[spiroxlii]

My girlfriend and I just applied for our carry permits, and now we're shopping for handguns. We have a local indoor range here in Gwinnett where we've been able to rent and fire several types of handguns, but unfortunately, their rental selection is limited. We've seen several models that we like, but we've been unable to fire them to see how they handle.

Among the models we'd like to try are:
Bersa Thunder 380
Keltec P11 or PF9
Keltec P32 or P3AT
CZ82 or CZ83
Any of the compact Kahr models

If you are in or around Atlanta have one of these handguns OR A SIMILAR MODEL that you think we should try and you're willing to let us come try it out at our local range (or your local range if you prefer), then we'll buy the ammo. We only need to fire a few rounds. The rest of the box of ammo is yours.

Respond here if you're willing. Once we've seen/handled enough handguns, I'll update the thread to show that we're no longer looking.

[NGIB]

The range I use in Marietta has a good selection of rentals but I'm not sure it has any you mention. I also have quite a few pistols, but again none you mention. I'm waiting for my CCW as well and my carry will either be my SW99, Sig 225, or Beretta 9000 - I lean towards the single stack Sig...

[USMC - Retired]

Get involved with GeorgiaCarry.Org. We have quarterly luncheon/shoots and pretty much everyone there lets anyone who wants try thier stuff and there is always plenty of hardware to try!

[axeman_g]

where are you shooting in Gwinett? I used to live out that way and used to shoot regularly at Bullseye in Lawrenceville and at Armerican Marksman in Alpharetta area. Both had good rental lineups when I went.

By the way, all of the handguns you listed are very snappy in the recoil department. If you looking small carry without the snap of the .380 in a little gun, try the Smith and wesson M&P 9mm Compact. I would also recomend the Ruger Sp101 in .32H&R Mag, a very simple point and click interface.

I know for a fact neither of the ranges would carry those firearms for rentals, .380 is too expensive for a rental gun.

A suggestion if you will indulge me... my wife was recoil sensative... her first carry gun was a Walther P22 3" model... better then a slap fight or throwing rocks. She then took my sp101 in .38 as her last carry before we moved to NJ. She loves shooting .357 mags now... your girl will graduate up as her sensativity to shooting subsides, if she is like me wife at all. Just my two cents, be prepared to move up in guns, or buy one for yourself you know she will steal soon. A reason to go get a new gun...

[Amish_Bill]

I have a P11, P32, and a Kahr. I also have a titanium snubby and maybe a few others that might be of interest.

[spiroxlii]

USMC, I joined that forum today, thanks!

Axeman, thanks for the suggestions. Today she handled a Bersa 380 and a full size 9mm. She actually didn't mind the recoil of the Bersa at all, and she determined that she liked the Bersa's trigger better than a KelTec P3AT because the KelTec is DAO.

Amish, I see that your sig says you're an instructor. Instead of just borrowing you to try out your guns, could we hire you for lessons? PM me if you still teach.

[slow944]

The Bersa T380 is one of my favorite guns of all time. I usually carry my P3AT daily in a DeSantis Nemesis pocket holster. Had a P11 and it had such a Loooooooong trigger pull that I sold it. The PF9 has a better trigger I've been told. Have heard nothing but good things about the CZ's and the Khars although expensive. Right now I also have a S&W 669 in 9mm that I carry IWB along with a Kimber Pro Carry Ten II in 45ACP depending on what I'm wearing. Might look at used guns as sometimes thay are a better deal than buying new if the used is a better gun to start with.

[btg3]

Ruger SP101
Bersa T380
S&W M&Pc 9mm

All the above get my vote. Consider the cost of ammo and you may head toward a 9mm. Especially if you plan to shoot much - - which you should.

[axeman_g]

Amish is a great resource... he has a few of my resales in his possession.

[Wheeler]

I'm not sure where you are shooting in Gwinnett however, there is Bull's eye in Lawrenceville right in the downtown area and American Classic Marksman in Duluth/Norcross at the corner of Peachtree Industrial and Medlock. There is also an indoor range off Atlanta Hwy in Bogart (just outside of Athens), one in Cumming (sorry, I don't recall the names of those two) and the Sportsman's Lodge in Oakwood off of Rt. 53.

