New to guns

[Max]

I've been reading through the threads on this forum, and have to admit, I'm lost with the technical terms and not quite finding what I was looking for.

I suppose I have a few basic questions, but am at a loss on where to look for reliable information. It's apparent that one of the things I'll need to do is actually visit a gun store, but I've got this belief that too many people see a woman that doesn't know much, so they'll try to snow me over. This is where knowledge comes in.

If I understand correctly, these are important factors:
1.) Purpose- What am I going to do with it and where will it be used?
My first inclination is for self defense, and learning familiarity. While I'm from Texas, I break the mold and have only been to a firing range to use a gun one time. It was a 9mm Sig that I was accurate with, but made my wrist hurt after repeated use. After my initial reluctance, I did become more and more comfortable with it, even after only about an hour or two.

2.) Size Now this is where some of the confusion sets in. I do know that for now, I want a handgun, not a rifle of any sort, and would like for the gun to be fairly compact and lightweight. As far as caliber, I'm not familiar with how this works or what the pros/cons are for different sizes.

Without saying, I will of course be spending time at a firing range for practice, and a gun safety course. I have a slight fear of guns because I have not learned how to use one safely yet. I want to remedy that and exercise my right to bear arms, without putting myself or others in unnecessary and potential harm. I've already begun looking into my state laws regarding gun use and ownership.

Is there anything that I am blatantly missing for consideration? If this is too broad a topic (which I'm sure that it is), does anyone have a link to a reliable source that covers this?

Thanks, Max

[Mischief]

New to guns?
Are you sure you are from Texas

[Max]

New to guns?
Are you sure you are from Texas

I know! I get ostracized all the time, and they'll often hide my spurs and 10 gallon hat when I'm on the horse trail, too.

Actually, I grew up in a major city, so that was never really an issue or common for the group I hung around with. It wasn't until recently, after much time and consideration, that I decided this is an important part of being a citizen, and if things go south in a bad way, I want to at least know what's what. Also, now that I live by myself, in a smaller, more rural town (although not completely so), on the edge of town, one can never be too safe or prepared.

[2dumb2kwit]

Without saying, I will of course be spending time at a firing range for practice, and a gun safety course.

It sounds to me like you have the important part covered.
A gun is just a tool. You just have to decide what job you want to do, and what works for you.

I'm sure that others here can give some good advice, but I would suggest finding a local shooting range, that rents guns. You can try different guns for a few bucks and see what you like.

Maybe someone here can point you to a GOOD range/gunshop in your area, that will help you with your purchase and training.

[Sourdough]

Maybe you need more than one gun...... The most important thing you need to know is NEVER CALL A MAGAZINE A CLIP. A clip is a clip, and a magazine.....never mind......

[Max]

The most important thing you need to know is NEVER CALL A MAGAZINE A CLIP. A clip is a clip, and a magazine.....never mind......

Isn't a magazine something used for fully automatic weapons, a la Rambo-style, while a clip is what's used in a semi-automatic handgun? Or am I totally wrong about the terminology? I guess I can just take the girly route and call it "those bullet thingies." That'll make everyone happy they let the girl come out and play.

@ 2dumb2wkit- That's some good advice on getting down which one works for me, but I dislike walking into situations where I have absolutely no knowledge. I suppose there's no harm in simply making my intentions known upfront, so they don't try to just sell me on something without actually teaching.

[SARKY]

Max,
I am an NRA certified handgun instructor. That being said, I've seen exactly what you are talking about, and not just by the sales people in the gunshops, but also by their boyfriends or husbands who really want a gun they like.
1: Is this gun going to be your baby (what I mean is will it be your gun only?)
2: Have you thought about a revolver?
Although the safety record on semiautos is much better than it was in the past, a double action revolver is in essence inert until you pick it up and pull the trigger. I doesn't rely on magazines (to hold the ammo, it doesn't take a lot of muscle to rack the slide). If you are unfamiliar with firearms, this is the safest option (the gun is stress and idiot proof). As to caliber, I would suggest a .357 magnum, why, because you can shoot .38 special rounds in it (which is cheaper and less punishing on you) and you still have the option of shooting .357 mag ammo. Double action revolvers are avilable in very compact sizes to monsters and in the .357 mag chambering they are available in 5, 6, 7, and 8 round capacities.
If you have any specific questions feel free to ask.

