Gun question

[sourceninja]

Must be a thing with my region. I've been told by multiple gun shops prior to the ammo shortage that "No one carries 380". In fact, I only know of one shop in the area that even sells the P232 (Out of 4 shops). I know that the local indoor range has never had 380 ammo in any quantities, even when 9mm was sub 10 bucks a box.

I'm not saying you guys are not right, I think you are. I was just stating what I had been told by local gun shops.

On a side note. I personally can't stand the P232. My daily carry is a walther PPS and it is borderline too small. I couldn't imaging using a p232.

 

[ScottMac]

Originally posted by: Mojoed

Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt
For home defense a shotgun is #1 and a wheelgun is #2. Especially for inexperienced shooters a revolver is far more idiotproof than an automatic.

Best advice so far! :thumbsup:

This is what any gun shop owner will advise for a first-time gun buyer.

I Agree.

The other issue is maintenance. Revolvers and pump shotguns would be a good tradeoff on function versus ease of maintenance.

The other advise for the new owner with a new handgun is to *NOT* cock the gun if you are defending ... leave it in double-action mode where you need much more force to pull the trigger. Adrenaline will give more than enough strength to pull the trigger if you need to ... in SA mode, you end up shooting at the first twitch and killing someone or something that you didn't intend to.

DA tends to be a little less accurate because of the trigger-pulling tension, but at self-defense range, it shouldn't matter much.

 

[sao123]

if u buy her a semi auto handgun, make sure she can pull the slide back in case it jams...
some of those springs can be too much for smaller girls..

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: sourceninja
Must be a thing with my region. I've been told by multiple gun shops prior to the ammo shortage that "No one carries 380". In fact, I only know of one shop in the area that even sells the P232 (Out of 4 shops). I know that the local indoor range has never had 380 ammo in any quantities, even when 9mm was sub 10 bucks a box.

I'm not saying you guys are not right, I think you are. I was just stating what I had been told by local gun shops.

On a side note. I personally can't stand the P232. My daily carry is a walther PPS and it is borderline too small. I couldn't imaging using a p232.

too small, what are you looking to do hunt bear?

Someone looking to jack your iPod?

 

[sourceninja]

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: sourceninja
Must be a thing with my region. I've been told by multiple gun shops prior to the ammo shortage that "No one carries 380". In fact, I only know of one shop in the area that even sells the P232 (Out of 4 shops). I know that the local indoor range has never had 380 ammo in any quantities, even when 9mm was sub 10 bucks a box.

I'm not saying you guys are not right, I think you are. I was just stating what I had been told by local gun shops.

On a side note. I personally can't stand the P232. My daily carry is a walther PPS and it is borderline too small. I couldn't imaging using a p232.

too small, what are you looking to do hunt bear?

Someone looking to jack your iPod?

Not bullet size. Physical firearm size. A gun has to be comfortable in your hand and comfortable to shoot.

If you don't practice with it then it might as well be useless.

 

[bargetrav]

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: LTC8K6

wide shot pattern = accuracy is not an issue
won't really penetrate through walls = good thing

Nope, no wide pattern at household distances. You must aim properly to hit your target just like any other firearm.

Buckshot, which you need to kill people, will penetrate a lot of walls.

Yep. You can always tell who has no real firearm experience when you hear these shotgun myths.

Folks, an 18" barrel shotgun (the shortest legal length) firing buckshot will have NO significant spread at 50 feet or less.

And buckshot WILL go through walls. A lot of them.

50 feet? are you fucking kidding me? you must be. i have taken my 20" barrel mossberg to the range and patterned it at 7 yards using #4 buckshot and I can tell you for an absolute fact you'll have a much greater damage area than a pistol will. There is a good amount of spread, at least 8 inches or so across, which is huge in terms of inflicting enough damage to stop an intruder.

Granted, if you use 00, or 000 buckshot it's going to spread less and less. #4 has 27 total pellets and is perfect for home use and will pattern well at close ranges.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: sourceninja
Not bullet size. Physical firearm size. A gun has to be comfortable in your hand and comfortable to shoot.

If you don't practice with it then it might as well be useless.

Yup on both counts. How a firearm feels for the user is most important and what works for one person may not work for another. For example, I have a P230 that I absolutely love. I can hit anything I aim at with it at normal self-defense ranges. This is because the firearm is comfortable for me and fits my hand well. Obviously the same is not true for you, which is perfectly fine.

Too many people look for advice and assume that firearms are a "one size fits all" proposition.

ZV

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: sourceninja

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: sourceninja
Must be a thing with my region. I've been told by multiple gun shops prior to the ammo shortage that "No one carries 380". In fact, I only know of one shop in the area that even sells the P232 (Out of 4 shops). I know that the local indoor range has never had 380 ammo in any quantities, even when 9mm was sub 10 bucks a box.

