guns

[unclemarc]

wannadiesel,I see you are a firearms instructor I'm planning on buying a handgun and am looking for suggestions any help would be appreciated,thanks for any help or thoughts marc

[TugboatPhil]

unclemarc,

I like different features for my carry gun and for my bedside companion. I have a .357 revolver by the bed. It's always ready, no safety, and if the round doesn't fire, I just pull the trigger again.

I got my first carry gun when I was securing vacant properties for mortgage companies. A lot of my work was in Cracktown. I got a Glock 9mm. It has a large magazine and very little on the outside that would catch on my pocket when drawing it out. It has a trigger safety, but that's almost not even a safety.

Another good thing about the revolver for home protection; much like the sound of a pump shotgun chambering a shell, the click of the hammer setting back, in a quiet house can have a very powerful effect on an intruder that might have forgotten to bring his own firearm.

Another thing on a carry gun, if you don't "like" carrying it, it doesn't matter what you have. It has to be with you to serve it's purpose. Find one that fits comfortably in your hand. Check the trigger pull to see how easy it is for you to fire. Some guns can have the trigger pull easily adjusted, and some you have to take to a gunsmith.

Happy shopping! Nothing better than an afternoon spent at a gun shop.

[JLeonard]

Unclemarc,
Also spend some time at a firing range and ask others to let you have a try with theirs. That will help you find one that fits your hand and style. Will also give you a much better feel for the piece than just playing with one in a gunshop.
Also used guns can be an excellent value and sometimes it's nice to have one already broken in. For example I have a couple of Ruger speed sixes (one .357, one .38) that I bought used and the actions are sweet now...but they are stiff if new.
Just another thought.
Have fun shopping and practising.
Oh....Something else to consider..perhaps depending upon where you live. Around here it's tough to find a place to shoot....so I built a short range (25 ft) in my basement. Can't really fire anything like .357 down there, but .380, 9mm, .38 or .22 is awsum. Gives me plenty of pracitice time so I can remain very familiar with my weapons.
Jay

[Greenleaf]

. I have a .357 revolver by the bed.

Nope. Not any more.

[TugboatPhil]

So THAT'S where it went!!

[unclemarc]

Thanks for the information guys,I have a Phoenix police woman that keeps her horse at our house and was talking with her and she invited my wife and I to the range with her for some shooting instruction.Soooo I thought why not,the wife was all for it and that makes everything easier,our vet also shoots,shes going along to.I'll have to be careful as I'm surrounded by women with GUN'S MARC

[wannadiesel]

Phil and JLeonard, I can see we think pretty much along the same lines

It's hard to go wrong with a revolver. They are reliable and easy to operate. I prefer them, I carry one every day. I do own several semi-autos, but I use them for playing around.

I think you need a minimum of two guns. You need a .22 target pistol (Ruger MkIII is a great value) for practice. .22's make shooting a lot of fun - low noise, almost no recoil - and .22 ammo is about a tenth of the price of .357 magnum. Now, as for the second gun - concealed carry guns work OK as home defense guns, but it's hard to conceal a big revolver. If you are going to carry, I recommend any one of the S&W Airweight series .38 special revolvers. The price on them has dropped dramatically since the AirLite Sc guns came out a few years back. Airweights now run a little under $400 at most shops. If you only want a home defense gun, what Phil and JLeonard said goes. 4" revolver in .38 spl or .357 magnum is hard to beat.

[BobS]

If you only want a home defense gun, what Phil and JLeonard said goes. 4" revolver in .38 spl or .357 magnum is hard to beat.

My opinion of the best home defense gun is a proven 12 gauge pump with a pistol grip. Your reference point of impact should be high and centrally located above the shoulder area. The blackmarketing of body armour has been around for at least the last 10 years. It was even available on EBay until recently. Always assume the perpetrator is wearing armour. A .44 magnum loaded with shot shells would be my second choice.

[JLeonard]

You're probably right about the 12 ga. I DO have a 16 ga pump available but it's a moot point for me as I have never really felt the need to have an arsenal at the ready in my home.
I have a "carry gun" but I don't feel the need to carry so I don't. I normally keep this gun aboard the boat and have used it once or twice to shoot some threatening beer cans and bottles that I launced overboard.

Yes Tugger, that is technically known as "Jetsam".

[Falcon]

I too have a .357 mag S/W. I have a 4" on it now and a 6" in a box. I carry it every where. leather can be expencive for them I have a full leather Galco sholder holster in 4" and 6" with speed loader pouches I can carry 18 rounds. I shoot with the local police dep. and have qualified with the revolver against 40 autos with high cap. mags. If anyone has done qualifacation with the P.D.'s it's not that easy(carry alot of speedloaders) . I really like my .357.

Greg

[wannadiesel]

If you only want a home defense gun, what Phil and JLeonard said goes. 4" revolver in .38 spl or .357 magnum is hard to beat.

My opinion of the best home defense gun is a proven 12 gauge pump with a pistol grip. Your reference point of impact should be high and centrally located above the shoulder area. The blackmarketing of body armour has been around for at least the last 10 years. It was even available on EBay until recently. Always assume the perpetrator is wearing armour. A .44 magnum loaded with shot shells would be my second choice.

Agreed, but we were talking handguns.

[JLeonard]

we were talking handguns

Yes let's get back on track.
My "carry" gun that I never carry but keep abaord is a stainless Colt gov't model .380. Yes I know, pea shooter and single action but I wanted the extra (perceived) safety of single action despite the delay. Just a tradeoff I decided to make. But it is small and light and hopefully will never have to fulfill it's intent.

[sdstriper]

Around here it's tough to find a place to shoot....so I built a short range (25 ft) in my basement. Can't really fire anything like .357 down there, but .380, 9mm, .38 or .22 is awsum. Gives me plenty of pracitice time so I can remain very familiar with my weapons.
Jay

Wow, maybe my neighbors would start to like me better if I built one of these downstairs! When he starts his nightly garbage fire I could counter with a box of ammo...

[JLeonard]

if I built one of these downstairs!

Mine is built with 2 layers of 6x6s. Then there is a 3/4 plywood wall and "normally" there is coal behind that., but in line is the field stone foundation.
The in line with the window is a 1/8 inch steel plate.
It is perfectly safe. Only a couple of rounds ever made it to the plywood, and nothing ever went trhu (that we will swear to).
My neighbor used to burn his garbage...but that has been illegal for many years. 2 years ago he passed on so that's no longer an issue....
no he didn't die from a gunshot wound..just old age.

[TugboatPhil]

Yes Tugger, that is technically known as "Jetsam".

Jay, you know I hate picking nits, but jetsam is material "jettisoned" to compensate a list or to make a vessel lighter. What you are doing is pitching "poor man's clay targets."