Watch out, I'm one step closer to packing heat

So I guess a lot of people here are gun aficionados (judging by gun threads in HD) - can someone suggest a good way forward for someone just getting their CCW?

I just took my NRA class - the instructor was great and had quite the variety of handguns (even a S&W500 Magnum [smith-wesson.com]!), and I got my first shot at firing (pun intended) - now it's on to actually procuring a license (paperwork), but soon thereafter will be actually purchasing a gun.

I'm primarily interested in protection and anticipate a lot of target shooting; is it common for ranges to "rent" or "try before you buy"?

Yes yes and yes. Hold and/or shoot every possible gun you can get your hands on until you find one that "fits". And by fits, I mean you will personally know it when it happens. There is no one size fits all. Most ranges rent weapons.

I should add that to most people in the know, a pistol is just to let you be able to get to a real gun. ( rifle ). Let the bashing begin! LOL

Quote from nevrknow : Yes yes and yes. Hold and/or shoot every possible gun you can get your hands on until you find one that "fits". And by fits, I mean you will personally know it when it happens. There is no one size fits all. Most ranges rent weapons.

What one person likes, another dislikes; and it's definitely a personal preference And, if you are getting your wife involved, firearms for women tend to be totally different, as for men, their hands are larger, so the grip of the firearm is definitely different for a woman; or at least it is for me. Renting different firearms makes sense, until you find something you are really comfortable with. If one firing range doesn't have what you like; go to another; they may have different firearms to rent.

Go to a gun show and you'll be able to handle a lot of different guns. Won't be able to shoot them there, but you might be able get a feel for what you like.

Quote from Dr. J : So I guess a lot of people here are gun aficionados (judging by gun threads in HD) - can someone suggest a good way forward for someone just getting their CCW?

I guess I'm not clear, you have your carry permit now or are going to get it?

Depending on your state, your CCW should be good enough to just walk into a gun store and buy a handgun. Here in MN, if you don't have your CCW cert, you do need to get a permit to purchase prior to buying.

But yea, go to gun shows, sporting goods stores, gun shops, touch, feel and listen. Talk to people, get their opinion. By all means, fire before you buy, but unless you have endless disposable income, it can be bank to shop-n-fire.

Also, once you narrow down your decision to a couple, join their respective forums and read up on what actual owners are saying. That's what sealed the deal for me, anyway. Also, watch guys in YT like "hickok45" that shoot tons of guns, give lengthy reviews, etc.

States are so inconsistent with the way they do things. Here in PA you may purchase a firearm as long as you are able to fill out the form and you go through the background check, and it's an immediate same day purchase. You are able to get a CCW Permit within 3 to 5 days and have it in your hands, and this is without any type of training. Yet, if I cross the bridge into NJ, even with a CCW Permit, I'm not allowed to handle a firearm in a Gun Shop just to look at it, without going to the State Trooper's Barracks an filling out special paperwork - go figure Yet I watched a "straw purchase" go down in the Gun Shop that told us we couldn't even handle a firearm without this special paperwork

I agree also with what Barnz said, Gun Shows are excellent places to put your hands on a lot of different firearms; to handle them, look them over, get a feel for them, etc. If you find something you really like the feel of, make notes about it, so when you do go to a firing range, you can ask if they have it for rent. Same thing about what he says about going onto forums, people will tell you exactly what they think about a certain firearm, good, bad and ugly. You'll also learn a lot about breaking a firearm down and cleaning it as well from the forums; and there are a lot of YouTube Vid's out there as well on many of the firearms to help you out as well.

I just picked up a Mossy 930 SPX today. You could probably conceal it down your pants leg!

Take a look at Springfield XDms, the Smith and Wesson M&P Series, and the Glock Gen 4 series. Generally everyone will find something they like between those. Unless you want hammer-fired (and then I can only recommend Sigs ).

Quote from Dr. J : So I guess a lot of people here are gun aficionados (judging by gun threads in HD) - can someone suggest a good way forward for someone just getting their CCW? I just took my NRA class - the instructor was great and had quite the variety of handguns (even a S&W500 Magnum [smith-wesson.com]!), and I got my first shot at firing (pun intended) - now it's on to actually procuring a license (paperwork), but soon thereafter will be actually purchasing a gun. I'm primarily interested in protection and anticipate a lot of target shooting; is it common for ranges to "rent" or "try before you buy"?

