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Advice to First Timers

blackjack50

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Just something I figured I would share. I was talking to some people and a friend wants to buy a handgun. He lives in a sketch area and he wants it for his house (only). So I have given him my standard advice:

1) Hands on time is the only way to know what you want.

2) Make sure it fits your hand...and experience.
 
My advice would be different - since this is for home defense only, a pump shotgun is less expensive and easier to use and handle under pressure. Handguns under the best circumstances are difficult to use and hitting anything further than 15 feet away with shaky hands and only range use - is not a good option for beginners. If I were in your shoes, I would have suggested a 20" 12ga. or 20ga. for home defense, a hand gun for fun at the range and plinking.
 
Small frame 357. Works for home defense and carry, fires cheap ammo at the range.
 
My first handgun was a little .38 special snubnose revolver. Easy to use, small, and simple. I still have it today, and when I take a gun in my car, that's the one I take.
 
I bought this Mossberg Maverick for around $200 at Academy Sports.

Mossberg & Sons | 31023

Come into my home in the middle of the night (without permission) if you want to meet her. :)
 
My advice would be different - since this is for home defense only, a pump shotgun is less expensive and easier to use and handle under pressure. Handguns under the best circumstances are difficult to use and hitting anything further than 15 feet away with shaky hands and only range use - is not a good option for beginners. If I were in your shoes, I would have suggested a 20" 12ga. or 20ga. for home defense, a hand gun for fun at the range and plinking.
Depends on the layout of your house. If you have narrow hallways or a lot of blind corners a shotgun can be disadvantageous, it won't allow for unhindered movement or a barrel can be grabbed while clearing a blind corner. The advice to get hands on is pretty good I would say.
 
My advice would be different - since this is for home defense only, a pump shotgun is less expensive and easier to use and handle under pressure. Handguns under the best circumstances are difficult to use and hitting anything further than 15 feet away with shaky hands and only range use - is not a good option for beginners. If I were in your shoes, I would have suggested a 20" 12ga. or 20ga. for home defense, a hand gun for fun at the range and plinking.

I tried talking him into a cheap 870 20 gauge...but his heart is on a handgun. He has a local range that he can shoot handguns at, but not a shotgun.
 
Depends on the layout of your house. If you have narrow hallways or a lot of blind corners a shotgun can be disadvantageous, it won't allow for unhindered movement or a barrel can be grabbed while clearing a blind corner. The advice to get hands on is pretty good I would say.

Yea. He lives in the city and apparently shotgun ranges are hard to come by. And he just wants a handgun. I'm not gonna talk him out of it lol.

He has LONG fingers...but skinny...so I pointed him at a few larger framed 9mms, told him to try on some .40s, and .45s too. I told him that a .357 is fine and can shoot .38spls too. But it is a 6 shot pony and it may not be easy to load fast without some kind of speed loader. I have no experience with those so I'm iffy lol.

Ps

Anyone who likes .357 seen the rhino? It shoots from the bottom cylinder and has reduced recoil because of that.
 
Yea. He lives in the city and apparently shotgun ranges are hard to come by. And he just wants a handgun. I'm not gonna talk him out of it lol.

He has LONG fingers...but skinny...so I pointed him at a few larger framed 9mms, told him to try on some .40s, and .45s too. I told him that a .357 is fine and can shoot .38spls too. But it is a 6 shot pony and it may not be easy to load fast without some kind of speed loader. I have no experience with those so I'm iffy lol.

Ps

Anyone who likes .357 seen the rhino? It shoots from the bottom cylinder and has reduced recoil because of that.
The other problem if he has skinny fingers is if he fatigues easily the DA on the revolver could wear him out quickly.
 
My advice would be different - since this is for home defense only, a pump shotgun is less expensive and easier to use and handle under pressure. Handguns under the best circumstances are difficult to use and hitting anything further than 15 feet away with shaky hands and only range use - is not a good option for beginners. If I were in your shoes, I would have suggested a 20" 12ga. or 20ga. for home defense, a hand gun for fun at the range and plinking.

Exactly...

