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I'm looking for advice concerning buying a handgun.

ABERDEEN, Md. --- Tell a Soldier he's loading "environmentally friendly" ammo into his M4 mag and he might be skeptical about whether it's as effective as its lead counterpart. But Army officials here say the new M855A1 Enhanced Performance Round -- with its steel core instead of a toxic lead slug -- is far more effective than the current round, doubling the effective range and for the first time giving M4-wielding Joes the ability to penetrate barriers once reserved for higher-caliber rounds. "There's a stigma among Soldiers about something that's 'green,' " said Lt. Col. Jeff Woods, the Army's small...

Hello all, FR has to be one of the better places I know to ask a question regarding firearms. I was just looking for a definitive answer - Is it safe to 'dry fire' a firearm without doing any harm to the gun? All throughout my growing up, I was told that dry firing a gun was a big 'no - no', with people saying that it would damage the gun. After doing some reading here and there, I've found that this may not be the case, and it's perfectly fine to dry fire a gun without worry. As anyone...

At least 19 people -- many of them alleged Westside gang members -- were arrested early Wednesday on suspicion of firearms and narcotics offenses observed at a Venice storefront run by undercover agents. Agents with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives carried out "Operation Villainz Ink" with the Los Angeles Police Department, targeting members of the Venice 13, or Venice Trece, gang. “ATF will aggressively pursue these violent gangs that occupy our communities and will continue to work with our partners to ensure that they know we are coming for them,” said John A. Torres, special agent...

The National Rifle Association has been holding its annual meeting in Pittsburgh for the past few days, heralded with billboards promising "acres of guns and gear." Here's a billboard you didn't see, but would have if the group was honest about its mission to paint even the most sensible gun laws as a step toward tyranny: "The NRA: Because if Richard Poplawski can't have an arsenal, neither can you." Mr. Poplawski, of course, was one of those "law-abiding" citizens whose right to bear arms the NRA claims to be protecting. Unfortunately, he ceased to be law abiding on April 4,...

Abstract This article summarizes the scientific literature on the health risks and benefits of having a gun in the home for the gun owner and his/her family. For most contemporary Americans, scientific studies indicate that the health risk of a gun in the home is greater than the benefit. The evidence is overwhelming for the fact that a gun in the home is a risk factor for completed suicide and that gun accidents are most likely to occur in homes with guns. There is compelling evidence that a gun in the home is a risk factor for intimidation and for...

Not content to pack off millions of miscreants, impoverished or labor-averse citizens to the welcoming, welfare bestowing arms of the United States government, Mexican President Felipe Calderon has decided to hold Americans responsible for his nation’s crime rate as well. On November 2nd, 2010, Calderon retained the New York law firm of Reid, Collins and Tsai to sue American gun manufacturers and dealers for the reputed massive influx of weapons into the otherwise zephyr-swept, Shangri La of Mexico. “We seized more than 90,000 weapons…I am talking like 50,000 assault weapons, AR 15 machine guns, more than 8,000 grenades and almost...

This is not new information for those of you in Iowa, but since the Hawkeye State became “shall issue” at the beginning of the year, permit applications are up almost 400 percent and the anti-gun nuts are freaking out. It’s public information, they demand the “right” to know who’s packing. Since I pay a significant amount of tax dollars to the town, state and federal government, I must have “the right” to have provided to me a list of everyone who is receiving food stamps, enrolled in the Housing Choice Voucher Program (aka Section 8), receives subsidized school breakfasts, and/or...

Arizona is among 24 other states that allows colleges and universities to make policies in regard to carrying guns on campus.

Source link leads to a clickable map of the US enabling you to find the Appleseed dates and locations nearest you. You can't beat 2 full days of shooting and quality instruction for the money.

Prior to the Gun Control Act of 1968, you could buy almost any firearm that struck your fancy by mail order. Many of us received copies of gun and outdoors magazines back then. In addition to being chocked full of interesting articles on hunting, the history, use, and maintenance of your firearms, you could buy guns directly by mail from a host of gun dealers who advertised in these magazines. Pay the price and the shipping and your gun would be delivered directly to your home by an agent of the United States Government, the postman. We have pictured here...

This Libyan shows off a newly captured automatic rifle and what appears to be a grenade launcher to his envious friends. What kind of rifle is it? Here's the video...

I've been intrigued by the Appleseed Project and I would like to take part in some of their shooting events, as well as other recreational shooting events. Most events require 400-500 rounds for weekend participation. The ammo for my current rifles would cost nearly a dollar per round. I've done some checking at Cheaper than Dirt and ammo for .223 rifles would be only $250 or so, a much more manageable cost. I would like to get FReeper recommendations for fun-to-shoot rifles in the .223/5.56 that would be suitable for the Appleseed Project and practical for training purposes. Also, does...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWa76N5B1_0

First they came for our bicycles. Now they’ve come for our guns. One day after word leaked of a New York State plan to require license plates and annual fees for bicycles, information has gotten out about pending legislation that would register and attach a fee to every firearm in the state. Already one of the most anti-gun states in the country, New York’s move would all but nullify the Second Amendment. At issue is Senate Bill 2994, which is linked in its entirety at the bottom of this column. It would require every gun owner in the state to...

A federal operation that allowed weapons from the U.S. to pass into the hands of suspected gun smugglers so they could be traced to the higher echelons of Mexican drug cartels has lost track of hundreds of firearms, many of which have been linked to crimes, including the fatal shooting of a Border Patrol agent in December. The investigation, known as Operation Fast and Furious, was conducted even though U.S. authorities suspected that some of the weapons might be used in crimes, according to a variety of federal agents who voiced anguished objections to the operation. Many of the weapons...

Self-Defense: Illinois' attorney general wants to publish the state's list of gun-owners, placing the lives and safety of non-gun-owners at risk. It's a list for criminals of the best potential victims. The anti-gun lobby has sought to impose what it calls "sensible restrictions" on gun ownership ever since Otis McDonald, a 76-year-old Army veteran who lives in a high crime area of Chicago, won his case before the U.S. Supreme Court saying the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution he fought to protect gives him the right to bear arms. These restrictions vary from training and education requirements to waiting...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DstZ_eQZkgs

I am planning to purchase a shotgun. I'm fairly certain that I will be buying the Remington 870 Express, synthetic. I do have some questions, though. I'm not experienced at all with shotguns. I've read that the barrel can be changed out on the Remington 870 and I am wondering to what extent that is true. What I am hoping is that I can buy one shotgun, and by purchasing a couple of additional barrels, I can have a true multi-tasker. Can I, for example, buy the 870 with the 18 inch barrel, and the magazine extension so that I...

Here's his press release from yesterday: NEW YORK, NY - United States Senator Charles E. Schumer, joined by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly, announced today the introduction of legislation that would provide greater reporting to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) for individuals with mental illness, domestic violence records, and drug abusers, by increasing the penalties for states that fail to adequately turn over records for those who are prohibited from owning a gun. The legislation will also require that all gun sales, including those by private sellers, be subject to a background...