Advice to First Timers

[Crimefree]

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.

Betting your life on the gun you left at home because it was to much effort to carry is more likely to happen. The objective of a carry/self-defence piece is to make it easy. I would rather have a 25 in my pocket than a blank space on my belt or locked up in a safe/draw.... First timers do not become better educated overnight. It takes dedication and learned sense to carry a firearm for 30 years and never have to use it. The bigger the lump, the more heavy and uncomfortable the sooner it will be dumped.

Yes there are far better choices than a 25 but I do not know of anyone who will stand in front of one and say ok shoot me. Nor am I advocating a 25 as ideal. It is better than nothing by a long long way. First time users soon realise one is not enough. Rather that than a bad experience of lugging a heavy lump around.

 

[blackjack50]

Betting your life on the gun you left at home because it was to much effort to carry is more likely to happen. The objective of a carry/self-defence piece is to make it easy. I would rather have a 25 in my pocket than a blank space on my belt or locked up in a safe/draw.... First timers do not become better educated overnight. It takes dedication and learned sense to carry a firearm for 30 years and never have to use it. The bigger the lump, the more heavy and uncomfortable the sooner it will be dumped.

Yes there are far better choices than a 25 but I do not know of anyone who will stand in front of one and say ok shoot me. Nor am I advocating a 25 as ideal. It is better than nothing by a long long way. First time users soon realise one is not enough. Rather that than a bad experience of lugging a heavy lump around.

Best to just buy a .380 lol. Hits harder than a .25 and can be found in roughly the same size gun.

 

[TurtleDude]

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.

SXS have a large sight plane which means less accuracy

the main advantage of the SXS is British styled "driven shoots" where you have 2-4 minutes of ultra fast action (I once had 5 dead birds in the air at once) and the SXS is the fastest shotgun for a loader to load for you since you don't have to open the gun as far to load it (I was using Ruger Red Label 28 "bore" O/U though)

 

[TurtleDude]

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.

you only load at most two shells in any skeet competition I have been in. I shot US team trials/ Nationals 4X, US Jr Olympics once (won)
three Olympic trials and dozens of American Skeet events including top 3, US collegiate Nationals

 

[LaMidRighter]

you only load at most two shells in any skeet competition I have been in. I shot US team trials/ Nationals 4X, US Jr Olympics once (won)
three Olympic trials and dozens of American Skeet events including top 3, US collegiate Nationals

Most of the stuff I went to was either regional or charity, so no time to check chambers, I think one or two of them people brought autos, but for the most part there were under/over and really restricted pumps.

 

[Ray410]

Unfortunately, availability of ammo should probably be a consideration. I haven't been able to get .380 ammo for months.

 

[LaMidRighter]

Unfortunately, availability of ammo should probably be a consideration. I haven't been able to get .380 ammo for months.

I have been surprised at the new popularity of that round, seems like a lot of my friends are starting to buy that specific caliber.

 

[Ray410]

I have been surprised at the new popularity of that round, seems like a lot of my friends are starting to buy that specific caliber.

I really don't understand it. And there's a lot of 9 mm available now when it used to be impossible to find.

 

[LaMidRighter]

I really don't understand it. And there's a lot of 9 mm available now when it used to be impossible to find.

About four years ago, none of the local guys were even displaying a lot of .380s but they did stock a bit of the ammo, they've been including a few more pistols here and there, 9mm is still pretty popular here, but .40 is really starting to take off, which hopefully won't cut into my own ability to buy. Then again I'm probably going to look into a micro 1911 for conceal carry in the next year or so.

 

[Texmex]

I keep a Sig Sauer P250 in 9mm by my bed. It's double action only so there is no external safety. In a panic situation both my wife and I can grab and use it in a stressful situation without having to fumble with anything except a trigger. It also will restrike the round by pulling the trigger without cycling the action, and it holds 16 rounds.

 

[TurtleDude]

Unfortunately, availability of ammo should probably be a consideration. I haven't been able to get .380 ammo for months.

I have been able to buy it off and on. My wife has three SIG 380s and they are her favorite carry gun. SO I bought a Dillon "Square Deal" reloader and have loaded her a couple thousand rounds. Since 380 cannot be had for less than 290 a thousand, I am close to paying for the machine already. and since I have been loading 9mm for 30 years, I had a box of 380 shells that I had picked up by accident over the years thinking they were 9mm

 

[Ray410]

I have been able to buy it off and on. My wife has three SIG 380s and they are her favorite carry gun. SO I bought a Dillon "Square Deal" reloader and have loaded her a couple thousand rounds. Since 380 cannot be had for less than 290 a thousand, I am close to paying for the machine already. and since I have been loading 9mm for 30 years, I had a box of 380 shells that I had picked up by accident over the years thinking they were 9mm

That's what I'd like to do. I've got the dies to reload .380 and, over a period of time, I've been able to get primers, cases and bullets. In this area though, pistol powder has been unavailable for months.

