New to guns

Tails

Tails

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 10, 2016
Location
Pisgah National Forest
Need some advice. I wasn’t brought up in a house where hunting wasn’t a thing. I was in the military but not a combat MOS. I know my way around a m16 but that’s it. I have only fired a pistol once in my life.

I’m a pretty good hand to hand fighter and I have always thought that’s all I need. However as the world gets crazier I think I want to conceal carry in case anything ever happens I can defend myself more then just hand to hand.

So my questions, should I buy a pistol first before taking the CC class. Get some range time first or just jump into the class? Also what kind of pistol do I buy? I have no idea what to look for or feel for when the shops hand me one to look at. They all look the same. As I said I’m completely new to all this. Thanks for any advice.
 
Tails said:
Need some advice. I wasn’t brought up in a house where hunting wasn’t a thing. I was in the military but not a combat MOS. I know my way around a m16 but that’s it. I have only fired a pistol once in my life.

I’m a pretty good hand to hand fighter and I have always thought that’s all I need. However as the world gets crazier I think I want to conceal carry in case anything ever happens I can defend myself more then just hand to hand.

So my questions, should I buy a pistol first before taking the CC class. Get some range time first or just jump into the class? Also what kind of pistol do I buy? I have no idea what to look for or feel for when the shops hand me one to look at. They all look the same. As I said I’m completely new to all this. Thanks for any advice.
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Find a local indoor range that rents handguns. Try before you buy!
 
Find a good range (or a good friend) and try all the guns you possibly can. Im sure several here, myself included, would be happy to let you try any that they/I have. I personally carry a Berretta 92FS (M9 in the military) as it's tame and holds a whole box of ammo. But the possibilities are endless depending on what you're looking for. Also, the place is took my class had a simulator where we ran shoot/no shoot drills.
 
When I took my conceal carry class, the students were all required to supply their own guns and ammo. Most students showed up with a Ruger SR22 for some reason.

Like most people, all of my guns were lost in a boating accident, but I took the class with a 357 revolver, and the instructors had to change up their instructions (shoot 7 rounds, reload, shoot 5 rounds....doesn't work on a revolver).

Watch a lot of videos, figure out what you would be most comfortable with, then find a rental range and confirm. I started with striker fired, and just never got comfortable with them....I prefer DA stuff.
 
it's just as important to train yourself to be aware of your surroundings as it is to carry a weapon. A CCW would not have saved Irena on the train in Charlotte. Sitting with her back to the wall may have.
 
Jeff B said:
it's just as important to train yourself to be aware of your surroundings as it is to carry a weapon. A CCW would not have saved Irena on the train in Charlotte. Sitting with her back to the wall may have.
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Im still very much aware of my surroundings. That part of the military has stuck with me. I have just realized more people carry then i think and my hands wont help me if they have a gun.
 
Find some to shoot and see what you like, everyone has their own opinions/favorites

Typically for me
Summertime mostly pocket a j frame smith or .380. eazy to slide in pocket to walk in a store.
Winter mostly sig p365. sometimes 229. both in a belt slide holster
Truck gun glock19 or sig229
 
Tails said:
Need some advice. I wasn’t brought up in a house where hunting wasn’t a thing. I was in the military but not a combat MOS. I know my way around a m16 but that’s it. I have only fired a pistol once in my life.

I’m a pretty good hand to hand fighter and I have always thought that’s all I need. However as the world gets crazier I think I want to conceal carry in case anything ever happens I can defend myself more then just hand to hand.

So my questions, should I buy a pistol first before taking the CC class. Get some range time first or just jump into the class? Also what kind of pistol do I buy? I have no idea what to look for or feel for when the shops hand me one to look at. They all look the same. As I said I’m completely new to all this. Thanks for any advice.
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If your in the Mars hill area you are more then welcome to come by and try out some pistols. I have a craptastic range at home (working on making it better) but I do have several handguns you can tryout.
 