[Sourdough]

[QUOTE=Max;128823]Isn't a magazine something used for fully automatic weapons, a la Rambo-style, while a clip is what's used in a semi-automatic handgun? Or am I totally wrong about the terminology? I guess I can just take the girly route and call it "those bullet thingies." That'll make everyone happy they let the girl come out and play.


Unlikely you will ever encounter clips, so just learn to call them all magazines, or thingies.

Magazines: a four sided box, with a bottom, a spring, and a cartridge follower, used to hold cartridges.

Clip: a three sided metal spring enclosure, enclosing the back and both sides of the cartridge, it it used for rapid loading of "Blind" Box magazines, generally older military type rifles.

[2dumb2kwit]

I guess I can just take the girly route and call it "those bullet thingies."

Hey, wait...that's what I call them! LOL

@ 2dumb2wkit- That's some good advice on getting down which one works for me, but I dislike walking into situations where I have absolutely no knowledge. I suppose there's no harm in simply making my intentions known upfront, so they don't try to just sell me on something without actually teaching.

That's one of the good things about going to a range/shop and renting. You can see if they are helpful and educating, or BS artist. I think I can tell, from your post here, that you are smart enough to tell the difference.

If you rent at the range, don't be scared to try different calibers. Bigger calibers doesn't always mean harder kick. A big, heavy .45 may kick less than a super light .380. Also don't be afraid that a .380 doesn't have enough "stopping power" that some people will try to sell others on.
(A .380 in the brain, trumps a .44 in the arm, in my book)

I think the best thing anyone can do is get what suits them and learn how to use it. Then you will want something else, and something else, and before you know it, you'll have a collection started.

[crashdive123]

Max - you're received some good advice here. Don't be in a rush to purchase your first weapon. Take the classes you were talking about. I'll bet some of the beginer classes will provide a weapon for you to use as there are a lot of folks in the same situation as you are. Once you get some experience with a few different hand guns you'll have a much better idea of what you're comfortable with.

[Rick]

And I'd like to commend you on wanting to do it correctly. A lot of folks will go out and purchase "something" not knowing what they really want or need, how to handle it safely or how to maintain it.

I'm with Crash. Take the classes first. Talk to several gun dealers. You'll find one or two you like, that treat your with respect and truly do want to assist you.

[Max]

Thank you all for the sound advice. I'm noticing a trend of "one size does not fit all" and that there is a need to focus more on experience and learning before the actual firearm.

I wasn't aware that rental or on-site testing was a real option. If I thought trying on shoes was tedious, can't wait to see what this is like.

[Sourdough]

And I'd like to commend you on wanting to do it correctly. A lot of folks will go out and purchase "something" not knowing what they really want or need, how to handle it safely or how to maintain it.

I'm with Crash. Take the classes first. Talk to several gun dealers. You'll find one or two you like, that treat your with respect and truly do want to assist you.

When you have done all your research, just ask and I'll tell you what to buy...

[sgtdraino]

It's apparent that one of the things I'll need to do is actually visit a gun store, but I've got this belief that too many people see a woman that doesn't know much, so they'll try to snow me over.

I would also suggest you visit a gun range where you can rent various different guns and try them out, to see what seems to work best for you. It's hard to tell what you will do best with, without actually shooting it first.

1.) Purpose- What am I going to do with it and where will it be used?
My first inclination is for self defense, and learning familiarity.

When you say self-defense, are you talking about home-defense only, or carrying the gun with you when you are out and about?

If the gun is for home defense only, for inexperienced ladies I always recommend a pump-action .410 guage shotgun. Very simple to use, not too heavy, effective stopping power, variety of ammunition choices, and you don't have to be super-accurate.

It was a 9mm Sig that I was accurate with, but made my wrist hurt after repeated use. After my initial reluctance, I did become more and more comfortable with it, even after only about an hour or two.