I'm not saying you guys are not right, I think you are. I was just stating what I had been told by local gun shops.

On a side note. I personally can't stand the P232. My daily carry is a walther PPS and it is borderline too small. I couldn't imaging using a p232.

too small, what are you looking to do hunt bear?

Someone looking to jack your iPod?

Not bullet size. Physical firearm size. A gun has to be comfortable in your hand and comfortable to shoot.

If you don't practice with it then it might as well be useless.

P232 is a fairly full sized grip. It's an extremely comfortable gun to shoot and very accurate.

I prefer a larger caliber mostly because as a larger guy I can carry them easily.

.45 is pushing it though. They say a 9mm and .40 are about the same at the end of the day, but the .40 to me just feels more substantial.

I was firing a .357 barrel in a .40 and that was pretty cool...big fireballs which would be great for intimidation factor.

 

[sourceninja]

Ah crap, I got the P232 confused with the P238. Yea the P232 isn't that bad, but for the size I prefer my Walther PPS in 9mm (or .40 if you want). The P238 is simply too small to be usable by me.

 

[Kelvrick]

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: sourceninja

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: sourceninja
Must be a thing with my region. I've been told by multiple gun shops prior to the ammo shortage that "No one carries 380". In fact, I only know of one shop in the area that even sells the P232 (Out of 4 shops). I know that the local indoor range has never had 380 ammo in any quantities, even when 9mm was sub 10 bucks a box.

I'm not saying you guys are not right, I think you are. I was just stating what I had been told by local gun shops.

On a side note. I personally can't stand the P232. My daily carry is a walther PPS and it is borderline too small. I couldn't imaging using a p232.

too small, what are you looking to do hunt bear?

Someone looking to jack your iPod?

Not bullet size. Physical firearm size. A gun has to be comfortable in your hand and comfortable to shoot.

If you don't practice with it then it might as well be useless.

P232 is a fairly full sized grip. It's an extremely comfortable gun to shoot and very accurate.

I prefer a larger caliber mostly because as a larger guy I can carry them easily.

.45 is pushing it though. They say a 9mm and .40 are about the same at the end of the day, but the .40 to me just feels more substantial.

I was firing a .357 barrel in a .40 and that was pretty cool...big fireballs which would be great for intimidation factor.

You're talking about 357 sig? In a home defense situation, it will likely be night time, pretty much blinding the shooter. Not a situation you want to be in if you missed.

I'm going with a shotgun. Personally, I have a mossberg 590 with #4 buckshot with a youth stock on it. The shorter lop makes it easier to maneuver and shoulder. Backup is a 9mm 1911. Big, long sight radius, small recoil and reliable for me.

Racking the shotgun is bullshit. If the intruder has a gun as well, all it does is let him know you're awake and where you are instead of giving you the advantage of him now knowing.

If he doesn't have a gun, then you can hold him until the cops come and haul him away. In a defense situation, they're pretty much just good for taking away bodies (alive or dead) and writing reports.

 

[Nebor]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: Unheard


AK-47 the very best there is. When you absolutely, positively, have to kill every mother fucker in the room! Accept no substitutes.

meh, semi-auto shotgun with 30 rounds.

Why not both? Semi--auto shotgun AK with 20 rounds. http://www.tromix.com/images/SaigaZw.jpg

 

[PliotronX]

Originally posted by: Nebor

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: Unheard


AK-47 the very best there is. When you absolutely, positively, have to kill every mother fucker in the room! Accept no substitutes.

meh, semi-auto shotgun with 30 rounds.

Why not both? Semi--auto shotgun AK with 20 rounds. http://www.tromix.com/images/SaigaZw.jpg

I'll see your Saiga and raise you AA-12.

 

[nick1985]

Originally posted by: nick1985
Ended up going with a Taurus .40

I tried a lot of pistols, but very few felt good in my hands (they are rather large). The Taurus .40 felt great. Cant wait to pick it up soon

Actually changed my mind and picked up a Springfield XD-40

LOVE IT!!!!!!

 

[KentState]

I have a few of the guns talked about in this thread including a 12ga Mossberg 500, SW MP40c, SW 38 special, Glock 19, and a SW MP 15. I personally found that the Mossberg is the one that I would feel most comfortable using in a home invasion situation. Mainly because of the reliability and stopping power. Next would be the Glock 19 followed by the SW MP40c. Honestly, it took more than a couple trips to the range or out to the country to figure which one I liked that best. Even going to the store and holding the guns doesn't give them complete feel of it being loaded or firing a round.