Thread: Question about buying a gun

You should probably do some more thinking on whether you are responsible enough to get a gun. Stating that you don't want to go to a shooting range "or something like that" is scary.
1)How do you intend to defend yourself without practice? You don't just pick up a gun and "abra cadabra" you're putting 2in clusters in a target!
2)If your apartment complex is getting robbed, and you only need to be accurate at 5 yards, what happens if you miss and kill someone else. Are you prepared to spend the rest of your life in jail?
3)Cheap gun? A gun is something that is protecting your life. Would you go get open heart surgery from a "cheap surgeon?" No, of course not. I'm not saying you have to get the Bentley of guns, but get something reliable.

I'm really not trying to be rude, however, I'm just not sure that you are mature enough for a gun yet.

Oh say can you see???

sorry

I didn't mean I would buy one and go home. I meant once I learn how to work and how to shoot it wouldn't be for a shooting range. It'd just be for self-defense at home.

I understand your feeling the need for protection and I would recommend some formal training as it sounds like you have a greater chance of having to use a firearm to defend yourself. The formal training will appraise you of the laws involved as well as safe firearms handling and storage techniques. How will you secure the firearm as someone may break in when you aren't there?

There are many questions involved and legalities and you need to understand them before you purchase the firearm or you may wind up as the criminal.

Good luck and I would join that gun club and practice, practice.

People with a poor firearm education (which includes any legal issues) more often than not will end up on the bad side of a bad situation. You want to protect yourself...That's great! But learn the laws in your area and learn the weapon. Any tool can only be effective if the person wielding it knows best how to use it.

Not sure about the laws regarding private party transfers in FL, but federal law prohibits sale of a handgun to a person under 21 by a dealer.

And since you're not going to be carrying it anyway, why not consider something more effective than a handgun?

You can legally buy a shotgun at 18. Nothing wrong with a short shotgun for house defense, especially for someone unfamiliar with firearms. A shotgun is easier to shoot accurately than a handgun in unpracticed hands, and will certainly put down a bad guy at five yards. A good pump shotgun is less expensive than a decent pistol, too.

You can get a Remington or Mossberg pump for under $300, or something like a Maverick for under $200. Or you could even get some random old used Stevens or Western or somesuch hunting shotgun in a gun shop for under $150, and have a gunsmith whack the barrel down to 18".

I heartily agree with the other guys, though - get some training before you do anything! And even a shotgun demands you go to the range to shoot and get familiar with the gun.

I'm not familiar with guns as I've stated so this probably sounds stupid to you guys but doesn't a shotgun shoot multiple pellets? I would hate to be defending myself and shoot an intruder and pellets go flying through the apartment complex and hit someone else.

A open-choke shotgun will probably shoot a pellet pattern of about 3"-4" at five yards. Not a problem if you are on target, which is easier with a shotgun than a handgun. If you are off target, smaller buckshot, like #4, won't go through as many walls as a handgun bullet. But it remains dangerous and must be shot very carefully.

Any round powerful enough to put down a criminal is also powerful enough to go through a bunch of walls and kill a neighbor. The answer is to hit what you're shooting at, but you can't do that unless you are trained and skilled.

Originally Posted by lookingforgun73

I'm not familiar with guns as I've stated so this probably sounds stupid to you guys but doesn't a shotgun shoot multiple pellets? I would hate to be defending myself and shoot an intruder and pellets go flying through the apartment complex and hit someone else.

Yes, a shotgun shoots multiple pellets, unless of course you are using slugs. Then again, you would only use slugs for hunting.

Why would you be worried about pellets hitting someone else, when you want a handgun for defense? Didn't you consider that a bullet can go flying through an apartment complex and hit someone else too? Makes absolutely no sense at all, especially since a hangun bullet is more likely to penetrate multiple walls than shotgun shot, and you are more likely to miss with a hangun anyway. This isn't an issue of firearm knowledge, but instead one of common sense.

The reason why a shotgun is considered to be the best self or home-defense weapon is that you are more likely to hit your target, and you can use shot sizes that are less likely to penetrate multiple walls. Given your level of expertise, there is no way you are going to hit someone with a handgun. If you want a hangun, then by all means get one. Just don't use it for self or home defense, at least not any time soon.....

PhilR.

I just figured with a gun, there is one bullet, making the chances clearly a lot less likely. But like I said, I wouldn't know. I'm just trying to find something to protect myself so any help is appreciated. Are there a lot of places that I could go get lessons on how to shoot and handle a gun?

As Florida seems to be a gun-friendly state, I'm sure there will be a gun store or two within a reasonable driving distance. All of the gun stores that I've ever been in maintain a list of people who instruct. Both of my local gunshops have employees that instruct as well. Most likely you will not have any problem finding an introductory shooting class.

Some gunshops also have an indoor range too. You might be able to find a place that can handle all facets of firearm instruction in one place. One-stop shopping, if you will. Most of the gunshops w/ranges will also have different types of hanguns that you can rent, which will allow you to narrow down the choice without having to actually buy a firearm.

PhilR.