Firearm Suggestions for 1st Time Owners

ZNP

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I had the one husky that was the exception that proves the point I guess. My husky actually stopped and held a robber in place on our backyard. The gentleman robbed the neighbor and jumped the fence into the yard where our husky was waiting. He did not let up until police showed up and was told to let go.

He was such a good boy!
I had a dog that was part husky and one night I surprised him coming home late and he looked like a wolf ready to attack, snarling and growling until he heard my voice.
 
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Chesterton

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It is more difficult to take apart a pistol and clean it than to clean a revolver.
The barrel slide on a pistol takes some gripping strength. Standard handguns are only accurate at close range.
You reminded me of something. First time I fired an automatic, I gripped it too high and the barrel sliding back gave me a nice deep cut between my thumb and forefinger. Totally my fault, I just wasn't thinking. But something else to consider.
Households with a gun(s) are more likely to have one family member shoot another than a household without a gun.
Yes, I once tried to shoot a family member without a gun. It was virtually impossible. :smarty:
 
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Chesterton

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He was such a good boy!
I hope you asked/told him so!
I had a dog that was part husky and one night I surprised him coming home late and he looked like a wolf ready to attack, snarling and growling until he heard my voice.
That's interesting. Mine has never snarled or growled. I can probably count on one hand the times she's barked. She does wolf-like howling and weird humanoid noises mostly, lol.
 
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Dave G.

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Limp wristed?! What are you trying to say to me? :mad: No, but seriously, I've never heard of this. What does that mean? How can that cause jamming?
This video is about Glocks but they aren't alone: <iframe width="914" height="514" src="
" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
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Isilwen

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I hope you asked/told him so!

That's interesting. Mine has never snarled or growled. I can probably count on one hand the times she's barked. She does wolf-like howling and weird humanoid noises mostly, lol.

I sure did! He had to be put down at almost 17 years old. He is/was the best dog!
 
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Chesterton

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This video is about Glocks but they aren't alone:
That's interesting. I thought the barrel action would have enough power to overcome most wrist motion. So, always use both hands.
 
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Swag365

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I carry a Sig Sauer P365 with the manual safety. It pretty popular I would check it out, if the gun is for concealed carry.

Personally I would not touch a striker fired gun without a manual safety.

A large gun will be easier to develop on as a shooter at the range. My biggest handgun is a Beretta 92. It’s nice to shoot but too big really to carry around all the time.

Depending on where you live, you can borrow guns at the range and see what feels good in your hand.
 
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Dave G.

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That's interesting. I thought the barrel action would have enough power to overcome most wrist motion. So, always use both hands.
Yep, if I loosen up on one of my Berettas it will do the same thing with certain ammo. Been a while since I've shot it but as I recall that gun likes HydraShock 135gr standard load and it does not like Sabre 115 gr +P.
 
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MarkRohfrietsch

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I'm a Certified Range Safety Officer, and Club Level Handgun instructor up here in Canada. The best advice I can give someone new to shooting is that guns are only effective if you can hit what you aim at.

Since you are new to guns, let's not get distracted with discussions about different types of ammo, and everyone's personal preference, but stay focused on what your own needs are. In order to use any gun effectively and safely, some instruction is a great place to start.

Likewise, to build confidence and the accuracy you need to be effective, there is no substitute for lots of practice. Best way to do that is with something that is affordable to shoot, so you shoot lots. First choice for me would be .22. I learned to shoot with a single shot .22 rifle (which I got from my dad, which he got from his great uncle). My first pistol was a surplus Webley Enfield in .38 S&W (similar to 9mm in power); second one was a .22 semi auto. I have owned it for over 40 years, and I still win competitions with it LOL.

Go to a range where you can try different guns; buy a .22 that you like feel of, join a club. Most club members will be glad to let you handle and even shoot a bunch of different guns.

For me, I prefer the classic high standard .22 pistol, for practice and competition. I shoot Police Pistol Combat with a 1911 .45, an all steel Jericho .40 S & W and a CZ pattern 9mm, and more recently a Ruger GP100 .357 Magnum through which I shoot only .38 special target loads (I have yet to shoot magnum loads in it, and the gun has never seen a factory load since new).

