About to buy my first gun... ever! Help! :)

[WilliamG]

I don't intend to carry at this time... I don't see the need. But when/if I do, I'll just get another gun. Can't have too many, right?

 

[WilliamG]

Well I did it, people!

Just placed my order for a 686 SSR, an M&P9 Pro, and a Remington 870. Then the wife is going to compare the Ruger MKIII and the Buck Mark tonight, and then I'll order one of those two to round out my first run of insanity.

Yay!

Isn't it great that the Second Amendment lets permanent residents in on the action?

 

[Road Rat]

WilliamG,

WELCOME to AMERICA!!!!!!!!

Still The Land Of The FREE......

Enjoy the shooting sports with your wife

 

[WilliamG]

Haha thanks!

Just bought a Buck Mark Camper URX with 3 mags from Bud's Guns.

Wife is set!

Now the wait!

 

[nebmike]

William, do you want to adopt a son? I'm only 39 years old, but I 'am' potty trained! I wash my own laundry, clean my own guns, and I come with a full handloading set up.

On a serious note though, good for you!!! Glad to see you found a few that you really like and want to make the investment in.

Next thing you need is a good AR rifle to round out your collection.

Good luck!

 

[stonehorses]

Just bought a Buck Mark Camper URX with 3 mags from Bud's Guns.

Wife is set!

William G, your wife will love the Camper. My husband has a Mark III and it just didn't fit my hand properly. The Browning was a great fit for me.
Congrats on your purchases.

 

[WilliamG]

William G, your wife will love the Camper. My husband has a Mark III and it just didn't fit my hand properly. The Browning was a great fit for me.
Congrats on your purchases.

Yes we both tried holding the MKIII and the Camper in the store, and the MKIII has some of the worst ergonomics I ever encountered! Neither of us got on with it at all. My wife has small hands, but she still liked the fatter grip of the Buck Mark. I hope she likes it!

Not sure how good of a deal I got but it was $386 for the Stainless Camper URX model, with 3 magazines and a Browning rug from Bud's if anyone's interested.

Browning Buck Mark Campber SS Package URX Grip FO Sight, 3 Mags $386.00 SHIPS FREE

No idea what the rug is about, but hey, we wanted the extra mags anyway!

Can't wait.

 

[WilliamG]

Went downtown to the Police HQ in Seattle and filed for my CCW permit. $55.25, ouch!

 

[nebmike]

Went downtown to the Police HQ in Seattle and filed for my CCW permit. $55.25, ouch!

Thats a heckuva lot cheaper than a week in the hospital and three months of rehab because a couple of doped-up nogoodsters beat you within an inch of your life because you didnt have a gun to stop them with.



Cheers!

 

[WilliamG]

Haha fair enough! Pretty excited to go target practicing soon!

 

[WilliamG]

Question: Thinking about a Bodyguard 380 for CCW in the future. Any thoughts?

 

[WilliamG]

Well it's too late to give me your thoughts... I just bought the Bodyguard 380!!!

Can pick it up on Feb. 2nd.

Is buying five guns in 3 days a little mad?

 

[nebmike]

Well it's too late to give me your thoughts... I just bought the Bodyguard 380!!!

Can pick it up on Feb. 2nd.

Is buying five guns in 3 days a little mad?

I see that patience is about as much a virtue for you as it is for me! LOL

I still say you need to round it out with a nice AR rifle.

 

[WilliamG]

Hah! Not sure I can convince the wife of any practical use of an AR rifle.

At least... not till next week....

 

[WilliamG]

Well, after purchasing the Bodyguard 380, I'm having buyer's remorse... All this talk about .380 not being powerful enough etc etc, not penetrating enough etc etc...

Maybe I should have gotten a Kahr PM9...

 

[PointOfImpact]

I would vote... semi-auto. There are several pistols out there (Like the Beretta Cheetah) that have an option of tip-up barrels. You tip the barrel up, put a round in the chamber, close it, insert magazine, done. After the first magazine, the slide does not need to be racked, it will lock back on the empty magazine. Problem solved.


