What to buy

D

dutch1yvonne

Inactive
Hi,
Im a female 41 yrs old i am getting my conceald weapons permit eventhough i dont know MUCH about weapons i know that i want to be able to protect myself and my family.
My question to you is:
What would be the best weapon to buy that is not too expensive but will do the job.
I know thats not very specific but im counting on you the members to help me out.

Thanks in advance
Yvonne
 
First things first Yvonne. You need to go to a local gun range in your area and look into lessons in using, and firing a weapon. I understand your concern to defend your family and yourself. I have those same concerns. What you will learn in these classes is how to handle the weapon and also use it. Not only at the range, but in a situation where your life may be at risk. You should be able to rent pistols there so you will be able to see which one fits you best whether it be an auto or a revolver.

Without the appropriate training you may hesitate or pause during a bad situation. That may all the bad guy needs to take your weapon away, and then HE is armed not you. I believe you should be commended for wanting to protect your family, and you are well within your rights to do so. But, please look into the training first.

Let us know what you decide on, and how the training goes.
 
Welcome to TFL.

Now to your question. You are new to frearms, or at least fairly new to firearms. Want something not expensive that will work well for protection. It sounds to me that a previously owned .357 magnum double ation revolver witha 4" barrel would work well. There are a lot of "police department trade ins" out there. The .357 allows you to fire the various .38 Special loads and have a good defensive round in the 125 grain JHP .357 magnum loading.



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Ne Conjuge Nobiscum
"If there be treachery, let there be jehad!"
 
Hello and welcome to TFL and the ranks of those taking the responsibility for their own family's safety. It is my belief that someone not well versed in handguns might be best served with a quality revolver. In this case, I would recommend buying one in .357 magnum as you could shoot the much-easier-to-control .38 Special defensive loads, but have the capability of the hotter round should you so desire. Many used, but entirely functional police trade-ins can be found and I think S&W makes a fine revolver.
For political reasons, I cannot recommend buying a new one, but that is my choice and may not be yours. The revolver is quite reliable and easy to operate under stress. There are some decent defensive rounds in .38 Spec that do not have too much recoil for a beginner and in practice, you could begin with target loads. I do suggest getting some qualified safety and shooting instruction. The small snubs (J-frames in S&W's line) are very nice to carry, but can be more difficult to accurately hit with than their medium (K-frame) guns. Taurus makes a similar line of revolvers and I've had no problems with them although actions are not quite as smooth. Likewise, Ruger makes a very decent line of revolvers. In any event, IF you go with a revolver, I'd buy it in .357 Magnum with the intention of shooting "hot" .38 Specials. If they turn out to be too much, give a hard look at Federal's standard velocity .38 Special Nyclad hollowpoints. If you decide on a semiautomatic, you might take a good look at the Kahr K9. It generally has a very good double-action (only) pull and have proven both reliable and accurate in my experience. Going that way, I'd likely load it with Cor*Bon or Triton 115 grain or 124 gr JHPs. These are Plus P loads and do have a little bit more "kick" than the standard velocity rounds, but again, Federal's 9mm 124 gr Nyclad is a fine choice as a substitute as is their 115 gr JHP. Say you want to spend $400. You'd likely get a "higher quality" revolver than auto as the revolvers simply sell for less in most cases. I'm sure others here will have other ideas that can be of use to you, but hope this has helped. Best and good luck.
 
I would see about some lessons before I make up my mind about what firearm to buy.Not knowing how strong you are,how big your hands are or recoil sensitive you are I would not recommend anything.With some training and the chance to shoot different handguns you will have the knowledge to make your own selection.
Training and be safe.Thank you for taking charge of your life.We need more people like you.
If you have questions that you do not want to post feel free to email me direct.



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beemerb
We have a criminal jury system which is superior to any in the world;
and its efficiency is only marred by the difficulty of finding twelve men
every day who don't know anything and can't read.
-Mark Twain
 
If i were in your position, I would get a shrouded hammer snub nose .38 Special or .357 Magnum (shoot .38s in it until you are comfortable with beefier loads)

As my CONCEALED CARRY GUN.

Simple operation, Easy to fire under stress, shrouded hammer doesnt snag in purse.

Now for HOME GUN, buy a 12 gauge or 20ga pump shotgun and load it with #4 Birdshot.

This will not travel through walls but 1.5 ounces of lead will definitely stop a hostile at close range.

The universal sound of a shotgun racking will send most hostiles to a new home and taget real fast.

Good Luck, Get Assistance from one knowledgable in weapons.

