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

[Badkarma 1]

Welcome to America

Well it seems you have your primary battery well sorted out sir, Kudos!
The addition of the Remington 870 made me smile as nothing says "Get out of my house!" faster that a pump action shotgun being racked!
Your selections are very well rounded and definetly of a defensive and sporting nature. I too admire the 686 as a home defence piece as well as the M&P9 Pro. As far as I'm concerned everybody NEEDs a .22 be it pistol or rifle and my choice would be the Ruger as they never seem to go bad or jam. As for the .380 let us know how it goes as there are more than a few of us that are curious about the littlest Bodyguard! Me, I prefer a small frame .38 for the role of carry (but usually am carrying something a little bigger).
So what's next? Dale

 

[WilliamG]

Next? NEXT?! For now let me try and find some money left for ammo!

My wife and I compared the Ruger and the Buck Mark, and absolutely didn't like the grip/ergonomics of the Ruger. I'm sure it's a fine weapon, but it appears the Buck Mark has the edge in handling characteristics and ease of cleaning.

THAT said, I may pick up another .22 LR anyway so we both can shoot simultaneously. I really liked firing the .22 LR, and the ammo is so cheap by comparison to... well... everything else!

 

[WilliamG]

Some of my guns are in! I can't take them home yet, but they're in, and I got to dribble over all of them....

 

[Fletchman]

William G. - First of All welcome to the U.S. In my experience the 686 is a fine weapon and Crimson Trace Laser grips are excellent. You can't go wrong with this combination. My recomendation is to buy what you want. However learn to shoot and train without using the crimson trace grips. I have CT grips on my pistols but they are only a secondary sighting system for low light conditions to me. One gun I would consider is the model 60 357/38spc. It's smaller and lighter and your wife will be able to handle it easier than the 686. If you plan on using 38 special most the time anyway a model 60 in all steel is a good weapon. The only drawback is it is a 5 shot revolver instead of 6 rounds for the 686 or 7 rounds for the 686 plus. Also should you decide to carry the model 60 is lighter.

 

[WilliamG]

Thanks, Fletchman. I think I'm done buying guns for right now, though.

 

[WilliamG]

I get to pick up my guns tomorrow, Tuesday, January 31, 2010.

686 SSR, Remington 870, Buck Mark, and M&P9 Pro.

Wednesday is BG380 time.

 

[nebmike]

I get to pick up my guns tomorrow, Tuesday, January 31, 2010.

686 SSR, Remington 870, Buck Mark, and M&P9 Pro.

Wednesday is BG380 time.

Um... tomorrow is Tuesday, February 1st... and its 2011.

Better lay off the sauce before you go get those guns.

 

[WilliamG]

Oh boy. I really am losing my mind. Haha!

Yes, Tuesday, Feb. 1st.

 

[WilliamG]

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

Didn't take me long. Just placed an order for a Knight's Armament SR15. I was DEAD SET on an M&P15, but after holding the SR15 it was an obvious decision. There goes $2k. Whoops.

Can't wait for the shop to get it in!

So, since the beginning of February it's, in order of purchase:

1.) S&W 686 SSR
2.) S&W M&P 9mm Pro
3.) Remington 870
4.) Browning Buck Mark Camper URX
5.) S&W Bodyguard .380
6.) S&W M&P 15-22
7.) Knight's Armament SR15

Am I missing anything else? Maybe a 1911?

Oh, and Fletchman, my wife has now had some experience firing my 686 SSR. She LOVES it. It's just a gorgeous firearm. Really easy to manage recoil, really accurate, and a trigger that blows away every other trigger on any other firearm in my collection. Really pleased with it.

 

[M3Stuart]

Cheerio mate! Join me for bangers and mash at the pub later?

First, welcome to America, land of the free and home of what has got to be the most heavily armed population in the world. Enjoying guns has got to be one of the most quintessential 'American' experiences.

Lots of us have owned many and we go through phases and available cash to buy guns and ammo. My advice is like others here; it pays hugely to rent guns. Figure out what you enjoy and have fun with it. Be sure to get out in the country with a variety of handguns (and rifles) and see what is the most fun for YOU.

Sometimes you'll want to actually hit stuff, and other times you might just find yourself wanting to turn a bunch of expensive ammo 'magically' into loud noise into the side of a creek bed!

Also; take some classes, a good instructor will help you advance your skill level dramatically.

Have fun with it!

Um, now that I read your latest listing I would like to suggest something - about 100 acres of land out in the sticks and a bunch of camo gear! Get somebody with a tractor to build you a big berm so you don't hit cattle in the next county and fire away!

 

[WilliamG]

I'm going to be taking another class really soon. I've had a handgun class, which was very useful. Thankfully I have an excellent range near me with great classes available, so I'll be sure to do some of that. One thing better than shooting is shooting responsibly and well!

