Help me buy my first gun

[RWW]

Hello all,

I am a new member of the forum, though I have been visiting on and off for at least a year, following various threads. Some time ago, I began to receive the impression that I would soon need to purchase a gun. Over the past month or so, the impression has become an urgent and overwhelming instruction. My particular intention is to buy a revolver, but this whole idea presents a few problems. You see, I have never owned a gun in my life, nor have I had any exposure whatsoever to gun ownership on any level (though I have always been an adamant supporter of the Second Amendment and planned to exercise it eventually, and I have fired a rifle a few times). On top of this, I recently moved to Missouri -- the northeastern portion -- and I haven't the slightest clue where to find a handgun. I have been able to familiarize myself with handgun ownership laws here, and am ready to apply for the required permit. I also know where I will go to get some practice with the weapon once I have it. But as for actually purchasing the gun, I am rather lost.

I have two main questions:
1. If you found yourself in a strange new place, how would you locate a good handgun? (Of course, it would be even more helpful if you happen to live in NE MO, and best yet if you are selling. )
2. Any recommendations for a model I might want to be on the lookout for? My considerations are mainly matters of economics (my budget is pretty tight) and safety (I have small children and am inexperienced with guns). These considerations are steering me in the direction of a simple revolver, but if you have any other input, it would be appreciated.

[ShawnC]

9mm in a pistol and .357 (also holds .38 rounds) in a revolver. .22 pistol is a great idea because of cheap ammo. Also, screw the "required permit". Just buy one out of the paper or at a gun show.

[RWW]

.22 pistol is a great idea because of cheap ammo.

I thought I heard there was a shortage of .22 ammo at the moment.

Just buy one out of the paper or at a gun show.

I really don't want to wait for a gun show. There was one in town a couple of months ago, but I missed it.

[ShawnC]

.22 pistol is a great idea because of cheap ammo.

I thought I heard there was a shortage of .22 ammo at the moment.

Just buy one out of the paper or at a gun show.

I really don't want to wait for a gun show. There was one in town a couple of months ago, but I missed it.

hmmm...

Go down to Wally World and buy .22 ammo for about 13 bucks for a box of 550. Then sit at home and come up with more excuses why you can't buy a gun because you're really just to uncomfortable to do it.

OK, don't do that last part.

The newspaper has all kinds of people selling firearms no matter where you are. Tough economic times makes for people who need money so they sell for decent prices sometimes. Also when you buy from a private party in "most" states there is no licensing, background check garbage.

[lamanite]

Look for a friend in your Ward to help you out. I was amazed at how many people in my Ward have concealed weapons permits, firearms, even assault rifles. Do you care about doing retail sales and having weapons registered to you or do you want a private sale? (Gun laws in MO may require you to register private sale weapons anyways, I don't know).

-ask others where to find firearms
-look online for local gun shows. A lot of private sales go on in the shows and in the parking lots
-check the classifieds; depending on where you are there are even gun publications
-look for websites with forums like this: http://www.kcguntrader.com/. some of them will have trading/for sale areas
-you can search for forums by looking for terms like "glock revolver ftf (means face to face private sale) kansas city" etc.
-check some of the popular sites like gunbroker.com, glocktalk, firinglineforums.com, etc.
-check pawn shops. these may be required to record your info and register your weapon with the state. not sure about laws in your state. again, you may or may not care.

Most of us on this board that are wary of a martial law situation like to put on our tinfoil hats and try to make sure that we don't end up on any lists. The only one I concede to is being on the list to getting a concealed weapons permit (but my few guns are private sale and not required to be registered in my name). Another word of wisdom:

Shortly after I started carrying a gun in my car I had some guy with road rage attack me in my car. Not sure where he came from or what I did that offended him but he was mad enough to come bang on my car and would not go away even after I told him I was calling the police on my cell phone and he needed to get back in his car. Of course, 911 was useless; they told me to drive away but I was stuck in the left-hand turn lane at a red light in a busy highway. I finally had to pull a gun on this guy after he reached in the car and started hitting me and I fought him off and couldn't get my window up (my window was down when this guy came out of nowhere). I almost had to shoot him. I didn't want to. He finally left after deciding he didn't want to deal with a bullet and the police responded an hour later (useless). My point is, the experience really harrowed me and made me realize that I don't want to shoot anyone unless I have to. Even after he was hitting me I didn't feel threatened enough to shoot him. At what point do I personally decide to shoot someone? Will it be too late by then? I don't know. But I did decide to get some pepper spray for use before I use a gun. What is the treshhold for spraying someone? Bang on my car one more time buddy and you're on the ground!

[Blip]

Look at the ammo Prices. These 2 guns shoot the 7.62x54. They will take down a moose.

http://www.jgsales.com/product_info.php ... 0640c67a92

http://www.jgsales.com/product_info.php ... ts_id/2392
7.62 ammo

http://www.jgsales.com/product_info.php ... ts_id/1789


The ammo on this is cheap and more accurate than an AK-47.

