A Week Later: Thoughts So Far

S

ScotchMan

New member
A week ago today my pistol permit came, and I've since acquired both an autoloader (Ruger SR9c) and a revolver (Ruger SP101). I've been to the range every day since I've had the guns. I have a S&W 342 on the way as well.

At first I thought I was a better shot with the SR9c, but now I'm finding if I take my time its much easier to hit well with the revolver. I also love that I don't have to chase the brass afterwards. It has less recoil with standard pressure loads, which surprised me since I thought autoloaders generally had less recoil, all other things equal.

Don't get me wrong, I love the SR9c too. It is more controllable in rapid fire, and I like the sights a lot more. It always seems to hit a little to the right, but I suspect that is me. I've only had one failure to feed, and it was with the cheapest Tulammo steel-cased stuff I could find; the round was chambered but the striker didn't go back all the way. I re-chambered it and it fired fine.

I've been finding 9mm locally for around 25-30¢ a round, and have a big order coming from USAAmmo for about 19¢ a round shipped. .38 is a different story, I haven't found it cheaper than 40¢ a round locally, even at our ammunition specialist with a huge warehouse. But USAAmmo has this for about 20¢ also, so I'm wondering why the disparity between online and retail when 9mm seems much closer? Especially now that I'm finding I might like shooting revolvers slightly more. One positive thing is the defense rounds I've chosen, Winchester PDX-1 147gr JHP for the 9mm and Winchester 158gr +P LSWCHP for the revolver, do help the revolver out cost-wise quite a bit; the 9mm defense ammo is over a dollar a round locally but the LSWCHPs are barely more than the lead round nose stuff I bought for practice. Another reason to gravitate towards the revolver I guess.

Finding it mighty hard to stop looking at guns when I'm in the stores...three should be enough, right? Right?
 
You made solid choices for your first two handguns... no, three will not be enough, but you're doing fine so far.

If you're going to shoot a lot (and that means different things to different people), you might want to look into reloading. .38 special is very easy to reload and the savings potential is big (my marginal cost to reload .38s is approx. 1/3 the cost of new rounds). You can recover the fixed cost of basic reloading equipment in 1,000-2,000 rounds. Plus, with the right powder and bullets, you can make very good approximations of your defensive rounds so you can practice to your heart's content for relatively low cost.

9mm isn't quite so rewarding to reload financially, but 50% off the price of new is still quite feasible. I use Berry's plated bullets for reloading 9mm.
 
Short answer: Never :D

3 might be enough for you, but then you might start looking at long guns, or accessories, its a sickness - it really is:D
 
Well, you'll need range fun guns, at least two different concealed carry guns, a hunting revolver, at least one 22lr gun... oh no... three probably won't be enough. Then, yeah, you'll need a bolt-action 22, a medium-power rifle like an AR or another bolt chambered similarly, a lever-action, a long-range full power rifle in. 308 or better, a shotgun.. just face it, your wallet is screwed. :-)
 
Finding it mighty hard to stop looking at guns when I'm in the stores...three should be enough, right? Right?
Click to expand...

As the saying goes you can NEVER have enough guns. My most honest opinion and I'm sticking to it. The only reason I have slowed way down on purchases is that the income has slowed way,way down. Almost so broke that I can't pay attention.:eek:
 
I am going to start reloading. Had a long discussion with a friend who does it today, and I ordered everything I need to get started. And I've been saving brass all along. With some basic rough numbers, I've figured out I can reload 9mm for about 13¢ a round compared with 20¢ new, and .38 for about 9¢ a round, which is a huge improvement.

I do have a .22 bolt rifle, didn't list that but I think I'm going to go shoot it tonight since its the only thing I still have ammo for! Or maybe I'll stop and get more 9mm on the way :)


That, and if you happen to be married, you might wanna spend a lil bit of gun money on a comfortable couch
Click to expand...

It's funny you mention that; my girlfriend (might as well be wife) wants a new couch, and every time I come home with a gun she confirms that I am still paying for half the couch when we buy it! Although I did get your inference; I hope it doesn't come to that.
 
Just start sleeping on the couch voluntarily.

