Should I keep my mouth shut?

Should I say anything or just keep my big yap closed and my opinions to myself?

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This but for entirely different reasons. 8)

I've very, very, very, very rarely found anyone who is able to convey information like this without sounding less than irritating. Why play the lottery and potentially be just one more know it all who is bashing their guns as you (potentially and probably) most likely launch into a very educated tirade about the inferiority of a product they seem to like, where they get no word in edgewise?
I'm not saying that's necessarily what you'd do, honest. But I can rarely point at anyone who can talk to a nub about their hobby without looking like they're doing exactly that. Especially if they're passionate about it.

I'm old, so I have learned that every time that question needs to be asked the answer is always to keep quiet. Intersting CCW laws in MO; In Texas, and I believe in most shall-issue states with testing requirements, minimum calibers exists along with function type of weapons. In Texas, you must test with a .32acp minimum, and you are only alowed to carry a revolver if you test with a revolver. If you test with an auto pistol, you can carry either.

I'd say it depends entirely on your relationship with them. If you're out at the range with them, plinking or practicing, and talking guns, your opinions there might be welcomed and maybe even acted upon.

(I'd say something about choosing a .22 as well...)

If you're just chatting at church, bringing up self-defense and guns, especially just to rag on their choices, is probably going to seem gauche, and at the very least your words of wisdom will go in one ear and out the other.

Of course, it also depends on the ladies. How serious-minded are they about this, how much concern do they seem to show about needing to know how to use their guns, how seriously do they seem to take the idea of potential violence?

Do they have other mentors who have guided them to their current situation? Undoing someone elses' teaching might be fighting a losing battle.

I'd take the long view and see if there comes a right time and place to have that discussion, and see what I could do to establish myself as worthy of their attention before jumping into that.

I would tend not to say anything directly about their choice of pistols but I would suggest they practice shooting to become proficient with the little pistols. If they shoot them enough they will likely find they have less than reliable guns for CCW. They may well come to you asking for reliable pistol recommendations. Then you can make some suggestions.

I would tend not to say anything directly about their choice of pistols but I would suggest they practice shooting to become proficient with the little pistols. If they shoot them enough they will likely find they have less than reliable guns for CCW.

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Crafty! This Rem guy knows things. Show, don't tell, let them make their own decisions.

+1 what Rem said, and maybe you could go a little further. Why not suggest a friendly outing to the range? That could give a lot of opportunity to respectfully educate these ladies on all the aspects of carrying and shooting, not just choice of weapon.

Let them shoot the Glock.

Keep your mouth shut.

Offer to take them to the range. Since it's a .22, that cost nothing to shoot, offer to supply ammo.

Then bring some real guns for them to try as well.

Let them make up their own mind.

Without quoting the post, I have to agree with that first response from Nushif.

I'm a gun person that has a really bad time being around gun people. Too many times they have too many opinions, and those opinions always leave me wondering how they decided they are smarter than me.

Are either of them like the Church Lady that used to be on Saturday Night Live? If so, that would have been a good CHL class to be in.

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If you bring it up at all, bring it up in the form of questions. "How do you like it?" "Do you think it'll be reliable?" "Have you planned on shooting / practicing with it a lot?" You can the respond with more questions or answers to them, like.. "I had heard, I had not the best experience myself but was hoping they had straightened everything out"
"have they?" comeing out and saying what someone has bought is CRAP, will only put them on the defensive.

Then bring some real guns for them to try as well.

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Sorry, but a .22 is a VERY REAL gun. It's capable of taking a life, especially if shot multiple times. It freaks me out when I see statements like that. Like you think it's a toy and you go out in your yard like it's a waterpistol.

If these are old ladies .22 might be all they can handle. It will get the job done if they train to shoot multiples and hit where they aim.

I have a Jennings that I picked up at least 15 years ago. It was my wife's office gun until I got her a .38 Taurus and took the J22 back as a backup woods carry gun, last ditch JIC. Once a year, I take it out and shoot the four magazines empty, clean the gun, and load the magazines with fresh CCI Stinger ammo (it also shot Aguila 60gr SSS well too).

That said, I would not recommend a Jennings J22 (especially used) without a checkout at the range with a variety of ammo. The ones I have seen used I would rate as abused and poorly maintained on the average.