Polish Ak-74 (good gun)

http://www.jgsales.com/product_info.php ... ts_id/1648

Ak-74 ammo

http://www.jgsales.com/product_info.php ... ts_id/2940

Handguns.

Rock island 1911 (serviceable gun). Ammo is high though.

http://www.centerfiresystems.com/AC-RI1911.aspx

Look up The CZ-52. It is a good gun and the ammo is cheap.

Look up Hi-point. O.K guns for the price. Romanian AKs are good too. The ammo on the 47 are high now.

You can't beat a good ar-15. Once again the ammo is high.

http://jtdistributing.net/store/kits_all.html

What do you want from your firearm? If you are looking for an all around cheap gun/ammo then consider the Romanian PSL (second link). If it is all about price then consider some of the other links. I have not dealt with J&G. I was just showing you some examples.

Hope that helps.

[lundbaek]

In consideration that your wife or another family member might have to use the gun for protection of life and/or property, a small or medium frame revolver in .38 S&W Special might be the easiest for all possible users to handle. And as ShawnC suggested, try to buy one out of the paper or at a gun show so as to avoid registation. If possible, avoid any permits or other kinds of paper trail, unless you expect to carry it regularly concealed on your person.

[Blip]

Sorry let me correct the second link. 7.62x54. The romanian psl. The 750 $ one. Not the 1,700 $ one.

http://www.jgsales.com/product_info.php ... ts_id/2392

[Blip]

A .22 is still a great choice. An eye or ear shot will take down a deer. 15 buck for 500 rounds.

It is the cheapest all around.

[Spence]

NO point of having a .22 pistol, unless it is for practice. The point of a firearm is to kill things. A .22 would be hard pressed to stopped a determined person unless you are a really good shot.

I would recommend getting a Springfield XD or XD-M. This is mostly because of saftey. They are safe, reliable and well made. They are a mid priced pistol, 450-600 dollars. But it would be well worth it for the peace of mind carrying and having it around your kids.

[Blip]

Spence, .22s were used by special opps for close up killing. The bullet is powerful enough to penetrate the skull. When it does this, it actually bounces around in the head thus causeing a sure kill.

Not my first choice either (no knock down). It is a great survival round though.

[Blip]

These are good guns, but I like my CZ-52 and The CZ-52 round better. I got mine for 189.00 2 months ago.

Anyway look at some of these types. The Czechs make good guns. 9x18 will do the job.

http://www.jgsales.com/product_info.php ... ts_id/1435

Make sure you know firearm saftey before any purchase. Not a biggy, just rules and habbits to follow.

[Stumpjumper]

http://www.gunnies.com

Gunnies in orem had these in stock last week. Excellent rifle for the price. The 5.56 Nato/.223 ammo is rising almost daily though.

http://www.dpmsinc.com/firearms/firearm.aspx?id=56

$775.00 plus tax

[Blip]

Yah, the .223 has gone way up. The 5.45x39 is close to that round (ak-74). I think smith & wesson (ar-15 style) makes an upper for this 5.45x39 much cheaper round.

I have turned into an alarmist in the past few months. I am considering more reloading as well. Save your brass brothers. Save the steel casings too. If you see any then pick it up. It may be good for trade too.

Keep your powder dry, I think we are in for a bumpy ride!

[Spence]

Spence, .22s were used by special opps for close up killing. The bullet is powerful enough to penetrate the skull. When it does this, it actually bounces around in the head thus causeing a sure kill.

Not my first choice either (no knock down). It is a great survival round though.

True, I still wouldn't be getting one for home protection. You would have to shoot someone in the head for it to be effective.

Soldiers in Iraq report their 5.56 to be less effective on insurgents hopped up on Adrenaline. They don't even flinch, and that is a much bigger round than the .22.

Personally I would get a 40 S&W. Somewhat manageable, but powerful enough to take down a target.

[English Saint]

I would buy a 357 purely because I can hit the target with a revolver, but with a semi-automatic pistol it's a little more difficult. Having said that, these weapons are highly illegal in Socialist Britain. Even a 22 pistol is illegal now. Maybe I'll just have to put black shoe polish on my two fingers so that they look like a gun from a distance. Of course I'll risk being shot by NuLabour's anti-terror police if I'm caught in public with my fingers painted to look like a 9 mm Browning - do you remember that scene where Mr Bean arrives in LAX pretending his fingers are a gun? It's not uncommon for children to get into trouble with the police for having plastic toy guns in Britain. What hope do we have? We're doomed!

