Why would i own a Handgun?

[Manta77]

It's your right. Not everyone has that privilege.

 

[gohogs93]

Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

 

[1911Tuner]

Quote:

> So what is the sporting value in a handgun?<

What does it have to do with sporting value/purposes? 2A doesn't state that we have the right to keep and bear sporting goods.

The sporting use of arms is a spinoff of the original intent as outlined by the founders. It's a pleasant pursuit...but still has nothing to do with it.

It's also a free country. If you don't have any use for a handgun, then don't keep one.

 

[gearhead]

I used to drive race cars semi-professionally. While the fastest and most precise cars are a lot of fun to drive, there's a real challenge in taking a heavy, large, wallowing, skinny-tired car and wrestling it to make it do what it's capable of doing. You won't have the precision of a finely tuned target rifle with any handgun but that doesn't mean they aren't a challenge and it doesn't mean that you won't make yourself a better marksman by learning to shoot different platforms well.

 

[Caliper_Mi]

If your target if less than 25 yards out, I think you would have to blind not to hit it.

Another vote for "try it before you say that". 25yd is a *horrible* distance to start a novice on pistol shooting. 25 feet is better, but 15 is more reasonable.

Pistols are also used in some competitions that are very different than most rifle competition. Things like steel target or bowling pin shooting combine both accuracy and speed. The targets are often much closer than 25yd, but competitive times mean firing several shots per second while acquiring and hitting multiple targets. It's not the same kind of marksmanship carefully judging the range, wind, etc. Try it, you might like it.

 

[SifuGun]

You're probably right! Assuredly, one would not miss a target at less than 25 yards, in theory.

But it might be worth your time to come out to some type of pistol-oriented competition and see how it works, in practice. Could be it's harder than it sounds.

...

In all seriousness, there are several different kinds of handgun competition. The one closest to the kinds of shooting you're used to doing would probably be IHMSA which is long range (out to 200 meters) slow-fire steel silhouette shooting.

You might also be comfortable shooting "bullseye" style matches, which also reward marksmanship over all else.

The "action" or "practical" shooting sports introduce the element of speed into the mix. They are more reflective of the kinds of skills needed to employ sidearms in the role they were invented to fill: fast, close, defensive uses primarily. Practical shooting pushes you to develop your gunhandling skills much more so than your mechanical accuracy skills. So instead of being tested on the fundamentals of marksmanship, you're being tested on your ability to draw and acquire a sight picture quickly, shoot while moving, (in some cases) shoot around cover or obstacles and in positions that are not conducive to perfect form/stance, reload quickly, engage and transition smoothly between multiple targets, engage moving targets, engage targets that only present themselves for a second or two, and so forth. You may find that hitting some targets -- at 5-7 yards, let alone 25 -- is quite a bit more of a challenge than you thought. Or that hitting them is easy, but hitting them accurately, multiple times, in under a second (as you might need to do to be at all competitive) is not easy in the least.

I'm sure if you really want to try out handguns for sport, there is a discipline that would appeal to you.

Sam1911, thank you for your reply. Okay lets say i get a handgun for SD and competition-tactical shooting. It would have to meet these requirements. 1. A real safety button. 2. be accurate out to 50 yards. 3. have the ability to install a recoil buffer of some kind. 4. Preferably a 9mm caliber. (I shoot 147 grain boat tail Hornady's out 100 yards accurately with my sub 2000 that has a 16" barrel) 5. front bottom rail. Which handgun would you recommend?

 

[SifuGun]

That statement makes it obvious you don't own a handgun....It usually takes a good amount of practice to build up the skills to hit a target smaller than a breadbox with a handgun.

Well, I am lucky because my brother Owns three Sig Sauers. He like other people like to say they rather buy Good guns that gold. He has the P220, P238, and the P226. He brought the last two out and I shoot them at about 10 yards. They were nice like a piece of jewelry another thing my brother collects. But still was not feeling the appeal. I noticed they were alot of Girls shooting in the handgun area. Whereas I have never seen any girls at the rifle range. Now don't get your feathers ruffled, . Please look for my other replies in this thread where i vindicate the use of handguns.

