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Best first gun to own? Need advice!

Posted on 12/16/2009 10:08:01 AM PST by bonillamktg

I am ashamed to say that I am 30 years old and do not own a gun. I grew up in a house without guns and never really thought about it until recently (as I started a drastic shift from being politically agnostic to a staunch conservative Constitutionalist) and now I am a new homeowner and new father and every day I think about needing to get multiple firearms. I need to start somewhere but, other than getting recommendations from a few friends I respect, I am a bit lost, having never fired a handgun before (I've shot several rifles and shotguns before).

My question is: What recommendation would you give me as the first gun I should own? I want this first gun to be easily carried concealed (I plan on getting my concealed carry permit ASAP), a good weapon for protection of my home, easily usable by my wife (who has never shot a gun in her life), and ideally, I'd like to get armed for $300-400.


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; US: Georgia
KEYWORDS: banglist; gunownership; vanity
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To: Clinging Bitterly

yep :-) can´t wait to hold it in my hands... and of course to fire it for the first time ;-) i hope this will let me forget what i have paid for this “baby”. 2100 euro “a little more than 3.000 $” (without scope does really burn a big hole into my pocket this month). but then again i wanted this rifle since years...
greetings


241 posted on 12/17/2009 10:06:52 AM PST by darkside321
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To: Red Badger
...................does it need winding?..........;^)

They're a real bitch when the alarm goes off.

242 posted on 12/17/2009 10:17:41 AM PST by gundog (A republic...if you can keep it.)
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To: bonillamktg

Whatever you choose, buy ammo. Lots of it. And availability may(should) influence what you buy.


243 posted on 12/17/2009 10:20:45 AM PST by gundog (A republic...if you can keep it.)
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To: bonillamktg

you definitely made the right choice! as most people have allready said a shotgun is just perfect for home defence! the next good Idea was to “ increase my budget” because you should not make your life dependet on a few hundred $.
you are on the right way.
enjoy your new hobby and have fun.
I´m shure you will soon find your “personal” gun which fits just perfect for your individual CCW needs.
greetings


244 posted on 12/17/2009 10:25:31 AM PST by darkside321
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To: Red in Blue PA
Nobody would ever carry a 1911 in Codition Zero, yet this is precisely how Glocks are carried.)

I looked up Condition Zero and most of the hits refer to a video game. Does it have some other meaning?

245 posted on 12/17/2009 10:43:15 AM PST by wideminded
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To: cgchief; mylife

A friend has a 6 inch model 66, I have a model 19. His shoots better than mine. Great choice.


246 posted on 12/17/2009 10:43:39 AM PST by Springman (Rest In Peace YaYa123)
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To: wideminded

I think round in chamber, hammer cocked and no safety...


247 posted on 12/17/2009 10:49:15 AM PST by surfer
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To: 2001convSVT
I would never recommend to a newbie to get a handgun as a first weapon.

He might wanna get one while the gettin's good.

248 posted on 12/17/2009 10:52:59 AM PST by gundog (A republic...if you can keep it.)
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To: gundog

i do agree. btw. training is one thing but a real firefight
is something totally different. it´s one thing to fire at “paper” targets... but it´s totally different when you are in a situation when you hear the unique sound a bullet fired into your direction makes (if you hear it because it sometimes happens that you hear no sound because your body runs on “emergency” mode in a life or death situation.


249 posted on 12/17/2009 11:08:26 AM PST by darkside321
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To: Red in Blue PA

that may well be true..but they armorers on staff. Ive just got me.


250 posted on 12/17/2009 11:17:58 AM PST by Armedanddangerous (The dead night tiger made whole by the Master of Sinanju)
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To: bonillamktg
The shotgun will provide some comfort if home invasion is a concern, and when you're out for fun they have a nice BOOM and make big holes in stuff. And thankfully the two most popular pump gun models are not terribly expensive. One of our local discount store chains often carries the basic Mossberg 500 defender model for just $200 - and it comes with both the standard length and 18-1/2" barrels. The Reminton 870 Express is usually about the same price. Either one you can modify or accessorize in seemingly endless combinations.

Something like this is still on my wish list. I don't want to be loaded down with a lot of extras but I do want to have a breacher nozzle. And I'd probably add a sling and some kind of holder for extra rounds.

