I grew up in New Jersey, and was taught to hate handguns. Really. Shotguns and rifles were okay if you hunted (not that I ever had the desire to hunt), but handguns? Evil. Death machines. The only reason to have one is to use it to kill someone. People get killed all the time by handguns, mostly people who found one, played with it, and shot themselves or someone else by accident. At least, that’s the lore I grew up on. But I’ve known since I moved to Virginia that it’s a very gun-friendly state, and y’know, I’m a woman alone, and my neighborhood has gone downhill considerably in the last two years. I’ve been thinking a lot about learning to shoot and buying a gun.
Which is why I spent Sunday afternoon at the Blue Ridge Arsenal in northern Virginia learning to load, shoot, and unload four different kinds of handguns. Plus a rifle.
These are the pistols I used. There’s a Ruger Single-Six and a Colt Woodsman, both .22’s, a Colt Official Police revolver (circa 1940), and an Enfield Mark 2 (.38). There was also a Stevens 15-B .22 rifle.
My teacher, Stretch, is an ex-police officer. He spent some time beforehand teaching me how each of the guns are opened, loaded, and closed. We did this, of course, without loading the weapons at Chris and Janet’s. However, I got really good at shooting empty guns at the fireplace logs to get the feel of the trigger and the gun. I was also tickled to hear Stretch compliment me on holding my finger properly off the trigger of each weapon until actually firing it. Because believe it or not, I learned that from reading military bloggers. Their posts making fun of faux soldiers, terrorists, and fauxtography taught me how to hold a weapon properly.
After Stretch was satisfied that I had a good idea of how to use the guns, we drove to the shooting range. We had to wait a while, and I looked over the various weapons and gear. I got a kick out of the pocketbooks that come complete with a holster inside for your weapon.
While we were waiting, I could hear some very loud reports from inside the shooting range. I didn’t realize it was going to be that loud, and I have to say, I was starting to get scared. I was wondering if maybe this was one of the stupidest things I’d ever decided to do. By the time it was our turn, I was pretty positive I was going to hate it. Inside the range it was even worse—we had earplugs and ear protection, but it was loud and startling and I was getting really nervous. But I figured I was there, I’d paid, I may as well at least try to shoot. Stretch started me on the rifle at three yards.
You know, it took exactly one shot to make my nerves disappear. I loaded the rifle, locked the bolt, cocked the hammer, aimed, and fired. And I hit the target. Where it counts. This was the result of my first shot:
Granted, it was only three yards, but Stretch told me he started me out close to build up my confidence before moving on to tougher targets. It totally worked. I spent the next few minutes loading, shooting, clearing out the shell casing, loading, shooting, clearing out the shell casing… it was kinda cool to see the little pieces of metal go flying out of the rifle. (I saved the shell casing from my first shot. Think I’ll drill a hole in it and add it to my keychain.) And we moved the target back to seven yards.
The rifle was the most fun to shoot. I’m thinking my first purchase is going to be a relatively inexpensive .22 rifle, especially since everyone tells me that you can buy a brick of 500 .22 rounds for about $10 at Wal-Mart. That’s a lot of hours of target shooting. Have I mentioned how much I really, really liked shooting that rifle?
I did spend much more time firing the pistols, however, and I now find myself rather fond of revolvers. Those were fun to load, fun to shoot, and fun to empty the casings out of. They were a lot harder to shoot than the other two, though.
You may notice that I shed my coat fairly quickly. That’s because I only noticed the cold about as long as I noticed the noise from the other lanes, which is to say, both went away after I started firing the rifle.
You can compare my hold and stance if you like. Damned if I can tell which gun was which in this picture. Not after two hours, anyway.
Oh, wait. That’s not a revolver. I think that’s the Colt Woodsman. I’m sure Stretch will correct me if I’m wrong.
My shooting got better as I went along, until, after about an hour, I started to tire and my groundhog started getting away. Okay, not really, but I didn’t get nearly as many shots in the bullseye area with the two revolvers as I had with the previous three guns. Here’s my favorite grouping, using the Colt Woodsman.
Stretch pointed out to me that if you take the targets we were using, and place them over a person’s chest, I pretty much destroyed my home invader at 21 feet. Now I begin to see the practical purpose behind target shooting. (All the shots in the corner were Stretch’s. He got his guy, too.) My first shot at the groundhog hit him square in the head. Wish I could say I was going for his brains, but I was aiming at the orange dot in the middle. I got that orange dot more than a few times.
I had fun. And I learned a new skill. Now that I’m back in Richmond, my plan is to find a shooting range nearby and take a course. While I was at the range in northern VA, I was absolutely struck by the thought that every single person in the lanes next to me had the capacity to kill every other person there. And so did I (albeit a little more slowly, what with all the .22 weapons we were using). I don’t think I ever paid closer attention to anything else I’ve learned in my life than I did to whatever Stretch told me. Well, except for the names and makes of the guns. While he was telling me the history, I was looking at the trigger, the hammer, the magazine, the chamber, and the other parts of the gun and making sure I understood exactly what to do with the moving parts. I made only one mistake at the range. I put an unloaded weapon on the counter in the lane pointing into the room, not at the target. I won’t make that mistake twice. It might even have been this one.
I think it is highly likely I will at least buy a rifle for target shooting. As for home protection, I haven’t gotten that far yet. I’ll make that decision after I’ve learned a heck of a lot more about handling guns. But I’ve come a long way from the Triple-L liberal that was scared to death to so much as touch a gun.
UPDATE: Linked at memeorandum.
Wow. Remind me to keep behind you anytime when a push comes to shove.
Comment by SnoopyTheGoon — 11/27/2007 @ 7:55 am
Well done. I have been going to the range off and on for over 40 years. Have a couple rifles and pistols, and hope never to use them anywhere but at the range. I live in town where home invasions are common, so I might not be able to live in peace – but if someone is stupid enough to breach my house, I will be ready and willing to handle the situation.
Cheers on overcoming your fear.
Comment by Shooty — 11/27/2007 @ 10:52 am
Good old Annie Oakley (“Little Sure Shot” as Chief Sitting Bull called her), after she retired set up gun clubs for women–to teach thme how to use them safely and be comfortable with them. Annie always thought that a woman with a gun was the equal of any man!
Comment by M. A. George — 11/27/2007 @ 10:57 am
Congratulations! While what you’re learned is deadly serious and comes with tremendous responsibilities(and it’s obvious you have an appropriate respect for that aspect of shooting), I’m especially glad that you learned it can be fun in the proper environment.
Might I recommend the Ruger 10-22 for your first rifle? It’s a light, sturdy, accurate semi-automatic with a ten round magazine, and is widely available used in great shape for relatively cheap. It’s not as “manual” as a bolt action, but it’s very fun and an easy rifle to learn on.
Best.
Comment by Rocketeer — 11/27/2007 @ 11:06 am
For home protection…A shotgun has advantages…accuracy not near as important (useful in pressure situations) and excellent stopping power.
Comment by jimf — 11/27/2007 @ 11:06 am
You are doing well. All of the women or children I have seen shoot at a range for the first time have enjoyed it. Now you will receive a ton of unsolicited mail about what firearm to buy.