If you are interested in outdoor ranges, Cherokee Gun Club in Gainesville has IDPA, IPSC, and 6 gun fun (Cowboy) matches as well as several different shotgun venues and rifle matches. South River Gun Club has the same offerings but, depending on where you are located in Gwinnett, may be a bit further to drive. Neither range rents guns or has ammo to sell. Outside of the matches or shotgun venues, they are not open to the public either.

FYI, the ventilation at Bull's Eye and American Classic is sub-par in my opinion. Not much to worry about if you are going there for a day of shooting and trying out guns but I wouldn't spend too much time there in a regular basis.

I hope this helps,
Wheeler

[spiroxlii]

We ended up finding the guns we could afford and trust! Thanks for everybody's input.

We do go to Bulls Eye fairly often, and I have to agree with you about the ventilation. It's worse now that they allow shotguns on the range (buck and slugs only).

[uberberzerker]

which guns did you end up with?

[quatin]

By the way, all of the handguns you listed are very snappy in the recoil department.

The CZ-83 has "snappy" recoil? What do you mean by this. I actually had this as the forerunner in my list of ccw handguns.

[spiroxlii]

We ended up with a Bersa Thunder 9 Ultra Compact for me (13+1rds 9mm) and a Bersa Thunder 380 for her (7+1rds .380ACP).

She originally liked the Keltec P3AT, but its light weight contributed to felt recoil, and its DAO trigger pull turned her off. The Bersa Thunder 380 is heavier, so it helps to dampen recoil, and it's a DA/SA.

The Bersa Thunder 9 UC frame is almost as small as the Thunder 380 frame, but it's thicker since it's a double-stack 9mm. My hands are much bigger than my girlfriend's hands, so the grip was no problem for me.

[realityscope]

My fiance carries the P3AT but isn't impressed because the weight and trigger pull either, i'd be interested to see how she would like the bersa....i usually pocket carry a colt jr. or holster a taurus .40....we're also in gwinnett and shoot at bulls-eye occaisionally

[spiroxlii]

reality, if you want, your fiance can try out my girlfriend's Bersa 380 and my Bersa 9 soon. I will be busy this week with school and this weekend with the gun show in Gwinnett (I'm volunteering at the GCO table), but we could probably arrange a meet soon.

Speaking of the gun show, all you metro-ATL folks are going, right? Stop by the GCO table if you do!

[realityscope]

Sounds good to me, this weekend is prob out for me too since i got booked up on sidework, but maybe the following..

[btg3]

Great info in this thread. Thanks all. I'm from out-of-state and just started working weekdays in Atlanta (will miss the weekend show.) The above posts were timely for me and I'm hoping to visit a range or two. I'm staying about 2 miles north of spaghetti junction (I-85 N and I-285). Is American Classic the closest? I prefer not to get into the evening traffic any more than necessary.

[NGIB]

Welcome to Atlanta. I stay away from spaghetti junction as much as I can as 285 turns into a parking lot. Not sure which range is closest to you, possibly Bulls Eye in Lawrenceville...

[KingTiger]

American Classic Marksman is on the corner of Peachtree Industrial Blvd. & Medlock Bridge Road. My office is west of 85 off Jimmy Carter & it takes me about 10 min. to get there.

[realityscope]

How is American Classic? I have never been there but its within reasonable distance for me if it's better than Bulls-eye..

[uberberzerker]

I've only been to ACM once, on a rainy Saturday last spring. It was BUSY as all get out. I think we waited for our 2 lanes for around 30 minutes. If I remember correctly, it's roughly double the lanes of Bullseye's in L-ville. I also seem to remember them having very little in the way of fresh air pumping in there, I was sweating like crazy just reloading magazines. Temps probably won't matter this weekend as it will be near freezing outside, however :cuss:

American Classic Marksman,
5305 Peachtree Blvd., Norcross, GA 30092.
Phone: 770-449-6200
Facilities include: Indoor Pistol (25 yds), Indoor Rifle (25 yds), Rifle Silhouette, Pistol Silhouette
Hours of Operation: 11:00AM TILL 09:00PM
Range Access: Public

If you're in the spaghetti junction area, it's worth a go. Unless you feel like driving 30 minutes to the Lawrenceville place, which can be crowded as well in my experience.

