Italy checking in

Hello everybody, cheers from Italy.:smt023

I'm an Italian gun enthusiast, fond of about anything that will burn smokeless.
Of course, gun ownership and usage in Italy gets nowhere the freedom you enjoy, for a huge number of historical, social and even geographic (space availability) reasons. Nevertheless, I like to divide my possession in two main "themes":

- American Sporting: 1 Ruger Redhawk, 1 Ruger Super BH, 1 Winchester 1894, all .44 magnums so one batch of reloads feeds all

- Basic tactical: 1 ex-Austrian Ordnance FAL STG-58 and 1 Glock 23, now traded in for an FNP-40 (known as "Browning Pro-40" here in the Old World).

Lately I've been browsing US forums (Ruger, FN) for a number of reasons, most of which boil down to this: only in the US you have so many people who can make a real, frequent, practical usage of these wapons. Hunting, backapcking, practical target shooting of all sorts, putting the guns through the real paces! The limitations we have here, very seldom allow people to carry and shoot so widely and completely. Therefore, I'd like to learn more about the day-to-day pros and cons of many guns, by reading your experiences :smt023

Right now I'll try to read as much as I can on the FNP-40, but I'll like potential alternatives as well.

Ah, not to mention that incredible taste given by reading of the incredible individual freedom enjoyed by "gunners" in the US (well, in some States at least). Believe me, some of the things you are entitled to do are pure fantasy for most of us here in Europe. ;-)

Ok, here we go!

GfA

Welcome from Big Sky Country. Italy is one country I have on my bucket list.

Welcome to the forum!

To make sure we're all on the same page, all new members are highly encouraged to take a few minutes to become familiar with the Forum Guidelines.

Welcome to the from Michigan... I had friends from Triesta that went to school with me in Michigan.

Why did you sell your Glock 23.. I reently added a Glock 23 to my collection and it is a sweet shooter. Also I got a 40-9 mm conversion barrel and I can shoot it just like a Glock 19 (I use my Glock 17 9mm nags though).. It is like having two guns in one. And if I may add I no nothing about FNP's..But I am sure there are plnety of members that would be experienced and would definitely help you.

Chao.!!

Bonjourno

Welcome to the forum from Noth Central Texas.

I think you'll like it here.

Thanks for reminding us of how much gun freedom we enjoy here in the USA.

We sometimes forget it's not the same everywhere.


:smt1099

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Originally Posted by jimmy

Welcome to the from Michigan... I had friends from Triesta that went to school with me in Michigan.

Why did you sell your Glock 23.. I reently added a Glock 23 to my collection and it is a sweet shooter. Also I got a 40-9 mm conversion barrel and I can shoot it just like a Glock 19 (I use my Glock 17 9mm nags though).. It is like having two guns in one. And if I may add I no nothing about FNP's..But I am sure there are plnety of members that would be experienced and would definitely help you.

Chao.!!

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Thank you all for the welcome :-)

I also have very dear American relatives who were based in outer Detroit. Now they scattered between Boston and San Diego. Even though the elder uncle did his tough part in WWII as a front line GI in the E.T.O. , the rest grew up as no-gun people (guns just scare 'em), please forgive them of you can ;-)

As for the G23: I still love the gun and the concept. The issue was: me. I can't seem to be able to use the safe - action trigger, or any "long" trigger pull, with a recoiling gun. The 23 is VERY light and it recoils enough that, in combination with the particular trigger pull, will make me "nervous". While I can shoot .44 magnum with SA trigger, it seems I just lose my way with a long trigger pull. This never happens while dry firing, so I must admit that the "bang" really affects my coordination capabilities. The same happens with my Redhawk. I can perfectly stage the DA pull in dry fire, but I totally lose feel with live ammo.

"A man's gotta know his limitations" :-D

I rented out a classic Beretta 92F in 9x21 and was amazed how easy it was to hit with it. The 9mm recoiled more like a .22 LR after being used to the G23! :-O

So, I went looking for polymer full size, DA/SA pistol, handled a Pro-9 (FNP-9) at a gun store and was very well impressed. Though I know I'll be missing that low - bore axis I was so pleased with, another big plus for Glock.

