# HOLY CRAP! I just won a free handgun! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 6, 2006, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-i-just-won-a-free-handgun/367518 "2006-08-06T02:13:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**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:** [August 6, 2006, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-i-just-won-a-free-handgun/367518/21 "2006-08-06T04:13:48Z")
Shooting glasses are a _must_ if you’re firing a semi-auto pistol at the range… take it from a Range Safety Officer, the amount of crap that gets ejected from Semi-Auto handguns when you fire them is just amazing (especially if you’re using el cheapo ammunition). Hearing protection is also a good idea- I don’t know if your range is indoor or outdoor, but anything rated to a 35dB noise reduction level is ideal for indoor use, whilst outdoors, standard foam earplugs are fine (unless there’s someone with an equally big gun shooting next to you!) 😉 ---
**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:** [August 6, 2006, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-i-just-won-a-free-handgun/367518/22 "2006-08-06T04:16:25Z")
[QUOTE=Bam Boo Gut] Thanks for the explanation and advice Zahava - I do apologise if as I’ve obviously offended folks - it had never occured to me that guns were raffled. [/QUOTE] Even so, your attitude towards gun owners in general (and we don’t all live in the US, you know- there are other countries with civilian firearms owners!) is rather… non-conducive to intelligent discussion. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-i-just-won-a-free-handgun/367518/23 "2006-08-06T04:20:43Z")
[QUOTE=Martini Enfield] Shooting glasses are a _must_ if you’re firing a semi-auto pistol at the range… take it from a Range Safety Officer, the amount of crap that gets ejected from Semi-Auto handguns when you fire them is just amazing (especially if you’re using el cheapo ammunition). [/QUOTE] Question: Would I be allowed to shoot wearing my prescription glasses instead of shooting glasses at most ranges? I haven’t been to a range in years, do most of my shooting on private land, but I’d like to get out on a range with my 9mm. My home protection weapon is my S&W .357, so no issues there, but the 9mm is semi-auto… I don’t necessarily object to wearing shooting glasses, but I know from playing paintball that I’m liable to have problems with the glasses fogging up if worn over my normal glasses…and without my normal glasses, I don’t really see well enough to score well… ---
**Author:** ![Uvula\_Donor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e19adc/32.png) [@Uvula\_Donor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uvula_Donor)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-i-just-won-a-free-handgun/367518/24 "2006-08-06T04:22:31Z")
[QUOTE=Martini Enfield] Excellent choice taking gun safety and handling classes, too. Bear in mind you’ll get a lot of “Helpful” people at the range trying to give you “tips” and “advice”, and 85% percent of the time they’re full of taurine excrement. Avoid advice from anyone wearing any kind of “Tactical” clothing or a “Tactical” rig unless you know for a fact that person is actually in a SWAT Team or the Military. 😉 [/QUOTE] Heh. You’ve got that type in Oz too, eh? At most of the ranges around here, the SWAT-team-wannabees aren’t taken seriously. **Lumpy** , I second **Doors** ’ suggestion that you get your CW permit whether you intend to actually carry or not. If you wait, you’ll just be taking the safety courses all over again, anyway, because in most states that’s a requirement for the permit. And “peaceable carry” - firearm in the range bag with your protective equipment, targets, ammo, etc - is just much less of a hassle with the permit. ---
**Author:** ![Cowgirl\_Jules](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@Cowgirl\_Jules](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cowgirl_Jules)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-i-just-won-a-free-handgun/367518/25 "2006-08-06T04:36:33Z")
[QUOTE=Oakminster] Question: Would I be allowed to shoot wearing my prescription glasses instead of shooting glasses at most ranges? I haven’t been to a range in years, do most of my shooting on private land, but I’d like to get out on a range with my 9mm. My home protection weapon is my S&W .357, so no issues there, but the 9mm is semi-auto… I don’t necessarily object to wearing shooting glasses, but I know from playing paintball that I’m liable to have problems with the glasses fogging up if worn over my normal glasses…and without my normal glasses, I don’t really see well enough to score well… [/QUOTE] **Oakminster** , I’m sure it depends on the range, but back before I got contacts, I had prescription safety glasses made up for work that were acceptable. They weren’t too terribly expensive (I think I got them at WalMart, but it’s been years, so I’m not sure.) As far as fogging on regular safety glasses worn over your prescription pair, well, it might not be as much of a problem at a range where you’re stationary as opposed to a physical activity like paint ball. And **Lumpy** , congratulations! I put my name in all of those boxes and enter the NRA raffle when it comes around, and I’ve never won something so cool. ---