My wife considers it a treat, to have the bed to herself; and I sleep better on the couch, anyway. (It helps smooth out some "rocky" situations, if you can make a preemptive strike.... ;))
 
Just start sleeping on the couch voluntarily.
Click to expand...

@FrankenMauser: Lol, you do that too?

I hope it doesn't come to that.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't think so, my fiance is pretty anti-gun, but she actually asked me to take her shooting two weekends ago. Then again last weekend. Now she wants her own:)

She still doesn't really care for them, but she likes doing things together and she appreciates the fact that one day I may not be there and she may need to know how to use what I have.
 
It's something I've been wrestling with. My girlfriend goes between wanting her own permit (I promised I'd give her a gun if she gets the permit, she wants the SP101 currently but I'd let her pick something else out if she so chose), and being afraid of guns and not wanting one. She's never been exposed to guns at all before me.

I travel a lot and she regularly complains that she isn't comfortable being alone in our house when I'm on the road. I've asked her during those times if having a gun accessible would make her feel better, and she's said yes. But when I took her shooting, she said the guns were so loud she would be afraid to use one without hearing protection. And she has an irrational fear of them just from not handling them much or knowing much about them. However, she doesn't like being "lectured" by me, which is how she feels when I try to address her concerns.

I know these are issues with logical answers (you won't hear the sound, its better than losing your life, etc), but she is just afraid of guns still. I would sign her up for a class (not taught by me!) but in NY you can't handle a gun without a permit, so this isn't an option yet. I know that the answer is just getting used to them and spending time at the range, but I can't force her to be as interested in this as I am. She has gotten comfortable with the idea of me carrying though. At night when we are watching television, I sometimes put my holstered gun on the table, and I think just seeing it there not going boom or doing anything evil is helping her.

I'm not yet comfortable leaving her with the loaded revolver out of the safe. I still catch her with her finger on the trigger once in a while (when we are at the range, or the guns are unloaded). But I do want her to become comfortable with it so she can feel safer when I am gone.

The plan for now is to slowly let it happen on its own, and not push, thereby making the whole thing negative in her mind. But its hard to be patient for reasons that are hard for my male brain to understand.

Women :confused: :)
 
I've figured out I can reload 9mm for about 13¢ a round compared with 20¢ new, and .38 for about 9¢ a round, which is a huge improvement.
Click to expand...

If you shoot lead you can get the 9 mm down to .10 per round
 
The plan for now is to slowly let it happen on its own, and not push, thereby making the whole thing negative in her mind. But its hard to be patient for reasons that are hard for my male brain to understand.
Click to expand...

Yup, let her do it on her own, maybe show her Pax's Cornered Cat website for some light reading.

Could you take her to a class in a different state that isn't so tight with the rules on handling? PA comes to mind
 
It might be a good idea to let her start shooting a .22. Many new shooters are bothered by the noise & recoil of the more powerful guns.;)
 
A 38 spl revolver is what I leave for my wife. She's not to gun savvy but shoots very well. The revolver is pretty simple in it's function. I feel good with that decision. Hopefully she keeps it put aside, but it's there.
 
Put her on the couch. What's the world coming to?

Umm, yeah, I'm recently divorced... what of it?
Click to expand...
She likes the bed. I like the couch.

She makes the money. But, I spend more than 10% of her yearly income on firearms (and related goods).

I'd say it's more than a fair trade. ;)
 
No 3 aren't enough. And yes you can save a bunch loading your own, espically if you use lead. The cheapest is to cast your own but if you are like me and somewhat lazy you can buy cast at pretty good prices. I've tried several different companies and have been satisified with most of them, latley I've been using missori bullet co and get good prices and very fast service. Enjoy
 
Sure, three guns are all you will ever want. Well, maybe 4. Or 40. Or 100. Or 1000. Or... Like the man said, a sickness. :)

Jim
 
You ain't even started yet

3 guns? Barely out the gate.
30 guns? Start thinkin' "Dayum! I got me some guns!"
300 guns? "Hmmm, what should I buy next?"

It's a sickness, son and you've got it.
Ain't no self help group for it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top