First Gun-what else to get?

I'll also second the 'extra mags' suggestion. I typically buy about a half a dozen when I buy a new pistol. The best indoor range around here charges by the hour. I like to spend as much of my time there shooting, rather than loading mags. I can do that at home for free.
 
Assuming you have a safe of some sort, you might want to find out if your homeowner's policy covers firearms. If not, get a rider that does. The cops are not going to look for your stolen weapon.
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With this being his first gun, most homeowner's insurance will cover a limited amount - typically ~$2500; plus an NRA membership will also give some coverage.
 
Kalinka63 said:
-range bag
-mechanics gloves
-ear protection
-eye protection
-dry caps to practice loading
-gun cleaning kit
-gun bore snake
-a couple of ammo cases
-speed loader
-paper targets
-small gun safe
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-range bag - agree. The secret here is to get the biggest one you think you will need....and one that will bear that weight well. Husky tool bags at Home Depot

-mechanics gloves - they are fine, but not sure how important...most folks shoot bare handed

-ear protection - Get muffs, but don’t get in over your head here. Most ear muffs are good enough. Consider adding foam plugs under your muffs. Avoid fancy ear plugs. Most add noth8ng and hurt.

-eye protection - look for glasses that meet Military PRF std. You really shoot have theses. If all else fails Uvex Genesis X2’s do this for about $10. ESS is a major .mil supplier and feel better, IMO.

-dry caps to practice loading - yes, most any dummy rounds will do, or actually I prefer to do with an empty gun. I actually hate dummy rounds as I only want to feel rounds going in the gun, when I’m putting live rounds in.

-gun cleaning kit -Cleaning kit from MidwayUSA
Description Status Price Quantity Total
U.S. Ballistics Gun Oil Bottle with Needle Tip 2 oz
Product #: 895165 Available $6.99 Quantity
 $6.99
Otis Gun Cleaning Brush Double Ended Nylon
Product #: 442544 Available Clearance
$1.87 Quantity
 $1.87
Steel Shield Weapon Shield Gun Oil 4 oz Liquid
Product #: 220438 Available $11.99 Quantity
 $11.99
Hoppe's #9 Bore Cleaning Solvent 2 oz Liquid
Product #: 554942 Available $3.99 Quantity
 $3.99
Pro-Shot Benchrest Quality Pistol Bore Brush 9mm 8 x 32 Thread Bronze
Product #: 738634 Out of Stock, Backorder OK $2.49 Quantity $2.49
MidwayUSA Gun Cleaning Patches 35 to 45 Caliber, 410 Bore, 28, 20 Gauge Square Cotton Package of 100
Product #: 426070 Available $2.99 Quantity $2.99
Pro-Shot Trace Eraser Spear Tip Pistol Cleaning Jag 38, 357 Caliber, 9mm 8 x 32 Thread Brass
Product #: 385274 Available $5.99 Quantity $5.99
Dewey 1-Piece Cleaning Rod 22 to 45 Caliber 9" Brass 8 x 32 Thread
Product #: 616296 Available $6.99 Quantity

 $6.99
$43.30

-a couple of ammo cases - LINK
-speed loader - LINK
-paper targets - yes
-small gun safe - good idea
 
The only thing I'd really add myself of the top of my head would be a pistol case, depending on what kind of packaging the Walther comes in. More and more guns seem to be coming in cardboard boxes nowadays, not exactly the best for transport. Looking around online, though, seems like it comes in a hard case so you shouldn't NEED to buy one. I know alot of guys transport them in the range bag (since many bags have dedicated pockets) but between Illinois's transport laws and my paranoia, I avoid that.

I like to upgrade to weatherproof style cases (Pelican, Plano's All Weather Line, Seahorse, etc.) for all of my guns, but that's more for peace if mind than actual necessity.

Oh, and I'll echo the extra mags suggestion. I like to have 4 per firearm minimum if I can, a few I only have 3 but I don't shoot those that often.
 
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Nathan said:
Good point...

