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Buying a gun
Posted on 3/13/16 at 9:50 pm
Posted on 3/13/16 at 9:50 pm
Seeking advice here from OT experts.
I travel constantly and my wife has expressed interest in buying a hand gun. I am not sure that is the right decision, but if we were going to do that...
1. Where in the Atlanta area would be the best retailer to buy a weapon?
2. What kind of gun would stop an intruder but be suitable for a woman?
3. What other stuff should be purchased to keep the gun safe?
4. Training would be a requirement. What training is needed?
5. Related to question 2, what kind of ammo?
6. How do you keep the gun conveniently handy but safe from kids? (this is a big fear. We have 8 and 5 year old boys at home).
I travel constantly and my wife has expressed interest in buying a hand gun. I am not sure that is the right decision, but if we were going to do that...
1. Where in the Atlanta area would be the best retailer to buy a weapon?
2. What kind of gun would stop an intruder but be suitable for a woman?
3. What other stuff should be purchased to keep the gun safe?
4. Training would be a requirement. What training is needed?
5. Related to question 2, what kind of ammo?
6. How do you keep the gun conveniently handy but safe from kids? (this is a big fear. We have 8 and 5 year old boys at home).
18
Posted on 3/13/16 at 9:54 pm to Pavoloco83
You know we need pics to see what sort of weapon she could handle...
Posted on 3/13/16 at 9:59 pm to Pavoloco83
Take your lady friend over to bullseye near betthelview and hwy 9 for some demoing of a few types and see what she likes.
Posted on 3/13/16 at 10:00 pm to Pavoloco83
The best home defense weapon is a pump shot gun. Go get a Remington 870 Express in either 12 or 20 gage. Buckshot is the preferable load for killing people. Training for this weapon is minimal.
Posted on 3/13/16 at 10:09 pm to Pavoloco83
1. Not from Atlanta so not sure
2. My mom could handle a .500 S&W (the most powerful handgun) and she's not extremely strong I'm sure your wife can handle most any handgun. With that said I think a smart starting handgun is a Glock
3. A holster?
4. To buy a handgun you just have to be 21 and not a convicted felon but if she wants to concealed carry it she needs to get a concealed carry license
5. Depends on the gun you buy
6. Get a safe and make sure they don't know the code to get in. Also drill gun safety into their heads, I've been using guns since I was around 5 years old it's never to early to start teaching it to them.
2. My mom could handle a .500 S&W (the most powerful handgun) and she's not extremely strong I'm sure your wife can handle most any handgun. With that said I think a smart starting handgun is a Glock
3. A holster?
4. To buy a handgun you just have to be 21 and not a convicted felon but if she wants to concealed carry it she needs to get a concealed carry license
5. Depends on the gun you buy
6. Get a safe and make sure they don't know the code to get in. Also drill gun safety into their heads, I've been using guns since I was around 5 years old it's never to early to start teaching it to them.
This post was edited on 3/13/16 at 10:10 pm
Posted on 3/13/16 at 10:12 pm to Aubie Spr96
Shotgun is a good idea. I like that.
Posted on 3/13/16 at 10:20 pm to Pavoloco83
Mossberg 590a1 in 12 gauge. Get a surefire light mounted on it.
For ammo use reduced recoil 9 pellet buck for the lady. Take her to a shooting range and let her shoot every weekend
Get a safe
For ammo use reduced recoil 9 pellet buck for the lady. Take her to a shooting range and let her shoot every weekend
Get a safe
Posted on 3/13/16 at 10:23 pm to Pavoloco83
quote:A shotgun is not a good idea or the best idea for a woman who has little to no experience. Also, if the woman is petite, it's an even worse idea.
Shotgun is a good idea. I like that.
Do not listen to these people telling you buy a shotgun. Shotgun is much bigger and harder to maneuver and much easier for an intruder to get control of.
9mm or 45 would me ideal, but a .22 revolver is probably better to start with. A revolver is less likely to misfire than a semi-automatic, so keep that in mind.
Keep the top chamber empty in the revolver and that reduces chances of going off accidentally. When you cock it, then a bullet will be in line with the barrel. If you get a semi-automatic, keep clip out just a little. Reduces chance of accidental fire but is still easy to pop in.
OP, get advice from a few people in person. Don't rely on just one person.
Posted on 3/13/16 at 10:27 pm to Pavoloco83
I taught classes for seven years.
I shot IPSC and IDPA for ten.
I'm ex military.
I have a wife, an ex wife and three grown daughters ... not to mention two nieces, a mother and a sister that all shoot regularly.
80% of my last two dozen classes were women. Over seven years I graduated more than 300 women from my classes.
So here's my advice.
