Some Newbie Questions

K

Kaps

Inactive
Hey y'all. I was thinking of getting a gun for Home Defense, and I just had some questions. I've never owned a gun before, so bear with me .

1. Does the hammer cock back by itself after the first shot on a double action revolver?

2. Are there any regulations on shotguns in California (i.e. Pistol Grip, barrel length, etc.)

Any info would be helpful, thanks y'all. I live in California, which is pretty messed up too.

Vinh Pham
 
On a double action revolver each pull of the trigger rotates the cylinder cocks and fires the hammer. It has its drawbacks but can be mastered. For precision first shots it can be shot from the cocked position but the next shot the trigger pulled and the sequence starts the end of the trigger pull the pistol fires There is nothing wrong with a beginner starting with a revolver
 
Revolvers are great for beginners, and experts, for that matter.

Pertaining to revolvers:

Single actions - the hammer must be manually thumbed back, then released forward by pulling the trigger.

Double actions - the trigger does all the work for you, unless you choose to manually thumb back the hammer as with a single action.

Good luck

Erik
 
BTW, welcome KAPS. Stick around and you can learn a lot.

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Ne Conjuge Nobiscum
"If there be treachery, let there be jehad!"
 
Kaps, welcome to TFL!

I want to respond to your questions, but recognize that many posters here have more experience than me. However, I've gone through the same analysis over the last 18 months, so ...

Re: home defense, a shotgun is great. The Remington 870 is practically a no-brainer, with most people choosing a 12 gauge - those smaller in stature might prefer a 20 gauge. See http://www.remington.com/FIREARMS/shotguns/PUMPACT.HTM . Lots of discussion to be had on which shotgun is best, but the 870 is tried and true, plentiful, and accessories are easy to find. Check out the Shotgun forum on TFL.

Regarding a sidearm, I learned on a revolver, and I do believe they are relatively easy for most folks to cut their teeth on. Stainless Rugers and Smith & Wesson's with 4" barrels seem to be popular and durable choices.

I don't know your other interests, but firearms debates seem similar to other fields. Chevy vs. Ford. Steak vs. seafood. Blonds and brunettes ... oops. ;) Folks will have different opinions. Look for a common thread as you pick you way around at first.

Also, get some training. And, store your firearms safely - check out the various safes and other security systems. Buy a book on gun laws for your state - see http://www.gunlaws.com .

Good luck. Regards from AZ
 
Kaps,

The 870 is a great gun, I own one but I use it for hunting. I have a mossburg 500 persuader. I think that this is the best home defence gun there is. It is a 8 shot with a 20 inch barrel. the best way to find out if pistol grips are legal is to ask one of the local Gun Shops in your area. Or write the NRA at www.nra.org.

As far as handguns. I love the Glock 30. Sig Arms also makes a great pistol. And one I am gonna try ouy in a few days is the Ruger P97DC. Guns and Ammo (Feb 2000 issue) did a article on the gun. With this one you wont pay the $500-650 like with sig and glock. They run around $340-380.

Hope this helps

Nate
 
Good suggestions. Are you talking about a stock with a pistol grip, or one of the pistol grips with no shoulder stock? If you're talking about the one with no shoulder stock my advice is not to bother with it. Those things are only useful to people who are already good with a shotgun and want something shorter and more maneuverable, I think. If you're inexperienced, you'll be much better off with a shoulder stock. In fact, you'll be better off with the shoulder stock even after you get pretty good with the gun. Oh yeah, and don't forget to PRACTICE! Training from a pro would be good too, but I learned to use a shotgun from my dad and feel pretty good about using one for defense.
 
Handgun Actions:

Single Action Revolver - you must cock the hammer before every shot that is to be fired

Single Action Automatic - you cock the hammer for the fist shot, the slide will cock the hammer for the remaining shots

Double Action Revolver - pulling the trigger both cocks and fires the gun for every shot

Double Action/Single Action Automatic - pulling the trigger cocks and fires the gun on the first shot, but the slide cocks the gun for the remaining shots

Double Action Only Automatic - pulling the trigger cocks and fires the gun for every shot, the hammer does not stay cocked from the slide
 
I would recommend that you get a Smith& Wesson or Ruger .357 Magnum double action revolver. They will shoot ANY .38 Special or >357 Magnum cartridges. Start working with standard velocity .38 Special cartridges and work up to the .38 Special +P (higher velocity) cartridges and graduate to .357 Magnum cartridges, Lots if luck and have fun,

Hard Ball
 
Kaps,

Welcome to the board! As some have already pointed out, there are many different views around (is the revolver better than a pistol? what caliber has the best stopping power? Is a single action 1911 better than a modern double-action-only pistol? Are heavier bullets better than lighter, hi-velocity bullets? etc.). Stick around and absorb as much as you can. Don't listen to only one or two post'ers as they might be a little off but also remember that the majority is not always right either.

Since others have already answered your questions correctly, I won't go into it but I do have a comment to make ...
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by AMHsix:
... Double Action Only Automatic - pulling the trigger cocks and fires the gun for every shot, the hammer does not stay cocked from the slide[/quote]
Has anyone noticed that we are using the term "Double Action Only" incorrectly a majority of the time when referring to most DAO pistols? A true 'double action only' pistol is something like the Colt Pocket Nine which has a repeat striker capability. Instead, we are refering to Kahrs, Glocks, etc., as 'double action only' as well when in reality the striker has to be re-primed in the event of a misfire.




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Share what you know, learn what you don't -- FUD.
 
"FUD"

Whoops! I guess I was a little vague in my DAO(Double Action Only) definition, and I missed "Safe-Action", as Gaston Glock calls it, altogether. :D
 
Kaps,

Think twice before you start your love for guns. Its the pringles commercial, once you pop, you can't stop. started for me 2 novembers ago on the most expensive impulse buy of my life, a BM A2 shorty. now I have 2 complete Ars 1 almost complete ar lower, a 1911 and almost no money.

I think you can't have the pistol grip up front on shotguns anymore in our great state.

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It ain't mah fault. did I do dat?
 
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