Comment by Laned — 11/27/2007 @ 11:08 am
Laned – first! Heh.
Comment by Rocketeer — 11/27/2007 @ 11:10 am
I was always apathetic about firearms until I read the John Lott book “More Guns Less Crime”. Made me do some serious thinking. Two months later the towers came down.
I was at the range on September 12.
Try a 9mm semi-automatic. A little easier to handle, and more comfortable in the hand.
I got my fiance out to the range recently. This petite beauty in heels was busting tight groupings like she’d done it forever. Like you, she was nervous at first, but by the end she was saying things like, “Should we get the Ruger or the Glock, dear?”
Comment by Todd McLaren — 11/27/2007 @ 11:14 am
If you’re looking to buy a .22 rifle for target practice, I would recommend a Ruger 10-22. They are relatively inexpensive – around $200 new, and Walmart should stock them as long as your local walmart isn’t one of the urban ones that have started. They come with a 10 round magazine, but you can buy replacement ones with more.
The nice thing about a 10-22 is that out of the box it’s an excellent target rifle, but people who get serious with them replace basically everything on them and turn them into competition rifles.
However it’s not what I’d suggest for you to use for home defense. For that, I’d tell you to get a Remington 870 express shotgun. Probably in 20 gauge. Once again, they’re about $200 new. But the wonderful thing about the shotgun is the sound. When you pump it, it will make anyone who’s not doped to the gills pause, because it’s unmistakable. And anyone that moves towards you after you’ve done that you know wasn’t going to stop, so it should ease the conscience.
Comment by Skip — 11/27/2007 @ 11:15 am
I second the suggestion of a shotgun for home defense — you can get either a 20 ga or 12 ga. pump pretty reasonably, and, IF the recoil’s a problem, you can get a Knoxx stock for it, and just about eliminate the recoil.
Personally, the idea of unarmed women, esp. those that live alone, bothers the heck out of me.
Comment by Aglifter — 11/27/2007 @ 11:16 am
You can’t beat a woman who shoots!
All my ladies, wife and daughters, shoot and shoot well. Sounds like your instructor taught and drilled you on the basics, good work. Helping people overcome their fear of guns is a real treat.
+1 on the Ruger 10/22 and shotgun suggestions. Consider birdshot in the shottie for defensive purposes – rread up on it.
checksix
Comment by checksix — 11/27/2007 @ 11:19 am
Congrats on the new hobby.
I’ll second the motion for a Ruger 10/22 as a nice .22 rifle. Some say every gun collection needs one.
For home protection, the .22LR round is better than nothing, but inadequate. For a beginner, a .38/.357 revolver is the way to go.
And yes, you can miss with a shotgun. At close ranges, like indoor self protection, the pattern of shot may be as small as a silver dollar.
Comment by Chris — 11/27/2007 @ 11:31 am
You go girl!!!
Comment by Mike Voncannon — 11/27/2007 @ 11:31 am
Last time I was at the range I borrowed a CZ .22 rifle from a friend – it was great. More unsolicited firearm information…
I agree with the shotgun for home defense – point, click, you are good.
Comment by Shooty — 11/27/2007 @ 11:31 am
I recommend Clark’s in Warrenton, VA. They have a free range open seven days a week. The only stipulation is that you buy your range ammo and targets from Clark’s.
Comment by Dave — 11/27/2007 @ 11:34 am
For gunowners who want to introduce others to the joys of shooting, Stretch’s way of doing this is a great example of how to do it.
Start of with the basics of safety and firearm function in a quiet area without any ammo present. Then get them used to the noise by shooting first, so they know what will happen. Make sure they have really good ear protection. I find perceived recoil is less with heavy ear protection. Then most importantly, start them off on light recoiling firearms. Doing the rifle first instead of the handguns is a great idea. For those of us who have been shooting for a long time, it is easy to forget how alarming the recoil and noise of firearms can be to the uninitiated.
Only start them on bigger calibers once they feel completely comfortable with the smaller stuff. Depending on the person, you can move from .22LR to .44 mag in one session, others will require a number of sessions before they get to that point. The most important thing is not to push them to try anything they don’t want to do.
Comment by Jason — 11/27/2007 @ 11:34 am
You look like your having fun on the range. Its not the gun, its the mind that is the weapon. The gun only give the mind expression.
Comment by Richard Cook — 11/27/2007 @ 11:36 am
Snoopy, you live in Israel. You can’t tell me you don’t run into girls with guns on a daily basis.
Comment by Meryl Yourish — 11/27/2007 @ 11:38 am
Meryl,
This is not meant to discourage your venture into shooting. It is just a comment about personal safety at home. By all means learn to use, acquire, and keep a firearm if you feel the need or desire. I strongly recommend a four-legged alarm system in the form of a medium sized dog. That will be sufficient to keep most intruders out and should it prove insufficient at any time it will allow you the few precious moments you need to clear your head and gather up your weapon.
Best wishes!
Comment by Knucklehead — 11/27/2007 @ 11:38 am
One more comment, the shotgun is a bad choice for a woman in my opinion. Too heavy, too long, and too much recoil. Better off with a revolver in .38 special or .357 mag or a pistol in 9mm.
I would recommend a 9mm with a light rail for attaching a weapon light. If you have to use it at night, in the dark, you need to be able to identify your target before you shoot. You need a flashlight for that.
Comment by Jason — 11/27/2007 @ 11:41 am
Sounds like you did well, and so did your instructor. Safe, simple, and fun.
I too instructed for years, and that included a fair number of women. That includes all those in my family including those who married into it (!). each has their own slant on it but is able to cope with events. I’m proud of every one of them.
That Woodsman looks like mine. Elegant, wonderful little guns.
Congratulations.
Comment by Tom Casey — 11/27/2007 @ 11:41 am
I think I’m going to have to go to a few more ranges and try a few different rifles before I decide which one to buy.
I kinda liked the bolt action.
Comment by Meryl Yourish — 11/27/2007 @ 11:42 am
OK, if you want a bolt-action rifle, the Marlins and Brownings are decent, relatively inexpensive. And Marlin, at least, makes one that’s slightly smaller (a ‘youth’ model), which may be more comfortable to shoot for some people. I don’t own either, though, because I’m a lefty. And for lefties, the bolt-action choices are limited. I own a Savage in 17HMR which I quite like and I see that CZ-USA is now making lefty rifles. But other than that Remington is about the only manufacturer who makes them for reasonable money.
Comment by Skip — 11/27/2007 @ 11:52 am
As someone said, you’ll get lots of recommendations about what to buy for this or that. It sounds like you have a capable instructor and mentor, go with his advice and your own preferences as you develop them.
Comment by David Avera — 11/27/2007 @ 11:58 am
Rugers Jam.
Semi autos jam.
Revolvers almost always fire.
Small, air/feather weight five shot revolver that has been ‘turned into a magnum.’ Split, Hollow points with magnum loads. Use 32s at the range.
Shotguns don’t necessarily stop. A 357 will, but it can go through walls. Make sure you shoot a warning shot in the floor before (or after) you shoot.
