also, i haven't heard anything bad about the firestorm .380. i'm down with fixed barrel guns.

extra magazines are kinda expensive at $45+ each.

there is a lifetime warranty, but only to the orig. buyer.

http://www.alpharubicon.com/leo/fieldsbersa.htm

how to field strip a firestorm.

[Edited on October 11, 2008 at 7:37 PM. Reason : ej]

10/11/2008 7:36:25 PM

I was planning on waiting til Thanksgiving break to purchase a handgun, but I just realized that all the online websites have jacked up their prices since Obama got elected. I don't intend to make this a political discussion, but it is rather odd to have happened so quick. I now have to pay an additional $30 just since Monday.

11/9/2008 1:42:19 PM

That's probably just a knee-jerk. I would guess things will go back to normal in a couple of months.

11/9/2008 5:11:57 PM

What are some good ranges in Durham? Places to buy handguns and rifles? Do I still have to take a firearms safety course or can that be waived considering I'm in the military?

11/9/2008 6:36:59 PM

^No safety course required, though if you don't have a basic familiarity with firearms, most ranges will do it for you.

Only place I know of in Durham is the Durham Pistol and Rifle Club
http://www.dprc.org/
Check 'em out and see if it's what you're looking for.

11/10/2008 9:14:10 AM

^ mebane/haw river area.

so close to burlington, you can touch it.

11/11/2008 1:26:06 AM

are there any good indoor ranges in raleigh?

11/11/2008 1:33:17 AM

PDHSC (Personal Defense & Handgun Safety Center) & Eagle One.

11/11/2008 7:28:50 AM

how is eagle one? anyone been there?

man i really wish there was an indoor range open late

[Edited on November 11, 2008 at 7:48 AM. Reason : .]

11/11/2008 7:47:53 AM

it's fine. it's on par with PDHSC. i get great service when i'm there. they know me by name.

i also want a late night range.

11/11/2008 12:10:00 PM

by the time i get home from work, and eat something, there is hardly anytime left to go shoot

11/11/2008 6:34:05 PM

what's the policy on concealed if you're walking around NCSU? has this question already been asked?

11/11/2008 8:00:12 PM

http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/ext_engagement/cent_campus/REG06.05.1.php

http://www.ncleg.net/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_14/GS_14-269.2.html

Fun fact: You won't be charged for a Class 1 felony if you have your weapon in your vehicle, unloaded and locked up; it's only a misdemeanor!

[Edited on November 11, 2008 at 8:29 PM. Reason : .]

11/11/2008 8:20:32 PM

Quote :

"what's the policy on concealed if you're walking around NCSU? has this question already been asked?"

Just don't go on campus property.

11/11/2008 8:29:42 PM

thx for the info, won't mess with that!

11/11/2008 8:32:04 PM

Quote :

"3. Regulation of Firearms for Centennial Campus Private Housing Owners and tenants of private residences on Centennial Campus may possess firearms in their own residences, subject to the following restrictions: 3.1. All firearms must be registered with Campus Police before they can be brought on university property, including Centennial Campus residential buildings. Registration involves providing the name of the firearm owner; the name of the person possessing it on Centennial Campus if different from the owner; the physical address, telephone number(s), mailing address, and the email address (if one exists) of the person possessing it on Centennial Campus; and the manufacturer name, model, and serial number of each firearm. 3.2. Firearms may not be carried on university property for any purpose except transportation to and from the Centennial Campus private residence in which they are kept. The firearms must be safely stowed during transportation and must be unloaded (no ammunition in the firearm) while being transported on university property. 3.3. Firearms in a private residence on Centennial Campus must be stored so that they are inaccessible to unsupervised minors and they cannot be discharged by an unsupervised minor. The limited right to possess firearms in Centennial Campus housing does not extend to persons living in University residence halls or any housing provided to students contingent on their status as students. "

lol campus 5-0

11/11/2008 8:39:36 PM

nice, so if you got a condo in Centennial you have an implicit right to pack heat with a concealed because in the rare event the 5-0 catches you with it, you can just say, "Oh I was just bringing this home from the target range and was taking a shortcut through _____."

Then again, what if you signed for one of those overpriced places and then forgot the second amendment hassle that entails

11/11/2008 8:51:15 PM

jail or not. if a nigro busts through my door and i have a gun handy. ill goto court about it.

11/11/2008 11:43:17 PM

Quote :

"haw river area. "

damn dude you live where i lived most of my life...although haw river sucks

11/11/2008 11:45:28 PM

If you are thinking of a Bersa .380, consider instead a cz-82...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CZ-82

They cost around 200-250 and carry 12 rounds of 9x18, which is marginally more powerful and cheaper than .380. Theres also no 'soccer mom safeties' like mag disconnect or locks or what have you. Its selective DA so you can carry cocked and locked or hammer down... ambi safety and mag release too.

