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[VANITY] Firearms advice needed

Posted on 08/30/2015 2:01:04 PM PDT by PinkChampagneonIce

There is no better place to come for expert advice on firearms than FR!

I am thinking of buying my first firearm. I want it for concealed carry, for self-defense, so I want it small. I have done some research and the Smith & Wesson Centennial Airweight Model 642 looks good to me.

Am seeking any and all advice/comments. I have small hands, and not a lot of upper body strength.

Thanks!


TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: banglist; firearms
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To: Ainast

XDS 9mm 3.3 even better with Buffalo bore 115 grain +p+ ammo. The .45 recoil will hurt your hands. Don’t entertain .45 in that model.


41 posted on 08/30/2015 2:51:00 PM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose o f a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped.)
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To: PinkChampagneonIce

It’s not a bad choice, especially if you are inexperienced with firearms. Revolvers are pretty well foolproof.


42 posted on 08/30/2015 2:53:05 PM PDT by ozzymandus
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To: gorush

This weapon is on recall!


43 posted on 08/30/2015 2:55:35 PM PDT by lostboy61 (Lock and Load and stand your ground!.)
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To: PinkChampagneonIce

Hey, great decision on a carry gun for self and family protection! As a former professional firearms “user”, now jut concerned about self/family protection...

Here is my advice- do not take any advice on a website at face value- mine included!

Go to a reputable firearms trainer ( no, not a gun seller!). Get training and understanding about what you are about to embark on, then you can make an informed choice.

Too many folks buy on advice and not experience- I say it is worth maybe $400 spent on an NRA certified Pers Protec in/out the home as well as basic firearm safety, then spend money wisely on the specific tools- firearm, holsters, spare mags/carriers etc.

When you became of age to drive, you just didn’t go buy a car and then learn how, right? even more so with a firearm.

You can go to the NRA website ( nrahq.org) and look up NRA certified instructors in your area.

You also could check out professional training organizations, but they usually require travel and lodging and rather costly tuition, maybe later for you.

Some will say get a revolver vice an auto or vice versa, but both require effort and skill, and many find one or the other more comfortable and more accurate that the other- so get training, then decide after having the opportunity to handle several types etc.

Disclaimer- yes I am a former military/civilian firearms/tactics trainer and later an NRA certified Instruction-but no longer in the business.

Best


44 posted on 08/30/2015 3:00:35 PM PDT by Manly Warrior (US ARMY (Ret), "No Free Lunches for the Dogs of War")
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To: Buttons12
Buttons12 said: "I’m an 80-lb. lady with very tiny hands. Everything heavier than a switchblade has too much recoil to suit me!"

Non-intuitively, it is the very light weight of some small guns which makes the recoil so noticeable.

A heavier gun will recoil less.

Similarly, the small "blow-back" guns require a heavier spring than a gun with a locked breech. This makes some of the smallest guns very difficult to operate.

I'm average size for a male, so I have many choices, but I carry the Ruger LCP in my front pants pocket all the time. I hardly notice it is there.

45 posted on 08/30/2015 3:03:54 PM PDT by William Tell
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To: Georgia Girl 2

Agree. Or a Taurus titanium 38. Load with high velocity MagSafe pre-fragmented ammo, add a Crimson Trace, aim for center body mass, and it blows large holes.

Ballistics data and ammo info: http://www.magsafeonline.com/


46 posted on 08/30/2015 3:04:30 PM PDT by John S Mosby (Sic Semper Tyrannis)
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To: PinkChampagneonIce

My go-to is a Sig automatic in .40 S&W, but I’m a lifelong shooter and have been paid to carry weapons, as have many other Freepers.

I am a big fan of wheelguns (revolvers) as opposed to automatics for one reason. ‘Oh s**t’ ready-to-panic situations suddenly happen sometimes, no matter who you are or what your resume has on it. A good wheelgun is simple and very reliable. They don’t jam. (Cheap crap guns may have other reliability issues, when you’re betting your life do your homework and spend the money). A good revolver is reliable and simple. The disadvantage is that they’re slower to reload than an automatic. You solidly thump an intruder six times with .357 magnum, you probably won’t need a reload though.

Second, TRAIN. get to where you’re utterly familiar with the operation and maintenance of your weapon and you’re a competent marksman.

I once had a loud and startling incident occur in my bedroom (pass on the jokes, thanks) in the middle of the night. I had been under horrific stress and had a few drinks to get to sleep. I came out of my sleep *already on my feet, armed, and sight alignment acquired* scanning for a target. It turned out to be an almost-comical thing, no deadly threat, but it proved an excellent practice final-exam.

Go reliable, simple, hard hitting and train. And train some more.


47 posted on 08/30/2015 3:04:52 PM PDT by Riley (The Fourth Estate is the Fifth Column.)
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To: John S Mosby

Actually not a bad choice. :-)


48 posted on 08/30/2015 3:06:24 PM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose o f a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped.)
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To: CurlyDave

I think you are describing the Ruger LCR and not the LCP, which is the .380 caliber semi-auto pistol.