More unsolicted………..
Comment by FEx — 11/27/2007 @ 11:59 am
“I had fun.”
The three words that strike terror in the hearts of gun control forces worldwide!
Welcome to the Dark Side!
Comment by Kevin Baker — 11/27/2007 @ 12:07 pm
Welcome to the Nation of Riflemen. Leave a message at UCV for me and I’ll take you shooting. My treat, (as soon as I find employment) and my pleasure. Congratulations on your shooting. There is only one indoor range in town and one in Colonial Heights that I know of. And of course, Chickahominy has a rifle range. But that can be hard to find. Just for more info from fellow shooters, I recommend the Gunthing.com.
Again, welcome. And Happy shooting.
Comment by cargosquid — 11/27/2007 @ 12:07 pm
Meryl;
When you feel the need to graduate to a larger caliber, I would suggest beginning with a .44 in black powder. They make clouds of smoke so a lot of indoor ranges don’t like them, but their recoil is soft and the “loading” is more complicated giving you time to think about what you did wrong of how to do it better. Cabela’s sells a whole bunch of black powder .44s and they have all the “trimmings” too: caps, balls, propellent, etc. Ask Stretch what he thinks. I’ve tought many kids shooting by starting them out on .44s. Have fun.
Comment by Pixelkiller — 11/27/2007 @ 12:08 pm
Here’s a great website that’s also written by a woman:
http://corneredcat.com/TOC.aspx
It covers the questions you’ve already mentioned, and a bunch more.
Do check it out.
Comment by Ozarks — 11/27/2007 @ 12:09 pm
Well done, young lady! Be very proud of yourself for demonstrating courage and intelligence. Even if you never punch a hole in anything but paper, you have started what can be an outstanding hobby.
So, what to buy. You have already fired a bolt action rifle with open sights. Try to borrow or rent a pump, a lever action, and a semi-auto, and something with a ’scope. Then buy whatever was the most fun. Let the larger bore rifles wait for more experience.
Same for handguns, except vary the calebres. The .22 is a bit light, and you might find a .45 or the magnums to be a bit more than you want. Texas requires a minimum of .38 or 9 mm for the test for a concealed handgun permit. I like the 9 mm (Springfield XD9), but like I said, experiment first.
Again, congratulations, and welcome to shooting!
Jack
Comment by Texas Jack — 11/27/2007 @ 12:12 pm
Congrats on stepping out into something new!
Comment by Robert — 11/27/2007 @ 12:14 pm
#9/Skip: You’ve got that right about a pump shotgun’s unmistakable sound. I lived in a rough apartment/neighborhood many years ago. One night a bunch of guys were outside my door beating on it furiously, I guess wanting to rob me. I jacked back that slide and nicely said, “Who is it?” They were racing down the stairs! Didn’t have to use the thing.
Comment by lutonmoore — 11/27/2007 @ 12:16 pm
Meryl, there were 2 reasons you found the revolvers harder to shoot. Of course they are larger caliber than the .22s. But revolvers inherently have greater recoil than an autoloading pistol of the same caliber. The barrel of the revolver sits higher in your hand, which gives it more leverage. Before you decide on a handgun, try a DAO (double action only) pistol in either 9mm or .40 caliber. They are as easy to use as a revolver –pull the trigger and they fire. Those with polymer frames (Glock was the first, but several manufacturers now offer them) are also lightwieght, and the polymer helps absorb some of the recoil.
And add one more vote for the Ruger 10/22.
Finally, consider a quick access pistol safe, that can be opened in the dark with a touchpad combination. Especially important if there are ever kids (that includes teenagers and immature adults) visiting.
Be safe, and enjoy.
Comment by Yankev — 11/27/2007 @ 12:19 pm
I learned to shoot with a .22 Marlin bolt action. Beautiful gun. 35 years later, I still shoot with it. Just as accurate as it was then. You don’t need to buy anything terribly expensive, but don’t go too inexpensive either. You want that first rifle to be around for a long time.
Comment by hdw — 11/27/2007 @ 12:27 pm
By the time you are ready to buy a revolver Ruger will have introduced a new cartridge to be chambered in its SP-101 small revolver. The SP-101 is my favorite revolver for concealed carry and you can get one without a hammer spur which is a good thing (because there is nothing to snag on clothing and you are not tempted to shoot it in single-action mode which you should never do with a concealed carry revolver for legal reasons beyond the scope of this conversation).
The new cartridge will be a .327 caliber which will allow 6 rounds in the cylinder instead of the usual 5 in the SP-101. It is supposed to be powered somewhere between a .38 special plus P and a .357 magnum, which sounds pretty interesting.
The SP-101 is ideally suited to fit most female hands. Take a look at it when you go shopping.
Comment by Flash Gordon — 11/27/2007 @ 12:42 pm
‘Way to go, Meryl. I disagreed with the late Rabbi Kahane on many things, and agreed with him on others, but “every Jew, a .22″ is definitely in the latter category.
(As much as I’m tempted, I’m not going to get into the pistol vs. revolver thing on your blog, other than to say that I think that semiautos are more fun to shoot, and I pretty much exclusively carry a revolver for self-protection.)
Thumbs-up on the Ruger 10-22 — it’s terrifically reliable, accurate, and rugged.
If you’re ever out this way and of a mind to, a trip to the range is on me.
As to the whole home defense thing, I’m a big believer in something that you can tuck in the pocket of a robe or hold behind your back; rifles and shotguns have their place, but they don’t do that well.
Comment by Joel Rosenberg — 11/27/2007 @ 12:47 pm
I jacked back that slide and nicely said, “Who is it?” They were racing down the stairs!
For some reason that reminded me of the shark bit on Saturday Night Live.
Telegram for Ms. Yourish.
Click.
Sorry wrong address.
Comment by M. Simon — 11/27/2007 @ 12:58 pm
If you do make that shell casing into a key chain, be careful not to bring it to an airport. TSA will not like it one bit.
Comment by Skyler — 11/27/2007 @ 1:08 pm
Enjoyerd the post and replies. I agree with most of the posts. I’ve got a S & W 44 sp for home defense and I got my father a 870 12 ga remington pump with a 18.5 ” open choke barrel. I especially want to echo the reply on the 4 legged alarm system. A few years ago my wife came home with a standard poodle, Completely worthless except doesn’t shed, hypoallegenic, and a great bark; but it’s still french. The only other thing is I recently read an article by a self defense expert advocating a pump 410 for home defense with women and folks not well versed in firearms. A 410 will make a plenty big hole at under 30′, has minimal recoil and maintiains that charateristic “pump” noise. Interesting idea.
Comment by Kendall — 11/27/2007 @ 1:10 pm
Well done! I’ve been shooting for 45 years, and training for more than 35 years. As regards a gun for self defense, a shot gun is not necessarily the best for a home. Yes, a shotgun is hugely more powerful than just about any handgun, but it is big, heavy, clumsy to handle in close quarters, and at the distances it is used (10 to 20 feet) is no more likely to hit an intruder than a handgun (the shot pattern is still quite small – perhaps 3 to 6 inches).