I'v been looking at the Beretta PX4 as well, but guess what? In Italian forums it's getting the worst possible comments. Then I come here and find a lot of pleased customers. This is a strange world....

B
GfA

Welcome to the forum from SaintLouis Missouri.
We cherish our gun rights here in the US and have to fight for them every day.
Our current administration and (barf) president are very anti Second Amendment, and as it is turning out is also Anti Constitution and all of the rights their in.

It is a daily battle to keep our freedoms here, but we will remain the Land of the Free and the home of the Brave so long as God is willing.

Live free my friend, and God Bless.:smt1099

A Big Welcome From
Tennessee

Thank you again folks.

Alas, anti-gun fear is a huge force, growing with people living in cities who "demand" that life be a risk - free thing. So what they think is: "everything I'm not interested in is "useless". If it might be dangerous, it's "useless and dangerous", therefore should be banned.

That's how humans work, alas.

By
GfA

Welcome from Alabama. There are states in the USA that are as restrictive towards firearm possession as it is in Europe and elsewhere. Alabama is a "right to carry" state, which means every citizen of age and passing criminal background check has the right to be in possession of a firearm concealed on their person. Some states allow open carry. This summer I was visiting family in Upstate New York, where only cops, bad guys and criminals are allowed to carry a gun on their person. I felt naked as I am always armed in my home state as well as trips into surrounding states (GA, FL, TN, and MS), which have reciprocity with AL.

I fear for the future of firearm possession in the USA. Those that are in power now would snatch our 2nd Amendment rights away in an instant if they felt they could. We are in a struggle to maintain those rights here in the USA. I am sorry that a responsible firearm enthusiast like yourself lives in such a restrictive society. I just hope my son's future does not have such firearm restrictions here in America. Join and support the NRA and their ILA branch. They fight the good fight for all of us law abiding gun owners in America.

Again, welcome. If you ever make it to the USA you are invited to my place in Alabama. I'm blessed with over 40 acres of woodland and we'll shoot our guns till we run out of ammo! I'm serious about the invitation. Free private lodging with transportation to and from Atlanta airport.

Welcome from North Carolina.

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Originally Posted by sliponby

Welcome from Alabama. There are states in the USA that are as restrictive towards firearm possession as it is in Europe and elsewhere. Alabama is a "right to carry" state, which means every citizen of age and passing criminal background check has the right to be in possession of a firearm concealed on their person. Some states allow open carry. This summer I was visiting family in Upstate New York, where only cops, bad guys and criminals are allowed to carry a gun on their person. I felt naked as I am always armed in my home state as well as trips into surrounding states (GA, FL, TN, and MS), which have reciprocity with AL.

I fear for the future of firearm possession in the USA. Those that are in power now would snatch our 2nd Amendment rights away in an instant if they felt they could. We are in a struggle to maintain those rights here in the USA. I am sorry that a responsible firearm enthusiast like yourself lives in such a restrictive society. I just hope my son's future does not have such firearm restrictions here in America. Join and support the NRA and their ILA branch. They fight the good fight for all of us law abiding gun owners in America.

Again, welcome. If you ever make it to the USA you are invited to my place in Alabama. I'm blessed with over 40 acres of woodland and we'll shoot our guns till we run out of ammo! I'm serious about the invitation. Free private lodging with transportation to and from Atlanta airport.

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Wao!
First off, I need to thank you for the invitation. :-)
It's great kindness, after all I just popped in and said "hi". I won't be able to come to the US very soon (budget...) but I can reciprocate the invitation if you ever came to Italy. I live in a beautiful region and would love to drive you around medieval towns and lovely hillside / seaside scenery :-)

As for the rest, I've concluded it's not so much the "model of society", it's the people. I've noticed that when people live in small towns near countryside and nature, with abundant room available and in communities where everyone "holds his own", people tend to trust one another, so guns are no problem.
In heavily urbanized areas, instead, people just hate / fear "others" (always crossing your path all day long, locking you up in traffic, behaving in ways that can become aggressive very quickly). Add the simple fact of statistics: if (say) 5% of people are idiot, you'll face 5 idiots in 100 people, and an army of 500 idiots in 10,000 people!!!