251 posted on 12/17/2009 11:23:19 AM PST by Clinging Bitterly (MMM MMM MM!)
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To: Clinging Bitterly

oh i would love to own a pump action again!!! but unfortunately they are now illegal here (thanks to stupid politicians) so i´m stuck with the semi auto shotguns here (they are not as “dangerous” if you believe politicians ;-) like the pump actions...) weird politicians weird laws ;-)


252 posted on 12/17/2009 11:48:56 AM PST by darkside321
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To: gundog
He might wanna get one while the gettin’s good.” That is a good idea, but I would hope that a 12 gauge is the go to weapon.
253 posted on 12/17/2009 12:15:45 PM PST by 2001convSVT ("Only Property Owners that pay taxes should have the right to Vote")
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To: 2001convSVT
That is a good idea, but I would hope that a 12 gauge is the go to weapon.

Agreed. Hate to advocate banditry, but a shotgun will get you a handgun.

254 posted on 12/17/2009 12:20:20 PM PST by gundog (A republic...if you can keep it.)
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To: wideminded

Condition Zero means one in the chamber and safety off.

Nobody would ever recommend or carry a 1911 like this, yet Glocks have no Condition 1 (Chambered with safety on).....as such, Glocks can only be carried in Condition Zero.

For a war zone this is fine.....for the local mall? Not for me.

JMHO


255 posted on 12/17/2009 12:31:29 PM PST by Red in Blue PA (Obama, Hitler, Stalin: Who are 3 people nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.)
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To: wideminded

FYI:

Cooper favored the Colt M1911 and its variants. There are several conditions of readiness in which such a weapon can be carried. Cooper promulgated most of the following terms:

Condition Four: Chamber empty, no magazine, hammer down.
Condition Three: Chamber empty, full magazine in place, hammer down.
Condition Two: A round chambered, full magazine in place, hammer down.
Condition One: A round chambered, full magazine in place, hammer cocked, safety on.
Condition Zero: A round chambered, full magazine in place, hammer cocked, safety off.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Cooper_(Marine)


256 posted on 12/17/2009 12:33:44 PM PST by Red in Blue PA (Obama, Hitler, Stalin: Who are 3 people nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.)
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To: bonillamktg

This is only imo, but a nice .38 snub nose revolver or a 9mm would be great for ‘in home’ protection. You can graduate to rifles once familiar with the pistol. Go to the range to practice.....a shotgun is also a great model if you want to be sure to hit an intruder without really having to take ‘aim’. Get a higher gauge shot gun, so the ‘kick’ is less. Like I said this is my opinion only.


257 posted on 12/17/2009 12:37:32 PM PST by Outlaw Woman (Lock & Load......Point & Click)
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To: darkside321
...now illegal here...

That IS strange. Is it because of their appearance, or just what is the reasoning? Shotguns are mostly off the gun control radar here but there has been noise made about certain types of semiautomatics.

We can actually buy some 14" barrel pump guns with a relatively low NFA tax but I'm not convinced I'd need or use one enough to justify registering a piece in my name. In the state where I live there is no registration or licensing for anything but NFA weapons (full autos and things like short barrel shotguns) and I'm happy so far to stick with unregistered firearms.

258 posted on 12/17/2009 1:00:26 PM PST by Clinging Bitterly (MMM MMM MM!)
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To: Armedanddangerous
Neither my Glock 19, nor my P-99 has ever experienced any malfunction whatsoever.

I found the Glock 19 fun to shoot, but the Walther P99 fit my hand much better. I have small hands, and the thickness of the grip on the Glocks never quite fit my hand. My impressions of both were they were very reliable.

The one that stays beside me for home defense and CC though is the H&K P7M8. It is heavy, which is really noticeable while carrying, but I have 100% faith in its design and safety and I have never had a problem with it since I bought it. It's more of a radical departure from typical semi-automatics though. I mention it since I don't recall seeing it up-thread.

Bottom line, get something that fits and that you feel comfortable with. By fit I don't just mean it feels good in the hand and you can reach the trigger. You should also make sure that you can reach and use all controls, if any. Practice, practice, practice. I used to have a Walther PPK/S which fit my hand really well but would bite me on the webbing of my hand (between thumb and index finger) whenever the action would cycle. That wasn't fun to shoot.

If you have a local range where you can rent pistols to try, I would recommend that. Even better if you have a friend with a few pistols or a local club which has introduction nights.

Keep an open mind. There are many variations of semi-automatics, revolvers, shotguns out there. While the basics are the same, many of their control levers and functional components are placed differently. It may be a revolver fits your needs better, it could be a shotgun. Best to take the time to find the one that fits well.

259 posted on 12/17/2009 1:13:31 PM PST by Crolis ("Nemo me impune lacessit!" - "No one provokes me with impunity!")
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To: Crolis

My P-99 is the most ergonomic handgun.


260 posted on 12/17/2009 1:17:00 PM PST by Armedanddangerous (The dead night tiger made whole by the Master of Sinanju)
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