Best gun for a non-gunnie.

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I was going to recommend a Smith M18, but a GP100 would also be a fine thing. Either one, load with .38 +P LSWCHP's, and demand that he at least practice dry firing a few times a month.

I, too, dislike pumps for folks who won't practice with them. Also, SG's rarely get taken to answer the door when the pizza delivery guy (one hopes) shows up.
 
If said person is not willing to invest the time and money for training and practice, then I suggest the biggest revolver he can find...like the Magnum Research (?) BFR in 454 Casull or 45-70.

Buy no ammo, but fill cylinder and barrel with concrete, to make a better throwing weapon.

Seriuosly, if you do not make time and spend money for training & practice, stick with the throwing weapons and Dial 9-1-1.
 
A revolver or DAO auto is good from the standpoint of simple operation, but a non-shooter will not be able to hit the broad side of a barn with one. Maybe a Glock trigger is light enough to be useful, but your average box-stock DA wheelgun is going to be near useless in the hands of someone who won't practice with it.
 
Another vote against the shotgun
Click to expand...
On the contrary, I believe a shotgun should not be discounted just yet.

The intimidation factor alone, that dreadful racking of a scattergun, may be enough to dissuade most if not all home invaders.

A gung-ho perp who still insists in challenging a homeowner with loaded shotgun truly is a BGINS - Bad Guy In Need of Shooting (picked that up sometime ago at TFL :D)

And with #00 or slug, the "one-stop shot" concept becomes a reality. ;)

Should your friend be recoil-sensitive, a 20-ga loaded with # 3 buck, would be nearly as effective. Twenty pcs of quarter-inch pellets would still be devastating.

HOWEVER, by insisting not to undergo proper training, in whatever weapon he eventually chooses, he is FOOLISH. :fire:

He'd be a hazard not only to himself, but to the loved ones he intends to protect. :banghead:
 
All the good points about wanting to train-or- reliance on luck covered...

Med frame revolver(38/357) and a single shot shotgun comes to mind.

Part of this based on some Folks I know, due to age, arthritis, or limited physical abilities...trust me, some would love to be able to do as they once did -physically.

'sides...ever seen what a NEF youth model 20 ga single shot will do?
 
Rossi double barrel shotgun--20 gauge or 12 gauge. No longer made but can be found used for about $250. Barrel length is about 20", hammers are external (one for each barrel), and there's two triggers (one for each barrel). This model is called a coach gun because it is like the one you see in western movies on stagecoaches.

Once gun is loaded, all you do is cock each hammer and pull each trigger.
 
Really.. if you take him out and let him try a few of your he just MIGHT get interested in practicing.

That said a SW model 10 or GP 100 would be just fine, nothing fancy to fool with, easy to load and unload, inexpensive and uncomplicated. I would NOT give a beginner a DA/SA auto.

And if I was going to recommend a shotgun, again for ease of use would be a double rather than a pump gun. When you load it and close it, it's cocked, period. Problem is there just aren't many inexpensive short barrelled doubles (ie Stevens, Stoeger) anymore, as now they command "cowboy" pricing. I haven't seen a Rossi for sale anywhere in years. I have not been impressed with the Baikal shotguns with "external hammers" they look cheap and cosmetic, internal hammers would be better.

Again, get him to the range and bust some clays, then fire that 12 ga. into a wet phone book using a trap load at "hallway" range. He'll get the idea. Shotguns don't make the earth shake and everything fall dead when you pull the trigger, you still have to aim.
 
I would in a hearbeat, Dr. Rob, but I'm in LA, and he's near DC. Expensive range session, eh? If he were in LA, I'd bring along another buddy of mine that has the 6" GP100. Then the guy could also try out a Glock, HK, Sig, Springfield, Kahr, Rem 870, etc. But, alas, he's on the wrong coast.

The more I think about it, the more the revolver sounds like the right choice. Thanks again for the input, guys.

BTW, Ala Dan-- Hmm, recommending something OTHER than the Sig 220A?! You, sir, are an imposter! ;) :D
 
You know, I just had an idea (rare thing that is). There are plenty of THRers in the DC area. Maybe someone could take him to the range as mutual friends/acquaintences of Bam-Bam's. If he's willing to drive out to Columbia or to On Target near Ft. Meade to meet me I'd be happy to let him try out some of my revolvers (any maybe a .22lr rifle or two)- the semi-auto handguns will have to wait however.
 
I was going to say what you did, GP100 4", so you can shoot 357Maggies for homeD, and 38's for target practice.