Handguns, on the other hand, are easier to handle in close quarters, and quicker to bring to bear on an intruder.
That being said, I strongly recommend a revolver over an autoloading pistol, especially for someone who is relatively new to handguns. There are several good reasons for this:
ANY revolver in normal operating condition is infinitely more reliable than even the most expensive autoloading pistol – it’s simple mechanics; a revolver is a much less complex a mechanism.
ANY autoloader can jam. Revolvers don’t.
Auto pistols are harder to keep clean – they must be disassembled first. Revolvers require merely opeing the cylider.
An autoloader is not nearly as safe as a revolver – even after removing the magazine (and yes, it is a MAGAZINE, not a “clip”) a live round of ammo can always be left in the chamber of a semi-auto pistol.
Think about it – there’s a reason after all these years that Alaskan guides carry big, powerful REVOLVERS, not semi-auto pistols. They KNOW they will work when that big, angry bear comes punding down the hill.
Other than that, kudos for taking the time to learn a skill that every woman should know, whether she actually decides to own a gun or not.
John Caile
Eden Prairie, MN
Comment by John Caile — 11/27/2007 @ 1:12 pm
As a person who grew up on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, I had a healthy laugh more than a few times at the yokels who believed in God, guns and country. As I got older I saw the laugh was on me. Way to go.
Comment by kingronjo — 11/27/2007 @ 1:23 pm
For a .22 rifle, you can’t beat a CZ. You can get a used one for slightly less than $300. Why the CZ? They have a wonderful reputation for phenomenal out-of-the-box accuracy, and I’ve found that most people who practice shooting regularly become more and more interested in accuracy. (I bought mine second-hand after having read various fora posts, and my CZ will regularly put 5 shots into 1/2 inch at 50 yards — which is pretty much what I expected. This is not to suggest that the 10/22 is inaccurate.)
Opinions differ on what works best for home defense. Some like shotguns because of the noise they make when they are racked, and the fact that shot won’t over penetrate (as in go through walls and take out a friendly). Others prefer a revolver, preferably in .38 Spl. or .357 Mag. (If you get a .357 Mag, you can use mild recoiling .38 Spl for practice). We keep a couple of .357s in the bedroom because if you pull the trigger on a revolver and it goes “snap” you simply pull it again until it goes “boom.”
I’ve been shooting and reloading for over 50 years, and I’ve been married for over 30 years. My wife showed no interest whatsoever in shooting until about 6 months ago, when our circumstances changed and she decided that she’d better learn how to shoot. She ended up with a SIG P-239 in 9mm, which she named Ziva after the TV character in the program NCIS, and in the 6 months since then has burned through close to 5000 rounds of 9mm. Talk about a conversion experience . . . She packs either Ziva or a little PPK (.380) in her car.
I agree with the readers who say automatics are easier and more fun to shoot than revolvers.
Comment by Brian — 11/27/2007 @ 1:27 pm
Good for you! And you’ve got the right idea. Try a lot of different guns before you buy one. Only you can decide what’s right for you. The darn things are getting expensive so there’s no point in buying something you decide you don’t like.
I will also recommend a good quality .38 Special revolver with 4″ barrel for beginners. A good double-action is probably the easiest weapon to handle under extreme stress. No safety to fumble with, no hammer cocking, just aim & pull the trigger. Also, no safety to release means no safety to forget to put back on.
I’ve got various magnums and I cringe at the idea of firing one indoors without plugs and muffs. The blast will peel paint and can stun even an experienced shooter. I vastly prefer subsonic rounds: .38 Special, .44 Special, & .45 ACP for self defense because of their much reduced blast. I also recommend frangible bullets like the Glaser and MagSafe for in-home defense. They’re extremely effective but won’t penetrate walls. They’re also much more reliable in a revolver as their light bullets often won’t cycle an autoloader.
For practice you might also consider an air gun. Much cheaper than a firearm, the ammo is also much cheaper and for $20 you can buy a pellet trap and practice shooting in your hallway or basement at home (they’re quiet, the neighbors will never know). Practice makes perfect and you can get in a lot of practice quickly and easily that way. Besides, you can buy a nice pellet pistol, a pellet trap, a box of co2 ‘powerlets’ (if necessary) and 500 pellets for less than 500 rounds of .38 Special ammo alone (and you should fire at least 500 rounds through any gun you intend to use for self defense to build ‘muscle memory’). They make many air guns to mimic the look and feel of popular defense guns too. They’re great for practicing safe handling, sight alignment, and trigger squeeze, and they’re just a ton of fun.
Finally, before you consider buying a gun of any kind for self defense, I strongly recommend reading Massad Ayoob’s In the Gravest Extreme and The Truth About Self Protection. He tells it like it is, including the ugly parts that anyone who owns a gun ought to know.
Comment by Swen Swenson — 11/27/2007 @ 1:33 pm
Meryl, Dominion Shooting Range (804-276-2851) on Midlothian Turnpike is a decent indoor range. I had a lot of fun shooting with my father there on Thanksgiving. And as a bonus, they’re located right behind Southern Gun World, which is supposed to be a reasonably good store.
Comment by Brent — 11/27/2007 @ 1:34 pm
Amen to the others that are recommending a pump-action shotgun.
The distinctive sound of a round bein’ chambered will make any intruder think twice, and lookin’ at the hole in the bore of something so small as a .410 is downright spooky, although it most likely won’t get that far… the problem will probably be gone after hearing “CLACK-CLACK!”
Comment by Greybeard — 11/27/2007 @ 1:39 pm
ADT beats a dog every time in a home with 2 cats.
More important to buy and shoot something you enjoy than to take advice on the Platonic ideal of a utilitarian choice. Billy the Kid with blackpowder Colts would survive just fine against a wonder 9 super semi-auto held sideways.
Join the NRA and/or JFPO and all the rest. Consider your own experience when evaluating politicians who seek a disarmed populace.
Comment by cem — 11/27/2007 @ 1:45 pm
Meryl,
I shoot at Marine COrps Base Quantico nearly every weekend. I have a wide variety of firearms you can try.
Comment by John — 11/27/2007 @ 1:47 pm
John, now THAT would be fun. Quantico’s only about an hour away. Okay, a little more than an hour, but still… Hm. Would it be sexist of me to say, “Consider the eye candy?”
Yeah, probably.
Heh.
Comment by Meryl Yourish — 11/27/2007 @ 1:49 pm
Welcome to the gun culture! Congratulations on taking the first step, and I’m glad you had a good time.
Whatever gun you pick to buy, make sure you enjoy holding it and shooting it. A gun that is uncomfortable to hold or that is painful to shoot will be one that you will keep in the closet instead of taking to the range regularly. And when you need it the most, you will be unfamiliar with it and will fumble it. (I speak from experience).
At some point, when you have reached a place of familiarity and confidence, you may consider introducing trustworthy friends to the sport. The more shooting buddies you have, the more you’ll shoot!
And to conclude the unsolicited advice, outdoor ranges have much less noise and blast than indoor ranges. Of course, the weather then plays a part as well. Perhaps you can find a good indoor and outdoor range to cover all conditions.
