“When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle.” Edumnd Burke
"when socialism fails, blame capitalism and demand more socialism." - A friend
"You know the difference between libs and right-wingers? Libs STFU when evidence refutes their false beliefs." - Another friend
“Don't waste your time with explanations: people only hear what they want to hear.” - Paulo Coelho
Ye olde can of worms
I'll bite. What all you planning on doing with that gun? First question you need to answer yourself honestly is: will you use it if need be? Most don't know for sure, but the question is a start.
For instance, I am eyeballing a new handgun. A Colt .44 Navy replica cap and ball black powder gun. Although I can make a damned good argument for it being a primary means of self defense what with that .44 lead ball, it will be for fun at the range.
“When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle.” Edumnd Burke
"when socialism fails, blame capitalism and demand more socialism." - A friend
"You know the difference between libs and right-wingers? Libs STFU when evidence refutes their false beliefs." - Another friend
“Don't waste your time with explanations: people only hear what they want to hear.” - Paulo Coelho
I can give you "the sermon". I take the topic very seriously and consider no room for foolishness (smartass remarks don't count)
Firearms are made to kill (I'm assuming you aren't thinking sporting air rifle). Doesn't matter what type nor what you're killing. There is little to no room for error and i don't tolerate irresponsible gun use nor the person doing it. I refer you back to the first sentence, this paragraph.
If you are not at least convinced you will use one, better off left on the shelf than in the hands of the guy that takes it from you. The baggage that comes with owning and using a firearm is both moral and legal. Bullets are like words: once they leave the barrel there is no taking them back. Moral: you have to live what you have done. Legal: anything from nothing to the media making a martyr of the scum trying to harm or kill you and/or yours and crucifying you, along with a DA looking to make his/her bones ruining your life.
On the other hand, you still have a life for them to try and ruin.
Don't listen to "experts" telling you to buy this or that gun. Go check them out yourself. Steer away from the latest "badass" gun used by everyone's favorite antihero of the day as a prosecutor will try to use it to paint you out to be Charles Bronson from Death Wish.
The gun needs to be comfortable to you, and a calibre you can handle. You're looking for a natural point of aim from the weapon the way you hold it. If you have to manually adjust your aim each time you do, you're not going to be on target on the draw.
If you are planning on carrying, you have to consider how you dress. If you're a shorts guy like me, you aren't concealing the aforementioned .44 Navy with a 7 1/2 barrel. In that regard, weight matters as well. Can't have your gun pulling down your pants.
If you are unfamiliar with guns, or even whatever you choose, take a course. You have to be familiar with the weapon, how it acts and how you respond to it.
Consider who will have access to it.
Just more "food for thought"![]()
“When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle.” Edumnd Burke
I suggest going to a gun shop that has a range so you can practice with several different ones to find what you are comfortable with.
I have a small .38 revolver as one of my carries but I don't use it for target practice. I use a .22 to practice. It's my warm up and then I switch to a 9mm which is my second carry.
I'm a member of Well Armed Woman and I've been through several training classes. What I hate the most about owning a gun is cleaning them.
I've used mine for killing rats and rattlesnakes. The first shot still startles me no matter how I'm using it. After that first shot everything settles in.
I agree with Gunny ... if you don't think you can use it to defend yourself better to not have it.
Last edited by SassyLady; 11-28-2023 at 01:17 AM.
If the freedom of speech is taken away
then dumb and silent we may be led,
like sheep to the slaughter.
George Washington (1732-1799) First President of the USA.
Depends on where you live. I know of only one range with a gun shop here. Not aware if they have "loaners". Never asked. Lots of gun shops and several ranges separately though. In 29 Palms, CA there was a gun shop with a range. That guy wasn't loaning jack even though half his inventory was used. I recall one in JAX, FL as well.
I view gun shop owners the same as car salesmen. Markup is Hell, and in a lot (not all) of cases, they're selling you what they move, not necessarily what you want, need or is best for you and or your situation.
People who shoot a lot usually own a .22 version of what they carry. I shoot what I have. If I lived further outside the city I'd probably have a .22 for varmints. Most of the varmints around here walk on 2 legs.
You'd have hated being in the Marine Corps back in the day. Weapons had to pass inspection weekly, anytime we weren't in the field. If you failed Friday inspection, you got to restand it Saturday morning. I hated being in the rear. My weapons are always clean. Not an especially enjoyable task, but dirty weapons can get you killed. That's irony I can do without![]()
“When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle.” Edumnd Burke
“You know the world is going crazy when the best rapper is a white guy, the best golfer is a black guy, the tallest guy in the NBA is Chinese, the Swiss hold the America's Cup, France is accusing the U.S. of arrogance, Germany doesn't want to go to war, and the three most powerful men in America are named "Bush", "Dick", and "Colin." Need I say more?” - Chris Rock
If the freedom of speech is taken away
then dumb and silent we may be led,
like sheep to the slaughter.
George Washington (1732-1799) First President of the USA.