Lock & Load (NM)

The Albuquerque Journal ^ | December 31, 2011 | Olivier Uyttebrouck

[CedarDave]

No one knows exactly why, but a lot of people are interested in packing heat.

In fact, FBI data suggest that gun sales in New Mexico and nationally will hit record levels in 2011.

Will Hogsett, sales director at Calibers Shooter Sports Center said strong sales at his store may be due to an improving economy or lingering fears about stronger gun control before the 2012 elections.

Sales of handguns and shotguns continue to be the big sellers among people looking for protection in their homes, he said. “The big thing people come to us for is home defense.”

The FBI reports that the number of background checks required to buy a firearm hit a national one-month record of more than 1.5 million in November and remained strong this month, CNN has reported.

In New Mexico, the number of FBI National Instant Criminal Background checks totaled 10,011 in November, up 14 percent from about 8,800 in November 2010.

[itsahoot]

Use a small semi auto, just make sure you have a round in the chamber, then you only need to flip the safety. People worry too much about a round in the chamber, I have kept all my weapons chambered for more than 60 years, never had one go off, that I didn’t intend to go off.

A 25 cal can hold nine and most people won’t keep coming with that many rounds in them, 32 is about the same size. As a plus they make a lot of noise for the size and they fit nicely into a pocket or purse.

[MasterGunner01]

You should go to a gun shop with a range and see what kind of gun: (1) fits your hands, (2) you can manipulate with semi-arthritic hands, and (3) find out through live firing what kind of recoil you can tolerate with accuracy.

Good starting points should be a .38 Special revolver or a good 12 ga. or 20 ga. riot gun with extended magazine.

[matthew fuller]

"A .38 Special revolver, they don't jamb, your hands may not be strong enough to rack a semi-automatic, and they won't get stronger as you get older. Don't let anyone sell you a revolver without a full hammer. if your hands are semi-arthritic you may have trouble pulling the trigger on a revolver with a shrouded hammer, if you have trouble cocking the hammer with your thumb, you can use your other hand. "

I think that c-b 1's reply is close, or maybe right on for you. My wife has arthritis (RA and OA) and osteoporosis. she carries a heavy (to reduce recoil) .357 magnum (S&W 686, 4" barrel) loaded with medium velocity .357 mag personal defense rounds. The revolver has had a trigger job by S&W, and it's great for her. I recommend a similar revolver, or maybe a .357 Magnum S&W Ladysmith model 65 3" barrel, a little bit lighter and smaller, and in any .357 Magnum you can choose to carry .38 Special lower recoiling less powerful ammo.

[LFOD]

How many shotguns should the homeowner have?

As many as he/she desires.

[deoetdoctrinae]

Don't let anyone sell you a revolver without a full hammer.

One possible exception to this would be the Ruger LCR. Through some ingenious design work, they have managed to make the trigger pull "feel" like single action, even though it's DAO. I was impressed when I checked one out recently. Considering getting one for my (and wifes') arthritic old hands.

[Condor51]

No one knows exactly why, but a lot of people are interested in packing heat.

Exsqueeze me, "no one knows why"??

How about:

• Flash Mobs by "urban yutes"
  
• Attacks on old white people by gangs (flash mobs) of "urban yutes".
• A US AG who refused.Nno scratch that, ORDERED the DOJ Hate Crime Division not to prosecute any 'minorities' for attacking whites.
• A US AG who is attempting to undermine the US Constitution.
  
• A US AG who is running guns to Mexican Drug Cartels. (see above)
• "Urban Yutes" who are on National Crime wave, urged on by the US AG and the occupier of the White Hut.
  
• "Urban Yutes" who are killing each other over GD sneakers.
  
• "Urban (cough) parents" fighting like animals over who can grab the last pair of those $200 sneakers they're buying with welfare money.
  
• Illegal Aliens Drug Cartels invading the USA and a POTOS and AG who don't give a damn!
  and last but not least.....
• Philly once again being Murder Capitol USA! Which other 'Urban Centers' trying their damnedest to emulate, and fast.

