Is there a "Consumer Reports" for guns? [VANITY]

Today, silly | Silly

[Billthedrill]

I have to agree on Gun Tests - I actually subscribe to the dead tree edition. They just gave a $200 plinker an A rating over competition costing two to four times as much. Caution - theirs is a very small sample size and that method won't always pick up sporadic quality-control problems such as the old Taurus lines used to show (they've gotten much better since).

Good, practical advice is to find a range that rents. A much better idea is to buy one of each. I'm doing my best.

[fella]

Try Gun Tests Magazine they compare test various guns of like make and caliber and rate them.

[glock_fan]

I used to subscribe to CR until they ran an article evaluating birth control methods and had abortion in there as an option. In my kiss-off letter to them I brought up the fact that if they are truly “objective” as they claim to be, why don’t they ever evaluate guns?

[cryptotech]

I have a Tomcat that I put in the “better than a rock” category.

The sights are useless and with the small grip if I am not careful, the slide will nail me right at the base of my thumb.

[Mountain Troll]

Shoot your eye out, kid.

[VeniVidiVici]

Don’t get a small gun unless you a ready for the recoil. I second the motion to rent a few at your local range and then decide.

I also suggest a .357 revolver to learn with .38s and then graduate up.

Glock is my other choice for your second should you desire a semi-auto.

My wife started with a .38 Airweight (hated it) went to a Glock 19 (which she likes) and finally to a Tomcat, which she carries.

[Shooter 2.5]

First get the training.

[Thombo2]

ping for later

[Silly]

That's interesting. Perhaps I should give revolvers a serious look.

It's really funny to watch how the human mind makes decisions like what kind of gun one likes or doesn't like. I think many people select a product because it was the first one they looked at, before they knew much, and then after that their mind sort of led them back to what looked familiar.

One thing is for sure, gun training and ownership and serious enough that one does want to make good decisions.

Here's a lovely Luger. A steal at $4,000. And for only twice the price, you can buy a matched set.

[papertyger]

Good, practical advice is to find a range that rents. A much better idea is to buy one of each.

Another good practical piece of advice is don't forget a gun is no better than its trigger. You should be able to take an empty gun, look at it from the side as you are slowly and smoothly squeezing the trigger... and have absolutely no idea what makes it finally go "click."

No grinding feeling on your trigger finger, no increase in pressure you have to get over, nothing. It should be as smooth as snapping a glass rod, because anything that changes the stroke of your finger will change your point of aim just before it goes off.

[Lurker]

Look into Taurus. They make fine firearms for very reasonable prices.

And don't forget to see what your local dealer has in his or her "Used Guns" case. Sometimes there are some real bargains.

Just make sure to have them checked out by a competent gunsmith.

Have fun.

L

P.S. Guns are like potato chips. You can't have just one.

[USMCPOP]

Take a handgun training class. Then go to a range and rent different handguns and fire some rounds. Find out what fits your hand. Talk with the counter people. Go to a gun show and browse around. Don’t be hasty. Buy a copy of “Shooter’s Bible” so you have a reference of current models available.

No matter what you get for defense, a .22 caliber handgun such as a Browning Buckmark or a Ruger MK III or Ruger 22/45 is good to have for low cost practice and plinking. Not owning at least one .22 is un-American.

The Ruger GP-100 with the 4” barrel is a great recommendation. The Glock 19 is good, as are various SIG and H&K models. Beretta makes good stuff, but don’t get a mouse gun (small caliber) just yet. Kahr makes some nice, small pistols in serious calibers. Taurus is making some pretty interesting stuff lately, and they are reasonably priced.

No matter what you get, there will always be something even better suited to you. That is the reason for the “one gun a month” waiting laws. If not for that, we’d all go broke buying more, and wouldn’t be able to afford ammo. :)

[USMCPOP]

Forgot to mention, revolvers are slow and cumbersome. You simply have to see this to know what I’m talking about: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-tFQ1H4Awg

[P8riot]

I have a 4” GP100 and I get 2” groups at over 60yds. Matter of fact, I took a coyote with it at that range two weeks ago, no scope, just installed sights. For close in work, it’s a S&W 642, more than adequate at self defense range (7-10yds).

[Current Occupant]

Darn good advice from all.

Question, anyone here use a rim thickness gauge?

I’ll just add my 2 favorite semi large cal. No.1 is a Detonics .45, a bit pricey at 1200.00 but it’s a great shooter. No. 2 is CZ75B in .40 S&W and priced right at around 400.00.

[Disambiguator]

Rugers, not Lugers.

:^)

[fish hawk]

To each his own but to my thinking and experience, carrying a pistol with two or three more inches on the barrel is not a handicap and will increase accuracy at longer ranges,while still hitting an intruder at three feet. Just my opinion.

[absalom01]

Yes, they are overpriced and known for cracking and failing slides.

Now, now...the F series Berettas are very widely issued sidearms both as the US military "M9" and in very large numbers to police departments all over the US. True, slides have cracked, as have locking lugs, but after thousands of rounds, and then only in a small number of guns. I'm not a big Beretta fan, but let's be realistic about it -- any device, subjected to heavy use, and issued in the thousands will have some characteristic failures. The good thing about the Beretta is that it's simple, will cycle when full of dust and grit and all sorts of stuff, and is very widely available.

It's not a bad choice at all, looked at objectively.

[Atlas Sneezed]

If you are going to get a pocket/purse gun, get a Kel-Tec P3-AT (.380 ACP) if money is a factor, and a Rohrbaugh 9mm is your life is worth any price.

[DogByte6RER]