Questions from a novice

[Control Group]

First off, a quick "hi" to everybody - I've been lurking anonymously for about a week, and the level of courtesy and expertise (along with grammar, punctuation, and spelling, for that matter) is far above what I've encountered virtually anywhere else on the web. So much so, in fact, that it's prompted me to register and ask a bunch of newbie questions (punished for your good deeds, and what not). I'm pretty much new to firearms: lots of theoretical knowledge, absolutely no practical knowledge. I've decided I want to take the step into actually shooting, and I'm hoping some of you here can help answer them.

First off, I'm leery of using any complex device without being fairly familiar with how it works. I worked on cars long before I drove them, and I think it's made me a safer, more responsible driver. I assume the same would hold true for guns. What would you all recommend for picking up a working familiarity, including routine maintenance? I'm primarily interested, for the time being, in handguns for range use. I don't have enough information/experience to decide whether I should/want to use a revolver or an automatic, so information on both would be appreciated. Or is this a lost cause for automatics? Do they differ too much from model to model to make any generalizations?

Secondly, actually learning to shoot. Where should I go? What should I expect? I admit that the idea of walking into a gun store completely ignorant of what I'm doing is more than slightly intimidating (both because I feel vaguely ashamed of myself for getting to my age without knowing more than I do, and because I don't even know enough to be able to tell if I'm being flimflammed in some way), but I'm guessing I'll just have to suck it up and take the plunge. Any advice you might have for a gun store/range virgin would be great.

Third, I have every reason to believe that I'm going to enjoy it. I'm going to want to buy a handgun, but just in the last couple days I've read some posts on THR that lead me to believe that it's easy to get fleeced. What do I need to know going in? What considerations are there that might not occur to a novice (for example, should I be concerned about availability of ammo/spare parts)? I realize that I'll ultimately decide by trying a few, and finding the one that works for me (and I can afford), but I also don't want to just walk in and say "I want to try everything you've got."

Anyway, sorry to go on so long, but believe me when I say I'll appreciate any information you can give me.

 

[gazpacho]

For you're situation, there are two things that I would recommend. 1) Go to your local Barnes & Nobles or Borders book shop. There are a number of good books right on the shelf that you can read to familiarize yourself with basic firearm operation and shooting. 2) Find a local NRA basic pistol class and attend.

If you have a friend that you respect and trust with regards to firearms, then by all means, avail yourself of their assistance. Also, go to your local gun store and get a feel for the various firearms. Find out what feels good in your hand, and what points naturally. They should have no problems about assisting you, even knowing that you won't be buying that day. If they do have a problem with that, don't go back there again, because they don't deserve your business.

 

[Ktulu]

First, welcome to The High Road!

Second, gazpacho has some good advice. I recommend you take it.

 

[shermacman]

Ditto the gazpacho man.
The NRA training courses are usually a great thing. Mine, in Boston, was terrific. Books are good:
Miller, Illustrated Book of Guns
Ramage, Gun Digest 2004
Ask lots of questions, I have found that gun nuts love to go on and on about what they know. Sometimes that can be to a fault, but hey, no harm.

Wanting to know how a gun functions (in the same way that familiarity with a car's engine helps you be a better driver) is absolutely true. I continue to discover more about guns, history, politics, physics all at the same time! Don't be intimidated by your perception that other people know more about guns than you do.

Being a gun nut is fun! Enjoy it and welcome aboard!

 

[BamBam-31]

Welcome to THR! Stick around, you'll enjoy it and learn lots.

If you can fix a car, you can probably field strip and maintain a pistol with ease. Detail stripping it is a bit harder, but again it's something that you should be able to handle with no problems. Every pistol is a bit different, like cars, but there are certain design features that are very common and are shared between many different designs.

If this is your first gun, you should decide what purpose you want the gun to fulfill. If it's just for range work (learning how to shoot) or home defense, then size and weight aren't as much of a factor as if the gun were to be carried. A full-sized pistol should be considered for the former, a compact-sized pistol for the latter.

You'll also have to settle on a caliber. IMHO, 9mm is one of the best calibers for beginners because of it's relatively low recoil. You want to develop a smooth trigger squeeze without a flinch (make the hammer/striker fall without disturbing your sight picture). .45 ACP is a bit more difficult but still very manageable. .40 S&W/.357 SIG are somewhere in between in terms of stopping power, but the flippy recoil tends to create a nasty flinch in beginners (at least from what I've observed), so I'd stay away from those calibers initially.

If you stay with the bigger brands, you should be okay. Sig, Glock, Colt, Springfield, CZ, etc., they all have their followers because they generally turn out good products. Check www.gunbroker.com, www.gunsamerica.com, and www.auctionarms.com to compare prices before you buy.

The most important thing in picking out a pistol is hand fit. Go to a local shop first to see and feel, not buy. Pick up various designs and see what feels good in your hand. The better it fits you, the better you'll shoot it. Pick it up, point it to see if the sights line up naturally for you (remember the four rules!), see if the controls are comfortable and natural.

