.

2. Every state is different. Some states you can walk in, and undergo an instant background check by phone, and others you need to apply for a permit through your local police department, and undergo a rather extensive permitting process (NJ).

3. Decide why you want a weapon, and how it will be used. I own one firearm, a .22 target pistol. I do not intend to use it for home defense, and keep it locked in a safe, which is not easily accessible. I like putting holes in paper at 7 yards, and seeing how accurate I can be with that.

4. Learn how to use it, in the context of its purpose. You will need to spend several hundred rounds to become familiar with the weapon, particularly if you plan to use it for your self protection (see Pilgrim's post above).

5. Costs - Shooting is an expensive hobby. As an example for myself, my costs were: permitting and fingerprinting (~$75), pistol ($405), membership at the range ($380/year), cleaning supplies (solvents, oil, brushes, etc.) (~$70); ammunition ($18/525 rounds), range expenses (ear muffs, targets, etc.), safe (~$105), etc. But, in order to be good at it (using it effectively), you will need the practice time.

6. Ranges - I've found that the firearms-owning people are a good community. The folks at the range I belong to are extremely helpful, both with weapons selection, helpful tips, etc. Rentals are great - for the cost of a lane & a box or two of ammo, you can test some weapons. Find one that is comfortable, and you like using it. Go with some friends & use their weapons.

7. Recommendations: the only weapon I am familiar with is the Ruger MkIII .22LR Target Pistol. I've shot other weapons (a Sig .45, several 1911 .45s, Beretta 9mm, and Glock 17), but know mine fairly well. I highly recommend this pistol. Great for learning.

Have fun & be safe!

Chebass88