Gun questions
Holy BeJesus you have that one right. A gun safe and a trigger lock. You might as well lay down and surrender the first signs of trouble.thibodeaux wrote:and they say when you need a gun you really needed it 10 seconds ago. On the other hand, you really don't want somebody else to get it when you're not around.
SAFETY is first and foremost but if you can't get to it why have it?
In marriage there is always one person right. And the other one is the husband.
Finally made it to the range. Wife went along too as all the gun talk got her interested. What red blooded American (male or female) wouldn't want to shoot a gun?! Anyway, after doing some research, I settled on the Glock 26 (small 9mm) and the Glock 21 (large .45). My priorities have changed and I now want a small gun that would actually work for a concealed carry, and a 2nd, fun gun for shooting cause shooting is fun. I explained to the salesman that I was a handgun newb and he agreed with what everyone's been saying in that the Glock is a good starter gun. Reliable, easy to maintain, etc. I asked if he recommended anything else. I got the salesman answer of "anything here is good and it's all about what you want and like and blah blah blah." Another clueless one chimed in with "What's your life worth?". Seems to be a repeating cry among sales sites. I should buy an expensive gun cause my life's worth it I guess. Anyway, he took me to the Kahr section. He showed me the one he used as a concealed carry and I liked it. It was thinner than the Glock 26, but about the same in length and height. He carries his in his pants near his back pocket. Tucked away, and shirt over it, you'd never know it was there. It was a Kahr CW9. 9mm and not much bigger than my hand.
So we started with the Kahr and 50 rounds of practice rounds. He said the type of rounds he gave us would simulate what the personal protection round would feel like. He took us out to the range and showed how to load the magazine (which I already knew). Showed us proper holding techniques, warned about slide bite, etc. I went first and fired 5 rounds, then another 5. Then the wife took her turn. First loaded gun in her hands, ever. It was cute.
She even jumps when the slides goes forward. Anyway, she takes aim, fires, hits the target in the jugular. She was intimidated by the gun, but took the other 4 shots anyway. At that point, he turned us loose and went back to the showroom. We continued shooting, and I talked the wife into shooting another 5 rounds. The gun was pretty squirrely and hard to aim. There's not alot to hold on to and it almost wants to jump out of my hands. Awkward gun to shoot because of it's size. By the 30th round or so, I was getting more use to it. But over all, it wasn't a fun gun to shoot. Again, hard to aim, jumpy, etc. But, it was accurate. It would go where I told it when I really took my time and aimed.
We traded that in for the Glock 21 and 50 rounds. That felt WAY different in my hands, obviously. Loaded it up with 5 rounds and got ready. I held on tight expecting a real kick. Fired the first round and naturally, lots of recoil. Fired the other 4. I really liked it. It's a much bigger boom, lots more power, etc. But it's also a heavier gun and it handled it well. I passed it to the wife. She held on with both hands (after a few different grips trying to get a feel for what was going to work for her) and fired a round. She was very intimidated and handed the gun back to me. I continued shooting and liked the gun more and more. WAY easier to aim. The gun would recoil pretty heavily, but it fell very naturally right back where I needed it for the next shot. I found that at about 15 yards, I could squeeze off 10 rounds in about 4 seconds and hit the target with all shots. 70% of them in the 6" diameter center. I could not do that with the Kahr as it was just too squirrely. Each shot was a chore to keep on target. The Glock 21 had like auto aim or something. I got so cocky that I pushed the target out to about 35 yards. Fired 5 rounds and brought the target back. Didn't even hit the paper. I talked the wife into trying it one more time as the rounds were disappearing. She agreed and fired all 5 this time. She shot low, but other wise, didn't do too bad.
Over all, the .45 was really really fun to fire. Easy too. The 9mm was hard to fire and not nearly as fun. I have no doubt that the above is due to the size of the guns rather than anything else. I'm guessing a larger 9mm would be alot more fun to fire as it would be more controlable as well. The wife agreed, that the .45, even though it's a much bigger round, etc, was an easier gun to fire. I almost think if they made the small guns heavier, they'd be easier/more fun to fire.
We spent $63 at the range to have the fun we did. $20 got us the rental gun, range time, eye/hearing protection. $12.xx for 50 rounds, 9mm. The second gun was $15 rental and $14.xx for 50 rounds, .45. I thought that was pretty good. It was cool that the guy took the time to basically give us a crash course on gun safety, firing, etc. I want to go back and try the Glock 26 (small 9mm like the Kahr) and maybe another, heavier small 9mm before deciding. The wife kept pointing out the overly huge, massive Dirty Harry revolvers.
