Funds and what to get

[Eski]

Hey everyone, looking for a little advice from everyone.

I purchased my first gun (Glock19) about 3 months ago and well as you all know the landslide starts from there. The list of guns I would like to have has exploded but unfortunate the powerball did not work out for me this time. I have been CC for just over 1 month (after some training).

Now my dilemma, this is not a bad one, just don’t want buyer’s remorse. Thoughts on fund distribution, things on the immediate list: safe, ammo, AR, Shotgun, 22s). I have the funds for a safe and one new gun.

I purchased the Glock for self and family protection. I also really enjoy sporting clays but only get out perhaps one time per year (borrowed shotgun). I have also been enjoying target shoots with the Glock. I think I could really get into targets (distance and such). 22 are cheap ammo but I have been seduced buy an AR http://www.rockriverarms.com/index.c...ategory_id=463.

So I would like thoughts from others who have been in the early stages of gun ownership.
I am joining a local pistol club (any pistol and 22 rifle only). Would the purchase of a shotgun for dual purpose (home defense and clays) be a better progression option then going for the AR right now? And pick up a used shotgun (may be cheaper??). If I go for the AR I would be forced (but not too strongly) to join another club = more funds (current club only allows 22 rifles). Conversion kit here I come (more cash). But this is on top of getting more training. Uggg I think I may need a second job and more time during the day.

(I am leaning towards getting the AR, at $995 local store, seems like a good price and if in a few years I decide I really don’t like or other for it I can resell it for a few hundred loss or so?

Thanks

[bac0nfat]

Good choices on everything. My first gun was also a Glock 19 which has served me well for almost three years.

Getting a safe is absolutely critical in my opinion. It will keep your guns safe and out of the hands of criminals. It will also be a good place to keep important paperwork such as birth certificates, social security cards, copy of your LTCF, marriage certificate, passports, etc. Get a safe that has at least a 30 minute fire rating, and not one of those junky thin walled "locker" type cabinets. Make sure you get more room than you think you need. You will never fit as many guns in a safe as they say you will fit, unless you only own lever actions or SxS's with no scopes. Expect to fit less than half of what they advertise in capacity. Also, expect to buy way more guns than you think you are going to buy. I've only been collecting for 3 years and I already have at least 15 guns.

As far as shotgun vs. AR, I would go with a shotgun first for a few reasons.

1. It requires less training to operate than an AR15.

2. It is the most versatile gun you can buy. A 12 gauge can be used for home defense, sporting, and hunting anything from a rabbit to an elephant. With all the different loads available, you can do just about anything. Also, most shotguns allow for quick barrel changes, so you can swap out your 28" bird barrel to an 18" rifled slug barrel, and make 150-200 yard shots for deer.

3. It's cheaper.

4. A pump shotgun will typically be more more reliable and require less maintenance than an AR15. This is obviously subject to opinion, but I would have no problem trusting my life to a Remington 870. They have big, beefy parts, and a lower parts count. That means less stuff to break.

...and then get the AR.

[The_War_Wagon]

Wow... my head hurts after reading this. Let's break it down point by point, and see what we come up with.

I purchased my first gun (Glock19) about 3 months ago and well as you all know the landslide starts from there. The list of guns I would like to have has exploded but unfortunate the powerball did not work out for me this time. I have been CC for just over 1 month (after some training).

OK - so you gotta run whut ya' brung. A Glock 19 is a fine pistol - crunchy trigger, but if you can shoot that, you can shoot ANYTHING, because EVERY trigger in the world is BETTER than a Glock outta the box.

IF you're gonna carry, definitely work on getting some training. Snap caps is NOT training; work with someone who KNOWS what they're doing - plenty of training folk reside here under the "Training & Tactics" thread. Contact your nearest one to arrange such training

Now my dilemma, this is not a bad one, just don’t want buyer’s remorse. Thoughts on fund distribution, things on the immediate list: safe....

Why a safe? You have ONE pistol so far. A Stack-On gun cabinet MAYBE, but do you have small children under the roof? Anybody ELSE'S kids stop in often? Other than keeping them in cases, pistol rugs, etc., and perhaps locked in a closet, I never contemplated a safe until I had 4 kids of my own, all walking and getting into stuff. A safe for one, or even two guns, with no one else in the house, is a bit of overkill. If your home situation is DIFFERENT, then that would change my recommendation.

Now my dilemma, this is not a bad one, just don’t want buyer’s remorse. Thoughts on fund distribution, things on the immediate list: ...ammo...

Always a good investment.

Now my dilemma, this is not a bad one, just don’t want buyer’s remorse. Thoughts on fund distribution, things on the immediate list: ... AR...

Because of some other factors (namely, your range), I'll address this later.

Now my dilemma, this is not a bad one, just don’t want buyer’s remorse. Thoughts on fund distribution, things on the immediate list: ...Shotgun...

Shotguns are probably the LEAST of worries for most home defense scenarios these days. Let's table this one for a MUCH later date.

