Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbatt!ucbvax!jade!jkh From: jkh@jade.UUCP Newsgroups: mod.rec.guns Subject: handgun advice solicited Message-ID: <2413@jade.BERKELEY.EDU> Date: Tue, 3-Feb-87 16:56:40 EST Article-I.D.: jade.2413 Posted: Tue Feb 3 16:56:40 1987 Date-Received: Thu, 5-Feb-87 03:33:11 EST Organization: U.C. Berkeley Lines: 66 Approved: jkh@ucbjade Author: sdcsvax!sdcc6.ucsd.edu!loral!jlh@ucbvax.berkeley.edu (The Mad Frobnicater) Article: 2:10 I'm thinking of buying a handgun and would like some advice from those of you that have some experience. My preferences are for a semi auto larger than a 22, 9mm is looking good right now. It should cost $300 to $400, although if I find something I like I can go higher. The barrel should be at least 4", I'd rather hit what I aim for than conceal it in a pocket. I prefer double actions that hold as many bullets in their magazines as possible, but neither of these is a major criterion. A little background info is in order. Right now I have a Ruger MKII 22, a friend of mine has a browning 22 semi and can sometimes borrow his brother's 38 revolver. We go out to the desert and stand cans up so far away we can barely see them, then start plinking. On a good day we can each hit those silly cans about a third of the time with our 22s. We do it like this because we're lazy, neither of us likes to go set the cans up again. We don't like paper targets because they don't do anything when hit. Obviously, neither of us is interested in competition shoot- ing, nor in going to a range where we can only shoot paper. I usually don't keep loaded guns around the house so home defense isn't an issue. Now for the serious questions. What is a 'good' caliber to get? I mentioned 9mm is my current preference but it's not set in concrete. What do I look for in a gun? How about brands? Taurus seems to make some cheap guns, are these only cheap in price or are they low quality? Ditto for Llama. When I was looking for my 22 lots of gun dealers told me Browning made a very nice gun, but what they showed me was out of my price range. What do you think of Brown- ing? Does anyone have any experience with the Glock 17? People keep talking about their Colts in this group, I gather you can get one for $500, then spend more money to make it more accurate later on. Is this true? For those of you in San Diego, what are you're experiences with local gun dealers? If I wanted a revolver I could buy a 357 and shoot 38s out of it. What would this save me, and would it make my accuracy with a 357 better or worse to practice with 38s? Before I buy anything I plan to buy a book or two and read up on what I'm doing, so whats a good book for a rank beginner? When we go out we shoot 1,000 to 1,500 22's in 2-3 hours. If we have the 38 we'll also take a box of 50 each. Naturally, we can't afford to do this with a larger caliber. What would it cost me to buy a reloader, and then materials to load my own bullets? Whats a good reloader if I go this route? Whew, lots of questions here. I plan to go out looking the weekend of 2/13, and if I buy it'll probably be in March. Maybe April if you figure in the 2 week waiting period. Any advice would be much appreciated. Jim Jim Harkins Loral Instrumentation, San Diego {ucbvax, ittvax!dcdwest, akgua, decvax, ihnp4}!sdcsvax!sdcc6!loral!jlh