Bought a handgun shortly after the election

[Kaleva]

Last edited Sun Feb 26, 2017, 05:19 PM - Edit history (1)

I bought it for 3 reasons which I'll list below in order of importance:

1) I occasionally enjoy target shooting

2) The meth heads and prescription pill addicts are getting bolder and bolder around here where I live.

3) I think there's a chance, a very slim one, that this country might to to hell in a hand basket with Trump in the WH.

Edit: Reason #1, despite being primary, was never enough, in of itself, justification for me to purchase a handgun. Even when combined with reason #2, it still wasn't enough but adding reason #3 put it over the top.

Not having much money, being on SSDI and getting a small veteran's comp payment, I purchased a Rock Island Armory Model 200 38 special revolver for $243.00 and so far I'm very happy with it.

I'm saving up for a small handgun safe and until I get on, the live ammo is not in the house and only I know where it is. Once in a while, I go to an open area outside of town where people sight in their guns and I fire a dozen rounds or so at a target. At least 3 times a week and sometimes more, I do dry fire and reload drills, using snaps and speed loader strips, down in my basement for about 20 minutes. About half the time I dry fire, I do DA and the other half, I dry fire SA. My movements are much, much smoother compared to when I first started doing the exercises.

I plan on taking a CPL class at the end of April. Not so much so I can conceal carry but it will make transporting a handgun in a vehicle or have it on my person when riding my scooter much less of a potential hassle and I also want to take the class for the training.

[Paladin]

1. In discussing your new gun, do not under any circumstances talk about Reason No.3.

Not at the shooting area, not at any classes, not anywhere. Keep in mind that the shooting sports are heavily skewed towards the far right wing; your politics are nothing they need to know about. Stick to Reason No.2; everybody can safely relate to protection from meth heads.

[wincest]

5. its been

my experience that people at the range and firearm classes rarely talk politics, unless its firearms related.

[Paladin]

9. That's exactly what I'm saying.

"Firearms related" political talk is likely to involve right-wingers, either as participants or witnesses. No sense in taking chances, not in these times. Home protection is a safe, and generally honest alternative for such conversations.

[wincest]

2. im curious

why a 38 special instead of a 357?

[yagotme]

3. I'm guessing price, due to limited funds.

.38 is fine for close encounters, with proper ammo. +P ammo will work, and that .357 is pretty doggone loud, and harder to control in what I assume is a shorter (4" or less) barreled pistol. Have a RIA .45, is good quality, and accurate, don't know anything about their revolvers.

[wincest]

6. that makes sense

.38 revolvers are cheaper

btw whats it like to fire a 1911 chambered in 45? the only handguns i've fired are a .357 revolver, i shot both .38 and .357, and a glock 27 chambered in .40sw. because the glock was so light it was snappy like it wanted to jump out of my hands while the 357 was big and heavy so there was low felt recoil, there was very little muzzle rise.

i hope that made sense. still pretty new to shooting.

[oneshooter]

8. My Loving Wife uses a Colt LW Commander in 45 cal as her LTC weapon.

She is 5'4" and I taught her to handle the recoil in 3 months. Now she is scary accurate with it.

[yagotme]

12. If you've shot .357 out of a revolver,

the .45 shouldn't be a big deal. Slightly different recoil impulse than a .40 in a light auto, slower, maybe a little bigger push, but with a standard 5" barrel/steel frame to soak up some recoil, no big deal. Makes bigger holes in the paper, easier to see from farther out.

[Kaleva]

7. I think there's issues with firing a .357 in a small room without hearing protection.

Also, the older I get, the more recoil adverse I become.

There's several other reasons why I went with a 38 special instead of a 357 because I felt the 38 special fit my needs better. That may not be true in your case. Everybody's situation is unique.

[yagotme]

13. The .38 will be loud, too,

just not eardrum burstingly so. I wear hearing pro for everything now, to keep what I have. Well, .22 shorts out of a rifle aren't bad, but any handgun or any rifle round that exceeds the speed of sound, ear up.