Now my dilemma, this is not a bad one, just don’t want buyer’s remorse. Thoughts on fund distribution, things on the immediate list: ...22s...

Not a bad investment either, but since you don't CURRENTLY own a .22, I'm not gonna recommend you get one at this point, either - range rules notwithstanding.

I purchased the Glock for self and family protection.

So you DO have a family? Elaborate, please. Also as to your home layout (house, apartment, condo, urban, suburban, rural, brick, wood, geodesic dome, etc.)

I also really enjoy sporting clays but only get out perhaps one time per year (borrowed shotgun).

NO need for a shotgun then.

I have also been enjoying target shoots with the Glock. I think I could really get into targets (distance and such). 22 are cheap ammo but I have been seduced buy an AR http://www.rockriverarms.com/index.c...ategory_id=463.

Craptacular. Get a BCM (for the same price) or a Colt (for a few bucks more), and get a rifle that IS good to go out of the box. You'll spend TWICE as much prepping a RRA to be as GOOD as a Colt or BCM - buy RIGHT the first time, and put the money you SAVE into ammo, training, and optic.

So I would like thoughts from others who have been in the early stages of gun ownership.

I blew a LOTTA money on a LOTTA crap as a new gun owner - money is tighter nowadays, and you really don't want to repeat other people's mistakes, just to prove their advice RIGHT.

I am joining a local pistol club (any pistol and 22 rifle only).

Why? Sounds like a crappy arrangement. Join a club that allows .30 rifles on it at a minimum (preferably with a 200 yard range or better). 'Close proximity' does NOT equal 'good' deal.

Would the purchase of a shotgun for dual purpose (home defense and clays) be a better progression option then going for the AR right now?

No.

And pick up a used shotgun (may be cheaper??).

No.

If I go for the AR I would be forced (but not too strongly) to join another club = more funds (current club only allows 22 rifles).

GOOD thinking - join a DIFFERENT club!

Conversion kit here I come (more cash).

WASTE of money at this point. IF you buy an AR, learn to shoot, handle, clean, disassemble, & re-assemble the real deal FIRST. ONCE you do so, if you REALY want to go that route, you'll realize a dedicated upper is a better way to go - a dedicated .22 AR even better. But that's for waaayy down the road at this point.

But this is on top of getting more training.

YES. Training for every type of firearm you own (pistol, rifle, shotgun)

Uggg I think I may need a second job and more time during the day.

If you're serious, you'll discover sleep, food, clothing, family life, significant other, spare money, & free time are HIGHLY over-rated...

(I am leaning towards getting the AR, at $995 local store, seems like a good price and if in a few years I decide I really don’t like or other for it I can resell it for a few hundred loss or so?

Planning for FAIL is ALWAYS a bad step. Plan to WIN! http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-B...-M16-s/140.htm

Buy RIGHT - buy ONCE - and even if you decide to go Noveske or Knight's Armament in the future, the BCM resale value will be MUCH higher than an RRA!

[Chazman321]

On the opposite side of War Wagon, I'm going to suggest the shotgun. A good semi-auto shotgun will let you shoot anything you want rather cheaply, and the semi-automatic action will take a lot of bite out of the felt recoil... A 20 gauge semi is easy on the shoulder, a 12 gauge isn't much more. Pellets are pellets from a shotgun. If you put a .410 next to a 10 gauge shooting 6 shot, if both are throwing the shot a 1250 FPS, they're both going to penetrate the same in an animal. The only difference is the 10 gauge has more recoil and more pellets that need pushed!

A shotgun is cheap shooting. 100 rounds costs 20 some bucks. Cheap Tula .223 is around 5 bucks a box of 20, if you can even find it locally. While a rifle has more reach out and touch somebody, a shotgun is more suited for home defense... Anyone with a neighbor within a half a mile of their house should leave the AR alone. While a shotgun will penetrate a wall as well, the pellets lose velocity quickly and are safer than even a handgun...

The Mossberg 930 is a great fit. It's self regulating, so nothing to change if you want to shoot 3" mags or 2 3/4" skeet loads, no gas seal ring to wear out and brick the gun... It can hold a bunch of rounds for home defense or skeet/sporting clays. And as I said before, it's cheaper ammo... lol


-Chaz

[ErSwnn]

Wow, that's a lot of questions. As you have seen and will see some more, most of the questions are deeply subjective to the answerers view of things. Your going to be as or more confused by the end of this thread in a few days.

So I'll answer from my own perspective.

Join a club with more options. If your already considering long guns a place to use them isn't far off. Why get a handjob when a full on blowjob is just down the road?

Get something, perferably one each in a .22 pistol and/or rifle. A .22 is enivitable and for good reason. Cheap and easy.

Shotguns, why not? One for the occasional clay day....which might become addictive and become a weekly event and one for HD if a shotgun seems to be what your comfortable with for such purposes. Like .22's, often a shotgun is in the cards. Lots of used ones on the market.

