A few questions from a neophyte

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freewheeling

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Hi:

I've decided to purchase a firearm, but it has been so long since I've had an interest in it that I have no idea how to proceed. I live in northern Virginia, so I suppose what I need to know are some basics. Do I need a firearm license, and if so how do I obtain it? Do I need to find a local range and a gunshop, and are there any recommendations? I live south of DC on I-95 near Quantico.

I won't ask questions about what sort of weapon to buy, because I should probably get some hands on experience first. By the way, I was an NRA member in my youth, and used to do a lot of target shooting and a little hunting, but have never owned or used a handgun. I've always had an interest, but just never indulged it. I guess my thinking has changed on a lot of things after 9/11 and since I started writing on national security topics.
 
Welcome to THR (i guess I can say that now that I have 200 posts:D)
go to www.wheretoshoot.org to find a range near you. A lot of pistol ranges will have rentals. The range I go to will allow you to go through their whole rental case for 8$ (one at a time). Since it sounds like your skills are probably rusty, I'd start out with 22lr and practice shooting mechanics (if you have any questions or need a little instruction the employees at the range can probably help you). I'm no expert on handguns so I won't go any further, but I'm sure just about all of your firearm questions can be answered here.
 
First thing

Get training. Most NRA Basic pistol programs will allow you to shoot several different handguns for the cost of ammo and the cost of the course. IT will probably cost you less then a c note for this. Starting with a .22 Long rifle is a good bet if it fits your hand and your needs. Not recommended for self defense or home defense.
 
freewheeling

Welcome to the very best pro RKBA forum anywhere.

First, get instruction in the basics. There is no substitute for proper training.

Second, do shoot as many different firearms as possible. Find the weapon that you are most comfortable with in a caliber sutable for your purposes. An HK USP .45 that you can not hit the target with is not as effective as a Rugar Revolver that lets you enjoy a great deal of accuracy. In compitition, not hitting the target will not advance your standings. You'll get frustrated and get bored with it. In personal defence matters, not hitting the target will do worse than "Harsh Your Buzz."

Third, remember, there is no such thing as too much instruction.;)
 
Freewheeling,
Welcome to The High Road. There are a number of us here that are your neighbors. Look around and you'll find them.

Gun shops are easier to find than good clubs or ranges. There's a pretty fair small shop on Rte. 1 just south of the base--I forget its name. There are others in Manassas and Woodbridge, plus the venerable Clark Brothers in Warrenton. And the NRA range at headquarters in Fairfax adjacent to I-66. Have you thought about joining the Quantico Shooting Club? Check this website: http://www.quanticoshootingclub.com/ In the immediate area of Quantico/Triangle there are a number of active and retired Marines who will gladly render all manner of advice. In fact, it'll probably be a challenge to shut 'em up! :D

TC
TFL Survivor
 
Welcome Freewheeling.

Echoing the other good folks... get training. NRA basic pistol would be a good class to start with. Check out local gun stores, ranges, or gun clubs. Or else go to the NRA website and look for classes in your area.

At the beginning stage, take every opportunity to try any kind of shooting you can.

Not right away, maybe, but as soon as you are comfortable with safe gun handling it would be a good idea to try out one of the competitive shooting venues. Even if you do not intend to seriously compete (as in, intending to win) it is a lot of fun and good practice to try your hand in competition. Bullseye pistol, small bore rifle, and even high power rifle are all competitions where you would be welcomed and given friendly help and instruction getting started. This is one of the best ways to learn and improve your shooting; picking a venue where you are trying to accomplish a specific task, and there are experts to help you along.
 
Welcome, freewheeling...

All kinds of learning here on THR.

You didn't say as to the firearm type you might consider - rifle, shotgun, revolver, pistol (semi-auto). If you'll check through the various forums here you'll find gobs of info on just about everything in sight re firearms. Essentially, you have hit the mother lode of experience here.

Since I'm in Va Beach I can't advise on shops/ranges up north but there are many northern Virginians here and they'll be checking in. I'm sure you'll get the info you need.

You might also check out the Virginia Citizens Defense League (VCDL) web site at http://vcdl.org where you'll find a link to VA State Police who have the law re firearms and concealed carry (if carry is your goal).

One item I would suggest is to follow the link in my Sig (below) to the Four Rules of Gun Safety - a very practical guide.

Again welcome, and let's hear from you often.

-Andy
 
Thanks. Lafayette, huh? I went to school at Culver and ran against the Lafayette track team. Ages ago of course. (Not saying how long ago that was.)