Comment by Kevin P. — 11/27/2007 @ 1:55 pm
Way to go Meryl!
I am a over 60 year old woman who took a concealed carry class about 2 months ago using a borrowed semi-automatic. Since then I have borrowed a .22 to practice with back on the range.
I had always wanted to take a class so I would not feel uncomfortable with guns, just as a matter of experience. When a friend said she and some others were going to take the class I didn’t hesitate. I really liked it and am hooked.
My daughter-in-law and son practice using staged scenarios. That would be helpful too.
Even now I know I could probably slow someone significantly down at 30 feet.
Besides that, it’s just fun recreationally.
Comment by Mtn Mama — 11/27/2007 @ 2:17 pm
Good target shooting for a first-timer. I don’t know what style your instructor is teaching, but if you want more rounds in the bull, you need to concentrate more on sight picture–your target shows the classic pattern of “chasing the bull”, which means you were probably looking at the bullseye of the target instead of at the tip of the sight blade. Plenty good for short-range, but if you move to 50 yards instead of 7 yards, sight picture will become much more important.
Sight alignment, sight picture, trigger squeeze, and breathing will get you in the bull almost every time. Remember BRASS, Breath, Relax, Aim, Slack, Squeeze for every round, and you’re good to go.
Comment by Rex — 11/27/2007 @ 2:28 pm
Meryl:
For concealed carry, I recommend the Sig 232 (.380) semi-auto. It fits really nice in the hand, and shoots straight as can be.
Comment by SWLiP — 11/27/2007 @ 2:31 pm
Good for you, keep it up. I’m sure if you visit the womens forum at AR15.com you would receive a warm welcome.
Comment by LOW2000 — 11/27/2007 @ 2:32 pm
Would it be sexist of me to say, “Consider the eye candy?”
Nah. People are allowed to notice that other people are pleasing to their eyes.
Comment by Joel Rosenberg — 11/27/2007 @ 2:51 pm
Glad you decided to find out for yourself what responsible firearms ownership is all about. Now its time to try some pistols in viable self defense calibers. The .38 was a good start. Try a .45 ACP, .40 S&W and a 9mm pistol.
Comment by T.G. Moore — 11/27/2007 @ 3:00 pm
Meryl,
Congrats, nice group on the gopher for a first timer. FYI, there’s a range on Turner Road (http://www.dominionshootingrange.com/) and one in Stafford (http://www.indoorrange.com/) that my wife and I use, we’re up near Ashland. Have fun.
Comment by Greg — 11/27/2007 @ 3:01 pm
You’re welcome to join us over here. We need more folks just like you to help spread the word. Guns are not evil :-)
http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=1&f=5&t=644103
Comment by AR15 dot commer — 11/27/2007 @ 3:05 pm
As expected any thread on guns brings out all the gun-lovers (yes, I am) and their preferences and advice 8^)
To Meryl I would just like to pass on this quote about women and guns…..
“God made man and woman. Sam Colt made them equal.”
Comment by AlanC — 11/27/2007 @ 3:07 pm
The Enfield looks like a Mark I*, a variant made for use by tank crews. The idea was that the normal hammer spur tended to snag on stuff when carried in close quarters. The Mark I* was produced from 1928 to 1942, when it was replaced by the Mark I**. The ammunition is not too common today. It will shoot .38 S&W just fine, but not the far more common .38 S&W Special.
The Woodsman looks like an oldie, probably pre-1916, if that’s the original two-tone magazine. Originally those were not meant to shoot modern “high-velocity” .22LR ammo, though many were retrofitted with the later mainspring housing so that they could do so safely.
The Official Police is the best gun of the batch, at least from a self-defense standpoint. The Army Special, the Official Police, and the Commando were the same gun – very sturdy and high-quality items, certainly compared to the stuff Colt was cranking out by the 1970s.
Sorry, but if you’re going to show off old guns you have to expect this sort of thing. Consider it part of your initiation.
Comment by tom swift — 11/27/2007 @ 3:10 pm
Glad you enjoyed your range time.
For home defense, I would suggest getting
this stock:
http://www.knoxx.com/products/SpecOps_Stock.php
with this mossberg shotgun:
http://www.mossberg.com/images/Mossberg_Guns/930/New/50580.jpg
8 SHOT CRUISER 50580 12 Gauge HEAT SHIELD INSTALLED, PISTOL GRIP ONLY
The position of the safety on the mossberg is like a flashlight switch on the top of the gun.. you can easily find and use it in the dark. Push it forward for fire, pull it back for safe. This is far, far better than the safety on other shotguns which is just a tiny button by the trigger guard. Which postion is safe? In the dark? Who knows!
The 8 shot capacity means you wont have to worry about reloading.
You get a heat shield. With the Knox stock and regular (not magnum) #1 buckshot loads you can stop attackers with reduced overpenetration out the walls of your house. The Knox stock will take all the sting out of using the gun
and it adjusts to different lenghts, so you can make the shotgun fit you. If your house is out in the woods, then you can use the 00 buck if you want.
Also get some of these dummies
http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=6811&title=SHOTGUN+ACTION+PROVING+DUMMIES
so you can regularly practice loading, unloading, dummy firing, and cycling the shotgun.
Comment by good for you — 11/27/2007 @ 3:12 pm
I second the AR15.com recommendation.
A great community, with lots of info about all firearms, not just “evil black rifles”.
Plus, their general discussion forum has threads on any topic imaginable (within the code of conduct): from politics to recipes to music to history…..
Comment by Chris — 11/27/2007 @ 3:14 pm
Tom, you and Stretch can argue about Mark 1 and Mark 2. I just put up the picture to illustrate what I was shooting with. I’m the novice here. Stretch, I’m sure, will be here after he gets out of work to explain to you why it’s a Mark 2.
Comment by Meryl Yourish — 11/27/2007 @ 3:17 pm
Meryl,
Darn, forgot to add this: If you’re interested there’s a gun show at the Showplace this weekend (Sat & Sun) and one at the F’burg Expo Center (behind Central Park) on the 15th & 16th. Cheers.
Comment by Greg — 11/27/2007 @ 3:19 pm
Beautiful narrative. When I read “fun to load, fun to shoot, and fun to empty the casings out of..” I realized that you were a natural.
Jeff Cooper, who knew more about this stuff than anybody, and who is singlehandedly responsible for the revolution in shooting of the last few decades (two handed high-speed pistol shooting, finger off the trigger for safety, shooting schools for private citizens, and a hundred other things) once did a short essay to analyze the home defender’s situation. Here’s part of what he said:
“..Competence, skill level, social outlook, physical strength and emotional stability are all pertinent. Most significant of all, however, is whether or not the person who will use the weapon is a recreational marksman. If you shoot regularly for fun you are in ‘Category A.’ If not, you classify as ‘Other.’
I think you’re well on your way.
Comment by charley — 11/27/2007 @ 3:22 pm
Greg, nope, it’s too early to make a decision. So no gun shows for me this weekend.
