I Need a Gun – Where Do I Start

[mmckee1952]

by CTD Allen
It is hard to turn on the television, listen to the radio or talk to your friends and not hear of a recent attack in someone’s home or neighborhood, or an assault on an innocent person going through their daily lives. There was a time when these stories seemed random, while you were away on vacation, at work, or in those “rough neighborhoods.” They seemed distant and almost unreal. These stories have gotten closer to all of our lives.



Burglary
We have learned a new slogan “Home Invasion” and it has become all too common of an expression on our nightly news. These violent attacks are happening in our homes while we sleep, or when a knock comes to the door in broad daylight. You refuse to answer, not knowing, or recognizing who is behind the door, and next your front or back door comes crashing inwards. We live in fear of the sound of crashing glass or the bump in the middle of the night. Schools, churches, and work places continue to rise as targets of opportunity.

The predators are getting bolder and more aggressive. The answer is becoming more and more prevalent to law-abiding citizens that we must be able to protect and defend our families, loved ones, and ourselves.

Today more and more people, with women leading the pack, are choosing to legally act on our Second Amendment rights and purchase, properly train, legally own, and carry a gun.

Finding the right gun can be a daunting experience with all of the hundreds of firearms from which to choose available in today’s market. The Internet gurus, gun snobs, and those friends who seem to know all there is to know about guns. Not to mention the plethora of gun magazines that fill the stores telling you this is the finest firearm ever designed and will save you from anything; dare I say what you see on the television or in movies.

The truth is a firearm is a tool. A personal defense gun is a specific tool for a very specific job, self-defense. This might help you to begin your homework. First, large caliber guns or defensive shotguns are to quickly incapacitate the assailant or bring a quick end to whatever made you choose this course of action.


• .45 Auto / .45 ACP caliber pistols
• 10mm pistols
• .40 S&W caliber pistols
• .44 or.357 Caliber Magnum revolvers
• 12 or 20 gauge shotguns

The advantages of these larger calibers are when properly used they provide a devastating impact on the target and can discontinue assailant’s ability or will to continue by causing a severe wound even if it is not terminal.

The disadvantage with these guns is they let you know when they go off! The recoil is almost unmanageable to inexperienced or untrained shooters. Guns work best when the bullets hit the target. Additionally, these guns can be less, if not completely, unable to discreetly conceal on your person.

Now we come to guns designed to create an incapacitating or even terminal wound in a smaller package that can be more concealable and usually has recoil that is more manageable. These guns are as effective as the ones above and have cartridges that are tried, tested and have been used by soldiers and police officers for years. Some of these are:

• 9mm pistols in medium to larger frames
• .38 Special revolvers in medium to larger frames
• .380 pistols in medium to larger frames



Ruger LCP
Finally, we come to one of the fastest growing segments in personal firearms and that is the so called “pocket pistols.” I have heard and prefer to call these “get off me guns.” These guns can be easily concealed and available, where others may be left in the car or home due to size of gun, adequate clothing to conceal and weight. Many of these you can safely carry in the front pocket of your pants, shorts or in a small purse.

A note of caution is that these guns are in a small frame and due to that may have uncomfortable recoil, as the gun frame is not compensating for the discharge. However, an old phrase that still stands the test of time is that the best gun ever made is the one you have on you when you need it. In addition, one of these you will likely have on you more often then not.

• .38 Specials in small frames with a “snub nose”
• .380 Auto / ACP pistols
• .22 caliber pistols
• Derringers in many calibers designed by good quality manufacture

 

[Bozz]

Good stuff... I agree with most/if not all that was said.

 

[santa]

Im glad you chose to include 22 caliber. There are many people who cant afford the ammunition with a larger caliber, and of course the recoil. But in your list of shotgun gauges you omitted the 410 bore. Perhaps you did not know that there is a variety of 410 self defence loads including 000 buckshot that has 5 pellets with 1000 pounds of muzzle energy or even slugs having a muzzle energy of 750-800 pounds. Such loads are VERY lethal. There are many people out there (like Mrs SANTA) who CANT due to health reasons handle the recoil of a 12 or 20 gauge. Also with the reduced recoil multible shots are faster. As Ive said bigger isnt always better.

