Firearm BS thread

Get something that's going to be fun for HER to shoot. It's hard to beat a good 22lr for fun and learning the skills needed to accurately shoot a handgun. In fact, everyone should have a good 22. The difference in 380 and 9mm is more dependent on the gun than the cartridge. A 380 is usually smaller than a 9, but it might fit her hand better and be easier to shoot. Hard to really say until she fires a few different models. If it is in the exact same gun, the 380 would have a little less recoil.

 

22lr is hard to find and not so cheap anymore. My wife really likes my m&p9, but also another consideration is a revolver chambered in. 357, fun to shoot a full load but you can also shoot .38

 

22lr isn't that hard to find and is far cheaper than any other ammo out there. I'd much rather put 1,000 rounds a weekend through my 22s than anything else.


For example, this is a typical day at my range. Didn't bring all the handguns, but you get the picture. I get on my range 4 or 5 times a month. A typical day burns 500 rounds of 22lr and less than 500 of everything else.

 

Really? When I was in CA I could never find any, thought it would be different here in AL, same thing.

 

Went to Cabelas twice last week. Both times there were over 20,000 rounds on the shelf. Every time I've gone to Academy for over a year they've had 22lr in stock. WalMart is the only place around here that doesn't have it.

 

For my next trick, should I get a....

Glock 20, 10mm??

or

AR-15 pistol, 300AAC??

 

I'll have to start looking again, I've got a bit of a stockpile. I stopped looking when it cost almost as much as my .38 reloads.

 

Depends. Do you reload? Do you have a suppressor?

If you reload and have a suppressor then 300blk.
If you dont reload but have a suppressor - 300blk
If you reload but dont have a suppressor- 300blk
If you dont reload and dont have a suppressor - hmmm thats tough and could go either way.

Alot of 10mm factory ammo is underpowered. Underwood and a couple others make full powered ammo but it is expensive. But buying the cheaper 10mm isnt worth it IMO. If you reload you can make some fun hotter loads for pretty cheap.

300blk is only fun (IMO) suppressed. Not suppressed there are better caliber choices IMO. It also a fairly expensive round to shoot if buying factory ammo. But factory ammo is available for it in both super sonic and subsonic.

 

Does she WANT a gun? My girlfriend doesn't mind shooting either but she also isn't excited about it, telling me she doesn't really want a gun of her own.

If it's only going to be used for plinking, what about a 22 conversion for your 19? She won't have her "own" but it's as simple as just swapping the slides.

 

For safety and self defense, a .38 Special revolver is a reliable and ready option that's easy to shoot in a tense situation. Recoil isn't normally any worse than a .380, mostly because they're heavy and solid.

For plinking, .22s are best. My wife likes shooting my Colt 1873 replica in 22 because it's slow, easy, and the weight makes for very slight recoil. She hates the 1911 I borrowed because the brass flies back in her hair.

Your results may vary.

 

It depends upon the gun. The heavier the better from any caliber. In general .380s are much easier to shoot but from a very small gun , hard to control because the gun is filled with compromises...really small grips. You cannot afford to plink with a .380

For plinking and desperation self defense, nothing beats a compact .22. Ruger has them reasonably priced as does Taurus and others.

 

Ok thanks guys I'll probably go with a 22. She's a monster with my marlin 795 so a pistol she can enjoy as much as that would probably be perfect.

@pittim she loves going shooting and has talked about getting her own before, i think it would make a good present

Definately not going with a revolver, she despises the 357 even with 38 for some reason.

 

Nothing wrong with a .380

My small wife carried a lcp, bodyguard .380, or a chief special 9.

 

I dont think she really plans on carrying, not really her mindset. I just want to get her target shooting handguns more comfortably. She likes my g19 but anything smaller or more powerful is a no go. Which is totally fine and i understand why she doesn't enjoy it.

I think I'm going to pick her up a 22 pistol, cerakote the slide blue (her fave color) and surprise her with it around Christmas.

 

Good choice. Once you shoot enough over time with a .22 because it is cheap and more convenient, then for some people, the comfort level in carrying a fire arm increases. Some people just have an innate ability to say "I am just not ready". That may come with time and the first may be a .22

 

Honestly, let her pick out her own gun, let her research it (if she wants) and definetley find one (or several) to shoot before you buy.

My dad tried the whole "buy her the gun I think is best" move and got my mom a .38 J frame, my mom hates that gun to the point that she's put 10 rounds through it in a year.

My sister in the other hand got a XD-s 9mm after researching and shooting several different pistols.

 

.22 isn't really ideal for an adult imo. She shoots the 19, get her one. My wife also had a 19 that she kept on her nightstand. I'd at least get her a solid gun for practice. 22 only goes so far, the absence of recoil will only prohibit her from ever being comfortable in the event something happens and she needs it.

Rent guns all sizes and calibers, then decide. Best route!