As for learning how to shoot, you can take a beginner class at a local range, but I think most of what you need to know has been posted here before. Do a search. There are threads describing proper sight alignment, trigger control, different stances and grips, etc. This place is a treasure chest of info!

Good luck.

 

[LeadPumper]

Control Group- Welcome to the High Road.

Often the question is asked, "How to begin?". The answer varies from person to person.

As to revolver vs auto-loader, that is a question that must be answered personnally. "To each his own" so to speak. You're going to have to try several models of each in various calibers to 'get a feel' for what's 'right for you'.

As an instructor, I can't teach students what's 'right for them', only they can determine that. What I do is give them enough knowledge to be safe on their journey of exploration, then let them try whatever I have in my collection. After they feel confident enough handling a firearm (only comes with experience), I send them off to rent or try on their own.

Most ranges I've been to offer some kind of training course, or can recommend one. Different courses for different trains of thought. An NRA Basic Pistol course sounds like just what you need: classroom time on what firearms are and the different types; ammunition explanation and selection; proper firearms safety; and range time.

Here is a link to the NRA's Firearms training search page:
NRA Instructors

Buying a firearm is in someways no different than buying a car. You do your research the best you can on makes and models. You decide what features are important to you, and what you can live whithout. And you test as many models as you can to determine what feels 'right' to you. Then you find some way to pay for it.

Best of luck,

-LeadPumper

 

[Double Maduro]

Control Group,

Welcome.

If you have a friend who shoots handguns, have them take you to the range and teach you a few things. Take a class if you can. Memorize and practice the 4 rules.

Now for the fun part of deciding what firearm to purchase.

Go to the range and rent several types of guns, revolvers, semi-automatics, single action, double action, etc. Rent these in different calibers and run at least a box of shells through each.

After you have fired a half dozen or so you will notice a liking for one type over another and one caliber over another. Start renting that type and caliber until you find the one that feels the best to you, this will be the one you will shoot best.

After you have decided on the gun/caliber combination that you want, shop around in your area. I would stick to dealers and new guns until you are more aware of what is going on. Besides, there is nothing quite like being the first person to shoot a fire arm, well there is but I won't mention it here.

Above all, have fun and be safe.

DM

 

[Art Eatman]

Welcome to THR! Jump right in; any number can play!

I've been messin' with pistols since around 1949, and I don't see anything to argue with in all the advice given above.

So I won't give any.

Art

 

[MobileSuitPilotX]

Good advice given so far...

Welcome!

I have little to add except a link to an article that might give you a little more insight along these lines:

Firearms For Self-Defense by Janis Cortese

The article was written with newbie women shooters in mind (and choosing a gun for self-defense purposes) but it's chocked full of non-gender specific, plain 'ol "new shooter" information.

 

[sm]

Welcome to THR !

 

[P95Carry]

CG - welcome from me too!

Indeed, plenty of good ideas so far. I agree with go out and try other guns - if you can. Also tho - try a selection of keywords in the THR search - you will almost certainly find a good number of threads covering this - help broaden your horizons.

Try searches on perhaps ''what to get'' - ''looking for new gun'' - first gun'' etc ... the amount of info buried is immense.

 

[waynesan]

Novice

Control Group,
After reading your post I could not help but remember how just a few short years ago I was in the same situation you find yourself in today. The advice that has already been posted is good and there is nothing I can add to improve on what's been said.
However, I will add just one thing. If your experience is anything like mine and others I know, don't go into your first gun buying experience with the thought that you are going to purchase one gun that is going to be the one gun to satisfy all your gun needs for the future. Just as there are all kinds of vehicles, some for good gas mileage, some for hauling, some for speed and some for off roading; there are also guns designed for various uses. Some guns are designed for plinking and economy, some for stopping power, some for easy concealment, and some for hunting. Most likely whatever you decide to buy will only wet your appetite for more and you will soon be in the market for something else to meet a need you don't even recognize at the moment.
Welcome to the world of shooting and good luck on your first purchase.

 

[jefnvk]

One piece of advice I'd give is to start ona .22, if this gun is to be used for shooting at the range. The recoil and noise on a .22 is much less than that of any other caliber, and it is cheap, which means more practice.

And shop at more than one gun shop. Compare prices with what you'd find online and add a bit to compensate for retail. I'd hate to have you walk into a gunshop and get screwed by a shady owner. Not that most will, but as in everything else, a couple people gotta ruin it for everyone.

 

[Big Man]

Also one other thing that somepeople might have forgotten about. I think most of your bigger gunshops with an indoor range have somebody that will come into the range and teach you the basics like how to load and make sure you keep it pointed downrange.etc. The guy that runs the indoor range near me accompanies just about everybody into the lanes. especially if he doesnt know you. He wants to make sure you are safe, and nobody gets hurt. (that includes his range). So you might be able to go into a store with a range and ask "Im new to shooting and is there somebody that can show me the basics for 1/2 hour or so." I'm sure they will be glad to.

