HD handguns VS "fun" range guns

[triplebike]

Wondering how many of you folks have dedicated HD handguns that spend most of their lives in the home vs dedicated shooters that were purchased to have fun shooting at the range?

I have two dedicated HD handguns. These were purchased strictly to protect my family.

1. - Ruger Security Six .357 revolver w/4" barrel
2. - Stoeger Cougar 8045 .45 semi auto

I have three dedicated " fun shooters " for the range. Even though two of the three would work as HD guns, they were purchased mainly to enjoy the sport of shooting.

1. - Browning Buckmark Camper .22 semi auto
2. - CZ 75B 9MM semi auto
3. - Beretta 92fs 9MM semi auto

 

[JHK94]

HD:

Smith Wesson Model 10 (38 spcl)
Argentine Hi Power (9mm)

Fun:

Ruger MKI (22LR)
Colt Frontier Scout (22LR)
Romanian Tokarev (7.62 Tok)

 

[FLAvalanche]

Nope. All of my guns are HD guns AND fun guns. I love shooting them all. The only gun I have that is even close to being a "dedicated" HD gun is my XD in .45 GAP but even that goes to the range every trip and gets other uses like hunting and fishing trips.

 

[Bovice]

You'd be smart to shoot your defense gun(s) at the range alongside your range guns. Build your proficiency up.

 

[JHK94]

Needless to say, I shoot my "HD" guns pretty often (they are really fun, too!). The reason why they are my "HD" guns is that they are in appropriate calibers, are easy to shoot, and fit other needs.

OTOH, a single action .22 isn't much of an HD gun when you have others on hand, but it sure is fun. Same goes for the Ruger MKI. I usually keep the Tokarev loaded around the house, just in case, but it wouldn't bemy first choice.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

When I first purchased firearms, I had little spare income. The initial purchases were to serve as both range and home defense. As time has progressed, I've branched out and have firearms that are primarily either range or hunting rifles but aren't my go to weapons for home defense. They could be used if I had to and sometimes while traveling the hunting or range guns are all I have with me. Usually if I have a 22 LR for range plinking, I will bring along a self defense pistol. If I have a deer rifle with me, I won't always bring a self defense pistol. Yes, there have been a few times where the 22 rifle was all I had with me. Not ideal IMO but I still slept fine.

 

[Chevyguy85]

My main "HD guns" are also my carry guns so they don't stay in the house and whatever I happen to be carrying @ that time also comes to the range with me to keep me familiarized with them. That said they are also my fun gun since I do IDPA with them and friendly shoots against my friends. My .22s are my fun gun and end of the world I'm going to live in the woods guns.

HD/CARRY/FUN gun
P345
Security six 4"
XD45
P95DC

Fun gun/end of the world i'm hiding in the woods guns
mark III
10/22

 

[Ben86]

I make no distinction, my HD guns are my range guns. The only guns that are not for HD are my .22s which do range/pest control duty/saving me lots of money not shooting centerfire duty.

 

[M2 Carbine]

My HD guns are range guns but I do have "range guns" that aren't my first choice as HD guns.
For instance a few "range gun" examples are
This Crimson Trace equipped Beretta 21A is used for inexpensive small pistol low light laser practice.


This S&W M&P 15-22 is a stand in low cost, high volume shooter for my HD AR rifles that are equipped exactly like it.


This Ruger 22/45 while handy to carry outside around the place at night is primarily a practice gun for laser, laser/light and light/iron sight practice.


While this Kel Tec PLR would make a powerful HD gun, the muzzle blast and noise is a ear wrecker, so it's a range gun.

 

[Sgt_R]

The only "range" gun I own is a S&W 63 22lr revolver, though even that could see some field use if I ever take up hiking or backpacking again. I do have a holster for it.

All of my other guns are HD type, but they spend plenty of time at the range. Building proficiency, and all that.

Someday soon I plan to pick up a 22lr rifle and a 22lr conversion kit for one of my Glocks. I suppose those will be range only, but I don't own them yet.

R

 

[gearhead]

It might make more sense to have a distinction between CC and range guns, since I'll defend my position within my home with whatever is close at hand whether that's the 870 shotgun or the P64 in my pocket.

The closest thing to a dedicated HD pistol I have is a FNP-9M with night sights that lives beside my bed. It goes to the range sometimes, obviously, but I've put enough rounds through the FNP platform that I'm quite proficient just by picking it up. The closest things I have to being range pistols are the Five-seveN and the S&W J-frame .22LR. Both are fun pistols and very accurate, neither are an ideal choice for typical HD scenarios. I got the Five-seveN for a very specific defense need, it wasn't purchased as a range gun but that's the main thing it gets used for.

 

[ByAnyMeans]

I won two handguns for defensive use:

A P3AT with crimson trace laser grip and Glock 26 With night sights. Allows me to use one gun for CCW and home defense with a G19 magazine.

I shoot The Glock the most by far but I get a lot of use of four range guns which are a Ruger Mark III, Taurus 22lr, a Hi Power and 1911.

All centerfire handguns could be pressed into home defense if needed but for know they are range guns.

