Hi,
I've been browsing and you all seem like a great group of people. I am shopping now for my first hand gun, to be used for personal protection. Gotten lots of different opinions on revolvers vss. semi-automatics. Have looked at some .22s and picked up a .38 today to "try it out". Any suggestions?
welcome aboard. I'd definitely go with a revolver. A medium frame double action .357 S&W or Ruger with a 4" barrel would be my first choice. With the .357mag. you have the option of shooting .38 special as well as .357. If you live near Danville you can go talk to Charlie Bellflower at Steven's Gun shop. Here is a link on the subject. Selection of a handgun for self defense
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Yep GlockMeister and JimKim have said it all, now all you gotta do is decide what you are gonna feed it, and that is sometimes a harder choice then the gun itself. My best advice is buy a few different brands and spend some time on the range and see what works best for you, if you cant hit your target it's all for nothing. goodluck and welcome.
Welcome--glad to have you on the site, and please enjoy things here. Great bunch of people.
I'm a wheelgun fan in general, expecially for folks new to shooting. Try shooting a few different guns and see what you like and "fits" you. If it's going to be used for CCW and/or personal defense, I'd recommend something .38/9mm or up. .38/.357 (you can shoot .38 rounds in a .357, but not vice versa) might be hard to beat. Do get some form of instruction from someone who knows what they're doing as well.
A handgun is a tool like any other -- if you're going to be using one for both carry and home/car defense it'll be a compromise between longer sight radius and ease of carry. Snubbies are great for carry, but difficult to shoot well due to their short sight radius (intrinsically they're very accurate). The first rule of being in a gunfight is to have a gun, so you need something that you'll be able to have with you as much as possible--if it comes down to a choice between smaller/lighter or bigger/heavier. Weight is an asset for shooting but not carry; same as for barrel length. You can be a good shot with a snubby, but it does take alot of practice. Hi-Viz sights are a definite bonus.
Smith and Wesson, Ruger, and Taurus all have websites where you can look at the different products and see what you might like to try shooting. Smith 442/642, Ruger SP-101, etc. Home/car defense I'd lean to GP-100 type; more snubby for carry.
Practice ammo can be whatever you like; carry ammo needs to be some type of high-performance round (Hollowpoint or Safety Slug--Glazer, Cor-Bon, Federal, and Buffalo Bore -- 158GR SWCHP -- all make quality ammo as do many others). Do shoot the gun with your defensive ammo--points of aim will vary.
Best of luck, and enjoy.
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God gives us free will; the statist tries to take it away
Sweet .38: Asking and discussing are the proper ways to find a ?new? or ?first?
Something to consider: What suites me may not suite you.
A cheaper and more responsible research tool.
RENT and shoot as many different makes and models. One will have that ?feel?
?Feel? is the most important aspect. Feels right; you'll have a better shooting ?feel? "redundant" for sure
Caliber for defense and pleasure shooting? Tough question. Anything from? .38's and up. Cheapest to shoot being the 9mm. Cheaper shooting means more practice, more practice means more proficiency.
Follow up with your thoughts and Thanks
WELCOME
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Craig
Who refreshes others will be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25
Last edited by neophyte; 04-21-2008 at 06:32 AM.
Reason: Welcome
A revolver has less that can go wrong with it, and as was stated earlier, if you go with a 357 mag, you have a choice of specials, or magnum loads. And with a speed loader, it's darn near as fast as an auto to reload. And welcome to G&G! By your username, it looks like you're already leaning toward the revolver. Go to a shop where you can rent handguns, and try before you buy!
Hey !!! Sweet.38 WELCOME to GUN and GAME feller !!! Say ! Before you buy a revolver check and see if your state is like mine in regards to what type of pistol you can carry.
What I mean is in Arkansas if you qualify with a revolver when you go to the range after you do what ever you do at your concealed carry class you'll be limited to only carrying a revolver. YEP that's right !
You want be allowed to carry a semi-auto.
If you use a semi-auto when you go to the range you'll be allowed to carry either one.
So if you ever decide you want to carry a semi-auto borrow or rent one to use when you take your class, other wise you'll be stuck only being allowed to carry a revolver.
Your state may not be that way, but many are so check and see...A.H
Hey !!! Sweet.38 WELCOME to GUN and GAME feller !!! Say ! Before you buy a revolver check and see if your state is like mine in regards to what type of pistol you can carry.
What I mean is in Arkansas if you qualify with a revolver when you go to the range after you do what ever you do at your concealed carry class you'll be limited to only carrying a revolver. YEP that's right !
You want be allowed to carry a semi-auto.
If you use a semi-auto when you go to the range you'll be allowed to carry either one.
So if you ever decide you want to carry a semi-auto borrow or rent one to use when you take your class, other wise you'll be stuck only being allowed to carry a revolver.
Your state may not be that way, but many are so check and see...A.H
Thanks for the info. I never thought of that! I haven't applied for my license yet. When I do, i'll ask those questions. Thanks again
Last edited by Sweet .38; 04-21-2008 at 01:05 PM.
Reason: Automerged Doublepost
Welcome to the site.....by all means, try a variety of guns...you, and you alone, will know when you have found that perfect piece; you can rent guns at ranges. have fun and good luck in your search.
__________________ Love the earth...Love the creator.(Rom. 20:1)