So we started with the Kahr and 50 rounds of practice rounds. He said the type of rounds he gave us would simulate what the personal protection round would feel like. He took us out to the range and showed how to load the magazine (which I already knew). Showed us proper holding techniques, warned about slide bite, etc. I went first and fired 5 rounds, then another 5. Then the wife took her turn. First loaded gun in her hands, ever. It was cute.
She even jumps when the slides goes forward. Anyway, she takes aim, fires, hits the target in the jugular. She was intimidated by the gun, but took the other 4 shots anyway. At that point, he turned us loose and went back to the showroom. We continued shooting, and I talked the wife into shooting another 5 rounds. The gun was pretty squirrely and hard to aim. There's not alot to hold on to and it almost wants to jump out of my hands. Awkward gun to shoot because of it's size. By the 30th round or so, I was getting more use to it. But over all, it wasn't a fun gun to shoot. Again, hard to aim, jumpy, etc. But, it was accurate. It would go where I told it when I really took my time and aimed.We traded that in for the Glock 21 and 50 rounds. That felt WAY different in my hands, obviously. Loaded it up with 5 rounds and got ready. I held on tight expecting a real kick. Fired the first round and naturally, lots of recoil. Fired the other 4. I really liked it. It's a much bigger boom, lots more power, etc. But it's also a heavier gun and it handled it well. I passed it to the wife. She held on with both hands (after a few different grips trying to get a feel for what was going to work for her) and fired a round. She was very intimidated and handed the gun back to me. I continued shooting and liked the gun more and more. WAY easier to aim. The gun would recoil pretty heavily, but it fell very naturally right back where I needed it for the next shot. I found that at about 15 yards, I could squeeze off 10 rounds in about 4 seconds and hit the target with all shots. 70% of them in the 6" diameter center. I could not do that with the Kahr as it was just too squirrely. Each shot was a chore to keep on target. The Glock 21 had like auto aim or something. I got so cocky that I pushed the target out to about 35 yards. Fired 5 rounds and brought the target back. Didn't even hit the paper.
I talked the wife into trying it one more time as the rounds were disappearing. She agreed and fired all 5 this time. She shot low, but other wise, didn't do too bad.Over all, the .45 was really really fun to fire. Easy too. The 9mm was hard to fire and not nearly as fun. I have no doubt that the above is due to the size of the guns rather than anything else. I'm guessing a larger 9mm would be alot more fun to fire as it would be more controlable as well. The wife agreed, that the .45, even though it's a much bigger round, etc, was an easier gun to fire. I almost think if they made the small guns heavier, they'd be easier/more fun to fire.
We spent $63 at the range to have the fun we did. $20 got us the rental gun, range time, eye/hearing protection. $12.xx for 50 rounds, 9mm. The second gun was $15 rental and $14.xx for 50 rounds, .45. I thought that was pretty good. It was cool that the guy took the time to basically give us a crash course on gun safety, firing, etc. I want to go back and try the Glock 26 (small 9mm like the Kahr) and maybe another, heavier small 9mm before deciding. The wife kept pointing out the overly huge, massive Dirty Harry revolvers.
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thibodeaux
- Posts: 8056
- Joined: Thu May 20, 2004 7:32 pm
As one of my buddies said to me one time, "Temptation is there for a reason -- to be given in to."thibodeaux wrote:Must...resist...Freudian...jokeCakedaddy wrote:The wife kept pointing out the overly huge, massive Dirty Harry revolvers.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
I want a rifle that looks good, is fun to shoot, and can be used for big game hunting.
I was seriously considering a Remington .30-06 bold action, which is great for hunting but not-so-great for target practice and goofing around with. I originally checked out the .270 (what my girlfriend uses) but that is the minimum caliber for hunting elk in KY, and if I get drawn to hunt one I want something with a higher caliber than the minimum. (Besides, I need a bigger one than my girlfriend, right?)
I've always wanted a lever-action though, so I checked out the Henry Big Boy series.
Yes I realize that a level action is slightly less accurate, but most of my shooting will be at targets, not at cervids.
I did some research on hunting with these things. The .357 (which also shoots .38 Special rounds) is capable of downing deer, but I wanted something with more killing power (knockdown power/stopping power/whatever ya wanna call it).
