Do you make recommendations to your friends?

A

aarondhgraham

New member
I get asked this a lot,,,
What pistol should I buy?

This isn't a bad question,,,
To many of my young friends,,,
I'm the only "gun guy" that they know.

I'm always a bit leery of giving them a specific recommendation,,,
I am always afraid they will get a lemon and blame me.

Last week a friend asked,,
"What's a good gun if I get my carry permit?"

I told him to get the CZ-Rami BD that is currently at the Evil Pawn Shop,,,
When he asked me why, I said because I don't own one,,,
And surely you would let me shoot it occasionally.

He chuckled, bought me a beer, and asked,,,
"So. What is a good gun if I get my carry permit?"

I told him we need to take a trip to H&H gun store in Oklahoma City,,,
We'll find a good one you like, can afford, and fits your hand,,,
Bring a $100.00 bill for rental fees and ammunition.

What do you do when this comes up?
Recommend a specific gun or say lets go try some?

Aarond
 
I like your approach.

I've had this happen to me three or four times over the past year.

"What pistol shold I buy?"

"Well, what are you doing Saturday afternoon? Come with me and we'll try out half a dozen of mine plus whatever they have available at the range. We'll see what fits your hand, fits your budget, fits your needs, and shoots where you point it."

It's been fun getting friends involved in shooting.
 
Sure, isn't that what friends do? I tell them why, and that they should try if reasonable. I may even offer one of my guns or to take them to the range to try.

If one buys what I recommend and does not like it, that's just the way the cookie crumbles. I had rather try to help than to be leery.
Regards,
Jerry
 
I try to gauge that answer based on what I know of the person. Do they like revolvers over semi? Do they handle big calibers well? Male or female? What is their body frame type? I then give them a short list of guns that they should go and check out at a gun store and if they find one that they like, try and find one to rent and shoot it.

I don’t tell them to go out and by this model or that brand. I will tell them what my personal experience has been if I happen to own one of the guns they are interested in but that’s as far as I will go in regards to influencing a decision.
 
I often take them to the range,,,

I have a variety of handguns ranging from mouse guns to magnum revolvers,,,
So if they are really serious I offer to take them shooting to try em out.

If for some reason they can't or won't take the time to go shooting,,,
Then I write a list of three guns I think would suit them,,,
And a short list of brands I recommend they avoid.

Then I remind them that my list is not the definitive choice,,,
In short I insert a lot of "waffle words" for deniability. ;)

I really do want to help new hand-gunners,,,
I just hate taking blame for anything out of my control.

Aarond
 
I'm known as the gun guy at work. People frequently ask me "what is a good gun". My standard reply is "tell me exactly what you intend to do with said gun". I tell them that guns are like cars in that there is not one single car that will fit everyone's needs.
 
I'm also "the gun guy" at work, as I'm sure many TFLers are. My situation may be a little different, because I work for the city, though. That means that most of my co-workers also have ~700 other "gun guys" that they can ask about guns . . . our police officers. Still, I do get a few questions, and I ask the same questions that you folks probably do:
1) What do you plan on doing with it?
2) How much experience do you have?
3) Do you have any ideas about what you want?

From there, I invite them to the range, advise them to go rent some guns & give them the best information I have.
 
I will give them some info ...but most of the guys that ask this question want a 30 sec answer ...not the 3 minute one ...

and at the end, I always suggest they call me - and we arrange a few hours at a local range, where I'm a life member, and they can shoot some of my guns ...and rent 60 or 70 different guns ...if there is something they want to try.

Shooting a gun / is way different than talking about it.

I went thru this with my CPA recently ---he has a Glock - that he hates. We went to the range / fired every 9mm they had in the rental case ...Sig, Beretta, XD's ....and he fired 3 of my 1911's in 9mm - the one he liked was a Wilson Combat 5". He called me a few months ago ...and got the specs off my gun ( Protector, all stainless ) and he ordered one just like mine ...and he should have it in a few weeks.

Sometimes I've followed up with guys ...and they've never purchased a gun ...they were just curious. Some guys bought one - 3 yrs ago --- and haven't been back to the range to shoot it since...like an acquaintance that bought a Beretta 92...I just saw him yesterday, told him to call me when he wants to go. I go to the indoor range ...2 or 3 times a week for a few hours/and he's never called ...and he won't this time either.
 
I tell them that picking a handgun is not a choice, it is a series of choices: revolver vs. pistol, caliber, size, weight, safeties. If they are serious and want to be educated, fine; if they are looking for a one-size-fits-all answer, we all know it doesn't exist.