Find a range near you, one that rents various handguns for your wife to try, and let her shoot them ... a lot.
Then invest in a good snub nose 38, buy a few hundred rounds of Winchester White Box Value Pack 38 Special from Walmart ... and let her spend a lot of time at the range shooting paper silhouettes from a distance of no more than 21 feet. Make her practice the most from 7-10 feet until she's confident and groups nicely.
Teach her to shoot her five shots successively ... and if she ever needs to use it, teach her to shoot until her attacker is down.
Then put her in a good CWP course and get her qualified and applied for her permit.
If you have kids in the house ... invest in a good lock box purpose built that has a touch code device for quick easy access and have her practice opening it in a hurry.
If you'll follow that advice you will not go wrong.
I shot IPSC and IDPA for ten.
I'm ex military.
I have a wife, an ex wife and three grown daughters ... not to mention two nieces, a mother and a sister that all shoot regularly.
80% of my last two dozen classes were women. Over seven years I graduated more than 300 women from my classes.
So here's my advice.
Find a range near you, one that rents various handguns for your wife to try, and let her shoot them ... a lot.
Then invest in a good snub nose 38, buy a few hundred rounds of Winchester White Box Value Pack 38 Special from Walmart ... and let her spend a lot of time at the range shooting paper silhouettes from a distance of no more than 21 feet. Make her practice the most from 7-10 feet until she's confident and groups nicely.
Teach her to shoot her five shots successively ... and if she ever needs to use it, teach her to shoot until her attacker is down.
Then put her in a good CWP course and get her qualified and applied for her permit.
If you have kids in the house ... invest in a good lock box purpose built that has a touch code device for quick easy access and have her practice opening it in a hurry.
If you'll follow that advice you will not go wrong.
Posted on 3/13/16 at 10:37 pm to Pavoloco83
1. Where in the Atlanta area would be the best retailer to buy a weapon?
Dunno
2. What kind of gun would stop an intruder but be suitable for a woman?
Smith and Wesson Model 442 or 642. Hammerless .38 special or a Glock 43, single stack 9mm.
3. What other stuff should be purchased to keep the gun safe? Knowledge more than other purchases. You don't want to have to remember to do something when you need it.
4. Training would be a requirement. What training is needed? Practice. When done. Practice more. And then some more practice. You react how you train. If you don't train, you have no idea how you will react to a situation.
5. Related to question 2, what kind of ammo?
Corbon +P
6. How do you keep the gun conveniently handy but safe from kids? (this is a big fear. We have 8 and 5 year old boys at home).
Take them shooting, familiarize them and take away the curiosity and teach them safety so that they understand the power of it and know what to do and know what not to do. Then keep it out of reach when you're not around.
Dunno
2. What kind of gun would stop an intruder but be suitable for a woman?
Smith and Wesson Model 442 or 642. Hammerless .38 special or a Glock 43, single stack 9mm.
3. What other stuff should be purchased to keep the gun safe? Knowledge more than other purchases. You don't want to have to remember to do something when you need it.
4. Training would be a requirement. What training is needed? Practice. When done. Practice more. And then some more practice. You react how you train. If you don't train, you have no idea how you will react to a situation.
5. Related to question 2, what kind of ammo?
Corbon +P
6. How do you keep the gun conveniently handy but safe from kids? (this is a big fear. We have 8 and 5 year old boys at home).
Take them shooting, familiarize them and take away the curiosity and teach them safety so that they understand the power of it and know what to do and know what not to do. Then keep it out of reach when you're not around.
This post was edited on 3/13/16 at 10:39 pm
Posted on 3/13/16 at 10:41 pm to scrooster
This ^ is some really sound advice. I can't say too strongly how much I agree with the recommendation of a revolver.
Semi-autos are sexy, sure but revolvers are simple to load, simple to operate, and utterly reliable. They always go bang, never stovepipe or double feed, and are very safe. You aren't going to get Glock leg from a double action revolver.
If I had to pick a weapon, you cannot beat the close range destructive power of a shotgun but as others have said they can be unwieldy and are hard as hell to fit in a purse.
Semi-autos are sexy, sure but revolvers are simple to load, simple to operate, and utterly reliable. They always go bang, never stovepipe or double feed, and are very safe. You aren't going to get Glock leg from a double action revolver.
If I had to pick a weapon, you cannot beat the close range destructive power of a shotgun but as others have said they can be unwieldy and are hard as hell to fit in a purse.
Posted on 3/13/16 at 10:47 pm to JustGetItRight
Licensed firearm dealer for about 20 years.
1. Shotgun is best for home protection. Call 911 first and let the cops clear the house, not you.
2. Do not listen to people about handguns. Only buy the handgun that fits your/her hand. It doesn't matter who makes it, or what model, or what color, how old it is, etc. FIT. FIT. (Half of women cannot rack a semi-auto and should not own one.)
