Helping out new shooters?

[bigweatherby]

How did you start buying guns? As for me, I just read a little in gun magazines and went to the store. I bought my first handgun, a S&W 586, because I thought it would be a good place to start and felt good in my hands. Since then I have gained some expirience and know more about what I am looking at. But what a way to start. Buying your first handgun is sort of a crap shoot unless you have been able to try different guns. How many new shooters have you taken out for the first time to introduce them to shooting and to let them finger print some different types of handguns.

I have had quite a few people out here to the house to try some different stuff. Almost all of them have been new to shooting and were looking for something for self defense. The only problem was that they didn't really even know if a revolver or auto was for them. I took a picture of my kitchen counter the last time. I left out all of the smaller guns and all of the big guns. I concentrated on 45s, 10mm, 9mm, 357s, and 38s. Unfortunately my picture cuts off a 45 on the left and all of the 38s on the right. It still gives the general idea. I hope by doing this I am able to get these new shooters (and new friends) off to a good start.

[Luvs2Play]

I just have to come to your range some day!

Isn't it against the child labor laws to make Lil W clean all of those guns on a school night though?

[dvmcmr]

He looks like he enjoys it!

[dvmcmr]

I spent a lot of time at a local gun shop years ago, perusing the walls of rifles and all the handguns in the case. Slowly I started buying them after doing all sort of research through magzines and talking to others. that was before the internet age, so it took a little more time.

[Berserker]

I bought my first handgun, a S&W 586, IMG]

My first hand gun too. I didn't really research it. Price was decent, around $350, 10 years ago. I just liked the feel of it, the weight and Hogue grips. I only have a few, so I really can't compare. But I still really like it.

See you have moved towards semi-autos. I am still a revolver man, but plan on getting one someday.

[bigweatherby]

Actaully autos make up about half of my handguns and revolvers the other half. The 38s on the counter got cut off in the picture. The pic shows about 70% of my autos at the time although I have added a few since then. I left out the smaller and larger guns. There are not any 22s, 22 mags, 41 mags, 44 mags, 45 Colts, 460, or 500 revolvers in the pic. No need to include those for a guy that has not shot before and is looking for a self defense gun. I do love revolvers too. Out of the four layaways I have at the moment, two are revolvers.

I do like and carry revolvers. This one is a Model 64 Smith and Wesson that was originally a security company trade in. My LGS took it in and the smith worked it over big time. The internals are completely slicked up and tuned. The finish was a bit rough so he put a great bead blast on it. It has been converted to DAO which I thought I would hate. However, the action is so light and smooth I can shoot it fast and accurately without a problem.