Comment by Meryl Yourish — 11/27/2007 @ 3:37 pm
(I’m sorry if someone has already mentioned this in the posts and I missed it)
Another 22 rifle you might consider is a CZ-452 rifle. I bought one here in Montana for about $200, and it has worked great for gopher hunting. They are nice looking guns with very functional open sights that are easily adjustable. Here is their website: http://www.czub.cz/index.php?p=32&idp=2&ids=8&idz=22&lang=cz
Having said that, I love Ruger guns. Not only because they are great guns, but also because Ruger one of the last (if not THE last) American-based gun company. Also, if you do get a Ruger, you can get sexy t-shirts, tank tops, and earrings from their online store. Because nothing is more fun than finding out you own more Rugers than the guy who just scolded you for wearing a pink shirt with the Strom-Ruger logo on it.
Comment by Kimberly — 11/27/2007 @ 3:44 pm
(I just read charley’s post)
Speaking of Jeff Cooper, when I asked my Dad what book he would recommend above all others for advice on rifle shooting, he said Cooper’s “The Art of the Rifle”. It is a great book, although a little sexist [Cooper compares a man's joy in holding a rifle to a woman's joy in holding a baby. C'mon! I would much rather hold a rifle(not scary at all) than a baby(generally terrifying, although not as scary as toddlers or 5-year olds).]
Comment by Kimberly — 11/27/2007 @ 3:50 pm
Meryl,
Sorry, should have explained. I didn’t mean it as a buying experience but as a learning experience. If there’s one thing people at guns shows like to do it’s talk. In fact you usually can’t get them to shut up :o), sort of like blog comments on steroids.
Comment by Greg — 11/27/2007 @ 4:03 pm
Congratulations on a successful introduction to shooting!
My first firearm that I purchased was a Ruger 10/22 and I still regret selling it. They are great little .22 rifles.
While handguns are good for home defense, I’d suggest a long gun – rifle or shotgun – in your case. You seem to be more accurate and more at ease with a rifle. Some pundit said a pistol is for fighting your way back to your rifle or shotgun which you shouldn’t have put down in the first place.
AR15.com was recommended earlier and I’d go with that recommendation. In addition to learning anything and everything about “evil black rifles”, you also find out how to take out Zombies if they invade.
Tom Gresham of Gun Talk radio fame has been recommending an AR-15 carbine lately for home defense and I tend to agree with him. If you get one in a M-4 carbine configuration in .223 Remington with an adjustable stock, you will have the power you need, low recoil, plenty of ammo available with 30-round mags, and you can hang stuff like lights and lasers on them. For home defense, I’d look at the varmint rounds which are meant to be frangible (break apart on impact). You can pick up past shows on his podcasts at http://www.guntalk.com
Good luck and good shooting.
john
Comment by John R — 11/27/2007 @ 4:06 pm
Great job on your first session on the range, Meryl!
You might want to check out http://www.theboxotruth.com to see which calibers are more suitable for self-defense. The guy who runs the site actually tests all kinds of firearms and calibers on various targets.
If you do find that you enjoy shooting, you might look into attending or even competing in Cowboy Action Shooting events. They can be a lot of fun.
Comment by Jim Stegman — 11/27/2007 @ 4:10 pm
Lots of recommendations of the .357 magnum. Yeah, it’s a great manstopper. But for home defense you have to remember that it’s also powerful enough to go through thin walls and keep on truckin’ which might upset your neighbors if they live close to you.
Comment by Flash Gordon — 11/27/2007 @ 4:15 pm
I just skimmed the responses, so forgive me if this has already been said. The DAO Ruger 22 is AWESOME– by far my favorite.
Target shooting is great fun. But, before you keep a gun in the home for self defense, ask yourself this question: Are you prepared to shoot to kill? If not, then the gun could easily become a danger to you in a crisis situation.
I love shooting. I also keep my gun at the range because I know that I don’t have what it takes to pull the trigger on another person.
Comment by Ahuva — 11/27/2007 @ 4:25 pm
Well, that’s true. But every single person also has the capacity to kill while driving, using household cleaning chemicals or power tools, or by slipping somebody too many over-the-counter pills or some antifreeze.
Society depends on the fact that most people don’t want to kill anybody. And guns in the right hands make it possible to stop some of those who do.
Comment by Different River — 11/27/2007 @ 4:31 pm
Oh, I almost forgot — congratulations on your first shoot!
Comment by Different River — 11/27/2007 @ 4:31 pm
Good for you, Meryl! You’ve started a fun new hobby. I hope you keep practicing your shooting skills. I took my wife shooting just last week where she succeeded in hitting the target several times with the 22 single shot pistol. But once I gave her the 22 rife she put twenty four shots in an area you could cover with a half-dollar and that was at 24 yards. I’m very proud of her.
Comment by Ross Johnson — 11/27/2007 @ 5:18 pm
Hi Meryl,
Good for you. I can recommend the Ruger 10-22 rifle as excellent. The CZ sounds interesting, but I know nothing about it.
For home defense I use a Remington 870 12 ga with #6 shot. I have neighbors and two very busy streets adjacent. If anyone tells you a shotgun will not kill at 10-20 feet, they do not know what they are talking about.
A good revolver in .38 is nice. Use full power Glasers for defense, and shoot .38 wadcutter reloads for targets. It is lots of fun and affordable.
Ayoob’s got a bunch of books out and he knows what he’s talking about. Think about getting some tactical training. This can be as informal as shooting with your friend, or one of the schools.
Comment by Mark — 11/27/2007 @ 5:32 pm
“The SP-101 is ideally suited to fit most female hands.”
Replace the factory grips with Hogue grips. Costs about $15, but provides a much better hold on the weapon.
Also, get the 3 inch or longer barrel version of the SP-101, as a 2 inch snub-nose gun is difficult to shoot well.
Comment by Rob — 11/27/2007 @ 5:35 pm
Nice work at the range! It made me feel like a kid again, recalling when I learned the 4 rules for the first time. You are fortunate to have a friend who cares enough to make sure you learn the right way.
There is a lot of good encouragement here as to how to take “the next step” in familiarization and ownership, some of which I think is very good and some of which makes me cringe (as I am sure there will be someone out there who cringes at what I have to say). Like you, I like the idea of being part of the process, and prefer to shoot bolt action rifles. That also makes shopping for a rifle of your own easier, since I can’t think of many bad bolt action .22s that you are likely to run across. Any decent gun store should be able to get a used one for you for $100-150 if you keep looking. Take Stretch along to check the workings.
For a handgun, I would be lost without a .22. I have a Browning Buckmark and love it, but most of the other American brands are good also (Ruger Mark III, SMith 22A). The Beretta Neos is a little on the homely side, but works very well and can be had for around $200 new. Shooting a handgun well is a difficult thing for most people (there are some “naturals”, but I surely am not one), and the only way to get proficient is practice. Practice is a lot more palatable at .22 ammo prices. Get the fundamentals worked out, then bring out the expensive shooters.
For a centerfire handgun, I love police trade-in Rugers and Smith and Wessons. As long as you are not going to carry concealed, the bigger the better (frame size, 4″ barrel seems to feel right to me). They are almost always in .357 magnum, and will shoot .38 special.
