My first encounter with the gun community

[Bud Tugly]

I grew up in a rural area, and nearly every kid in the area had a BB gun by the time we were 8 years old or so. I found out early on that it was a lot harder to shoot accurately with a pistol than a rifle, since we tried each others guns while roaming in the woods.

We all graduated eventually to .22 rifles, shotguns, and deer rifles with some degree of adult supervision, but mostly learned by trial and error. I don't know how many thousands of BB's and .22 shells I fired in my life but it would make a huge pile. We used them more than anything else since they were so cheap to fire.

I'm convinced that all that early shooting made me a much better shot with shotguns and more powerful rifles. If I had started with one of them instead I'd never have been able to afford to shoot as much as I did.

With more and more folks growing up in cities and suburbs these days the opportunities for kids to learn about guns the way we did are shrinking, and that's a shame. Not much help to the OP, I guess, just an observation on changing times.

 

[doc2rn]

I would suggest a 9mm with a .22lr conversion upper. Learn on the .22 and when using it at home swap out to 9mm barrel. That way the OP can stick to his one gun rule.

 

[joe_security]

I agree with every poster that said get training and go from there.

 

[n00b_71]

Okay ... I really owe you guys a lot for this. Thank you very much for your thoughtful replies.

Here's what I plan to do based on your advice:

1. Take craneman up on his most generous offer to teach me the basics. (I live in Orange County, CA and he is in North San Diego: not too bad of a drive at all.)

2. If, for whatever reason, I can't make that happen, I'll take the NRA basic pistol course.

3. Although I really liked the idea of a .45 under my bed, I will instead hold off on buying a firearm for now. There is a range near me (http://www.ocindoorrange.com) that rents .22LR Ruger MkIIs, MkIIIs and a few revolvers. I'll start with those and practice until I develop some degree of competence.

4. Continue to read and participate in this forum.

I can't thank you guys enough. I really feel confident that I am on the right track now. Thanks again!

 

[ArmedLiberal]

Have a great time!

 

[KodiakBeer]

I really feel confident that I am on the right track now.

Me too! Welcome to the no-longer-a-victim club!

 

[cadillacmike]

If you really are leaning towards a .45 ACP, there are many .22LR conversion kits for traditional M1911 style pistols. Marvel makes one which I'm considering getting for my wife who has never shot anything bigger than 22LR. I think the Marvel kits also fit the double stack magazines, like the para-ordnance 45s - i only have traditional single stack 45s (Colt and a WW2 vintage). It is an excellent way to learn and have a home defense gun at the same time. you'll already know the size and trigger feel, etc. only real difference is recoil - oh and noise level!

When I say single stack or double stack, I'm referring the the magazine, single stack = one round directly on top of the next - 7 or 8 maximum in a 45; Double stack = staggered rounds up to 14 or 15 max in 45. doubler stacks have a wider grip.

good luck, and post up on your results.

 

[Zerodefect]

Okay ... I really owe you guys a lot for this. Thank you very much for your thoughtful replies.

Here's what I plan to do based on your advice:

1. Take craneman up on his most generous offer to teach me the basics. (I live in Orange County, CA and he is in North San Diego: not too bad of a drive at all.)

2. If, for whatever reason, I can't make that happen, I'll take the NRA basic pistol course.

3. Although I really liked the idea of a .45 under my bed, I will instead hold off on buying a firearm for now. There is a range near me (http://www.ocindoorrange.com) that rents .22LR Ruger MkIIs, MkIIIs and a few revolvers. I'll start with those and practice until I develop some degree of competence.

4. Continue to read and participate in this forum.

I can't thank you guys enough. I really feel confident that I am on the right track now. Thanks again!

Your on the right track. The NRA course is a safe place to start.

Renting a Ruger .22 is a great idea.

Midway USA has tons of those shoot&see type targets for cheap. They're targets that are dark but make a big neon hole where your shot ends up. Those helped me alot when I was new, I couldn't allways "call" my shots before I tried those.

Also there is a ton of Good, UP TO DATE pistol and shooting info in Magpul Art of the Defensive Handgun DVD set. They cover most everything, the rest you'll figure out soon enough. Worth every penny:
http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/Magpul-Dynamics-Dynamic-Handgun-dvd-p/magpul dvd dyn 004.htm

 

[thorazine]

Despite popular belief you can start out with something larger than a twenty two...

For I started with a nine (9X19MM) and everything worked out just fine for me.

No holes in my hand or foot.