Help Me Buy A Pistol!

In My Humble Opinion
1

All-

I bow to your collective gun knowledge. I am seriously considering purchasing a pistol. I have never owned a handgun and I have only fired one twice (an HK 9mm, I believe). I was in the military, and have fired on many occasions M-16 A1 and A2’s, an M-60 machine gun, etc. I have also fired shotguns several times. So in other words I am not a complete idiot when it comes to handling/cleaning/firing weapons.

But I have very little experience with handguns. I considered purchasing a shotgun, like a Mossberg 500 (as I like those), but…I don’t know. I may want to get a conceal/carry at some point and you can’t really conceal a rifle or a shotgun!

What do I need to look for in a pistol? I know heft is important, as well as recoil…what caliber of round to consider? I think a revolver is out…I would like to be able to have more bullets than 6 on hand. I also think I might buy a used handgun as I don’t want to spend a fortune on one. Anyone ever done this? What do I look out for in terms of potential issues with a used weapon?

I am open to any ideas and suggestions you gun owners might have to share. I was thinking about looking at some today. Oh, one other thing…I live in SE Indiana very near Cincinnati and am looking at browsing some shops in Ohio…any potential snags for me buying a gun in one state while being a resident of an adjacent one?

Thanks in advance, you’re the best

Love,

FGIE

2

What are you going to do with the gun? For plinking at cans or targets, you can’t beat a .22 for cost, recoil, and noise.

For self defense, you’ll probably want something heavier. My preference is a double action .357 revolver. If you can’t settle it with 6, you’re probably going to die anyway.

3

Yes, there is a minor snag. A strict prohibition. :slight_smile: You may only purchase handguns in your state of residence.

So, if you found the gun of your dreams in OH, you would have to arrange to have it shipped to an Indiana dealer and have him transfer it to you. Extra money and a real pain in the ass.

I second a .22 for a first handgun. The ammunition is cheap and the recoil is low. It’s not much for self-defense, but anything else you would need to take out a personal loan to fire enough rounds to become proficient.

I carry a 9mm. Yeah, yeah everyone says it is a weak round, but with 16 shots I should be able to stop someone. :slight_smile:

4

Millions of words have been written on hundreds of websites about which gun to buy. What it boils down to is: you gotta decide for yourself.
Just don’t take anything anybody says as gospel.

I have to agree with Oakminster, a .22 is a very good place to start. You’re going to want one eventually anyway, so why not start there. Ruger, Browning, and Smith & Wesson models are the most highly regarded brands, at least on the innerwebz.

I have owned and operated handguns for over 40 years, and I’m still learning, but I do know, or think I know, a few things:

Whatever you get, you need to practice with it, and keep practicing. Once or twice a year is not enough. I shoot at least once a month. I also always take at least one .22 to the range with me, to keep my ammo costs within reason.

9mm is the cheapest center-fire ammo available at you local store. It is also more than adequate for self-defense, regardless what some people may say.

Bigger, heavier pistols are easier to shoot accurately, but harder to conceal. Smaller, lighter pistols are harder to shoot accurately, but easier to conceal. You have to decide what size pistol and what type of carry works for you. I personally have a commander-size 1911 (RIA .45), a compact 9mm auto (SR9C) and a pocket sized .380 (S&W Bodyguard) that I consider my carry guns.

I would advise you to find a place to shoot that rents a wide variety of pistols for you to try.
Get a .22 that you like and shoot it a lot to see if you want to put in the time, and money, to gain and maintain proficiency.
If you decide you want to carry a concealed weapon, come back and ask our advice then.
Take everything you read on the innerwebz with a giant grain of salt.

About buying a pistol out-of-state; you can do that, but the seller will have to transfer the weapon to an FFL dealer in your home state and you will have to pick it up there, and you will have to pay a transfer fee for the ‘privilege’. It will almost certainly be cheaper to buy in your home state.

5

Since you’re looking for advice, I’ll move this from MPSIMS to IMHO, our advice forum.

6

Thanks guys. I dropped by a local gun shop a bit ago and looked at several pistols (and a matte black Mossberg 500 that I really liked). The pistol that left the biggest impression on me was a Stoerger “Cougar” 8000 .45 ACP gun. I really like the heft of the gun…the owner of the shop was telling me how heavy the .45’s were and it didn’t seem heavy to me (of course it was unloaded too). I liked the simplicity of the breakdown for cleaning and the “three-pronged” sight on it, as well as the attachment rails underneath the barrel for a light/laser.

Its being sold as used but the owner said it had never been fired…he told me it was a return from a guy who bought it for his wife but it was too big for her (or her purse??) and that he had to sell it as used due to it being purchased once before.

Price was $400, which includes the original box, manual, extra cartridge and trigger lock. The guy is also throwing in a gun cleaning kit for free if I also buy a box of ammo for him (FMJ rounds, box of 50, $18.95).

Anyone have any experience with this weapon or one similar to it?

http://www.stoegerindustries.com/firearms/stoeger-cougar.php

7

This is getting ridiculous. Like 5 people have started threads about buying guns in the past week! WTF is going on?!

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I haven’t fired that model, but I suspect it will have significant recoil. Short, light pistol in .45, you better have good hand/wrist strength if you want to hit anything with it. Really think you should try to test fire a few models before you buy anything.

9

I have an even better deal.

Free to a loyal Bengals fan. I’ll even cover the postage.

OK, seriously, it sounds like you’re getting a good deal on the Stoeger, which gets good reviews though it is apparently rather heavy. It gets even heavier when you load it, .45 ACP is significantly heavier than 9mm, but you’re getting a common caliber with lots of load options (unlike my 357SIG, which is very expensive to feed). The weight has a benefit, though: it reduces perceived recoil, albeit at the expense of size and concealability. This is not a CCW firearm, if that is one of your interests.

