Want to buy a gun/advice needed

Very interested in your post, as I am in the process of getting a new gun for my fiancee. She has a PSA (protection from abuse) from an old b/f that is ready to expire and I am very concerned about her. We both have license to carry permits, but she is not well versed in guns (she currently does not carry). I own a Glock .45 caliber and love the gun. Glocks are most importantly, one of the most reliable (if not the most) guns you can buy, and when you need to use it, that is THE most important feature. We have a little .380 semi-auto that jams constantly..it is worthless.

The problem with my fiancee is, she is just not strong enough to handle the Glock (i.e., chambering a round, getting the magazine out, reloading, etc.). I've watched her struggle with it at the range, so in a life-or-death situation, I would have zero faith she would be ok with a semi-auto. This is why I am looking into getting her a revolver. I'm not decided on brand or caliber yet. Maybe some of the points above you should consider.

But the advice her to get a lesson or two, is the best start for you. Get familiar with guns, safety, and operation. I would recommend a revolver for you, too.
Ask your instructor about the best type of ammo for you to use, which ideally would have adequate stopping power (I've heard of multiple rounds of .22 caliber bullets hitting a guys head, but still not going through the bone!), but also not do harm with errant shots (i.e., going through walls. Especially important if you live in a condo or apartment. You WILL get sued by a neighbor who has one of your bullets end up in his place, even if you were protecting yourself). Ask your instructor about local laws, and what the police/courts like to see with honest gun owners.

When you made your choice of weapon, practice, practice, practice. Know the gun inside and out, and how to operate it with your eyes closed. I am very much against keeping the gun and ammo in separate locations. You have no idea how much time you will have. Imagine waking up with an intruder looking in your bedroom door and is holding a large knife. Getting out of bed to assemble your gun would not be an option at that point. The gun MUST be kept very close by to your sleeping location,,,ideally being able to grab it from bed and without much hesitation. As someone here mentioned, there are small safes that allow you to keep the gun safely loaded inside, but have a "finger combo" mechanism on the outside to allow you to open the safe, even in complete darkness. Just practice opening that MANY times so you can do it, literally, in your sleep.

Remember, a gun is simply a tool. Just like a hammer can't function until you physically pick it up, it's the same with a gun. Making it difficult to access, esp. in a panic situation, will only make things worse for your family. Even though you will keep the gun locked up, have an open dialoge with your kids concerning the gun. Yes, not ever mentioning it will only lead to their curiosity. The other item I would definitely recommend is a very powerful flashlight, either on the gun, or next to your bed (don't lock that up with the weapon!). Flashlights can be so powerful that they will literally blind anyone looking at it, even for a second or two. Blinding an intruder is what you want, as it would give you even more time to take possession of your weapon and have it ready. Again, I'm sure your instructor could advise on the best route.

Good luck and I applaud you for taking responsibility for your families safety. Kepp in mind, the police are not legally responsible for your safety. If you call 911, and the police take way too much time in getting to your home to help you, you cannot sue, or place any blame on them. This has gone to court before and the police are always innocent. You can look that up. What this means is, ultimately, you are the only responsible party for yours, and your families safety.

Good luck, and keep us posted on what you decide upon!

No problem. For handguns, plan your budget closer to that $500 range. If you were looking at shotguns, the you could find something closer to the $200 range. Look up your local shooting ranges in your area, and ask them if they allow you to rent guns there. That would be a very affordable way to go and get a feel for what you like, and what feels comfortable in your hands. An onsite instructor there should be able to assist you. Look for something in the 9 mm or .40 S&W caliber, those are the more affordable ammo types (.40 S&W being the larger round and having more stopping power). At Walmart I pay approx $12 for a box of 50 9mm rounds, and I think $16 for a box of 50 .40 S&W rounds. So you do the math and consider how expensive that can get. If you spend 30 minutes at the range, expect to go through 150-200 rounds or so. If you spend an hour at the range, you could go through 300+ if you wanted to. I know someone is going to chime in and brag about how much better it is to order ammo in bulk, online, but I'm not always home to take deliveries, so I prefer to pick mine up at the store.

Also, FYI, when you want to quote a post, instead of copying and pasting, go to the post you want to quote, and in the upper right hand corner of the white text area, you see a list of symbols. Click on the one furthest to the left-hand side, the little circle with the text inside of it, that's the quote button and will quote the text accordingly and then you can reply.

You sure it wasn't the wally-world reloads your were shooting or you limp-wristing the shots?

I have 2 weapons (1 pistol in .40 and 1 carbine in 9mm) from HiPoint and they're both great (especially for the price).

If you had a HiPoint that jammed every other round, a quick return to the factory would of had a completely corrected weapon back to you in less than a week.

The HiPoints are on the heavy side, and they sure aren't pretty, but if you're on a tight budget, they're decent weapons. Neither of mine have ever experienced any FTF or FTE.

Well alrighty than! lol Thank you for being a straight shooter!

I live in Chicago: "49 states have passed laws allowing citizens to carry certain concealed firearms in public, either without a permit or after obtaining a permit from local government and/or law enforcement.[1] Illinois is the only state without such a provision."