That's why, even in the US, the heavily urbanized areas have very "European" gun laws. Consider that Europe is very similar to high - density places of the East Coast (Boston, NY) and the picture is clear. :-(

I see my colleagues here: they like me as a person, but they just hate the idea that I can legally own my guns. Their idea is that anybody might go mad (another trait typical of high - stress urban life...) and just shoot around. In UK, such an episode (a terrible school shootout) created such an emotional surge that simply decreed the end of private gun ownership.

The thing I really like about the US is how it can combine modern country traits (economy, technology, etc) with so many millions people living in contact with outdoors, deserts, woods, forests, mountains. This still allows MAN to keep full hold of his prerogatives, Freedom and Responsibility.

Ops I got carried away a bit :mrgreen:

Thanks again, ciao! :-)

GfA

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Originally Posted by sliponby

... This summer I was visiting family in Upstate New York, where only cops, bad guys and criminals are allowed to carry a gun on their person. ...

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Well, it's not all that bad. You can carry concealed in Upstate NY without being a cop or criminal. Open carry is not an option though.

Welcome to the forum GFA. Looking forward to the Italian perspective.

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Originally Posted by MLB

Well, it's not all that bad. You can carry concealed in Upstate NY without being a cop or criminal. Open carry is not an option though.

Welcome to the forum GFA. Looking forward to the Italian perspective.

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Over here, CCW is simply forbidden, except for those few (rich) who can prove they might be targets for outlaws / kidnappers / etc. And even in that case, it's the local police who decide if you "proved" enough. So, rule changes from city to city. Carry approval has to be renovated every year, with the consequent taxes, red tape, time waste.

And as I said, at least 90% of Italians feel (I cannot call that "thinking") that guns should be simply banned.So what I described to you is already "too much". Our luck is that gun ownership here is not a thing of Joe Citizen, it's an upscale thing: lawyers, doctors, rich people etc. Therefore, THESE pepole grant some political protection to gun ownership.

Ah, no matter how justified your shooting may be, NO expanding bullets. They are "inhumane". Then of course judges complain that you fired too many bullets at the bad guy (of course - he would not go down!) Way to go here is at best flat point, as wide as you can get.

Sometimes I ask myself if I hadn't been born here by mistake - but then, I might have been born in some devastated African place, so let's not complain ;-)

Ciao
GfA

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QUOTE=MLB;196279]Well, it's not all that bad. You can carry concealed in Upstate NY without being a cop or criminal. Open carry is not an option though.

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What does it take to obtain a concealed carry permit in New York ? I was led to believe that it was next to impossible. Please enlighten. Thanks!

The situation in New York City is close to what you describe, but the rest of the state runs under different rules and it varies by county. NY is a "may issue" state, so it's up to the local judge or sheriff to decide. Assuming you pass the background check, just about anyone can get a handgun permit that is restricted to hunting or target shooting only. All permits are for concealed carry only, open carry is not an option.

An unrestricted carry permit is a bit more iffy. You need to show a "need" for it.

Mine took about 8 months from application to sidearm on the belt.

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Originally Posted by MLB

The situation in New York City is close to what you describe, but the rest of the state runs under different rules and it varies by county. NY is a "may issue" state, so it's up to the local judge or sheriff to decide. Assuming you pass the background check, just about anyone can get a handgun permit that is restricted to hunting or target shooting only. All permits are for concealed carry only, open carry is not an option.

An unrestricted carry permit is a bit more iffy. You need to show a "need" for it.

Mine took about 8 months from application to sidearm on the belt.

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New York, Italy! 8-O

By
GfA