What should I be looking for in a handgun? I want to get one for my husband for his birthday, but I know nothing about guns really. He wants a Ruger, that much I know. Can anyone help me out?
206867
Catlover -- I see that you posted a whole bunch of questions. You sound like a sweetie. My recommendations.\n\n1) DO NOT BUY A GUN FOR YOUR HUSBAND.\nThere is a chance that you could get in BIG trouble. If you buy a gun from a gun show or a dealer in Oregon, you will have to fill out paperwork (can't remember the form number) in which you state that the gun is for you and no one else. One is Federal, one is State of Oregon. You will be fingerprinted, they will call the Oregon State Police with all your ID. OSP will do a quick background check with the FBI. If you buy the gun, it is YOUR gun.  This link is from a creepy anti-gun site but they are correct on 'straw purchases.' http://www.americansforgunsafety.com/the_issues_state_initiatives.asp?stateid=38\n\n2) Josephine and Jackson counties are gun lover heaven! I just went to http://www.theultimates.com (click the yellow pages) and did a quick search for guns in Grants Pass. If you are near Medford, you can do the same search. \nI got a dozen hits lickety-split. Here is a sample: \n\nBradbury's Gun-N-Tackle\n1809 Rogue River Hwy\nGrants Pass, OR zip code\nPhone: (541) 479-1531\n  \n\nD M Custom Handguns\nGrants Pass, OR zip code\nPhone: (541) 955-7264\n\nRussco Guns\n1600 SE N St\nGrants Pass, OR zip code\nPhone: (541) 474-2357\n\n3) Go to the gun shop. Visit with the guys, they will be very nice to you and tell you more than you imagined. Buy a gift certificate and let hubby buy his own gun.\n\n4) if you want to be cute about it, get him a toy one at Fred Meyer and wrap it up with the gift certificate. He will get the point. \n\n5) If you love him, give him a gift certificate to an NRA handgun safety class. If he says he knows all about guns and doesn't need any dang class, he is an idiot and if you don't divorce him it won't matter. You will be a widow soon enough. This link to the Medford Rifle and Pistol Club will get you started. http://www.mrpc.info/\n\nAlways keep your muzzle pointed in a safe direction!\n\nLeigh\nNRA Instructor -- Rifle, Pistol, Range Safety Officer\nhttp://www.NWSafe.org\n\nPS -- Regarding Concealed Weapons Permit. Don't worry about that for now. However, he may want to subscribe to Dr Mike Browns highly regarded yahoo list: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wa-ccw/\nThe topic is Concealed Pistol Licenses in Washington, but many of the 650 subscribers are from Oregon and other states. It is a very good list.
47927
If you can't find anything current at the library, check out Wal-Mart.  They often have gun pricing books in the sporting goods department. Many book stores have pricing guides and newspapers like the Shotgun News that sell uesed firearms. They can be great sources for what firearms are really selling for around that time. Value is also going to depend greatly on condition and modifications to the gun
480851
It depends on what YOU consider what "best" is\nto you. Diffrent guns have diffrent  fps,\ndiffrent ranges, diffrent type of power, etc.\nWhat do you want the gun to do that will\nmake you satisfied?\nLook at the diffrent websites and ask the pros\nthese questions, everyone here will give their own\noppinion on what they think "best" is to them. It might not\nbe what you want.
108028
A SIG is a heaver gun and cost more. I am thinking of getting a .40 or .45 in the SPRINGFIELD XD, AND ABOUT 1/2 OF the cost of a SIG. I now carry a 9mm TAURUS and it works fine for me. I just want one that is made of polymer. The XD comes in 9mm-.357SIG-.40S&W-.45GAP,and .45ACP...I hope this is some help to you, and as we say at the range KEEP IT IN THE 10 RING.......
573438
I go with a bolt action; Remington 700, Savage's model 16, or the model 10/110 also from Savage.  All rifles from Savage come from the factory ready for optic sights(scopes) and have the bbl floated(from the factory.  Floated bbl's are more acurate.  Don't look at price when looking for ammo.  You get what you pay for.  Premium ammo costs more but it shoots and performs better.  Save the cheap stuff for practice.  When it comes to caliber, here are my picks: .270 Winchester Short Magnum(my round of choice that I have killed 2 Caribou and a Dall Sheep in Alaska with; very fast, very accurate to well over 500 meters{I've done 1MOA goups at 800m durring practice a couple of times, it's hard to find a civillian range that has the ability and space to let you shoot past 200m.... big brother and I just went out into the AZ desert somewhere and shot}, enough ass to kill all game but Kodiak bear and probibly moose), .30-06 Springfield(old but old for a reason... IT WORKS!), .308 Winchester(7.62x51, the round of choice for precision Haji hunting and US med. machine guns), .300 Winchester Magnum(hits hard, shoots straight, requires getting used to the recoil, will kill anything, excellent round overall), .270 Winchester(another good all around cartiridge, it's kinda a small .30-06, been around for a while and that means ammo is readily available), and any variant of 7mm(accurate and powerful, but I don't have much experience with it.  I just know some guys that love it).  Don't go for any 7.62x39.  That round loses alot of ass/accuracy after 300 meters.  Train yourself to be surgical at 500 and you will be golden come hunting season.  It's the Indian not the arrow my friend.
