So You're Thinking of Buying a Gun

Sierra Times ^ | 11.27.01 | Sunni Maravillosa

[freedomlover]

Got one of these this weekend.

#50665 590® 12 ga. Pump Action 9-shot capacity, parkerized finish, bead sight, 20" cylinder bore barrel with heat shield and Speed-Feed® stock

Uh huh.

[Robert357]

I am amazed this came out of a news organization. My only comment on the basically fine article is that it does not emphasize the need to practice, practice, practice at a gun range. There are a few nitpicks I would make on action types, and comments about "handgun power" but all in all a pretty impressive article with lots of nice cross links.

[Clemenza]

Any Freepers care to advise me about picking up a handgun from a pawnshop. Local gunshops in Miami are expensive (ex. Taurus .22 Automatic goes for over $300).

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

I am using this method.

Buy a gun, buy another, see another I like buy it.

Pretty soon I'll have to get another safe.

PT145 is next up, end of the week.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Find what you want online, then shop around for the best price.

You may find an online price that is better even with an FFL transfer fee. Most FFL dealers will drop a price to match a local competitor rather than lose a sale.

[Dog Gone]

Does Florida allow gun shows? There is no better place to see what's out there and actually hold it.

The prices can't be beat, either. New or used.

[brewcrew]

Very similar, this is what I've been recommending:

Remington 870 Marine Magnum

[quizitiveOne]

Here's a similar article from a couple years ago authored by Lurker.

So You Want To Buy A Gun

http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a380ac90132ec.htm

[Tree of Liberty]

You might want to check the Blue Book of Gun Values.

Also, here's some other threads on what firearms to use for a given application:

So You Want To Buy A Gun (different article than the one posted above)
Packing Light, Packing Smart: Essentials of Concealed Carry
Hey Freeper Gals what handgun should I look at....
Gun Experts, need recommendations

[from occupied ga]

I bought one of these and practice with it about three times a year. I have a few smaller things too.

[harpseal]

Mrs. harpseal and I have a matched set (sequential serial numbers) of identical Mossberg 590's. If any intruder gets through the 12 gauge fusilade then They are up agaist 9 .45acp 185gr hollow points in chest and head from me followed by my back up 9mm with sixteen 115gr hollowpoints and Mrs Harpseal's .357 magnum.

Enjoy your new toy.

Stay well - Stay safe - Stay armed (well armed with that) - Yorktown

[SlickWillard]

I purchased the Mossberg 51663 pump action shotgun, mail order, from KY Imports, through a local FFL dealer:

http://www.mossberg.com/pcatalog/Price590.htm [51663 MSRP $531]

http://www.kyimports.com/rifle3.htm#Mossberg [51663 @ $389.99]

You might also try Arizona Gun Runners

http://www.arizonagunrunners.com/Products/Mossbergshotguns/mossbergshotguns1/mossbergshotguns1.html [51663 @ $360.00]

but they're harder to get ahold of - they don't answer the phone - and you have to play phone tag, or email tag, if you want to buy something from them.

In combination with the Federal Classic F131RS rifled slug, at 3110 FPS muzzle energy

http://www.federalcartridge.com/cgi-bin/specs2.pl?product=31crs

Federal Load #	Energy in Foot-Pounds (to nearest 5 foot-pounds)
	Muzzle	25 Yds.	50 Yds.	75 Yds.	100 Yds.
F131RS	3110	2555	2120	1785	1540
F130RS	2805	2310	1930	1645	1450
F127RS	2520	2075	1725	1455	1255

this should stop all but the worst of the bad guys.

The great thing about long guns is that there's no waiting period whatsoever.

[mbynack]

The PT145 is on my wish list. Please let us know how you like it after you've had a chance to break it in.

[harpseal]

The differences between the remington and the Mossberg are mostly cosmetic both tend to function flawlessly. i for one do not like shiny firearms but that is an old personal prejudice.

Stay well - Stay safe - Stay armed - Yorktown

[discostu]

Depends on how good you are at gun maintenance and if they'll actually let you touch the guns. Most pawn shop guns have been ill treated and will need an overhaul (thurough cleaning and oiling, maybe replace some worn springs) when you get them (good pawn shops do the overhaul but it's rare). If they'll let you take the gun apart you can usually look for tell-tales (scratches, weak springs, damaged pin) in the chamber and other important areas of the weapon to see if it needs more than just basic work and make the call from there. Anyplace that won't let you break it down at least as much as you do in a normal cleaning shouldn't get your business. You'll probably also want to check around your local ranges and find out which shops don't cater to criminals; last thing you need is a hot gun, or worse one that's tied to a murder with no suspect. Because of that aspect you should save your receipt very carefully for the rest of your life (even if it's from a good shop, you just never know when dealing with pawn shops), proving when you bought the gun could save your butt.

[Tree of Liberty]

I've had my eye on the Marine Magnum as a home defense weapon for a while, myself. The only downsides that I can see are that the finish doesn't lend itself to concealability in the dark, and I've read that the bead is plated at the same time as the barrel and action, so you'd need to crack the nickel if you wanted to put different sights on it.

 

[J. Semper Paratus]

Thanks for the great post.

Don't forget to buy copious amounts of ammo to fit your arms and...

KEEP IT DRY!

I prefer that you associate your new gun ownership with good organizations such as the NRA and your local state firearms association such as the California Rifle and Pistol Association.

There is power in numbers.

[brewcrew]

Having never used a Mossberg, I'll have to take your word for it. The thing I like about the Remington is that it is virtually indestructable, whether in a house or a houseboat. I also like the extended magazine and the short overall length for tight spaces, which the Mossberg seems to have as well.

Back at ya! Take care!

[freedomlover]

A slug?