11/12/2008 10:12:04 PM

Quote :

"jail or not. if a nigro busts through my door and i have a gun handy. ill goto court about it."

our firearms trainer at work had a saying that supports your view

"better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6"

11/12/2008 11:00:22 PM

I own one of those "over priced homes" on Centennial Campus. First off, they were a great investment. The average appreaciation was about 20-35% in just three years. Second, I have been pulled over more than a handful of times with several firearms in the car. It always makes for a fun day.

My brother and I were the reason that campus 5-0 came up with those shitty rules. Nothing is more fun than getting pulled over by a newbie cop and telling him you have a right to carry on campus...having him search your car and turning up several handguns and an AK.

11/12/2008 11:19:41 PM

Oh how I miss the Northern Shores of Lake Raleigh

11/12/2008 11:39:06 PM

Quote :

""better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6""

Ice Cube has said the same thing.

I'm thinking of buying a Mossberg 500 series shotgun and a Beretta or Glock with my tax refund this year.

11/12/2008 11:50:35 PM

im not going to read 6 pages of this thread and just say that what im sure has already been said, cause thats how i roll


gun you mentioned...no


research and read a bunch of shit between 9mm and .45 people and decide which side youre on.

save your money for a little while longer and buy a gun in the 500 range and call it a day.

[Edited on November 12, 2008 at 11:55 PM. Reason : .]

11/12/2008 11:54:54 PM

I'm picking up my first gun and was wondering what everyone else did for their cleaning rituals

I've got some breakfree (spray can), cotton patches, and a barrel brush. I've also heard that a cheap toothbrush or even pipecleaners can be good for getting into tight places

do you normally clean a brand new gun before you shoot it, or only after you've taken it to the range the first time?

11/16/2008 3:29:59 PM

I suggest reading the owners manual before doing anything. Different guns require different methods of maintenance.

Normally I'd recommend cleaning and properly lubricating the weapon before firing it the first time unless the manual says otherwise.

11/16/2008 3:32:11 PM

I'll occasionally clean a new gun before shooting it but usually I don't. I do usually do at least a field strip to check everything out and make sure everything is well lubricated on most of them.

11/16/2008 7:17:37 PM

It's a good idea to clean and lube everything first because often guns will come from the factory with a light coat of grease on the internals to protect them from moisture. Unfortunately, it doesn't do such a great job of lubricating, so it's best to strip it off and properly coat all the working parts with a good CLP like break-free.

11/18/2008 12:23:04 PM

If i buy at a the local gun shop (which I have always done except for one handgun), I always ask the gunsmith to take a look at everything, and then I walk over to thier firing range with it before I leave the store.

Gives me a chance to put some rounds through it, make any adjustments, and have the gunsmith nearby in case something doesnt feel right.

We have a really exceptional gun shop here locally that always goes above and beyond (not to mention has a really nice facility).

They even give you $50 off any gun purchase if you come donate blood on one of thier blood drive days.

11/18/2008 12:26:23 PM

what should i be expecting to pay for a new glock 19, compact, night sights

go!

11/18/2008 1:00:06 PM

anybody done the INTERACTIVE COMBAT RANGE at PDHSC?

11/18/2008 2:48:18 PM

so I should have just added to this thread. silly me.


except I don't understand what anyone is talking about...

[Edited on November 18, 2008 at 5:14 PM. Reason : .]

11/18/2008 5:12:33 PM

well you should start by asking your question. also, go back through the first couple of pages and skim.

11/18/2008 5:20:02 PM

I skimmed- just sounds too complicated. I want to know what handguns people recommend. I want something small that can fit in my nightstand. I already know about going to the sheriff's office for the permit- but my sheriff just pleaded guilty to solicitation so I have to wait a few days to go to the office. I want to look into the concealed permit, but for now I just need ideas.

11/18/2008 5:23:04 PM

i have a bersa thunder in .380, but i don't keep it in my nightstand (not a good idea). it fits well in my hand (female, 5'5") and i <3 it. you can get a used one for little more than $200.



[Edited on November 18, 2008 at 5:29 PM. Reason : ]

11/18/2008 5:25:50 PM

sounds good... a girl I know suggested the kind she has but I forgot. It was a 3 something. haha. this is how little I know about guns.

From what I gather, there are revolvers and pistols, right?

[Edited on November 18, 2008 at 5:29 PM. Reason : .]