[will]

BUY A GLOK Model 21 45 cal. Accurate, And it has the kNOCK DOWN POWER. 22, good for plinking however, for personal protection, If you have to defend yourself spend the extra cash. The most duable hand Gun I know, Most Law enforcement in the US use it, Why, Because it's the best.

[Proud 2b Peculiar]

Missouri has gun shows all the time all over the place, the newspaper is a good place too.

Gun show or private sell = no paper work.

Most Missourians DO NOT WANT TO REGISTER ANYTHING!

[ShawnC]

9mm in a pistol and .357 (also holds .38 rounds) in a revolver. .22 pistol is a great idea because of cheap ammo. Also, screw the "required permit". Just buy one out of the paper or at a gun show.

This guy had some good advice.

[Proud 2b Peculiar]

LOL exactly

[Blip]

Go to a gunshop and get a cheap pump action shotgun. Ammo is cheap at walmart. It is kind of hard to miss with a dozen lead balls of buckshot.

[ShawnC]

Believe me guys, I have been the rounds (no pun intended) with the gun situation in this country. Go to a gunshow and or paper and buy a .357 revolver because
1. Will shoot both .357 and .38
2. You can find one that will be just fine for what you need for about 300 bucks.

If you want a pistol, I say 9mm because the .40 ammo is almost twice as much right now, and a 9mm will do what you need if you ever need it. Plus you can get one for about 250 to 300 bucks that will do the job just fine. You can buy a Hi-Point for well under 200 bucks. I have a Hi-Point 9mm that works great. In fact I shoot cleaner and more accurately everytime with that thing than my cop brother in law and his fancy gun snob glock.

Buy at the gun show or paper, you do not want to be on paper owning said gun. They will eventually take them away. Or try to take them away.

Many people say "there is no way that they will get my guns!", but I think it is pretty easy. They did it "peacefully" in Britain as well as down under in Aussie land. Who's to say that they won't have control of the system (like they pretty well already do) and say something like..."In order to purchase food, you will need to turn in your guns, etc. etc.)

Buy a decent gun at a good price, unregistered, and as much ammo as you can afford and keep it in a safe place. When the time comes, hide it, bury it, whatever, but do not surrender it unless you are really in tune and the Spirit says so.

Shawn

[tmac]

Although I still visit from time to time, I very seldom put in my two-bits worth here any more. But I have to agree with Shawn. If you want a revolver, a 357 is a good choice. In a semi-auto pistol, a 9 mm is a good choice. I say shoot the same caliber that the cops and military use because it "should" be cheaper and more readily available. If possible, figure out a way to do a private sale, with no paper work. The best resource in the Intermountain West for this purpose is ksl.com. I don't know what might be available that way in your area. Check all the newspapers, and especially the classified-ad "shopper/trader" type papers.

Just a few more thoughts. Although they're not real easy to find, one of my very favorite revolvers is a .22 mag. With hollow points, it has a whole lot more knock down power than a .22, and I've heard (from the law enforcement officer that taught our CCP course) that a 22 mag with hollow point actually has more knock-down than a .32, which is what many people, including law enforcement officers often use for concealed carry. Plus, many 22s & 22 mags hold nine rounds instead of six. You can get some revolver makes and models with two, interchangable cylinders, one for .22 and one for .22 mag.

A handgun is a good thing to be able to have in close quarters like a car. But in a house, apartment, etc., a "home defense" shotgun would be hard to beat. In my neck of the woods, though, I hope to never get that close. My first defense is to keep people that I might otherwise have to shoot as far away as possible.

Even though you're doing the right thing asking advice, and picking people's brains, etc., my best advice is -- don't get bogged down in analysis paralysis. Get armed. Buy something. Try it out. See how you like it, etc. If (unlike many) you actually make the time and effort to shoot it, use it, get to know it, and become competent with it, there's a good chance that it won't be the last gun you ever buy. You can always upgrade, trade around and/or buy another, better, or different gun later.

Bottom Line: Just Do It! Get Something. I would not want to be completely unarmed in this day and age.

Good luck.

[Oldemandalton]

RWW, you need to conceder several factors first. Purpose, concealability, kick, and expense. If your purpose is to protect your home then get a 12 ga shotgun. Can’t beat the price, $200, or the intimidation factor. Looking down the muzzle of a 12 ga is no fun! In the home, a high powered pistol, like a 357, will go through several walls and may hit a family member. You also don’t need to register a shotgun.
If you want a weapon to carry on your person then get a pistol. Choose a caliber with good stopping power, .40 cal and above. Automatic pistols have less kick but are more expensive. Go to a gun show with a friend who knows something about weapons and try out different models and sizes. Find one that fits in your hand and “feels right”. Have fun shopping.

Old Man Dalton

[Blip]

I have a Hi-Point 9mm that works great.

My cz-52 is better than your hi-point. And the round is better too. That means that I am better. Nahnah..nahnahnah..nah.