- Joined
- Nov 26, 2006
- Messages
- 3,996
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So, I got my FOID card, but I'm not really into guns. I do have a track record of indulging in risky hobbies with a perfect safety record. I've raced cars (wish I could afford to do more), I ride crotch rockets 12 months a year, I have flown airplanes. I tend to approach things from a very analytical viewpoint and with a healthy respect for consequences. I feel this is something that can be done safely with proper training. I am not getting one explicitly for self-defense, if somebody wants my stuff, ok, that's what insurance is for, I can replace it all. I don't have kids, I live alone, I'll be taking a safety course and probably trying out a couple guns before buying anything. I just think it'd be interesting to see what this gun thing is all about. I wasn't raised around guns and my experience is minimal. But life's too short not to experience cool ****.
Of course, if I had several grand burning a hole in my pocket, I have a few ideas on how I'd spend it, but I'm just looking to get into it on the cheap, a few hundred, a gun worth keeping for awhile, something to shoot a few rounds through and see how I feel about it. And since I live in a fairly urban environment and neither my car nor my motorcycle are large enough to carry a rifle, and since I'm just getting my feet wet, I'm focusing on handguns.
At first I just wanted something chambered in .22LR. The cheap ammo is a huge plus. But realistically, I'm not going to be going to the range every week, so the cost of ammo shouldn't be a huge issue; if I'm going to the range enough to really feel the sting of ammo costs, well then, I guess that justifies buying another gun. And although it's not a huge concern with me at this moment, I suppose a 22 isn't worth much beyond plinking. On the other hand, it seems to me like having a .22 in the arsenal could never be a bad decision. I figure there's nothing wrong with having one around, no matter where the hobby takes you. It's like a 500cc street bike... if you've got a spare, someone will be happy to have fun with it, no matter what they have back at home or have ridden/shot before...
I could afford something nice, I suppose, but being realistic with myself, I just want something cheap and decent, that I can get into it a little bit, as a first gun, to see what I think. I don't want to go much over $350 or so. Substantially less would be substantially better. Anybody have any suggestions? or insights? Either specific or general? Links? Articles for newbs? Whatever? ANY (helpful) advice would be greatly appreciated.
Of course, if I had several grand burning a hole in my pocket, I have a few ideas on how I'd spend it, but I'm just looking to get into it on the cheap, a few hundred, a gun worth keeping for awhile, something to shoot a few rounds through and see how I feel about it. And since I live in a fairly urban environment and neither my car nor my motorcycle are large enough to carry a rifle, and since I'm just getting my feet wet, I'm focusing on handguns.
At first I just wanted something chambered in .22LR. The cheap ammo is a huge plus. But realistically, I'm not going to be going to the range every week, so the cost of ammo shouldn't be a huge issue; if I'm going to the range enough to really feel the sting of ammo costs, well then, I guess that justifies buying another gun. And although it's not a huge concern with me at this moment, I suppose a 22 isn't worth much beyond plinking. On the other hand, it seems to me like having a .22 in the arsenal could never be a bad decision. I figure there's nothing wrong with having one around, no matter where the hobby takes you. It's like a 500cc street bike... if you've got a spare, someone will be happy to have fun with it, no matter what they have back at home or have ridden/shot before...
I could afford something nice, I suppose, but being realistic with myself, I just want something cheap and decent, that I can get into it a little bit, as a first gun, to see what I think. I don't want to go much over $350 or so. Substantially less would be substantially better. Anybody have any suggestions? or insights? Either specific or general? Links? Articles for newbs? Whatever? ANY (helpful) advice would be greatly appreciated.