Posted on 12/16/2009 10:08:01 AM PST by bonillamktg
I am ashamed to say that I am 30 years old and do not own a gun. I grew up in a house without guns and never really thought about it until recently (as I started a drastic shift from being politically agnostic to a staunch conservative Constitutionalist) and now I am a new homeowner and new father and every day I think about needing to get multiple firearms. I need to start somewhere but, other than getting recommendations from a few friends I respect, I am a bit lost, having never fired a handgun before (I've shot several rifles and shotguns before).
My question is: What recommendation would you give me as the first gun I should own? I want this first gun to be easily carried concealed (I plan on getting my concealed carry permit ASAP), a good weapon for protection of my home, easily usable by my wife (who has never shot a gun in her life), and ideally, I'd like to get armed for $300-400.
No, but when you pull the trigger, a bird comes out of the barrel and chirps at you!
Let me be the first to congradulate you on making a decision to arm yourself.
My advice is to consider a revolver over a semi-automatic pistol (simplicity and dependability). If you obtain a .357mag, it will be a slightly larger frame than a .38, but it will allow you to shoot the .38 (cheaper and lighter recoil) for practice and still use a more powerful cartridge (.357) for Self-defense or Home-defense.
Your budget will limit you, and I hate to say it, but right now many people are feeling the pressure of a poor ecomony and I am seeing a lot of firearms for sale (used) at good prices.
You might decide after getting more information than you need on a thread like this, and more opinions that might seem to be contradictory to each other, that you will want to send a PM to just a few of the saner responses to help narrow your choice.
What part of the country do you live in?
A decent deal on a used Sig.
Best advice would be to find a firearms instructor and pay for an hour or so of training. Most instructors will have at least 3 or so guns you can try out.
The pistol sells for around $300, is very easy to shoot and is quite accurate because of the sight design. Even a beginner can shoot impressive groups with very little range time.
As far as home protection, a short riot gun in 12 gage would be a better choice. Mossberg makes a great pump action with a pistol grip. They are easy to master and are even easier to use. No home assailant would want to face a threatened woman behind one of these. It would open them up like a rotten water melon.
Hi Point .45 cal - retails for $185.00. Nothing drops a body like a .45.
9MM Browning Hi-Power. The Brits have been using them for years.
Yeah, moderating is my life.......
“Right now I have a .38 Taurus revolver. Oh, yeah, I will only buy stainless steel, also.” ~ TennesseeGirl
My choices:
To carry/conceal on your person: P3AT semi-automatic
http://www.gunblast.com/KelTec_P3AT.htm
To carry in your car: Glock 26 (The “Baby” Glock), which holds 10 rounds.
http://www.glock.com/english/navi_pistols_13.htm
For the house: “The Judge” - a Taurus 5-shot revolver that shoots either .410 shotgun shells or 45 cartridges
http://www.taurususa.com/product-details.cfm?id=662&category=Revolver
There really are too many possibilities. I like to shoot .9mm polymer pistols. But I carry a S & W Airweight. I cannot wear a sport coat all the time in Texas, so shoulder rigs are out. I work in an office and have my shirt tail tucked in. The easiest way (for me) to carry is to carry the light Airweight in a pocket holster in my pocket.
As this is your first firearm, I would also add my vote for a good used .357 magnum revolver, 3 or 4 inch barrel. With a small amount of care and cleaning, a revolver is a simple and reliable tool.
But whatever you end up getting you have a responsibility to learn to handle the firearm competently. So find an instructor, buy several boxes of cheap ammunition, go to the pistol range and practice, practice, practice.
Then practice some more.
Hey you forgot an M-79 Granade launcher.
kind of hard to pack foo gas concealed though..
You’ll shoot your eye out!
Recently purchased a Mossberg 12 guage M590A1 18.5" heavy barrel. Nice weapon for home security.
Let me add to my prior post, that as in everything else in life, you get what you pay for. There are cheap guns out there such as the S&W Sigma series. But read the reviews. The trigger is horrible on many of these guns. It comes down to little things like that in a life and death situation. One of the reasons I will reiterate my belief int he 1911.
The 1911 is single action.....no heavy DA for the first shot. Additionally, the trigger weight is between 4 and 5 pounds compared ot the S&W Sigma (and others) which have it closer to 9 or 10.
There is a reason that LAPD SWAT, the US Marines and so many other use 1911’s......they have stood the test of time.
A Kimber Cutom II can be had for about $700 or so. A bargain when compared to most of the other guns you will see recommended here.
Remington 870 with 18” barrel.
AR-15 is a fun weapon to shoot, but I don’t see where it would fit this guys needs at all. Also, I much prefer pump shotguns to semi-auto sporting models. The only decent semi’s for home defense are combat models.
“Smith and Wesson, 357 Magnum revolver with a 4 inch barrel. You can shoot both 38 special or 357 magnum cartridges. American made, lifetime warranty and easy to master.”
I concur, simple, reliable and the wife can easily shoot it with P+ .38 spl. loads and it will have knock down power and even more if loaded with magnum loads.
Get either a Smith & Wesson-if possible a used pre-lock, Colt-if you can find one or a Ruger.
And most important, practice, train and learn Col. Coopers 4 rules of firearms.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.