Why is this a common mistake?

[Edmond]

It was my impression that there are a lot of people out there who don't have a gun, but they want to buy one. Instead of going to the shop and trying out guns that are in their price range and that they're comfortable and good at shooting; they're pre-determined to buy a certain caliber and model.

Are we the only people who have an open mind when buying a gun?

I tried explaining to this guy, who is almost hell bent on buying a Glock .45, that he shouldn't have his mind made up. He wants a .45 because a lot of people in movies use them. He has only shot a .45 twice, my G30, and I said that all guns are different, even if they're the same caliber.

I told him that he'd better be damn sure that he likes the gun because you can't return it.

I gave him an analogy. He thought the LS1 Trans Am would be such a great car; but when a dealership let him test drive one, he was disappointed.

 

[Reno]

I did it with my first gun (springfield XD-357, talk about a specific caliber). I'm happy with it. I haven't had as much practice time with it as I'd like but it feels great in my hand and shoots well.

If you do enough research up front it's not always a bad thing to just buy the gun you want without shooting it.

 

[Majic]

Not everyone has access to ranges that rent guns. Most importantly though a lot of people just think that shooting a handgun is fairly easy. The movies and tv have protrayed this for generations and poeple just believe what they see. Then the gun rags promote everything new as the greatest thing since sliced bread for advertising money and people believe that.
The media is a potential first gun owner his/her worst enemy. That is one of the biggest reasons for basically new guns on the used markets. People buying what they have seen or heard as a great gun to only be shocked into reality when they first fire it.

 

[DWS1117]

I was the same way with my first gun. Heck I didn't know any different. I had heard of the .45 acp but, was afraid of it. So I went the 9mm route. When we went to buy our first gun we were set on a 9mm.

Now my .45 acp 1911 is my favorite. I still like the 9mm. One day another will find its way into my safe.

My first car was the same thing. I was dead set on getting a Mustang. Worked odd jobs and even fast food but, I got my Mustang. A POS 1978 mustang 2 .

We should all learn from our mistakes.

 

[Edmond]

We should all learn from our mistakes.

Yes, we should but the margin for error with firearms is much smaller than most other margins for error in other things.

 

[Linux&Gun Guy]

^No its not what are you talking about?

I would much rather buy a crappy gun and lose 500$ then buy a crappy house and lose 200-300K

 

[whm1974]

It was my impression that there are a lot of people out there who don't have a gun, but they want to buy one. Instead of going to the shop and trying out guns that are in their price range and that they're comfortable and good at shooting; they're pre-determined to buy a certain caliber and model.

Caliber I can see since some are more commen then others. I have told people before that were getting into guns for the first time is get a DA revovler. .38 spc if for defence, .22 lr for shooting. Come to think of it, those who never shot or been around guns before should get a .22 DA revovler. Ammo is very cheap, easy for someone not use to recoil to hit a chest size area... And FUN to shoot.

-Bill MEadows

 

[Erik Jensen]

when I decided I wanted to buy my first gun, I was dead-set on getting a "colt .45". went to the range with my friend, shot his walther P99, rented a ParaOrd P14-45, and outshot him. really wanted a .45. my friend convinced me to buy a Beretta 92F that they had used. now, I'm glad I bought the 9mm. it's a beautiful, well-made firearm, and it was cheap to practice with. but earlier this year, I bought a Springfield WWII Mil-Spec. finally, I've got a "Colt .45" like I always wanted as a kid, and I kind of wish I had just ignored my friend on got a 1911 in the first place.

though the Beretta is still a beautiful, well-made piece, that's cheap to shoot.

 

[Rimmer]

The fact is anyone new to firearms really does not have anything but the movies and maybe a friend or two to draw from. Everyone is touting how great this or that is and usually for that person it is a fine firearm.

If your new you really are at the mercy of everyone else. I've been there. Purchased 3 different pistols before I started trading to get what best suited my comfort level.

