Buy Ammo.

[Copper]

I assume we can get a good price at the police going out of business sale.

[Rainman]

For the first time in my life, I am seriously considering buying a gun.
Just a simple handgun, that would fit in the glove compartment (if that's even legal, beats me).

[Jolly]

@Rainman said in Buy Ammo.:

For the first time in my life, I am seriously considering buying a gun.
Just a simple handgun, that would fit in the glove compartment (if that's even legal, beats me).

Bad time. Prices have gone up, selection has gone down.

My advice is to drop by a local range that will let you try two or three different weapons. If you are not really familiar with firearms (I can do a tap-wrack-bang drill in my sleep), stay away from complicated. That means you should choose revolvers or pistols without a complicated manual of arms like a Glock. Stay away from larger calibers, as a .45 (or such) is not the gun for somebody that is new to handguns or doesn't shoot very often. 9x19 (9mm), .38 special, .357 magnum(you can shoot .38 spl in a .357, too) or maybe as large as a .40 S&W in a semi-auto.

If you only have one handgun, buy something that is small enough to fit in your glove compartment or that you could conceal on your person. But also buy something large enough for the task. Something like:

https://www.ruger.com/products/lcrx/specSheets/5431.html

https://www.smith-wesson.com/firearms/mp-9-shield-m20-manual-thumb-safety

https://us.glock.com/en/pistols/g19

I also advocate taking a concealed carry class, even if you don't intend to apply for your license.

[Mik]

I will echo the CCW class idea. You get a lot of good perspective on legal and illegal shoots and they bring the reality and responsibility of carrying a weapon into perspective.

[Loki]

The name of the game is not total anarchy just enough to put Joe in the driver’s seat.

[Jolly]

@Loki said in Buy Ammo.:

The name of the game is not total anarchy just enough to put Joe in the driver’s seat.

Somebody will accuse you of being Burtonesque, but I think there is a large element of Truth there.

I always thought David was a bright man with a unique take on life, that was hounded out of here. We are poorer for his having left.

[taiwan_girl]

@Jolly said in Buy Ammo.:

We are poorer for his having left.

I agree. I always like to hear different viewpoints, even if I agree or disagree with them. I am said when people leave here or feel that they have to leave here. It does make us all poorer.

[Horace]

@Rainman said in Buy Ammo.:

For the first time in my life, I am seriously considering buying a gun.

Same here. I probably won't buy one, but for the first time in my life I would rather have one than not.

And for the millionth time in my life, I would rather not be living in CA.

[Jolly]

The argument as succinctly as I can make it:

It's an individual choice whether to own a gun, or not. But a gun is the only weapon that provides self defense to any person capable of pulling a trigger. And when you need a gun, you really need a gun.

[Loki]

@Horace said in Buy Ammo.:

@Rainman said in Buy Ammo.:

For the first time in my life, I am seriously considering buying a gun.

Same here. I probably won't buy one, but for the first time in my life I would rather have one than not.

And for the millionth time in my life, I would rather not be living in CA.

I know several who now have a gun who are (where?) staunch advocates for gun control. It’s an interesting conversation how they parse their need vs the good of society.

I have thought about a handgun but am still no where near pulling the trigger.

[Copper]

Saying that you don't own a gun is one of those things you might regret saying in a public forum.

Here is a picture of my gun storage area. The good stuff is in the vault upstairs, near me all the time.

[Mik]

@Jolly I agree. I liked David and still miss him.

[Loki]

@Copper

I said handgun, although the mess I’d make is a deterrent.

[Rainman]

@Jolly said in Buy Ammo.:

@Rainman said in Buy Ammo.:

For the first time in my life, I am seriously considering buying a gun.
Just a simple handgun, that would fit in the glove compartment (if that's even legal, beats me).

Bad time. Prices have gone up, selection has gone down.

My advice is to drop by a local range that will let you try two or three different weapons. If you are not really familiar with firearms (I can do a tap-wrack-bang drill in my sleep), stay away from complicated. That means you should choose revolvers or pistols without a complicated manual of arms like a Glock. Stay away from larger calibers, as a .45 (or such) is not the gun for somebody that is new to handguns or doesn't shoot very often. 9x19 (9mm), .38 special, .357 magnum(you can shoot .38 spl in a .357, too) or maybe as large as a .40 S&W in a semi-auto.

If you only have one handgun, buy something that is small enough to fit in your glove compartment or that you could conceal on your person. But also buy something large enough for the task. Something like:

https://www.ruger.com/products/lcrx/specSheets/5431.html

https://www.smith-wesson.com/firearms/mp-9-shield-m20-manual-thumb-safety

https://us.glock.com/en/pistols/g19

I also advocate taking a concealed carry class, even if you don't intend to apply for your license.

Thanks for the advice, Jolly.
I don't know why I feel so creeped out. I guess it's that I try to imagine having to pull out a pistol because of something going on.
Honestly? I don't know that I'd have the guts to pull the trigger.
Could I actually shoot a person? Yes, if attacking my family.

I could physically fight someone, that's in my temperament. But shooting someone. . . I imagine a scene where I escalate the situation. But then again, as a last resort.
I'm rambling.
Anyway, thanks for the advice, and if I get to the point where I make the decision, I will be in touch with you beforehand, if you don't mind. I would very much value your help and advice.

