New to Guns

[Çatalhöyük]

Okay, so since I'm only interested in purchasing a pistol I don't need to worry about an FFL, but I would need to have an FFL order the firearm for me (who will likely charge a fee) and then I can purchase it after I get the Permit to Purchase from the local Police Department. Awesome. Please correct me if I'm getting this wrong. You guys/gals are amazing!

[Pat Cannon]

You got it. But if you know you're going to take a carry permit class soon, having a carry permit makes a purchase permit unnecessary. And many carry permit instructors will supply a gun for the (very basic) live-fire qualification, and give you even more advice on what sort of handgun would be best for you.

Speaking of which, I see no one has yet pointed out to you that revolvers are better.

[Çatalhöyük]

There is no way I'm ever ever every going to every buy a revolver. No way no how. sorry to disappoint.

Edit: Hahaha, oops. no way I'm ever ever ever going to ever buy a revolver.

[plblark]

lots of ever every in there. Pat didn't start out an acolyte in the church of the appropriate revolver. HEck, I started with a revolver, went to several flavors of semis and still like my K-Frame best.

[Pezhead]

There is no way I'm ever ever every going to every buy a revolver. No way no how. sorry to disappoint.

Other's have said that before. Guess what they end up with more than one revolver.

[Çatalhöyük]

not this man, I refuse on the basis of my extreme hatred for revolvers.

[Pat Cannon]

There is no way I'm ever ever every going to every buy a revolver. No way no how. sorry to disappoint.

Of course you're entitled to your opinion. As Paul mentioned, I too once felt that only a bottom-feeder would do. In fact, since I was first exposed to the defensive firearms community by the writings of Jeff Cooper, I was quite positive that the M1911 pistol in .45 caliber was the only handgun that had any reason to exist. I owned only 1911s for several years and shot thousands rounds through them in IDPA competition.

Eventually I noticed two things: First, they would jam. Not often, one or two percent of the time, but that's roughly once per match. Fans of these newfangled autoloading guns argue that you can clear the typical jam very quickly with proper training, and anyway nobody shoots a hundred rounds in a self defense situation so the odds of a problem are acceptably low. Both arguments have merit, but it still bugged me.

Second, I found that I personally am not competent to operate a handgun with a manual safety. Even after years of practice, if something disrupted the usual draw-aim-fire sequence, I forgot, once or twice, to disengage the safety. If the relatively minor stress of competition did that, why should I assume that the presumably much greater stress of a self-defense situation would not? So OK, maybe I can't walk and chew gum at the same time but no manual safety on a self-defense gun for me.

So anyway, I just think you should keep an open mind. Besides: Dirty Harry. Hellboy.

[ex-LT]

Besides: Dirty Harry. Hellboy.

Ahhh, but even Dirty Harry had an auto. In Sudden Impact, he used a .44 Auto Mag to shoot one of the bad guys toward the end of the movie.

[Çatalhöyük]

There is no way I'm ever ever every going to every buy a revolver. No way no how. sorry to disappoint.

Of course you're entitled to your opinion. As Paul mentioned, I too once felt that only a bottom-feeder would do. In fact, since I was first exposed to the defensive firearms community by the writings of Jeff Cooper, I was quite positive that the M1911 pistol in .45 caliber was the only handgun that had any reason to exist. I owned only 1911s for several years and shot thousands rounds through them in IDPA competition.

Eventually I noticed two things: First, they would jam. Not often, one or two percent of the time, but that's roughly once per match. Fans of these newfangled autoloading guns argue that you can clear the typical jam very quickly with proper training, and anyway nobody shoots a hundred rounds in a self defense situation so the odds of a problem are acceptably low. Both arguments have merit, but it still bugged me.

Second, I found that I personally am not competent to operate a handgun with a manual safety. Even after years of practice, if something disrupted the usual draw-aim-fire sequence, I forgot, once or twice, to disengage the safety. If the relatively minor stress of competition did that, why should I assume that the presumably much greater stress of a self-defense situation would not? So OK, maybe I can't walk and chew gum at the same time but no manual safety on a self-defense gun for me.

So anyway, I just think you should keep an open mind. Besides: Dirty Harry. Hellboy.

Just not my style. If I could own any pistol ever made here is my list (in no particular order):

1. Desert Eagle .50 / .357
2. FN 5.7
3. 1911
4. XD 5" .45 (all black)
5. Baretta 9mm

[goett047]

Eaa Witness Classic off of Gunbroker. $320 to your FFL.

+1!

[meddin]

not this man, I refuse on the basis of my extreme hatred for revolvers.

That makes no sense whatever. Revolvers are more than fine. Pull trigger. Go bang. That is good. I understand preferring a semi auto, but to 'hate' revolvers is silly.

[Pat Cannon]

Besides: Dirty Harry. Hellboy.

Ahhh, but even Dirty Harry had an auto. In Sudden Impact, he used a .44 Auto Mag to shoot one of the bad guys toward the end of the movie.

Yeah but that was only because his Model 29 went into San Francisco Bay. He uses the Auto Mag to kill the guy who kicked it off the dock. In the next movie, The Dead Pool, he's back to the wheelgun. (Don't know if they fished it out or he bought another one.)

[Snowgun]

Just not my style. If I could own any pistol ever made here is my list (in no particular order):

1. Desert Eagle .50 / .357
2. FN 5.7
3. 1911
4. XD 5" .45 (all black)
5. Baretta 9mm

My opinions (take with salt)
1. DE .50 is overhyped. I can't even get my hands around the damn grips and it feels like a 2x4. If you want sauce get a 10mm.
2. Cool idea, never shot one though...I'm always suspicious it's a novelty item. I'd rather have the Kel tec PMR 30.
3. Awesomest gun ever. Get a good one like joeH said. Then you can mess with it and make it your own...
4. I like the HK's first, M&P's next, then the XD's, then a slingshot, then a hot turd....then a glock.
5. Had one. The grip/frame was too big for me and it seemed to have more muzzle flip than other guns. Sold it and never looked back. This one seems like a personal preference thing...

[Çatalhöyük]

Just not my style. If I could own any pistol ever made here is my list (in no particular order):

1. Desert Eagle .50 / .357
2. FN 5.7
3. 1911
4. XD 5" .45 (all black)
5. Baretta 9mm

My opinions (take with salt)
1. DE .50 is overhyped. I can't even get my hands around the damn grips and it feels like a 2x4. If you want sauce get a 10mm.
2. Cool idea, never shot one though...I'm always suspicious it's a novelty item. I'd rather have the Kel tec PMR 30.
3. Awesomest gun ever. Get a good one like joeH said. Then you can mess with it and make it your own...
4. I like the HK's first, M&P's next, then the XD's, then a slingshot, then a hot turd....then a glock.
5. Had one. The grip/frame was too big for me and it seemed to have more muzzle flip than other guns. Sold it and never looked back. This one seems like a personal preference thing...

the Desert Eagle would be a purely wall decoration. My hands are far too small for it to be practical in any circumstance.
The 5.7 is one of my favorite guns, my uncle has one and it's fantastic
i love the 1911 but at the same time I'm not proficient enough with pistols to familiarize myself and be comfortable maintaining it
XD is what I was recommended, and I like Springfield Armory. I don't know anything about HK or M&P pistol
the Baretta is just because I like the look of it. Never fired one before.

[Çatalhöyük]

Just filled out my application for my permit to purchase! Anxiously awaiting the phone call!