# First time gun owner. The Liberal Gun Club is tiny. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 7, 2016, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-time-gun-owner-the-liberal-gun-club-is-tiny/751404 "2016-04-07T02:15:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2016, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-time-gun-owner-the-liberal-gun-club-is-tiny/751404/41 "2016-04-11T05:51:30Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > Here’s a tip your coach might not think to tell you. I’d recommend you avoid low cut or very unbuttoned tops while shooting. I’ve seen some women shooters catch an expended hot casing between their breasts. Not on purpose. I don’t know if the shrieks are more from surprise than pain or not, but it’s a situation easily avoided. And if that happens with hot brass, could quickly lead to an unsafe situation depending on how the shooter reacts. Good point, RJ. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2016, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-time-gun-owner-the-liberal-gun-club-is-tiny/751404/42 "2016-04-11T05:55:07Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > Had a good group in our module today (range has three modules, 25 lanes) - people next to my friend were playing target Battleship, there was a couple on my left with the wife looking uncomfortable but they were being safe, and a guy to my right who was grouping everything very nicely but comes to the range alone because his wife won’t come. It’s good to hear you’re aware of the others on the firing line with you. I think it’s a good thing to check, to see if others are being safe. Glad to hear you had a good day! ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2016, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-time-gun-owner-the-liberal-gun-club-is-tiny/751404/43 "2016-04-11T06:01:40Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > And if that happens with hot brass, could quickly lead to an unsafe situation depending on how the shooter reacts. Good point, RJ. Yeppers. I like mock turtlenecks. Ejected hot brass is often neglected. The original M-16s would eject right into the faces of left handed shooters. That was corrected with the M-16A1s, along with some other issues. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2016, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-time-gun-owner-the-liberal-gun-club-is-tiny/751404/44 "2016-04-11T08:52:40Z")
Make sure you get a really good pair of earmuffs - ideally electronic ones with the microphones in them, so you can still hear people talking to you (or the range officer issuing range commands). You only get one set of ears and while handguns aren’t particularly loud outdoors, they can still damage your hearing and the noise is amplified at an indoor range. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2016, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-time-gun-owner-the-liberal-gun-club-is-tiny/751404/45 "2016-04-11T11:59:06Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Hey, I’m farther left than most and I’m better armed than _Bolivia_. 😃 We’re not counting axes, bubba… ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2016, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-time-gun-owner-the-liberal-gun-club-is-tiny/751404/46 "2016-04-11T12:18:28Z")
Another bleeding-heart liberal gun enthusiast checking in. Welcome to the club. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2016, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-time-gun-owner-the-liberal-gun-club-is-tiny/751404/47 "2016-04-11T14:54:02Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > Make sure you get a really good pair of earmuffs - ideally electronic ones with the microphones in them, so you can still hear people talking to you (or the range officer issuing range commands). > > You only get one set of ears and while handguns aren’t particularly loud outdoors, they can still damage your hearing and the noise is amplified at an indoor range. Thanks, covered! The ranges we go to, eyes and ears are mandatory. So much so they will toss covers at you if you’re without. It’s so loud, you’d have to be already deaf to even consider a single second uncovered. Just the ventilation alone is barely tolerable without ears on. Friend and I started out with the provided ones, but when browsing the store a couple months ago while waiting for a lane, another customer chatted with us and recommend his. They’re the electronic ones, and not crazy expensive. She got teal, and I got purple. It’s very nice not to yell at each other, and to hear what everyone else is up to! I also got a purple range bag, pink speed loader, and pink ammo boxes. I figure, if nothing else, my stuff will always be easy to find and harder to steal! Changed the fiber optic front sight to green last night. It was easy, and wow do I like it better than red. Springfield provided enough to change back and forth probably three to four times. Also, it takes about 30 seconds to field strip and reassemble. I’m sure someone actually trying to do it quickly could halve that easily. Stupid easy. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2016, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-time-gun-owner-the-liberal-gun-club-is-tiny/751404/48 "2016-04-11T16:23:28Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > Changed the fiber optic front sight to green last night. It was easy, and wow do I like it better than red. Springfield provided enough to change back and forth probably three to four times. I put one of those front sights on mine and had the choice of either red or hi-viz green. I chose green and am very happy with it, in all lighting conditions so far tested. The new front sight is a great upgrade from the stock black metal sight. Much much easier to quickly acquire. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2016, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-time-gun-owner-the-liberal-gun-club-is-tiny/751404/49 "2016-04-11T17:41:09Z")