LINK


Tool bag for range use...LINK
I don’t have tha5 one, but it looks good!
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Those Harbor Freight cases are really nice for the price. Just used one of the tan 3800s and some kaizen foam to make a case for my spotting scope.

index.php
 
New gun? You dont need much..

a holster
a cleaning kit
ear and eye protection
ammo

Whatever else you "need" will present itself. That last thing you need to do is buy a bunch of junk that you dont need.

I would be much more concerned with being squared away on use of force law

In addition, I would focus more on practical training and less on "stuff".
 
Kalinka63 said:
Greetings! I’ve been a member here since 2013, and finally ‘pulled the trigger’: took Maryland class, waiting for my HQL and permit, and ordered a Walther PPS M2!

I want to see what else I should get while I am waiting to pick up the pistol. I will use it for home self-defense (at least now I am not applying for a concealed carry in my state, although I am also waiting for my Utah CCW). Right now I have, or have ordered

-range bag
-mechanics gloves
-ear protection
-eye protection
-dry caps to practice loading
-gun cleaning kit
-gun bore snake
-a couple of ammo cases
-speed loader
-paper targets
-small gun safe

I have taken the NRA Basic Pistol class in 2013, and have been to gun ranges a few times in the last few years so I do have some experience, but plan on practicing a bit in the beginning.

Am I missing anything?
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I think the absolutely worst question to ask a gun nut is, "what else do I need"? The list can be endless! Gun nut's don't buy what they need, the buy what they think they can't do without! As I recall with my first gun I got the gun and a box of ammo! That was back in the late 1950's!
 
I would double up on hearing protection. Ear plugs and Ear muffs on top. I think it accelerates training especially for beginners because half the battle when learning is teaching your body to focus on fundamentals despite the noise, blast and recoil.

I still double up on hearing protection whenever I can because I'm in this for the long term game. I want to shoot a lot, shoot well, without becoming deaf.

Ammo. If you don't reload, ammo can get expensive. If I didn't reload I would get 1000 rounds of 9mm at a time, steel case because it's cheap. Or whatever deal you can find where prices are around $10 a box of 50 or so (or less). $12 and up is not a good deal. You might hear concerns about steel cased ammo, aside from being dirty and un-reloadable, more concern is on the rifle side of things with hotter gasses and even then the savings in ammo cost would equal replacing parts if anyone actually shot that much.

I'd ditch the gloves. if you need them there is something that should be addressed with your firearm or how you interface with it. You won't have gloves on during your self defense encounter.... Unless you like to wear gloves all the time! The PPS doesn't have particularly aggressive texturing, you'll be fine. You'll want targets too. And even you don't have a carry license for MD, I think you should get a holster and start practicing clean and safe draw strokes.

Good luck.
 
Thanks, round 2, for the hints.

I am pretty well covered legally, and do take training seriously enough that I will take a couple of courses or private instructions (I’ve already taken 2 of NRA’s courses but that was several years ago).

Good suggestions on the range bags. I am going to try Cabela’s $13 bag and see how I like it. I also have an old and somewhat tattered Billingham Camera Bag, quite versatile, which I might use when I am not going with anyone to the range (probably too small for 2 sets of ear and eye protection).

I also do appreciate the comments on ear protection, and suggestion to double up-it can’t hurt under normal circumstances.
 
Good suggestions on the range bags. I am going to try Cabela’s $13 bag and see how I like it. I also have an old and somewhat tattered Billingham Camera Bag, quite versatile, which I might use when I am not going with anyone to the range (probably too small for 2 sets of ear and eye protection).
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Give them a shot....long term they will most likely make you unhappy because they don’t handle the weight well.
 
For the money it's a nice case, the weight issue is ok, the bag is pretty well made and versatile, but the stitching for the zippers is relatively weak and I need to be careful about packing too much into the side pockets.

I would prefer a canvas bag but the next step is far more costly, and given that I won't be using the Cabela's bag very much I think that I can live with it.
 
dyl said:
I would double up on hearing protection. Ear plugs and Ear muffs on top. I think it accelerates training especially for beginners because half the battle when learning is teaching your body to focus on fundamentals despite the noise, blast and recoil.