 

[SifuGun]

You are assuming a lot here. You assume that the only possible SD scenario is a mugging, where the perp will simply want your money or stuff and then let you go on your merry way, unharmed. You assume that this has to happen to you "often" to be worth trying to prevent. No, its not worth shooting someone to protect your wallet, but if someone wants to rape your wife, will you "give him what he wants to get away with your life"?

Handguns fill a very important void for places where you can't walk around with a rifle slung over your back, but still need some protection.

Plus, they can be just as fun as rifles. Some short range, rapid fire pistol practice is great stress relief. Long range rifle can be enjoyable too, but sometimes its a little too slow paced and thought intensive for me. After a week of calculus and other homework, I need to do something a little more physical and less mental for a change.

Ironclad has the two best answers so far.

1. Protect the wife when your around. ( Guess she needs one also when I'am not around)
2. Just go out an shoot reactive targets without much thinking for stress relief. I like this one.

And a few members came up with this one which is a good reason to have a handgun:

3. Utility, for killing varmints , pest, etc. on the farm or property.

The first one reminds me of my rich uncle that got robbed one day. Ever since then I noticed he was packing a handgun in a concealed shoulder holster under his sport coat.
Sign of the times and just the way it is.

 

[SifuGun]

I used to drive race cars semi-professionally. While the fastest and most precise cars are a lot of fun to drive, there's a real challenge in taking a heavy, large, wallowing, skinny-tired car and wrestling it to make it do what it's capable of doing. You won't have the precision of a finely tuned target rifle with any handgun but that doesn't mean they aren't a challenge and it doesn't mean that you won't make yourself a better marksman by learning to shoot different platforms well.

Given the ballistics provided by Hornady's on-line calculator. I think handgun shooting would be both manageable and fun. And like Gearhead said a .

147 gr 9mm 950 fps 147 gr., .212 B.C. www.hornady.com
Range (yards) Muzzle 25 50 75 100 150 200
Velocity (fps) 950 931 913 896 880 850 822
Energy (ft.-lb.) 295 283 272 262 253 236 221
Trajectory (10 yd. zero) -0.8 0.5 -0.8 -4.6 -11.2 -32.8 -66.4
Wind Drift (inches) 0.0 0.1 0.6 1.3 2.3 5.0 8.8
Come Up in MOA -0.8 -1.8 1.5 5.9 10.7 20.9 31.7
Wind Drift (moa) 0.00 0.56 1.10 1.63 2.16 3.19 4.20

 

[TexAg]

In your requirements of your potential 9mm you list the ability to install a recoil buffer. Why? Most pistols do not need one and could in fact adversely affect operation. Per your req's I would reccommend looking at a CZ-75b.

 

[jiminhobesound]

Shooting a handgun is like golf. The difference between shooting and shooting well is vast. Go out and buy a .22 handgun and spend some time with it. Compare your ability to the top shooters and you will see the golf anology.

 

[SifuGun]

Thanks for the tip. I'll be getting this gun asap. I love gun with a good rep.

 

[12131]

Why would i own a Handgun?
I am an avid marksman. I enjoy going out to the range and shooting my 7mm rem mag. I like to estimate the wind-age, trajectory, etc. I hand load my rounds. I even have a sub 2000 9mm i like shooting at the 100 yard lane. So, how would someone like me find enjoyment in shooting a hand gun. As we know hand guns are great for personal protection. But really how often are you going to get mugged? And if you were held up most people say let them take what they want. So you can get away with your life. If you do your best to stay away from trouble more than likely it will not find you. So what is the sporting value in a handgun? I see people shoot them tactically and that seems fun. If your target if less than 25 yards out, I think you would have to blind not to hit it. Well, enough said. I like the communities advise on the subject. In other words what is it about handgun shooting that you like? Sincerely, SifuGun.

Three words: Dr. William Petit.
And that's just one example. My friend, don't be so naive.

 

[TestPilot]

How do you know if the criminal just wants your money?