 

[M29since14]

Thanks, Fletchman. I think I'm done buying guns for right now, though.

I just came to this thread. What a riot!

 

[gr8smiles]

Thanks, Fletchman. I think I'm done buying guns for right now, though.

That's what I said before the intervention. What problem? I don't have a gun buying problem? I promise

 

[WilliamG]

I'm sure my rationality has gone out the window. And yet, somehow, I'm allowed to keep buying more.

Gun shop just called! SR15 will be in Friday. Same day UPS will be delivering my Eotech EXPS3-0 and 6 Magpul PMAGS!

I don't have a problem, do I?

 

[What the]

Hello and welcome to our country William,

Your choice of revolvers is ultimately yours alone....you have received some good advice here. You will no doubt buy more guns as you become familiar with the sport,as far as self defense carry goes that is a very complicated decision.

You are headed in the right direction by taking classes and don't be afraid to take all the time you need before buying your guns. It can be a costly sport,and believe me it's usually less expensive to NOT buy a gun than buy one you don't need/care for if that makes any sense....LOL

 

[WilliamG]

Hello and welcome to our country William,

Your choice of revolvers is ultimately yours alone....you have received some good advice here. You will no doubt buy more guns as you become familiar with the sport,as far as self defense carry goes that is a very complicated decision.

You are headed in the right direction by taking classes and don't be afraid to take all the time you need before buying your guns. It can be a costly sport,and believe me it's usually less expensive to NOT buy a gun than buy one you don't need/care for if that makes any sense....LOL

LOL too late. Already bought too many. I'm still scheming my next purchase, despite... uh... promising the wife I wouldn't buy anymore!

 

[M29since14]

I'm sure my rationality has gone out the window. And yet, somehow, I'm allowed to keep buying more.

Gun shop just called! SR15 will be in Friday. Same day UPS will be delivering my Eotech EXPS3-0 and 6 Magpul PMAGS!

I don't have a problem, do I?

William, William... what would the folks back home say if they knew about you now? Tisk, tisk.

 

[WilliamG]

My father won't even talk to me about it. ;( I didn't think he'd understand. Guess I was right! I'm not sure I would, either!

 

[snowman]

Hello, William. I didn't get in on this thread back in January, but I have a few minutes right now; and so, with many of the others who have responded here, would like to welcome you to this great land, and to Mr. Jarrett's S&W forums. We need many, many more like you; men who recognize that they are responsible for their defense and their family's defense against the evil men who would do them harm, and who therefore take preparatory action should the need for defense ever arise(and we all earnestly pray that it doesn't). It is a very sobering issue, requiring ongoing thought, education, training, etc. I commend you highly for taking the class awhile back. I would encourage you and your wife to avail yourselves of whatever other resources you may find helpful to further prepare yourselves.

You made an excellent choice for a home defense revolver; I have three 686s, two of which are home defense guns, and nearly identical. I have installed night sights on both; some people think they're a good idea and others don't -as you have noticed from this thread there are many differing opinions among gunowners about a lot of things.

It's obvious that you are enjoying this new aspect of life here in the USA, and that is wonderful. Remember though never to take it for granted; our right to gun ownership here is always under attack, and if we're not vigilant we could end up like your homeland. My belief is that MANY more serious gunowners/shooters are needed to prevent this from happening. There are loads of Americans who have guns, but they never use them and don't really care if they have them or not.

Well, I've gotten a little too philosophical here -not really in the spirit of this thread. Enjoy your firearms, and be safe!

Andy

 

[WilliamG]

Thanks for the comments, snowman. I appreciate your line of thought.

I have a very different background, being from England. I think if the government decided to take away all our guns, I wouldn't be too much against it - if somehow ALL criminally-owned guns could be accounted for (i.e. a perfect world that can never exist). My primary reason for buying guns was to defend myself, because I recognize that America is a more dangerous place than England (on the whole). That's not to say England doesn't have its dangers, but you know what I mean...

I do enjoy shooting, and decking out my guns with accessories etc etc. But if I had to give it all up? I would do it without much fuss. But again, that could only be in a perfect world. I'm certainly grateful that as a permanent resident I do get the same treatment as an American citizen in terms of firearm ownership.

I had made a thread a while back in the Second Amendment forum, and it was deleted because apparently it was unfathomable that I could be anti-gun, yet still be excited/thrilled/in awe of them. I understand this is a very pro-gun site, which is no problem for me (as you've probably noticed!). But I am, in general, quite anti-gun! I just don't like OTHER people with guns!

I guess I've gotten a tad philosophical, too. I certainly have mixed feelings about guns in general. But I do love having them. When in Rome, you know?