11/18/2008 5:29:43 PM

revolvers and semi-automatics. there are differences as far as single actions vs double action. please read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pistol#Operating_mechanisms for an explanation.

i'll get Fumbler to look at this when he gets off work.

11/18/2008 5:34:03 PM

thanks

11/18/2008 5:38:28 PM

I bought a 23C today.
Now to pick up the G33 .357 sig barrel, and the LW 40-9 conversion, and the AA .22 conversion.
Oh, and a whole bunch of ammo.

11/18/2008 6:09:37 PM

Step one is to go to a gun store and hold different guns. How it feels in your hand is important. If it isn't comfortable, if you can't get a good grip on it, then you won't shoot it well. Avoid the typical female inclination to think small = cute or small = less intimidating. All other things being equal, as a matter of simple physics, the smaller the gun, the more it will generally kick.

Other things you want to look for are simplicity of use. The simpler it is to use, the easier it will be to shoot if you find yourself under the kind of stress that a home invasion would induce.


Beyond that, I wouldn't think you'd want TOO much advice before first going to the store and seeing what you liked comfort wise. After that, the store employees and people in this thread can offer pros and cons for specific guns you like, so write down that information when you go to the store. I wouldn't advise buying the first gun you think you like the first time you go shopping.

11/18/2008 6:13:01 PM

keep it simple- go glock or revolver if you arent familiar with guns.


i

11/18/2008 6:17:20 PM

I thought about giving that advice, but you could just as easily say S&W M&P, Springfield XD, Sig Sauer (DAO or DA / SA), Wilson Combat ADP, Kahr, Ruger, etc, all of which are reliable and simple.

11/18/2008 6:23:04 PM

do you have any friends that shoot? just ask one of them to take you, or im sure many people here would be willing to go with you too. just find one that feels comfortable to you. i've decided that i prefer that s&w m&p, but my preferences could be a lot different than yours.

11/18/2008 6:45:04 PM

I don't live in Raleigh anymore, but I may come back to do some gun shopping. I'll update this thread to see if anyone will go with me closer to then.

Thanks for the advice!!

[Edited on November 18, 2008 at 9:30 PM. Reason : ,]

11/18/2008 9:30:38 PM

Quote :

"i have a bersa thunder in .380, but i don't keep it in my nightstand (not a good idea). it fits well in my hand (female, 5'5") and i <3 it. you can get a used one for little more than $200. "

I carry this same gun as my concealed/daily carry weapon.

11/18/2008 9:33:49 PM

What's been said so far is good advice.

I guess my order of operations would be:
1___Figure out exactly what you want the gun for
2a__Get someone knowledgeable to explain the different types of guns and different safety options in person. Also get them to esplain the basic operations and pros/cons of different designs.
2b__If you can't get someone knowledgeable then enroll in a basic handgun safety/use class
3___Make a short list of guns you might consider given #1 and any concerns from #2. We could help you with that
4___Go to the range and rent the guns of interest
5___Pick whichever you like that fits your budget
6___Get a safe. You don't want to come home to find an intruder pointing your own gun at you. A bedside table will be the first place they look.
7___Shoot the piss out of it for practice and pleasure.
8___Get someone to show you how to clean it. Some classes teach that.

11/18/2008 10:57:56 PM

Anyone with experience with the Taurus PT 24/7? Handgun sales have shot through the roof (No PUN intended), and this is a gun that I have come across.

11/18/2008 11:13:55 PM

Quote :

"I want something small that can fit in my nightstand. "

If you never intend to carry it anywhere, and just want it for home protection, you don't want a handgun to begin with. You want a 12 gauge shotgun.


I agree with the advice from jcashfan and fumbler in terms of handguns, though...and yeah, if you do intend to take it places besides home, but not necessarily conceal carry it, a larger handgun is better. Easier to shoot, definitely more pleasant to shoot (a subcompact, even in a small caliber like .380, can be a little unpleasant to shoot. They are a compromise in every way, made to be easily concealed). Larger pistols also often hold more ammo.

11/19/2008 6:33:20 AM

Quote :

"if you do intend to take it places besides home, but not necessarily conceal carry it, a larger handgun is better. Easier to shoot, definitely more pleasant to shoot (a subcompact, even in a small caliber like .380, can be a little unpleasant to shoot."

Definately true.
se7entythree can handle her 380 well, but still says my compact 9mm is more comfortable to shoot.
One reason is it's heavier and soaks up recoil better. The other reason is the 380 is a fixed barrel direct blowback where all the energy is transfered backwards. In my 9mm and most semiautos there's a delayed locking mechanism that helps dissipate some energy.

11/19/2008 10:59:03 AM