Gun Safety, what to purchase, how to get training?

I think you're making a great choice by looking into getting a handgun and that you're also concerned with being safe and informed. Like everyone has said, hold some (lots) and try to feel the difference in your hand.

It is important to learn the fundamentals with someone that is qualified. If you learn the proper way to hold/handle a firearm, you will basically be able to shoot any gun you want. Some guns and calibers may seem intimidating, but with proper training you will start to see how they differ and they will be easy to handle.

Glocks are affordable-ish and they make many sizes.
The Beretta PX4 has a modular grip that can help with different hand sizes.
Anything you like is good too.

 

Join a local gun organization/group or check out a local gun range many options out there for training. NRA has some local chapters that can and will put you on the right track with the right firearm with proper instruction/training.

I have invested heavily in training as I think I am in the 900 hr range from low light,combat,basic,advanced,CQB,Vehicle Based,backup gun,Defensive Shotgun,Tactical Rifle,shooting off hand and hand to hand.....

 

It is a new "drug" get used to opening your wallet.....

 

As a female, it is hard to go into a 'man" store without being judged. Thus instead of being taken advantage of, I posted here, so I can go in asking for a few models, so they don't laugh me off (like they do when I go buy new Trucks).

For me I have been thinking of getting it for about 2 years. However, so many accidental shootings happen at home, and that has often scared me off. Recently two of my friends have been victim of home invasion robberies and surprisingly very affluent communities. Thus I think I am ready to make the jump, just for my own safety and piece of mind.

 

Greetings! I'm also a female and shoot, although not as often as I should.

What do you plan to do with it? Conceal carry? Home protection? Target shooting?

You're best bet is visit a reputable gun store and ask questions. Learn how to hold one and find a gun that fits your hands. If the gun store has a shooting range, ask them how or who can let you shoot some with instruction. Generally, a 9mm is best but if you have trouble with recoil... you'd be better off starting with .380 or 22 to learn with and go up from there ( this won't be your last gun purchase )

Do you have friends that shoot?

We love our M&P 9C - 9mm - a perfect all around shooter, yet too big to CC. It's a fun target shooter and/or home protection

My CC gun (although I haven't got myself in the habit of carrying) is a Sig Saur P938. 9mm in a smaller package.

Hey, I actually have a Bodyguard 380 that I started CCing with. It is a tiny little gun. Stings the finger a bit when target shooting.

Good Luck!

 

Some gun store guys are "tacti-cool." They think they're tough for working in a gun store and can come across as arrogant know-it-alls. If you start talking to one of these guys and they tell you that "you NEED this one" or "this is most perfect gun".... move on.

My philosophy, which again is just mine so take it with a grain of salt, is that you could buy a gun that you think fits your hand (you can manipulate all the controls without weird contortions or having to substantially change your grip), and then buy lots and lots of ammo. Use all of that ammo for training and classes. If you start off with a solid foundation of the fundamentals, you will be soooooo much more confident in your own home.

 

I don't have any help for you that hasn't been mentioned. I'd recommend going into a store/range and putting some in your hands to see what feels comfortable, testing them, and to become familiar get an instructor or take a class.
I really came in here to say I respect you asking for help
Best of luck finding exactly what you're looking for, shooting is a very fun hobby when done safely!

 

YAY

I think in Los Angeles, conceal carry is pretty difficult (from what I read). So essentially mostly home protection. I would like to very good at target shooting so I know what I am doing with the gun. No use having the gun if I can't target the right perpetrator

Sadly I don't. Most of my friends are driving S550 and Range Rover,a nd spending more time finding the right Jimmy Choos or Louboutin.


Thank you for the help! I wrote down the guns you mentioned, so I can ask the shop specifically to take a look at them.

As far as recoil goes, is that something one gets used to the more they use?

 

Thank you Justin. That is the goal. I figure just like when I learned to ride motorcycles at 16 and spent years riding before buying my 998 and Panigale, that shooting is also a skill. I would like to start right, and practice and get good at it.

I don't need to be Rambo or GI Jane tomorrow.

