Any stories of bad advice you received regards guns?

JCooperfan1911 said:

“The 9mm is just as effective as the .45 ACP”

Piffle.

The reason departments use the 9mm is because today’s small stature and female officers cannot handle the big .45 and the price per round is cheaper for 9mm. It has nothing to do with effectiveness.

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If I could "love" this instead of "like", I would, in a heartbeat.

Worst advice I’ve ever received:
Someone breaking in to your house is enough justification to murder them.

A buddy and I used to go to Bass Pro a lot of Friday nights (might have been why we were single) and one of the old guys behind the gun counter always told us that "You boys need a semi-auto shotgun. Those pumps are bad news, because sometimes you forget to pump."

We used to laugh at him, we both exclusively shot pumps and never imagined we'd ever forget to pump the action after firing. But then just last week I was shooting clays with my brother, who only owns an 870, and he kept missing doubles because, you guessed it, he kept forgetting to pump. Even worse was we went on a pheasant hunt on Friday, and he never got off any follow-up shots because he wasn't moving that action!

So maybe that old timer's advice wasn't actually that bad.

In other news, I've learned to ignore the "I carry a .45 because they don't make a .46" guys. In the grand scheme of things, the difference between a 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP is negligible when you're talking hollow points.

bassjam said:

A buddy and I used to go to Bass Pro a lot of Friday nights (might have been why we were single) and one of the old guys behind the gun counter always told us that "You boys need a semi-auto shotgun. Those pumps are bad news, because sometimes you forget to pump."

We used to laugh at him, we both exclusively shot pumps and never imagined we'd ever forget to pump the action after firing. But then just last week I was shooting clays with my brother, who only owns an 870, and he kept missing doubles because, you guessed it, he kept forgetting to pump. Even worse was we went on a pheasant hunt on Friday, and he never got off any follow-up shots because he wasn't moving that action!

So maybe that old timer's advice wasn't actually that bad.

In other news, I've learned to ignore the "I carry a .45 because they don't make a .46" guys. In the grand scheme of things, the difference between a 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP is negligible when you're talking hollow points.

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It’s almost like practice makes for muscle memory.

To the point of where I still catch myself attempting to pump my 1100, after owning 870's since 18; just traded my last one two years ago for the 1100. I also have the habit of trying to thumb the non-existent frame-mounted safety off when shooting Glocks.

In the context of showing interest in a particular model, "Buy a Glock." has frequently been parroted to me. I've very happy for people who like their Glocks. They are effective weapons. However considering how different everyone's preferences are, needs, and variations in hands makes "Buy a Glock." some of the silliest advice and worst ideas I've ever had pushed on me.

The only time "Buy a Glock." is actually good advice is if a person says "I'm considering buying a Glock."

This is true of all fanboy advice.

460Shooter said:

In the context of showing interest in a particular model, "Buy a Glock." has frequently been parroted to me. I've very happy for people who like their Glocks. They are effective weapons. However considering how different everyone's preferences are, needs, and variations in hands makes "Buy a Glock." some of the silliest advice and worst ideas I've ever had pushed on me.

The only time "Buy a Glock." is actually good advice is if a person says "I'm considering buying a Glock."

This is true of all fanboy advice.

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I don’t know what it is but I am unable to shoot a Glock for crap.

daniel craig said:

I don’t know what it is but I am unable to shoot a Glock for crap.

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You and I are similar. I can't shoot *any* full size double stack worth bothering with. I'm better off dropping the mag and having two things to throw at you, instead of just throwing the gun w/ mag inserted.

"Everyone needs at least one 1911 in their collection."

No. Not if you don't like them or find them comfortable to shoot.

daniel craig said:

I don’t know what it is but I am unable to shoot a Glock for crap.

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Mr. Mosin said:

You and I are similar. I can't shoot *any* full size double stack worth bothering with. I'm better off dropping the mag and having two things to throw at you, instead of just throwing the gun w/ mag inserted.

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I actually shoot Glocks just fine. That doesn't mean I need or want one.

Mr. Mosin said:

You and I are similar. I can't shoot *any* full size double stack worth bothering with. I'm better off dropping the mag and having two things to throw at you, instead of just throwing the gun w/ mag inserted.

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See I shoot many larger gripped handguns just fine. I think it’s the sights...or something. Idk.