49 posted on 08/30/2015 3:06:40 PM PDT by William Tell
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To: JoeProBono

True, but it can be reliably fired from inside a pocket or purse, unlike an autoloader. The absence of time needed to draw and the element of surprise could be crucial, especially at very close range.


50 posted on 08/30/2015 3:07:10 PM PDT by Smokin' Joe (How often God must weep at humans' folly. Stand fast. God knows what He is doing.)
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To: PinkChampagneonIce; All

Every firearm mentioned thus far is just that—a “firearm” used for recreational purposes.
It doesn’t become a “weapon” until you are using it for self defense or defense of others.
In that sense a gun is like a hammer, chef’s knife, ladder jack or plumb bob.
If you give it some thought, this isn’t quibbling. Who wants to hear, “Hey, they’re comparing weapons over on FR.”


51 posted on 08/30/2015 3:07:35 PM PDT by tumblindice (America's founding fathers: all armed conservatives.)
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To: PinkChampagneonIce

Consider the Ruger LCR in .357 Magnum. It’s a lightweight 5-shot revolver, and the .357 model is slightly heavier than the .38 model, so you can carry .38s and have less felt recoil due to the extra weight (which is about 2.5 oz.).


52 posted on 08/30/2015 3:08:24 PM PDT by Disambiguator (Cis-American)
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To: Shimmer1

Bersa guns are excellent,but consider a 9mm


53 posted on 08/30/2015 3:09:43 PM PDT by advertising guy (some things never change......Bill Cosby just offered Ashley Madison a drink)
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To: Renegade

I think that is what I’m going to get.


54 posted on 08/30/2015 3:10:06 PM PDT by Shimmer1 (Jeb Bush for president......of Mexico!!!)
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To: lostboy61

No, not the G2 (generation 2) which has a drop safe feature. Some people hate Taurus, so be it. Don’t get one. There is a recall on the .38 as well...they didn’t engrave the caliber on the barrel.


55 posted on 08/30/2015 3:10:50 PM PDT by gorush (History repeats itself because human nature is static)
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To: PinkChampagneonIce

I’m a huge Smith fan, but not of their J-frames. I’d take a serious look at the Ruger LCR in .38 Special. Their trigger seems to be a bit smoother than most J-frames. Also, no need to get one in .357 Magnum. I know several very experienced and recoil insensitive shooters than say it’s an absolutely miserable thing to shoot in so light a gun. Good .38 Special defense ammo will do the trick.


56 posted on 08/30/2015 3:12:51 PM PDT by Tijeras_Slim
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To: PinkChampagneonIce
You really need to shoot one of those first. I thought that was what I needed, but when I tried it at the store, I couldn't deal with it. I have scar tissue on the back of my trigger hand where I severed a tendon a long time ago. The day after my S&W tryout, the back of that hand was black and blue. The kick is so powerful that after a few shots, I found myself flinching every time I pulled the trigger. The range master finally told me that was not the gun for me and had me try a few others. I would recommend looking at the baby Glocks, the Ruger LCP, or there are others in that line of size/caliber. The LCP is a great little gun if you have small hands. Bigger hands have trouble dealing with the slide. It also takes a bit of practice because it is so lightweight that it tends to throw your arm out of position after firing. If you keep a lot of tension in your arm, it makes it worse.

Just my personal experience...I'm not an arms expert.

57 posted on 08/30/2015 3:13:23 PM PDT by ponygirl (An Appeal to Heaven.)
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To: PinkChampagneonIce

The 642 is one of the most popular concealed carry guns for good reason — it’s light, easy to carry, has adequate stopping power, it’s simpler to use than an autoloader and it’s reliable.

All handguns are compromises however and the downside is that it’s light weight results in sharp recoil, especially when using full power .38+P loadings. The trigger is long and heavy (and usually gritty when new), the sight radius is short and the sights themselves are small and not as easy to use as on a full size gun.
These guns are difficult to shoot well and not particularly fun at the range. At a minimum, you’ll want to make sure you get rubber grips that fit your hand well and start off with low-power loads.

This is one gun you definitely want to shoot before you buy. You might also want to try out the Smith & Wesson model 640 (essentially a steel framed version of the 642) or the Ruger SP 101. These guns are much easier to practice with if you don’t mind the extra weight.


58 posted on 08/30/2015 3:15:12 PM PDT by twogunpete
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To: PinkChampagneonIce
I'm partial to the 638 Bodyguard since it gives you yhe option to cock and shoot single action but the Centenial is a great choice.

S&W makes great revolvers and their semis are excellent too.

If you have shot it and like it go for it. Light to carry and foolproof.

An Uncle Mikes pocket holster is a handy way to carry.

59 posted on 08/30/2015 3:15:37 PM PDT by Eagles6 ( Valley Forge Redux. If not now, when? If not here, where? If not us then who?)
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To: Georgia Girl 2

The MagSafe ammo is fascinating use of safe technology and high velocity loads. Focus is on impact, take down and limited blow-by (as in collateral damage in say, an apartment). These are used by pro SWAT for just that reason, am told by SWAT pals, and SEALs.

Controversy will ensue on this, but they do deadly work, can testify.


60 posted on 08/30/2015 3:16:24 PM PDT by John S Mosby (Sic Semper Tyrannis)
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