Posted on 08/05/2021 5:01:36 AM PDT by COBOL2Java
As a child of the 1960s and 1970s, I grew up watching shows like “Bonanza,” “Gunsmoke,” and “The Wild, Wild, West,” perched on the arm of my grandfather’s chair as smoke swirled round our heads from his Prince Albert stuffed meerschaum pipe. So, this past year when I decided to purchase my first handgun, I knew I wanted a single-action revolver. After buying one, a Ruger Single Six Convertible, I quickly bought another, a Ruger Bearcat—both 22 caliber rimfire.
As a first-time buyer, I followed a few steps that helped demystify the process and the purchases.
Sound advice.
basic common sense
I like a 9mm but that’s just me.
I have a Sentinel Imperial .22 revolver & enjoy it.
My 11-year old granddaughter's used to firing my .22's. I'll wean her to my 9mm's in a little while. The good thing is, she's getting trained and learning that plinking's fun.
Bkmk/women/guns
Pistol practice from 25', which is always fun, blew away 100 plus rounds {thanks for ear protection}.
After 50+ years, I had to replace a scope on my old 30-30 and it still shoots very flat, a great gun when my grandkids were first hunting and all three got their first deer with that rifle.
My best shooter is a 30-06 bolt action and I put the first three in the bull and stopped after that {I could only go down hill and I was just testing the rifle}.
Even though the 30-06s are better shooters than the 30-30 I've taken the smaller gun out for the past 2 years because of less recoil.
I fell and dislocated my right shoulder 3 years ago and even though it seems OK, it can't take the kick like it used to.
We all know that if you own guns, you better keep practicing and know what you and they can do, together.
I’m torn between my 9mm and .40...they’re both great calibers.
That’s why I have both! In better times, I used the 9mm for target shooting and the 40 for concealed carry. Now I can’t find reasonably priced FMJs for either.
The most fun to shoot?
.45 colt Blackhawk.
Best (for me) dark night CC flashlight or water bucket in one hand....Ruger GP 100
Both slicked up a little.
I like my 9mm’s but my first gun was not a nine. My first gun was procured in an unusual manner. At the time I was a supervisor of several people for Local government. One of my people had a drinking problem. One early evening I got a call from the police asking me questions about him. He was in his home with a gun threatening to kill himself. I raced to his house and found several police cars with cops standing around. They were devising a plan to go in and take his gun away from him and shooting him if need be because he had been threatening them. I started for the front door to go talk to him and they stopped me and said it was too dangerous. When they weren’t looking I went back and went in the house hollering at John. We had a good conversation about his troubles. I asked him where he got the little 25 caliper semiautomatic he had and he told me the story behind it. I told him I would really like to have a gun like that and offered him a hundred dollars for it. He immediately thought that was a good deal for him and agreed. We walked out the front door with a bunch of cops aiming their guns at us and I explained that he didn’t have the gun anymore. And that is how I got my first gun.
I still have that little 25 and it is fun but in my opinion dangerous, the trigger is very sensitive, all my other pistols are double action only, I hate single action. I think that is how so may cops end up shooting unarmed people.
Great. Now I NEED a .22 revolver, LOL!
Good article. Makes perfect sense. The first .22 rifle I purchased was through a very knowledgeable friend who showed me the ropes. My little .22 that I keep in the nightstand was inherited from my Dad. My .22 Browning was bought by Beau as a gift to me, and with his assistance.
I can testify to ‘trying on’ a lot of handguns to find that perfect fit. :)
I call it "The tank". It shoots .357 Magnum just fine.
I’ve got a Ruger .9mm but I feel more comfortable with my Ruger SR .22. Both good guns.
Getting better. https://ammoseek.com/ammo/9mm-luger shows currently touching $15/box.
For a while I was getting good prices direct from federalpremium.com — they’ve inched prices up rather than down lately.
Nice choice. That and 1911 are the way to go.
Very well written.
Admirable choices for 22 pistols. And who could resist a Bearcat once they’ve picked one up?
It appears the author doesn’t live in a free state and was required to involve the local constabulary in what should be a normal exchange of business. If the chosen firearms outlet could not provide the information necessary for her to feel comfortable with the process, she needed to move on to another establishment. Since it seems there are special state requirements, the gun shop deals with those on every sale and should have been able to guide her accordingly without a special inquiry at the cop shop by her. JMO - I guess her “inner Karen” could not be satisfied without seeking further approval.
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