Its unfortunate in a way but on the positive side I now know what works for me. Trial and error can be good and if your one of those that just can't part with whatever you bought even though it's not a favorite you end up with a safe full. (eventually good trad'in stock)

I reciently went through this with rifle scopes. :banghead: Everyone said buy this/that etc.. what they didn't say was how good are your eyes, ya wear glasses, what type shooting are you going to be doing. It took 3 scopes to define what I needed and what wasn't gonna work.

Just because someone has one and really likes it does not mean anything to me. I need to try it myself and compare with other similar products. It's taken years but I no longer am an impulse buyer.

just my 2¢

 

[capt_happypants]

The other problem exists behind the counter - most salesmen just want to make the sale, rather than finding the right solution for the customer.

 

[DragonFire]

I think the difference is whether someone is looking for a good gun for a specific reason (hunting, self defense, target shooting) or is just looking to buy a first gun.

If you've never shot a handgun before you have little to no frame of reference to know what you'd like or not like, what's useful and what isn't. What seems like alot of recoil for the first couple of shots may seem mild once you've shot a box or two. You may never consider CCW until you've become comfortable around guns in general.

Your friend has probably heard alot about Glocks and .45's that he's made his mind up on reputation, and given he hasn't shot one before it's not that bad of an idea. He' may not get the perfect gun for him, but he's likely to get a quality one.

Is there a better way to select a gun with little or no experience than to pick one from a good, well-known manufacturer in a good-well know caliber?

 

[Edmond]

He wants to get a shotgun. But here's the problem: not only has he never fired a shotgun before, he's never even seen a shotgun fired in real life. He has absolutely no idea how the recoil is and even thought that he could shoot it from the hip, rapidly like they do in the movies.

I explained to him that if you pocket the shotgun wrong, you can dislocate your arm.

 

[mack69]

RE:

Edmond, I was at the range/gun shop a few months back and was talking with one of the counter guys about the different 1911's. Some kid (though big, had to be 6'6" 275) just 21 wanted to buy a Desert Eagle .50 as his first handgun cause it looked cool in the movies....We were trying to educate him as to the cost factor not only of the gun, but the ammunition. He was dead set on that gun.....shaking head........mack

 

[Edmond]

I guess someone is going to buy a slightly used Desert Eagle for cheap, eh?

People really have to get back to reality and realize that Hollywood makes guns too simple. Have I fired my .45 one handed? Yes, but that was because I loaded one round in there and wanted to see what it was like. Have I held two guns up and tried to shoot both at the same time? No way.

We have all these people watching movies and playing video games who take those for reality.

I talked to the guy this morning. I said, "For a first time gun owner, a 9mm would be plenty of pistol." He was up all night looking for a .45 online and said, "But they didn't have anything I wanted for what I'm willing to spend." He indirectly confessed to a problem that comes with a .45, the cost it takes to buy the gun and the cost it takes to shoot it.

I told that he's making a mistake if he wants to buy a big gun just for the sake of buying a big gun; he may not like it. He thought I was referring to the size of the pistol and not the caliber.

 

[Drjones]

Actually, I've bought the vast majority of my guns without having shot them, some I've only seen in person once before.

I have not been disappointed yet.

I do tons and tons of research on various forums, reading old threads and starting new ones, and that has served me well.

These forums can be invaluable.

 

[WhoKnowsWho]

Before I knew about TFL, I didn't really know squat about guns. I had a few airsoft pieces, and that was it. Then, I went out shooting with some friends for the first time, and after that, I was "determined" to not bother with a "puny" caliber like 9mm, it was a 1911 in .45 or bust for me after that.

Soon after getting my first 45, I started reading stuff online, realized I wouldn't want to be in front of the muzzle of any caliber, realized 9mm was cheaper to shoot, realized there were a ton of other guns I might want one day, and later, found TFL and then THR.

So yup, I did the same thing. But I am better now!

 

[Nathaniel Firethorn]

When I first felt the desire to own a firearm, I thought I wanted a Glock 21.