Kamel said:
Nothing to add but guns are icky. Move this to the garage... please :D
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Basically politics, porn, and gore in the garage. I don't see any of those here, so it's fine with me. I also looked and couldn't find the GCC rules anywhere. If someone can point me in the right direction I'll happily stand corrected and include them as a sticky on the top of the GCC thread list.
 
I would also say rent as many as you can to find what suits you. You may find you like single action only (SAO) triggers, like a 1911 style gun, or striker fired, like Glocks and some other tupperware guns, double action only (DAO), or a combination of single/double.

As in other places in life, like shoes, size matters here also. You don't want a huge pistol to try and conceal or to hold with smaller hands, or a pocket pistol if you have large hands.

As far as the CCW goes, as long as you can hit a 3'x5' paper target from 10 feet away you'll pass the shooting part. I once loaned my sister a large .357 and gave her a box of .38s for her class and she sailed right through with no previous experience. I really hate that I lost that gun in the boating accident.

If you find yourself around the Gaston County area hit me up, I'll go shooting with you.
 
I'd take the advice on trying some rentals prior to purchase. As for a carry gun, I like the PSA Micro Dagger. It's a Glock 43X clone that uses an improved magazine for a 15 round capacity (it can use standard Glock mags as well).

Glocks are like AR15s, you can get plenty of parts/mags for them and they are a reliable and simple design. The Glock 19 is slightly larger but mags are plentiful and cheap. They can also use G17 and other larger mags.

I've met folks that swear by the CZ platform. The M&P also has a loyal following.
 
Jody Treadway said:
Bear Indoor shooting range is right there in Brevard. You should swing by there and check it out. They have rental firearms too IIRC
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Bear was closing when I was there last. Nothing to rent or buy 😢.
If you’re in Asheville try On-target. They even close early one night a week so they can set up an action pistol course. It’s awesome and you learn under stress so you learn to control your adrenaline and build muscle memory. Lots of fun!
 
I am also a HUGE proponent of the 43X and PSA Micro mags.

Early mags had some teething issues but the last update months ago with red followers are GTG.

My whole family switched from G19s to 43X, the difference in carry is much greater than the size difference would suggest.

Get the MOS now so once you decide to carry a dot you are ready.
 
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Southern_Transplant said:
I'd take the advice on trying some rentals prior to purchase. As for a carry gun, I like the PSA Micro Dagger. It's a Glock 43X clone that uses an improved magazine for a 15 round capacity (it can use standard Glock mags as well).

Glocks are like AR15s, you can get plenty of parts/mags for them and they are a reliable and simple design. The Glock 19 is slightly larger but mags are plentiful and cheap. They can also use G17 and other larger mags.

I've met folks that swear by the CZ platform. The M&P also has a loyal following.
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I haven't gotten to try the micro yet, but I had multiple compact and full size daggers (glock 19/17) before the boating accident. I love how they shoot and have never had any issues with them.
 
shelby27604 said:
(shoot 7 rounds, reload, shoot 5 rounds....doesn't work on a revolver).
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Been there , done that! I use a J-Frame S&W ... shoot 5 - reload - shoot 5 - reload shoot 5
 
thebrotherinlaw said:
Bear was closing when I was there last. Nothing to rent or buy 😢.
If you’re in Asheville try On-target. They even close early one night a week so they can set up an action pistol course. It’s awesome and you learn under stress so you learn to control your adrenaline and build muscle memory. Lots of fun!
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I shit a Bear once because a co worker wanted to shoot an AR he got.

I wanted to support them and stopped by several times with a pocket full of cash with nothing specific in mind but I wanted something. Never saw anything that tickled my fancy or was priced correctly even ammonia accessories. Left empty handed each time.
 
jeepinmatt said:
Basically politics, porn, and gore in the garage. I don't see any of those here, so it's fine with me. I also looked and couldn't find the GCC rules anywhere. If someone can point me in the right direction I'll happily stand corrected and include them as a sticky on the top of the GCC thread list.
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It was more of a suggestion to open discussion more. I haven't been around guns since they shot holes in my boat and sank..... ;)
 
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