Never owned a weapon...any advice...

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NewbieR

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I came across your forum, but I'm not a weapon owner yet. I'm looking to purchase a pistol and shotgun. Mainly for home and personal defense.

Being a first time buyer, I'm reserved about not looking stupid and asking the right questions. Your forum seems to be for those well versed in weapons, so I decided my best bet was just to send a message. First, I'd like to thank you for taking the time for reading this.

I'm 6'6" and weigh about 190lbs. I have a lot of aches and pains from being partially disabled from a fall I took at work. I had to have surgery years ago and walking hurts. I've had to carry myself upperly a lot through this, so I now have shoulder problems as well as a right hand that hurts sometimes. I'm right handed, so I'm just trying to get you the info of where I'm at in my situation.

I'm looking for a handgun that fits me (new/used..not sure), and you don't have problems finding bullets for. I'm also looking for a shotgun (new/used...not sure either) just to keep in case of emergency around the house and maybe hunting if I choose later on. I don't have a lot of bucks to invest because I got downsized from my job. Any info you could give me would be greatly appreciated.

I live in Stone Mountain, Georgia (Tucker, Ga) and would like to find someone nearby who could also help me with the rules, how to take care of my weapons and some training.

Thanks
NewbieR
 
You live a little far from me or I would be glad to take you out and let you shoot my guns in order to find what fits you. I dont know if you live alone or with family but they makes a difference in what gun you need. If you are needing a gun for home defense and for concealed carry. If you live alone, I dont see why it couldnt be the same gun for both, then you wont have to buy two of them. If your budget is shot and you need something cheap and functional, get a highpoint. The look like a glock with down syndrome but they have a good warranty and once you have the kinks worked out, they are functional. However if you can afford around 500 bucks, I would highly recommend in your physical condition that you get a Taurus Judge 410/45lc. You are hurting most of the time and are not going to have the best aiming ability. If you have the judge that shoots the 410 shot shell, you can get the 6 shot that will pepper a man from scalp to knees at about ten feet, you can shoot with your eyes closed and still hit the guy. Just my 2 cents.
 
Welcome to The High Road
What fits you best is really a personal preference so if there is a gun range nearby that rents handguns that would be your best bet. Try out a few different guns, pick which feels best, points most naturally, and you are more accurate with. If you've never shot a gun before ask them to give you a basic safety lesson and possibly start with a small caliber like a .22 just to get the feel down without much noise or recoil.
The most popular calibers for self defense handguns, in ascending order of bullet size are 9mm, .40 S&W (smith & wesson), and .45 ACP. Those are semi-automatics. For revolvers you'll probably find .38 special and .357 magnum more common (and you can fire .38 in .357 guns but not vise versa, they are both .355" diamater bullets but a .357 is a lot more powerful.) If you have hand problems i'd stay away from the very compact guns as there isn't as much weight there to help dampen the recoil so more will go to your hands/wrists.
For shotguns the most common caliber is probably 12 gauge but if you have shoulder problems it may not be comfortable enough to shoot. 20 gauge is a bit smaller, softer shooting, and also a potent cartridge. Pump action shotguns are usually the most cost effective and reliable. Remington 870 and Mossberg 500 are probably the two most popular.
Maybe someone from your area can recommend some local classes.
 
Hey NewbieR, welcome! Glad to have you.

I'd suggest you go to a local range, and rent some handguns you like to try them out. I warn you, it's an addiction, like tatoos, you buy one, and it goes from there.

A basic hunters safety course is also worth your time and are free or cheap.

Also, as you're new to firearms, I'd go with new only, unless you have someone who knows what to look for. Don't get me wrong, new guns also have their problems, but you don't inherit them from someone else.

I am glad to see new shooters among our ranks. Good luck to you.
 
If you ever get up around Chattanooga we could meet up and shoot a few different hand guns and go over the "care and feeding" of them. My advice would be to talk to a few locals and get a feel for some of the gun shops in your area. When you do go in, just tell them that you are new to firearms and you are looking for a hand gun (dont buy yet). Then touch and feel every one that you can to get a feel for them. Repeat at another store, and another if you can. Once you have handled a few start to narrow down what you feel you need, ie caliber and size, all metal or poymer framed, etc. Of course it would help of you could meet up with some one for a little range time to help guide you torward what feels right for you. Good luck and welcome to wonderful world of firearms. It IS fun shooting stuff! LOL
 
Welcome to the forum NewbieR,

As you are new to firearms, I would definitely look for someone who can teach you the basics. Each firearm is different and has its own purpose. Hi Points are a good entry level gun on a budget. A .22LR pistol is also a good starter pistol to learn the basics. I would advise you keep your mind open and find one that fits for you. Everybody will give you advice freely, but only you will be able to determine what feels comfortable in your hands, is easy to operate, easy to aim, and easy on the budget. Above all, remember to practice, practice, practice.

