Gun Owning Smokers

[FactoredReality]

Check out the contest sub-forum. Running a contest to guess them right now.

[TravPSU]

Added a few more guns to my collection.




The top one is my dad's and the bottom is mine. I put them together on Friday and got some shooting in this weekend.

[Fuma787]

Added a few more guns to my collection.




The top one is my dad's and the bottom is mine. I put them together on Friday and got some shooting in this weekend.

Very nice!! That's the best and cheapest way to do it. Buy an upper parts kit and a stripped lower and build it yourself. Did you get a detachable carrying handle??

[TravPSU]

Very nice!! That's the best and cheapest way to do it. Buy an upper parts kit and a stripped lower and build it yourself. Did you get a detachable carrying handle??

No, the rifle on the bottom is mine. I plan on getting a Magpul MBUS and an Eotech sight for mine. The top one is my dad's and it has the detachable handle.

[ndv21]

Just to post a question out to everyone,

I am by no means knowledgable in handguns but I am interested in getting one for fun at the range and just to have around the house. What would be a good beginner's handgun?

[badwhale]

If I were you, I'd join a gun forum, like Smith&wesson forum.com or 1911 forum for a question like that. Also, if you haven't already, brush up on your hunter's safety courses, general gun safety & or join your local range / hunting club.

Will

[Shelby07]

Before you do anything take a look at availability and price of ammo. Prices have skyrocketed and availability has dried up in the past year or so. If you just want to plink, a .22 would be a good choice. Ammo is cheap and available. If you're looking for someting a little bigger maybe a .38 or a 9mm.

[MarineOne]

Just to post a question out to everyone,

I am by no means knowledgable in handguns but I am interested in getting one for fun at the range and just to have around the house. What would be a good beginner's handgun?

Get some safety classes first, or find someone locally willing to help you for their favorite brand of whiskey. Next, I would look at a starter gun like a hammerless S&W .38 so that you can get used to shooting it and work on being safe. Its low recoil and .38 is cheap to shoot.

Once you get the fundamentals down, then work your way up to a semi-auto like the Springfield XD line. They're under $650, come with 2 magazines, mag loading tool, gun holster, mag holster, and cable lock. I own both the XD .45 and XDm 9mm, obviously in different colors. Both are great shooters and I like the features and multiple safeties built into these models.



Kris

[ndv21]

Thanks everyone for all your advice. I was planning on taking a gun safety course before even purchasing a handgun. Based on everyone's responses I am leaning a little bit more towards the 9mm based on the availibility of ammunition (and the fact that I just want it as a weekend toy).

I will let everyone know how it goes when I take the gun safety course. Again, thanks for all the input.

[Kenyth]

Get some safety classes first, or find someone locally willing to help you for their favorite brand of whiskey. Next, I would look at a starter gun like a hammerless S&W .38 so that you can get used to shooting it and work on being safe. Its low recoil and .38 is cheap to shoot.

Once you get the fundamentals down, then work your way up to a semi-auto like the Springfield XD line. They're under $650, come with 2 magazines, mag loading tool, gun holster, mag holster, and cable lock. I own both the XD .45 and XDm 9mm, obviously in different colors. Both are great shooters and I like the features and multiple safeties built into these models.

Kris

A .38 revolver has my vote as well. They are simple, reliable, and cheap. An excellent first choice. The only drawback to the hammerless revolver is that it is useful for self defense only at point blank (arguably, most self defense is at this range anyway). The long trigger pull makes accuracy difficult at best.

With double action hammers, you have the option for an accurate shot, but also the danger of snagging clothing on the draw.

My answer is to buy a pistol to meet your preferance. If you want ultra concealment and light weight, you'll be buying a snub nosed pistol. Since these are very inaccurate beyond point blank to begin with, a hammerless version won't be much detriment.

If you want a useful target pistol as well as a self defense arm, you'll likely want a four inch barrel and a double action hammer. A proper holster will minimize snag risk.

My revolver is the other end of the spectrum. It has a full six inch barrel, and is chambered in .357 magnum (which also fires .38 special). It has a double action hammer and adjustable sights. It's an accurrate, multi pupose field pistol, and practically worthless for concealed carry. It's also my favorite target pistol.

A 9mm/10mm/.40cal/.357sig/etc. compact semi-auto is the next step up for concealed carry. Mine is a Glock 33. IMHO, Glock is simply the best automatic on the market. It may have it's equals, but none are better. The "baby" Glock packs 10 rounds of firepower and a 3 1/2 inch barrel into a package the size of a snub nosed .38. The LDA trigger mechanism is safe and similar in feel to single action, allowing accurate shooting. It has NEVER jammed or misfired yet.