 

[e_v_h]

Nice post, I'm searching for my first handgun. I see a lot of "caliber" wars on the several sites I've been visiting and has really made my search harder. Such as the other day I was holding a Walther PK380 at my local store and it felt great, but was scared off later that night when doing some research on it I came across a thread that .380 was a "joke" round for self-defense. (note: not trying to start a caliber war here) At the end of the day I'm going to go with a gun that feels the most comfortable within my price range. Sadly that Walther was gone by the next week, the search continues. With all that said, reading, "the best gun ever made is the one you have when you need it" was reassuring.

 

[Bikenut]

Nice post, I'm searching for my first handgun. I see a lot of "caliber" wars on the several sites I've been visiting and has really made my search harder. Such as the other day I was holding a Walther PK380 at my local store and it felt great, but was scared off later that night when doing some research on it I came across a thread that .380 was a "joke" round for self-defense. (note: not trying to start a caliber war here) At the end of the day I'm going to go with a gun that feels the most comfortable within my price range. Sadly that Walther was gone by the next week, the search continues. With all that said, reading, "the best gun ever made is the one you have when you need it" was reassuring.

To begin, because I don't know your experience with handguns... and I mean this without any intention to insult you, it might be wise to find someone to take you shooting to learn how handguns work and how to handle them.

What will be most effective handgun for YOU depends more on your ability to hit what you need to hit than the caliber used. Simply because hits with smaller bullets that make small holes are better than misses with big bullets make no holes at all. Only holes count.

So, may I suggest, finding a gun shop that also has a range and rents guns and rent some guns in different calibers, different makes, and different sizes... and, after shooting them enough to become confident you know what you are doing with that particular gun, shoot them paying attention to how the gun "fits" your hand and how easy it is to make reasonably accurate shots (within a 4 to 5 inch circle) on a target 21 feet away.... while firing quickly. The firing quickly part is important because it will show you if you can handle the recoil well enough to continue making acceptably accurate shots... and generally folks trying to save their arses tend to fire rapidly.

The gun that will serve you the best is the one that you can shoot accurately in a size that you will be able to carry around with you.

And... other than listening and thinking about what folks tell you (even me!).. do NOT allow someone else to tell you what gun or caliber you need or is best. YOU choose... because only YOU can choose the gun that works best for YOU.

About that "reasonably accurate shots (within a 4 to 5 inch circle) on a target 21 feet away.... while firing quickly." that I mentioned? That really is just a starting point because after that I would hope you would seek training... or at the very least spend lots of time on the range practicing.

 

[e_v_h]

I have a novice level of experience with handguns, which is why I think this process has been taking me longer. Thank you for the well thought response, all very good info.

 

[localgirl]

Nice post, I'm searching for my first handgun. I see a lot of "caliber" wars on the several sites I've been visiting and has really made my search harder. Such as the other day I was holding a Walther PK380 at my local store and it felt great, but was scared off later that night when doing some research on it I came across a thread that .380 was a "joke" round for self-defense. (note: not trying to start a caliber war here) At the end of the day I'm going to go with a gun that feels the most comfortable within my price range. Sadly that Walther was gone by the next week, the search continues. With all that said, reading, "the best gun ever made is the one you have when you need it" was reassuring.

I carry that Walther and I absolutely love it. If the eight rounds it holds can't stop someone, I kinda doubt something bigger will help.

 

[STLRampage]

I have a Walther PPS 9MM. It is light, thin, and feels great in the hand.

My favorite gun so far and a little more thump than the .380.

 

[cluznar]

Learn to handle a gun and how to shoot first. Get a good .22 maybe a Bersa Thunder .22 and practice with it. It will also defend you. You can put 2 or 3 fast rounds of .22 into someone because there is no recoil, and it will put a hurt on them, then take a gun safety/handling class. Then shoot four hundred rounds at a range (or more).

Then rent guns at a range to try different ones. See what feels good and shoots well for you. And then save to buy whatever you like. You might also take a Conceal Carry class using your .22 if you want. IMHO a .380 or 9mm should be a great first gun after a .22.

:victory:

 

[JPW79]

Being a fairly new gun owner I took the advice of trying a .22 first (Ruger SR22) and then started looking for something bigger (CZ75b 9mm). When my 15 year old sister wanted to start shooting too I made her shoot my .22 first so I knew she could handle it then moved her to my 9mm. Though she likes shooting the .22 more I always have her shoot at least 1 magazine of 9mm so she gets used to a larger caliber. The only complaint I've had from her so far is that my .22 isn't pink...

