Hello, a few questions from someone looking to get into firearms.

V

Vfib

Inactive
So, this will be my first post, so if this isn't the right area, please let me know.

To start off, I'm very limited in my knowledge of firearms and related practices; my parents and their parents didn't grow up around guns, and thus, neither did I. The most experience I have with firearms is shooting a .22 rifle and handgun at my grandparent's a few years ago.

I'm currently 19, and I'm looking at purchasing a firearm for self defense, and being able to go to a range and shoot. I was looking at purchasing a Glock 27, as it would be small enough for me to easily concealed carry.

So, with that, I have a few questions:

1. Do you have any tips for someone who doesn't have much experience with firearms, and would like to get into them?

2. Do you have any good resources for new shooters?

3. Is the Glock 27 a good handgun to use for concealed carry?
 
Shooting, like most sports is a 'hands on' learning experience.

My best advice is to find somebody to take you shooting and see how you like it.

Also find a range that has classes you could take to educate you on shooting and very importantly the laws regarding firearms.

To show how things have changed, when I was about 13 I could join the YMCA and shoot .22 rifles at their range.
 
Learn the four basic rules. Memorize the four basic rules. Follow the four basic rules. Then begin your training at a safe place (like a gun range) according to the four basic rules.

Oh, what are the four rules you ask? 'Ere ya go. Stay safe and remember, the way you train/are training will be the exact way you fight when the SHTF.

All the best.
 
Congrats in your decision to enter the firearms family. First thing im concerned with is your age. I believe in most states (maybe all) you have to be 21 to buy a handgun. Also 21 to have a CCL. There may be some states that differ. Ask around for legality in your state.

As far as a good defensive gun, there are many. I would suggest a 9mm caliber if u are new to shooting. You should have no issue with controlability and ammo is dirt cheap.
 
You might want to consider a .22 bolt action for your first rifle, and a .22 revolver for your first handgun. Millions of shooters over the past many generations started this way.
 
Lessons, practice, more lessons, more practice. You will need to follow your state's laws regarding concealed carry.
 
Yup, CCLs and handguns around here are 21 from most stores, but I can also open carry/buy a handgun from a private dealer after 18.
 
Since you don't have a lot of experience with handguns, I would suggest your first one be something a little larger in size and a little smaller in caliber.

A Glock 19 is a good carry gun and 9mm is a better round than .40 cal to start off with. Less recoil, more controllable, and ammo is less expensive. Even a Glock 26 would be a better choice than the 27 for your first handgun. JMHO.
 
If you think you want a subcompact Glock, I think the 26 is a better choice than the .27, especially for a new shooter. .40 S&W has a particularly snappy recoil in a gun that size. It's also more expensive per round (less training) and has a lower capacity.

If you go with the 26 instead of the slightly larger 19, I suggest also getting an aftermarket magazine that extends the grip. You can pretty much only get two fingers around the stock 26/27 grip.

Glocks are not my favorite handguns by a good measure, but they work well and will serve you well. Should be easy to find on the used market also.

I would advise you to take part of the money you are going to spend on your gun, and use it to get some training from a reputable firearms instructor who can teach safety and self defense. That's especially important for open carry. You should also look into a retention holster like the Safariland, a couple extra magazines, and a good amount of ammo - FMJ for training and a couple boxes of good hollow points for self defense.

You don't have to buy it all right away, but I wouldn't start open carrying anyways.

As another 19 year old, I wish either state I spend my time in would allow me to open carry. How neither Florida nor South Carolina allow it is beyond me
 
Try to find a 9mm Handgun or if you go with a 40sw get a 9mm replacement barrel. You can do far more shooting with a 9mm for the $ compared to 40 or 45.
 
...I can also open carry/buy a handgun from a private dealer after 18.
Click to expand...
All firearms dealers in the U.S. (persons buying and selling firearms as a business) are subject to federal law and must be licensed as a federal firearms dealers. A licensed firearms dealer in the U.S. can not legally sell handguns to anyone under 21.

A private (unlicensed) dealer in firearms would be a federal felon since it is against federal law to deal firearms without a license.

Assuming your state laws allow it, you can by a handgun before the age of 21 from a NON-dealer--a private citizen, not in the business of buying and selling guns--who owns a personal handgun he/she wants to sell. Such a person would need to be a resident of your state for the transaction to be legal.
 
Learn to shoot and try a number of different firearms before you decide on the one gun you want to own and carry.
 
A beginning firearm class and/or mentoring from someone who is an experienced shooter will help you be safer with handguns, be a better shooter, and gain experience to help you make a good selection for purchase.

The subcompact Glocks are very good for concealed carry. As mentioned, the Glock 26 in 9 mm might be a better choice for a beginner. Less recoil means less of a risk of developing a flinch and faster and more accurate followup shots, and cheaper practice ammo means more shooting.

There are plenty of choices available these days, though. I personally carry a Glock 26, but my wife carries a Sig P238, and one daughter has a Beretta PX4. They all have their advantages. Every choice you make regarding a pistol is a compromise: big means more capacity but harder to conceal; heavy means less felt recoil but more weight on your belt; a thumb safety means it is harder to have an accidental discharge but an extra step to get your first shot off in an emergency. Get some experience, consider these and other factors, and make a rational choice rather than just buying a brand name that is familiar.
 
Like others I will offer my opinions.

1. Take as many courses as you are able, especially safety courses, from a competent instructor. Also try as many different guns as possible before settling in on one particular gun. Several people I know bought guns thinking they would be "the gun" for them but after they got it home and to the range they found out differently.

2. The NRA is a good place to start.

3. While the Glock line are high quality guns they do not fit me right so I can't say if it would be the gun for you. There are many guns out there that you should also take a look at.

Since you are 19 and can not buy a handgun from a FFL until you are 21 you have plenty of time to check things out and take courses. Of course your parents could purchase the gun and give it to you as a gift. Take your time and find the gun that you like not what others may want you to get. Also enjoy the search for your gun. I have been carrying professionally for just over 30 years and granted I have many great guns I am still searching and enjoy the ones I come across during my search.
 
Marty, a large majority of states allow open carry without a license or any requirements beyond being able to own a handgun, so you can legally open carry at 18 in many states.

The handgun can also be bought through a private sale as suggested, but I suggest OP looks into a bill of sale for that case
 
Vfib, Welcome to TFL.

Buying handgun ammo as well will have an age limitation of 21 to it as well I fear. Hence those touting.22 rifle and handgun as initial purchase/ownership.

Even if a family member gifted you a handgun, you still must feed them or else they get lonely and feel unappreciated and skills deteriorate.

Till then, look up Appleseed Project Shoots, get a 10-22 or something and learn to be a rifleman initially? A thought.
 
I own a G27 and used to carry it everyday as a BUG.

What surprised me at first was the accuracy of the G27. Then I was surprised that the G27 was not a "snappy" pocket-pistol by any means. These combined with the superior magazine capacity when compared to my old back up, a snubbed revolver, proved to be the reasons I started carrying it as a BUG.

Also, I like the dry-fire ability of Glocks in general for new shooters. Training your trigger discipline to the point of muscle memory is one of the first things I recommend to new shooters, which is greater facilitated by having the ability to following through with a dry-fire when taking a shot is indicated during a drill.

An aside: Additionally, by merely switching out the G27's .40 stock barrel with a Glock 33's .357 stock barrel, you can now shoot .357, which this gives you even a wider variety of rounds and loads for just the price of an extra barrel.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top