Your input appreciated!

Your input appreciated!

Any other general advice for this shootin’ newbie?

Just in case no one mentioned this:

1) Treat every gun like it is loaded. (And don't trust safeties.)
2) Don't point at anything you don't want destroyed.
3) Keep finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot.
4) Don't shoot unless you are sure of your target AND what is behind it.

Oh, and these days it's best to buy from other individuals rather than dealers.

Good luck on your search for information. I wish I had the time to pursue such a great hobby -- but it is so much more than a hobby, isn't it?

There are a lot of FReepers who know an awful lot about guns. They are going to be a great help to you. Whatever you choose, try out a lot of guns personally before you decide to buy. You want one you're very comfortable with.

Have fun!

Colt 1911A1 - The Legend Lives On

Gun Digest, Guns and Ammo, Smith book on pistols and revolvers. Any of Jack O'conners books on firearms. Cartridges of the World. Flayderman's guide to Antique firearms ect.

Check out this web web site, http://gunfinder.net/index.shtml

"Gun Advice Needed..."

Gesh... are guns even legal there in Canada anymore?

I live in liberal California (San Diego) and my gun advice is don't tell your neighbors or anyone else that you have guns because more than two guns are a "stockplile" or "arsenal" here and you may get a visit from the BATF or any number of state or city law enforcement agencies (I have from both). Also I never, never, take a gun off my private property anymore. Gun owners with guns are criminals here now until they can prove otherwise.

Sorry to be so downbeat, but that's the way it is here in The People's Republic of California. I've been zoned out of two Federal Firearms Licenses (FFLs) since 1992.

Go for the 30-06 and .45 calibres for knockdown power for your personal protection. A .22 cal is good for target practice and developing eye and trigger coordination. Lock and Load.

Blue Book of Gun Values, Complete guide to Guns and Shooting By John Mallory, Shooters.com, Shooterready.com, Art of the Rifle by Jeff Cooper, High Power Rifle by G. David Tubb

If you want to know how to shoot, pay strict attention to Jeff Cooper on how to shoot a pistol and G. David Tubb on how to shoot a rifle. Shooterready.com will show you how to read distance and wind.

I saw the title and had to actually get my reading glasses. I didn't see the 'a'.

-TheFiringLine--Tech info, good forum

"Gun Advice Needed for a Shootin’ Newbie" It's okay to give them a hard time but, please don't shoot the newbies.

Make sure you have at least one gun that you can shoot a lot for practice. My favorite practice guns are a Ruger Single Six revolver that can shoot anything from quiet CBs and subsonics to .22 mag and a Ruger Mark II target .22 semi auto in stainless with a 10" barrel. And, they are both great for close up work on pests and varmints. Shoot all day without denting your wallet.

Here is an excellent site for all kinds of gun information:

http://talk.shooters.com/

If you're interested in old military rifles, I would suggest looking into some of the old Mauser rifles. The M96 Swedish Mauser (caliber 6.5x55) variations are well made and very accurate. Go to the following site if you want to see some of the older military rifles that are available:

http://www.en.com/mauserman/

If money is not a problem, study double rifes, fine shotguns and the history behind such weapons. Try and read about Holland and Holland, Rigby, Purdey, and Westley Richards. There are many fine firearms built yet today. Collecting Winchesters is like beanie babies. I have enjoyed reading AFRICAN RIFLES AND CARTRIDGES by John Taylor. Modern Firearm Engraving by Mario Abbiatico. Lots of good information in Firearms Investigation, Identification, and Evidence by Hatcher, Jury and Weller. Handbook for shooters and Reloaders by P.O. Ackley. Many fine weapons are being built by Italian gun makers. Some weapons are more fun to study then Model 94's and 1911's. Try not to get caught up in collecting stuff because others do the same. Learn why somthing was built. how it was built and who used it. Good luck

I forgot to add that my favorite old military weapon is the M1 Garand. Buy one and you'll have a unique semi-auto with a rich history that's fun to shoot. I'd guess that the Canadian armed forces must have used them at some time in the not too distant past.

I'm a bit new myself. But have you checked out the newsgroup "rec.guns" ?

Shooters Talk, already mentioned, is great. Other sites that are maybe a bit off the beaten track are:

For varmint hunting and many other related and unrelated topics plus loads of links and downloadable targets, Varmint Al's page at http://www.cctrap.com/~varmint/index.html

Marlin has a discussion board for their guns (I have an 1895 lever gun in .45-70 and just love to shoot it) at http://www.marlinfirearms.com/marlinTalk/index.htm

Also check out the Firearms Tactical Institute at http://www.firearmstactical.com/ and Sniper Country at http://snipercountry.com/