I usually end by offering to accompany them to a gun shop, telling them "I love spending other people's money!" Don't get too many takers on that, for some reason.
 
If they are a REAL friend I take them to the range with all my guns and let them try them out…


If they are an acquaintance I send them to Carter’s Country.
 
I'll make a recommendation, but only after asking sufficient questions to ascertain what type of handgun would fit their needs and wants best. A simple "what gun should I buy" just isn't enough information to make an informed recommendation on.
 
I went through this very issue with my father, he wanted to buy a hand gun for the house, My dad years ago was in the service. Since then he has shot a gun maybe 5 times. So I did go through all of the above questions:
1.) What is it for?
2.) Will you plan on carrying it?
3.) Do you want revolver or Semi-Auto?
4.) How much do you want to spend?
5.) Does it fit your hand, and if possible do you like the way it shoots?

I also took both my Mon and Dad to the range, had them try most of my guns. Dad really liked my Sig P220 with Crimson Trace laser grips on it, he was able to keep good groups with it. Everything else Dad shot not so much. Most of that was just practice.

I also took dad to a local Gun show; by that point Dad had narrowed the search down to a 357 magnum, since he used to own one. Dad got a GP100 and had the Crimson Trace laser grips added to it as well. Overall I though he made a good choice, a good solid revolver; it shoots well, Dad does need practice with it, and the Crimson Trace will help with the practice. Since the weapon was going to be mostly for home defense, with aging eyes, Dad will be able to see that dot inside a house. I also advise to practice just aiming it at least once a week for a few minutes at a time; and practice dry firing it as well.

This process from when he started looking to when he bought was about a month or so. I enjoyed this time, so it was not a waste. Would I have bought what Dad bought nope, because it was not for me at that particular time. But that is why no one answer will fit everybody. Each person is going to have their own needs and tastes. :)
 
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I lend them a book, tell them to take a class with someone other than me, and then am happy to discuss guns with them later...
 
Take 'em shooting!
Bring a:
DA/SA auto (Sig 226)
Striker auto (XD)
Pocket auto, not for the recoil sensitive, tho (PM9 or small 380)
Large frame revolver
J frame revolver

Then you have the main configurations covered. They can start exploring from that point.

If they are young, only bring one revolver for the experience. Young shooters don't seem too thrilled by wheel guns - too old school :D
 
I liked Doyle's answer:

I'm known as the gun guy at work. People frequently ask me "what is a good gun". My standard reply is "tell me exactly what you intend to do with said gun". I tell them that guns are like cars in that there is not one single car that will fit everyone's needs.
Click to expand...

I also include the information I have amassed over 40 years of shooting, . . . and am not bashful about telling them the good points I know, . . . and the bad points I know.

I figure I am giving them information that I know to be correct, . . . because we are friends, . . . if they have to get the question answered at a gun store, . . . the answer may be colored by what is in stock / what makes the most profit / what looks like the most they could squeeze out of my friend.

May God bless,
Dwight
 
Unless it's some new just on the market model, I can usually find info on how well a certain gun works and what it's dirty laundry is. I'd rather give information than recommendation and let the buyer make their own decisions. I've even gone as far as doing bullet expansion tests to show the difference between cartridges.
 
I try to avoid recommending specific firearms or brands.

I will ask them why they are considering a purchase (recreation/home defense/concealed carry/hunting/etc.) and then ask them if already they have something in mind.

If what they are already considering is a reasonable choice then I tell them so and leave it at that.

If what they are considering is a really poor choice or if they don't have any idea where to start looking then I'll give them a general idea of what basic type of gun might serve their purposes.

If they press me further then I will make more specific recommendations but I try to give them a number of options to give them room to exercise/express their personal preferences. I also always recommend that they at LEAST handle an example of any gun they're considering purchasing and that they shoot an example if at all possible.
I told him we need to take a trip to H&H gun store in Oklahoma City,,,
We'll find a good one you like, can afford, and fits your hand,,,
Bring a $100.00 bill for rental fees and ammunition.
Click to expand...
Excellent approach.
 
Do you make recommendations to your friends?
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The best favor I can do for my friends is to educate them enough so they can make their own decision. I offer all the help I can and answer all the questions they have. And above all, I go with them to the gun store so a salesperson working on commission sales does not sell them something they can't handle or a gun that is otherwise not the proper gun for what they want to do with it.
 
Been asked this a few times, I ask them what are they looking to do with it (home defense or range gun or both) then tell them to find something that fits their hands and that they can operate the weapon (trigger, slide stop, mag release, safety) at a range then go rent it and see how if feels when they shoot it. I will usually let them play with my glock 23 for a little bit to see how they like the size and go from there.
 
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