Obligatory...

You'll shoot your eye out!

Gun shows can be good for holding a lot of stuff, though when it comes to actually buying one, the deals may not be that great, and remember various manufacturers only officially warranty their product to the original purchaser. Some will still fix it for a non-original owner, but just saying. Beretta for instance only has a three-year warranty. Pretty lame.

A company that will back up its product can be important, such as if you buy a new gun mail-order and then it arrives with a broken night sight. (ask me how I know!)

Anyway, you'll need to start thinking how you'll want to carry. That S&W 500 is pretty sweet, but it's a little on the large side. No matter how short a grip is, a double-stack is going to be wider than a single-stack. Some people carry a big ol' heavy 1911 due to the thinness. (Don't get a 1911.)

If you get a true "mouse"/"pocket" gun, it will probably be .380. Which I think is fine, though others will disagree. But if you want something truly small, there you go. The 9mm versions aren't much bigger, but they are bigger. Remember the thing about small guns is they are concealable but are generally harder to shoot than a bigger gun.

Two common double-stack semi-autos that are good to compare other ones to are the SR9c and the M&Pc. That's about as small as you can get with a double-stack 9 or .40. If either of those are too big for how you plan on carrying, then you'll know you pretty much have to go single-stack.

Smaller guns than that aren't really intended for lots of target shooting. 1) Really small guns can be annoying to shoot. 2) Smaller guns aren't intended to be as durable as bigger guns. The smaller you go, the smaller the tolerances; the smaller the tolerances, the more things don't work right.

Quote from Deusxmachina : Two common double-stack semi-autos that are good to compare other ones to are the SR9c and the M&Pc. That's about as small as you can get with a double-stack 9 or .40.

Don't forget the new M&P Shield!

Quote from PaintTheSkyGrey : Don't forget the new M&P Shield!

Well, I did say double-stack.

But speaking of, here's some nice comparison pics of the Shield to the compact. Remember the M&Pc is a pretty small gun in its own right, and about as small of a double-stack as you can get. But the Shield makes it look like a bloated pig. (Though the Shield has a longer grip.)
http://www.defensereview.com/smit...lications/

Another thing for Dr. J to consider is what his state law is on printing. If you're not allowed to print at all, (see the imprint of the gun under your shirt), you have to choose that much more carefully. If the state law is "concealed" but it doesn't matter if you can see the print, then that can open up bigger options.

If you can open carry, that's an option too. Then you can carry that S&W 500 if you want. Or a Draco.

After shooting all day, over 400 rounds, I was so tired (and looking like crap covered in gun powder and all) my aim was starting to go more and more left. Until I shot the this, I did better than the instructor! Got the criminal target once in the eye and twice on the nose with three fast shots. Wanted to go for more shots and try the heart but the range was closing and we had to go.

Quote from barnz008 : I guess I'm not clear, you have your carry permit now or are going to get it? Depending on your state, your CCW should be good enough to just walk into a gun store and buy a handgun. Here in MN, if you don't have your CCW cert, you do need to get a permit to purchase prior to buying. But yea, go to gun shows, sporting goods stores, gun shops, touch, feel and listen. Talk to people, get their opinion. By all means, fire before you buy, but unless you have endless disposable income, it can be bank to shop-n-fire. Also, once you narrow down your decision to a couple, join their respective forums and read up on what actual owners are saying. That's what sealed the deal for me, anyway. Also, watch guys in YT like "hickok45" that shoot tons of guns, give lengthy reviews, etc.

On my way.... I have the paperwork yet to do, which in CT is an application, background check and fingerprinting, which takes around 2 months. Given that CT is such a small state, it's a PITA to have to worry about all the "special cases" - for example, I live towards the middle of the state but work very close to the RI border, and am in RI probably 1-2 days a week to get gas, lunch, etc - if I'm carrying I can't do that without getting a non-resident permit in RI, which involves the Atty General. MA isn't great and to the other side, well that's NY.

So you took your class, that's great. But do you actually plan to carry? Because that's like a total lifestyle shift, right there. In my class the instructor said the %age who actually go on to carry is very little, less than 10% or so IIRC.

FTR, I don't carry and never intend to, but in the next year if something prompts me to, then it's a trip to the county sheriff's office, $100, and I'm good to go for 5 years.