I also recommend for you to go to your library and read everything you can on shooting, guns, and ammo.
 
As others have mirrored, what fits you best is a very subjective experience. If you are in the stone-mountain area, there is a range near at the intersection of rockbridge and e. park blvd off of stone mtn pkwy. It has a small selection, but something to try out. Certainly, there are other places in the greater metro-Atlanta area.

If you are looking for a budget HD shotgun, a Pardner or a Maverick both will fit your bill. Both are very reliable and are excellent value for their money. The Maverick is Mossberg's budget line, and is essentially identical to the M500 series. It has a excellent reputation. The Pardner series are a Chinese (Norinco?) copy of the Remington 870, with a slightly different barrel attachment scheme. They also have an excellent reputation for reliability. Both are in the $200 range. Beware with shotguns, as recoil can be quite harsh. With heavy 3" magnum slug loadings, recoil is often said to be harsher than that of old-tyme elephant guns, for perspective!

As far as a handgun, consider a used revolver in .357 Mag. While it seems like a very powerful cartridge, you can load a .357 mag with .38 specials with no ill effects. This is because the .357 Mag is a magnum loading of .38 special, and the cases are essentially identical. This will let you have a comfortable platform to practice with, as well as a the option to load something more potent for "social" work. From my experience with shooting .357's I will say recoil from a full-house 125gr load feels very similar to a normal pressure 9mm. So don't led the "magnum" tag scare you!

A Semi-Auto is not a bad option either. A Glock is a good choice. They are reliable, have a lot of after market support, and you can usually find police surplus guns in the $400 range. Most police guns are usually carried a LOT and shot very little. They will look scratched up, but will otherwise be mechanically in near-mint condition.

An other option is the S&W Sigma series. They tend to be basic, but reliable. Trigger will be similar in weight of pull and pull length to a revolver. But, they are $350 out the door, which for a budget-minded individual is something to consider.

Taurus can be a little hit or miss. Their 24/7-series pistols have so far been mostly hit with very few misses. I have owned one, and will say it is a reliable and dependable firearm, in a budget-minded range. It has eaten anything that I saw fit to put in the magazine.

Ruger P-series (P-94, 95, 97, etc.) are another choice. I personally find them a little too chunky for concealed carry, but for a 6' 6" individual, they ought to be fine. Also if you poured gunpowder down the barrel and caped it with a rock, it would probably fire it. Yes, they are dead-nuts reliable. Expect to pay in the $400 range, again. If you go with used, and buy it directly from another private individual, you may be able to snag one for under $300.

All the above mentioned semi autos are available in at the very least 9mm, .40, and .45 calibers.

I'm sure people will quip up with suggestions of other guns.
 
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For the neophyte might I suggest a revolver. Dead simple to operate (the original 'point and click' interface) and just as simple to verify whether or not it is loaded; safety is your finger - off the tigger = safe, on the trigger = not safe.

If you pick up a .357 Magnum you can load it light w/ .38 Special for practice (recoil should be light enough so as not to aggravate your hand injuries), and full strength for home defense.

J&G has some good deals on policy trade-ins.
 
Your medical condition makes me hesitate to tell you to grab a shotgun. I normally tell everyone to start with a shotgun, because it is considered the best tool for HD. However in your case, it might not be a good idea for you to use a shotgun a lot. You can try one and see how it works for you, maybe you are fine with it. You might consider a smaller option, like a 20 gauge shotgun. If you want to get exotic, there are even stocks you can buy with pistons to absorb the recoil, it depends on how serious (or silly) you want to get.

For ammo availability, the one I always see on the shelves is .40. This isn't my first recommendation, but if that's a big part of your criteria it's something to look at. It's not impossible to get the other calibers, but right now you might have to do some scrounging. I tell people you can't go wrong with a Glock. Even a USED Glock.

Like others have suggested, get some instruction and go to a rental range where you can try some different options. It's ok if you choose something now, and decide later you want something else.
 
Check some of the gun store and ranges nearby and see if anyone offers an NRA Basic Handgun class. That's a good way to get stated.

Also, check out this website: http://www.corneredcat.com/. It's written primarily for women, but it's outstanding for anyone just starting out.

Welcome to the shooting fraternity and the best of luck to you.
 
For the neophyte might I suggest a revolver. Dead simple to operate (the original 'point and click' interface) and just as simple to verify whether or not it is loaded; safety is your finger - off the tigger = safe, on the trigger = not safe.

If you pick up a .357 Magnum you can load it light w/ .38 Special for practice (recoil should be light enough so as not to aggravate your hand injuries), and full strength for home defense.