 

[cluznar]

Naturally, because she knows a Pink gun rocks, terrifies the bad guys.

:dirol:

 

[1funvet]

I have a Walther PPS 9MM. It is light, thin, and feels great in the hand.

My favorite gun so far and a little more thump than the .380.

I also carry the PPS 9MM.What ever gun you decide on,the most important thing is practice,practice.Not only target practice,but practice drawing from your holster.

 

[cluznar]

Walther PPQ 9mm is also nice.
Ruger SR9c is very nice.
Smith & Wesson M&P 9c is nice.

:dance3:

 

[mmckee1952]

Buying a Gun: The Process
by CTD Suzanne


On the July 24, 2012 episode of the O’Reilly Factor on Fox News, Bill O’Reilly discusses how anti-gun groups are using the Aurora, Colorado massacre to push for more gun control. O’Reilly argued that Congress should pass a law reporting every sale of a "heavy weapon" to the FBI. He said, “You can buy a machine gun and the FBI doesn’t know.” Of course, O’Reilly chose to demonize the AK-47, which is not necessarily a machine gun. In fact, everyone I know that owns an AK-47 owns a semi-automatic model. As we all know, once again the media has it all wrong. To pick on the AK-47 even more, in a speech on July 25, 2012, President Obama said, “But I also believe that a lot of gun owners would agree that AK-47s belong in the hands of soldiers, not on the streets of our cities.” I find it quite funny that our Commander in Chief does not even recognize that our soldiers do not use AK-47s. Not to mention that James Holmes did not have an AK-47 in his possession.



The media guide to firearms.
In fact, AK-47s, the semi-automatic versions, have unusually strict regulations put on them. BATFE requires AK-47-type rifles to have at least six U.S.-made parts built in. To read more about purchasing an AK-47, read our blog, "So, You’re Thinking of Buying an AK-47? A Buyer’s Guide to the AK Family of Rifles." Since 1934, the sale and ownership of fully automatic firearms have been rigorously restricted. To own a machine gun, one must submit to an extensive background check, provide pages and pages of legal paperwork, fingerprints, photos, proof of citizenship, and pay a $200 tax stamp to buy and own a fully automatic gun. Either a chief law enforcement officer or a state or federal judge must sign all this paperwork. Both the FBI and the BATFE run the fingerprint and background checks. Therefore, I’m not quite sure exactly how you can purchase a machine gun legally without the FBI knowing.To learn more about how to buy a machine gun, read our article “Own a NFA Weapon.”

What O’Reilly fails to recognize is that when you purchase a firearm from a licensed firearms dealer, the FBI DOES in fact know you are purchasing a firearm. This goes for any firearm, not just a “heavy weapon.” To buy a gun from a Federal Firearms License holder (FFL), you are required to pass a National Instant Criminal Background Check (NICS) from the FBI. Then you must fill out Form 4473, a Firearms Transaction Record, which includes your NICS number from your background check, the make, model, and serial number of the gun you are purchasing, a federal affidavit stating you can legally own a firearm, your name, address, date of birth, and a copy of your photo ID. The dealer then keeps this record in a “bound book.” The dealer must keep their bound books until they are no longer in business, at which point they must give the bound book over to the ATF. Further, if any one person buys two or more handguns in a five-day period, the dealer must report this person to the ATF using Form 3310.4, of which the police receive a copy. If this process isn’t being “reported,” then I would like to know what exactly O’Reilly means when he says “reported?”



Filling out paperwork at Cheaper Than Dirt Outdoor Adventures.
These states have no further steps other than the NICS and Form 4473:

Alabama
New Hampshire
New Mexico
North Dakota
Alaska
Arizona
Louisiana
West Virginia
Vermont
Arkansas
Delaware
Maine
Wyoming
Colorado
Georgia
Mississippi
Virginia
Idaho
Indiana
Kentucky
Montana
South Carolina
Texas
Ohio
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
Utah
Nevada
Kansas




Form 4473 asks for your height, weight, race, and social security number.
Passing the NICS and filling out Form 4473 is a nationwide requirement, but there are some states that require more to purchase a firearm. These states have more rules when purchasing a firearm:

