I one has never owned, never really handled, or really fired a gun...

[gfanikf]

...what is the "bible" for understanding how guns work, should be handled, cleaned, etc? Even if there isn't a great general catch all, what are some good reading rec's in the subject matter.

Also what are good courses to possibly take to understand the fundamentals? As said elsewhere on hands training should always go hand in hand with reading.

Thanks in advance!

[Signmaker]

...what is the "bible" for understanding how guns work, should be handled, cleaned, etc?

PAFOA
10 chars

[ReconLdr]

...what is the "bible" for understanding how guns work, should be handled, cleaned, etc? Even if there isn't a great general catch all, what are some good reading rec's in the subject matter.

Also what are good courses to possibly take to understand the fundamentals? As said elsewhere on hands training should always go hand in hand with reading.

Thanks in advance!

A good place to start would be the operators manual. If you need further guidance, just ask us.

[Curmudgeon]

Check out the "Training Courses" sub-forum... http://forum.pafoa.org/training-courses-122/

Lot's of entry-level courses available.

[gfanikf]

A good place to start would be the operators manual. If you need further guidance, just ask us.

Well I'm talking about even before picking one to get, is there anything worth reading?

Related to that do a lot of companies post PDFs of their manuals online?

Check out the "Training Courses" sub-forum... http://forum.pafoa.org/training-courses-122/

Lot's of entry-level courses available.

Thanks!

[mingomom]

Well I'm talking about even before picking one to get, is there anything worth reading?

Related to that do a lot of companies post PDFs of their manuals online?

Thanks!

I own a S&W M&P 9mm compact; I can find my gun's manual at the S&W site here http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/w...4_757812_image

I'm sure if you do a search for a gun, go to the manufacturer's website, you'll be able to find lots of information about that particular model.

[capitolcop]

Manuals:

http://www.stevespages.com/page7b.htm

[Metz]

...what is the "bible" for understanding how guns work, should be handled, cleaned, etc?

Kudos for asking those questions BEFORE getting yourself a gun!

About courses - I teach NRA First Steps and NRA Basic (rifle and pistol) at Wicen's Learning Center in Jamison. It's not far from you at all. You are welcome to come, check out the range and facility, check what kind of classes we offer and we'll discuss the degree of education, that you might want to obtain.

PM me if you are interested.

[LorDiego01]

Just the four main safety rules.

And knowing which one is the trigger, and which one is the business end of it.

[Delcozrt]

Look into safety classes in your area and like others said manuals are great.

Also.......





"In the beginning was the 1911, and the 1911 was the
pistol, and it was good. And behold the Lord said,
thou shalt not muck with my disciple John's design for
it is good and it worketh. For John made the 1911, and
lo all of his weapons, from the designs which I, the
Lord, gave him upon the mountain.

And shouldst thou muck with it and hang all manner of
foul implements upon it, and profane its internal
parts, thou shalt surely fail and have malfunctions,
and in the midst of battle thou shalt surely come to
harm.

And as the ages passed, men in their ignorance and
arrogance didst forget the word of the Lord and began
to profane the 1911. The tribe of the gamesman did
place recoil spring guides and extended slide releases
upon the 1911, and their metalsmiths didst tighten the
tolerances and alter parts to their liking, their
clarity of mind being clouded by lust.

The artisans did hang all manner of foul implements
upon the 1911 and did so alter it that it became
impractical to purchase. For lo, the artisans did
charge a great tax upon the purchasers of the 1911 so
that the lowly field worker could not afford one. And
the profaning of the internal parts didst render it
unworkable when the dust of the land fell upon it. And
lo, they did install adjustable sights, which are an
abomination unto the Lord, for they doth break and
lose their zero when thou dost need true aim. And
those who have done so will be slain in great numbers
by their enemies in the great battle.

And it came to pass that the Lord didst see the
abomination wrought by man and didst cause, as He had
warned, fearful malfunction to come upon the
abominations and upon the artisans who thought they
could do no wrong.

Seeing the malfunctions and the confusion of men the
Lord of the underworld did see an opportunity to
further ensnare man and didst bring forth pistols made
of plastic, whose form was such that they looked and
felt like a brick, yet the eyes of man being clouded,
they were consumed by the plastic pistol and did buy
vast quantities of them.

And being a deceitful spirit the Devil did make these
plastic pistols unamenable to the artisans of earth
and they were unable to muck much with the design, and
lo these pistols did function.

And the evil one also brought forth pistols in which
the trigger didst both cock and fire them, and which
require a 'Dingus' to make them appear safe.

But man being stupid did not understand these new
pistols and did proceed to shoot themselves with the
plastic pistol, and with the trigger cocking pistols,
for lo, their manual of arms required great
intelligence which man had long since forsaken.

Yet man did not repent of his evil ways, but continued
to gloat over these new pistols blaming Satan for the
negligent discharges which they themselves had
committed.

And when man had been totally ensnared with the
plastic pistol the Devil didst cause a plague of the
terrible Ka-BOOM to descend upon man and the plastic
pistols delivered their retribution upon men. And
there was great wailing and gnashing of teeth in the
land.

Then seeing that the eyes of man were slowly being
opened and that man was truly sorrowful for his sinful
misdeeds, the Lord did send his messengers in the form
of artisans who did hear and obey the teachings of the
Prophet and who didst restore the profaned 1911's to
their proper configuration, and lo, to the amazement
of men they didst begin to work as the Prophet
intended."

Amen