J&G has some good deals on policy trade-ins.
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i agree with him - get a small revolver chambered in .357 and train with alot of .38's the only thing i can add is to get one with a bobbed hammer spur as it makes a HUGE difference if you decide to carry it concealed.

it's always good to hear about someone taking an intrest in firearms :) don't hesitate to ask a ton of questions.
 
Mossberg 500 12 ga and a Ruger .357 revolver ought to do you just fine.You can shoot .357 for serious work and .38's for practice,12 ga. shells are still pretty affordable.Both are dead simple to operate, and easy to reload for, should you decide you'd like to be able to shoot a decent amount and save some money.
 
You've gotten some good suggestions so far, but I'll try to give you the simplest advice since you're new to everything:

Given your shoulder and hand pains as well as your budget and the intended purpose of your weapons, I'd recommend a 20 ga and a 9mm. People will tell you lots of things, but keeping in mind your employment status I'll state firmly that you don't need to spend more than $200 on a shotgun and $300 on a pistol. I'd get a semi-automatic handgun with a single action trigger (the hammer automatically cocks after each shot) if you have strength problems in the hand. Revolvers are great and simple, but the double action trigger (the trigger pull provides the force to cock the hammer) can be a bit heavy for some. For the shotgun, a semi-automatic will be heavier but recoil less while a pump will be lighter but kick harder so you need to decide which is more important. The pump will likely be cheaper. The 20 ga is a light kicker regardless so keep that in mind. So is the 9mm. These also are the cheapest and most plentiful cartridges sold, with the exception of the 22.

Don't be afraid to buy used. Try to find a local gun shop that is honest (hopefully someone on the forum can help). Learn at least the "four rules" before even going to look at a gun.
 
I would second the 20 ga if you are hurting for a shotgun. Kicks less than a 12 ga and once you get proficient it will do the same thing. It can be used for hunting.

On the handgun side... if you are in constant pain... look at a .38sp. The rossi M68 is inexpensive, reliable (its a revolver, 5 shot, .38 sp), and the ammo is very easy to find most of the time. Rossi had some soft rubber grips that can still be found if you look for them that will be pretty easy on the wrist and hand. Then go get some ammo and shoot. If the .38sp is too much, I suggest trying one before you buy one, then the .32 H&R magnum is a good round. You can start off with weak .32 S&W longs and work your way up to the magnums which have about as much energy as a .38sp.
 
I'm looking for a handgun that fits me (new/used..not sure), and you don't have problems finding bullets for. I'm also looking for a shotgun (new/used...not sure either) just to keep in case of emergency around the house and maybe hunting if I choose later on. I don't have a lot of bucks to invest because I got downsized from my job. Any info you could give me would be greatly appreciated.
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For a revolver, I'd say a Smith model 10. Reasonable price, weight, recoil, excellent quality, and a fine looking piece for under $400 in good condition. 38 special is cheap and effective.

For the shotgun, if you are already in pain, I don't see how a twenty gauge is going to make much difference. It's going to hurt, and if you are in a self defense setting, your aches and pains will be the last thing on your mind. Get a Mossberg 12 gauge and some low recoil buckshot.

If you plan on doing a lot of bird hunting, maybe the twenty gauge would make more sense. I just think the ideal bird gun would have a barrel a bit long for home defense use, though, plenty of guys seem to manage just fine.

The rossi M68 is inexpensive, reliable (its a revolver, 5 shot, .38 sp), and the ammo is very easy to find most of the time.
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This is pretty much your lowest cost revolver choice, and it is also an excellent one.
 
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Taurus Judge 410/45lc. You are hurting most of the time and are not going to have the best aiming ability. If you have the judge that shoots the 410 shot shell, you can get the 6 shot that will pepper a man from scalp to knees at about ten feet, you can shoot with your eyes closed and still hit the guy. Just my 2 cents.
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I'm no expert, but that seems like a bad suggestion to me. The Judge strikes me more as a specialized camping type gun than a good home defense gun.

My perspective on shotguns is, 12ga is the cheapest type, reduced recoil buck is really not bad, and with a cheap, $10-15 Pachmayr decelerator or similiar slip on buttpad the reduced recoil loads really don't have any significant impact on your shoulder. Cheap means more practice, or practice more often, or the same practice with less harm to your wallet.

I think a S&W Sigma, sent back to them for that free trigger job they will do, would be a great option. Check out cdnninvestments.com and look at their catalog once you have a better idea what fits your hands well and see what they have, I've bought a couple of first-class handguns there for way cheap.
 