Some criminals don't even wants money. They just wants to beat you up to death, "just because." There are types of peple who braggs about using deadly violence agaist another, and even more idiots who actually give respect for that. That's their life style.

Those people walk with violence almost with impunity. And, it's not because people don't keep them selves from violence. It's because people do keep themselves from violence when violent response is appropriate.

Have you ever objected to someone cutting in line? Some one did when a women cut into line in a store. She went crazy just for that, and her boyfriend beat the guy putting him in critical medical condition. Just because the guy objected to someone cutting in line.

Some one open up a space for you to merge while driving. You wave a hand at the guy to be nice. The guy thinks you're flipping your middle finger at him and starts a road rage by opening fire at you. You just don't know.

You just don't know what kind of violence will come in what form for what reason. And, there's plenty of people who needs to be shot.

 

[BrainOnSigs]

My father was kidnapped and murdered back in '77. Really bad things happen to really good people every day. I was the victim of an attempted car-jacking last year. The thug decided to move along when he saw a gun in his face at the same time he was putting one in mine. I am no hero. You can have my truck, wallet, etc. I just want to come home safely every night to my wife and kid. That said, I won't rely on the morals and values of some thug not to shoot me after robbing me of my personal possessions.

I have a large safe full of handguns, hunting rifles, AR15s, etc. I enjoy shooting them all.

 

[PabloJ]

I bought one because lot of people where I live seem to have them. Although I despise shooting one can be used in small indoor ranges. If you want to have fun at social events get well fitting shotgun and take up shotgun games like: skeet, trap zz birds,......that is where all the fun shooting happens.

 

[HOOfan_1]

Three words: Dr. William Petit.
And that's just one example. My friend, don't be so naive.

Also Ray Joseph Dandridge and Ricky Javon Gray and Richard McCroskey.

Reasons enough to show that carrying at home is not a wild idea either.

 

[ttheel]

If your target if less than 25 yards out, I think you would have to blind not to hit it.

You really dont have alot of experience with handguns do you? 25 yards is a long shot with a handgun, especially for the average Joe.

 

[mokin]

They are a lot of fun to shoot.

 

[Animal Mother]

Here's another:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWJJ3WF3rNE

 

[vaherder]

Quote:
Every once in a great while I have a rogue sheep that goes after my dogs and me for no reason
Mtn Creek said
You may need a larger dog. My dog got a wild hair yesterday evening and barrel rolled a 200lb goat!

My herding girl weighs about 42lbs. When a 225lb ram or wether upsets her and is jumping 6ft in the air she has no problem going up in the air and snatching the offender and taking him down. My boys weigh around 55lbs and can do the same.

Its just that every once in while a sheep will decide it wants to hurt my dogs and me. I have learned that its easier to dispose of the offender with a round of 9mm, 30 30 0r.308 then risk the chance of vet bills. I figure I have bout $50k invested in the training of each one of my dogs. A sheep has cost me a couple thousand in vet bills when it took on my dogs. My livestock guardian dogs( Polish tatras that weigh 150lbs+) are not trained and should never have the opportunity to hurt a sheep. They are there to protect them and will go after the herding dogs if they think they are mistreating their flock.

 

[Usmc-1]

I think if you read up on police blotters around the country most firefights are within 7 yards , not 25 and to be clear many of those officers who spend a large amount of time in there car and dont go to the range ,end up getting shot or killed , even at 7 yards , when the officer fired 15 rounds from his Glock and didnt hit anything , he's lucky to be alive , if he had practiced more than the required (once) a quarter , he would have not only had a better chance of hitting the target but killing him as well! Practice makes perfect as they say!

You even say you shoot rifles , would you be able to just point down range at 25 yards, bullseye every shot , nope I didnt think so , I would hold that Sub (2000) real close to my bed if thats your only defense , because at 10 yards or less an intruder will ethier take your 7mm away from you or kill you where you sit , get yourself a 9 or 40 , learn to shoot it and practice just like you do with the rifles and guess what , your ready!

 

[Sam1911]

Sam1911, thank you for your reply.

No problem!

