Looking for advice about purchasing my first gun
 

Looking for advice about what kind of gun for protecting the house (and me) I should consider. My first gun and I plan on taking professional lessons on shooting and caring for said gun. :36_1_28:

Re: Hey, guys. Lady needing advice about buying a gun
 

You should ask the gals for that advice. Plenty of them on here.

My advice, a 12 gauge pump shotgun. Mossy 500 or Remmy 870.

sb

Re: Hey, guys. Lady needing advice about buying a gun
 

I would look at a 9mm clock for your first gun to have for home protection. They do not kick to bad and have some stopping power. 12 gauge would be great for some people but not most women and also just starting out.


One other thing to consider when getting something for use indoors is is the blast when you fire it. I keep Ruger Security six next to the bed but it is loaded with 38 special hollow points because of the blast. When it is dark and intruder enters and you fire a shot in a bedroom there will be a big blast and flash and it may also scare and throw you off. Also the 38 hollow point will not go through all my walls and into the neighbors house like a 357 load would..

These also do not kick much when loaded with 38's - I like revolvers some people do not and this could also be a choice for you as the 38''s also do not kick much and you have the option to put in the 357 for added power.

Re: Hey, guys. Lady needing advice about buying a gun
 

ditto. you can get low recoil ammo. IMHO every house should have a shotgun, handgun, and rifle, but what do I know?
:36_3_12:

Re: Looking for advice about purchasing my first gun
 

Home and personal protection may require 2 different guns.

Consider reversing your plan. Take the class first, then buy the gun. I took a basic handgun class the instructors had 30 - 40 handguns to shoot at the class. It was a great way to compare guns and ammo. The instruction prior and after going to the range was critical. More than a couple of us came into the class with an idea of the gun we wanted and left planning to get something else.

Best thing I did was take the class first.

Re: Looking for advice about purchasing my first gun
 

A stainless steel .38 special double action revolver with at least a 3" barrel. That would be about the safest, simplest and most reliable and doesn't kick too much.

Re: Looking for advice about purchasing my first gun
 

Great advise!

No offense, but asking a bunch of strangers which gun to buy is the same as asking us which [shoes/pants/etc.] to buy. Everyone is different, and everyone will have a suggestion that may not necessarily work for you. The only way to find out what works for you to to go to a range that has guns for rent and try as many as you can. Taking a class and having an instructor teach you the basics and explain the difference between operation of different guns will also help. In the end, you will know which gun is right for you the minute you pick it up off the table. It's better to buy and use a small frame .32ACP that you're confident and proficient with than try using a full size 1911 in .45ACP that you're intimidated by.

Re: Looking for advice about purchasing my first gun
 

I always suggest a 22 rimfire of some sort as a first firearm. Why? It is not at all overwhealming in recoil and blast, so on target hits are much more possible for beginners. Ammo is very cheap so that you can practice with it a lot[you can still get 1000 rounds for under $40 if you buy the bulk 500 round bricks]. And that is all the power you may ever need if you become a good shot, as it is the preferred round of many professional killers.

After you have fired that 1000 rounds with your 22, then think over what you may then want and trade it in for that. I would suggest a 22 revolver for beginners.

Re: Looking for advice about purchasing my first gun
 

For a home defense AND capability to conceal carry, I'd go with a Glock 23 or a Springfield XD. These are both affordable and reliable weapons, and will offer some magazine capacity.

If you wanted something just for the house...I'd go with a Mossberg 500 or Remington 870 with a 18"-20" barrel.

Larger frame pistols like the 1911 are a bitch to conceal and when fully loaded, cumbersome to carry.

My fav carry pistol is my S&W airweight. Its light, easy to hide, and nobody can see it at night. :565:

Re: Looking for advice about purchasing my first gun
 

Glocks and XDs aren't any easier to conceal than a 1911 because both are fat. An aluminum framed compact 1911 would be easier to conceal than either Glock 23 or XD (roughly the same size but thinner), and not cumbersome at all. S&W M&P is also thinner than both Glock and XD, while still offering the same capacity.

Re: Hey, guys. Lady needing advice about buying a gun
 

Re: Looking for advice about purchasing my first gun
 

I would agree. Nothing better to learn on than a .22. But I would recommend a bolt .22 rifle. Teaches the basics of sighting without any recoil. Bolt is also a much safer way to learnthe basics of safety.

Re: Looking for advice about purchasing my first gun
 

If you are looking for a small, easily handled, reliable 5 shot .22 single action only 5 shot revolver for close up around the house, consider a North American Arms Black Widow:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/herrmes/bw01.jpg

It is also available in .22 Mag, even better...

Re: Hey, guys. Lady needing advice about buying a gun
 

+1

Joanner, IMO a .22 rifle is the best first firearm for a new gun owner. Little to no recoil, cheap ammo, simple operation and cleaning. The most important thing, regardless of weapon or caliber, is practice and familiarity. Eventually you may want to move up to more powerful calibers, but I would start with a .22 first, either tube-fed or magazine fed semi-auto. And any weapon, even a .22, is better than no weapon at all. You would hard-pressed to find anyone in their right mind to willing take a .22 round to the head at close range.

