Getting A First Gun

[pHILSANITY07]

your kind of dim , so im not goingto waste my time. a bb gun is your best bet.

rather than ask stupid questions, try going and shooting a few guns .... of any kind.

rather ask questions on something im going to drop 500-600 bucks on and at least hear what other people have to say.

[pHILSANITY07]

If home defense is truly your only reason to get a gun, then a shotgun may be your best first gun. Still take it to the range or some land and practice with it though.

As for hand guns, I came across a Glock 19 as my first, and it was a good entry level and uncomplicated pistol to learn with imo. The XD's have a slightly different grip angle and feel, which may be more comfortable to you, so try them both (or any comparables) if a polymer is your goal.

As Matt (03trubluGT) said, it's still just a tool, your familiarity and proficiency with the weapon is what will make it effective. Handle and shoot any and all guns that you're considering, and pick the one that you are most comfortable with. I personally shot 50 or so rounds through the Glock 9mm, and bought one that day.

I also bought a Kimber 1911 because it's pretty, and a helluva lot of fun to shoot, but the Glock (.40 at this point) is what stays loaded and by my bedside.

Ive thought about a shotgun, but I also want something I can take to the range as well. I think that will be my next purchase.

[bottlerocket]

your kind of dim , so im not goingto waste my time. a bb gun is your best bet.

rather than ask stupid questions, try going and shooting a few guns .... of any kind.

Pot meet kettle...

[bottlerocket]

rather ask questions on something im going to drop 500-600 bucks on and at least hear what other people have to say.

Best we can do is give suggestions and tell you what to stay away from. Gotta wade through the opinionated bullshit, but that comes with the territory.

Ive thought about a shotgun, but I also want something I can take to the range as well. I think that will be my next purchase.

Your first post where you outlined requirements said for home defense so thats where the shotgun suggestions came from. If you want a handgun for home defense, get something reliable. Also think of your situation. Will you have small kids in the house? Might be a good idea to get one with a safety just in the off chance they get hands on it. Sure they can turn off the safety, but its just that one layer of added protection compared to a glock that you pull the trigger and it goes boom.

If you're dead set on a handgun and you wanna go to the range, then do just that. Do us a favor and dont bother asking what caliber to get. You cant go wrong with a 9mm, .40 S&W, .357 Sig, .45, or just about any of the magnum wheelgun calibers (but again, dont expect to find many wheelguns, if any with a safety). Asking any message board to pick one of those for you will just start a flame war. There is no right answer, but there are, however, lots of resources online that provide ballistics info for the various rounds as well as price lists so you can see what you will be spending each time the gun goes bang.

Its an investment and you'll know when you go shoot the right gun. I did all the research in the world for my next carry weapon, narrowed it down to two and asked for opinions. One won by a significant margin, but when I went to the range the underdog was my favorite. Felt the best in my hands, had the nicest pull IMO and pointed the best. There is no one handgun that is perfect for everyone.

[Big A]

There is no one handgun that is perfect for everyone.

This is exactly why there are so many different makes, models, and calibers. You need to find something that you feel comfortable with, buy it, and practice. Any gun in capable hands is plenty lethal for home/self defense.

Any advice that you get will simply be opinion. If renting a bunch of guns isn't in your budget, then handle them all, learn their action, and pick one or three worth putting a few bullets down range.

The one thing that I will differ with bottlerocket on is the safety. A child should never have access to your gun, and if they do, it better be in completely inoperable condition, with no possible way for them to find keys/and or ammo. Kids given enough time, will figure anything out. The only barrier is something that they can't physically do, flipping a safety isn't that difficult. If your weapon is child-proofed, having an external safety or not doesn't matter.

[Trip McNeely]

Mp5 perfect first gun.

this.

[ThreeFingerPete]

This is exactly why there are so many different makes, models, and calibers. You need to find something that you feel comfortable with, buy it, and practice. Any gun in capable hands is plenty lethal for home/self defense.

Any advice that you get will simply be opinion. If renting a bunch of guns isn't in your budget, then handle them all, learn their action, and pick one or three worth putting a few bullets down range.

The one thing that I will differ with bottlerocket on is the safety. A child should never have access to your gun, and if they do, it better be in completely inoperable condition, with no possible way for them to find keys/and or ammo. Kids given enough time, will figure anything out. The only barrier is something that they can't physically do, flipping a safety isn't that difficult. If your weapon is child-proofed, having an external safety or not doesn't matter.

Trigger locks really are fantastic.

[Big A]

Trigger locks really are fantastic.

Or a safe, but that's exactly my point. He shouldn't decide on getting an external safety or not based on kids having access. That's personal preference, a locked up gun is no more accesible to a child with or without the external safety.

[bottlerocket]

Trigger locks really are fantastic.

I'd hate to be fumbling with a trigger lock if its a home defense weapon.

[bottlerocket]

This is exactly why there are so many different makes, models, and calibers. You need to find something that you feel comfortable with, buy it, and practice. Any gun in capable hands is plenty lethal for home/self defense.

Any advice that you get will simply be opinion. If renting a bunch of guns isn't in your budget, then handle them all, learn their action, and pick one or three worth putting a few bullets down range.

The one thing that I will differ with bottlerocket on is the safety. A child should never have access to your gun, and if they do, it better be in completely inoperable condition, with no possible way for them to find keys/and or ammo. Kids given enough time, will figure anything out. The only barrier is something that they can't physically do, flipping a safety isn't that difficult. If your weapon is child-proofed, having an external safety or not doesn't matter.

yep, I agree completely with your disagreement of my statement. It was meant purely as just another step. Im not saying safeties are child proof but just a little bit better with one. In a perfect world, yes, all children would be away from any operable weapon unless directly supervised and in a controlled environment, but things do happen unfortunately.

[pHILSANITY07]

well i dont have kids or a family so I dont have to worry about that. Im still going to get a lock though.

[bottlerocket]

well i dont have kids or a family so I dont have to worry about that. Im still going to get a lock though.

If this is something you are gonna be using for home defense, I'd definitely advise against getting a trigger lock. If you want to keep your gun secure but want to have quick access if needed, look into one of these:

http://www.amazon.com/Gunvault-MVB500-Microvault-Biometric-Pistol/dp/B001UAMZD4

[YALE]

Also, a trigger lock with one in the chamber is a terrible idea, or a good way to accidentally get shot. It's subjective.

[ThreeFingerPete]

I'd hate to be fumbling with a trigger lock if its a home defense weapon.

I wouldn't have my home defense weapon where chirruns could get to it. The quick open safes are just too easy not to use if there are children around.

[ceyko]

I wouldn't have my home defense weapon where chirruns could get to it. The quick open safes are just too easy not to use if there are children around.

This is what I ended up doing and why my G19 is my home defense weapon right now as opposed to my Rem 870. Can't fit that damn shotgun in there, no matter how hard I try.