TexasCHLforum.com

Hi, I'm Trig and live in Haslet, Tx. I turn 21 on the 7th of July, and I plan to look for a handgun next month, and quite possibly take the CHL class and apply soon after. I've been looking for good guns, and I so far have looked into the, Sig Mosquito, Walther P22, and one of the ones I'm actually most interested in, is the Kel-Tec PF-9.

I'm interesting in target shooting, and just a good plinking gun, as well as something that can double as protection. I ride a motorcycle everyday which is why I like the PF-9 the most so far.

I just wanted to say hi though, but if anyone else has any suggestions, let me know.

Thanks.

Contact Crossfire, one of the moderators on this board, and who can help you with your decision-making.

Oh, also, whats the recommended gun safety class in the DFW area? I was just gonna go up the street to Cabela's, but if there is something better, I'll do that.

Congratulations on (nearly) achieving full-fledged adulthood.

Please go here: http://www.crossfire-training.com/conte ... stol-class

- Jim

trig wrote:Hi, I'm Trig and live in Haslet, Tx. I turn 21 on the 7th of July, and I plan to look for a handgun next month, and quite possibly take the CHL class and apply soon after. I've been looking for good guns, and I so far have looked into the, Sig Mosquito, Walther P22, and one of the ones I'm actually most interested in, is the Kel-Tec PF-9.

I'm interesting in target shooting, and just a good plinking gun, as well as something that can double as protection. I ride a motorcycle everyday which is why I like the PF-9 the most so far

I just wanted to say hi though, but if anyone else has any suggestions, let me know.

Hi, and welcome.

Start by prioritizing your needs (especially if can or will only buy one firearm): target shooting, plinking, protection

What order are they FOR YOU? (For me it would be protection but no one else's answers are automatically yours).

Also as you do that, detail for yourself what target shooting; there are many different kinds. Bullseye, metallic sillouette, ISSF (Olympic), CISM, all the way to the Practical Shooting sports like IDPA and USPSA (IPSC) which immitate defensive shooting scenarios.

For protection we presume you mean (primarily) for carry since you are planning to obtain your CHL and that will be heavily influenced by your lifestyle, where you will carry and how you will be dressed especially.

Of course budget matters too. "Cheap" guns (there is really no such thing) go for about $200 to $500 rapidly. But by the time you get to the upper end of the range then they are generally of high quality and sturdy. Of course you can spend a lot more (fast.)

Remember, like owning a dog, the cost of owning a firearm (responsibly) only starts with the purchase; so add on ammo, (quality) holster, extra magazines or speed loaders (for a revolver), range fees and/or membership, extra gas to get there , classes, add-ons (lights, after market sights, etc) and of course your CHL class and license.

Please don't get discouraged if cost is an issue but do go into this with your eyes wide open and a plan for obtaining and affording whatever YOU need to be competent, comfortable, and safe.

One good way to start is to shoot some guns as rentals (or borrowed from friends who will frequently enjoy having the company at the range.) Try to shoot what you expect to buy. It might cost a few dollars more for rentals but it beats buying something really awful.

Oh, and whatever you buy -- you will almost certainly replace it, or supplement it before too long. Almost everyone does this. The good news is that if you don't overpay then practically all firearms hold their value or even increase if cared for properly -- and that is easy to do.

Enjoy. Stay safe.

trig wrote:Oh, also, whats the recommended gun safety class in the DFW area? I was just gonna go up the street to Cabela's, but if there is something better, I'll do that.

Crossfire can help you with that too... and you'll be surprised at how convenient it is to where you live.

HerbM wrote:

trig wrote:Hi, I'm Trig and live in Haslet, Tx. I turn 21 on the 7th of July, and I plan to look for a handgun next month, and quite possibly take the CHL class and apply soon after. I've been looking for good guns, and I so far have looked into the, Sig Mosquito, Walther P22, and one of the ones I'm actually most interested in, is the Kel-Tec PF-9.

I'm interesting in target shooting, and just a good plinking gun, as well as something that can double as protection. I ride a motorcycle everyday which is why I like the PF-9 the most so far

I just wanted to say hi though, but if anyone else has any suggestions, let me know.

Hi, and welcome.

Start by prioritizing your needs (especially if can or will only buy one firearm): target shooting, plinking, protection

What order are they FOR YOU? (For me it would be protection but no one else's answers are automatically yours).