 

[Control Group]

Thanks to everyone who's responded so far - a couple great links (particularly the NRA courses one: $30 for basic pistol about 45 min. from my home...looks like I know how I'm spending the first Sunday in March. Thanks for the link, LeadPumper!), and a lot of food for thought/solid advice.

Just reading the responses to date makes getting over the initial hump seem a lot less daunting - thanks for both the welcome and the info.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Welcome aboard!

Shooting requires a skill set and a level of attention and responsibility pretty much on a level with driving. So there's no doubt you can master it. You've gotten good advice on getting started already, particularly re. getting some training, and there's nothing I can add there. Good luck, enjoy it, and stay safe,

lpl/nc

 

[pezo]

The best shooters start with .22s. I will also agree the .9 millimeter and .38 special are also good beginner rounds.

 

[UberPhLuBB]

I'd like to add that I'm certain a friendly Milwaukee THR member would be happy to take you to a local range and show you the ropes.

Just keep in mind that people have jobs and lives too and that may interfere with your schedule. =)

I know if you lived in Southern Califoenia, I'd be more than happy to help.

 

[wmenorr67]

So far great advice from everyone. So I will add something a little different. Guns are a drug for most people. Once you buy one you will be addicted and want more and more. Just like Lays potato chips. No one can have just one.

 

[MaterDei]

Welcome to the High Road and welcome to the passion!

I ninth the advice to start with a 22. Where you go from there totally depends on what you plan on doing with the guns you buy. Self defense? Competition? Plinking? Each of these will likely lead you down a different path. Don't worry though all paths lead to nirvana.

 

[chink]

Here is how I started… I was conned into buying an AR-15 but my coworkers (ok not really but it was close) and then during the 10 day wait I read all I could about shooting and the AR-15. Then one day I ventured to a range alone and started loading up magazines and shooting at a target.
That may not be the best way to learn how to shoot, but its kind of the way I have always learned to do things. jump head first.

 

[Mr Kablammo]

Another good way to learn is to find a local IDPA or IPSC club. Go and watch some matches and talk to the competitors. You can learn a lot and they may invite you out privately so that you can shoot before you buy. Enjoy your new hobby! Mr. K.

 

[BamBam-31]

.22's are a GREAT training tool. I'd say get a full-sized pistol (either in 9mm or .45) and get a corresponding .22 to match it. There are even conversion kits which turn your 9mm or .45 into a .22 caliber pistol for cheap (but important!) practice.

In 9mm flavor, I personally like the CZ 75b. CZ also offers a Kadet kit (essentially a new slide and barrel, plus two magazines) that turns your 75b into a .22 shooter. There are LOTS of great 9mm pistols, however: Glock 17, Sig 226, Browning High Power, Springfield XD9, etc.

In .45, the grand ol' 1911 (Springfield, Colt, Kimber) is very hard to beat. Great triggers. A couple of companies make .22 conversion kits for 1911's, the best and most expensive being Marvel. For less than what the Marvel kit costs, you can get a whole other pistol, the Ruger 22/45, which is designed to emulate the 1911 grip angle and controls. The Sig 220 is also an excellent .45 launching platform (do a search for THR member Ala Dan ).

Whatever you get, DRY FIRE. If you need snap caps to protect your pistol's firing pin during dry fire, then buy them. Dry fire will help you nail down the muscle motions for a flinchless trigger squeeze.

Don't forget to post here to update us on what you purchased!

 

[psyopspec]

Your questions are tough to answer over the internet. Being there in person to demonstrate the workings of different guns and control a first range session would help tremendously. More than anything, I'd say you need a friend who is familiar with guns - they can give you the basic mechanics, teach you the basics of shooting, and keep you from getting ripped off when you go to buy.

In leui of this, a basic NRA pistol course may help you achieve the first two. If you can't find anyone you trust to help you find a good price on a pistol, researching different sellers on the internet can give you an idea of manufacturer quality and MSRP (THR and other discussion forms are also a great source for this information). Web research also gives you an idea of what to look for in a good used pistol, but again it's no match for having someone there at your side.

Welcome the sport! Glad to have you aboard. Whatever happens, remember that safety comes before everything else. Enjoy!

 

[kudu]

Welcome Control Group,

I will also recommend a .22 pistol to begin with. If you get a revolver in .22 you can shoot shorts, longs and long rifle cartridges in it. As a training tool for new shooters I get a bunch of .22CB longs to shoot. Very quiet and no recoil, gives the shooter confidence to work their way up to the .22LR shells. CHEAP to shoot also. About $1.00 for 50 rounds of .22LR.

Get the basics down with the .22 and go for a bigger gun for protection and carry. .38 Special is about the minimum you want in a revolver, and 9mm about the minimum in an auto.

Remember everyone has their own opinion of what's right for you, only you will know when you find it.

Always play safe.