That brings me to my next point.

If you are looking for a defensive pistol, you don't need "elephant gun" power with arm busting recoil. Remember, a well placed shot from a target load will be far more effective than a miss with a super-magnum. Less recoil also means easier to get off a second, third.... "accurate" shot.

Rifles

Again a good .22. There are lots, and they are a lot of fun. Me, I shoot mostly CZs; I have two CZ 455s, one in .22 another in 17 HMR (for ground hogs), I have one other CZ 452 (Brno 2) in .22. It is my "open sight" competition rifle; and it has one of the prettiest pieces of walnut on it I have ever seen!!.

Determine your needs; if you hunt big or medium sized game, you will need heavier calibers.

I have lots of others, different calibers, different actions just because I like them, and they are fun to shoot.
 
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solid_core

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I would appreciate your input on firearm suggestions for first time owners. Please include small and large options and additional considerations for the home. Thank you.

~Bella
Something small and with low recoil so that you as a woman and unexperienced user will have a good chance to hit the target.

I would go with German, Austrian, Czech, Swiss handguns, they are precise and reliable.
 
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Firearms Forum Statement of Purpose
There is nothing unChristian about owning firearms, though Christians can have a legitimate diversity of opinions on their proper usage. All disagreements between members should remain light and not turn into a serious debate. Such debates are better suited to other forums.
Some specific guidelines for this forum include:
1. This is a safehouse forum for firearms enthusiasts, criticizing or mocking gun owners is not alowed.
2. This forum is intended to be informational and not for debate. There may be some disagreements, but these should be handled with grace towards one another rather than attacking one another.

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MarkRohfrietsch

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It is more difficult to take apart a pistol and clean it than to clean a revolver.
The barrel slide on a pistol takes some gripping strength. Standard handguns are only accurate at close range.

I should add some words of warning. Studies have shown that a household owning a gun(s) is more likely to to suffer a homicide than a household without a gun(s). Households with a gun(s) are more likely to have one family member shoot another than a household without a gun. People who own guns are more likely to shoot themselves than shoot someone else. The suicide rate is higher than the homicide rate.
Yes, and no.

Most revolvers you can't strip to clean, so it may not be possible to clean and lube them as completely as you can a modern semi auto. (maybe they don't need it... either type, but I like the option. Another reason why I am happy I bought the Ruger GP100; while way less convenient to strip, they are relatively easy to strip into modules for cleaning and lubrication.

When I say "modern", we need to disregard less modern pistols like the 1911 (easy to strip compared to a Ruger Revolver, but compared to a SIG, Glock, CZ etc... not real easy. Sig, Glock, CZ, seconds to strip; seconds to reassemble.
 
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ChavaK

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As a woman, one thing I would caution you do is not listen to men who tell you what gun to purchase. I'm not trying to insult them, but they don't understand what works for a woman. So many times I have had women tell me that they were told by a man to purchase a small mouse gun. They buy said gun and hate it. Seen it over and over. What type of weapon you get is personal preference. I own shotguns, rifles and hand guns and prefer the handgun. It's what I practice with most and am comfortable with. If you have a friend you can go to the range with to try out different options, that is best. If you don't, go to a range that rents fire arms so you can try them out. My own preference is for Glocks and I carry a G19 and have it at my beside. If you are like most of us, you will end up owning more than one gun. Just make sure to get a lot of training, and to practice frequently.
 
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SJP51

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For beginers I always suggest a simple gun. Revolvers, pump or break open shotguns, etc. Get familar with the safe use, practice.

Magnum calibers are not necessary and often ruin a new shooter not used to the noise and recoil. A 38 special, 9mm, and similar are more than adequate for protection. Even a high quality 22 revolver shooting CCI mini-mags is a good choice.
 
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RDKirk

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Lots of suggestions here.

Bella, I really haven't heard enough about how you think you'll really "live" with the gun and what you want it to do for you.

I'll throw out a couple of other points, though:

Don't go to lightweight. While a heavier gun may seem easier to carry, a heavier gun also soaks up recoil better, and only four or five ounces can make a big difference. I personally find my own "sweet spot" to be about 20 ounces (unloaded).

