Thursday, December 29, 2005

Second amendment diary update - When I got home from my Christmas trip, there was a message on the answering machine informing me that my 'licence to carry' was in and I could pick it up from the police station. One step closer. Once I get my year-end bonus from work, it's looking like a 9mm for 2006.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

9mm... bad choice. Fun for plinking and target, but ineffective and dangerous as a protection/knock down weapon. Doesn't blossom well as a H.P. and penetrates too much. (E.g. walls, people etc.) This isn't good for a home weapon. The choice Du Jour is a .40cal or 10mm using a frangible H.P or glazer round for home use.

Anonymous said...

I like the Taurus 45 Cal semi auto with its 10 shot clip. Look it up. About half the price of an S&W, no external hammer, but has serious safeties to compensate.

Bruce said...

First, our enlightened Attorney General says we can't buy Taurus handguns here in Massachusetts (or Colt, Kimber, Glock, or Springfield, to name but a few), at least not new anyways.

Second, the best gun for home defense is one that you are comfortable with and can shoot accurately and safely.

If that gun happens to be a 9mm, then there you go.

Just because a .357 Magnum can deliver an awful lot of "stopping" power, doesn't mean it's suitable for everyone. An elderly person might get knocked on his or her ass from the recoil and lose control of the weapon as a result. What good is that?

Try before you buy, and you'll be fine.

Anonymous said...

Bruce makes some good points.. use what feels good in your hands.. if at all possible, find a gun shop with a range where you can rent a few models and calibers and shoot as many different pistols as you can

I started out going on the advice of a gun shop owner who meant well, but made generalizations.. he talked me into buying a HK USP40 for my first handgun.. it was that new plasticky sort of gun that the Navy SEALs apparently prefer.. I'll admit the gun was way more accurate than I was, and never once jammed on me.. but it hurt my hands just to hold the thing, much less shoot it

I traded it for a Browning Hi-Power (again, 40 caliber).. a much better choice.. but still not quite right.. about a year later it was also traded in.. this time for a Kimber CDP (classic .45).. that gun feels like it was custom made for my hand.. if I ever give it up, I'll be replacing it with another 1911 model

originally I stayed away from the .45 because I thought it would be too much for my small hands.. but I knew that the 9mm was a compromise that I didn't want to make.. but after all is said and done, I've found that the .45 is very manageable once you get past the 'fear factor'.. a 9mm pistol has slightly less kick.. but only slightly.. and the design of the 1911 puts the chamber (and thus, blowback) very close to your palm where it is best controlled and absorbed

I know my 'journey' with trading various guns was great experience and it got me where I feel at home.. but I lost several hundred dollars by buying new and trading them in.. so renting is unquestionably a more economical choice.. especially since you can shoot many different types in a short period of time

whatever way it works out, good luck and welcome to the 2nd Amendment Club!

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