Personally, as a personal defense weapon, I would recommend nothing smaller than a 9mm or a .38 special.

2.) Size Now this is where some of the confusion sets in. I do know that for now, I want a handgun, not a rifle of any sort, and would like for the gun to be fairly compact and lightweight.

Two things to consider: The smaller and lighter the handgun is, the more it is going to hurt your hand, and the harder it will be for you to be accurate with it. Conversely, the bigger and heavier a handgun is, the more likely it is that you will get fed up with lugging it around with you all the time. It is surprising how much heavier a gun can feel after you've lugged it around for hours, compared to when you held it in your hand for 5 minutes at the gun shop.

My advice is that you get the smallest and lightest handgun you can find that you are able to shoot accurately consistently. If you have to use the gun to defend yourself, you are probably not going to get a chance to shoot it enough times for your hand to get tired out.

As far as caliber, I'm not familiar with how this works or what the pros/cons are for different sizes.

Generally the bigger the bullet, the better it will be at stopping the bad guy... but the harder it will be on your hand to shoot it, or be accurate with it. Also, the bigger the bullet, the more expensive it tends to be. You'll need to buy ammo to practice with, so that needs to be a cost consideration. Calibers that are more commonly used are generally cheaper to buy, and easier to find... although right now just about any ammo can be expensive and scarce. The most common handgun calibers, from (approximately) least to most powerful, are:

.22 Long Rifle (teeny cheap bullet, probably too small for your needs)
.38 Special (A revolver bullet roughly similar to 9mm)
9mm (Semi-automatic bullet of moderate power)
.40 S&W (Slower than .357 Magnum, but a bigger bullet. Can be a handful)
.357 Magnum (More powerful version of .38 Special, can be a handful)
.45 ACP (Big bullet, slow moving. Generally easy to shoot)
.44 Magnum (Big bullet, very fast moving, definitely a handful)

A .357 Magnum revolver can also fire .38 Special.

Revolvers are simple to operate, very reliable, and are an excellent choice for beginners. Generally the ones you would be considering are either "double-action," or "double-action only." This compares to "single-action," what you might think of as a "cowboy gun." With single-action, you must first pull the hammer back with your thumb, then press the trigger with your finger to shoot it. With double-action, pressing the trigger will pull the hammer back for you, as well as shoot the gun... but it is harder to press the trigger with your finger, and the trigger will need to move farther before the gun will shoot. Regular double-action revolvers let you choose between using it single-action or double-action. Double-action only revolvers will only allow you to use it in double-action mode. This is significant because it is much easier to be accurate with a revolver by using it in single-action mode. It is harder to be accurate using it in double-action mode, because of the longer harder trigger pull. However, in a self-defense situation, you will probably only have time to use it in double-action mode. So, when you try out a revolver, make sure that is how you practice with it, and see if you can shoot it accurately.

Semi-automatic handguns can also be very simple to operate, but are not as "fool-proof" as a revolver. Generally they can hold more bullets, and can be fired more quickly with greater accuracy. They can be very reliable, but with semi-autos brand and model becomes more important, because poorly-made ones are not reliable at all. They can also be complicated to take apart, clean, and put back together. Once again this depends on the gun, though. Some are very simple. For your purposes, I would probably recommend either a Glock 19 in 9mm, or a Springfield XD Compact also in 9mm. However, those are both pretty expensive guns.

Which brings us to price-range, which is another important consideration that may determine what you can get. I would definitely recommend going with a good used firearm, if you can find one.

Without saying, I will of course be spending time at a firing range for practice, and a gun safety course. I have a slight fear of guns because I have not learned how to use one safely yet.

The Cardinal Rules of Firearms Safety:
1. All guns are always loaded.
2. Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy.
3. Keep your finger off the trigger and outside the trigger guard until your sights are on the target and you have made the decision to shoot.
4. Be sure of your target and beyond.

[Max]

@ sgtdraino- Awesome information! I'm feeling better and better about my visit the gun store.

You guys rock.