I need a FOID registration to transport it and own it, but cannot carry it in this state.

Spoken like a true Tennessean
How goes it Resister?

I don't mean to be overly harsh, but a gun is a gun. It goes boom when you pull the trigger and does absolutely nothing when you don't. It is nothing to fear when left alone or in the possession of someone who knows how to use it and means no harm. In short, it is a harmess hunk of steel. It is the wielder who uses it for good or ill. Knowing how and when to use it is really not that hard, but it is a different mindset than a lot of people have considered before, so the newness presents an uncertainty that manifests in threads like this.

I was being honest when I advised to get one that is comfortable for you to use and carry. Comfort and concealablity matter because that is the deciding factor in whether or not the gun gets taken with you where you (God forbid) might need it. Sorry to hear that you live in the quasi-communist city of Chicago where freedom is a nice bed time story of days gone by. For home only use, I would get a Judge and use #4 shot. It will make for a very bad day for Mr. bad guy if it doesn't end his day entirely and still won't have much energy if it gets through a wall. PDX defensive rounds and or 000 buck shot will dispatch Mr. bad guy, but most likely won't harm the neighbors if your shot is errant and goes through a wall first.

My wife had a .45 but it was to much for her. She has .357 Magnum now that has a better grip for her hands that she shoots less powerful .38 special rounds though much more comfortably. Being a revolver, it will also go bang every time she pulls the trigger without worrying about keeping a stiff enough grip to auto chamber another round. She carries that one now everywhere confidently.

I started with a Taurus Judge (.45/.410 shot). I Love the gun, but without a long jacket on it is hard to hide, so my daily carry is a slightly smaller .45 auto in the back of my wasteband and or a .22 in a practically invisible ankle holster. The Judge is my primary home defense gun now and doesn't travel much.

Lots of people are looking into getting a gun now who haven't thought much of it before, but are now awaking to the need to protect themselves from thugs in the present or possible future. Having the option of defending yourself is smart. Being prepared to use it if need be is wisdom. Just make sure you have gotten use to your weapon of choice and comfortable enough with it. Get thee to thine own local gun range and fire away until this task is accomplished.

glock 26. Nuff said.

You don't need a gun. You need a hardcore self defense class. I'm not trying to be rude, but judging from your responses you don't sound ready to kill someone. You have to understand that when you pull the trigger someone dies. End of story. Get into the mindset of if someone threatens my children, I will stop that threat.

The other bit of advice I will throw your way is to put a brick by your bed. it will do you more good then the unloaded weapon in your closet.

Honestly, you are right about me sounding like I couldn't kill someone, it's just not me, BUT I believe it would become me very quickly when it comes to my children.

I used to think that I would not shoot to kill an intruder, just take out their kneecaps and call the Police.
But this world has gone nuts, and that knee-less bastard would get out of the crime somehow and come back at me with a vengeance.

I believe the ONLY circumstance I would actually take a life with no guilt is if someone seriously harms my kids.. (I am talking gross crimes here, not someone taking their lolipop)

If someone kidnaps, rapes and kills my child, I would not hesitate to hunt that person down and torture them with a slow, agonizing death. I would have nothing to live for anymore anyway....

I really think I could put up a good strong fight, for about 45 seconds, after which I would pass out..lol In my defense, Men are MUCH stronger than women think!

I am a bartender and I had to close one night alone. I had a male customer grab my wrist and put it behind my back and pushed me against the wall so he could try and "grope" me. I was literally SHOCKED at how strong he was and he was NOT that big of a man. It really freaked me out and made me realize that I am not as tough as I think I am.
Luckily the bouncer was there to grab him off but I was shaken by my ignorance in a man's strength.

This ^

A lot of people give the 9mm shit these days, and I feel it's largely undeserved. There is less recoil with a 9mm, which means more rounds on target. 9mm ball is reasonably inexpensive to practice with. Lastly, to those who say the 9mil is "underpowered" I really doubt they're getting in line to be shot by one.

Glock: simple, reliable, easy maintenance. One con is the safety mechanism. The simple solution is a "trigger block" which is inserted in the trigger guard behind the trigger. When you want to fire it (and have a round chambered), you simply and effortlessly push the block out with your trigger finger and pull the trigger.

A Sig Saur 9mm would be my 2nd choice. They're more expensive and they're heavier, but they're generally more accurate than the Glock and have a few more built-in safety features.

Whatever you decide - 1) Take a defensive handgun class. Check with your local police, they'll know of a good one for you if they don't offer one themselves. 2) PRACTICE WITH YOUR HANDGUN. Not once a decade, not once a year. Try to get out on the range with it every three or four months minimum.

A gun is fine if you are trained on the workings and how to use it.

The best defense for intruders is pepper spray. Not the pen type that so many think of. Buy bear spray that is intended for knocking a bear down so you can run. Once you knock your intruder down then run for the gun and call 911.

Honestly, you are right about me sounding like I couldn't kill someone, it's just not me, BUT I believe it would become me very quickly when it comes to my children.