California:
All sales of any firearm regardless through a dealer or individual sale must go through a licensed dealer. There is a 10-day waiting period before you taking possession of your firearm. You may only purchase one handgun in a 30-day period. You must fill out an application to purchase and The California Department of Justice gets a report of all firearm sales.
Connecticut:
Connecticut has a 2-week waiting period before you can take possession of the firearm and there is an application to purchase.
District of Columbia:
You must register your firearm and the Metropolitan Police Department must approve the registration certificate.
Florida:
On weekdays, there is a 3-day waiting period for the purchase of a handgun.
Hawaii:
You must obtain a permit to purchase and register all firearms.
Illinois:
To buy a firearm, you must have a Firearms Owner’s Identification Card (FOID). There is a 24-hour waiting period for long guns and a 72-hour waiting period for handguns. Registration of firearms is required within the city of Chicago.
Iowa:
An annual permit is required to purchase a handgun.
Maryland:
You must apply for the purchase of a handgun. There is a 7-day waiting period for handguns and “assault weapons.” Registration of handguns is required. You can only buy one gun a month.
Massachusetts:
To own a firearm, you must be licensed, have a Firearms Identification Card (FID) to buy a long gun, and a permit to purchase a handgun.
Michigan:
You must have a permit to purchase and you must register all handguns.
Minnesota:
There is a 7-day waiting period, and you must have a permit to purchase a handgun or “military-style” rifle.
Nebraska:
You must have a permit to purchase a handgun.
New Jersey:
The police keep records of all firearms transfers. You must have a Firearms Purchasers Identification Card to buy a long gun, a permit to purchase a handgun, and a license to purchase either.
New York:
You must provide a license, a permit, and register to own a handgun. In New York City, you must have a license, permit, and register all guns.
North Carolina:
You must have a permit to purchase a handgun.
Oregon:
Dealers take thumbprints from the purchaser of a handgun, with copies given to the local police.
Rhode Island:
You must fill out an application to purchase and take a safety course before buying a handgun. There is a 7-day waiting period in Rhode Island.
South Dakota:
There is an application to purchase a handgun.
Tennessee:
Dealers take the thumbprints of anyone who purchases a handgun.
Washington:
The local police keeps records from all handgun sales. You must fill out an application to purchase.
Wisconsin:
There is a 48-hour waiting period when you purchase a handgun.
As always, check your local laws before purchasing a firearm.

 

[Boston Boy]

From above post: "Massachusetts:
To own a firearm, you must be licensed, have a Firearms Identification Card (FID) to buy a long gun, and a permit to purchase a handgun"

In MA a License to Carry (LTC) is required for handgun purchase--there is no such thing as a "permit" as a separate legal instrument. An LTC-A is required for concealed carry and mags over 10 rounds.

 

[nc2ks]

Good post. My issue deals with a budget. What is a good un to get that will not shoot like crap, but will give me good shots for my money? I have a CCL and have shot 380s and 9mms in the past, but have never owned a gun of my own.

 

[longslide10]

Nice post, I'm searching for my first handgun. I see a lot of "caliber" wars on the several sites I've been visiting and has really made my search harder. Such as the other day I was holding a Walther PK380 at my local store and it felt great, but was scared off later that night when doing some research on it I came across a thread that .380 was a "joke" round for self-defense. (note: not trying to start a caliber war here) At the end of the day I'm going to go with a gun that feels the most comfortable within my price range. Sadly that Walther was gone by the next week, the search continues. With all that said, reading, "the best gun ever made is the one you have when you need it" was reassuring.

I would be thinking of a few guns to purchase to cover a SHTF scenario where you might have to bug out of town for a couple days or weeks. Rifle, shotgun and 2 handguns one for concealed carry and one in a bigger caliber with high capacity mags if a pistol or magnum revolver. Just a thought.

 

[Rich M]

Good post. My issue deals with a budget. What is a good un to get that will not shoot like crap, but will give me good shots for my money? I have a CCL and have shot 380s and 9mms in the past, but have never owned a gun of my own.

I decided on a 9mm partially due to the low cost of the ammo. I intended to shoot it alot and couldnt break the bank with range rounds. After tax, I paid $164 for 1000 rounds. Prices have gone up a bit since then.

 

[longslide10]

Glad I live in Pennsyltucky

 

[e_v_h]

I've got the rifle and shotgun, now I'm working on the handgun. Also put the finishing touches on my b.o.b recently, should be prepped to bug out quickly should shtf.