Which gun to Buy - Newbee

[Love_Freedom]

Hello everyone

I am a new member here and I have been a reading info about guns. Very interesting read and thanks for all your help. I am very new to fire arms and have decided to buy a gun soon to protect my self amd my family if a situation arise. I plan to take to the NRA's 'Basic Pistol Course' next week.

Little confused on which Gun to buy. What I understand from here is that .22 is a good beginner gun as the ammunition will be cheaper. I have two questions

1) Which is the brand to buy for training in .22 caliber?

2) I also want to buy a gun immediately for home defense since there is a talk that the leftist president and Congress may ban guns. So what is the best gun for keeping at home defense to take care of intruders? For me, Budget is not a constraint. I need a gun or a pistol that is very reliable, and very effective in stopping intruders. One ultimate gun you keep at home. Since there are several options - Semi- automatic, Automatic, Shot guns, revolvers, pistols etc, I am trying to find what is the best fit for me. I am 5' 10" and 160 Lbs male.

Thanks again for your help

 

[redbullitt]

As far as training, especially to start, i always have had good experience with a 22. ammo is cheap, recoil and noise are low. Walmart sells federal for a good price.
As to self defense, i highly suggest a shotgun for the home. consider a 12 or 20 gauge (depending on user and recoil sensitivity) with buck shot or even larger birdshot (in very close quarters). A remington 870 or mossy 500 will work well.
As to a pistol i am partial to my springfield XD 45 acp.

 

[Sam1911]

Hi and welcome!

There are a lot of warnings and caveats to throw at you, but as you're already planning on getting some training, I'd say you're on the right path. You should conclude your training class by asking your instructor where to sign up for MORE training.

As for .22s for practice, you'll get lots of suggestions, but I personally prefer the Ruger .22s. The Mark III is the current model. They will be more accurate than you can be for many, many years to come and are not expensive. A neat alternative is the same pistol in slightly different configuration (called the 22/45) that has its grip angle, safety, mag-catch, etc. redesigned to mimic some larger center-fire pistols, specifically the 1911 pattern "Government Model."

Browning Buckmarks will be a close runner-up in the popularity contest here. I've seen a few that were not reliable with some kinds of ammunition, but a lot of folks like them. Pick whichever suits your fancy.

As for the ultimate self-defense pistol? Wow. There is NO way to answer that question. Go to your class and ask the instructor where you can try out some common designs. A lot of ranges have rental guns and this would be the best option for you.

I would try a Glock, a Springfield xD, a S&W M&P, (each of these in probably 9mm and maybe .40S&W), and a 1911 in .45. That will give you hands-on experience with the most common and popular auto-loading sidearms. I would also ask to try out a revolver (S&W, Ruger, maybe Taurus) in .357 Magnum. If you do shoot the revolver, buy a box of .38 Special ammo as this works just fine in a .357 and is lower-powered and will be better for getting to know the gun.

If you shoot those few autos and a decent revolver, you'll have a handle on 80% of what people own and carry for self-defense. If you pick any one of those for your first gun you will not have erred.

Once you've made your purchase, remember to try to spend more on ammo (like twice as much each year) than you spent on the gun. That will get you on your way to developing the skills you need to use it effectively. The gun you pick will NEVER be as important as how prepared and skilled you are. If you can, try to get some serious self-defense training with a reputable trainer. There is a LOT more that goes into "self-defense" than merely owning a gun, or even knowing how to shoot it well.

Chance are, after you've gotten into shooting and the shooting community, you'll discover another gun design you like even better. Or maybe you like revolvers *and* autos and need a few examples of each. Then you'll be "bitten by the bug" and find yourself owning a collection! Don't worry about it. There is no known cure for the disease, but most of us are survivors, living with it day by day as best as we can.

Safety FIRST, Safety LAST, and lots of Safety in between, ok?

-Sam

P.S. -- Please do go to www.nra-ila.org and look up the gun laws for your state. Make sure you know and understand what you can and can't do with what guns where you live. There are tens of thousands of gun laws on the books in this country that can put you behind bars and have your right to own a gun removed forever, though you never hurt anyone or had any intention of doing so. Ignorance is no excuse. That's not fair, it's just the way it is.

