Recommended Gun List for Freepers (Vanity)

11/09/2008 | SoftwareEngineer

[SoftwareEngineer]

I would like to request that fellow Freepers help us non knowledgeable gun owners in recommending guns that we can buy before gun laws get changed. Many of us have only a basic semi automatic hand gun and have never given much thought to anything else.

However, before gun laws change I would like to complete my gun collection and even buy guns that I can leave to my children.

Maybe we can organize the recommendations as follows:

• 1. Semi Automatic (Basic)
• 2. Semi Automatic (High End)
• 3. Revolver (Basic)
• 4. Revolver (High End)
• 5. Shot Gun (Basic)
• 6. Shot Gun (High End)
• 7. Others
• 8. Recommended Accessories
  
  Please list brands that are relatively easy to buy in the United States as most of us don't have access to that clever gunmaker in the Czech Republic or wherever
  
  Secondly, if you can list approximate pricing, that would be very helpful. Also, any pros and cons that you can think of will be very helpful
  
  Please note that my request is only for legal guns and do not post anything that violates existing law. Whatever, our feelings may be about existing law, I am sure that none of us wants to violate it
  
  Your contribution to this knowledge base is highly appreciated.

[thefactor]

i am building a (very) small collection.

question: i am a lefty and was pointed in the direction of stag arms and their lefty AR-15. the reviews seem to be pretty good. anyone have any experience?

in lieu of posting a vanity i am just gonna pose the question on gun-threads.

[Sender]

If it's noncorrosive ammo from 1970 or newer it's probably good stuff, at least for practice. 45 hardball is OK for actual carry, 38 special hardball is not so much. The 45 makes enough shock and awe to be a manstopper even with hardball. The 38 should be hollowpoints. 9mm should be hollowpoints. With any caliber, practice makes perfect, so any cheap ammo is valuable. Burn that surplus stuff up at the range until you can hit with it, then shoot a mag or two of expensive carry ammo and make sure you can hit with it and that the gun is reliable with it. Then carry the expensive hollowpoints.

I was function testing a SIG P6 with Fiocchi hardball ammo, and it fed and functioned perfectly, with good accuracy. Then I switched to +P Ranger Talon ammo, and I kept getting the action locked open. I thought it was jamming with the radical hollowpoints, but I found that the increased recoil was causing my hand to bump the slide lock up so it was locked open. I had to modify my grip so I wouldn't touch the slide release during recoil. These are the sort of things you learn during practice.

[ASOC]

I'm pretty lucky, several of the local outfits carry OEM surplus from both old ComBlock (Russia,Cz, Serbia and Bulgaria) and Allied (Greece, Brits) in popular calibers.

You can try AIM surplus, J&G, Sales MidwayUSA, CMP (if you are active, guard, reserve or retired - they have a killer deal on Greek 30-06)) or Shotgun news. Check with your local gunsmith, there a lot of garage operations.

Cheaper than dirt, Cabellas and other often have milsurp at slightly higher cost, but in smaller lots (not everyone buys for a group at 1000s of rounds at a time). Prior to purchase, check ammo forums for bad ammo lots - for example Indian ammo from up to the late 70s and early 80s was supervised by the Brit military - by the late 80 it was all 'home grown' and mostly junk. Same same for some old ComBlock arsenals. When in doubt, check with someone you know locally and trust - the advice you get on the web is worth exactly what you pay for it : )

[LouisianaJoanof Arc]

Well I don’t believe in guns that are “good for women.” I believe there are women who want to learn to shoot, and women who want to be able to make a gun fire if they need it. Which are you?

I am a woman that needs to learn to use a gun in order to protect myself if I need to.

[Shooter 2.5]

You can start with a Browning designed, FN High Power chambered in 9MM. It has an interesting hammer which goes back up after you chamber and then flips down when the safety is let off. It’s perfect for small hands. The problem with it? It has what is called a magazine disconnect which effects the trigger. It’s simple to remove and you get a much better trigger.

Check the photo of my Daughter in Law on my profile page. She has small hands and that Kimber is a tad too large. She loved the FN and she was getting hits that she didn’t get with the .45. I’m using the FN during an IDPA match. It’s what I’m using now.

The next is a CZ75 which should fit your hands but I have never shot one. I try to stick with Browning designs.

[Shooter 2.5]

Go to your local IDPA match. We’re always begging women to join us and we have excellent free advice.

[LouisianaJoanof Arc]

Will do!

[The Duke]

Thanks for the “ammo info”. All saved for (near) future reference. :)

[SweetCaroline]

Thanks Shooter2.5
Sorry I didn’t see your post sooner, it got lost in all my other pings. I will check out your profile page to see it. I was looking at the KAHR PMG it’s only 5.3 inches long. Have you heard of it? I have only shot a 22 rifle in my life and that was many many years ago. I think now’s the time to get trained to use a gun for my own protection.

[Shooter 2.5]

No problem. I just thought you had read it and agreed so there wasn’t a reason to discuss it. My buddy has a Kahr and he trusts it. Before you buy, go to the IDPA match.

For training, the best place is an IDPA match. It’s close to being free and I suppose some people think they have to go across the country, spent hundreds of dollars for motel rooms and then spend a couple of thousand to a guru teacher.

The only thing with IDPA is they will show you the way, but then you have to put the time in yourself.

For women, I have reached the conclusion 9mm is the minimum but it’s also the maximum unless you’re thinking of a revolver in .38 Special.

Start out slow to get your muscle memory, use snap caps to practice your front sight picture in your home, save all of your brass and listen to the top WOMEN competitors. Your holster and retention needs are different than guys. Pardner up with some lady so you can both go shopping for shooting stuff.

[SweetCaroline]

Hi Shooter. May I ask what the letters IDPA stand for? I imagine I would find my local branch in the phone book. Thanks for your help.

[Shooter 2.5]

International Defensive Pistol Association.

You can find a club on their website here:
http://www.idpa.com/

[word_warrior_bob]

A little reminder about Michael Steele, who everyone thinks would be such a great person to head the RNC. Too bad he thinks the 2nd Amendment is about hunting.

Q: Should people have access to buy assault weapons?

A: Society should draw lines. What do you need an assault weapon for, if you’re going hunting? That’s overkill. But I don’t think that means you go to a total ban for those who want to use gun for skeet shooting or hunting or things like that But what’s the point of passing gun laws if we’re not going to enforce them? If you want to talk about gun control, that’s where you need to start. We’ve got 300 gun laws on the books right now. At the end of the day, it’s about how we enforce the law.

[Shooter 2.5]

I’ll help you out.

#3 Smith and Wesson Model 10 .38 Special
#4 Smith and Wesson Stainless 686 in .357 Magnum
#6 Bennelli 12 Gauge or Wilson custom Remington 870

Accessories-Dillon 550 reloader

[SweetCaroline]

Thanks Shooter 2.5. As you can see, I’m not on FR often.