Looking for advice on a first handgun

A

ang4me

New member
Hey,
I'll preface this by saying that I know basically nothing about handguns. That's why I'm here! I do however have some experience with rifles and shotguns. Deer hunting, shooting clays, etc. For rifles I've got a .243, .223, and .22. And I've got a 12-gauge and a 16-gauge shotgun. But I certainly wouldn't call myself experienced, just another guy who likes shooting, at this point.

I'm looking for a first handgun, for personal protection and to carry as "survival gear" on solo trips. I'd like to eventually get my concealed carry permit, so it'd be nice if it was something small that would conceal well. I'm also anxious to get into going to the range for practice, so it wouldn't hurt if the ammunition was pretty affordable. And for that matter it would be nice if the gun were relatively inexpensive too.(<$500? $<300 if possible?).

I live and work in downtown Atlanta, which if you read the news ain't exactly the safest playground anymore. I walk about 2 miles to and from work every day, and as it gets later in the year, that walk will soon be in the dark both ways.

I'm also an avid motorcyclist and private pilot, and I'd like something that I can safely carry on the bike and in the cockpit, which won't take up too much room, but will be there for me if god forbid I should need it someday. I do a lot of flying over rugged terrain, and for that matter I do a lot of camping on my motorcycle trips and campsites these days aren't as safe as they once were.

So, in summary I'm looking for a relatively cheap handgun, with relatively cheap ammunition, that will conceal well, and that is suitable for personal defense, survival, and zombies in general. I like the looks of the Rossi .38 Special, and the Taurus 605. And I know that a lot of my fellow pilots carry .44 magnum's with short barrels. I like the looks of the small revolvers, But at this point I'm open to any and all suggestions.

Thanks for the help!

P.S. I know I'm opening up a can-o-worms that is highly subjective and opinion-based, but I figured I'd at least get some of your opinions before I trek over to the gun shop to make a fool out of myself.
 
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Hello and Welcome..

May I sugest you consider a 4" .357 revolver and use regular .38Spl loads at first then work up to the .357 loads.

With target wascutters, you get confidence with the fundamentals of:
sight alignment , breathe control & trigger release.

Then either keep it or trade up to something else.
 
Welcome again...and I'd like to second the 4" .357. Go with Smith and Wesson or Ruger (unless you have the coin for a Colt). Avoid Taurus and Rossi.
 
Wow, thanks for the fast replies! Now time for some questions....

Are Taurus and Rossi guns just poor quality? I guess you get what you pay for?

Also, for a beginner, what's the advantage of a 4" over a snub-nosed? (I guess I just like the looks of the snub-nosed revolvers)

And finally, what makes the .357 right for me?
 
Are Taurus and Rossi guns just poor quality? I guess you get what you pay for?
Click to expand...

Yup, like most things in life.

Also, for a beginner, what's the advantage of a 4" over a snub-nosed? (I guess I just like the looks of the snub-nosed revolvers)
Click to expand...

Less muzzleblast/rise. Higher velocities. Little more weight to reduce recoil.

And finally, what makes the .357 right for me?
Click to expand...

You won't find a more versatile handgun.
 
I agree with the recommendation for a 4" SW or Ruger. They are arguably the most versatile handguns and with the ammo options available, should serve you well from downtown to remote wilderness.
 
If I eventually get my CCW, will a 4" .357 conceal well, or at that point would I need to move down to a 3" or something smaller?
 
Autos from Sig, Glock, Springfield, Ruger, S&W will all be good.

You will probably want a small gun in the compact or sub-compact size for future CC. Polymer is your buddy when it saves weight.

Bigger bore does more damage when expansion does not happen. Not so much difference when it does occur. 9mm, 357sig, 40 and 45 are all good choices.
 
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Here's a somewhat related question:

Right now my citizenship is in NC, but I live in GA. And because of the way my health insurance works (it's through my folks, and I'm still eligible for another 5 years or so), I need to keep my citizenship in NC for the time being. If I get a NC CCW, will that permit me to concealed carry in GA too?
 
.357 is one of the most effective handgun rounds, but you might also consider a snubnosed double-action-only (i.e. no exposed hammer) J frame Smith & Wesson in (the less powerful) .38 caliber.

More importantly, figure out how you are willing to carry the weapon in these different situations and some of the safety/size/weight issues will be more meaningful. It's a cliche, but the .22 derringer beats a .357 if the big gun gets left at home.

There is no perfect gun.
 
Concealing a 4" .357

I have carried a 4" GP100 in a SimplyRugged pancake holster (size L), OWB but under a loose overshirt, and nobody's noticed. For that matter, I've carried an N-Frame .44 mag in a SimplyRugged pancake (size N), again without drawing attention. Restaurants, movie theaters, clothing stores while shopping with the significant other. I am not sure if I was more amused or bemused, but not one person seemed to notice. (Note: SimplyRugged hoster sizes are stamped on the backs of the holsters, and correlate to S&W sizing; the Ruger GP100 is approximately the same thickness as a S&W L-Frame.)

You're a pilot, so you'll get this next part:

SimplyRugged's pancake has a fairly long distance between forward and aft belt slots. The contour of the holster starts flaring just inside the slots at either end. This allows a more gradual arc to move out and encompass the width of the cylinder, creating a better streamline. In turn, this better streamline has less tendency to bunch up or catch the fabric of the overshirt, and reduces any tendency to print.