As far as the shotgun goes, you can’t go wrong with either a Mossberg 500 or a Remington 870 as those are the industry standards.

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I prefer shooting rifles, myself; but I do have a number of handguns.

Ruger Mk.II pistol, .22 caliber. Very nice. Points well. Classic. The downside is that it has a ‘target chamber’ and it can be finicky about the brand of ammo. (I talked to a tech at Ruger, who told me this.)

Walther P22, .22 caliber. Fun little ‘toy’. Looks great, functions with all ammo I’ve used in it. Not as accurate as the Ruger. ‘Feels’ like a toy.

Beretta 92FS, 9mm, made in Italy. This one fits my hand perfectly. Some people find it a bit chunky. Accurate, and 15 rounds.

Colt 1911, .45 caliber. I have a 1991A1 (made in 1991, obviously), and a civilian serial-numbered Government model from either the teens or twenties (I don’t remember which). Classic design. Slim for concealed carry, but only 7 rounds. Thumb safety can only be applied when the hammer is back. This shouldn’t be a problem, but it’s not as fool-proof as a safety that can be engaged with the hammer down and that rotates the firing pin out of the way.

I have several other handguns, and each has its appeal. Since the OP has already made his choice, this post is superfluous. But there you have it. ‘You pays our money and takes your pick.’

11

We’re arming ourselves for the end of the world on December 21st, duh.

Actually I was told by the shop owner that because its a heavier gun that recoil is pretty low. Or, see Airman’s post.

LOL on the Bengals suicide gun. I’ll let you have it back when we sign Mike Wallace away from your team. And as far as CCW goes, it isn’t THAT big of a gun…why couldn’t it be concealed?

Nice arsenal. I haven’t totally made up my mind yet which is why I am asking questions. I do like the Stoeger though.
ETA: And Airman, your link to the Stoeger reviews is giving me a database error. If you can put up a working link I’d love to read those reviews.

12

It’s not an ‘arsenal’. It’s a collection!

Off the top of my head, I also have a Walther P.1 (post-war P.38), a stainless steel Walther PPK/S, Ruger Blackhawk (.45LC, 7-1/2" barrel), Ruger Single-Six, H&R 999 nine-shot .22 breaktop revolver, S&W M&P .38, S&W Hand Ejectors in .455 Webley/Eley (both 1916 or so, one converted to .45 with moon clips), Mauser C96 ‘red nine’ 9mm, a Webley Mk. VI in .455, and several ‘charcoal burners’.

13

I’ll believe that when I see it. Wallace will still be with Pittsburgh next year. It looks like the Bengals can take a run at Ward, though. Makes you really want to fire that gun, doesn’t it?

As for why the Stoeger can’t be concealed, it certainly can, but it’s not ideal. Weight is the enemy of concealed carry because the idea is to put it on and forget it’s there. Something heavy will cause constant distraction, and constantly hitching up your belt or adjusting your weapon for comfort gives you away. Ankle carry is even worse, and inside the waistband is notably less comfortable, which leaves you with a paddle holster, something that you have to keep covered at all times lest you expose your weapon. My suggestion, as always, is to get a compact/sub-compact, preferably with a polymer frame, though I have a Kimber Tactical Ultra II (1911-pattern sub-compact) that works well in steel and aluminum and an all-steel SigSauer P239. A lot can be overcome with a good belt and holster, though if you start small it always works out better. CCW is above all a compromise.

It works for me on two computers. I wonder why it doesn’t work for you.

14

I thought I’d check, and I get: ‘Error establishing a database connection’.

15

That’s what I am getting too.

16

Hines Ward!

:eek:
:mad:
:smiley:

No fucking way!

Anyway, thanks for the tip. If I become an ardent shooter with whatever pistol I may buy, then maybe I will get something smaller or bigger depending on if I catch the fever or not. There’s also the matter of getting past the Brady Act background check. I’ve seen that form and I have a misdemeanor battery charge on it from 2004 when I slapped my then wife after she kicked me in the balls and tried to scratch my eyes out…and I got arrested for it even though she was batshit crazy drunk and I was the one with the claw marks on my face. Go figure. Anyway, there’s a question on there that asks if you’ve ever been convicted of a misdemeanor domestic violence charge, and…I suppose I have, as shitty of a person as that makes me sound.

So that might nick me there…no idea. From reading online it looks like there are a lot of people that get rejected for something relatively minor in their past. I have never been convicted of a felony, have an honorable discharge from the Army…and that one black mark on my record. Anyone know anyone that got shafted from legally buying a gun from that FBI background check?

17

Unfortunately, you cannot purchase or possess a firearm due to the Lautenberg Amendment. The best that you can hope for is that you can appeal to have your rights restored or have the court vacate the charge. Until then, you’re SOL.

18

BMalion should soon be armed and dangerous very soon from info in his thread. Most info here would apply to anyone wanting a gun. One of my posts explains how to purchase from an online dealer and get it delivered to a local FFL dealer.

19

What a bunch of BS.

20

I’ve been thinking about what** Airman **said, and I totally understand what the law is trying to accomplish, but…I don’t know. I feel like if I get rejected from purchasing a firearm because of that incident 8 years ago that I feel I wasn’t even at fault for that I am being robbed of a right to purchase a legal item in my home country.

Damn. I guess we will see. Sorry if this derails the thread. I am still hopeful for advice. I would of course answer the questions on the form honestly, so…I don’t know what will happen until it happens.

Shit.