> [@Lacunae\_Matata](#): > > I am a left-leaning gun owner. My right wing nut friends think I’m stupid because my guns live in the safe (“What are you going to do when the bad guys get there?” “I’m going to call 911, because a good mom with a gun would prefer to be robbed than for the 4-year-old to get hold of a gun. My dogs are for protection and deterrence. The guns, I inherited.”) > > I like guns. Grew up with them. They are nice tools to have. Kind of fun to use. But I don’t have any illusions about my ability to be Rambo or Chuck Norris. I’m just a woman who owns a few guns. Actually, I’m a right-leaning gun owner, and mine are in the safe for the same exact reason, so don’t feel bad about it! I have every intention of teaching my sons to be responsible shooters, but at 4 and 2, they’re not ready yet. So the guns all stay in the safe. I’ll second Ranger Jeff’s suggestion. I’d even advocate wearing a t-shirt; it doesn’t have to be low-cut, just open at the neck to catch a hot shell casing. (saw this happen to a woman once at the range- it was funny, once she quit waving the pistol around) ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2016, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-time-gun-owner-the-liberal-gun-club-is-tiny/751404/50 "2016-04-11T17:47:23Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > Also, it takes about 30 seconds to field strip and reassemble. I’m sure someone actually trying to do it quickly could halve that easily. Stupid easy. It is indeed easy to do, but it has one characteristic that drives me crazy, also in common with Glocks: to field strip it you have to pull the trigger. That violates Rule 3: Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on target. Whatever you do, MAKE SURE you do not have a round in the chamber when you disassemble it. That’s not enough to stop me from owning it, or two Glocks, but it’s something that has bothered me for a long time. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2016, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-time-gun-owner-the-liberal-gun-club-is-tiny/751404/51 "2016-04-11T17:50:45Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > I just wish people wouldn’t assume just because we’re there that we’re aligned politically. I’d expect that they will continue to make this assumption, until somebody tells them differently. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2016, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-time-gun-owner-the-liberal-gun-club-is-tiny/751404/52 "2016-04-11T18:44:50Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > It is indeed easy to do, but it has one characteristic that drives me crazy, also in common with Glocks: to field strip it you have to pull the trigger. That violates Rule 3: Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on target. Whatever you do, MAKE SURE you do not have a round in the chamber when you disassemble it. > > That’s not enough to stop me from owning it, or two Glocks, but it’s something that has bothered me for a long time. Yes, I finally understand the whole “fired while cleaning” thing. Not that it’s an excuse. I’ve watched so many (good) training videos, it’s already second nature to check, double check and I haven’t had it for 24 hours yet. I was deciding between this model and the Sig Sauer p320. The Sig does not require a trigger pull to disassemble. It also has zero other safeties. The mod.2 requires the trigger pull, but I really like the grip safety, can take or leave the trigger safety, has a cocking indicator (visual and tactile) plus a loaded chamber indicator (visual and tactile). My preference for the rest overrode the disassembly trigger pull problem. Keeping pointed in a safe direction is less intuitive in my apartment. Since I’m on the top floor, pointing to the floor is not safe, the ceiling is a better choice. Pretty much counter to habits I need to keep everywhere else. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2016, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-time-gun-owner-the-liberal-gun-club-is-tiny/751404/53 "2016-04-11T19:07:04Z")
I guess I’m more like a classical liberal these days - sort of libertarian but I think that Ayn Rand is a dead hack writer and not someone to invoke in every conversation. And I think Obama is incredibly disingenious on gun control but the language one should be using is on his record, not insinuating that he’s a secret Muslim like in some other forums. One thing I learned from being on more conservative gun forums: Trump has _a few_ fans, but on the whole people really dislike him. I remember some Republican debate a few years ago (I think not the Presidential?) where the candidates were asked about their firearms and tried to out 2A each other. And I realized that I own more guns than several proud conservatives **combined**. Even in the current election, aside from maybe Cruz the other candidates current and former own 1-3 apiece IIRC. > [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > It will take way more time to load the magazines until my speed loader comes from Amazon! Not sure which one you went with, but the [UpLula](http://www.amazon.com/Maglula-UpLULA-Universal-Pistol-Magazine/dp/B001HBHNHE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1460400715&sr=8-1&keywords=uplula) is wonderful. Boresnakes (Hoppes or other) are a good, cheap idea as well. > [@](#): > > My friend with her Ruger, though, it’s a .22 but not sure which one, she’s clearing hers 3-4 times per session so far. I’ve heard some of the little Rugers can be finicky, so she may need to switch ammo, or it may be from a soft wrist/grip and/or cross-eye dominance issue she hasn’t quite sussed out yet. Hoping the session on the 21st will figure it out. Federal is my favorite brand for the cheap stuff (Remington is crappy), but be happy she can find any .22 at all. I can only rarely