Soon to be first time gun owner (newbie questions)

[stuck_in_new_orleans]

Wife and I are looking into buying a gun for the sole purpose of self defense/home safety. Neither of us has owned a gun nor know anything about guns. Silly question but do gun shops usually have ranges to rent/test guns? Also, any recommendations for guns for home safety? Thanks

[Georgia Girl 2]

I’ll second that Mossberg 500 tactical suggestion. Just the sound of racking the weapon will make most criminals run.

[Gabrial]

Mossberg 590 pump 12 ga with ghost ring sights for him. Buy #4 shot for home defense.

Colt Agent .38spc revolver for her.

[fatboy]

I was in Cabelas (Hamburg PA) on Sunday (The Lords Day) and there was not one (1) single box of 00 buckshot in 20 gauge on the shelves. Quite a bit of 00 buck in high brass 12 gauge though so I had to settle.

Right before Christmas in that same store there was a full pallet of PMC 223 (REM) at the checkouts for $6.49/box. Saturday not a single round of 223 or 5.56 of any manufacturer in the entire store. I would imagine (but I’m sure someone here knows exactly) that a pallet of 223 is what, half a million rounds or more?

They did have a reasonable supply of pistols available. Mrs fatboy almost puicked up a Baretta 9 mm to add to her collection.

[LouAvul]

I saw where somebody already suggested a pump shotgun. Stay away from pump shotguns. They are good defense weapons, but for somebody not experienced with guns, in the heat of stress, you'll likely forget to pump a second round. That kind of delay is very bad.

Actually, stay away from shotguns altogether. In the typical residence, in hallways, etc, there's just not enough room to maneuver. Plus, you typically would enter a room barrel first, which, given the length of a shotgun, would allow the bad guy to grab the barrel, wrest it out of your hands, etc.

There will also be semiauto weapons recommended. Again, stay away from these because for the novice/occasional shooter, the whole process of loading a magazine, pulling back the slide, safety/no safety, etc, can be kind of daunting for the novice/occasion shooter.

I also saw the Ruger GP100 revolver recommended. It's a 357 magnum and is an excellent choice. That revolver, or any quality revolver, is perfect for your circumstance. The average gunfight is over after about 3 shots, and the Ruger holds six. Once it's loaded, all you have to do is point and pull the trigger. No worrying about pumping the action, pulling back a slide, safety/no safety, etc.

Also, with a 357 magnum revolver you can practice with lesser expensive 38 special rounds, then load the gun with plus P 38s, or even 357 magnums, for home defense.

Good luck

[uncommonsense]

Winchester Defender pump shotgun

FN Five Seven handgun - high capacity, low recoil, light, good penetration but not too much, highly accurate

S&W .357 revolver - can use high power mags, .38 specials, or .38 wad cutters for practice

[Mr. K]

"I lost all my guns and ammo in a horrible boating accident"

You too? There's a lot of that going around...

[tayper]

For home use nothing sounds like a pump shotgun.

[Disambiguator]

Never said they can’t use them. Most women just find the 9mm a lot easier to handle than a .45. That’s especially true for the uninitiated, like the wife of the guy asking the question.

Maybe my daughter is wired differently. She has shot .45 ACP, 45LC, and now she wants to try .454 Casull.

Good thing I reload. :^)

[parisa]

I am also totally new to guns although I have my permit now and am planning to buy my first for protection and spite. So here it goes, my 1st dumb question: revolvers, pistols, shotguns, handguns, rifle, what’s the difference between all these??

[jboot]

Tolerance for recoil is difficult to predict and isn't always related to build or sex. Some small women can shoot .45s all day, and some large men will complain about the recoil after just one mag.

A real deal-breaker for anyone are the sharply checkered grips common on older handguns. Even shooting a .380 can get tedious if the grips are biting. I mind shooting a checkered .38 far more than shooting a smooth .45. I guess you eventually get used to it, or get gloves.

[jboot]

Don’t tell her about the .500 S&W. Or that they make revolvers chambered in .45-70. ;-)

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

Luckily your boating accident was caught on tape for the nonbelievers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdlKRcK3Nv8&feature=youtube_gdata_player

[Disambiguator]

I have a Mossberg, bolt action, 410 I got as a young lad in 1965. I will not be using it for hunting. I have been thinking about cutting the barrel and stock down, but since it is bolt action don’t know is this is a good idea.

A gun like that may be more valuable if left intact. I would just go buy a new pump shotgun with a pistol grip, and leave the old-timer as is.

[Tijeras_Slim]

A barrel can be no shorter than 18” (muzzle to closed breechface) and the overall length cannot be less than 36” without running afoul of the NFA (National Firearms Act of 1934). If you wish, cut the barrel to 20” and leave the stock alone.

Look into Winchester PDX .410 ammunition.

[OldMissileer]

The .45 is just not a womens’ caliber — too much bang for her small frame. My wife doesn’t like the .45 at all.

My wife is 5'2" and 112lbs. She picked out a 45 ACP Compact for her conceal carry pistol. Back when I met her in 1978 the first pistol she fired was my Colt 1911. she never looked back.

My daughter, 5'6" and 100lbs, also picked a compact 45 ACP. It seems the women in my family not only can handle but also like the larger calibers.

[WinMod70]

You’ll shoot your eye out!

Seriously, this is not the perfect time for buying unless you insist on getting in at the peak price. IMO a pump shotgun is the best for home defense but whatever you end up with learn how to properly handle and shoot it, pay someone to teach you if need be.

[Disambiguator]

Don’t tell her about the .500 S&W. Or that they make revolvers chambered in .45-70. ;-)

When I can swing the investment, I've got my eye on one of these.

[prisoner6]

Thanks for the thread. I am in the same boat although I have fired both at our farm and on a range. However that was a long time ago.

I have settled on a shotgun, probably Mossburg, for home defense. The make isn’t the deal maker though. More important will be the shop and service.

I also want a handgun but there is one huge problem in my case.

QUESTION: Since I have poor vision in my right eye (lazy eye) it is very difficult for me to sight a target. That is why I am going for the shotgun. But there must be some way people like me can learn to sight a handgun or rifle. Where do I go for info?

[Jewbacca]

Get a benelli pump shotgun.

[Fletcher J]

I’ll join those posters recommending going to a gun shop that has a range and rental guns. It shouldn’t be too hard to find one.

Take your time and both of you shoot a variety of handguns and calibers. I can almost guarantee that you’ll find one that you just instinctively like. And, I can guarantee that what you like and your wife likes won’t be the same one... Buy one of each. heh

Once you purchase your handgun(s), shotgun, or whatever, put in plenty of range time until operating the weapon is second nature, and could be done in the dark, under stress, etc.

Also, consider what you will use it for - for a handgun to keep at home, light weight is a liability (heavier recoil), whereas if you want a handgun to conceal carry, you want something light and comfortable that you will actually wear.

For a shotgun, the Remington 870 Express Tactical is a great gun at a reasonable price. Before all my guns were lost in a tragic boating accident, I loaded mine with low-recoil 00 buck shot, with a “side saddle” of extra shotshells on the stock.