Of course this is my intended set up after recovering from the boating accident that took all my guns

 

[NotSoFast]

I want to know that the gun I am trusting my life to will fire when I pull the trigger. I shoot my HD guns regularly to ensure their continuing operation and reliability.

 

[Manco]

With me, they all get shot at the range, with emphasis on defensive shooting for the HD guns, of course. My HD guns also get pampered more--cleaned and lubed after every session with extra attention paid to the number of rounds fired and preemptive spring replacements. Before they were trusted to be HD guns, however, they were tested thoroughly and fairly roughly.

That said, I do have magazines reserved for HD use only, although I will take them along every so often to shoot the cartridges they contain in order to test the full defensive configuration. My HD mags were once used regularly at the range until they proved themselves, and were then set aside before they accumulated too much wear. After I shoot them (even just one full load), I always clean them, too, and treat them (particularly the springs) to prevent corrosion (nothing wet, of course--magazines must always be dry). Magazines are a potential Achilles' heel of otherwise reliable guns, so the HD magazines are pampered more than the guns themselves are.

 

[ForumSurfer]

3. - Beretta 92fs 9MM semi auto

What is it about those? They are fun to shoot, at least for me. I sold a beretta 96 and I wish I never had. My 1911's and that beretta all make me desire to go shooting more than any other pistol I've owned.

Don't get me wrong, I've never shot a gun that wasn't "fun." But some call to me more than others.

 

[triplebike]

All my guns get range time. When I take the Ruger or Stoeger to the range (in the words of Michael Corleone) "it's strictly business". I concentrate on every round fired. These two weapons are in my home for one sole purpose, to stop a bad guy from doing any damage to me or my family. These are not taken to the range for fun. The self defense ammo that these are loaded with is very expensive & I can't afford to play around with them.

When I take the Buckmark, CZ or Beretta it almost exclusively for fun. Shooting a smiley face at the target (ala Mel Gibson in lethal weapon 1) Blasting a full mag with either hand, shooting freehand or from the bench. Trading guns with other members and so forth and so on. Using cheap bulk ammo is the norm.

Yesterday & today I took the Buckmark to the range, fired an entire 550 rd box of federal bulk yesterday & today went through 3/4 of a box (range was too hot so I quit early)

When I take the CZ or the Beretta I shoot a minimum or 300 rds. I never go with less than that & it's having fun for 2-3 hours.

 

[Steve 48]

I shoot them all and interchange them as I feel I need to. You need to fire and practice especially with your home defense guns.

 

[Big Bill]

I have not categorized my handguns as HD or Fun guns. All my handguns are multi-purpose. Some I even hunt with.

 

[Sauer Grapes]

My 2 carry guns are my HD guns. Always loaded, always ready.

Fun guns? My 2, 22cal. pistols. Fun to shoot and easy on my wallet. I guess my revolvers would also be considered fun guns since I don't carry them and they are never loaded in the house.

 

[LightningMan]

Many of my handguns could be used for HD, but I tend to keep that duty to one, my .45 XD. My range guns mostly are .38's & 9mm as they are much cheaper to shoot, occationally though the XD & Kimber get a trip to the range, just not near as much. LM

 

[QUICK_DRAW_McGRAW]

HD:
Mossberg 500 12gauge with 20inch barrel in wood stock
and whatever handgun i was carrying that day which is on my nightstand is the back up or for the wife

Range:
Norinco SKS in Tapco adjustable stock and mags, Tech T200 sights
Mosin Nagant M44, although the pig sticker would be good for HD
S&W 22A
Berretta M948
Marlin M60

 

[gun guy]

Home defense guns, and range guns?? What an interesting concept. The range guns are those in the gun rugs and rifle cases, going to the range today. The home defense guns are those that are loaded and laying around on the coffee table, the bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen, den, couple in the garage, hall closet, etc. not to be confused with the ready service weapons that are in the safes, or the CCW weapons, which differ from the open carry weapons because they are smaller, the display weapons are in the gun cabinet. Maybe that helps clear things up.

 

[GLOOB]

Well, I totally understand this concept, personally.

My GLOCK 27 is my main defensive weapon. It's always loaded. It's my main CCW and home defense. When I shoot at the indoor range, I usually CCW it and don't even shoot it because of the no-loaded-guns policy.*

Now my fun guns, I sometimes keep out when I'm at home. Sometimes they stay in the safe. It depends on which one I'm more keen on at the moment. Sometimes they're loaded. Sometimes they're not. I just like guns too much to keep them all loaded and "serious" 24/7, because I like to handle them every now and then. But the G27 stays loaded and always stays in the same place when I'm not carrying it. I am hoping that if I ever need to use a gun in defense, I'll have the time to pick up the G27 of all my handguns, because of the higher certainty that it's loaded, chambered, and ready to go.

* My personal belief on this is it's the same thing as CCW in a gun store. Even if there's a sign on the door, I believe it's ok as long as you don't display or handle said gun. If I'm ever printing and get asked to leave a gun store/range because of this, I'll leave... for good.

 

[Full Metal Jacket]

i don't think about my guns this much, and make no such differentiations.

 

[Ben86]

When I shoot at the indoor range, I usually CCW it and don't even shoot it because of the no-loaded-guns policy.*

How do you develop an appreciable skill with it?