**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:** [August 6, 2006, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-i-just-won-a-free-handgun/367518/26 "2006-08-06T04:58:54Z")
[QUOTE=Oakminster] Question: Would I be allowed to shoot wearing my prescription glasses instead of shooting glasses at most ranges? I haven’t been to a range in years, do most of my shooting on private land, but I’d like to get out on a range with my 9mm. My home protection weapon is my S&W .357, so no issues there, but the 9mm is semi-auto… [/quote] Prescription glasses are fine at the range I’m an RO at, and every other range I’ve ever been to. I wear sunglasses when I’m at the (outdoor) rifle range and out hunting, and the range rules say eye protection is “Optional”. Most people wear prescription glasses, sunglasses, or safety glasses, though- but if you don’t want to, that’s entirely up to you. Hearing protection is a must, though. Actually, funny story about why it’s a good idea to wear some kind of eye protection- I was at the range with my Martini-Enfield rifle (it’s not just a clever username! 😃 ) on Friday, and discovered that if you try and work the action with the rifle on your shoulder, the spent case will eject straight back into your face- and believe me, hot shells are NOT something you want ejecting straight into your face, be they from a .303 Martini-Enfield or a .40 cal Beretta 92… > [@](#): > > I don’t necessarily object to wearing shooting glasses, but I know from playing paintball that I’m liable to have problems with the glasses fogging up if worn over my normal glasses…and without my normal glasses, I don’t really see well enough to score well… Have you tried putting some anti-fogging agent on your glasses? I used to find conventional safety glasses had the same problem- they’d fog up and I couldn’t see the target, but you can get some sort of wipes from the chemist or optometrist that can prevent this. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-i-just-won-a-free-handgun/367518/27 "2006-08-06T05:31:13Z")
[QUOTE=Martini Enfield] Have you tried putting some anti-fogging agent on your glasses? I used to find conventional safety glasses had the same problem- they’d fog up and I couldn’t see the target, but you can get some sort of wipes from the chemist or optometrist that can prevent this. [/QUOTE] Yeah, for paintball, I bought a special facemask with anti-fogging treatment, and also had some anti-fogging spray for my glasses. It helped some…but I was playing during the summer in the Deep South, in temp and humidity both in the 90s, so nothing was going to be perfect. When I played in late fall/winter, it was much better. **Cowgirl Jules** raised a good point I hadn’t considered. Paintball is considerably more active than I’m likely to be at a range, so I probably would not be generating nearly as much body heat and sweat, and may not have much of a problem with fog except on very hot/humid days… ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-i-just-won-a-free-handgun/367518/28 "2006-08-06T10:18:57Z")
[QUOTE=ParentalAdvisory] Hell, I could gouge someones eye out with a spork if I wanted to, is it irresponsible to own a spork? [/QUOTE] With that attitude, I’d say it’s irresponsible for _you_ to own a spork. 😉 Anyway, congrats to the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Unregistered\_Bull](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3da27b/32.png) [@Unregistered\_Bull](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unregistered_Bull)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-i-just-won-a-free-handgun/367518/29 "2006-08-06T14:43:54Z")
Congratulations on winning a fine piece. 🙂 Now if I could be so lucky with either the local Browning Citori or Kawasaki Mule raffles, but I doubt it. ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-i-just-won-a-free-handgun/367518/30 "2006-08-06T18:37:11Z")
[QUOTE=Bam Boo Gut] Got the toilet - just looking for a shit like you to cram into it! [/QUOTE] I know you’ve already apologized, **Bam Boo Gut** , and that’s good of you, but we don’t allow–outside the BBQ Pit–insults aimed at other posters. Please don’t do this again. ---
**Author:** ![Lynne\_kilii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lynne\_kilii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynne_kilii)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-i-just-won-a-free-handgun/367518/31 "2006-08-06T20:09:18Z")
[QUOTE=Martini Enfield] …and believe me, hot shells are NOT something you want ejecting straight into your face, be they from a .303 Martini-Enfield or a .40 cal Beretta 92… [/QUOTE] Dude, it’s a curse being left-handed and female- I got one in the cleavage! That was unpleasant, and my boyfriend(at-the-time) and dad just laughed! It’s funny now though. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-i-just-won-a-free-handgun/367518/32 "2006-08-06T20:12:20Z")