Also as you do that, detail for yourself what target shooting; there are many different kinds. Bullseye, metallic sillouette, ISSF (Olympic), CISM, all the way to the Practical Shooting sports like IDPA and USPSA (IPSC) which immitate defensive shooting scenarios.

For protection we presume you mean (primarily) for carry since you are planning to obtain your CHL and that will be heavily influenced by your lifestyle, where you will carry and how you will be dressed especially.

Of course budget matters too. "Cheap" guns (there is really no such thing) go for about $200 to $500 rapidly. But by the time you get to the upper end of the range then they are generally of high quality and sturdy. Of course you can spend a lot more (fast.)

Remember, like owning a dog, the cost of owning a firearm (responsibly) only starts with the purchase; so add on ammo, (quality) holster, extra magazines or speed loaders (for a revolver), range fees and/or membership, extra gas to get there , classes, add-ons (lights, after market sights, etc) and of course your CHL class and license.

Please don't get discouraged if cost is an issue but do go into this with your eyes wide open and a plan for obtaining and affording whatever YOU need to be competent, comfortable, and safe.

One good way to start is to shoot some guns as rentals (or borrowed from friends who will frequently enjoy having the company at the range.) Try to shoot what you expect to buy. It might cost a few dollars more for rentals but it beats buying something really awful.

Oh, and whatever you buy -- you will almost certainly replace it, or supplement it before too long. Almost everyone does this. The good news is that if you don't overpay then practically all firearms hold their value or even increase if cared for properly -- and that is easy to do.

Enjoy. Stay safe.

Money is not really an issue, but I kind of want to avoid buying a $700+ first gun to not enjoy carrying it or something. I would rather buy something in the $300 dollar range and use it too practice with and see what I want out of a carry gun.

I also understand the cost adding up. I spend way too much on shotgun ammo and skeet out at Alpine, as well as have two huge dogs, and the motorcycle I mentioned isn't exactly cheap to keep up either. I doubt the gun will need $250 in tires every 2-3 months, lol.


My clothes are whatever I want, so I figured I may have to adjust things to make it work, but that's fine. I wear what I want at work, but I can't carry there anyways, so it wouldn't really matter.

Protection is #1 to me, but I do want a gun that can do some target practice ever weekend or so without being a major pain. I would love to do some of the real scenario shooting stuff, but I think I'll wait till I get a couple rounds out at the range first.

The Annoyed Man wrote:

trig wrote:Oh, also, whats the recommended gun safety class in the DFW area? I was just gonna go up the street to Cabela's, but if there is something better, I'll do that.

Crossfire can help you with that too... and you'll be surprised at how convenient it is to where you live.

Yea I just put 2 and 2 together and figured out who/what Crossfire was. Roanoke is like 10 minutes away.

[/quote]

Money is not really an issue, but I kind of want to avoid buying a $700+ first gun to not enjoy carrying it or something. I would rather buy something in the $300 dollar range and use it too practice with and see what I want out of a carry gun.

I also understand the cost adding up. I spend way too much on shotgun ammo and skeet out at Alpine, as well as have two huge dogs, and the motorcycle I mentioned isn't exactly cheap to keep up either. I doubt the gun will need $250 in tires every 2-3 months, lol.


My clothes are whatever I want, so I figured I may have to adjust things to make it work, but that's fine. I wear what I want at work, but I can't carry there anyways, so it wouldn't really matter.

Protection is #1 to me, but I do want a gun that can do some target practice ever weekend or so without being a major pain. I would love to do some of the real scenario shooting stuff, but I think I'll wait till I get a couple rounds out at the range first.[/quote]

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It's typically not the first gun that gets expensive.....it's the second, third and fourth gun that does!

trig wrote: Money is not really an issue, but I kind of want to avoid buying a $700+ first gun to not enjoy carrying it or something. I would rather buy something in the $300 dollar range and use it too practice with and see what I want out of a carry gun.
...

My clothes are whatever I want, ..., so it wouldn't really matter.

Protection is #1 to me,

but I do want a gun that can do some target practice ever weekend or so without being a major pain.

I would love to do some of the real scenario shooting stuff, but I think I'll wait till I get a couple rounds out at the range first.

Ok, so you have to think about caliber and comfort. Any gun suitable for self-defense and practice for that is going to let you shoot at range targets -- that is sort of the (minimum) point. If it is too small or to large a caliber for the size you will not enjoy that as much probably.

