Handguns as Groomsmen gifts

[Mr.510]

+1 on blackpowder revolvers! If possible include them in one of the wedding pics, with all the guys holding their guns in defense of the lady.

At my brother's wedding we groomsmen were given really nice Al Mar knives.

 

[KevininPa]

+1 on NAAs

And I'm surprised nobody mentioned milsurps like FEG PA-63s or CZ-82s. Does the winning suggestion get one also?

 

[Red State]

I think that the Browning Buckmarks are really classy. That would be a great gift.

Everybody NEEDS at least one .22!

 

[atomd]

I like the black powder idea, that's pretty classy. But......I vote for the NAA minis. The reason is that almost everyone has a bunch of .22 lying around so they will probably use it more. Not everyone wants to clean up after and stock all the supplies needed when using black powder. Also, the mini is a real unique novelty item...something that people pull out to show friends and shoot here and there simply for the fun of it. I like the idea of the presentation box too.

 

[bugmania]

I agree with Kevininpa, CZ-82 all the way. Fantastic pistol for around $200. If you don't own one, you should.

 

[jpatterson]

Another vote for the black powder, seems really classy.

Also another vote for including me in the wedding

ETA: And congratulations

 

[2RCO]

I think the black powder would probably win on 2 parts

1. A cased 1851 Copy or heck about anything with a case and an engraved plate.

2. Don't have to worry about any crazy state laws and if one of your groomsmen ever moves somewhere like NYC they can keep em.

Congrats

I also like the Mini Idea as well.

Raleigh

 

[Quentin]

I like the idea of Buckmarks or Ruger Mark IIIs. What a great gift and they'd all be matching...

 

[Taurus 617 CCW]

I was going to do the same thing for my groomsmen but finances ran out before I bought the guns. I was going to go for Polish P64's with a new paint job. Good luck on choosing!

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

Stainless Ruger Standard auto .22. Classic, nice looking, and an indestructible, lifetime-of-plinking pistol. Nice to have in one's cache for a fun afternoon, or training newbies. Plus, you can get them all the same thing, and be under budget (negotiate a price with any dealer for a good deal, and have all the guys sign for their own at the gunstore...no problems with BATF, etc.)

 

[Dr_2_B]

A pastor buddy of mine gave a NAA mini to a gentleman who drove the bus for the church youth group tour. That was years ago, but what a wonderful keepsake.

Although, a 22 target pistol is more practical.

Oh and one other thing. You have no idea how much I HATE to bring this up, but be careful with the gun purchasing regs. Check into the rules before you open your mouth at the gun store.

 

[memphisjim]

i think the naa is a great idea
well made and neat

 

[BCRider]

Guns are as personal as underwear. Get them gift certificates to a good local store and let them buy what they want be it a gun or ammo for an existing gun or something related. Especially since with the budget you won't be able to buy something nice.

The sole excpetion, I have to admit, would be an NAA option since those are so out on the edge that it's far more likely that they don't have one. I've been looking at The Earl since it looks like a baby version of my black powder Remington clones.

 

[David E]

If you live in Illinois, you need to be careful. Of course, you'd need to follow all the silly FOID procedures, including keeping track of their FOID numbers for TEN YEARS, "producible upon demand."

A black powder revolver avoids all that. I suggest the 1860 Army or 1858 Remington (like Clint used in 'Pale Rider') or an 1851 Navy.

Where in Bloomington are you ? PM Me.

 

[leadcounsel]

I met a dipsh*t that gave $200 pens out once to his groomsmen... a fool and his money are soon parted.

I LOVE your idea of handguns. There are sooo many great options, but I think a stainless revolver is great BLING for a man!

 

[VHSBD]

Well first of all, congrats on getting hitched. I'd get the fancy percussion cap revolvers, and wear old fashioned suits at the wedding so you and your groomsmen can pretend to be 19th century secret agents or something.

 

[Quoheleth]

I'm on a CZ kick. You can get very nice pre-owned CZ82s (9mm Makarov) from CDNN Investments for $250. Not only is it a CZ, but it is in an affordable caliber where ammo is fairly easy to get on-line. And, it's unique to Americans.

