Another Gun Thread

[DigiSLR]

Now that I own a house, and no longer rent, plan to move, and can provide a safe, secure location, I am looking to buy a handgun.

It's been many years but I've shot with my dad at the pistol ranges and hunted Whitetail, blackbear, and small game back in PA. I own a few rifles and shot guns but no hand guns.

I'm lookng for something I can "plink" with on the weekends, but might offer some home protection if ever required from the coyotes, snakes, bobcats, and who knows what elses live in the Army Corp of Engineers land behind my house.

Maybe I can't have a "plink" and protect handgun, I'm not sure...

So, besides reccommendations on a hangun, who can reccommend a quality dealer in the Frisco area?

What about ranges? I haven't had too much success finding a variety of choices for indoor pistol ranges.

Coming from PA years ago, every town had a rod and gun club and for $25 dollars a year you'd get a key to access the outdoor rifle range any time you wanted. I figured here in TX it would be the same, but I seem to be mistaken.

Thanks for all the info I know I can count on from you guys and gals.

[Ahh!]

In Plano, there is a place on Avenue K called the Bullet Trap. Selection, and an indoor range.

[David_3]

Originally Posted by DigiSLR

I'm lookng for something I can "plink" with on the weekends, but might offer some home protection if ever required from the coyotes, snakes, bobcats, and who knows what elses live in the Army Corp of Engineers land behind my house.

I don't see how the answer to this could be anything other than a 9mm pistol, of some sort. It is the perfect compromise between ammunition that is affordable, but yet still provides reasonable effectiveness when it comes to stopping varmints.....both the two and four legged kind.

[Texasdave]

I will second David_3, a Nine is minimum. There was a nice one for sale here a couple of weeks ago. I think it was in Houston though. Next question is which maker. I have always liked H&K personally. Oh there was a nice Kimber for sale here also. it is a 45 though but if you want a hoss thats one to consider. It is not really a "plink" pistol but if you hit something with it it will fall down after it flies backwards.
Speaking of ranges there is one just east of Denton between Denton and McKinney. I am not sure about it having a pistol range but its close to you.
Hope this helps.

[Hanky]

Ruger used to make a cowboy style .357 that you could change cylenders and shoot 9 mil. *



*to be taken with a grain of salt, memory fades

[CaptainTom]

You haven't declared whether you are interested in a pistol or a revolver.
I have a Beretta EOS .22LR that is so much fun plinking. I wouldn't risk my life on it, but it will put a hole in a can, bottle , squirrel, skunk , etc.
I carry a 9mm Glock and am starting to compete in IDPA events with it. It hasn't the stopping power of a .45, but if I can put 17 rounds of 9mm on the target, I think that would stop most predators.
What's your price range ?

[Texasdave]

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

You haven't declared whether you are interested in a pistol or a revolver.
I have a Beretta EOS .22LR that is so much fun plinking. I wouldn't risk my life on it, but it will put a hole in a can, bottle , squirrel, skunk , etc.
I carry a 9mm Glock and am starting to compete in IDPA events with it. It hasn't the stopping power of a .45, but if I can put 17 rounds of 9mm on the target, I think that would stop most predators.
What's your price range ?

Tom has a very good point about the 17 rounds plus the 9 does not have the kick of a 45. A 22 is a great plinking pistol as Tom said. Beretta makes great pistols also. I went in their store in Dallas the other day and if you find yourself down around Mockingbird & Preston stop in. They even had a $170,000.00 shotgun..... I was impressed.... could not imagine spending that on a weapon unless it had wheels and armor or flew really fast .

[DigiSLR]

Well, I'm not into the $170,000 shotguns. I'm looking to stay under $600 for a nice new handgun. (hopefully with a case, trigger lock, a box of ammo, and a cleaning kit...)

It seems like models of hand guns are a personal choice as are camera manufacturers. Anyone tell me what to stay away from?

[DigiSLR]

Oh, anyone have any favorite places to BUY guns around North Dallas? Back in PA everyone bought from a local trusted harware store or the local "five and dime". We all knew who was reputable and who was a rip off. Any places like that around TX or do I go to Bass Pro shops, Cabellas, or Academy...

[CaptainTom]

Hard to discuss what gun to buy unless you determine you want a pistol or a revolver ( wheel gun )..
I've bought one gun from Bass Pro Shop, two from Academy, and one from a local gun shop.
All were very painless transactions. Figure out what you want and then start looking for it at a price you want. They all come with manufacturer warranties.

Go to a local gun range and rent something that looks good to you. Try it out and then buy what suits you.

so,,,,pistol or revolver ?

Also bought a shotgun from this forum. It's next to my bed..... try to take it away from me.......

Edit: the local shop had my Glock at a better price than anyone else...go figure!

[Truckman]

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

It hasn't the stopping power of a .45, but if I can put 17 rounds of 9mm on the target, I think that would stop most predators.

Col. Jeff Cooper (another man I met personally but couldn't spend enough time with) once wrote, "One hit with a .45 is worth a thousand misses with a nine"...Like, the Colonel, I am a lifelong fan of the .45 but the best gun for anyone is the one that you shoot best with, that you are able to control accurately and that you have confidence in...

I'm a firm believer in the best home defense gun being a short barrel 12 gauge pump shotgun...Given the aforementioned budget of $600.00, there is plenty of room there for a Remington 870 and a Ruger MK I or MK II for plinking if you shop the used market carefully......Ben

[biggin]

I love my Glock 17, 9mm or 9x19.

It is fun to shoot and for the .45 folks out there, I can put a lot more bullets on target in a very short amount of time with the 9mm then any of the .45s I own.

Fun gun, I also like .357, if you want to go revolver.

I like Glocks because if you need a part they are easy and cheap to come by. Mods are cheap and plentiful, if you want to go the conceal CHL, just about everything you get for a 17 will work on the other 9mm options (start with a large pistol and move smaller with little to no duplicate cost).

As for where to buy? I like gun shows. They are here what seems like every other month. I like to buy something and have it now.

For protection, go shotgun, it speaks a universal language, even a semi-auto shotgun will scare the dinner out of any would be person who is in the house uninvited. Not to mention that if you are waking up at 4am to a strange noise I put my faith in my aim of a shotgun long before any pistol.

[CaptainTom]

As in golf, they've come up with the "hybrid" club, except in this case it's called THE JUDGE. .45 and .410 shotgun.

[DigiSLR]

Definitely a Semi Auto. No revolver, just doesn't sound as much fun with only 6 rounds compared to 10, 13, 15, etc... (and I mean for the weekend at the range. If I EVER have to use it for protection I hope and pray that one shot is all that will be required.)

So, I'm looking around the internet and think I'm the type of person that wants something a little different and kind of unique. Everyone seems to have a Glock 9mm, probably a real good gun, but what about this FN Five SeveN I see? (Of couse it's not in the $600 range...) I guess if I want "different" it's gonna cost...

[biggin]

That thing is a beast to shoot.

Not a plinker...

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

As in golf, they've come up with the "hybrid" club, except in this case it's called THE JUDGE. .45 and .410 shotgun.