[Ole WV Coot]

Max,
I am an NRA certified handgun instructor. That being said, I've seen exactly what you are talking about, and not just by the sales people in the gunshops, but also by their boyfriends or husbands who really want a gun they like.
1: Is this gun going to be your baby (what I mean is will it be your gun only?)
2: Have you thought about a revolver?
Although the safety record on semiautos is much better than it was in the past, a double action revolver is in essence inert until you pick it up and pull the trigger. I doesn't rely on magazines (to hold the ammo, it doesn't take a lot of muscle to rack the slide). If you are unfamiliar with firearms, this is the safest option (the gun is stress and idiot proof). As to caliber, I would suggest a .357 magnum, why, because you can shoot .38 special rounds in it (which is cheaper and less punishing on you) and you still have the option of shooting .357 mag ammo. Double action revolvers are avilable in very compact sizes to monsters and in the .357 mag chambering they are available in 5, 6, 7, and 8 round capacities.
If you have any specific questions feel free to ask.

The man gave excellent advice without a lot of BS you don't need. I only noticed one thing that wasn't pointed out. A semi-auto, which you mentioned "bothering your wrist" no matter what caliber could possibly cause you to "limp wrist" when firing causing the pistol to jam. I also taught and know you have lots of questions. The language you will pick up, just remember revolver first then I am positive SARKY can give you all the answers you need. You don't need to be baffled with "brilliance", when I taught it was one day safety before we started handling live ammo. Like the man said, I had everyone "get to know" their firearm first and everyone and I mean everyone shot a 38cal revolver with me looking over their shoulder, always safety first.

[brush beater]

Max,
I am a police firearm instructor with my department and you should consider everything that has been posted, there is a lot of good information and no BS.

I wanted to bring this up for informational purposes though. Being new to firearms is both an advantage and a disadvantage. The advantage is that you may not have the " I am a firearms god" mentality and that means you don't have any bad habits deeply seated into your brain. This means that if you get good training from the start you will not have to unlearn all of the bad later on.
The disadvantage may be that it will take you a bit longer to learn how to make the weapon an extension of yourself (i.e. pointing your own finger).
You should also think about the adrenaline factor of having to use the weapon in real life.
The more adrenaline in your system means less finite motor skills (small hand or finger dexterity) that will be available to you.

At the initial stage of firearms manipulation you should pick a weapon that does not have all of the high speed bells and whistles (decockers and safeteys) that some of the high end.
I recommend a Glock or a good revolver because a revolver has no safety (besides your own brain) and a Glock has 3 safety mechanisms that do not require any more manipulation than putting your finger on the trigger. To use either one you need only to put the sights on target and press the trigger and to put it back in the holster all you have to do is put it back into the holster and it is "safe" and ready to go again when called.

When buying a pistol us this simple exercise to see if you are comfortable with a specific weapon.

1. pick up the weapon with both hands, strong hand on the weapon and the other hand around the other
2. alingn the sights in a comfortable stance
3. lower the weapon and close your eyes.
4. raise the weapon and when you think the weapon is back to your eye level and on target...open your eyes.
The less you had to re-adjust to reaim the weapon the more comfortable you are with its design and natural alignment in your hand.

One more thing as far as bullet caliber I think at least a 9mm or .38 should be sufficient.
Most people think that a .45 is the cure all for taking down a man with one shot because it is a bigger round.
Consider this: .40 cal is only a shortened 10mm casing and a .45 is only about 11mm
So there is only about 1-2 millimeters of lead seperating a 9mm from a .45 cal.
I think that ammo type and shot placement trump the size of the projectile.
Magazine capacity is also a factor a 9mm can hold as many as 15 shots and most .45s pack about 8-10. Less magazine changes equal more time with you and your weapon in the fight.

[brush beater]

I forgot to give you a good reference.
Suarez International is a great site and it has a monthly e-mail news letter that is packed with good information and training opportunities.

[crashdive123]

Good information Brush Beater. When you get a chance head on over to the Introduction section and tell us a bit about yourself. Thanks. http://www.wilderness-survival.net/f...splay.php?f=14

[Sourdough]

b.b. I think I am going to enjoy having you around, and welcome to the party.