My father held a federal gun dealer's license because he loved pistol shooting, as a tool and die maker, re-worked a 1911 .45. I have some of his old targets, more than a few perfect 100's, with that and other handguns.

In order to get and stay that good he had to shoot three evenings a week. Meanwhile, I would shoot skeet now and then but was always good enough to get a few pheasants every year.

For protection for the average citizen, a hand gun is pointless, even a deer rifle is better...but if you really want to scare the **** out of an intruder, take his a head off with an Ithaca Deerslyer, gut automatic so you won't tired re-jacking rounds...

Trust me, there is always a huge look of surprise on what's left of then head
 
Exactly...

My father held a federal gun dealer's license because he loved pistol shooting, as a tool and die maker, re-worked a 1911 .45. I have some of his old targets, more than a few perfect 100's, with that and other handguns.

In order to get and stay that good he had to shoot three evenings a week. Meanwhile, I would shoot skeet now and then but was always good enough to get a few pheasants every year.

For protection for the average citizen, a hand gun is pointless, even a deer rifle is better...but if you really want to scare the **** out of an intruder, take his a head off with an Ithaca Deerslyer, gut automatic so you won't tired re-jacking rounds...

Trust me, there is always a huge look of surprise on what's left of then head
Every design has a plus and minus column. If you know you are going to be under attack and you can prepare for it, then yes a shotgun is best at mid-range and with a good rifle the attacker will be gone before he can even get close enough to see who shot him, but for issues like extremely tight quarters where you are most likely clearing blind, and/or attacked out in public where a long gun isn't practical then the handgun is going to fill that plus column at a minus of accuracy and stopping power.
 
Every design has a plus and minus column. If you know you are going to be under attack and you can prepare for it, then yes a shotgun is best at mid-range and with a good rifle the attacker will be gone before he can even get close enough to see who shot him, but for issues like extremely tight quarters where you are most likely clearing blind, and/or attacked out in public where a long gun isn't practical then the handgun is going to fill that plus column at a minus of accuracy and stopping power.

I wouldn't reach for my 20 gauge in my apartment when I was in college because I was concerned of its OP and the fact that I couldn't clear the corner to my door with it. My 9mm was easy to wield and grab...and allowed me to stand behind wall so I could see the front door.
 
I honestly tried talking him into a double shotgun since he is so new:

http://www.stoegerindustries.com/double-defense-shotgun

But alas he is more comfortable with the idea of a handgun. He wants to keep it in a locked drawer by his bed...I already gave the run down on lock boxes and biometric/push button/key and all that.
 
My advice would be different - since this is for home defense only, a pump shotgun is less expensive and easier to use and handle under pressure. Handguns under the best circumstances are difficult to use and hitting anything further than 15 feet away with shaky hands and only range use - is not a good option for beginners. If I were in your shoes, I would have suggested a 20" 12ga. or 20ga. for home defense, a hand gun for fun at the range and plinking.

depends

if you live alone a shotgun is the right choice for most

if you have to get to children in another part of the house, the handgun is better choice
 
I wouldn't reach for my 20 gauge in my apartment when I was in college because I was concerned of its OP and the fact that I couldn't clear the corner to my door with it. My 9mm was easy to wield and grab...and allowed me to stand behind wall so I could see the front door.
Absolutely, always use the right tool for the job if you have options. If all one has is a pistol, shotgun, or rifle, well, in a SHTF situation bring what you've got, but realistically a lot of buildings are like the apartment you described, even a big house may have narrow passages, or tight corners.
 
I honestly tried talking him into a double shotgun since he is so new:

Double Defense Shotgun | Stoeger Industries

But alas he is more comfortable with the idea of a handgun. He wants to keep it in a locked drawer by his bed...I already gave the run down on lock boxes and biometric/push button/key and all that.
One thing I like about limited capacity designs for newer shooters is that they have to learn shot placement, like with the double barrel or revolver you have x shots and a longer reload so it's good to teach a new shooter how to appreciate each round available.
 
One thing I like about limited capacity designs for newer shooters is that they have to learn shot placement, like with the double barrel or revolver you have x shots and a longer reload so it's good to teach a new shooter how to appreciate each round available.