I prefer semi-autos, due to the increased capacity and the fact you have single action with every shot after your first (or with every shot, if you do not de-cock the pistol). They also have lower recoil, since the recoil spring/action absorbs a lot of the recoil energy.


I do like revolvers for concealed carry, but for a home defense gun, a .380 will offer similar ballistics to normal .38 special loads, and the Beretta offers more than twice the capacity (13 + 1 rounds) of the revolver, with less recoil for follow up shots and faster reloading.


And- you won't have to rack the slide if you don't want to.



I suggest, like everyone here says, to try out several guns before you buy and take a few classes. Only then will you know what works best for you and your family.

 

[WilliamG]

I would vote... semi-auto. There are several pistols out there (Like the Beretta Cheetah) that have an option of tip-up barrels. You tip the barrel up, put a round in the chamber, close it, insert magazine, done. After the first magazine, the slide does not need to be racked, it will lock back on the empty magazine. Problem solved.


I prefer semi-autos, due to the increased capacity and the fact you have semi-auto with every shot after your first. They also have lower recoil, since the recoil spring/action absorbs a lot of the recoil energy.


I do like revolvers for concealed carry, but for a home defense gun, a .380 will offer similar ballistics to normal .38 special loads, and the Beretta offers more than twice the capacity (13 + 1 rounds) of the revolver, with less recoil for follow up shots and faster reloading.


And- you won't have to rack the slide if you don't want to.



I suggest, like everyone here says, to try out several guns before you buy and take a few classes. Only then will you know what works best for you and your family.

Oh boy, you really didn't read the previous pages.

Cliff Notes:

My wife and I took a class, and I went gun crazy.

Bought:

1.) S&W 686 SSR
2.) S&W M&P9 Pro
3.) S&W Bodyguard 380
4.) Buck Mark Camper SS URX
5.) Remington 870 Compact shotgun

Had buyer's remorse over the BG 380, but then decided I preferred the weight, ergonomics, price, less recoil (being inexperienced) over the Kahr PM9 9mm anyway.

Will probably buy a PM9 later anyway when I'm more accustomed to CCW weapons.

 

[PointOfImpact]

Well, after purchasing the Bodyguard 380, I'm having buyer's remorse... All this talk about .380 not being powerful enough etc etc, not penetrating enough etc etc...

Maybe I should have gotten a Kahr PM9...

Do a poll of how many of them have been shot in the chest with a .380, and go by those results.


The .380 is just fine for close range work, a lot of people here use .38 special which is close in ballistics to the .380. Just get good ammunition (you may be better off with FMJ), practice with the gun, and everything will be fine.

 

[PointOfImpact]

Oh boy, you really didn't read the previous pages.

Cliff Notes:

My wife and I took a class, and I went gun crazy.

Bought:

1.) S&W 686 SSR
2.) S&W M&P9 Pro
3.) S&W Bodyguard 380
4.) Buck Mark Camper SS URX
5.) Remington 870 Compact shotgun

Had buyer's remorse over the BG 380, but then decided I preferred the weight, ergonomics, price, less recoil (being inexperienced) over the Kahr PM9 9mm anyway.

Will probably buy a PM9 later anyway when I'm more accustomed to CCW weapons.

Yeah I just saw that... ooops. I posted a more fitting reply haha.

 

[WilliamG]

Do a poll of how many of them have been shot in the chest with a .380, and go by those results.


The .380 is just fine for close range work, a lot of people here use .38 special which is close in ballistics to the .380. Just get good ammunition (you may be better off with FMJ), practice with the gun, and everything will be fine.

Thank you.

I bought 100 rounds of PMC Bronze for targets, and a box of 25 rounds of PMC Gold Starfire hollow points for conceal.

I'll be testing those out though to see how they all perform..