Probably the most important thing to consider when buying a new gun is how comfortable does it feel in your hands when your holding it and when your shooting it. After you figure that out you can pick out caliber and brand. I have large hands so I bought a Ruger P89 9MM. It is accurate and it was only $350 brand new. It is a fairly large gun so if you are planning to obtain a CC license I would look at something a bit more compact.
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Looking to get a handgun
- Thread starter Simgar988
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The Luger is impressive in how good of a design it still is, despite its' age. The US military almost ended up with them in time for WWI, but politics pointed them towards the 1911 instead...
Living in a country where possessing a gun is illegal, this is making fascinating reading.
A couple of random questions - how much is a gun? What rules are there to owning a gun (apart from age, are there any? Can you just carry it around with you etc?).
A couple of random questions - how much is a gun? What rules are there to owning a gun (apart from age, are there any? Can you just carry it around with you etc?).
A handgun is anywhere from $300 to $1000 depending on caliber, manufacturer, ect...
There are some open carry states, were you can carry without a permit as long as the gun is visible, but most states require a concealed handgun license to carry. Laws vary depending on states.
http://www.nraila.org/GunLaws/
Google knows all of these things, or the Wikipedia article on US Firearms laws, which vary by state.
No, you can't just carry it around with you like you carry your balls. Like any tool, it has a specified use and it is best treated with respect. Learning how to use the tool is important, as is knowing how to use safely.
In the USA, in most places, owning a handgun/shotgun/rifle is legal provided one is not a convicted felon, mentally incompetent, on psychiatric medicines, or under a certain age. Most states require background checks to verify the aforementioned things. Some states (like Illinois), require registration with the state to get a permit to purchase a gun or ammo. Rules apply to carrying openly in public (which is allowed in very few places), carrying concealed on your person (difficult, but not impossible to get approved), and in some places you can only have guns openly carried on a range, in one's home, or on hunting grounds.
Guns range in price, buying used is nearly always cheaper. I got my Glock 17 9mm for 450 bucks, I got my Ruger Redhawk .44mag for 500 bucks, and my Ruger .22 Mark III for 300 bucks. Only the Mark III was bought new, and everything is in solid condition with plenty of goodies. New guns can range from 300 bucks to more than 4000, depending on features and so forth.
Wikipedia really does a better job of summing it up than I do.
There are two sets of laws, Federal and State. Sometimes there are local laws, but its not uncommon to see states houses preempt local authority in laws.
The Federal government sets the minimum rules, and the States can add to this up to a point. For example, I have a C-mag that holds 100 rounds of 5.56 mm NATO ammo. Under federal law this is legal, but in California, I would be breaking the law, but in Florida I would not.
Another example, if I have a Tax Stamped short barrel rifle, I would be fine under Federal law, and Florida law - but I would be in violation of Alabama law.
Its not too bad. If I wanted to, I could go to the store and get a gun within 1 hour and be back home.
Like others have said. Go to your local range. Most of them have guns you can rent. Try them out. You won't know what you like until you actually fire one.
Good luck and let us know what you end up getting.
Good luck and let us know what you end up getting.
Guns are mostly illegal in the UK, but many farmers will have shotguns. I grew up in the the Southwest of the UK with a shotgun in my dad's tool cupboard.
No he wasn't a farmer, and he didn't store it particularly well - I remember being able to get the shotgun out of the cupboard and looking at the box of shotgun shells when I was about 7 or 8 - but he was a pillar of the community
No he wasn't a farmer, and he didn't store it particularly well - I remember being able to get the shotgun out of the cupboard and looking at the box of shotgun shells when I was about 7 or 8 - but he was a pillar of the community
Quoting this one more time for emphasis. Find what suits you! Opinions are great, but there's no telling what you'll take to. My buddy who is the best shot I know hates SIGs. Another friend loves them. No way to know until you try.
I'll put on my NRA Instructor hat.
I'll leave the PRSI aspects of this to PRSI and the legal requirements and restrictions to your own due diligence.