Stay Armed, Secure and Free

God Bless

Orso
 
Yvonne:

I will cut to the chase. Get yourself a Taurus Model 85 Snub-nosed revolver in .38 Special. Buy it new so that you will be sure to get one with the new integral safety lock that is easily engaged and disengaged. You will spend around $250.00 tax included and you will have a weapon that is easily concealed. Get the exposed hammer model so that you can shoot the pistol in single or double action.

Have the salesperson get you some Federal Nyclad Hollowpoint .38 Special Ammo. I believe it's loaded with 110 grain bullets but I am not sure. The Nyclad is not +P which means it is not a high pressure load and it won't damage the Taurus pistol after repeated use.

Next, by a couple of speed loaders and a pack of Bianchi speed strips. Get TWO holsters. One, made from leather called a "Pancake Holster". The pancake will provide you with stability when worn on a belt and cover the hammer with the retention strap. Also get a "rough-out" leather Inside-the-Waist band holster THAT COMPELETELY COVERS THE HAMMER for your purse.

Finally, GET SOMEONE TO SHOW YOU HOW TO CLEAN, LOAD, UNLOAD AND SHOOT THE PISTOL SAFELY. PRACTICE FREQUENTLY SO THAT YOU WILL BE VERY CONFIDENT WITH THE WEAPON! THE LAST THING YOU WANT IS FOR A PERP TO TAKE THE HANDGUN AWAY FROM YOU. NEVER, NEVER LET A BAD GUY GET INSIDE OF THE IMAGINARY SIX FOOT CIRCLE YOU MENTALLY MAINTAIN AROUND YOURSELF.

Sorry for shouting. :D

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"When guns are outlawed;I will be an outlaw."
 
Yvonne,

First, welcome to TFL and to the enjoyment of responsible firearms use.

I want to endorse those who suggest your first, perhaps your only, handgun should be a revolver; more specifically, a .357 magnum/.38 Special. Revolvers are easy to shoot, safe, simple, extremely reliable, accurate, and lower cost than comparable quality semiautomatic pistols. The .357 magnum/.38 Special (.357 magnum revolvers fire both types of rounds) offers an extremely wide variety of ammunition choices, from "hot" .357 magnum loads to inexpensive .38 Special rounds for practice. As you’ll learn, the combination of firearm and ammunition provides a "tailored tool" that should be carefully selected for your intended use (i.e., target practice, versus home defense, versus camping protection, and so forth).

I recommend you consider the Ruger GP-100 and the Smith and Wesson 686 –- both with four-inch barrels and all stainless steel construction. These are very high quality revolvers that will last a lifetime with little more than cleaning and lubrication/preservation. They are also very accurate, relatively inexpensive, and mid-sized -– small enough to carry, but large enough to fire accurately and with reduced recoil.

Fire both revolvers to ascertain which provides the greatest "comfort": ergonomics, hand/grip feel, sight picture, pointing ease, accuracy at various ranges, and so forth. Both handguns are excellent, so you cannot go wrong with either selection.

Finally, practice, practice, and practice some more. Responsible firearms ownership means safe operation and, as you know, this requires practice. Concentrate on safety, not only in the functioning of your sidearm, but also in its maintenance, storage, transportation, etc. Evaluate scenarios and "what if" situations, so you’ll be prepared to use you firearm legally, responsibly, and effectively.

Last –- but certainly not least -– have fun. This is a festinating sport and hobby, as well as a means of ensuring your family’s security.
 
hi,

thanks to all who replied to me,i realy appreciate the suggestions amd yes i am planning on going to a range for training and lessons(taking my 16/12/11 year olds with me) because i want to make sure they learn the awesome responsibilty that comes with a gun.
my thanks to george hill whom i work with for turning me on to such great people!
THANKS TO EVERYONE
 
You work with George Hill? I'm sorry. :D And we thought we had it bad. ;)

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"When guns are outlawed;I will be an outlaw."
 
It sounds great that you're going for proper training. Safety comes first. The .38/.357 recommendations are good. Try firing some different models before you buy so that you can decide on the proper frame size and barrel length to suite your needs.

Be safe and shoot straight.