[Wheeler]

You are correct about the air at ACM. I worked on their system a couple of time, it's not the range's fault, Frank (the owner) was sold a poor design. The system is supposed to have fresh air brought in just behind the shooting bays, and the bad air drawn out at the end of the range. The system just doesn't draw well. I talked to Frank about redoing the system and he said the cost was going to be VERY high. More than the range could afford.

Having said that, Bull'seye is not any better.

ACM is much closer to Spaz Getti Junction.

Wheeler

[btg3]

Good posts, and thanks again. Think I'll give ACM a try this week as it should be easiest for me to get to.

KingTiger, we may work near each other as my office is on Holcomb Bridge Rd at Jimmy Carter Blvd. So, the office is closer to ACM than my apartment!

[realityscope]

I was at the show today but after walking around twice I never saw the Georgia Carry table, I walked past the NRA and Ron Paul tables thinking it would be nex to them but nope....

[Mojo-jo-jo]

I missed the GCO table somehow as well, but I showed up pretty late (3:30). Man, that show was BUSY!

[NGIB]

I was there for an hour or so when the doors opened. About all I found was some Gold Dot ammo from Georgia Arms and not much else was reasonable. Did meet Chris, owner of SemperFiArms, and he'll be doing my next FFL transfer. Saw a few guns that interested me but the pricing was very high as usual...

[spiroxlii]

We were way up near the front entrance. As you come in, if you went to the right and looked at the tables tucked away in that little alcove, you'd have seen us.

Don't worry. I had to wander the whole show before I found the table too.

[realityscope]

Between the entrance and the girls selling hotdogs for $3 each?

[spiroxlii]

You got it.

[realityscope]

I stopped at one of the tables there, obviously wasn't the right one...

[spiroxlii]

We were way up against the glass, right next to a table full of assorted Ruger 10/22 an Mini14 rifles.

[NGIB]

So did GCO acquire bunches of new members???

[spiroxlii]

Final count was (I think) sixteen new applications filled out at the show and a couple dozen people saying they'd look at our website before deciding.

Here on THR, people talk about joining one of the national 2A groups like the NRA or GOA, but I think it's just as important to join a state/local group. Georgia state gun laws are often confusing, sometimes vague, and originally racist. To make matters worse, some counties illegally restrict Georgia citizens' gun rights even more than the state already does. GCO has been going after counties that don't know the meaning of "preemption." Life for gun owners in many counties (including Gwinnett, where I live) has gotten easier since GCO started making noise.

[NGIB]

Tis a true story. I just wish that the GA counties would follow the law and get your permit to you within the 60 day law. I'm at 60+ and it will probably be another 60 if I believe what Cobb county told me...

[spiroxlii]

I know some guys in Gwinnett who waited up to 8 or 9 months for their permits. Needless to say, that violates the "60 days" or "90 days if there's a problem" rules.

GCO unleashed the lawyers on Gwinnett. At the courthouse, I was told it could take up to 3 months. My permit came in only two weeks. They just had some victories in Athens/Clarke County. We're knocking 'em out one by one and getting REAL results that make a difference for our members.

[NGIB]

Perhaps they need to unleash the dogs on Cobb as well as I'm also a GCO member...

[spiroxlii]

NGIB, if you haven't already, I suggest you join the forum at www.georgiapacking.org where a lot of GCO members share info with each other.

[boom boom]

GCO has been an invaluable information source and represents Georgia firearm owners well at the Georgia General Assembly. It provides one stop county information for applying for your GFL. (Additionally, unlike some other gun organization that shall not be named, does not call you persistently at home when you are working).

[btg3]

Shot at ACM this week. They spent $40k 6 months ago on the air system. Seems fine now, but I'm not an expert on HVAC.
IDPA had 16 shooters -- a crowd for an indoor shoot and made things rather slow. Good folks at ACM. I'll be back.