find 50 packs for too much money or bulk ones of some fancy ammo that’s like $60. > [@kopek](#): > > I know modern firing pins are not like the old-timey things and I know autos aren’t like the old hammer revolvers but ------- I would still get a snap-cap (dummy bullet with a spring-loaded mock primer). I use them myself almost universally. They’re useful if you load them randomly with live ammo and take to the range (have a friend do it so you’re completely blind) to notice when you flinch. The general rule though is that centerfire it’s not necessary but they are in rimfire. Despite that, Ruger says they’re not needed in the 10/22. .22 snap caps are also just chunks of plastic from what I’ve seen while other calibers are fancier with springs and such. > [@](#): > > I run a Ruger Mk II .22 and while I am not proud to admit it I usually don’t clean it until I get say one jam per two mags. Which for me seems to be about 500+ rounds and with just about any ammo I find cheap. I have heard though that some of the newer Rugers can get finicky with any real dirt. I think there’s some kind of law that .22s and shotguns have to be cleaned rarely. Everything else gets cleaned quicker, and corrosive ammo gets cleaned ASAP. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2016, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-time-gun-owner-the-liberal-gun-club-is-tiny/751404/54 "2016-04-12T08:44:00Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > I think there’s some kind of law that .22s and shotguns have to be cleaned rarely. Everything else gets cleaned quicker, and corrosive ammo gets cleaned ASAP. I’m not sure why you’d even bother cleaning a modern shotgun barrel at all, to be honest. Make sure you keep the mechanism properly maintained, though (obviously). Also, another recommendation for bore snakes. They’ll cut your cleaning time from potentially half an hour to half a minute. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2016, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-time-gun-owner-the-liberal-gun-club-is-tiny/751404/55 "2016-04-12T09:32:14Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > I’m not sure why you’d even bother cleaning a modern shotgun barrel at all, to be honest. Make sure you keep the mechanism properly maintained, though (obviously). Well the last time I did so I thought it necessary as it was after I carried it through rain, snow, _painful_ hail, [sleet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rain_and_snow_mixed) (the wet kind), and [sleet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_pellets) (the [Dippin’ Dots](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dippin'_Dots) kind). All in a 1 hour period. In the desert. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2016, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-time-gun-owner-the-liberal-gun-club-is-tiny/751404/56 "2016-04-12T10:18:28Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > You don’t have to get involved with any of the political aspects that some people think accompany shooting if you don’t want to. ++ I usually refrain from discussing my ownership of firearms because I don’t want people assuming Wayne LaPierre speaks for me. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2016, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-time-gun-owner-the-liberal-gun-club-is-tiny/751404/57 "2016-04-12T12:14:10Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > I think there’s some kind of law that .22s and shotguns have to be cleaned rarely. Everything else gets cleaned quicker, and corrosive ammo gets cleaned ASAP. I know what you mean but with me its just that one; it is a pain to get apart and back together. My .22 revolver and rifles get cleaned every trip. > [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > I’m not sure why you’d even bother cleaning a modern shotgun barrel at all, to be honest. Make sure you keep the mechanism properly maintained, though (obviously). Force of habit due to old age and partly to inspect the firearm on a regular basis. Some of my choke tubes have a habit of working a little loose now and then and cleaning sort of reinforces the “check this” tab in my brain. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2016, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-time-gun-owner-the-liberal-gun-club-is-tiny/751404/58 "2016-04-12T12:55:28Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > ++ > > I usually refrain from discussing my ownership of firearms because I don’t want people assuming Wayne LaPierre speaks for me. This, for me too. But also, when shooting or taking a firearms class, I ignore the political jabs against this or that administration. The comments tend to happen in the classroom, but can be heard when shooting too, during breaks. People assume I share the same beliefs just because I have a firearm. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2016, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-time-gun-owner-the-liberal-gun-club-is-tiny/751404/59 "2016-04-12T19:56:14Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > Also, another recommendation for bore snakes. They’ll cut your cleaning time from potentially half an hour to half a minute. Yes, picked one up at Cabelas on Sunday. Putting my range bag together. I don’t need to carry the cleaning kit, right? As long as it’s cleaned regularly, I should just need the bore snake for just in case, and a towel, right? ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2016, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-time-gun-owner-the-liberal-gun-club-is-tiny/751404/60 "2016-04-12T20:27:43Z")
Correct. Although you may want to carry some CLP with you, for lubing on the go if needed. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-time-gun-owner-the-liberal-gun-club-is-tiny/751404.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-time-gun-owner-the-liberal-gun-club-is-tiny/751404.md?page=4)