 

[TurtleDude]

That's what I'd like to do. I've got the dies to reload .380 and, over a period of time, I've been able to get primers, cases and bullets. In this area though, pistol powder has been unavailable for months.

I used to load a ton of 12G so I had lots of Hogdon clays which is good for pistol too. In the last 4 months I got 6 pounds of 231 or HP 38 (Same stuff) and 8 pounds of Tite-group. So I load the 380s with 231 and at 3 grains a shell, I have plenty

I switched 12G to green dot which I had a lot of too but its not good for pistol loads I like

 

[Ray410]

I used to load a ton of 12G so I had lots of Hogdon clays which is good for pistol too. In the last 4 months I got 6 pounds of 231 or HP 38 (Same stuff) and 8 pounds of Tite-group. So I load the 380s with 231 and at 3 grains a shell, I have plenty

I switched 12G to green dot which I had a lot of too but its not good for pistol loads I like

TD, are you talking about this:
Hodgdon Clays Smokeless Powder

No problem using this for .380?

 

[TurtleDude]

TD, are you talking about this:
Hodgdon Clays Smokeless Powder

No problem using this for .380?

yeah but I use it for 45, 38 SC and 9mm (though I now use TG for 9mm) and for minor 40 loads (I use AUTOCOMP for major IPSC 40 Loads)

 

[Ray410]

yeah but I use it for 45, 38 SC and 9mm (though I now use TG for 9mm) and for minor 40 loads (I use AUTOCOMP for major IPSC 40 Loads)

If it works for 9mm, I'm thinking it should be ok for 380. I think that's available, if not locally, then online. I'll see what I can do. Thanks for the info.

 

[blackjack50]

So update: he is ready and focused and has shot a beretta m9. He really liked it. He also shot a beretta px4 storm in 9mm. Both nice guns.

 

[CRUE CAB]

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.

First make damn good and sure you are ready to kill at the drop of a hat and be able to live with that.
Second, find a gun that works for you and practice practice practice.

 

[CRUE CAB]

So update: he is ready and focused and has shot a beretta m9. He really liked it. He also shot a beretta px4 storm in 9mm. Both nice guns.

FS92 or M9 are fine handguns. Little heavy, but if its not a carry weapon. No issue.

 

[CRUE CAB]

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.

Its also longer, talks longer to bring to bear and many times ends up being a club instead of a gun in a close quarters fight. Hand gun you grab and bring to bear, period. Can be fired at very close range up to point blank face to face.

 

[blackjack50]

FS92 or M9 are fine handguns. Little heavy, but if its not a carry weapon. No issue.

Yep. That is what I told him. He isn't interested in carrying in public. Be is a recent convert from the gun control nutters lol.

 

[LaMidRighter]

Its also longer, talks longer to bring to bear and many times ends up being a club instead of a gun in a close quarters fight. Hand gun you grab and bring to bear, period. Can be fired at very close range up to point blank face to face.

I had to turn around and start laughing when a couple of younger guys where seriously browsing Desert Eagles for defense guns, the poor counter guy was biting his tongue too. They were wanna be gangstas, and pretty much when someone doesn't know anything about weapons it's obvious.

I didn't have the heart to tell the two jackasses that they are most likely to be shot in the over 2 seconds it takes to draw and aim that rig, much less the fact that follow up is next to impossible in the nanoseconds that count, usually you end up hands over head with an exposed center mass. That said, I would love to have one as a range gun or a backup for a bear or hog hunt.

 

[LaMidRighter]

Yep. That is what I told him. He isn't interested in carrying in public. Be is a recent convert from the gun control nutters lol.

I prefer a little weight to a larger bore pistol, less recoil and better follow up.

 

[Μολὼν λαβέ]

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.

The best defense weapon is the one you're most proficient with, but please don't try to talk him into a cheap auto pistol.

 

[Μολὼν λαβέ]

I have been surprised at the new popularity of that round, seems like a lot of my friends are starting to buy that specific caliber.

For a long time the smallest and most concealable handguns were mostly made in .380 caliber. Now there are a lot of similar size concealable handguns in 9mm. My opinion is why would anyone want a .380 when they can have the same size pistol in 9mm?

Recoil isn't significant enough to matter even for a petite female novice, but the energy difference is.