I used to think that I would not shoot to kill an intruder, just take out their kneecaps and call the Police.
But this world has gone nuts, and that knee-less bastard would get out of the crime somehow and come back at me with a vengeance.

I believe the ONLY circumstance I would actually take a life with no guilt is if someone seriously harms my kids.. (I am talking gross crimes here, not someone taking their lolipop)

If someone kidnaps, rapes and kills my child, I would not hesitate to hunt that person down and torture them with a slow, agonizing death. I would have nothing to live for anymore anyway....

oh boy
another internet expert glocktard

glocks are for stupid people

they will always be for stupid people

and the fact that most police departments buy them simply confirms this truth

search for statistics on how many 'highly trained' police officers shoot themselves in the foot with their glocks

the grip angle of a glock is ridiculous

the safeties the glocktards keep mentioning are multi million dollar marketing campaign myth that all the sheeple have grown to embrace without ever having used one in their life

GLOCKS ARE FOR STUPID PEOPLE

it doesn't matter who has them or how many are sold

look at who voted for obama, millions of stupid people
must the the same crowd

I know you are only joking about the shooting at their kneecaps, but in a life and death situation you ALWAYS should aim at the largest target, which would be mid torso. This also means that if your first shot does not take them down, you will continue to shoot until they are no longer a threat to you or your family. I know this goes against most peaceful human beings, but not all humans are peaceful,,,especially one that is breaking into your home!

When you actually get to the range you will see shooting is NOTHING like you see in the movies. It is not all that easy for just anyone to hit a target at even 10 feet away. The other things to consider is the intruder may be moving very fast, and your panic button will be blinking like crazy. You may only have the time to get off one round, so you have to make that count. I'm not saying 9mm is a bad round, but it is a lighter round and moves very fast (by comparison, the .45 round is big, fat and relatively slow). The point is, when you are forced to pull that gun out, it will be in a life or death situation. Many intruders will high-tail it out if they were only looking to rob someone, and that someone has a gun. Chambering a round, in either a shotgun or semi-auto, that sound will make most run for the hills......but not all. For the ones that don't run, or are there to cause you and your family harm, you MUST come to grips with the fact you may need to pull that trigger, and you will have to aim where it will put them down, and yes, they may die. God hope it never happens, but it could. Just like you may never be in a car accident, but most of us wear our seatbelts every time we are in the car.

I'm sure you're just trolling around here trying to be an asshole, and congrats, you succeeded. However, in the one in a million chance that through your inability to properly communicate your point, you actually have one,,,WHAT THE HELL IS IT? WHY are people that buy and own Glocks stupid? Why don't you like the internal safety of a Glock? Why is it a "marketing campaign myth"?

No one has said that every cop is an expert. If you are such a gun expert you should know that you NEVER put your finger on the trigger until ready to fire. For those that walk around with their finger on the trigger (cops included) an external safety wouldn't matter because they would already have it off,,,,,,RIGHT??! When a knowledgable Glock owner has their finger on the trigger, it's go-time,,,otherwise it's on the trigger guard (ps--I did see a youtube video of a female cop, with a Glock, almost shoot a guy that was already face down on the ground, being cuffed. Why? She had no reason to have her finger on the trigger, as he posed no threat anymore.).

The point is, all the items you brought up about safeties, well,,,,that is the only point you brought up,,,I'm not including everyone is "stupid" that buys a Glock as any type of point.....but anyway, anything involving the Glock's safety, and those that don't know how to properly handle a firearm, has nothing to do with the gun! That is human error you are talking about, and just buying a gun with an external safety, in no way, guarantee's that the owner is a gun expert, or will not do something stupid. RIGHT??!

Glocks are one of the most (if not THE most) reliable gun you can buy. For my money, and my protection, that is the number 1 factor in a firearm. It has one job to do, and one job only, fire a round when the trigger is pulled, be accurate, and fire again, if needed. Other than that, we are arguing symantics. We could go on all day about the looks of certain guns, or their history, or what was the favorite gun of your father. All that means nothing if that round does not come out when you need it to. By that criteria, Glocks are number 1 in my book, and most armies and police worldwide. They are issued to these entities because they work (leave out the arguments about police states and NWO stuff,,,we are strickly discussing firearms).

I am going to purchase a handgun. Something small that I will put in a locked safe in my closet away from the kids. I do know how to shoot some but I am in no way an expert. Advice on where to even start?! I may go to the shooting range and ask questions but this place will give me a broader idea of what is a nice little handgun.

I can't obviously ask people in my immediate life.. They will freak!

reliable , yeah right
define 'reliable' without sounding like a glock marketing brochure, please

and just make sure to direct the newb's attention away from glock's unsupported chambers and all those numerous glocks that went KABOOM as a result
a little bit of bullet setback and you loose your arm and half the face

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The most reliable handgun you can buy....



GLOCKS ARE FOR STUPID PEOPLE

and you're the best example

Consider a good quality handgun safe with a mechanical pushbutton lock. Can be opened by feel in total darkness and if it takes you 5 seconds you are slow and need to practice more. Bolt it to something solid like your bed frame.



www.fas1safe.com