Buying my first weapon, would like input from gun owners

[Cleveland]

Of the many handguns I have fired (Ruger, Colt, Sig, H&K, Kimbar, etc.), I have always liked my Glock 23 .40S&W the best. Light, accurate, reliable, and plenty of power. However, they can get pricey. Ultimately, it comes down to what feels nice to you. If the 1911 is comfortable for you, then perhaps its the best bet. I would try to find a range that lets you rent guns. If the 1911 feels good, then go with it. If you find you can't hit the broadside of the barn, maybe consider a different model. I still think you cannot go wrong with a Glock, but some people don't like the feel of them.

As for the .30-06. Many people prefer this to the .308 due to the fact it can be more customized when reloaded. A .308, and many of your short action .200+ calibers are 95% compressed on a normal load, leaving little or no play for tweaking the round. A .30-06 is a long action, meaning some charges go as low as 65% compressed, leaving a lot of room in the case to fine tune the powder for your particular rifle and bullet weight. Also, for the longest time, the .30-06 was the standard. It wasn't until the 60's that the military (which dictates what the popular round is) switched over to the .308 (7.64x51 NATO). So manufactures were left with a ton of .30-06. The solution: make a bunch of civilian models in .30-06 so they can sell the excess ammo. Hell, they are still selling .30-06 made in the 60's by Lake City. Thats how much of it is still around.

While I am not gonna argue that your .242 isn't a great dear round, because it is. However, for general reloading and hunting, the best all purpose round is still the .30-06.

[BIGSTIC]

While I am not gonna argue that your .242 isn't a great dear round, because it is. However, for general reloading and hunting, the best all purpose round is still the .30-06.

Mabey thats why I dislike the .30-06 so much. Because with its versatility it eliminates my want to buy a different gun for every situation :D :D I am not dissing the .30-06 just that if I baught one and my wife found out about the versitility then she might not let me buy any more guns see the dilema. Plus 90% of the people that hunt with the .30-06 dont even know what tweaking a round means.

Oh and just thought if you want a fun gun that will bring many hours of learning buy a black powder gun. Either rifle of pistol they are both fun to shoot and even more fun to learn about. Plus the smell is great. Although most indoor ranges dont allow black powder. And another thing is if you are into history you can get a black powder and get involved with re-enactments. They are a good time for everyone.

[Shuemue]

Fucking hell, guns are cheap. I'd go buy one tomorrow too if I lived in America.

[Remyo]

"Redneck" is chic around here. I live right between Trussville and Pinson, which is about as far away from Birmingham as you can get and still live in Jefferson County. And no, I didn't hear about a new Hillbilly-Trashville High School(Hewitt-Trussvile lulz). I went to Hewitt middle for 7th grade and then the Jr High for 8th, but Clay-Chalkville High was finished the summer of my 8th grade year so most of us from the Clay area got rezoned again.

My parents company is working on it, I heard a lot of people from Clay are going to be going to it. I go to UAB btw.

[Melchiah]

No shit, UAB? Me too. School of Engineering for the next 4 years lol.

And @ Shue, I didn't just make this decision tonight lol. I've been wanting one for years but I never had anywhere to shoot it. I'm not spending the money on a weapon to sit it in a drawer and think I'm protected from the no doubt legion of evildoers waiting outside my door at night hahaha.

[Remyo]

No shit, UAB? Me too. School of Engineering for the next 4 years lol.

been going since 05

[Plow]

I've always wanted to own a handgun since my dad started me shooting his revolvers. I don't live in an area where scumbags breaking into my home is a problem. I want to learn to shoot better really. That's all there is to it. I thought I explained that? We were invited to join the local gun club and use their range... thus eliminating the real reason I never bought a weapon before.

Ok, so, all you want it for really is range shooting? You said you want to learn to shoot better, but like... for what?

Anyway, if it's for range shooting a 22 really is the way to go, especially for learning. Some of the best made, most accurate handguns out there are 22's intended for competition target shooting.


Really, the big caliber non-magnums are mostly popular these days for being strong enough to stop someone, without being basically a guaranteed kill and/or shooting through 5 houses and killing some little kid. If you don't want to go towards a big gun (if you got money to blow at least have a feel of a de of any caliber) I'd highly recommend moving more towards a 22.