[Jolly]

@Rainman said in Buy Ammo.:

@Jolly said in Buy Ammo.:

@Rainman said in Buy Ammo.:

For the first time in my life, I am seriously considering buying a gun.
Just a simple handgun, that would fit in the glove compartment (if that's even legal, beats me).

Bad time. Prices have gone up, selection has gone down.

My advice is to drop by a local range that will let you try two or three different weapons. If you are not really familiar with firearms (I can do a tap-wrack-bang drill in my sleep), stay away from complicated. That means you should choose revolvers or pistols without a complicated manual of arms like a Glock. Stay away from larger calibers, as a .45 (or such) is not the gun for somebody that is new to handguns or doesn't shoot very often. 9x19 (9mm), .38 special, .357 magnum(you can shoot .38 spl in a .357, too) or maybe as large as a .40 S&W in a semi-auto.

If you only have one handgun, buy something that is small enough to fit in your glove compartment or that you could conceal on your person. But also buy something large enough for the task. Something like:

https://www.ruger.com/products/lcrx/specSheets/5431.html

https://www.smith-wesson.com/firearms/mp-9-shield-m20-manual-thumb-safety

https://us.glock.com/en/pistols/g19

I also advocate taking a concealed carry class, even if you don't intend to apply for your license.

Thanks for the advice, Jolly.
I don't know why I feel so creeped out. I guess it's that I try to imagine having to pull out a pistol because of something going on.
Honestly? I don't know that I'd have the guts to pull the trigger.
Could I actually shoot a person? Yes, if attacking my family.

I could physically fight someone, that's in my temperament. But shooting someone. . . I imagine a scene where I escalate the situation. But then again, as a last resort.
I'm rambling.
Anyway, thanks for the advice, and if I get to the point where I make the decision, I will be in touch with you beforehand, if you don't mind. I would very much value your help and advice.

That's why I suggested the concealed carry class. You need to know all the bad stuff coming your way, whether you are right or wrong in using a gun. The last thing you want to do, is use a gun. You want to avoid trouble at almost all costs.

It's a huge responsibility.

[taiwan_girl]

I dont think I will ever buy a gun, but I am okay with people owning them legally.

I guess I am just not afraid enough (or worried enough) that I will ever be in a situation where 1) I would need a gun and 2) be able to use it in effectively.

I am a big believe in insurance, etc., but i have made it through life so far and never been in a situation where having a gun would have improved the situation.

[Jolly]

@taiwan_girl said in Buy Ammo.:

I dont think I will ever buy a gun, but I am okay with people owning them legally.

I guess I am just not afraid enough (or worried enough) that I will ever be in a situation where 1) I would need a gun and 2) be able to use it in effectively.

I am a big believe in insurance, etc., but i have made it through life so far and never been in a situation where having a gun would have improved the situation.

You haven't been in a bad situation. Pray you never are.

[Jolly]

Have you ever shot? Most people who try a bit of shooting, be it skeet, handgun, whatever, tend to enjoy it or at least are no longer afraid of a gun.

Go to a good novice class at a range and bust a few caps. You might be surprised...

[taiwan_girl]

@Jolly said in Buy Ammo.:

Have you ever shot? Most people who try a bit of shooting, be it skeet, handgun, whatever, tend to enjoy it or at least are no longer afraid of a gun.

Go to a good novice class at a range and bust a few caps. You might be surprised...

I have. I had "military training" throughout school. It was required and included shooting, disssembly/assembly, etc. We would have been a "speed bump" if the mainland Chinese did decide to invade, but....

I have been clay pigeon and target shooting and it has been fun. I am not against guns, but I am in favor of common sense (at least for me) gun law.

And no, I hope (and think) I never will be in a situation that I think will be improved by having a gun.

[Jolly]

@taiwan_girl said in Buy Ammo.:

@Jolly said in Buy Ammo.:

Have you ever shot? Most people who try a bit of shooting, be it skeet, handgun, whatever, tend to enjoy it or at least are no longer afraid of a gun.

Go to a good novice class at a range and bust a few caps. You might be surprised...

I have. I had "military training" throughout school. It was required and included shooting, disssembly/assembly, etc. We would have been a "speed bump" if the mainland Chinese did decide to invade, but....

I have been clay pigeon and target shooting and it has been fun. I am not against guns, but I am in favor of common sense (at least for me) gun law.

And no, I hope (and think) I never will be in a situation that I think will be improved by having a gun.

A couple of years ago, my wife had a flat and was sitting in her car on the side of the road waiting for AAA (I was forty miles away, working). A crazy man jumped out of the back of a pickup truck that was passing by on the road, tumbled through the ditch and then proceeded to run up to the car. He jumped on the hood and was pounding on the windshield and screaming at my wife.

As crazy as he was, he had a moment of pure clarity when he looked into the barrel of that .38 and watched her ear the hammer back. She told him in no uncertain terms, that when he broke into her car, he was going to be hurt. Badly.

He suddenly lost interest in breaking her windshield in.

Those things happen. There are truly bad people in the world. A fellow preacher my pastor went to seminary with, stopped to help a man whose truck had broken down on the side of the road. The truck owner beat him with a tire tool, then raped and sodomized his eight year-old daughter, then beat both of them until he thought he had killed them. Miraculously, the little girl actually survived.

I've often wondered if the preacher's outcome would have been different, if had carried a small handgun in his pocket...