Okay lets say i get a handgun for SD and competition-tactical shooting. It would have to meet these requirements. 1. A real safety button.

Ok. Lots fit that criterion.

2. be accurate out to 50 yards.

What does that mean? How accurate? Some 1911s are tuned to be 1.5" accurate from a rest at 50 yds, but you'll pay several thousand dollars for that. Hit a man-sized target at that distance? Most service sidearms will do that if you have the skills. How do you define "accurate out to 50 yds?"

3. have the ability to install a recoil buffer of some kind.

What in heaven's name for? Buffers are grossly unnecessary in all but a few specific and highly debated instances -- and only in the 1911 platform, and only (IMHO) when the user is tweaking it for very specific purposes. Seriously, just forget that one. If you can even find buffers for guns other than 1911s, (and good luck with that) the gun wasn't designed to work with one and you're likely to cause more trouble than you would solve...if there was a problem a buffer COULD solve.

4. Preferably a 9mm caliber. (I shoot 147 grain boat tail Hornady's out 100 yards accurately with my sub 2000 that has a 16" barrel)

O.k. But understand that any other gun -- even another sub 2000 carbine -- might favor a different load and/or bullet weight. Buying a handgun based on an assumption that it will like the load your other guns like is probably not a great idea.

Having said that, almost every common service sidearm is available in 9mm, so that's not helping narrow things down.

5. front bottom rail.

O.k. Not sure why you want that, if you aren't concerned with defensive purposes. Lights and lasers won't be either legal or at all helpful in any shooting sports I can think of.

Which handgun would you recommend?

I really can't make any hard and fast recommendation based on your criteria. There are lots of guns out there that are 9mm, come with a rail, and have an external safety lever. In reality the best thing for you to do is visit a shop with a rental range and try a variety of guns out. See what feels most comfortable to you.

I really like my Springfield xDM, but it has no external safety. A 1911 chambered in 9mm might be just perfect for you (though they have a well-deserved reputation for being troublesome to get to feed), but very few of them come with rails, and they're generally much more expensive than other choices. CZs have an awful lot of dedicated fans (http://www.cz-usa.com/products/by-category/handguns/) and they do offer safeties and light rails. Some of their guns are decocker models and some are DA/SA with the ability to start with the safety on.

The Smith and Wesson M&P line has really taken the shooting sports by storm -- they're accurate and fast, and many folks find them very ergonomic -- and you can order one with an external safety lever now.

Good luck!

 

[Jim NE]

Another reason to own a handgun: Starting in the early to mid 1960's the violent crime rate in America started skyrocketing. It didn't skyrocket because a whole lot of handguns suddenly became available...it skyrocketed because of a new age of "tolerance" and "non-judgemental" thinking started to arise in regards to crime (and countless other socially self-destructive behaviors.) As a result, we saw the emergence of what could truly be called a criminal class.

Some all-knowing Ph.D's decided these members of the criminal class needed to be "understood" and "rehabilitated" (because it wasn't really their fault, you know.) This, of course, only compounded the problem, and by the end of the decade, the crime rate was double what it was at the start. It's gotten worse since then.

Police departments can only do so much to protect people, despite the growing numbers of cops and better technology. The social decline of the last 40 years has put the impetus for personal protection back on the individual, to some degree. This notion may be distasteful to some, but it's reality.

THE GOOD NEWS: After violent crime reached epidemic and record levels in the 1990's because (mostly) of gang activity, many localities/states allowed honest people to carry concealed weapons, and as a result the crime rate is dropping, especially in the last few years. (It's still twice what it was in the '50's and early '60's, though.) Of course, the media scratches it's head and calls the drop in crime "inexplicable", but I think we know better.

The days of a man protecting his family by ONLY having 911 on speed dial are in the past. Well, that's mostly why I own a handgun, anyway.

 

[SifuGun]

Thank You to everyone that replied. It is much appreciated. Please follow the link below to see what my friend Nutnfancy has to say about the subject. If you decide to carry a firearm. For myself I'll just have it handy on my private properties but will not conceal carry because there already to many no carry zones and businesses out there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ei8OK4WdoW0