First, find a course from a qualified instructor. I recommend Basic Pistol and/or Basic Shotgun, Personal Protection in the Home, and if you have no prior experience (or just want to "reset" your knowledge base), the FIRST Steps courses as appropriate. Above all else, you MUST ingrain safe and competent handling and usage, or else you're more a danger to yourself and others than without a gun. If you have doubts, consider less-than-lethal alternatives. I recommend the Kimber JPX as an outstanding self-defense alternative.
Second, find a range in your area that you feel comfortable with, and it may not be the closest one. Do the staff treat you with concern and respect, or are you treated as "not one of us"? Do they have a good selection of pistols, rifles, and long guns for rental? (BTW, solo rentals/range time is not an issue anywhere I've been). Consider a membership if they're available, as it can be a tremendous long-term savings if you frequent the range often.
Handgun or shotgun? Only you can be the judge of that, but in the likely scenarios that would necessitate the true need for it, a handgun is preferable, tbh. From a tactical sense, there are more options on cover & concealment, lighting, and on & on.
If a handgun, pistol or revolver? While a revolver is more "foolproof" mechanically, a pistol may offer an advantage in capacity, rate of fire, general personal accuracy under stress, and other factors. The bottom line is that the right gun is the one you are most comfortable with and can shoot the most reliably and consistently.
Listen to advice and suggestions, but view skeptically any that is presented as an "absolute" with regards to type, make, model, or even the fundamental choice of means of personal defense. These are all choices you have to make for yourself, and with full understanding of the consequences of those choices, morally, legally, and financially.
I've been a shooter for 35 years, with military, law enforcement, and civilian training and certifications, and have lost count of the number of firearms I've shot or qualified in. I've done tin-can time in the boonies all the way to national matches, and the one thing that has been consistent is that each time I've been under arms, I keep an awareness of what I've got in my hand (or on my hip). It's not something to be undertaken lightly, but it is also a tremendous sport and a skill that, once developed, is something that you can be extremely proud of accomplishing and further developing.
Good luck, and keep us posted! (BTW, pics of your qualifying target are always appropriate)
I'll leave the PRSI aspects of this to PRSI and the legal requirements and restrictions to your own due diligence.
First, find a course from a qualified instructor. I recommend Basic Pistol and/or Basic Shotgun, Personal Protection in the Home, and if you have no prior experience (or just want to "reset" your knowledge base), the FIRST Steps courses as appropriate. Above all else, you MUST ingrain safe and competent handling and usage, or else you're more a danger to yourself and others than without a gun. If you have doubts, consider less-than-lethal alternatives. I recommend the Kimber JPX as an outstanding self-defense alternative.
Second, find a range in your area that you feel comfortable with, and it may not be the closest one. Do the staff treat you with concern and respect, or are you treated as "not one of us"? Do they have a good selection of pistols, rifles, and long guns for rental? (BTW, solo rentals/range time is not an issue anywhere I've been). Consider a membership if they're available, as it can be a tremendous long-term savings if you frequent the range often.
Handgun or shotgun? Only you can be the judge of that, but in the likely scenarios that would necessitate the true need for it, a handgun is preferable, tbh. From a tactical sense, there are more options on cover & concealment, lighting, and on & on.
If a handgun, pistol or revolver? While a revolver is more "foolproof" mechanically, a pistol may offer an advantage in capacity, rate of fire, general personal accuracy under stress, and other factors. The bottom line is that the right gun is the one you are most comfortable with and can shoot the most reliably and consistently.
Listen to advice and suggestions, but view skeptically any that is presented as an "absolute" with regards to type, make, model, or even the fundamental choice of means of personal defense. These are all choices you have to make for yourself, and with full understanding of the consequences of those choices, morally, legally, and financially.
I've been a shooter for 35 years, with military, law enforcement, and civilian training and certifications, and have lost count of the number of firearms I've shot or qualified in. I've done tin-can time in the boonies all the way to national matches, and the one thing that has been consistent is that each time I've been under arms, I keep an awareness of what I've got in my hand (or on my hip). It's not something to be undertaken lightly, but it is also a tremendous sport and a skill that, once developed, is something that you can be extremely proud of accomplishing and further developing.
Good luck, and keep us posted! (BTW, pics of your qualifying target are always appropriate)
Just came across your post and skimmed it briefly, but here's some good suggestions points or what ever you want to call them
Do you have any sort of background/training with any sort of firearm? and if so how much experience do you ?