 

[IncredibleGord]

Many things to consider here.
Who will have immediate access to the firearm. Do you live alone?
If you have children I would suggest a pump 12 gauge. It is a little bit harder to access for children under 8. It is very hard for them to figure out the safety, or rack the gun. I suggest proper safety measures of course, but in an off chance you leave your gun unlocked a shotgun will be harder for them to maneuver. I think that a .22 is should not be on your list just yet. I think that you should practice and train with the caliber of weapon that is suitable for proper self defense. If you want an auto loader you can't beat GLOCK reliability, but you might be comfortable with something else, like a BERETTA, or CZ. Your self defense gun must be well taken care of, and you should be fully comfortable with it. .22's are known to jam, it's hard to avoid, even with a very clean gun. .22's are good for plinking, or target shooting, I love them, but I wouldn't grab it first if my home was being invaded. You could always pick up a nice 9 shot .22 revolver, lots of fun at the range, but save that one for the zombies. My first gun was a 12 gauge, Pardner pump. They are selling at Dick's sporting goods for about $165.00+ right now. For a non-ccw pistol I think that because of the price of ammo, a 9mm might be what you need. Ammo is cheap, and you can get in a lot of practice without burning a hole in your pocket. My second gun I bought was a ruger 10/22. Lots of fun to shoot, and is nice on my wallet. My most recent purchase was a GLOCK 32, .357 Sig. Ammo is expensive, but I love it. I think that you should do some physical research before buying. Go to the range- rent a few pistols, also see if any of your friends have some guns that they can take you out shooting with. Be picky with your first gun, go splurge, it's the gun you should never sell, and should have lots of fun with. Go read some more stuff on this site, do firearms research on wikipedia and youtube too. The only thing about starting to buy guns is that once you get familiar with them, and like them, you will always have a list in your head of what you want next. I want a nice AR in .223, m44, a coach gun, and a bunch more next. Good luck, and be safe.

 

[mauiglide]

Ruger Mark III Hunter for a dedicated .22LR pistol or you could buy a Glock 19 (9mm) and get a .22LR conversion kit from Advantage Arms.

 

[moooose102]

ruger mark II or III pistols are great little guns. i dont like the styling (i had a mark II). i bought a wather p22. it looks and feels more like a traditional hand gun. a lot of people will bash this gun, but i love mine. it works great, very few malfunctions, great ergodynamics. as far as a home defense gun, probably something in the 9mm or above. or the best would be a shotgun with a short barrel and open choke. either pump or semi auto. you dont need magnum performance, the distances will be very close. but you do need enough to stop most perps right away. and a 22 is definitly not enough gun for home defense.

 

[Mp7]

If u want to "just" secure your home
a pump-action shotgun with a short barrel
and a .38 J-Frame Revolver would be the
minimalist solution. IMHO.

Might want to get a cheap .22 revolver for plinking
as well

 

[btefft]

Ruger Mark III is a great .22 - a real tack driver.

I have several guns for home / car defense, but if I only had time to grab one, it would be my Springfield 1911 A1 (.45 ACP) with its Crimson Trace laser sight. That bad boy hits where the laser points, you can bypass trying to use the sights in a dark house.

But I wouldn't hesitate to grab my Ruger SP 101 (.357 Mag) with its Crimson Trace laser sight, either.

Or my G27 (.40SW) or my Kel-Tec PF9 (9mm) or my XD45 or my 870 12 ga shotgun.

Hack

 

[PhiloebeddoUSA]

Think about the family

There are some great ideas here. With kids in the house I would get a gunsafe. You can get a keyless entry (push button) for a hundred bucks and get your gun in 2 seconds. (Beats the horrible thought of an accident)

You also need to think about whether or not your wife can handle the weapon if you are not around and she needs it. An autoloader can be difficult for some women to cycle and it can also be a bad situation if it she has a misfire situation. A revolver eliminates that problem entirely. If there is a bad round, she just has to keep pulling the trigger to solve the issue.