The Quantico Club is within walking distance! (I have to jump the creek though.) I also came across a range in Woodbridge that has a shop attached, called "shooters paradise."

I've done some research and have more or less settled on three "possible" firearms as a place to start, and am leaning heavily toward the .40 calibers. I have a friend whom I've known since childhood who was in Special Forces in the Gulf War, and who recommended either a 1911 or a Glock. He said that he carried a Glock in the service, because team members could choose their own weapon and he had confidence in it. But I understand that it's highly contentious. The weapon is so different from anything else that it either appeals or it doesn't. I've also thought about the CZ 75B, (in .40SW) which seems like a lot of gun for the buck. 1911s may be out of my price range, for the moment. I understand a "good" 1911 is around $900 now. And then, of course, it'd be a .45ACP. I guess the advantage there, if I did join the Quantico Club, is that I could participate in military competitions that are open to the public. Not that that's a huge priority at the moment.

I'll have to take a drive down south on the Jeff Davis Hiway to see if I can spot that gunshop.

Thanks for the help everyone. It gives me a place to start, and I"ll keep in touch.
 
freewheeling, welcome to The High Road. Please stick around and keep posting; we'd be delighted to read of your experiences as you take up shooting again and choose the pistol(s) that you like best.

Others who know more than I do will likely chime in to share their thoughts and experiences with some of the pistols you describe. The good news is that:

1) there are very few bad choices, and
2) "I just like this one" is a valid reason for choosing a particular weapon.

Pay attention, too, to what you find yourself shooting the best; our hands, eyes and posture differ.

It's a pleasure to have you here.
 
Understanding the legal implications of your choices is critical. I don't know Virginia's laws, but you need to. There are several ways to find out.

(1) Read the laws yourself. If reading legalese, won't cause your gray matter to drip from your ears this can work, but you may miss some subtleties (eg. in PA, even if you are found "not guilty" in the criminal case, you're still likely to lose the civil case.)

(2) Talk with a lawyer. There are lawyers who take firearms-related cases and could explain the basics to you in an hour or two. This can also be a good way to find a lawyer to use in case you are ever involved in a shooting.

(3) Take an NRA Personal Protection class. Part of the class must cover legal aspects covered by a legal professional (lawyer or law enforcement officer).
 
Weclome!

freewheeling, you'll find plenty of places to shoot handguns around here. I second the reccomendation about getting some training. VCDL's website should have training links. I would suggest starting with NRA's basic pistol marksmanship, then personal protection in the home. The previous poster is right, for the cost of the class, you get to pepper a LEO or lawyer with as many legal what if's as you want.
Regardless of what gun you want, I'd suggest a 22 pistol 1st. Most here seem to like the Ruger MKII or the Browning Buckmark. My wife has the Buckmark, and it's very accurate, easy to shoot, and inexpensive. While you're saving money on ammunition and getting practice, you can rent 1 gun / week and decide what you like.
I'm a reformed, former .40 shooter myself :eek: I shoot 9mm more often now, because I've found it cheaper, more readily available at the local Walmart, and since it's cheaper, I practice with it more. Just because your acquaintance likes a particular make of gun, doesn't mean you will. Of course, it doesn't mean that you won't like it either. This person could have significantly different vitals than you, bigger/smaller hands, stronger/weaker hands, longer/shorter fingers, more/less forearm strength, better/worse eyes, etc., etc...
Practice, practice, practice. Get some range time, and pursue training. No gun? No problem. Shooter's Paradise rents, as does Blueridge arsenal in Chantilly. Afraid to let other shooters see you shoot ? BAH! ask if there are any instructors who could lend you a hand. Even if the range staff doesn't have any, I'll bet you could find someone on the line that would be more than willing to help. I'm an NRA instructor, and every Friday I shoot with at least 4 other instructors.

Good luck, hope this helps....
 
Welcome aboard there FW-

Lots of wonderful folk's here at THR; with boat loads of much
needed firearms information. If ever in doubt, or have a ?, dial
911-THR!:D I'm sure there will be someone on board that can
help you.

So, drag up a chair and join in with us. I'm sure you will enjoy
it very much.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
 
First, welcome to THR and to our hobby -- and our passion.

You do not need a license to buy a firearm in Virginia, although you will need a Concealed Carry permit to carry a handgun concealed. Virginia law -- and Prince William County -- is quite good re CCWs.