In 2011 the "urban yutes" were killing cops in broad daylight. Really nothing but plain and simple assassinations. So if an armed Cop in Uniform isn't safe, then what about us regular citizens, huh brainiacs? (One Chi Cop was whacked right in his PDs parking lot. It was about 2:00-3:00pm and in front of other Chi Cops right there who were getting off their shift too. [yeah they got the maggot, filled him full of lead]

So yeah, 'no one knows why' citizens are arming up. Duh.
(My next door neighbor just got a Taurus Raging Judge Magnum which fires the .45 Casull, plus the .410 Magnum and .45 Colt. Thing's a Hand Cannon, and very sweeeeet.

btw, I'm *pretty sure* all the references to 'urban yutes' going tribal is purely a coincidence.

[GladesGuru]

Get a Saiga 12 and you can enjoy a 20 round drum, not a measly 12 rounds in a tube magazine.

;-)

PS 30 round drums are also available.

[Jack Hydrazine]

Thanks for the recommendation! I’ll check them out!

[c-b 1]

I agree with you, but I don’t consider a 686 a carry gun. I was thinking of someone having one pistol, that they may want to carry. I didn’t mention brand or model to avoid a Ford vs. chevy discussion.

[Squantos]

Square footage of home divided by average reach equals number of shotguns one “should” own.....:o)

My swag on the question....

[DaveA37]

To: CedarDave
How many shotguns should the homeowner have? (Most hold but six rounds.)............

One for each hand and make sure they MUST be semi-auto’s. Be sure to have lots of extra ammo to go with them.

[Atlas Sneezed]

Going gun shopping. What would you all recommend for small, semi-arthritic hands?

---

1. A trip to a gun range with rentals. Decide for yourself what feels right. Sometimes, large is more comfortable than small. Revolvers may be more or less comfy (less, to me) that other pistols.

2. While practice is important, you might not make shooting your carry gun a weekly recreation activity, so maybe don’t worry too much about comfort, unless it’s such an issue that you can’t shoot straight.

[SVTCobra03]

“Get a Saiga 12 and you can enjoy a 20 round drum, not a measly 12 rounds in a tube magazine.”

Have you seen the MKA-1919? It doesn’t need a tromix conversion and the high cap mags are coming out soon.

[metalurgist]

How many shotguns should the homeowner have? (Most hold but six rounds.)

My 19" Saiga holds 20 rounds per drum.

[Squantos]

LOL...

[Twotone]

Interesting! I’m in OR & my instructor said to definitely say something, as they will know you have a carry permit as soon as they run your plate. Best to say you have it straight away. Not that I really want to...

[Smokin' Joe]

How many of these were sold at the behest of the BATF? Another 'operation'?

Sure, those of us who are looking down both barrels of a SHTF moment in this country's history are making sure we have what we think we may need, and maybe a little more, but I don't think we are the only ones in the market.

I have to wonder how much stimulus money has been sidelined into arming Obama's private army.

[CurlyDave]

I’m in OR & my instructor said to definitely say something, as they will know you have a carry permit as soon as they run your plate. Best to say you have it straight away. Not that I really want to...

The only time I have been pulled over in OR, it was for an expired license plate.

I said nothing, and the deputy didn't ask...

[Eagles6]

Stay away from the Taurus rimfires. They have an atrocious 12 lb double action trigger pull that can’t be lightened. S&W are very nice.

[Titan Magroyne]

>>> “My husband just got a semi-automatic and I realized today I was unable to rack it without difficulty.”

About that, are you employing the close-body rack, with forearms parallel to the ground and close in to the trunk? You brace your wrists against your body and use your firing hand to *push* forward of the slide, which you are holding steady in the support hand. This calls on the larger muscles of your core to compress the gun into rack-and-cock.

Not to slight any previous instruction you may have, but most guys don’t have to compensate for girlie musculature, racking the gun easily while holding it well out from their bodies.

With your concerns, you absolutely should fire a variety of rentals to find what suits you. If you buy with the notion of lightening the trigger pull later, make sure your model *has* a reliable modification available before laying down your money.