545065
If it's a first gun light weight is the wrong way to go because of recoil.\n\nGet a 1911 powerful and incredibly easy to use.\n\nAnd I aggree learn about them before you buy one.
389035
In arizona we have all that game. I hunt javelina with a .357 magnum just fine. But for the other game I would suggest a .41 or .44 magnum. I like the .454 casull and it is a great gun, but it is really powerful and you could develop a flinch. A better bet for recoil is the .480 ruger. It is a good cartridge with good ballistics and less recoil than the .44 magnum but flatter than the .44 magnum. I don't know about .41 magnum being hard to find, I think taurus makes a few in their tracker models with ported barrels, and smith and wesson should have a model in that caliber. \nI would suggest either the .41, .44 or .480 ruger. Anything less would not be safe for deer and mountain lion or antelope at a reasonable hunting range. A .454 might be too big and uncomfortable to carry but would probably give you the longest reach. \nThe other thing is I would look at barrel lengths of 6 inches or higher. Depending on where you hunt, hunting antelope with a pistol is hard. Most people I know use a thompson center contender in rifle caliber or similar non-traditional pistol design. \nI wouldn't worry about the mountain lion, they can be taken with a .357 magnum, and have been. A .41 magnum would do fine on them too. \nThe problem with mounting a scope is the eye relief is hard to get used to, and it adds weight. I use iron sights for javelina and deer and mountain lion. I have used a scoped .44 magnum ruger for javelina and found it was a little too easy and just didn't prefer a scoped handgun. I would recommend one though if you are going for antelope, deer, or mountain lion, with only a pistol, as they are generally at longer ranges, especially in arizona. \nI usually use a rifle for mountain lion, as they are hard to spot and you need dogs really to hunt them. I don't use dogs, but spot them during the deer season and such. It is an over the counter tag. But, a pistol in the calibers above would be good protection for a mountain lion attack or protection. \nSo, depending on your hunting ranges and for a good all around caliber for the game above. I recommend at least a .41 magnum with a .480 ruger or .44 magnum preferred for the deer and antelope factor. The .454 casull is the most powerful and fulfills all but is heavy, kicks a lot, and is really loud! A .44 mag is worse than a rifle in respect to noise. The blast is alot closer to you. That is how my hearing is bad, I have a permanent ring in my left ear (tinnitus) from the .44mag ruger, the blast off the ground is loud!! That was what did it, but the years of neglect added up. Back in my day, no thought was really paid to ear protection, and now when javelina hunting or bird hunting, and during practice I always wear ear protection.\nAnother tip is always practice, shooting a couple times and then going hunting is not good. Furthermore I fully recommend the .454 casull but if you can't shoot it without flinching then it is not a good gun. With the big calibers and pistol hunting in general you will need alot more practice. You need good form and you need to get use to the drop in pistol calibers. It is a totally different ball game than the flat shooting magnums. So practice and practice, and shoot at different ranges. Here in Arizona antelope tags come around rarely and pistols require more practice.
140367
There are no cheap-good firearms. For a reasonably priced, good quality rifle, look into a Savage Arms model 100 in \neither a 30-06, or .308 caliber. \n  I'll bet that every one of those people answering with some smart-Alec comment about you don't need to hunt or own a gun, eats meat. I wonder if they have any idea where it comes from?
217032
Here is what I found. Beware and do a thorough search before buying or selling. Mine have varied by $1,000. depending on who you talk too! Take them to atleast 3 different dealers. I found that books are a good start but do not relate the current market. Good Luck\nhttp://www.armchairgunshow.com/\nhttp://www.gunsandammomag.com/values/\nhttp://www.gunsnstuf.com/links/GunValues.html
598251
I have carried my Ruger P95 for ten years. Why would you want to carry something else? this is one of the most reliable guns made. I out shoot cops on their qualifying course with it. \nI don't know many people who can go to the range and shoot any ammo with NO problems. Dead reliable. \nI have shoot most handguns and like many, but I would never part with my Rugers. \nSometimes I carry my P85, but most of the time its my P95.
