I just held a Ruger 357 Magnum (GP100)

[lost-in-nj]

with a 4" barrel






AND a Springfield Armory Mill spec 1911

A1


NOT LOADED

I like the A1 better...

felt very nice in my hands....

the 357 was cool to


think I might take lessons
would like to feel the recoil

my son is a Distinguished Expert in the NRA he has some Riles and handguns

he was cleaning these


WTF???


lost

[lost-in-nj]

1. GUYS I AM......... dirty harry.....

:rofl:

Don't believe me!!!!???



:*

lost

[Inchworm]

2. Just be careful and listen

Gun shootin' is fun stuffs!

I'd prefer you start with a .22, a block of shells, a FEW beers on the front porch.

Hope all is well, Chicky.

:hug:

:hi:

[lost-in-nj]

3. LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!

so will you teach me??
I will start drinking cans :rofl:

:shrug:
and what do you consider a "FEW" beers????


:hug:

lost

[Flaxbee]

4. honestly, for me, they are totally repulsive

a boyfriend took me to a shooting range once, and I just found it really boring and did NOT like holding a gun. DID NOT. I know many people do, but to me they are just terrifying.

My sister had to take professional lessons for dealing with large wildlife, though - she's a large wildlife vet and while her mission is to save the animals, if you're getting charged by a polar bear, sometimes you have to know how to shoot. Not handguns, though.

:hi: lost!

[lost-in-nj]

9. I have shot 2 guns

once
we went skeet shooting (don't know what kind)
I got 9 out of 10... 25 years ago

and when I was a volunteer at the PAL for the rifle club I shot a .22


:hi:


lost

[flvegan]

5. The 1911 A1 is a much better firearm.

I have one. Colt Officer's Compact.

[lost-in-nj]

7. it felt really

comfy in my hand it was scary....

my son said he would take me the next time he goes shooting....

not a gun freak

but I think we all will need to be a little firearm savvy

thanks for the input


:hi:

lost

[Redstone]

6. Not to try to bring down your post, LINJ, but I have to tell you that guns are a LOT

less fascinating when you've had the experience of being shot.

Really, it does take all the glory and romance and "feeling of power" and other miscellaneous kicks out of the whole concept, once you've been on the receiving end.

(End of rain on your parade.)

Redstone

[lost-in-nj]

8. no down time or rain

I hope I never have to experience that

:hug:

Redstone I am so sorry
I like to hear both sides of the story

I just have the feeling we all will need to be
gun smart in the near future......

as scary as that sounds...

hope you and your family are doing great!!!

how is that beagle BTW??? :)

lost

[pokerfan]

10. The M1911 is amazingly ergonomic

It's hard to believe that the design is almost a hundred years old.

If you've never fired before, I would start with the Ruger with .38 Special rounds before moving up to .357.

[puerco-bellies]

11. Me and Ali are going to get a M-1911.

We spend a lot of time in the mountains of New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Nevada. When we talk to mine owners out there, they are amazed that we don't have firearms with us when we prospect. I always thought I could handle a unlikely mountain lion confrontation but they say we have just as much to fear from highgraders (people who steal from claims).

Before we head out to the high country next spring we will have purchased a sidearm. I want the 1911 because it is what I used in the Navy. I can hit anything within 50 yards, and if I have to fire, the 45 will stop whatever threat comes along.

[Lasher]

13. That's pretty good shooting.

I qualified with the M1911A1 when I was in the Army and have one right here beside me. I got the military pistol belt for it too, just for grins. I still do right well but I sure wouldn't say I could hit anything within 50 yards with it.

[old mark]

12. The Ruger is a .357 magnun, and will have a greater amount

of blast and recoil.
I have been shooting handguns for nearly 50 years (boy are my arms tired)
and I do not enjoy shooting most .357 magnums. I have 4 handguns that use the .45 ACP right now.
I'd go with the .45.

mark

[Fire Walk With Me]

14. Lost is now an honorary "Bikini Girl with Machine Gun(s)"

Rowr!

[Iggo]

15. I've never fired a .357....

...but I can tell you from experience that the 1911 will try to rip your arm off iffen yer not careful. (I wasn't.)

[pokerfan]

16. Seriously?

I've never found .45 recoil to be that bad including firing it from fairly small pistols (including the Colt Officer's model mentioned above). I suppose it depends on the load. The .357 does have much more recoil, especially from a medium frame such as the GP100 mentioned in the OP. I'd rather fire a .44 in a large frame than a .357 in a small/medium frame. That said, a buddy of mine has a .454 Casull which I've never quite worked up the courage to fire.

[Iggo]

17. I was a skinny little 12 yr old...

...with no respect for the firearm and I was a little casual with my posture. I had just got done firing my friend's dad's M1 carbine and I thought I was hot shit. I was sad for days afterward.

[pokerfan]

18. Oh well, that's different

Glad that it wasn't a .357. You would have been sad for weeks.

[bridgit]

19. ## PLEASE DONATE TO DEMOCRATIC UNDERGROUND! ##

:spray:

[krispos42]

20. The ergonomics of the 1911 very good.

The grip angle, by and large, is used by most firearms makers, and the controls are well-placed. And the crisp, straight trigger pull is prized for it's lightness and crispness.

However the GP100, like all double-action revolvers, is much easier and simpler to operate, load and unload, etc.

Plus, you can put mild .38 Special ammo in the GP100 for shooting practice instead of the spicy .357 Mag stuff.


Plinking is fun, especially if you can find a target range that lets you shoot things like old soda cans and clay pidgeons. See if you can start out with a .22 revolver first. Cheap ammo and almost no recoil.


Man, I spend many afternoons at the rifle range in South Dakota. 500 rounds of .22 ammo for $10.99, a $2 range fee, and $.99 to fill up my garbanzo-sized mug with Diet Pepsi make for an afternoon of entertainment!



I think that here on DU owning a gun or not is seen as some kind of political statement. It can and should, however, be much more as part of a enjoyable social activity that requires skill and concentration.