Then I held and fired a Glock 21.

Then I thought I wanted a HK USP .45F variant 7.

Then I held and fired a USP .45F variant 7.

Then I thought I wanted a USP .45F variant 1.

Then I held and fired a USP .45F variant 1.

Then I realized that I had what I wanted.

Then I realized that I also wanted a Ruger Slabside... and a Citori White Lightning...

- pdmoderator

 

[sturmruger]

Luckily I have yet to be bitten by the I never tried it bug. I usually find one that I can shoot before buying. Some guns like my S&W 642 have such a good reputation I didn't bother trying to find one to shoot.

 

[Drjones]

People really have to get back to reality and realize that Hollywood makes guns too simple.

Hollywood completely distorts reality, especially when it comes to guns.

I took a girlfriend to shoot for her first time recently and she couldn't stop talking about how different it is from the movies.

Have I fired my .45 one handed? Yes, but that was because I loaded one round in there and wanted to see what it was like. Have I held two guns up and tried to shoot both at the same time? No way.

Actually, you SHOULD practice one-handed, and one-handed with your weak side.

You really think that in a defensive situation you're always going to have the time/opportunity to get into a proper stance?

The only thing that matters, and indeed the only thing that may keep you alive, is your ability to get bullets from your gun into your attacker.

You do not get extra points for using a proper stance. All that matters is that you are alive at the end of the situation.

I apologise if I sound like I'm preaching as I do not intend to; just trying to give you a different perspective.

 

[Edmond]

This guy I'm talking about, his father owns a full sized .40 SW and he wants a full sized .45 I asked him if he's ever shot one and he assumed that there wasn't much of a difference between the .40 and the .45.

I told him that even though a gun may be chambered for the same cartridge (he has shot my sub compact .45), it will feel different with a different frame supporting that cartridge.

He seems pretty hell bent on a .45; thing is, they have children in the houes and he's not a very safety conscious person.

 

[chink]

That is what I did with my first handgun. I knew I wanted a 1911. Why? Because the military used it for a long time and 45 if bigger than 9 That is all I knew about the 1911. I didn’t do any research. Ended up with a cheap on that people seem to think is crappy, but it works for me. The first time I went to the range with it I was a little scared. The 1911 was the first pistol I had ever shot. Taught myself to the relatively accurate with it.

 

[StopTheGrays]

Big Gun=Better Gun, wrong but that is Hollyweird has been showing people for the last 60 years. Shoot someone with a .357 and the victim will be thrown back about 10 feet, use a .44 mag and add 5 more feet.

 

[techmike]

What what what??

I explained to him that if you pocket the shotgun wrong, you can dislocate your arm.

I am having a hard time imagining this happening. Has this happened to anyone here?? Please elaborate. Sounds like the oldtimers who told me when I was a kid that a 12 Ga would knock me on my butt.

 

[Rimmer]

He seems pretty hell bent on a .45; thing is, they have children in the houes and he's not a very safety conscious person.

Now it's gettin scary.... get this guy to any safety class that you can find. I'd recommend an NRA certified pistol instructor. It's all about safety.

(sometimes I wish these classes were mandatory)

 

[Black Snowman]

Why is this a common mistake?

I appologise in advance for the preachy nature of my post and I realise it doesn't apply 100% of the time.

<soapbox>
Because people are lazy. They don't want to think, so there is just 1 "magic combination". They don't want to experiment because that would require making their own decision and dealing with the consequences and no one in the USA want's to make their own decisions anymore or, God forbid, take responsability for them.

They want to be able to blame their friend, or the movie, or the magazine article that made them want to buy it when they can't hit the broad side of a barn with it. Just so long as it's not them.

I took me a while to learn to distrust other people's hearsay and really investigate things. I think I was about 18. Fortunately, I learned from my parents to take responsability for my actions. I wish more people were the same way and it frustrates me when people point their fingers away from the real cause of the problem.
</soapbox>