Firearms advice

There have been a few shooter and instuctors that have put out videos for new gun owners. There is some good info there an much easier to take in then reading this thread. It's a good starting point.





A lot of stuff that has been suggested is easy to say but in reality takes years and a lot of money to do. I'll toss my two cents in as well -
My advice - get a modern 9mm mid-size or full-size pistol that has interchangeable grips to adjust fit (SW M&P, Glock gen4 or 5, etc). Rifles and shotguns are great, but most people spend much more time with handguns because they can be carried.
Get a basic class and then get a good feel for the gun off the range, dry practice at home. Then start going to the range and looking at more classes if you'd like. Also, once you start looking at clubs, a lot of clubs have practice days for USPSA and IDPA (competition) shooters that's usually open to club members or maybe even the public. I'm not necessarily saying to get into competition, but these guys are extremely proficient in gun handling and you can learn a ton coming to an open training afternoon.

 

I'll stick to my Glock 19 Gen3. To each their own. A M&P Shield would be a runner up after a Glock though.

 

Dude, your advice sucks, lol.

 

If you are thinking about buying a Glock 19, just stop!!!!! Geeze! It's only redeeming feature is reliability, and there are several pistols on the market with as good, if not better reliability, and those have far better ergonomics, and a better trigger.

My advice, go straight out and buy a Walther PPQ (4"). Not only is it ~$100 cheaper than a Glock 19, it has THE BEST "OUT OF THE BOX" TRIGGER on the market, and it's ergonomics are second to none. If you don't want to be James Bond, you can pay about the same as a Glock 19 and buy a HK VP9. It's trigger is pretty close to the Walther. Both of those suggestions have reliability as good, if not better than any Glock.

Real friends don't let friends waste money on Glocks!

 

Cameras are great for the investigation. Get the highest quality you can afford and local storage backed up on the cloud. Remember your actions will be recorded, too. They might be a deterrent, but in the age of face masks, probably not.

Regarding gun choice, get what you like from a well known manufacturer that you can shoot well. $450-550 will get you all the gun you need (pistol). All the modern polymer defensive caliber guns are great- Glock, S&W, Sig, Springfield are all good to go. Would recommend budgeting for night sights and a weapon light as well.

Would also recommend you buy snap caps and practice dry firing, reloads and malfunction drills before your class. You will be head and shoulders above the rest. I did this with my wife and I can tell you it pays huge dividends.

 

I had a 5" PPQ and it was amazing. It was a tough choice but I sold it. I have so much time on Glocks that everything else feels wrong. I was definitely more accurate with slow shots with that PPQ, but it felt wrong while doing it. I was telling my friend, it's like having 200,000 miles on a Camry then getting into a Porsche for the first time and trying to drive it just as close to the edge. It might be a better car, but i know the Camry forwards and backwards.

 

I forget how we originally found out about it but years ago my wife and I went to a 2 day firearms class. Think it may have been a sign at a sporting goods store.
Day 1 was classroom. Day 2 was all at an outdoor range trying out all calibers and variations of firearms. Being able to see and try so many was awesome. Look around your area for a class like that. Private outdoors shops seem to be better than big chain stores usually as far as actually knowing stuff.

By doing that weekend, i discovered that I didn't like a single model from glock. They dont feel right in my hand. Same for most compacts too. Full size pistol is what I like.

Single shot hunting pistols that use rifle ammo are cool (but not for defense).
Short pistol grip shotgun was fun for blasting targets in a field but not great for indoor defense in my opinion (2 hands required to wield it).

 

How can you even try to compare and say either of those platforms are even remotely close in reliability when they have both come out within the past 10 years and have not been used in NEARLY the service extent of any Glock platform. Also, not sure where you're buying your Glocks from but it sounds like you're overpaying.

Oh, and H&K mags are $70 a piece so

 

OK, they are MORE RELIABLE than any Glock on the market. So there!

 

I can agree with this. There are much more innovated options on the market now a days. There's a few primary reasons I stick with Glocks and simplicity is one of the major ones.

The VP9 and PPQ both have much better ergonomics and triggers. They are simply weak in other categories.

 

I like holding a 2x4 and a trigger that feels like a stapler.

 

I heard lots of good things about Strategic Tactics of Protection in Raleigh.

As for guns, you ask 20 people and you’ll get 20 different answers.
Me? I’d get a Glock 19 and maybe and 26 or 43 for the wife. Go to a shop that has both and let her hold them.
My other choice, like others, would be a 16” AR with a mid length gas system. I’m a huge BCM fan.

 

I know a lot about firearms and I tend to agree with him. An AR has more controls that are harder to learn and operate under stress, it’s excruciatingly loud, will shoot straight through the intruder, the wall, and your neighbours kid.

An 870 with reduced recoil “personal defence buckshot” causes hellish damage (I’ve shot 2 deer with it) and won’t deafen you or kill your neighbour. You won’t need a second shot.

 

@JimBeam

 

I killed two deer with reduced recoil law enforcement buckshot. Federal flight control. At 40 yards it spreads less than 24”

Edit: Also, birdshot at 5 yards is basically a single column of lead, probably hasn’t even left the wad yet. The fact you’re not a duck doesn’t mean it won’t shred you.

 

Good luck OP, if you're still there

 

OP's Brain

 

The only real advice you need to start with is to go to a range where you can test out different guns to find one you're most comfortable/accurate with, and find a quality instructor who you are comfortable with and trust, and who knows what he is doing. The rest is all minute details that you will learn through your training, can ask people about later ononce you have a base of knowledge, or realize through common sense. IE you wouldn't want to choose a shotgun for your only weapon if you want to carry also.

Also, please take the time to learn about the ballistic properties of the different caliber bullets you will be considering using for home defense/concealed carry, and drill the basic safety rules about gun ownership and shooting into your head.

As a gun owner, you should be setting the right example for other gun owners and possible future gun owners. Which means being responsible, safe, and knowledgable.