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First gun for target shooting/home defense
necroSYS
Registered User, ClubPA regular
Registered User, ClubPA regular
Well, DoctorTardboat locked the other (more topical) thread for this question, so I'm going to have to use this thread.
I'm interested in getting involved in target shooting and home defense. I've talked to guys with plenty of experience and they've all recommended learning to shoot with a .22 caliber pistol (regardless if it makes you feel like a girl). So, I've done some searching and I'm thinking a Walther P22 would make a good first purchase. I'm aware that it's a little ammo sensitive and my BIG STRONG HANDS might be an issue, but it doesn't look like (borrowing parlance from the other thread) a "nickel-plated bitch pistol" and it's accurate for its price-range.
Any thoughts or opinions regarding this choice? I plan to eventually transition to a higher caliber for home defense, obviously, but it's been years and years since I shot my dad's .357, so I need to start from Square Zero.
Additionally, do you know if dry-firing this weapon will cause any mechanical problems? Most of the BTDTs advocate plenty of dry-fire practice in addition to range practice.
I'm interested in getting involved in target shooting and home defense. I've talked to guys with plenty of experience and they've all recommended learning to shoot with a .22 caliber pistol (regardless if it makes you feel like a girl). So, I've done some searching and I'm thinking a Walther P22 would make a good first purchase. I'm aware that it's a little ammo sensitive and my BIG STRONG HANDS might be an issue, but it doesn't look like (borrowing parlance from the other thread) a "nickel-plated bitch pistol" and it's accurate for its price-range.
Any thoughts or opinions regarding this choice? I plan to eventually transition to a higher caliber for home defense, obviously, but it's been years and years since I shot my dad's .357, so I need to start from Square Zero.
Additionally, do you know if dry-firing this weapon will cause any mechanical problems? Most of the BTDTs advocate plenty of dry-fire practice in addition to range practice.
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I highly advise against the P22 as a a starter. maybe later, but for a starter it is too picky. For a .22 I would suggest from a limited pool.
Im' thinking a Browning Buckmark, or a Ruger Mark 2, or if it tickles your fancy even a revolver
But not a P22
I've heard good things about the Buckmark, but one of the things about the P22 is I think once I've outgrown it, I can give it to my wife to use. I don't think she'd be keen on the Buckmark or a Ruger Mark 2.
And no, revolvers don't tickle my fancy.
I have no idea about the P22 in particular, but unless you get a definite go head from some source (the manual, other people who have the thing and used it a lot, etc.) dry firing a rim-fire firearm like a .22 is a bad idea without snap-caps/dummy rounds.
Rim-fire is called such because the firing pin strikes the rim of the back side of the shell casing as opposed to center-fire where it strikes the center, which requires the firing pin to be situation off center. If you squeeze the trigger on an unloaded center-fire, the firing pin will just hit an empty space and won't cause any significant wear. If you do the same on a rim-fire, the firing pin on many will wind up striking a solid surface and cause damage to the surface and the pin. Some .22s don't suffer from this, but you always want to make sure. While a firing pin is pretty cheap to replace, a gouge on what it struck is another matter.
Snap caps are pretty damn cheap though and useful as a learning tool so you still might want some anyway.
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That's very little gun for over $400. And they sell holsters for it, which is totally ridiculous. A .22 would be one of the worst possible options for a carry piece.
Zombie Apocalypse?
This is useful information, thanks!
You can get a decent 1911 style .45 auto for that price. Nothing 'splodes zombie heads like a .45.
Note that I am not suggesting this in reference to the OP.
Just go get a used bolt action .22. If you like it and decide to continue, get something more elaborate.
Also, my mosin is accurate out to more than 100 yards. :P
You're no longer allowed to post in this thread by virtue of overwhelming stupidity. If you have a problem with that I'd suggest that you not handle it by further posting in this thread as I will take whatever action is necessary to convince you that it's not worth it.
Get a .22 for learning on. The ammunition is the cheapest you'll ever get and the recoil is comparable to what you'd see on a C7. Of course, the results of something getting shot with one don't exactly line up but they're still pretty effective against paper targets
CUZ THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE MIDDLE AND IT'S GIVING ME A RASH
Nah, they are worth every penny. Great fun little thing to play around with. I've had one for a few months now, and am really happy with it.
The little competition myself and a few other guys have to see how many rounds you can put on a pepper popper before it drops has been highly amusing. I can get 4 on with the mosquito so far. Lucky to get 2 with the race gun (STI trubor in 38 super).
Wouldn't make a great carry piece, but can be a really good range gun for dicking around. Very well built too.
On that note also, never, ever hijack an existing thread for your specific question, it makes a mess of everything.
Also target practice guns aren't home defense weapons. A shotgun is your best bet for home defense and they're not exactly designed with target shooting in mind.