If you have a range in the area that rents out handguns and rifles, be sure to take advantage of it. It’s like trying on shoes, some just feel right. My friends all rave about their Glocks, but I have to try harder to shoot a Glock well than a Springfield XD, so I went with the latter. Wouldn’t have known without trying.
Thanks for the entertaining window into your life, which I have enjoyed from afar from nearly the beginning. Shalom.
Comment by CPT Caveman — 11/27/2007 @ 6:19 pm
I am always amazed at women who shoot for the first time at how accurate they quickly become…I guess they didn’t play Cowboys & Indians with built in recoil on those toy guns.
A shotgun is too long for house protection and easily deflected by acharging assailent.
A Sprfingfield Ultra CompACT .45ACP IS MY preferance.
Comment by serfer62 — 11/27/2007 @ 7:00 pm
You rock! Many of us have been shooting a long time and get wrapped up in the technical aspects. But you’re right. Its fun. And as you get into it more, you’ll find all sorts of cool variations and events. Welcome to the club. Enjoy.
Comment by Rick — 11/27/2007 @ 7:01 pm
John R: One of the remarks I made to Stretch after I learned how to shoot: “Now I’m prepared for the Zombie invasion.”
Heh. Great minds.
Comment by Meryl Yourish — 11/27/2007 @ 7:46 pm
Do not carry your handgun in your purse or clutch as many women have these snatched by lowlifes before they can draw the weapon. A more secure carrying method would be a belt pack with a hidden holster pocket, even though these are less flattering to your appearance than a handbag.
You are doing everything right so far. After a few more sessions with your instructor, talk to him about the advantages and disadvantages of automatics versus revolvers, and perhaps he can suggest specific models given your budget.
Lastly, DO NOT take your gun with you when you are traveling through MD, DC, NJ or NY. The laws there are harsh.
Do get a good gun safe.
chsw
Comment by chsw — 11/27/2007 @ 7:54 pm
Just remember – nobody ever raped a 38.
Comment by cowgirl — 11/27/2007 @ 8:00 pm
Great to see you’ve taken these first steps in getting acquainted with firearms!
Nice to see you went to Blue Ridge Arsenal, I make there about once a month to do some shooting.
As for home defense, go with a snub nosed .38 – ease of concealment and its simplicity of operation.
“The case for the snub-nose includes cheap ammo, big bullets, simplicity of operation, and excellent reliability.”
It is all that you need.
Comment by The Ace — 11/27/2007 @ 8:11 pm
Some guy on ar15.com had WAY too much time on his hands and came up with Arfcomix and Arfpocalpse Now dealing with Zombies. View at your own risk. I take no responsibility if you fall out of your chair from laughing too hard.
http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=1&f=5&t=619676&page=1
John
Comment by John R — 11/27/2007 @ 8:46 pm
Meryl,
Girl to girl here, beware. Guns are like shoes, one pair is never enough.
Comment by Susan — 11/27/2007 @ 9:29 pm
Susan, I’m sure. I don’t have a large shoe collection, but I have a few pairs. I expect to own a few guns.
Comment by Meryl Yourish — 11/27/2007 @ 9:32 pm
Hey Mark. The arcane British system of naming weapons has done us both in. The weapon in question is an Enfield Number 2 Mark I*. So give us both full marks. If you want a real head-ache try to follow the history of the SMLE.
Comment by Stretch — 11/27/2007 @ 9:45 pm
Learning to shoot well is one of the most satisfying things I’ve ever done. Now that you have the basics down (good two-handed grip there!) a class with an experienced competitive shooter can improve your shooting more than you can imagine. I know because it happened to me. I took a course from Bruce Grey (www.greyguns.com), made some good friends, and it’s enriched my life greatly.
Congratulations–now don’t stop!
There’s lots more fun to be had.
Comment by Dr. T — 11/27/2007 @ 10:17 pm
Blue Ridge Arsenal is a great facility. I took a basic handgun course there a few months ago, and was impressed with the instructor and the range.
Would definitely recommend it to anyone in the Northern Virginia area who wants to find out more about shooting or guns.
I’m leaning towards a 9mm if I end up getting a handgun, but a buddy who took me for my first trip to a range down in Georgia swears by .22s, because ammo is cheap, and plentiful.
It’s still fun to shoot with a larger caliber occasionally, though. They had everything from a .22 revolver up to a .357 magnum for our class…that’s a gun that you KNOW you’ve shot!
Comment by Andrew — 11/27/2007 @ 10:20 pm
Meryl – so much good advice and knowledge posted on this thread –
Anytime you want to go to the range when you’re in the DC area let me know –
I offer the following:
1 Beretta 92FS 9mm semiauto pistol (same as standard US military issue sidearm)
1 Ruger 10/22 .22 semiauto rifle
2 Remington 870 12 GA shotguns
1 SKS 7.62×39 semiauto rifle
1 Russian M44 7.62×54 bolt action rifle
2 Russian M38 7.62×54 bolt action rifles
Congrats on a great start as a responsible gun owner
Comment by Lil Mamzer — 11/27/2007 @ 10:52 pm
Heh! You go Girl! I like to keep a couple of cases that look like that next to my desk in my home office. Any time I need a break they’re ready for use and the range is only a couple hundred feet away from my back door. A most excellent hobby. Revolvers are probably the most fun, I have a bunch of 22’s, 38’s and a 45 or two.
Comment by GunsmithKat — 11/27/2007 @ 11:15 pm
Someone in the comments recommended birdshot for home defense, THIS IS NOT A GOOD IDEA. Read http://www.theboxotruth.com/ for more info on round penetration. This one has information on birdshot performance http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot22.htm
Comment by DtK — 11/27/2007 @ 11:25 pm
Meryl,
It is nice to see you have an interest in firearms. Everybody should have firearms training. I grew up with gun cabnets in the basement. I had seven firearms when I met my girlfriend fishing. I moved in with her and found out she had a gunsafe with about 50 handguns, shotguns and rifles.
My point is it is not a gender thing. I read your profile and I believe feminism is a groupism created by the liberals in this country. If you want protect yourself from intruders go to Walmart and get a cheap Mossberg 20 gauge. Since you like rvolvers… a few of my friends wives carry S&W Airlites. They are .25 cal.. Once you get comfy with your revolver try a semi-auto. I keep a .40 cal. baby eagle made in Israel with Hydro-shock shells….They fragment and will not go through walls to kill loved ones or neighbors. Also I have two English Setters that will let me know when someone comes through the door and they are great with kids.
traceman
pittsburgh
Comment by traceman — 11/27/2007 @ 11:26 pm
Personally I prefer to employ my Louisville Slugger. There is something satisfying in hearing the thwack.
Comment by Jack — 11/28/2007 @ 2:52 am
Welcome to the self protection mindset. 911 is just not enough, you are taking the first steps to protecting yourself, great job. My daughters both are shooters at 9 & 11 and enjoy out time at the range. I don’t want them to be a stranger to firearms if they feel the need to protect themselves when they are on their own. To quote an age old overused phrase “God created all men and women”. “Sam Colt made them equal”.