The sad reality behind handguns is that it's the common 9mm/.40/.45 that really causes a lot of the issues with guns and gun control in the U.S, as they're flat out not the best gun to have for anything other than shooting people, really.

[Gafgarionn]

Be honest, does this have anything to do with the thread you posted complaining about the rednecks down south? If so, don't do it...

[Sonomaa]

the 1911 is a wonderful weapon, I enjoy mine, its simple, easy to use, heavy enough that it becomes a superior club when the clip is empty, if you hit somebody with it they are going down. Its comfortable to shoot and reliable as hell, thats why it was used as the primary service pistol up until the early/mid 90s, and some still use it today. You cant go wrong IMO.

[Shuemue]

And @ Shue, I didn't just make this decision tonight lol. I've been wanting one for years but I never had anywhere to shoot it. I'm not spending the money on a weapon to sit it in a drawer and think I'm protected from the no doubt legion of evildoers waiting outside my door at night hahaha.

Maybe I wasn't clear, I've wanted to join a shooting club for years in the UK, it's always seemed prohibitively costly, but I was browsing US prices and it seemed attractive again. I'd probably prefer to do archery, but both target sports would be a cool hobby.

[Melchiah]

Be honest, does this have anything to do with the thread you posted complaining about the rednecks down south? If so, don't do it...

haha, nah. I made a remark in a thread a couple of weeks ago in a gun control discussion about preparing to buy my first weapon.

I hate rednecks, undeniably. I also hate stupid people, but neither offense against civilized people warrants being shot lol.

[Elcura]

And @ Shue, I didn't just make this decision tonight lol. I've been wanting one for years but I never had anywhere to shoot it. I'm not spending the money on a weapon to sit it in a drawer and think I'm protected from the no doubt legion of evildoers waiting outside my door at night hahaha.

Maybe I wasn't clear, I've wanted to join a shooting club for years in the UK, it's always seemed prohibitively costly, but I was browsing US prices and it seemed attractive again. I'd probably prefer to do archery, but both target sports would be a cool hobby.

There's always paintball

[isladar]

the 1911 is a wonderful weapon, I enjoy mine, its simple, easy to use, heavy enough that it becomes a superior club when the clip is empty, if you hit somebody with it they are going down. Its comfortable to shoot and reliable as hell, thats why it was used as the primary service pistol up until the early/mid 90s, and some still use it today. You cant go wrong IMO.

I'm incredibly uncomfortable around guns but for whatever reason I feel so much better knowing Sonomaa has one.

[Remyo]

when the clip is empty

http://img384.imageshack.us/img384/7...gvsclipac9.jpg

[BIGSTIC]

And @ Shue, I didn't just make this decision tonight lol. I've been wanting one for years but I never had anywhere to shoot it. I'm not spending the money on a weapon to sit it in a drawer and think I'm protected from the no doubt legion of evildoers waiting outside my door at night hahaha.

Maybe I wasn't clear, I've wanted to join a shooting club for years in the UK, it's always seemed prohibitively costly, but I was browsing US prices and it seemed attractive again. I'd probably prefer to do archery, but both target sports would be a cool hobby.

Ask my wife about cost. She freeked out when i baught my last rifle. I saved overtime $ for 2 years before I could buy it. And to think I am lucky to go out and shoot it twice a year. But it was so worth it.

$8k of pure fun......
http://www.50bmgstore.com/images/Barrett82A1.jpg

[Melchiah]

Oh god lol is that a .50 cal rifle?

[noblemountain]

since we're on the topic of good weaponry and not what you should buy anymore...the best weapon you could ever dream of having, combat situation or not, is the HK416. i'm so freaking excited about the semi-auto civi version coming out this year that i can't stand it.

[noblemountain]

Oh god lol is that a .50 cal rifle?

looks like a barret m82

[Melchiah]

since we're on the topic of good weaponry and not what you should buy anymore...the best weapon you could ever dream of having, combat situation or not, is the HK416. i'm so freaking excited about the semi-auto civi version coming out this year that i can't stand it.

No, the best weapon ever is an HK-47. Period.

[Dmitry]

^ AK-47 or is there something else that I don't have time to research right now?

Also BIGSTIC, I'm completely jealous. Make some videos of you blowing up groundhogs or something, srsly.