My father-in-law is looking at getting a gun as well. He's mostly interested in target shooting and home protection, but he wants to be able to hunt should the need for meat arise.
Recoil was a big issue for him.
Coincidentally he was looking at getting a Henry Big Boy as well, and he plans on getting the equipment so he can make his own rounds.
He looked at a bunch of figures and stuff online and came up with this which sort of confirmed what I had been hearing:
Cal Ammo Type Powder Recoil Killing Power
270 Winchester 150 grain 17 ft/lb = 37.4
30-06 Springfield 150 grain 20.1 ft/lb = 37.3
357 Magnum(Rifle) 158 grain 4.7 ft/lb = 12.7
44 Remington Magnum 240 grain 11.2 ft/lb = 26.4
458 Winchester 500 grain 62.3 ft/lb = 217.3
He'll be getting the Henry Big Boy that fires the .357 & .38 Special rounds.
I've finally sort of settled on the Henry .44.
My father-in-law has urged me not to get one until after the first of next year. That means that he's probably told my folks that I want one, so it might arrive as a Christmas present.
Of course, since this does shoot handgun rounds, I'll probably get a .44 Special down the line. I don't want to tangle with the recoil of a .44 Magnum. (Though I think you can put Specials in Magnums, so maybe just getting a Magnum would be better?)
Anyway I'm not concerned about a handgun right now.
I was seriously considering a Remington .30-06 bold action, which is great for hunting but not-so-great for target practice and goofing around with. I originally checked out the .270 (what my girlfriend uses) but that is the minimum caliber for hunting elk in KY, and if I get drawn to hunt one I want something with a higher caliber than the minimum. (Besides, I need a bigger one than my girlfriend, right?)
I've always wanted a lever-action though, so I checked out the Henry Big Boy series.
Yes I realize that a level action is slightly less accurate, but most of my shooting will be at targets, not at cervids.
I did some research on hunting with these things. The .357 (which also shoots .38 Special rounds) is capable of downing deer, but I wanted something with more killing power (knockdown power/stopping power/whatever ya wanna call it).
My father-in-law is looking at getting a gun as well. He's mostly interested in target shooting and home protection, but he wants to be able to hunt should the need for meat arise.
Recoil was a big issue for him.
Coincidentally he was looking at getting a Henry Big Boy as well, and he plans on getting the equipment so he can make his own rounds.
He looked at a bunch of figures and stuff online and came up with this which sort of confirmed what I had been hearing:
Cal Ammo Type Powder Recoil Killing Power
270 Winchester 150 grain 17 ft/lb = 37.4
30-06 Springfield 150 grain 20.1 ft/lb = 37.3
357 Magnum(Rifle) 158 grain 4.7 ft/lb = 12.7
44 Remington Magnum 240 grain 11.2 ft/lb = 26.4
458 Winchester 500 grain 62.3 ft/lb = 217.3
He'll be getting the Henry Big Boy that fires the .357 & .38 Special rounds.
I've finally sort of settled on the Henry .44.
My father-in-law has urged me not to get one until after the first of next year. That means that he's probably told my folks that I want one, so it might arrive as a Christmas present.
Of course, since this does shoot handgun rounds, I'll probably get a .44 Special down the line. I don't want to tangle with the recoil of a .44 Magnum. (Though I think you can put Specials in Magnums, so maybe just getting a Magnum would be better?)
Anyway I'm not concerned about a handgun right now.
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thibodeaux
- Posts: 8056
- Joined: Thu May 20, 2004 7:32 pm
I love lever action. It's what I first learned to shoot with, and it's what I'm most accurate with.
I learned by going dove hunting with one. Last few times I went I had more tasty kills than the folks with shotguns. And less buckshot to chew on.
I learned by going dove hunting with one. Last few times I went I had more tasty kills than the folks with shotguns. And less buckshot to chew on.
"ATTENTION: Customers browsing porn must hold magazines with both hands at all times!"
I got my girlfriend a .22 pellet gun (nitro piston driven, to be quieter) with a hardwood stock for Christmas.
I gave it to her Tuesday because I wanted her to have time to sight it in for this weekend, so she could plug squirrels while we waited for deer to show up this weekend.
Low and behold, while I was there the UPS guy showed up with my Christmas present, a .50 muzzle-loader.
Cool! Now I'll have my own gun to shoot this weekend!
I ended up taking the pellet gun down with me because she won't have time to sight it in.