Well a double also has an advantage only realized in Africa and on the skeet range...fastest follow ups :)
 
Well a double also has an advantage only realized in Africa and on the skeet range...fastest follow ups :)
This is true, though I do like what the auto shotguns have evolved to, they have a pretty nice action as well, but not great for skeet because of the rule sets.
 
My first handgun was a little .38 special snubnose revolver. Easy to use, small, and simple. I still have it today, and when I take a gun in my car, that's the one I take.

I have a .38 snub nose. It is my favorite carry weapon. It would also be my choice for a protection weapon for a beginner. The upside is simplicity. Nothing to go wrong. Pull the trigger and it fires. Spin the cylinder and if you see shiny stuff it is loaded. It is also fairly easy to learn to shoot out to 20 ft, which is where nearly all self protection occurs. Mine (a Ruger LCR) will also fit in a pants pocket. Most can also be had with a laser sight, a plus for a beginner. Firing from the hip is easier, and in a protection situation, you will not have the luxury of carefully sighting.

I don't like autos for this situation. Too many things to go wrong. Failure to seat magazine, cartridge left in chamber, failure to operate safety or slide or hammer. The auto's main advantage is more firepower.

Second choice would be a small bore shotgun. Pump or double barrel.

I agree with the OP. Hands on is a must. Especially for a first weapon. If you are not comfortable with the weapon, you will not use it.
 
This is true, though I do like what the auto shotguns have evolved to, they have a pretty nice action as well, but not great for skeet because of the rule sets.

huh, the remington 1100 has been used by more NSSA world 12G champions than any other gun

and Dean Clark won the ISU world championship with one in the early 90s IIRC
 
This is true, though I do like what the auto shotguns have evolved to, they have a pretty nice action as well, but not great for skeet because of the rule sets.

but double guns rule the small gauge events and in ISU skeet and trap almost everyone shoots a double (O/U)

I made Collegiate All America using a Perazzi and open NSSA all america with a K gun

side by sides however are rarely used in skeet
 
but double guns rule the small gauge events and in ISU skeet and trap almost everyone shoots a double (O/U)

I made Collegiate All America using a Perazzi and open NSSA all america with a K gun

side by sides however are rarely used in skeet

Why is that? I assume they are not as good at wing shooting? I can shoot most shotguns fairly well...but side by sides I might as well close my eyes and have someone else say, "over there. Shoot over there!" Cause I can't hit nothing with it.
 
huh, the remington 1100 has been used by more NSSA world 12G champions than any other gun

and Dean Clark won the ISU world championship with one in the early 90s IIRC
Didn't know that TD. Most of the shoots I witnessed had a load limit, and so the shotguns tended to be double barrels. Of course, those weren't pro level shoots.
 
I am always reminded of one of the greats of firearms training Jeff Cooper. "A .25 in the hand is worth more than a 45 locked up in a safe." Perhaps he had a point, we never ever know where and when it is coming or even if it is. A big hunk of metal become a millstone to carry around. As a first the most useful all-rounder is what is really needed. Cheap to shoot and a pleasure to practice with or just have some fun. My first was FN HP and next a .22 Hi Standard sport king. I had a lot of fun with both but the 22 has a special place for me as it was also used as my children's training and first shots. A 44 Ruger Red Hawk or shotgun is not ever going to be able to do that.
 
I am always reminded of one of the greats of firearms training Jeff Cooper. "A .25 in the hand is worth more than a 45 locked up in a safe." Perhaps he had a point, we never ever know where and when it is coming or even if it is. A big hunk of metal become a millstone to carry around. As a first the most useful all-rounder is what is really needed. Cheap to shoot and a pleasure to practice with or just have some fun. My first was FN HP and next a .22 Hi Standard sport king. I had a lot of fun with both but the 22 has a special place for me as it was also used as my children's training and first shots. A 44 Ruger Red Hawk or shotgun is not ever going to be able to do that.
I learned on a .22lr rifle and .25 revolver, both rounds are not something I would bet my life on.............but I still have fond memories of them.
 
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