A 9MM is good but if you were to encounter someone brazen enough to break in and rob you / attempt to mame you they'll laugh. Buy a .40 or .45 cal. 9mm's have been proven in numerous tests for NOT having the stopping power.
You may think that having a gun next to the bed or concealed elsewhere is going to give you the extra courage if and when a break in happens most people cant unlock the safe the trigger guard or even load the weapon because there more or less ******** in there drawers. With out the proper training and building self confidence in YOU and knowing what to do and say , you'll become a statistic.
Laser sites are NOT worth it, night sights are far better, if I am coming down the hall way or hiding behind something and see that red or green laser and trace it back to the source I'll know your position in a second.
The best weapon for you to have as home security would be a pump shotgun with extended tube, 00 Buck shot.
Good Luck
"Stopping power"? Short of a 12 ga. solid slug, no common handgun will do what you're implying, and I doubt you can provide any "test" that proves otherwise. That's just so much urbanand moviemyth, real-world physics is a bitch. Shot placement is 99% of stopping someone, and it may take 1 or 11 to do it depending on that placement and the condition of the person being stopped. Remember, the Mob's used .22's very successfully for decades.
As far as aided sighting, lasers have two advantages: showing where the round will hit (sorta important), and providing a psychological deterrent (which has been proven, albeit mostly anecdotally, but also post-arrest for those that stuck around and survived). Any other sighting method (except for holographic red dot types) still has the fundamental problem of requiring you to establish a sight picture, which is less than ideal under stress. (I use neither, ftr).
The singular advantage of a shotgun is the relatively short penetration of shot, making it somewhat safer for your neighbors. From a practical point though, it's the last thing I'd want to use in a confined area. In fact, my own sense is that the use of a shotgun is more likely to engender improper and unsafe habits because of less deliberative effort generally used when employed.
Remember that the overwhelming majority of break-ins are conducted by someone who is not firearms trained, has no concept of CQB or cover & concealment, and does not anticipate being confronted by an armed resident. Their state of mind is not oriented towards combat, assuming they have anything resembling a sober state of mind in the first place.
As far as aided sighting, lasers have two advantages: showing where the round will hit (sorta important), and providing a psychological deterrent (which has been proven, albeit mostly anecdotally, but also post-arrest for those that stuck around and survived). Any other sighting method (except for holographic red dot types) still has the fundamental problem of requiring you to establish a sight picture, which is less than ideal under stress. (I use neither, ftr).
The singular advantage of a shotgun is the relatively short penetration of shot, making it somewhat safer for your neighbors. From a practical point though, it's the last thing I'd want to use in a confined area. In fact, my own sense is that the use of a shotgun is more likely to engender improper and unsafe habits because of less deliberative effort generally used when employed.
Remember that the overwhelming majority of break-ins are conducted by someone who is not firearms trained, has no concept of CQB or cover & concealment, and does not anticipate being confronted by an armed resident. Their state of mind is not oriented towards combat, assuming they have anything resembling a sober state of mind in the first place.
"Stopping power"? Short of a 12 ga. solid slug, no common handgun will do what you're implying, and I doubt you can provide any "test" that proves otherwise. That's just so much urbanand moviemyth, real-world physics is a bitch. Shot placement is 99% of stopping someone, and it may take 1 or 11 to do it depending on that placement and the condition of the person being stopped. Remember, the Mob's used .22's very successfully for decades.
As far as aided sighting, lasers have two advantages: showing where the round will hit (sorta important), and providing a psychological deterrent (which has been proven, albeit mostly anecdotally, but also post-arrest for those that stuck around and survived). Any other sighting method (except for holographic red dot types) still has the fundamental problem of requiring you to establish a sight picture, which is less than ideal under stress. (I use neither, ftr).
The singular advantage of a shotgun is the relatively short penetration of shot, making it somewhat safer for your neighbors. From a practical point though, it's the last thing I'd want to use in a confined area. In fact, my own sense is that the use of a shotgun is more likely to engender improper and unsafe habits because of less deliberative effort generally used when employed.
Remember that the overwhelming majority of break-ins are conducted by someone who is not firearms trained, has no concept of CQB or cover & concealment, and does not anticipate being confronted by an armed resident. Their state of mind is not oriented towards combat, assuming they have anything resembling a sober state of mind in the first place.