Many would argue that a 12 gauge shotgun loaded with 00 or 000 buckshot is the most devastating close-quarters weapon available for home defense purposes, but it is probably not the best first weapon for a prospective gun owner. That is one you may have to work up to. A 20-gauge can be just as deadly with less recoil.

Handguns are also a good home defense weapon with the right ammunition. A 9mm or 38 special is plenty effective at close range. Of course, a .45 hollow point round will take care of matters quickly and effectively.

Without question, if you have any friends/relatives who own guns, ask and see if they will take you out on their next range trip and let you try out some weapons. I bet most if not all would love to have you come along. Heck, if you live in west central Ohio, I'll take you shooting!

You might also want to search through prior posts here. Others have had similar questions to yours.

Re: Looking for advice about purchasing my first gun
 

My g/fs first gun is a Glock 26, only because she liked my Glock 17. :)

She's comfortable with it, and knows how to handle it. But like was mentioned before. Go to an indoor shooting range if there is one available, or take a shooting class and shoot a bunch of different guns under instruction and find one that feels the best for you.

A gun is like any other tool, if it's not comfortable you have to find one that is in order for it to be used properly and safely.

Re: Looking for advice about purchasing my first gun
 

Mossberg 500 series or Remington 870 series 12 gauge shotgun. Pistols/revolvers are always secondary for home defense. The idea that women can't handle a 12 is a myth ("sexism" in the PC language).

Re: Looking for advice about purchasing my first gun
 

First gun for a city dweller should be an assault rifle. 16" barrel. I'd go AK-74 cause the ammo is cheap, and safer to use indoors.

Re: Looking for advice about purchasing my first gun
 

Thanks all. I will take your advice and try out various guns at the shooting range. There is one just a few miles down the road. Some of the guns shown here are very interesting.

Thanks again.:ok:

BEST advice about purchasing first gun
 

.
. Most Excellent advice...
Thank you goldfinger.

Re: Looking for advice about purchasing my first gun
 

If you want to learn to shoot a rifle, a .22LR is best. Try the venerable 10/22, or the Marlin 60.

If you want something relatively inexpensive for home defense, you want a 12ga pump shotgun. The best for the job. The Remington and Mossberg ones mentioned above are hard to go wrong with.

If you may want to carry something around town, or something more concealable, the Glock 19 is the Camry of handguns. Everybody has one, boring, incredibly reliable. Good compromise of size without being too small. 9mm is also easier to control.

But take a few NRA classes, rent at the range, find a buddy who will take you shooting. I knew someone who was convinced he wanted to get into long-range precision rifle shooting - and he ended up buying an AK.

Re: BEST advice about purchasing first gun
 

Re: Looking for advice about purchasing my first gun
 

If I had my first gun purchase to do over again I would get a 9mm glock.

Re: Looking for advice about purchasing my first gun
 

This seems to be what most people do:

Buy a large caliber handgun (or more than one)
Buy a bunch of ammo (feel good now!)
Go to the range a little
After a while take some shooting lessons (unusual, but it does happen)

There's only one word for people who follow this pattern: dangerous. They are a danger to themselves and everyone around them. Whenever I see one of them on the range (they stand out like a sore thumb), I immediately move as far away as I can. I've even left the range entirely on more than one occasion.

Instead, please consider this approach:

Take some lessons first
Rent a few guns to get a feel for how they're different
Go to the range a lot
After you're comfortable and safe, buy a .22 bolt-action rifle (bolt rather than semi-auto since that's what most of the better large-caliber rifles use, so it helps you get ready for that)
Buy lots of ammo
Take a few more shooting lessons with your own gun
Go to the range a lot
Shoot thousands (or tens of thousands) of .22 rounds
Then buy a bigger rifle and learn to shoot that
Then a shotgun and learn to shoot that
Then a large-caliber handgun and learn to shoot that

Everyone should start with a .22 -- there's just no question about that.

And a handgun should be the last gun you buy, not the first.

Re: Looking for advice about purchasing my first gun
 

Joanner here's a picture of my remington 12 gauge with the surefire tactical light for nighttime visitors.



http://goldismoney.info/forums/pictu...&pictureid=281

Re: Looking for advice about purchasing my first gun
 

Dear Joanne,

I suggest you buy two (2) guns:

1. Mossberg 500 Persuader shotgun: 20 gauge, 18 1/2" barrel, 6-shot -- Model # 50145
A 20 gauge shotgun is a sensible choice for a home defense weapon.

http://www.mossberg.com/images/Mossb.../NEW/50145.jpg

2. S&W Model 442 revolver: 38 Special +P, 1 7/8" barrel, 5-shot, hammerless, weight: 15 oz's (unloaded)
If you obtain a concealed carry permit, this is a light, safe, reliable, revolver. It will probably fit in a small zippered pocket within your pocketbook. You'll barely feel the difference in weight.

[IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Thomas/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg[/IMG]http://www.gunshopfinder.com/smithan...n/model442.jpg