I mounted the scope but it was way off. It was too far to adjust.
I remounted it and it was closer, but still too far off to adjust.
Finally I mounted it a third time and sort of pushed it where I wanted it to go as I tightened the screws. My efforts paid off as I was able to use the adjustments to get it where I wanted after that.
Today I also did a test fire of my .50.
Now, I had fired about fifty shots with the pellet gun, which has a heavy trigger. The .50 muzzle loader has a light trigger, but I didn't know that.
When it went off, it was a surprise.
I was about 4" off targer from 100' away, and the shot was an accident, so I could have been closer, so I think it's pretty accurate.
If I shoot it more I'll have to clean it, so I'm going to leave it as-is until this weekend.
Bambi beware.
I gave it to her Tuesday because I wanted her to have time to sight it in for this weekend, so she could plug squirrels while we waited for deer to show up this weekend.
Low and behold, while I was there the UPS guy showed up with my Christmas present, a .50 muzzle-loader.
Cool! Now I'll have my own gun to shoot this weekend!
I ended up taking the pellet gun down with me because she won't have time to sight it in.
I mounted the scope but it was way off. It was too far to adjust.
I remounted it and it was closer, but still too far off to adjust.
Finally I mounted it a third time and sort of pushed it where I wanted it to go as I tightened the screws. My efforts paid off as I was able to use the adjustments to get it where I wanted after that.
Today I also did a test fire of my .50.
Now, I had fired about fifty shots with the pellet gun, which has a heavy trigger. The .50 muzzle loader has a light trigger, but I didn't know that.
When it went off, it was a surprise.
I was about 4" off targer from 100' away, and the shot was an accident, so I could have been closer, so I think it's pretty accurate.
If I shoot it more I'll have to clean it, so I'm going to leave it as-is until this weekend.
Bambi beware.
My parents got me that Henry .44 for Christmas.
Or, they got me an IOU. Everyone sold out after Thanksgiving.
Henry ships their next batch out to dealers in 2 weeks, so I may have it in just over 3 weeks.
Zzzzz....
I went to a friend's house on Tuesday and he taught me how to reload ammunition, which drastically cuts down the cost of ammo.
I reloaded half a dozen .44's, but I guess I have to wait to shoot'em.
My father-in-law wanted to learn to reload so he went too, and he actually shot the .357 magnums that he loaded. He said they had a lot more kick than the factory-made rounds he had been shooting. (We made the loads pretty hot)
Or, they got me an IOU. Everyone sold out after Thanksgiving.
Henry ships their next batch out to dealers in 2 weeks, so I may have it in just over 3 weeks.
Zzzzz....
I went to a friend's house on Tuesday and he taught me how to reload ammunition, which drastically cuts down the cost of ammo.
I reloaded half a dozen .44's, but I guess I have to wait to shoot'em.
My father-in-law wanted to learn to reload so he went too, and he actually shot the .357 magnums that he loaded. He said they had a lot more kick than the factory-made rounds he had been shooting. (We made the loads pretty hot)
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thibodeaux
- Posts: 8056
- Joined: Thu May 20, 2004 7:32 pm
I bought a Ruger LCP today.
That pic has the older laser. Mine has the newer LaserMax laser.
I went in looking at 9mm's, but didn't love anything they had. The Ruger LCP (.380) looked interesting, but I didn't know much about it.
I wanted a gun I could conceal, and had been looking at the S&W Bodyguard (also a .380) online, but 9mm cartridges are cheaper and more powerful.
Anyway, I went back home, did research on the Ruger, and liked what I saw. I was sold on the gun, so I bought it.
I haven't fire it yet. I have my daughter over this weekend, so I probably won't take it out until Sunday or Monday.
I've never owned a gun with a laser before.
"Sarah Conner?"
That pic has the older laser. Mine has the newer LaserMax laser.
I went in looking at 9mm's, but didn't love anything they had. The Ruger LCP (.380) looked interesting, but I didn't know much about it.
I wanted a gun I could conceal, and had been looking at the S&W Bodyguard (also a .380) online, but 9mm cartridges are cheaper and more powerful.
Anyway, I went back home, did research on the Ruger, and liked what I saw. I was sold on the gun, so I bought it.
I haven't fire it yet. I have my daughter over this weekend, so I probably won't take it out until Sunday or Monday.
I've never owned a gun with a laser before.
"Sarah Conner?"