[QUOTE=Lynne\_kilii] Dude, it’s a curse being left-handed and female- I got one in the cleavage! That was unpleasant, and my boyfriend(at-the-time) and dad just laughed! It’s funny now though. [/QUOTE] Awkward situation with your dad present, and presumably armed. Otherwise, of course the boyfriend would have valiantly gone in after the offending shell casing and done all in his power to sooth your injured chest. Can’t say I’d reccomend it if Dad is there with a gun, though… ---
**Author:** ![Cowgirl\_Jules](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@Cowgirl\_Jules](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cowgirl_Jules)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-i-just-won-a-free-handgun/367518/33 "2006-08-06T20:41:07Z")
[QUOTE=Lynne\_kilii] Dude, it’s a curse being left-handed and female- I got one in the cleavage! That was unpleasant, and my boyfriend(at-the-time) and dad just laughed! It’s funny now though. [/QUOTE] Oh, yes. Been there! I mostly shoot right-handed, but I am actually left-handed, so I can shoot that way too. Depends on what I’m wearing! ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2006, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-i-just-won-a-free-handgun/367518/34 "2006-08-07T00:11:55Z")
[QUOTE=Bam Boo Gut] What’s a spork? I’m sure I could do a lot of damage with a bunch of keys too. I’m freaked out at the raffling of a gun - but I forgot the US gun fetish thing - I do apologise. [/QUOTE] Everything’s a fetish when it’s someone else’s preference. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-i-just-won-a-free-handgun/367518/35 "2006-09-29T21:20:22Z")
Finally picked it up today. I"m waiting to hear from the gun range when their next Handgun Familiarization & Safety course is. Gotta manual to go through in the meantime. And say what you will about Walmart, but where else can you get 100 rounds of target range ammo for $18 ? ---
**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:** [September 30, 2006, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-i-just-won-a-free-handgun/367518/36 "2006-09-30T14:38:58Z")
[QUOTE=Lumpy] And say what you will about Walmart, but where else can you get 100 rounds of target range ammo for $18 ? [/QUOTE] Russian Army Depots? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2006, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-i-just-won-a-free-handgun/367518/37 "2006-09-30T17:35:04Z")
[QUOTE=Lumpy] Easily the priciest thing I’ve ever won in my life. [/QUOTE] I’m completely in the dark about gun prices. How much would this thing cost if you bought it retail? ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2006, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-i-just-won-a-free-handgun/367518/38 "2006-09-30T18:47:35Z")
Beretta’s website has an MSRP of $798 for this gun. I purchased a Kimber 1911 for $799 at a local gunshop and Kimber’s website has an MSRP of $913 for that gun; and I bought a Springfield XD45 at a gun show for $500 and Springfield’s website suggests a price of $536. So, I’d guess **Lumpy** ’s gun might retail for $50-$100 less than MSRP. I don’t know how it works elsewhere, but here in Texas the waiting period is about 5 minutes while they check you out on the phone with the FBI. As regards a safe, good idea and I intend to get one, but both of these guns came with cable locks, and I suspect yours will also, **Lumpy**. Happy shootin’! ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2006, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-i-just-won-a-free-handgun/367518/39 "2006-09-30T18:51:31Z")
Congrats on winning the gun, Lumpy! > [@](#): > > I’m freaked out at the raffling of a gun Me too. I wish more people would raffle off guns! [QUOTE=Martini Enfield] Shooting glasses are a _must_ if you’re firing a semi-auto pistol at the range. [/QUOTE] Absolutely… a shooter should \*always \* wear eye protection, no matter what kind of gun they’re shooting. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2006, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-i-just-won-a-free-handgun/367518/40 "2006-09-30T22:09:42Z")
[QUOTE=mhendo] IHow much would this thing cost if you bought it retail? [/QUOTE] I believe the paperwork said it was a $599.00 value. [QUOTE=Ringo] I don’t know how it works elsewhere, but here in Texas the waiting period is about 5 minutes while they check you out on the phone with the FBI. [/quote] Here in MN you have to get a permit to purchase (or transfer), and the waiting period is built into that. Took a little longer than 5 minutes to do various paperwork, but not unreasonable for a “well regulated militia” 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-i-just-won-a-free-handgun/367518.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-i-just-won-a-free-handgun/367518.md?page=3)