Eh? What was that???

[yagotme]

4. Good start on the training and practice.

I have a RIA 1911, I like it, don't know anything about their revolvers.

On the ammo, once you get more confidence, you should keep at least a small amount of ammo on hand, otherwise you have an expensive bludgeon in case of scenarios #2 & 3.

[HeartachesNhangovers]

10. Since target shooting was your #1 reason ...

and because shooting is fun, I recommend 22plinkster's YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/user/22plinkster).

I think in the future I'm mostly going to be doing mostly 22 rimfire shooting since I like the precision of it, the guns are usually easy (and not super-expensive) to upgrade for excellent accuracy, and I don't like recoil or blast (although I still have 380 auto and 9mm carry guns that will continue to get regular practice).

[pablo_marmol]

11. My experience parallels yours somewhat.

When I was a kid, my Dad bought me a Remington bolt action .22 rifle......but I didn't develop an interest in putting together an AR. I ended up enjoying pistol shooting for many years, and it wasn't until I witnessed that scary, vacant look in W's eyes that I decided it was time for a "real" rifle.

[kudzu22]

14. Can't argue with your choice

or your reasons. I think everyone who decides to buy a gun has in the back of their mind somewhere the notion of the world going to heck. So, good for you. Practice with it, get comfortable but not complacent.

As for safes I have a GunVault which I recommend. Lets you keep it loaded yet have quick access to it, while keeping kids/others from getting to it.

[Alea]

15. My preference

Smith & Wesson Shield 9mm and Glock 43 although the shield prints less while carrying concealed and holds 2 more rounds. I love them both. Glock 19 for home defense.

Practice often

[Blue_Warrior]

16. NAA .22 mag black widow / Glock 43 are my two regular carries.

I also carry a Ruger LCR .357 (loaded with .38 special critical defense) when I can swing an ankle holster.

I like to collect and restore old firearms. I have a beautiful Marlin 30-30 with some handsome skinner sights on it. I also have a 1940s era Marlin 22 lever action that might be my favorite rifle of my collection.

[Kaleva]

17. Received my CPL a few days ago.

The class that fulfilled the knowledge and training requirement was held at the beginning of May. The lecture part was based on the NRA Guide to the Basics Of Personal Protection In The Home and was taught by an NRA certified instructor. There were 16 of us in the class. Eight men, three couples, and two elderly women. The lecture part was dry as it was review for me as I had studied the book when babysitting the grandkids during the time they were taking their afternoon naps. The shooting part at a nearby sandpit was fun and even though I've fired no more then 30 rounds with the revolver since I got it, I handled the gun with confidence because of the dry fire exercises I've done for weeks prior. Glancing at the others' targets, I dare say I was the best shot in my group of eight.

I plan on taking the blended Basic Pistol Shooting Course later this year. Blended meaning I am to complete the class room part and test on line. The shooting part is scheduled to be held on a Sunday at the range of a nearby sportsman's club.

For personal and self-paced live fire training, it's my intention to use the Winchester/NRA marksmanship qualification program's Pistol Course of Fire and later advancing on to Defensive Pistol I & II.

Edit: I have no intention of joining or donating to the NRA nor do I encourage anyone else to because the politics of that organization sucks but I am going to take advantage of the training it offers.

[yagotme]

19. Just try to find a "safety/shooting" course offered by Bloomberg, Watts, MAIG, HCI, whoever.

Everyone blasts the NRA, but they are the ones that offer actual firearms classes so firearm newbies don't shoot their foot off. Don't have to join or support the NRA taking these classes, other than the fees for the class itself, which most likely go to the range and instructor. There was another club brought up several months ago, a "liberal gun owners" club, but some bashed it, because they accepted those of any political slant. Sheesh.

[oneshooter]

18. You need to go to a DU aproved course

Check with the GCRA group and follow the recommendations.