CUZ THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE MIDDLE AND IT'S GIVING ME A RASH
I suppose, but $400 is a LOT when you could get something much more serious than a .22 for the same price. Now that the OP is about home defense as well, the .22 caliber is not well suited for that at all.
OP: how much are you looking to spend?
Shotguns are okay, but remember, they tend to have a shitload of collateral damage (depending on the choke used, shot type used, etc.). The real big problem with a shotgun though is they are just BIG. The big advantage is if you hit the target, they get the job DONE.
Sig makes a few really nice pistols that are small, yet pack decent firepower (such as the P232). In all honesty though, you will have to shop around to find a pistol (or shotgun) that you like.
And then stab him.
But on topic, before you actually go and buy a gun (I hope someone hasn't mentioned this before) ask around at your local shooting ranges if they have the particular model you're interested in and if they would allow you to fire some rounds with it. You might find it disagrees with you, and you won't have wasted cash on it.
STEAM
Ideally ~$300
You cannot be serious.
Anyway, why wouldn't your wife like a Buckmark or Mark 2? Also, unless you are rich or love recoil you never really outgrow a good .22.
Actually, you did.
But, like I explained to Thanatos, I've always been told that good forum etiquette dictates that you use the search function and re-use existing threads when possible (and topical), but I'll keep this bizarro-forum rule in mind in the future.
edit: re Home Defense - I'm aware that a .22 is not the correct choice.
She's a lot pickier about aesthetics and those guns remind her of "those German guns you see Nazis use in the movies".
I know, I know.
I'm not sure how my posted ended up here but I was originally responding to someone in the other thread asking about .22 pistols
I think the most common reason to use a shotgun is not for the actual firing, but for the sound it makes(if it's a pump) as a very effective deterrent.
I've got a buddy whose father is in law enforcement, and his weapon of choice for home defense is a pump shotgun, where the first two rounds loaded are rat shot, the second two are some light bird shot I think, and the last is a slug. The upside of the 1 or 2 rounds of ratshot loaded first is that it's still going to cause a lot of pain to a burglar, but won't go through walls.
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Don't know if you're aware, but most guns have conversion kits that you can install (temporarily ofcourse) to convert them from any caliber to a .22 caliber. I've never used one personally, but some of the guys at the local IDPA range use them.
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When you get around to stepping up to a 9mm or .45, keep using the .22. It's really hard not to develop a flinch, but regular use of a .22 along with dry firing will help a lot.
If you ever need to talk to someone, feel free to message me. Yes, that includes you.
I'M SORRY CHARLTON HESTON!!!
Prosecutors *will* try to use this sort of thing against you in court if you actually shoot a burglar. Using deadly force (a firearm) typically requires that your life be in immediate danger. An attempt at wounding or firing a warning shot suggests that you are using deadly force when there might be a danger to your life, but it's not yet immediate.
In most cases, putting the first round of buckshot into the burglar will get you in less trouble than firing a warning shot first or trying to hit him in the leg.
Of course, this all depends on the state.
I know you don't think a .22 is a good defense round; I just wanted to clarify for anyone else who stumbled into the thread after it had been split.
I presume the intention was to only use it when there's immediate danger, but that rat shot would then get him out of danger by having the burglar flee, or putting him in a position to physically apprehend the person.
I assume there's degrees here, surely you don't get in a sticky legal situation if you don't try and shoot right for the head with a pistol if there's an invader?
Discharging a firearm at someone is a use of deadly force whether or not they are actually killed. Using deadly force, then telling the police/prosecutors that you were trying to use it in a non-deadly manner is probably not the best of ideas. After all, since you could have reasonably used non-deadly force to protect yourself, why did you use deadly force?
That would be the right thing to say.
I live in florida.
If it is an unarmed burglar and he doesn't see me, he gets a rack of the shotgun and a verbal request for compliance.
If it is an armed burglar I will shoot. And if I shoot I will shoot until they are a non-threat.
This can be even more important if the apparently unarmed burglar turns out to be packing after you've shouted at him to put his hands on his head. You'll want every possible advantage when it turns into a shoot out and keeping the robber in the dark lets you use your knowledge of the layout of your own home to your advantage.
Not that you're likely to ever find yourself in that scenario if you're not selling drugs or living in a terrible part of a city with high gun violence rates. Home defence weapons typically do a better job of propping up egos and making people feel safe than actually providing protection from armed robbers, given the incredibly slight odds of ever meeting one.
CUZ THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE MIDDLE AND IT'S GIVING ME A RASH
Yet another factor favoring shotguns is that a good pump action shotgun is often cheaper than a good handgun. That's another $100 or more in many cases that can be used on practice.
There's also a few shooting sports that involve blasting clay targets instead of just paper so you get more ways to get familiar with the thing. More practice and familiarity is always good.
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Get a 9mm at least.
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