Personally I would go for a simple .38 special with a 4" barrel. The recoil won't be too bad and you can get some 158 grain manstoppers that will do the job in case a bad guy comes around. I am fond of S&W, but there are many fine gunmakers out there who are turning out decent 38's.

Best of luck to you.

 

[Japle]

You'll get plenty of advice with a question like that!!

I love the Ruger .22 autos, especially the 22/45 models, stainless with the 5 1/2" barrel. Browning Buckmarks are also excellent. See which one feels best to you. You can't go wrong with either.

For home defense for a new shooter, I'd recommend either the Glock 19 or the Springfield XD-9 with the 4" barrel. Once again, see which one feels best to you. Get a set of TruGlo TFO sights for the one you choose.

For basic through advanced pistol marksmanship training, I strongly recommend a good pellet pistol. One of my favorites is the Daisy 717, but there are several good ones available. You see, in order to become a really good pistol shot (as opposed to being happy with an 8" group at 20 feet) you have to master trigger control, follow-through and calling your shots. It's much easier to aquire those skills if the gun you're shooting has no recoil, is super quiet and is very cheap to shoot. A pellet pistol is all those things and you can shoot it in the house. All you need for a backstop is a box of newspapers. Ammo is almost free. Pistols like the Daisy are pump-up (one pump) and there's no Co2 cost. Make sure you get one with adjustable sights.

Check out Brian Enos' website. Tons of excellent info from people who really know what they're talking about.

Have fun.

 

[Love_Freedom]

Wow

So I guess I can buy a Daisy 717 without a background check, right?

 

[Japle]

So I guess I can buy a Daisy 717 without a background check, right?

Probably not if you live in New Jersey.

 

[Just One Shot]

My suggestion would be to check your local gun stores. As an example, we have a gun store within 25 miles of our house that has an indoor range. They also have handguns that you can rent before you buy.

While we may suggest one brand or another, having the ability to test fire various makes and models can go a long way in helping you to find the gun that YOU are most comfortable with.

If you don't have a range that offers the rental service, go to the gun store and speak with the salesman. Most of these guys are knowledgeable on the different features of the guns they are selling and most will allow you to hold them so you can get a feel for the gun and see how well it fits your hand.

 

[Sam1911]

...go to the gun store and speak with the salesman. Most of these guys are knowledgeable on the different features of the guns they are selling and most will allow you to hold them so you can get a feel for the gun and see how well it fits your hand.

Weeeeeell. That's o.k. as far as it goes.

But for a lot of laughs, search THR for any of the dozens of "gun store story" threads. Just because someone's standing on the other side of the gun counter doesn't mean they've got a PhD. in firearms use, history, safety, or ballistics. In fact, sometimes you have to wonder if you're not on candid camera or something..."Is he REALLY expecting me to believe the words coming out of his mouth?"

Get a LOT of second opinions. Don't believe anything that sounds even a little off-beat. Take mental note and come ask questions here afterward. We'll put you right. We'll argue about it until you're tired of reading, but you WILL get a well-rounded response.

Good luck!

-Sam

 

[Japle]

The guy behind the counter may be more interested in selling the gun with the highest commission. Don't bet on him being more interested in getting you the right gun than putting the most money in his pocket.

 

[eatont9999]

Get yourself a nice Ruger to start. I would say get both a Springfield 1911 in .45 ACP and a smith and wesson .357magnum. You may want to buy as much high capacity stuff like AK-47s and AR-15s, because those are the first things Barack Osama is going to ban. With a mostly democratic congress, you are lying to yourself if you think he is not going to get an AWB through. buy what you want now, because you are not going to get it later.

 

[JImbothefiveth]

I would recomend that for home defense, you get a Remington 870 shotgun, and a Ruger 10/22 rifle or marlin 795 rifle to practice with.

You should also get a centerfire handgun so that you can get a concealed weapons permit, and have a gun with you almost everywhere you go. The best choice for this would probably be a 9mm pistol or a .357 magnum revolver, as .357 magnum revolvers can also shoot .38 special.