For OWB carry, it's hard to beat a SimplyRugged pancake (for revolvers) or Cuda (for autos).

Cheers,

M
 
I'd also second the notion of finding a good 4" revolver in either .38 Special or .357 Magnum. The balance of either of these guns will be better for shooting and learning to shoot a revolver than trying to use a concealable 2" barreled gun.

If budget is a concern, look for a lightly used S&W .38 Special revolver on which to learn. You know the basics of using rifle sights and handgun sights are similar in usage. But you'll find it harder to master the handgun. The .38 Special revolver will be a cheaper initial investment and .38 Special ammo is relatively common. Something like the Model 15 shown below can be had for under $395 in very good shape in many areas.
IMG_1658Sa.jpg

S&W Model 15

The alternative is a good .357 Magnum. The older Ruger Security Six is inexpensive on the used market and the GP-100 is their current .357 offering with a 4" barrel. S&W's current 686 can be had with either a 6 or 7 shot cylinder. My favorite is the older Model 19 (or Model 13 with fixed sights) which blends just enough weight to balance against the recoil.
M19-24s.jpg

S&W Model 19

The shorter barrels are harder to shoot accurately and you lose velocity in the ammo you fire. For example, a Federal 158g .357 load that produces 1293 fps from a 4" barrel only produces 858 fps from a 2-inch barrel. That puts the .357 - with its impressive recoil and muzzle flash - into the category of a .38 Special +P fired from a 4" barrel. Most modern ammo seems to be best suited for a 4-inch to 6-inch barrel (with a few specialized exceptions). ¹

The shorter barrel also means it is harder to keep the sights aligned as accurately than with a longer barrel. A smaller deviation in alignment means a larger "miss" at the target end. The primary "good" of a 2-inch barreled gun is that you're more likely to be carrying it when it's needed, especially in warmer weather.

One advantage of a wheelgun over a semi-auto pistol is that there are also "flare" and "snakeshot" cartridges made in .38/.357 caliber which are easier to use (neither will cycle in a semi-auto).

¹ The .357 Magnum is the same cartridge as the .38 Special except for it's length being slightly longer. This is to prevent the more potent .357 Magnum from chambering in older .38 Specials that could not withstand almost double the pressures of the .38 round. Thus you can shoot less expensive .38 Special ammo in a .357 Magnum revolver, but not vice versa.
 
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BillCA...

.... correct me if I'm wrong, but it looks like you have a SimplyRugged K pancake with thumb-break and basket weave options. I have the L-frame basket weave, but without the thumb-break; the holster itself comes up so high and snugly on the revolver that I have next to zero concern about the revolver ever falling out. Still, it's nice that Rob Leahy offers options so we can get them the way we like them.

I find that holster conceals extremely well, strongside, but not well in crossdraw. More specifically, in crossdraw, the shapes and angles of the revolver grips print. In the strong side mode, I find that even my square butt Hogue on the GP100 tucks right into my flank.

Great OWB under a garment CCW on strong-side, but for me at least it's only for open carry (hunting and hiking) in cross-draw.
 
OK. Another semi-related question: When do you need a concealed carry permit?

1. Without a concealed carry permit, and not wanting to open-carry, is it basically impossible to legally have a gun on my person? What if it's in a bag, out of reach, and not loaded?

2. Without a concealed carry permit, what's the deal with having a gun in the car? How do you carry a gun legally with no CCW?

Also, being in GA but being an NC citizen: is that going to be a problem for me if I go to a pawn shop or gun shop to buy a gun?
 
http://www.georgiapacking.org/law.php

http://www.gunlaws.com/links/linksga.htm

You can find links to the appropriate statutes there, both for general carry, and for how to apply for a Concealed permit.

Meanwhile, thinking about the riding and flying issue. I really like the SimplyRugged pancake design, for general carry and CCW, but I don't know that I'd want something on my hip in the cockpit, or on a bike.

For the cockpit, the military has used shoulder holsters for decades now. Depending on what you fly, there may be no room for something on your hip. In your case, I'd probably get both a belt holster, for day to day, and a shoulder rig for the airplane.

You have to be very careful about carrying while you fly. Your route could take you over places where, if you had to divert, you would not be legal to carry. For instance, if you get a GA permit, you could plan a trip to NC, where your permit would be recognized, but if you had to make an emergency landing in SC en route, you would be in a state that has no reciprocity with GA.

Additionally, some states have different laws regarding weapons and airports. In some, you are ok as long as you are not in the sterile area. In others, you can't have a weapon on property, unless it's packed in accordance with checked baggage regulations.

So, just like you'd check weather and NOTAMS prior to your flight, if you plan to bring a handgun, you'd better check both Federal regs and the laws of each state you plan to enter or might have to divert to.

Cheers,

M
 
You're in GA but an NC resident?

If you are stationed in GA (IE active duty Guard at Dobbins, but I may be reading too much into your handle) you can get paperwork indicating that you are there. Not sure if that would only be a copy of PCS orders, or if you'd need more (in NC you have to get a letter from a base provost marshal). If that's the case, you can buy a handgun in GA.

If you just happen to be in GA for now, but your licenses, state of record, etc are all NC, then you will need to go back to NC, where you'll have to get a purchase permit from the sheriff's office, etc; I'm not sure if that has to be your home county sheriff, or any county sheriff, but then I was only TDY in NC and wasn't too worried about it. To clarify, you cannot legally purchase a handgun outside your home state, unless you are military on PCS orders.
 
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