To me, blackpowder - while cool - is not a "shooting" option. It would be on the shelf. My 2 cents worth...

Q

edit: Dang. Kevininpa beat me to the CZ idea. But he didn't tell you where to find the good ones. Do I get a cut since I gave the place to find 'em?

 

[Geneseo1911]

Congrats on getting married...I wouldn't trade it for anything. If she is willing to let you get guns for groomsmen, sounds like shes a keeper.

Personally, I like the NAA Mini idea the best. As has been mentioned, it's likely no one already has one, and they would make a very classy, small, discrete gift. A presentation box would be off the charts.

The blackpowder idea is fantastic in that it avoids the necessity of keeping their FOID #s on file, but that isn't that big a deal either. I probably wouldn't shoot a black powder gun that much, but these aren't so much for shooting as for sentiment/display.

Just to continue tossing out options...You might consider a set of J&G's model 64 S&W M64s (stainless model 10). This would be a good option if you want to get them something they will shoot. I'm always borrowing my Mom's model 10 when I go home; I should probably gt my own. The SS would polish up nicely with just a bit of work, and you could probably get them to send you 6 with matching grips:
http://www.jgsales.com/product_info.php/smith-wesson/revolver/p/smith-wesson-model-64-38spl-4in-stainless%2C-round-butt-w-bobbed-hammer-very-good-plus-condition/cPath/16_211_431/products_id/3104

 

[Thomas Garrett]

Get with Bellshire Hardware and see a package deal on some RIA GI's or Tacticals. Sequenced serial #'s 1911A1's .45.

 

[stonecutter2]

A pastor buddy of mine gave a NAA mini to a gentleman who drove the bus for the church youth group tour. That was years ago, but what a wonderful keepsake.

Although, a 22 target pistol is more practical.

Oh and one other thing. You have no idea how much I HATE to bring this up, but be careful with the gun purchasing regs. Check into the rules before you open your mouth at the gun store.

Excellent point - I'm guessing that I'd just want to ask for what I'm buying (for example, "5 NAA mini's with sequential serial #'s") instead of explaining what I intend to do with them. I don't want anyone nervous over straw purchases or anything. I fully intend on looking up the laws, which in Illinois I believe state that you write down the gun's serial #, the individual's FOID information (maybe a copy of their FOID...will have to check again), and then keep that info for 10 years.

I'll definitely make sure all of the legalities are taken care of.

 

[md7]

stonecutter,

this is my third post in this thread and i haven't told you congrats yet. wish you the best and congrats on the marriage.

 

[testosterone]

I did it, .32 derringers

3 of the 5 guys in my wedding party had permits.

I bought them all O/U derringers, on one side we had my our names engraved (as in my wife and I), and on the other side, the wedding date.

Its been so long I don't even remember what they were, they were blue'd, I want say they were Cobra but honestly can't remember, and stupidly I didn't get one for myself.

It ended up in your budget range as I recall, about 230 buck each with engraving or thereabouts.

 

[BCRider]

A dealer up here in Canada is talking with NAA about a special small batch run of their Mini's that'll have a slightly longer barrel so as to fit within our laws. At the same time NAA also suggested that they could even do a run of Canada specific serial numbers. You gotta love an outfit that's willing to do something like that! So contacting them for a set of sequential serial number guns should not be an issue. And what about a custom serial range with the initials of your first names as the beginning and 001, 002, etc after? They seem to be a fairly small and accomodating company and if you can give them the lead time to do this it sounds like they are up for it. You should get "his and hers" for you and her at the same time to complete the set.

 

[rbernie]

Buckmarks or 22/45s.

 

[stonecutter2]

So, in regards to 22LR NAA mini's (which is where i'm leaning towards at this point), which length should I go with? 1 1/8" barrel, or 1 5/8" barrel? I think the shorter ones look sharper, but would that extra 1/2" make much of a difference in distance/accuracy/power?

I'm going to send an email to NAA and just get an idea of what my options are, cost, etc.