Kinda same situation but different subject has happened to me. I would have congratulated them on their CHL and told them if they ever have any questions or problems feel free to call or ask. Rem's idea as with others was great. Nothing like buying something you are excited about and having someone tell you they bought the same thing for hundreds less or..... what you purchased, is less than dirt between your toes or lent in some one's pocket. Not exactly a good way to earn respect and friends.

I also agree with Remllez. That's a good place to start. That is, if there's a range close AND they don't feel intimidated about going there, as novice ladies sometimes do (if they aren't accompanied by a knowledgable friend.)


Anyway, I'd share your apprehension, Jonah...the Jennings .22 was THE WORST firearm I'd ever shot or owned. Jammed ALL the time. Maybe their guns are from the last few years of Jennings, and of better quality. Mine was also from the '80's. "Mind your own business" is my mantra and number one philosophy, but I'd follow up on it if you feel they still aren't familiar enough with their guns. What's worse - hurt feelings or dead friends?

Some people are grown up enough to accept the fact that other people know things that they do not so i would mention it. Just do it with tact and try to work it into a conversation in a way that doesn't sound like you're trying to teach them something. If they are the type of people to get upset at someone for trying to help them i wouldnt worry too much about their opinions.

What did Jesus say about casting pearls among swine in Matt 7:6? Something about them not understanding, trampling them to pieces and then turning and tearing you apart.

So, based on this, I'd say it depends on the person(s) you are speaking to, especially if these folks are emotional thinkers, then its really not worth your time and effort, just keep them in prayer.

Also, glad there are people around like you who care...

Some people are grown up enough to accept the fact that other people know things that they do not so i would mention it.

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Women are better at receiving advice generally than men, they don't have the blinding egos and assume correctly that the average man knows more about guns than the average woman.

Obviously not true in all cases.

I wouldn't say anything. They know they're comfortable with .22, budget was probably a factor in choosing a Jennings. They've made up their minds, and if they experience any problems they'll probably just switch to revolvers.

Hopefully they don't experience "problems" when they need to use these pistols to defend themselves. I will NEVER understand people who purchase the crappiest, cheapest, smallest-caliber pistol they can find to defense themselves and their families...

They could have bought a Raven or similar .25 acp for the same price that is 100% reliable. My Titan .25 has never failed me after I fixed it up.
Let them learn on their own, my experience with the J-22 is bad. A jam-o-matic. But I still want one because it is a sleek looking little gun.

I will NEVER understand people who purchase the crappiest, cheapest, smallest-caliber pistol they can find to defense themselves and their families...

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The first two seem to be an opinion.
Small caliber handguns can be effective if you know how to use it.
I just don't feel like spending $700 on a .45 + holster.

From what I've read, these pistols are not only very reliable, but durable as well. There's more info over at the jiminez-bryco forums.

I'm not sure they can be carried with one in the pipe, though.

There's the ole saying. A .22 in the purse is better than the 9mm at home. Or still in the gunstore. Heck, that applies to me. Since the novelty wore off, I rarely carry anything.

What one starts out carrying will often change. Let 'em learn like everyone else. If you take a poll, I bet most of the members here have gone through an average of 3 CCW's, so why are we such "experts" if we can't even make up our minds?

Why don't (and I skipped most of the thread, if someone already brought it up) you ask them to come to the range with you, bring a couple of bricks of various .22, and shoot with them for a full afternoon or day. Worst case, they get a little more trigger time in, and it's easier to explain that time behind the sights is extremely important than that they bought refuse guns.

Best case the guns act like the Jennings they are and you can clearly and politely point out how that performance level is unacceptable in a gun they will be relying on. And will allow you to point out that .22LR is the least reliable caliber and is kind of below acceptable momentum levels. Have some of your more above board pistols that could be used for carry in the car, so you can show them some higher quality alternatives.

If they actually work fine for a couple of hundred rounds, well I guess they beat their own reputation.

Better idea. Why don't YOU buy a J-22 for only $100.00 and give it a whirl. I have a $135.00 HP22A, and after breaking it in and tuning it up, it's just as reliable as my G21 and G19. 100% not counting bad ammo, give or take 0.0000%, with a high enough round count to be meaningful. FTR, that makes it more reliable than my MkIII, G27, Cougar, my 9x18 pistols, and just about every other gun I own. All of those guns have had at least 1 unexplicable failure to feed or eject. I absolutely trust that mousegun to go bang 10 times in 2 seconds with good ammo.