I also would consider the purchase of a safe. There is more to lock up than just firearms. Wives and girlfriends come and go but a good porn collection lasts a lifetime. You have options from school gym locker to vault like monstrocities. The more you spend the better they get. A reasonable one should have an hour's worth of fire protection. Lowe's has one for about $400 but if you search craigslist/ebay/whathaveyou there are some deals. A Stack-On can be defeated in minutes but serves well if your main concern is keep little fingerprints off your good toys. If your present home is where you plan to die of old age, go heavy. Otherwise consider what exactly it is your going to have to move one day. By design a vault like safe is extremely heavy.

I wish you the best of things in determining your direction on all of this.

[RobW]

Warning - I'm not a collector. I don't own any firearms just 'because'.

I would advise you to keep your powder dry - don't buy ANYTHING new until you have a reason - a specific and articulable (heh) reason.

Examples:
I enjoy my occasional sporting clays shoot, want to shoot more, and won't be able to borrow all the time - GOOD reason to buy.

That AR is cool looking - BAD BAD BAD reason to buy. Where do you think all of the "customized" rifles for sale in the classifieds come from ;-> Mostly, from people buying what looks cool and seems like a good idea until they realize a year later that they never actually shoot the damn thing.

Caveat - if you want to start a 'collection' buy only actual collectibles.

[Helter]

Hey, welcome to the club!

There's an IDPA match tonight at Double Action range, in Yeadon (I think), you should come by. It costs $15, and is way more fun than shooting at a standard range.

As for AR vs shotgun, get whichever you'll enjoy more. A shotgun for home defense really isn't as good an idea as people say. They're very awkward to walk around corners with, have limited capacity, and are very easy for an assailant to grab at close range. Use the G19 for home defense.

Around here (delco), you'll probably find more use in the shotgun. If you're willing to drive a bit, you'll find good ranges for the AR too though.

Whichever you decide on, you can save a bit of money buying them used. I got my AR for about $650 I think, and it's worked great for me.

[Eski]

thanks for the thoughts and Ideas everyone it is all very helpful.

[Ivan]

Buy the shotgun. A Remington 870 might be a good choice,reliable,barrels easy to change. Get a 26" or better for "sporty" use,an 18-20" for home/riot use.
At close range the 12ga loaded with buckshot is the fight stopper.
Buy ammo ! Shop around for the good deal,then stock up.It is not going to get any cheaper and will last a very long time if stored properly.Do not buy the cheap stuff,spend a little more $$ for quality ammo.


Training ! Find a good course or instructor. Keep an open mind. Learn Safe Gun Handling.

Buy the safe/locker/secure storage. Hiding can work OK if you are clever. If young kids or adult idiots are in household,you need to lock them up.

Buy a .22. Inexpensive pistols are out there. .22 rifles can be purchased for under $100 if you shop around.

Good luck and welcome to gun ownership.

[legendarylorot]

ARs are expensive to buy, and mid-range to feed. They're fun for throwing lead downrange and feeling cool, and they're useful for a very, very small range of real-life scenarios you'rel likely to find yourself in.

.22s are cheap to buy, and cheap to feed. They're fun for throwing lead downrange. They're also only useful in a very, very small range of real-life scenarios. however, they're useful training aids, as you can learn on them without worrying about recoil. I find this trait to be overplayed.

Shotguns are mid-range to buy, and cheap to feed. They're fun for shooting clay pigeons which are actually fairly decent training aids for moving targets- stationary paper can only do so much. You can also hunt with them. However, shooting clays is much easier with more than one person, so if you're by yourself, you're out of luck. You can have some fun customizing these if you get the right ones, but I'd suggest saving the cash on that for adding another gun.

Bolt-action rifles have a wide range of cost to buy and feed. They're fun for throwing lead downrange, and can also be used for hunting. These will have the largest "reach out and touch something" ability. While penetration is a problem for home defense, particularly if you don't own a fair amount of land, this makes them ideal for if you do own some property. There is a good deal of thought that bolt-action rifles help with the 'one shot' mentality that we cherish here, although that could be garnered with any category of firearm.

I own a varied collection of firearms, including everything on this list (semi-auto shotguns only, sadly), and out of all the different types my favorite is my Mosin Nagant 91/30 (bolt action). Best $100 I've spent on firearms. It's just about the cheapest option you'll get, and ammo is dirt cheap too. Sure, it kicks like a bear, but it'll put a round through the skull of one without hesitation and I can guarantee you'll learn proper shouldering technique in a hurry. You won't bruise after the first few outings.

But in regards to the specific ones you've mentioned... I love my AR too, but I'm always worrying about depleting my ammo store. Don't have to worry about that with my .22 rifle, though. I'll gladly take that to the range and throw 500 rounds or so through a bullseye without sweating the cost. Definitely good for basics, and it's fun to mag-dump once in a while without saying "there goes a few hours at work". Personally, I'd skip the shotgun at present, since you don't have much use for it; since you have precious little opportunity to accustom yourself to it, you'll be better off using your handgun for home defense. Use what you're most proficient with when your life depends on it.