There are several reputable firearms shops near Triangle:
> Shooters Paradise (US 1 in Woodbridge) is pretty good and has a range;
> Dawson’s (also US1 in Woodbridge) is pricey but has an excellent handgun selection;
> Gilberts (Terminal Road in Newington, just off I-95) is “my†range: great people, good prices, an excellent indoor range, altogether first-rate.
In addition, the NRA’s range in Fairfax is beautiful. Finally, if you qualify, you can buy some hand- and long-guns at the Marine Corps Exchange (Quantico) and the Quantico Shooting Club (already mentioned in a prior posting) is excellent.

Like several others, I urge you to take introductory classes and to be INTENTLY CAREFUL RE FIREARMS SAFETY.

Finally, I noted you handgun choices. I suggest you consider a good .357 magnum/.38 Special revolver (3 to 5 inch barrel, with a four inch as my optimal recommendation). The Smith 686 or 27/627 and the Ruger GP100 are excellent, durable, reliable, accurate, high-quality, and inexpensive . . . in sum, best values. I urge you to consider this type of “all purpose†revolver for several reasons:
> It is all purpose: plinking, target shooting, hunting (including white tails), home defense, concealed carriage, and so forth.
> It is extremely accurate, reliable, and so durable you grandchildren will likely use the weapon.
> It is inexpensive.
> It will employ the FULL variety of .38 Special and .357 magnum rounds; this includes everything from low-cost 130 grain .38 Special target rounds, to highly potent .357 magnum defensive loads, and to specialized “cast lead core†hunting ammunition.
While we all own and enjoy autoloaders, you will find MANY experienced, accomplished hand-gunners who continue to use revolvers as their primary sidearm.
 
As you can tell from my screen name my first recommendation will be similar to others posted before me, take an NRA course and the Basic Pistol is probably the place to start.
Second, don't be in a hurry to make a decision on what to buy.
No matter what the reason is for your desire to get back into shooting you should start with a .22. The ammo is cheap and readily available - this is important as practice, practice, practice is important.
The .22 is good for plinking, target shooting and, where legal, for taking small game.
Further suggest that your first handgun not only be a .22 but also a wheel gun. They are less complicated to learn and easier to clean than semi-auto's. And go for a name brand and not a used gun.
Take good care of it and when you want something different it will hold it's value. That is if you want to sell, most of us keep everything we ever bought.
You are starting on a wonder trip. Enjoy.
 
Triangle, VA? Hot damn, I spent the first 7 years of my life there. Welcome to THR. :)
 
The .22 is good for plinking, target shooting and, where legal, for taking small game.
Click to expand...

Hi, NRA Instructor:

I wonder if I really need to go with a .22. The main attraction of such a small bore would obviously be the low expense, but I'm an adult with enough determination to have earned more advanced degrees than I really know what to do with, so other than the convenience and expense it really may be something of a waste for me to go that route. I look at it this way, compared to a 90mm Howitzer I practiced with in military school they're all small bore.

However, I have nothing against the suggestion. It's just that I don't necessarily see the need to follow that stepping stone path. However, I am seriously considering splitting the difference by starting with a 9mm, or possibly even a .38/.357 revolver. The folks at Shooters Paradise showed me an S&W .357 that was probably a 4-inch. It was used though, for $300. The Glocks they showed me were, frankly, butt ugly. I was rather surprised. Not that aesthetics are that big a deal, and I understand they're incredible weapons, but I was just surprised that they look so drab. They're an enigeering tour de force, however. My friend in Special Forces said the he and some friends took one of the frames and savaged it with some industrial equipment until it tore. They then glued it back together with super glue and it worked perfectly.

Thanks for your advice. Feeling my way in the dark, yah know.
 
I frankly love all .357's for a couple of reasons, not the least is that you can shoot .38 Specials in them. Between the two you have many different bullet weights to choose from. And if you get into reloading you can have a ball.
Now, back to the .22. I have a .22 that matches one of my .357's in size and weight so I can also practive with it. Have to assume that money is no object to you so the cost saving of using the .22 wouldn't be a factor.
Again, take it slow. The path may seem slow, but it's a lot of fun. Frankly, I don't know of a single Instructor that doesn't own a .22 in addition to some real fine hardware.
 
Have to assume that money is no object to you so the cost saving of using the .22 wouldn't be a factor.
Click to expand...

No, I wouldn't say that. My thinking is that guns are a lot more expensive than ammo and I'd have to shoot up a lot of .38 to pay for that .22. I just can't afford two weapons at the moment, so figured I'd get something that I can use for defense *and* target shooting. My buddy also told me that although a .357 can be used with .38 ammo, if I put a lot of .38 rounds through it the hot gasses that stay in the barrel longer will erode it.