My daughter, a fairly diminutive young lady, agrees. Her carry handgun is a .357 Magnum all-steel revolver in which she shoots .38 Special. Being designed for the more powerful .357 Magnum round, it's a bit heavier than guns designed for .38 Special, but she can shoot it and control it much easier.

She also prefers revolvers over semi-automatic pistols because sometimes she will carry it in a coat pocket. A revolver (with hammer spur shrouded) can be successfully fired from within a coat pocket without jamming.

Smith & Wesson has recently release a couple of EZ series of semi-automatic pistols that are distinctly easier to cycle the slide and load the magazines. My daughter has one in 9mm as her nightstand gun.

Another point I don't think I've seen anyone mention is that the "manual of arms" for a semi-automatic is more complex than for a revolver. There are more things to know about how it operates--mostly to prevent jams and handle them when they occur.

The benefit of a semi-auto over revolver is "firepower." Most semi-autos can be loaded with more rounds, and swapping an expended magazine with a new loaded magazine takes only a second (when you've practiced it). Other than that, the simpler operation of the revolver is its greatest benefit. So if you don't really want the complexity of the semi-auto and aren't willing to train sufficiently to master it while under the greatest level of stress, you'd be better off with a revolver.

There is a psychological point to consider when evaluating advice for type and caliber of gun: You aren't a soldier or police officer. Soldiers and police officers will face opponents who are psyched up for combat. They are ready for a fight. That makes a heck of a lot of difference.

The bag guys who would prey on you aren't looking for a fight, which is the very reason they picked you. They will usually quickly decide to look elsewhere when faced with any kind of gun. That means you may be well protected by 5 shots in a .38 special, whereas a police officer or soldier certainly wouldn't be.
 
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Dave G.

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A well placed .22 Mini Mag or two or three is certainly more effective than a 9mm, 357 or 45 that missed. And if a person can't handle recoil well, they very well could miss when shooting the bigger cartridges. But in .22 that is one category where a Magnum excels, you get a bit better built bullet, faster and better penetration for very little more recoil. And there are plenty of .22 Mag revolvers out now. A .22 Mag shot from a 4" barrel hits nearly as hard as a .38 shot from a shorter barrel and with way less recoil thus better shot placement under stress. Just my take.
 
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ZNP

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Since this thread is all about home security I think it is important to point out that a dog is still an excellent form of security. In my opinion, for the average home owner (not someone who could legitimately expect seal team 6 to break in) the only thing that beats a dog is two dogs.
 
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Thomas Dunn

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There are aplenty of factors to consider, and many of them apply to the shooter themselves as much as the firearm. Difficult to offer much insight with sparse information.
The good thing about asking a question on the internet is that you get a lot of answers.
The bad thing about asking a question on the internet is that you get a lot of answers.
 
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Dave G.

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There are aplenty of factors to consider, and many of them apply to the shooter themselves as much as the firearm. Difficult to offer much insight with sparse information.
The good thing about asking a question on the internet is that you get a lot of answers.
The bad thing about asking a question on the internet is that you get a lot of answers.
Well ya but some of us have stressed getting training, from that if done right, should come a good firearm fit. Or to decide on none at all for that matter.
 
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Thomas Dunn

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It is ideal if an aspiring shooter knows someone who owns a variety of weapons who can take them to a range and let them "try them out" so to speak. IMO, a .22 revolver, a .22 semi, a .38 snubby, a .38/.357 revolver, a smaller .380 and 9mm. a full size 9mm and .45 are ideal teaching aids on the handgun end. In longguns a .22 bolt and semi, a double barrel or singleshot shotgun, pump and/or semi shotgun and of course the AR-15. I am no fan of .22 handguns/rifles, pump or semi shotguns for inexperienced shooters for defense, an opinion that flys in the face of conventional thought, but that does not exclude them from viable choices. In the majority of cases where an inexperienced person is involved, I personally believe a double barrel "Coach" gun for home, and a small revolver for carry are an ideal combination.
As you say, training is key, but it seems to me many seek training after having purchased a weapon. Bad idea usually. Too many times gunsellers outfit people with what I consider dreadful choices based on their own preferences almost exclusively.
 
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