I still double up on hearing protection whenever I can because I'm in this for the long term game. I want to shoot a lot, shoot well, without becoming deaf.

Ammo. If you don't reload, ammo can get expensive. If I didn't reload I would get 1000 rounds of 9mm at a time, steel case because it's cheap. Or whatever deal you can find where prices are around $10 a box of 50 or so (or less). $12 and up is not a good deal. You might hear concerns about steel cased ammo, aside from being dirty and un-reloadable, more concern is on the rifle side of things with hotter gasses and even then the savings in ammo cost would equal replacing parts if anyone actually shot that much.

I'd ditch the gloves. if you need them there is something that should be addressed with your firearm or how you interface with it. You won't have gloves on during your self defense encounter.... Unless you like to wear gloves all the time! The PPS doesn't have particularly aggressive texturing, you'll be fine. You'll want targets too. And even you don't have a carry license for MD, I think you should get a holster and start practicing clean and safe draw strokes.

Good luck.
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Good point on doubling up on hearing.

I took home my PPS yesterday, and after about five minutes of practicing loading, racking, etc. (with inert bullets) I remembered why I bought gloves years ago when practicing: My hands are somewhat weak (I often have trouble opening up plastic bottles of soda, for instance) and racking was borderline painful for me. I forgot that I didn't need the gloves for my firing hand so much as for the other hand.
 
Difficulty racking

Hey Kalinka,

Glad you got a chance to go out and shoot. I've been setting up a reloading machine so I've been engrossed in that.

Difficulty racking. There's a couple approaches to that problem. First would be technique since there's a few ways to rack a slide. Most folks (and me too sometimes) approach racking the slide with what is called the "slingshot grip". The fingers of the support hand are curled, and the slide is pinched between the curled index finger and the thumb. This grip is only ergonomic when the pistol is farther in front of you and is a bit weak. But I find myself using it when diagnosing a problem or want the hold the pistol far in front of me.

A stronger way is the overhand grip, where the pistol is brought close to your abdomen (finger off the trigger), and the fingers of the support hand fold down and clamp the slide between the palm and the fingers (except for the thumb). The shooting hand keeps a tight grip on the stock/grips, the support hand clamps down and stays still. Then the shooting hand "punches out" while the only job of the support hand is to stay still, gripping the slide. To be safe when on a range with others, you may have to turn sideways a bit as the muzzle will point to your left (if you're right handed) and you would be punching to your left.

Pictures over here https://www.corneredcat.com/article/running-the-gun/rack-the-slide/ Pax is/was (don't know if she's still here) a mod on the site and I always liked the website even thought i'm not much of a feline.

The second thing you may consider is get a strip of "talon grips" - not pre-cut or shaped in any way, just a small sheet. If you follow the instructions of prep (I think rubbing alcohol), application, then heating with the hair dryer again and pressing it down, they are surprisingly sturdy. I would cut a strip to place on the outside face of the slide towards the rear. What I mean by outside is, for me, I would not want grippy rubber on the side facing me if I would carry it. Of course if one side is inadequate you could always do the other too. I've tried other brands - you'll find cheaper brands on the big online store that sounds like....Bamazon. But some are a bit too tacky and irritate the skin, and also don't stick to itself, only directly to polymer. With Talon grips, I hear that you could even layer it so you could make a little pyramid effect that increases in width a little bit - as long as it's well supported enough. I've used it on a slippery hard-chromed pistol frame and it's stuck very well.

That should help with racking. There are lots of videos of the technique online, but here's one addressing arthritis / grip strength issues, technique is from 2:30 to 3:30 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6Ztjf3s2rU

Good luck.
 
Thanks, the suggestions are making raking more easily (and I think that I after putting through more rounds the gun itself will be more broken in)
 
Allot of ammo and a range membership to practice shooting whenever you get the chance. If there's no range in your area, ask around town what back country road is good for shooting.
 
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