I guess I have no problem getting the .22 eventually, but don't necessarily see a reason to start with it. And aren't recoil and flash pretty hard to duplicate with a .22, even if you can duplicate weight?
 
OK, let me ask this. I noticed that the CZ 75B has either a Kadett version for .22lr or you can get a "Cadet Conversion Kit" for higher caliber weapons. So my question is, would the conversion kit be a good solution for the quandary of having both a high and low caliber weapon? How easy is the conversion, etc.? Oh, and another related question. Are there conversions in the other direction, from low to high caliber? I notice that the Kadett version sells for about the same price as the higher caliber model.

Pardon me if the questions seem dumb. I know there are no dumb questions, just dumb questioners. Heh.
 
Conversion units aren't cheap, but are usually less than the cost of 2 separate pistols. The advantage of a unit comes from allowing you to have the exact same fit to your hand and feel of trigger as you are using the same gun. There's nothing to adapt to other than recoil.
Conversions are done by removing the slide assembly, replacing with the conversion slide assemby and switching magazines. Takes about a minute to perform this.
To purchase a firearm in Va you only need a pictured ID (preferably a drivers license) with your name address and SSN printed and another form of ID with you name and address printed on it (vehicle registration, voter reg. card, utility bill). Fill out 2 forms, the dealer makes a quick call to the Va State Police for a computer check on you, and when you pass you are free to purchase your choice. A pretty simple procedure that the dealer will take you thru.
If you make a purchase from a non-dealer then you agree on a price, pay the amount, a receipt may or may not be requested of you or you may choose to do so yourself, and the deal is done (no paperwork or checking). You just have to judge the deal and seller personally.
 
Thanks NRA Instructor and Majic for your advice. I've been thinking more seriously about getting a .22, but after having checked around I'm rather taken with the CZ 75BD (which has a decocker). I'd be willing to start with the Kadett .22lr and buy a CZ 75BD later, which would mean I'd have two complete guns. The other option is to do the conversion kit thing, which actually appeals to me. The problem is that the conversion is only in one direction, from large to small bore, so I'd need to buy the large bore weapon first and then covert it after I get caught up on my bills. The other downside to that option is that the conversion kit doesn't work with the decocker, so I'd need to start with the 75B.

My question is, the decocker that much of an inconvenience? And would it be a significantly better situation to simply have two weapons? I can't recall what they said the conversion kits cost, but think it was either $225 or $275. So the price difference between having a dual weapon and two weapons is about $150.

I do like those Czech weapons, though.
 
The decocker could be a big convenience, or irrelevant, depending on how you decide you want to carry.

If you are only using the 75B/75BD for range practice, it really doesn't matter much.

If you intend to carry the pistol, you will have to decide on what manual of arms you want to use.

1) Single action: hammer cocked, safety on -- the 75B can be carried this way -- folks who carry 1911-style pistols favor this manual of arms. When bringing the gun into action, you have to remember to flip the safety off.

2) DA-SA (double action / single action) In this style, the hammer stays in the lowered, "de-cocked" position when carrying. When bringing the gun into action, the first shot trigger pull will be a heavy, double-action pull because it is both cocking the hammer and discharging the gun. Subsequent follow-up shots will be with a lighter, single-action trigger pull. If you want to carry DA-SA, you have to decock the gun after loading it. One way to do this is by pulling the trigger while gripping the hammer, and gently lowering the hammer to its decocked position. Obviously, there is a potential drawback here because if the hammer slips out of your grip and you let it drop, you're going to discharge a round.

If you wanted to carry a conventional 75B in DA-SA mode, you'd have to do this fraught little maneuver every time you load your gun. The 75BD just gives you a safer/easier method of decocking. For DA-SA carry, I would much prefer to have the decocker.
 
With training a decocker is not needed, but for a newbie it is a good idea especially if the pistol is to be more than a range pistol. It can be decocked manually so you can learn the procedure, while having the decocker to safely use till the manual method is perfected.
Firearm purchases can be a big expense, more so with people on tight budgets. You want to get the most for your money, but not break the bank at the same time. We all have been thru this and know how you feel. The good people here will steer you right, answer your questions, give advise, and stay witin the confines of your budget is you give us a price range to work with. You will get the heads up on what might work for you and what to stay away from. The absolutely, very worst thing you will learn is that firearms are addictive. This decision today on making your first purchase will be replayed many times over. The "I Want" list will be endless, and the pictures posted will have you thinking about how you can reconfigure your budget.
Welcome to the world of firearms, the happiest bunch of broke folks you will ever meet. :D
 
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