Another work buddy just gave me “The Call.”
What is that? It’s the, “The missus has bent on the blanket prohibition of firearms in the house. Now I can get one. What do I do?” We’ll call this one, The Viking.
Luckily, there is a local range that rents guns for him to try. And I might arrange the usual introductory range session with my own inventory. But it occurred to me… The guns I have aren’t cheap. I have no plastic gun. SIG, 1911, and S&W revolvers… they aren’t cheap. I’m talking Cheap n’ Good. Plastic guns like Glock, XD, and M&Ps, all seem to have a better price point than a 686.
So I have nothing like that to give newbies a test drive.
Again, luckily, the range has a rental rack. He can get a few brands of 9mm of plastic gun and shoot 50 rounds total. That on top of trying the different other calibers that I have can cover the gamut of shooting experience for him. Enough for him to get a feel for what he may prefer and select a handgun for purchase. You know me. I’d suggest and XD in .40 or .45 or a 4”-6” revolver in .357. Unless you just want one for plinking, and then it’s a .22.
But that’s not the first thing I told him to do. The first thing I told him to do is buy a pistol safe. He has a son. I told him never to underestimate the safe-cracking or lock-picking or key-finding skills of a 5 year old.
What next? Well, he brought up himself the possibility of attending an NRA class. A sentiment to encourage. I’m going to recommend he definitely stay on top of practice. I’m sure there are hundreds of folks that buy a gun, put 1000 rounds through it, then don’t go to the range for years after they lose interest. And more folks that put 100 rounds through it and put it away.
What is that? It’s the, “The missus has bent on the blanket prohibition of firearms in the house. Now I can get one. What do I do?” We’ll call this one, The Viking.
Luckily, there is a local range that rents guns for him to try. And I might arrange the usual introductory range session with my own inventory. But it occurred to me… The guns I have aren’t cheap. I have no plastic gun. SIG, 1911, and S&W revolvers… they aren’t cheap. I’m talking Cheap n’ Good. Plastic guns like Glock, XD, and M&Ps, all seem to have a better price point than a 686.
So I have nothing like that to give newbies a test drive.
Again, luckily, the range has a rental rack. He can get a few brands of 9mm of plastic gun and shoot 50 rounds total. That on top of trying the different other calibers that I have can cover the gamut of shooting experience for him. Enough for him to get a feel for what he may prefer and select a handgun for purchase. You know me. I’d suggest and XD in .40 or .45 or a 4”-6” revolver in .357. Unless you just want one for plinking, and then it’s a .22.
But that’s not the first thing I told him to do. The first thing I told him to do is buy a pistol safe. He has a son. I told him never to underestimate the safe-cracking or lock-picking or key-finding skills of a 5 year old.
What next? Well, he brought up himself the possibility of attending an NRA class. A sentiment to encourage. I’m going to recommend he definitely stay on top of practice. I’m sure there are hundreds of folks that buy a gun, put 1000 rounds through it, then don’t go to the range for years after they lose interest. And more folks that put 100 rounds through it and put it away.
7 comments:
If it's only "ONE" and it's gonna be a handgun perhaps getting a SIG or 1911 with a .22 lr conversion kit might be the way to go. I realize it's significantly more money, but a .22 top-end gives more versatility and makes proficiency shooting more affordable.
I avoid the .40 myself - unless it's 10mm.
First he learns how to shoot safely, second he shops and tests pistols that he would like - revolvers and semi-auto magazine fed.
Then he needs to analyze his need, then he can get the gun safe, the pistol and his family a home safety course - so they can get smarter than he in safety.
Also, but it should have happened already - the morality of the firearm and its use, and for the sake of his son - good manners mean never touching anyone else's gun unless given permission and under their watchful supervision....
Then enjoy the shooting. Just my humble opinion.
Good points NJT, and agree with Earl...
Wanna borrow some of mine?
It is not hard to gun proof kids. I was raised up around guns and so were my kids. Don't try hiding it from them. They will find it. Make sure it is unloaded then let them hold it. Tell them it is a real gun and not a toy. It is not to be touched with out an adult to supervise. Also it is the family secert. Get Eddie the Eagle from the NRA and use it with the kids.
Which range has the rental rack? I think I live in the same town you do, and there are a few I'd like to try out.
OnTarget has a rental rack. Jessup, MD.
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