Good luck on your adventure, if I can help you with any information or recommendations please feel free to ask. Regards, Jim
Comment by Jim Lee — 11/28/2007 @ 7:08 am
Meryl, you have said nothing about overcoming the mania to shoot everyone in sight when you first touched those pistols. C’mon, share.
Comment by Broadsword — 11/28/2007 @ 8:15 am
Meryl,
I suggest you look at a “Coach gun” for home defense. That is the old double barrel shot gun. I suggest getting one in 20 GA with an 18 1/4″ barrel. 18 inches is minimum legal length for a long gun barrel.
My brother used a single barrel 12 GA but he made it a pistol. Many a miscreant went running when he cocked the hammer.
The deterrent with this type of gun is the criminal can see you cock it and he knows a shotgun means the end of the road either in a coffin or a long stretch in the prison hospital.
I’m partial to my Marlin model 60 with a 15 round banana clip and scope. As you imagine it scares the crap out of the liberals here, and they think it is a large cartridge gun, not a .22LR.
My home defense gun will be changing from a Winchester .30-30 to a 12 GA Belgian Browning. It is a semiautomatic. That means it’s like that Colt Woodsman, one pull of the trigger is one shot and the gun reloads for the next shot.
Comment by PCD — 11/28/2007 @ 8:15 am
Broadsword, it was exactly the opposite. I was terrified I’d make a mistake and blow a hole in someone.
Comment by Meryl Yourish — 11/28/2007 @ 9:14 am
As you can see Meryl, gun owners are passionate, but tend to be pretty nice folks. And they’re more than willing to help and offer advice. It’s the criminals who are not allowed to own guns, but break the law and do it anyway, who we need to worry about. And in those areas (like mine in NH) where there are a lot of nice, legal gun owners, crime tends to be less, because the criminals know it.
Anyway, one way to relieve some of the stress surrounding your decision to buy the one gun that’s “just right” for you is to resign yourself to the likelihood that you’ll eventually own several.
Comment by Chris — 11/28/2007 @ 9:42 am
Congrats. I can see you’re getting a lot of advice right now. I could ad my own gun preferences, but frankly there’s so much noise in this thread I don’t think it would be worth it.
Instead I suggest you find a local range in the Richmond area with a good selection of rental guns. Get a membership and start shooting through their rental case. This is the easiest and cheapest way I know of to get experience with a wide variety of firearms. After that, buy what you like and can afford.
Comment by Jeff the Baptist — 11/28/2007 @ 10:15 am
Glad you had fun, Meryl!! A bolt-action .22 rifle is a great gun to start with, and there is a whole lot you can learn with it.
Don’t look too far ahead until you know how interested you are in shooting and what kind of shooting you’re interested in. Answers will present themselves in vast waves of unsolicited advice…
A.L.
Comment by Armed Liberal — 11/28/2007 @ 11:15 am
This is good to read. Earlier in the year, I mentioned to my husband that some day I’d like to get a shotgun for home protection. So he got me a Remington 870 for my birthday!
I haven’t touched it since I don’t really feel like exploring it when my small children are around.* Hubby has a couple weeks off in Dec. so I will set up a time to meet up with someone who can teach me how to use and clean it.
*Once I know what I’m doing, I’ll be more willing for them to see it and learn. I don’t think me fumbling with it would be very beneficial!
I’m still unsure how a gun can be handy enough to get to in a hurry and still be safe from the kids…
Comment by MamaAJ — 11/28/2007 @ 12:39 pm
MamaAJ, I have shown my kids my firearms so that they don’t “stumble” onto them at some date and decide that these are some kind of forbidden toy.
Then, I also tell them that their lives as they know it will come to a screeching halt if I ever catch them playing with them or showing them to a friend. This put the fear of God into them, since I never talked like that before.
I never had problem #1, so I guess it worked. They know that dear old Dad can be a cuddly teddy bear or a raving maniac, it’s up to them. So they have made good choices along the way to keep the beast in hibernation.
Comment by Jim Stegman — 11/28/2007 @ 1:29 pm
MamaAJ,
An unloaded, locked-up gun doesn’t help much for home protection/break-in. It might only help if there was some civil unrest that gave you a warning to take it out (Katrina).
They make quick-access mini gun safes for handguns that work with fingerprint recognition or quick combinations. Not sure if they have similar locks for long gun cabinets, but a place like Cabela’s may have it.
The key is to teach your kid(s) proper respect for guns, without making them seem like some forbidden fruit. Just like you would do with kitchen knives or a power tool. Even though my guns are inaccessible to her, I don’t worry about my 4yo daughter, if she ever found one. She sees me with them frequently, and knows not to touch. I’d worry more about her friends.
Comment by Chris — 11/28/2007 @ 2:51 pm
Meryl–
Great post, and best of luck in this endeavor. Two thoughts to pass on.
1) A cousin of mine (by marriage), a survivor of Auschwitz, became a life member of the NRA when he came to America after the war, and could never understand how any sane Jew could support gun control. He had a small business in Manhattan, and I’m pretty sure he had some form of “protection” stashed in his van, though I never saw it. He once took me and my daughter on a memorable tour of the NRA museum when it was in downtown DC. Time marches on; the NRA museum is now in NoVa, and Les, like so many survivors, has gone to meet his maker.
2) Do your homework if you are thinking about joining the JPFO. They are to the NRA as the NRA is to the Brady Campaign–seriously hard-core.
Comment by Ben F — 11/28/2007 @ 11:06 pm
Greetings from Israel, which is where this New York Jew learned to be comfortable around firearms.
Amid all the talk about gun models – I would like to emphasize the importance of securely storing your gun.
Here in Israel they are very strict about the need to lock your gun up when it’s not in use – if your firearm is involved in an incident and you didn’t taken the steps necessary to secure it – you are (rightly!) in big trouble.
Maybe less glamorous than discussing the guns – but just as important, if not moreso.
Comment by Ben-David — 11/29/2007 @ 4:19 am
I’m still unsure how a gun can be handy enough to get to in a hurry and still be safe from the kids…
Two answers:
1. Quick access lockboxes, using the Simplex lock, the Gunvault style electronic lock, or biometric locks.
2. Teach kids gun safety, and make handling guns safely, under appropriate adult supervision, part of their lives, rather than some mysterious, forbidden adult thing for them to try when the folks aren’t around.
Orthogonally: drowning accidents among kids drop dramatically when the kids learn how to swim. Locking up the pool is the fallback; water safety is more important.
Comment by Joel Rosenberg — 11/29/2007 @ 2:53 pm
Simplex lock-box is what I use for my handgun, and and I prefer it to any other type.
It’s purely mechanical – no electronics – no batteries or circuits to fail – and the five buttons arranged in a short row can be namipulated in a fraction of a second, in the dark, for immediate access.
The lock secures a 12-gauge steel (read: acetylene torch to cut) metal box, through-bolted (from inside the box) to the floor.
Here’s one identical to mine except that the steel is even thicker (10 gauge):
http://www.ftknox.com/pistolboxes/
My long guns are in a security cabinet screwed from inside to a wall stud behind, double-padlocked.
Comment by Lil Mamzer — 11/30/2007 @ 7:21 am