 

I know you're in LA but I took my GF to FAST OC for their basic handgun course. She went into the course being very nervous around firearms. We have taken multiple courses with Trent at FAST OC and now my GF has just as many guns as I do and we go shooting all the time.

http://fastoc.com/fast-oc-courses/

I would highly recommend the Glock 19. I have one, my GF is getting one this year and our instructor Trent (Marine, and Law Enforcement trainer) has one. He has said he has put about 35,000 rounds through his with only a couple of issues in that time.

At FAST OC, they break everything down for you in a classroom setting. They go over everything with the firearm. Making sure you know exactly how it operates. One of the instructor, she is a current law enforcement officer and she works with the females in the class when the class is broken up by gender so everyone is comfortable.

After about 6 hours in the class room with plenty of breaks and lunch break, they take you right down the street to a shooting range and you start out shooting some small 22 pistols. They are watching everyone 1 on 1 and helping you improve. Once you are comfortable with the 22, they move on to a 9mm if you would like.

My GF left that course feeling extremely comfortable and knowing exactly how to handle a firearm. We actually just went out to the range 2 nights ago, which was her idea.

Their courses are reasonably priced. They all have full time jobs outside of this and only do this because they want people to learn how to properly handle firearms safely.

 

CALIFORNIA

• Blush And Bullets (Central Valley)
• P2k Range (El Cajon)
• PRK ARMS (Fresno)
• (Los Angeles Area)
• Oak Tree Gun Club (Los Angeles Area)
• Manteca Sportsmen (Manteca)
• The Shootist (Murietta)
• Lock-n-Load Ladies (North Central Valley)
• Spartan Training Resources (Paso Robles)
• GUNS4US Inc. (Ridgecrest)
• iRefuse2 (Sacramento)
• Bullseye Shooting Range & Firearms Store (San Rafael)
• Steel Water Firearms (Temecula)

 

There is a big difference in getting a gun to just target shoot and actually learning to shoot and having the mental fortitude to use that firearm in self defense.

One of the most important things you can do is practice reloading drills, failure drills, and dry firing. All of this can be down w/o going to the range.

As others have said get a gun/caliber that fits YOU not what others say you should get. I used to shoot a 1911 and I couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with it. I tried a Glock and was much better with that. Admittedly pistol is my worst platform and I shoot much better with a shotgun or rifle.

A light is also very important on a self defense gun. You need to identify what you may possibly shoot and at night that is only possible with a light.

Don't let you boyfriend/husband/significant other try and teach you to shoot. It rarely works out well.

 

Also, FAST OC offers some free courses to females, I think they are called female situational awareness... or something similar. They are a great group of people who are really just out to educate and make sure everyone stays safe.

Trent, one of the main instructors is a former Marine, trains Law Enforcement, and a previous competition glock shooter. The female instructor, Maddison, is current Law Enforcement and joined because she was tired of seeing females on the street getting taken advantage of and wanted to do something about it. There are a couple more instructors there that I haven't had the pleasure of training with, but I hear they are just as qualified.

I recommend the basic handgun course to all my friends before they purchase a firearm. I wouldnt try to learn about it all on the internet. There is a lot of bad information out there. Actually sitting down with someone you are able to learn whats right for you.

 

yup, and you might also check and try the small frame revolvers. I bought me a .38/.357 revolver and my wife shoots it, loves it and kept it (she's about your size). I never saw my friend Ruger again

 

Amen to these rules this is why I paid for my SO to get the training needed so didn't go batshit crazy on her... we are still a loving couple because of it...

 

Honestly, I would stay away from revolvers. Everyone always says to get a revolver, they are easy to shoot and clean blah blah. Yes they are easy but the recoil is far worse than a semi auto. I have known someone to shoot a revolver, not like it and never go shooting again because they thought all firearms were like that.

Take a course before you buy. Trust me.

 

Are revolvers the SV650 of the bike world?

 

I remember one of my instructors a retired Capt from the Army 5 tours in Vietnam when in a ohhhhh shit life or death moment pull the trigger till the slide locks....

 

The NRA offers their Basics of Pistol shooting course for women only. The next one closest to you is in November. https://www.nrainstructors.org/Cour...te=y&SearchState=CA&id=53&bsa=&youth=&women=Y