376754
well you could get a mini they shoot around 150. of course there are all pos's and will break immediately. for just screwing around in you're basement I'd recommend a tangfolio witness it cost about $18 and I've heard it's really good but i have no personal experience with it. if you want to go with a rifle/shotgun i recommend the UTG m87 theres full stocked, pistol grip, and one with a m4 stock. i would say go with spring powered unless you want to spend a lot of money cuzz any electric/gas gun you get for cheap is just gonna break. i know you just want to fuck around with something but don't throw away you're money. i started out with a mini from a flea market and i regret it it broke and is a pos. if you want to know any more about airsoft you can contact me at baconbits93@yahoo.com also a great website that i have learned a lot from is air softforum.com    http://www.airsoftforum.com/board/index.php well feel free to contact me and don't forget airsoft is a serious sport.
543566
when i was in the military i carried a m9 (beretta 92fs 9mm). some complianed that they didn't care for them for varies reasons. i didn't mind it though. if i could carry anything it would be a .45 (colt). really i think its all about preference (kick, weight, etc..) and utilization (what are you using it for). \nlike the pp said, i would do some research first. maybe take a trip to the range before making a final decision. good luck!
376424
I suggest a nicer spyder.  Something on the lines of an Electra or an Imagine.  The electra is a great lightweight gun that is perfect for aggressive front players.  with the right hopper it should be able to shoot at least 20 balls per second depending on your shooting skill.  It has the rocking trigger which is really helpful.  If you are really skilled you can get it to shoot 27, 28 balls per second.  I reccomend this gun highly since i have used it.  You can get it for like 250 dollars.  Great Gun
161297
I'm not impressed with the .223 round. No recoil, all-plastic can't beat a bad guy with it if you need to. When I'm firing my weapon I disassociate from my emotions, but my Peacemaker does have a little kick, had a Glock .40 kicked worse than my .45 so I sold it. My 1911 I can hit just about anything
548754
Bound's hubby here:\n\nDorothy and Toto were in the way ... something about no place like home ...\n\nThis answer is based on some research of the rules, not personal experience, but I am personally intrigued. Not knowing the actual course of fire or distances, for my first trip to these matches, I would take a Smith & Wesson Model 14 K-38 Masterpiece, with 6 inch barrel. The K-38 is a premier target revolver. It is very accurate with lead loads and holds a very good trigger. When I shoot PPC (practical police combat) I shoot a 98.5% average with it. The virtues of this revolver selection are: very good inherent accuracy, nice balance, hand-filling grips/stock, very good single action and double action trigger pull, and availability of factory target hammers and target triggers. \n\nIn all honesty, there is very little you need to do to a K-38 to make it competitive.\n\nIf I did not have a K-38 at hand, I would limit myself to K/L framed .38/.357 revolvers (larger bores increase recoil which increases between shot recovery time). Focus on a 6 inch barrel, but nothing smaller than 4 inch.\n\nWith respect to ammo lean toward 150/158 grain hard cast semi-wadcutters.\n\nYour first trip to this match should be as much as a shooter as it is sponge. Enjoy the match, do your best, and make mental notes of the guns and equipment other shooters are using. Since the IRC seems to want to level the playing field, I would suspect most of the matches revolve around stock guns and shooter skill, not the best enhancements a shooter can buy.\n\nGood luck.
472207
Bound's hubby here:\n\n"What is the best deer rifle" is a very personal and subjective question. For woods hunting (max distance of about 125 yards), a nice, fast, light carbine like a WInchester 94 would be ideal. For hunting in open country (perhaps up to 400-500 yards), a respectable, flat shooting bolt gun for increased distance would be ideal. Sadly, you did not offer what type of environment you would be hunting in. Where you would hunt would really dictate what you would use or want. \n\nYour price limitation of $200, in my opinion, puts you in the used gun market. You might be able to get a used Winchester 94 for $200, but I would not hold your breath! It might be wise to wait a season and save another $100 or so and get a newer rifle that would best meet your needs!\n\nGood luck!
43109
i have 2 ruger 10/22s a remington 597 and a marlin model60. I agree you can deck out the 10/22 to look pretty sweet but anything over 10 round mags fail often and jamb frequently, acurracy is also an issue, the 597 is a nice rifle for the money but remington hasnt improved the magazine flaws yet thusly the jamb also the marlin model 60 BY FAR the most popular 22 LR in the world...more of them sold than any other very accurate I have owned mine for over 12 years and not once has it failed