FIT. If it doesn't fit, you will not shoot it well and eventually you will sell/trade it.
3. Kids will know where the gun(s) are guaranteed, so have them secured.
Scrooster is correct on every point.
1. Shotgun is best for home protection. Call 911 first and let the cops clear the house, not you.
2. Do not listen to people about handguns. Only buy the handgun that fits your/her hand. It doesn't matter who makes it, or what model, or what color, how old it is, etc. FIT. FIT. (Half of women cannot rack a semi-auto and should not own one.)
FIT. If it doesn't fit, you will not shoot it well and eventually you will sell/trade it.
3. Kids will know where the gun(s) are guaranteed, so have them secured.
Scrooster is correct on every point.
This post was edited on 3/13/16 at 10:52 pm
Posted on 3/13/16 at 10:59 pm to JustGetItRight
quote:
Semi-autos are sexy, sure but revolvers are simple to load, simple to operate, and utterly reliable. They always go bang, never stovepipe or double feed, and are very safe. You aren't going to get Glock leg from a double action revolver.
Exactly.
I was going to expound on why not to hand a noobie a Glock ... I've seen too many ADs from experienced shooters, not to mention the ones from the noob shooters, men and women alike.
Bottom line, your trigger finger is your safety and a Glock trigger is just too much for a noob to master.
That's before ever dealing with limp-wristing and having to practice immediate action drills to compensate for the inevitable stove piping.
And women, and men, shortstroke pump shotguns in high stress shooting situations .... plus they are difficult to practice regularly with for a lot of reasons.
A hammerless snub nose 38 is the only real answer to the OP's question.
And practice, practice, practice.
Google "quick access gun vault" or "gun speed vault" for safety ideas ... I prefer the Hornaday Rapid Safe myself. LINK
This post was edited on 3/13/16 at 11:13 pm
Posted on 3/13/16 at 11:10 pm to Mizzou Mule
quote:
2. Do not listen to people about handguns. Only buy the handgun that fits your/her hand. It doesn't matter who makes it, or what model, or what color, how old it is, etc. FIT. FIT. (Half of women cannot rack a semi-auto and should not own one.)
FIT. If it doesn't fit, you will not shoot it well and eventually you will sell/trade it.
3. Kids will know where the gun(s) are guaranteed, so have them secured.
I wish more people would heed that advice.
What feels good in your hand, is reliable, and is something that you can hit what you're aiming-at with ... that's most important.
With modern low recoil personal defense loads ... 38 Special gets the job done.
You gotta love the Airlite S&Ws though ... and even the Ruger LCRs. The S&W Bodyguard is a helluva little snubbie too. And my wife could carry any pistol she wants ... but she carries a Charter Arms Bulldog Pug. My second oldest daughter loves her Taurus model 856.
There are so many to choose from in every price range.
Posted on 3/14/16 at 6:10 am to Pavoloco83
Pav, hit me up. Most of my dealers are also gun dealers. I can connect you with someone who can help
Posted on 3/14/16 at 7:50 am to Pavoloco83
I just bought a gen 4 glock 19 in Atlanta.
Mainstreet gun and range has the best prices that I have found.
405 killian hill rd NW in lilburn.
They were $100 less than stoddards 50 less than chucks.
Edit: I love glocks. Not saying that's what you should buy but they seem to have the best overall prices.
Mainstreet gun and range has the best prices that I have found.
405 killian hill rd NW in lilburn.
They were $100 less than stoddards 50 less than chucks.
Edit: I love glocks. Not saying that's what you should buy but they seem to have the best overall prices.
This post was edited on 3/14/16 at 7:53 am
Posted on 3/14/16 at 8:00 am to Shunface
For a woman... go with a .38 revolver.
Posted on 3/14/16 at 8:09 am to airfernando
If you get a semi-automatic, keep [img]clip[/img] out just a little. Reduces chance of accidental fire but is still easy to pop in.
...here we go.
...here we go.
Posted on 3/14/16 at 8:28 am to SoFla Tideroller
Posted on 3/14/16 at 8:29 am to Pavoloco83
Lot of good advice here but you should also go look at the "Buying my wife/GF/SO a handgun" thread on the Outdoor Board. A couple of the regulars over there own stores (in LA) and are also certified firearm instructors. They will give you a lot of good advice.
But I am going to hammer on one point. BUY HER THE GUN THAT SHE FEELS COMFORTABLE AND THAT SHE LIKES TO SHOOT.
But I am going to hammer on one point. BUY HER THE GUN THAT SHE FEELS COMFORTABLE AND THAT SHE LIKES TO SHOOT.
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