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NRA Life Member
Michigan Coalition for Responsible Gun Owners(MCRGO)
 
If you are in need of a quality revolver don't be too put off buying a used one. I just bought a used Ruger Security Six (made in early 70's) they are built very tough so buying a used one is not a bad idea. If the gun looks like it is in good shape it probably hasn't been used much. I paid $180 for mine and you can probably do just as well in your area at a local shop. Ask around and don't be afraid to offer them a little less. Mine was priced at $200. I asked him what he could come down to, but I am a semi-regular customer. Used revolvers are not hot sellers for gun shops so you might get a great deal. I would look for a 4" barrel Ruger or Smith & Wesson in .357 caliber as many other people have mentioned. You can also ask about new grips if there is a gun you like but the grips are either too small or large. They are easy to replace.
 
Definatly look into a gun safty course before you buy a firearm. Also try to fire a lot of guns to see what you are confortable with. After this, I might recommend for home defense use, a .38 Spe. revolver loaded with some hollowpoints, or some of those Safety Slugs. .38 will be sure to stop your objecttive, but then you need to worry about what happens if it goes through. Be safe, happy hunting, and good shooting.

[This message has been edited by MrBlonde (edited July 06, 2000).]
 
Greetings and Welcome to TFL; There's a lot of good input posted here, in this thread.
For a beginner; I like the comments made by
Fisher concerning getting proper instruction
and visiting your local firing range with hope's of handling as many handguns as possible. Also, what my friend Mr. Camp said
is true is most case's. The revolver is a bit
easier to learn with; and the .357 is very
versatile. However, if you decide on a .38
Special; a good used (police trade-in) Smith
& Wesson Model 10 with 4" bull barrel is awfully hard to beat. I recently trained a
female with one of these, and she can see
the improvement of her score's from one session to the other. And they usually can
be found at some where near the $169.00 price
range in VG condition. :) Hope this helps some. :D

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
 
Yvonne,
I second (or is it third?) the notion of training. Fire as many different guns as you can, both revolver, and autoloader. Make up your mind based on how the gun feels to you. I started out with the revolver, and came to like autos better. My wife, on the other hand is very contented with her little Taurus M85 .38spl revolver. It is up to individual taste. However once you decide, the phrase is "practice makes perfect." Oh, and welcome to TFL. :) :)

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Yeah, I got a permit to carry,it's called the friggin Constitution.---Ted Nugent

"Glock 26: 17 rounds of concealed carry DEATH comming your way from out of nowhere!!! THAT'S FIREPOWER, BABY!!!"

[This message has been edited by denfoote (edited July 06, 2000).]
 
I think the members have just about covered all the bases. In home defense, my wife and her comfort and cross-training with our guns is a factor on HD handgun. For that reason, I don't use my 1911 in 45acp. The HD guns available are a Glock 26 (9mm) and Colt Detective Special (.38). Should it become necessary the Mrs. can handle also. If one day she becomes more comfortable with the 1911, we will change our strategy. Until then, a good .38 da revolver gets the job done.
 
I think that denfoote has the key.

I would rent and shoot a lot of weapons before I bought. This, of course depends on the immediacyof your need. The reason for this advice is my experience that my preference in guns changed dramatically in the first six months of shooting. The current hot choice for my son and I is a 1911 style .45, which is not at all where I started.

So, from a newbie, here's my advice. Take an NRA "FirstSTEPS" pistol course if you can find one in your area. That will teach you enough safety to keep you from being dangerous on the range, and enough about a sight picture to get you started in shooting.

Then find a local range that rents lots of different handguns (auto/revolver, .9 mm, .357 SIG, .45, .44, .38, etc). Go shooting once a week, and see what you enjoy. When I took the FirstSTEPS course, I used a .40 Glock, and really, really didn't like it. I wasn't prepared for the recoil, and I have very sweaty hands, so I didn't get a secure grip. So, for a couple of months, I shot my way through the range's 9mm (P7M8, Walther P99, Browning Hi Power, Kahr M9, etc.). Then, on a goof, my son and I shot a SIG P239 in .357 SIG, and that was a heck of a lot of fun. The .357 SIG ammo they had at the range is pretty expensive, so the nest week, we shot a SIG in .45 (P220?), and then a SIG in .40 (P226?). The last time we were at the range, we shot a Kimber .45, and that was very cool. I really liked the gun, and shot it extremely well. If I continue to like the Kimber, I will probably by a Kimber or Springfield this fall.

The point of this long diatribe is not to try to talk you into the .45, or any particular weapon. But I do think it likely that my experience is not terribly unique, that preference in weapons varies most dramatically when you're starting out. Which argues for getting the as wide a breadth of experience as possible before plunking down what is, for me, a pretty big chunk of cash.

Your mileage may vary.

Munir


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ahlan wa sahlan
PCV Yemen 1984-86
 
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