I don't much do "caliber" arguments, but personally I like big and as many rounds as possible for defense. But a .380 with six rounds that you will actually have at hand, always beats a .44 magnum that you don't have available.

I think you (and everyone) should read this article by Gabe Suarez: http://www.whenshtf.com/showthread.php?t=2167

Hey, Trig! Welcome to the forum!

I have been on the road all day and just now checking in. Before you go and buy a .22 for plinking, if you only want to buy one gun to start with, you need to know that you cannot use a .22 to qualify for your CHL. DPS specifies it must be a .32 caliber or larger. A .22 is also not the best choice for personal protection, although it does beat nothing.

I am a big fan of Glocks, and highly recommend them. I do understand that they don't fit everyone, so if you don't like them, well, I will try not to hold that against you.

Since you are so close to Cabela's, I suggest you go and pick up and hold a few different handguns there until you find one that feels comfortable in your hand.

9mm is always a good choice to start with. Ammo is cheap (in comparison) and they are usually easy on the hand. Happy hunting!

Crossfire wrote:Hey, Trig! Welcome to the forum!

I have been on the road all day and just now checking in. Before you go and buy a .22 for plinking, if you only want to buy one gun to start with, you need to know that you cannot use a .22 to qualify for your CHL. DPS specifies it must be a .32 caliber or larger. A .22 is also not the best choice for personal protection, although it does beat nothing.

I am a big fan of Glocks, and highly recommend them. I do understand that they don't fit everyone, so if you don't like them, well, I will try not to hold that against you.

Since you are so close to Cabela's, I suggest you go and pick up and hold a few different handguns there until you find one that feels comfortable in your hand.

9mm is always a good choice to start with. Ammo is cheap (in comparison) and they are usually easy on the hand. Happy hunting!

I can't go to Cabelas and hold handguns till I turn 21 though right?


What should I look for in a first gun, and will the guys up there be able to show me what it's supposed to feel like? I mean like a good grip to me or am I just looking for something that I think feels natural?

I guess I just don't know what to expect. Only pistol I've ever held is a Desert Eagle .50 bb gun, lol.

trig wrote:I can't go to Cabelas and hold handguns till I turn 21 though right?

What should I look for in a first gun, and will the guys up there be able to show me what it's supposed to feel like? I mean like a good grip to me or am I just looking for something that I think feels natural?

I guess I just don't know what to expect. Only pistol I've ever held is a Desert Eagle .50 bb gun, lol.

You can't buy one til you're 21, but I doubt they will ask for ID if you just want to look and touch. That is, unless you look like a 12 year old!

What is it supposed to feel like? You will know it when you find it. Like a good pair of shoes. The grip needs to fit your hand, the grip angle should feel natural, and you should be able to easily reach the trigger, slide release, magazine release, and any safeties.

Most of the guys on the gun counter are very knowledgeable, some more than others, of course. If you get a chance, go up there on a Sunday afternoon and look for Marty.

Crossfire wrote:

trig wrote:I can't go to Cabelas and hold handguns till I turn 21 though right?

What should I look for in a first gun, and will the guys up there be able to show me what it's supposed to feel like? I mean like a good grip to me or am I just looking for something that I think feels natural?

I guess I just don't know what to expect. Only pistol I've ever held is a Desert Eagle .50 bb gun, lol.

You can't buy one til you're 21, but I doubt they will ask for ID if you just want to look and touch. That is, unless you look like a 12 year old!

What is it supposed to feel like? You will know it when you find it. Like a good pair of shoes. The grip needs to fit your hand, the grip angle should feel natural, and you should be able to easily reach the trigger, slide release, magazine release, and any safeties.

Most of the guys on the gun counter are very knowledgeable, some more than others, of course. If you get a chance, go up there on a Sunday afternoon and look for Marty.

Lol. I don't look 12, but everytime I come in to check out the new shotguns, they ask me if I'm 18, so maybe I'll just wait one more week, lol.

I went to look tonight, and still didn't hold one, but one that stuck out was the Beretta Neos gun. I have seen these before, and the price is just right for a first gun, I think. I am more interested in protection, but would like to target shoot, so I think this would be a good choice because by the time I get my plastic, I'll probably be in the market for another gun, and could then get a good carryable weapon.

Any advice on that?