Getting back into shooting & carrying - advice?

[cybernorris]

Many years ago the Army trained me to shoot. I picked up a 92F for personal use because of my familiarity with the weapon. It was Italian made with incredibly smooth action and very reliable. Unfortunately I sold it at a point when I needed cash.

A couple of years later I was looking for another sidearm and originally wanted another 92F, but for $ concerns went for something similar... a Browning BDA .380. I shot enough to get back into shape with it and carried (legally) for a few years before moving to Wisconsin... where it was put in a locked case and hardly touched. While up there I also picked up a Taurus PT22 from a friend that went into the case without ever firing it.

Last year we moved back to my hometown in Tennessee. I intend to get the CWP and get back into good target shooting shape and prepare for appropriate self-defense.

In preparing for this, I discovered that .380 ammo is scarce so I'm definitely going to need to use something else for regular shooting.

I've read here that the PT22 is not very accurate and may not be the best thing for me to use for regular shooting.

I'm considering the following:

Trade the PT22 for a Mark II or Mark III

Trade the BDA 380 for a LCP

Thoughts?

 

[chris in va]

A lot has changed just in the past few years. Many new designs have hit the market.

I would highly recommend you rent a few at the range and find one that a) fits your hand the best b)points naturally c)is easy to shoot accurately.

And don't be put off my malfunctions with rental guns. It's no indicator of what a new one would do.

The ruger MkII would certainly be a fine 22 plinking pistol and give you years of service. But it will be considerably different from a carry pistol with the extreme grip angle, so SD practice might be affected.

I sold both of my Rugers and bought a Kadet kit for my CZ. Same carry pistol, but shoots 22 ammo. It really helps if I start developing a flinch.

 

[cybernorris]

The local gun shop had an open house today and I took them up on a 20min session in their interactive trainer trailer for $20... was a very good experience, especially considering I've hardly shot anything in the past 10 years.

Oh yeah, I now own an new LCP that will be much better for carrying. The Browning BDA .380 is for sale on consignment and I'll probably post it here.

For the moment keeping the Taurus PT22 until I can find a deal on a better plinker.

 

[ScareyH22A]

If you're looking for a .22 for practice, it's hard to beat a Ruger 22/45. It's basically the same geometry and similar controls as a typical 1911. You can get them NIB for around $250-$300.

As for a replacement .380, Kahr P380 is probably the smallest but also the priciest. The Ruger LCR is very popular because the price is very reasonable. Sig is coming out with a P238 which is a remake of the Colt Mustang and is expected to be around $515.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

cybernorris, welcome to the forum and thank you for your service!

I own a Ruger Mark II and wouldn't be without it. I consider it a great target .22 and not bad for hunting small game either.

 

[cybernorris]

Thanks for the comments. I now have the LCP for carry and am debating if I really should sell the Browning.

Milkmaster pointed out that the Taurus is cheap to keep... at least until I find a different .22.

 

[don95sml]

Too bad you didn't stock up on .380 ammo when you lived in Wisconsin. I've been hearing that WI and IL are the only places you can find that caliber, which is not popular because concealed carry is not allowed. I'll be visiting family in Wisconsin this summer, so plan to have my son-in-law buy some .380 for me then.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I'll be visiting family in Wisconsin this summer, so plan to have my son-in-law buy some .380 for me then.

don95sml,
You might want to have him pick up a case now because you never know how bad things are going to be by the time the summer rolls around. Here in NE PA you can't find even 1 box of .380 ball ammo let alone anything with a hollow point. There is nothing available here, nothing!

 

[searcher451]

Advice? Absolutely: Practice practice practice.

Do some range work, find a gun that you like and can handle and that fits your hand and eye, and then practice practice practice. And then practice some more. Never underestimate the power of practice.

Someday, if god forbid you ever find yourself in a situation where you'll need that gun, your hours and days and weeks of practice will pay off for you.

 

[cybernorris]

After reading and hearing from too many people who have regretted giving up the Browning, I've pretty much decided that it's best to keep it.

I shot today for the first time in at least 10 years and really need work.

I shot better with the Taurus than the LCP. I'm looking forward to shooting the BDA when I get it back next week. I suspect it will have less recoil than the LCP.

I went through about 100 rounds of .380 today... most of it was purchased in Wisconsin. I've got about 200 rounds left in FMJ and another 200ish in hollowpoint.

Now to find more ammo. I have a lead on some...

 

[cybernorris]

A couple of comments thinking back to my range time last week. The Taurus actually has a longer grip than the LCP, thanks in part to the base of the clip.

A couple showed up while I was there to try out their new Kel-Tec .380. It had two failures in the first couple of clips... I think they were both feed failures.

Picked up roughly a thousand rounds of .22 from Wally World today for under $50. Looks like I'll be working on the .22 much more than the .380.

Next question .. at what distance should I practice with the both the .22 Taurus and the LCP ... what size grouping should I be satisfied to get? What size/kind of target should I use?