But get that after you get a Winchester Defender ...
 
UPDATE:

No one in the movies ever uses a revolver anymore, so he bought the Glock 17. :scrutiny: It was that, the Sig 226, or the Beretta 92F. At least he bought the one with the simplest manual of arms. You can lead a horse to water....

My first handgun was a Glock 19. Maybe he'll actually enjoy practicing with it, eh? Who knows?

(If you two are reading this, at least practice dry firng it. It's a Glock, it can handle it.)

Thanks for the input anyways, fellas.
 
First your buddy's cousin needs to get some training. How can he expect to effectively use a handgun in a streesful situation without it? If he's not willing to learn the basics in handgun handling, he would be better off without one and settle on using a baseball bat. For less than $ 300.00, he can get a good used .357 magnum. For about $ 100.00, a basic handgun course would teach him the basics in handgun safety and legal issues. Another $ 100.00 for a gun club membership and $ 200.00 in practice ammo would be in the ballpark of the $600.00-700.00 that this person is willing to spend.

Remember this simple rule, training+practice=confidence. Good luck in convincing this guy to do the right thing.
 
Glock would've been my last choice, and I own a G20 and was thinking of buying a few more before Januzzo made me question that idea.

I really think that the lack of a safety, coupled with the 5.5lb trigger is a bad thing for a newbie. Sure, revolvers have no safety, but the pull weight is at least double the Glock on non-Pythons or un-tuned guns.

Hence, I worry about him sticking it in his pocket while checking out a noise in the basement, or just shoving it into the nightstand. He could retrieve it in the dark and have an ND.

Also, concepts of dropping the mag and racking the slide to clear might elude him. Or worse, that he'd possibly ND when trying to disassemble, since you need to release the striker to remove the slide.

Why did your friend even ask you anything? Obvious he knew everything to begin with. Now he can not practice, ND, crap down his leg and blather about how guns are dangerous and only police should have one. :rolleyes:
 
One can only shake ones head and hope this fellow doesn't do what many longtime and experienced LEOs have done with Glocks.........KABOOM!

To ER Doctor: "I went to field stip it and it just went off...........I didn't think there was one in the chamber" :banghead:
 
If he isn't going to learn how to use it he should sell it to someone that is responsible enough to handle it.

Buy a big dog. It seems he likes trends so get a Rotwiler(sp?) and a baseballbat.

This is the kind of crap that get's innocent people hurt and killed.

At least send him a daily email telling him all guns are loaded all the time allways.

My 6 yr. old child knows this..
 
This guy probably shouldnt own any guns...but hey, it IS his constitutional right, is it not?

If he isnt going to practice, or even shoot the thing....then he is probably better off with a golf club. However I have read numerous stories of people successfully firing a weapon the THE VERY FIRST TIME in order to defend their lives...However, there are just as many, if not more stories of uneducated gun owners blowing themselves away...

So if this guy insists on a handgun, go with him to pick out a revolver...and just make sure you show him which end the bullets come out of.:rolleyes:
 
well crap...I just realized the "update" above...seems as if he made the silliest of all choices for a first gun that he is not going to take the time to get acquainted with....However, just the mere fact that he OWNS a Glock might excite him into wanting to use it....So maybe he might practice after all...And then again, maybe he will just shoot himself in the *** when shoving it in his back pocket.
 
My buddy was in the Navy, so he has more than a passing familiarity with firearms (and submarines). I'm sure he'll show his cousin the basics. I got on my buddy to get on his cousin about practicing with the Glock.

Once at the range, I truly think he'll acquire a taste for it. When I first purchased mine, I thought to myself, "You know, I owe it to myself and to those around me to become at least somewhat proficient with this if I'm to own one." So off to the range I went. After a few sessions, I thought, "Hey, this is really cool! Great way to blow off some steam, too!" The rest is history.
 
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Good advise on medium frame revolver. However, he should get some training. The NRA is in Northern VA outside DC and they have an indoor range. He should give them a call and see if they offer or can recommend training. He might also call Blue Ridge Arsenal also in No. Va, which has range and I am pretty sure still gives classes.
 
Yup, the Navy. IIRC, he had to stand watch on his boat armed with either a handgun (the M-9, I think) or a shotgun. Don't remember if he ever mentioned training with M-16's.

He never mentioned having to train with firearms, but I'm assuming the Navy won't issue you a weapon without first training you in its use.

You have something against the Navy, Mad Man?
 
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