When I was looking to buy my first pistol, I had my heart set on a good used Star Super in 9mm Largo from Sarcoinc. All my friends, and in-laws who I sought their advice on this, told me to forget about it.
It was junk, it had soft steel, you can't find parts for it, you can't find ammo for it, etc.

So....I bought it. I call it "Pistol of No Regrets" because it is a very nice pistol, love the mechanics on it. 9mm Largo sure doesn't grow on trees, but Starline brass is pretty plentiful, and I reload my own.
Lesson is, don't believe everything anyone tells you.

"the lee won't work out, get the Dillon".... sell your $200 press to buy a $4000 press. 60K or so loaded, and it turns out the Lee worked really well.
Gunshop employee told me not to buy "that old worn out" .25 he was selling, at least as anything other than a decoration. 16 years later, that old .25 still works fine..... dozens of people telling me the AR is junk.... made of plastic.

If you go in knowing what you want, you don't get as much bad advise, bus some friends decided they all wanted CZ's one year. We have 2 shops within 100 miles that acknowledge they exist, and the 5 closer shops "you don't want that russian garbage try an XD" You have to understand at the time there was a huge promotion from springfield so XD's were cheap to the shop, but not the buyer.
My 100lb friend was talked into buying a micro pistol in .40
I think the worst advise is usually at a gun counter, and the worst of that is novelty ammo. We have one big shop around here that pushed that junk hard. The plastic bullets that look like Lehigh, but is not, the RIP type junk and all that other crap that will get people maimed if they ever have to fight off an aggressive dog, or cougar... which is what nearly everyone i know carries a pistol for in the first place.

daniel craig said:

See I shoot many larger gripped handguns just fine. I think it’s the sights...or something. Idk.

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Bout the only duty sized auto I can shoot well is a 1911 Gov't or Cmmdr.

Hmmm . . .
"You'll put y'r eye out!!!"
"You don't have to aim a shot gun."
"00 Buck will stop anything."
"Recoil only happens after the bullet leaves the barrel."
"[Small statured people] are too small for [large bore automatics]."
"[Caliber] is better than [caliber]."
"[Action] is best, [other action] is junk."

"you can't carry a 1911 concealed. They're too big"
".45 recoil with that short a barrel will be unmanageable. And you won't be able to hit anything past 10 feet"
".22's have killed more people than the plague."
"Women need a small caliber, small frame. Nothing bigger than 9mm"

ETA... Basically any advice anyone gives regarding size, shape, brand, style, caliber or color.

entropy said:

Also, from my Dad, "Trap shooting is more fun than Skeet." True, but both are expensive, and shooting Trap has cost me a lot of money over the years.......

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Truth, on both counts.

Use a wooden dowel to remove a bullet stuck in the barrel.

Multiple times... On this site.

Some of you need to study, hit percentage and split times when comparing 9mm and 45ACP. And for the other side people need to study expansion diameters and their penetration qualities of 45ACP.

Not trying to get in a caliber war, but there are justifiable qualities to carry a 9mm, just as there are justifiable qualities to carry a 45ACP.

It's not cut and dry like caliber wars want to make it out to be. I'll just leave it at that.

More bad advice in 45 posts here than I've seen in a while. This won't last long.

jmr40 said:

More bad advice in 45 posts here than I've seen in a while. This won't last long.

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Wasn’t that the point of the thread? Reporting on bad advice.

Bwana John said:

Use a wooden dowel to remove a bullet stuck in the barrel.

Multiple times... On this site.

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I can vouch for that, both the multiple time.... on this site, and its complete failure. Steel rod worked great.

!2 gauge shotguns with 3" chambers don't kick any more than ones with 2 3/4" chambers. Guns with 3 1/2" chambers don't kick any more than those with 3" chambers. And 10 gauge shotguns don't kick any more than 12 gauge shotguns. Liars!

"Revolvers are not usable as serious home defense guns"
".22 zig zags in the body"
"I was in (insert any military or police body) so I know what I'm talking about"
"Women should carry snub nose .32s and carry them in a purse"
"Training is not needed, just aim pull trigger"
"Police are perfectly able to get to you in time"
"ARs are not hunting weapons"
"280 grain federal swift a frame in .44 mag is perfect for self defense"
"You can't conceal a large bowie on your person daily"