A 20 gauge shotgun would be a good choice. Renowned firearms expert Massad Ayoob gives these the thumbs up for home defense. A Mossberg Persuader looks like a pretty good choice to me. Load it with some type of buckshot. You could go with anything up to 000, but 2, 3, or 4 buck gives you much more pellets. You have to practice with your gun - don't think you can point it in the general direction of the target and spray shot all over it. The same pertains even more to pistols.
For a handgun a .357 or a .38 would make a good choice. The .357 has some recoil though, which could aggravate your hand problems. The .357 has the advantage of being able to fire .357's and .38's. For a .38 load, the 158 grain lead semi-wad cutter hollow point is probably your best bet. It has lots of expansion and a great track record. Make sure that is the hollow point semi wad cutter, not just the semi wad cutter.
For an auto a 9mm would serve you well. Just make sure that you use hollow point ammunition. It's safer for bystanders because it is less likely to go through an attacker and it stops a violent attack much more effectively. A low cost, reliable design that can handle +P or +P+ ammo would be great. I would personally choose a mid-weight bullet from 115 to 127 grains. Ruger and Taurus make reliable semi-autos and revolvers.
Make sure if you are going to carry a pistol that you get a permit and that you practice. Also, carry at least one reload of extra ammunition.

I suggest you buy a book or two on the subject. Massad Ayoob has some great books. In The Gravest Extreme is a good place to start. It covers selection and use of defensive firearms, and what happens after.

If you have the money you should take firearms courses.

Edit: Oh, and I wouldn't go with a Taurus Judge. It's a good snake gun, but it's heavy, bulky, and that shot could go on to hit innocent bystanders. It's also next to useless for long range shootouts, which can occur. I wouldn't even use a full size .410 shotgun for home defense, and the short barrel reduces effectiveness. However, many do disagree.
 
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A .357 will stop a deer and has manageable recoil.

A 12 gauge sounds and feels like a cannon. This gun will send you home sore and half deaf: from experience I can tell you that shooting one without ear protection is a terrible idea. I suggest a 20 gauge Mossberg 500 with a full stock. Smaller gauge numbers mean a bigger bore and a 20 gauge is just big enough for most purposes.

I've never owned one myself so take the advice with a grain of salt, but I've heard bad things about the Judge. The pattern spreads way too fast and back when I researched buying one they were getting bad reviews on out-of-the-box quality. Stick to a shotgun or a pistol without trying to do too many things in one package.

Also... consider a .22 rifle. Ruger 10/22s are cheap and the ammo they fire is even cheaper. You will get a lot of training out of $200.

Buying a used gun will save you a lot of money but I wouldn't recommend buying your first one used. Whatever you do, you want a gun with a warranty. Also I warn you that pawn shop owners are sharks of the most vile and vicious kind imaginable.
 
Judge is junk, I would get a Ruger SP101 chambered 357. You can shoot 38 specials and every once and a while but your earmuffs on and shoot 357s.
 
To get started shooting, it's hard to beat a .22 pistol or revolver. But it you really only want to buy one handgun, I'd vote for either a 9mm semi-auto or a revolver in .357 or .38 Special.

J&G has good deals on used Smith & Wessons that were traded in by security companies. I got one of these, and I'm very pleased with it:

S&W Model 64, bobbed hammer, DAO

It's double-action-only, which means that one trigger pull both cocks and releases the hammer. This means more force is needed on the trigger than with a single-action type revolver, where you cock the hammer manually and the trigger only releases it. But S&W revolvers generally have very smooth and not-too-heavy double-action triggers.

For the semi-autos, they also have police trade-in Berettas that look decent:

Beretta 92

(I'm not shilling for J&G: I have bought two used handguns from them in the past, and both were in good working order.)

You didn't mention if you want to carry the gun concealed. Both of these guns are on the large side.

As for the shotgun, a semi-auto 20-gauge is going to be your softest-shooting option. However, semi-autos are more expensive and generally more high-maintenance. They are harder to clean and need more cleaning, and are more sensitive to type of ammo. There are some Turkish-made semi-autos that are imported under a variety of names, like Mossberg, Smith & Wesson, Escort, and Charles Daly. If money isn't such an issue, look at a Beretta or a Remington. For a pump, go with a Remington, Mossberg, or possibly Benelli Nova.
 
I have problems with arthritis and choose my weapons accordingly. I tend to carry a 9mm pistol. My arthritic wrist can still tolerate the recoil. Find a pistol that fits your hand well and rent one at a local gun range to see just how much discomfort if any you might feel. If you end up shooting a .380 because it is what you can comfortably handle so be it. First things first though, attend a gun safety course. As for shotguns you might want to consider getting a 20GA. Good luck and enjoy the sport.
 
i wouldn't count on anything not going through a person, expecially a 9mm
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Do you really think the 9mm wouldnt go through a person ? well, the problem is actually that it can go through many... without making a big wound channel. If you go 9mm, get some good HP ammo, and you'll be set.
 
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