00buck works great, and as far as lasers, I stick to what I said, its like a placebo, warm and fuzzy.
It's great that you have your personal preferences and opinions, but on this topic I'd recommend not offering them as absolutes.
wow, just sat and read through this thread, i've learnt alot :O
firstly, you must understand i am from the UK so my gun knowledge is far from even sub-par.
So, you can buy handguns that shoot actual bullets but dont stop people? what do they do just like bruise their leg? i was always under the impression a handgun is a handgun, and no matter what bullet size, its still a lethal weapon :|
and secondly, in regards to firing a shotgun in the house... i dunno about you, and not that i have - but surely if you broke into someones house and you had a shotgun pointed at your face, you'd stop right there? i mean, i know they might be on drugs, but jesus... even then, you could still shoot them.
i do agree with from what knowledge i've gained from this thread that a shotgun does seem ideal, i mean not only would it maybe even scare someone off but im pretty sure its going to have some good stopping power to anyone that wants to wonder into your house.
Being a english resident, my home protection is a .22 air rifle with superpoint pellets, a samurai sword, a combat knife and a rounders bat aint got nothing on you americans :O
firstly, you must understand i am from the UK so my gun knowledge is far from even sub-par.
So, you can buy handguns that shoot actual bullets but dont stop people? what do they do just like bruise their leg? i was always under the impression a handgun is a handgun, and no matter what bullet size, its still a lethal weapon :|
and secondly, in regards to firing a shotgun in the house... i dunno about you, and not that i have - but surely if you broke into someones house and you had a shotgun pointed at your face, you'd stop right there? i mean, i know they might be on drugs, but jesus... even then, you could still shoot them.
i do agree with from what knowledge i've gained from this thread that a shotgun does seem ideal, i mean not only would it maybe even scare someone off but im pretty sure its going to have some good stopping power to anyone that wants to wonder into your house.
Being a english resident, my home protection is a .22 air rifle with superpoint pellets, a samurai sword, a combat knife and a rounders bat
aint got nothing on you americans :O
Real one, or a display model? My guess is a display model.
OP, as for a handgun, as JNB mentioned, get what works for you. Getting a 22 that you can handle and place shots accurately is probably more useful than a 45 that you can't aim and shoot accurately. To be effective, you have to hit the target. That is why some recommend a shotgun. Point and shoot in the general area.
Regardless of what you get, practice.
if by real one you mean, $14,000 authentic japanese katana, then no
however, if you mean fully tempered carbon steel, full tang cutting sword, then yes, a real one.
$14,000 is cheap.if by real one you mean, $14,000 authentic japanese katana, then no
however, if you mean fully tempered carbon steel, full tang cutting sword, then yes, a real one.
Also, a real one requires considerable care to maintain it.
As for your carbon steel one, no offense, but it's a joke. More than likely it will break on you if you need to use it and hit something solid. So I would not recommend trusting it as a home defense weapon. YMMV.
$14,000 is cheap.
Also, a real one requires considerable care to maintain it.
As for your carbon steel one, no offense, but it's a joke. More than likely it will break on you if you need to use it and hit something solid. So I would not recommend trusting it as a home defense weapon. YMMV.
mate... i have hit solid stuff with it aha, im pretty sure it would be alright
do remember you can stab as well... and $14,000 (US!?) is not cheap! jesus man. and yeah, i do maintain it 
Last time I checked, bullets stop people. Like the cop in earlier post said, it's about shot placement.
It's the people who don't know what they are talking about or who have a major jones for a bigger gun who say such trash about bullets not stopping people. And like another poster mentioned, it's not likely the crackhead breaking in will be wearing many layers of clothing, or anticipate all those layers (or a bullet proof vest) during a break in.
The theory that smaller guns don't stop people is about as valid as saying that driving drunk is safer because your body is more relaxed when you do hit another car or object, and you are less likely to break bones while in a relaxed, drunk state, therefore we should all drive drunk.
Authentic Japanese Katanas are very expensive.mate... i have hit solid stuff with it aha, im pretty sure it would be alright
For example, the one that my instructor has, which is a family heirloom, is valued around 500K US.