My first firearm

"I am reminded of a Heinlein story I read long ago"

First off, defending one's argument with an anecdote from a fictional story is never a great idea, and second, Heinlein was a huge fan of personal armed defense. "An armed society is a polite society". Third, I can speak for myself and many others that have chosen to not be crime victims any longer, that when carrying concealed, if anything, we tend to be more cautious rather than more confident. In the real world, we try to avoid situations that would require using a gun to stay alive. That said, I've stopped at least one crime from occurring when Tweaker-boy, in the process of breaking into my car, saw that I was armed and he decided that cooperating and waiting for the cops to show up and arrest him was in his best interest. No shots fired, no comment from the cops (boy, they showed up quick when I reported a car prowl, and that I had the car prowler held at gunpoint) other than, "good job". Look, it' s just like any other insurance policy, it's better to have it and not need it than the other way round. Anyone who thinks "it can't happen to me" is optimistic to the point of mental incompetence.

mapper wrote: On the other hand, how many people saw the warning signs and chose to avoid the bad situtation or gave themselves time to react? If they still could not avoid the situation, they were able to present their handgun and defend themselves. How many of these were able to convince the bad guy to leave simply by presenting the handgun?

That's what happened with me. I was at the corner when this jerk coming the other way pulls in front of me and blocks me. 2 lane dirt road, and me in the Esprit. Takes a while to get into/out of a Lotus, you know, and you are at a severe disadvantage while trying to do that. I looked at the guy sitting in his beat up 1/2 ton truck and he takes a swig from a whiskey bottle in a paper bag. I took my concealed 9mm out of its concealed location, discretely chambered a round and put it in my lap. He came up to my window with eyes like saucers and tried to get me out, then I think he saw the 9mm, which my hand was on, without me doing anything else, and backed off. I drove around his truck and down my driveway and he left.

That's a gun statistic you will never see in the news media. "Gun used to protect citizen, not fired, no one hurt."

I have a CCW. I might go my whole life without needing to draw my weapon, and I actually hope that is the case. If that's the way things play out then all is well. If, however, I'm confronted by a situation in which I need a firearm and I don't have one, what exactly should I do?

OK, based on the information about a loaded weapon the passenger compartment, Dr. Hess's story would have to be considered relevant to the effectiveness of concealed weapons. Just learning stuff here...

Hell, I don't like carrying a cell phone around with me, I would consider it a huge pain to have to strap on a gun every day and make sure I keep it hidden. And realistically, you would pretty much have to wear it everyday since the situation where it would be useful are by definition never planed. (at least they shouldn't be)

Jay_W wrote: First off, defending one's argument with an anecdote from a fictional story is never a great idea...

Just because it is a fictional story does not mean the basis is not true.

Besides I could also say it is never a great idea to defend ones argument based on an anecdotal "true" story.

I'm really freaking excited to use this thing, the weather was crappy yesterday after I bought it, crappy today, and looks like it'll be crappy for days now. Boo.

Stopped by Bass Pro Shops and got a box of 100 shells, some bore cleaner, some oil for the sliding parts, and some protectant wipes for the outer surfaces. Just need a cleaning rod and a center punch because the trigger mechanism comes out via these little pins that you pop out with a punch. Oh, and the girlfriend can sew, so she's making me a shooting bag to hold ammo and my safety glasses on the condition that she gets to use the gun too

And no, this thing isn't for home protection; the ammo is locked up inside two other non-descript boxes down the hall in my storage unit, and the gun itself has a trigger lock on it. It would take me about four minutes just to unlock the gun, go get the ammo, and load it. Sport only. I don't live in a bad part of town, my apartment complex has a separate key just to get in the building, and as far as I know I haven't pissed anyone off haha.

And sorry for the technical terms mix-up. Wasn't aware that a firearm was a pistol. I just figured anything that went boom was a firearm...

The weather though...this is like waiting to drive a convertible when it's winter!

Twin_Cam wrote: I just figured anything that went boom was a firearm...

It is.

Dr. Hess wrote: Most states, even Texas, pretty much forbid you to keep a loaded gun in the passenger compartment of your vehicle, concealed or not, without a concealed carry permit, Arizona being an exception if it is visible, I believe. And, most states consider a weapon or anything else in your passenger compartment to be on your person. I'm sure some Esquires could provide case law and that it varies to some extent from state to state, but from what I've seen, if it is under your seat, they consider it in your pocket, unless they can twist it to their advantage to consider it not in your pocket. In other words, whatever makes it easier for the cop to bust you, that's what they consider it.

this is true, but in texas you are allowed to carry a handgun within reach of the driver when you are "traveling". the law doesn't list what qualifies traveling and what doesn't but does say that it can't be your daily commute to work/school/etc. i've heard most people say its if you cross more than one county on your journey, which makes sense to me

Oh boy. You have stumbled on to one of my favorite topics. Been shooting shotguns since i was about 6 years old and that 870 was as good a choice as you could make. Their really isn't anything an 870 can't do. Skeet, birds, deer, people, does not matter, if it lives it can be killed with an 870 shotgun. I have never personally owned an 870 but i have shot them, My first gun was a 1100 Remington which essentially shares the 870's dimensions. Put a few 1000 rounds through the gun until a piece of the receiver sheered off turning it into a paper weight. Still a good gun. Now i shoot Beretta 391's which IMO are the best auto loaders made. Have one in 20 gauge and one in 12. Also shoot a Ruger red label 28 gauge. Its such a sweet piece. Mostly shoot skeet, hunt quail and dove and when in season and have hunted both turkey and duck.

I think i will be picking up a 870 soon for home defense as 8 shots of 00buck and sun and moon reliability will make me feel a bit safer in my new apartment.

I would recommended picking up one of these,

A skeet thrower is hours of fun and will make you into a good shooter.

You made a great choice be going with the express magnum. Shooting the big shells is a good option. My 870 was my 2nd firearm and probably my favorite (out of 8 now)

for those who asked, I deliver Chinese food to some pretty shady neighborhoods, I know that violent attacks on deliverymen happen, and I want to be prepared.

as was said before, I hope that I never have to use it. People ask me all the time why I don't just have one in the home or why I wouldn't keep it in a gun safe...I will not always be in a situation where the gun safe is easily accessable. If someone were threatening my family, I would not want to fumble for a key, ammunition, loading etc.

JohnGalt wrote: Their really isn't anything an 870 can't do. Skeet, birds, deer, people, does not matter, if it lives it can be killed with an 870 shotgun.

Amazing quote.

I also believe you can do even more than that with it. Prune trees, blast out small brush fires, remove stuck lugnut, you know the usual.

For anyone considering an 870: Beware the Super Magnum. Unless, of course, that's exactly what you're looking for.

I bought a new one a few years ago and found that most of the aftermaket stuff out there was labelled "*except Super Magnum".

Twin_Cam wrote: I'm really freaking excited to use this thing, the weather was crappy yesterday after I bought it, crappy today, and looks like it'll be crappy for days now. Boo. Stopped by Bass Pro Shops and got a box of 100 shells, some bore cleaner, some oil for the sliding parts, and some protectant wipes for the outer surfaces. Just need a cleaning rod and a center punch because the trigger mechanism comes out via these little pins that you pop out with a punch. Oh, and the girlfriend can sew, so she's making me a shooting bag to hold ammo and my safety glasses on the condition that she gets to use the gun too And no, this thing isn't for home protection; the ammo is locked up inside two other non-descript boxes down the hall in my storage unit, and the gun itself has a trigger lock on it. It would take me about four minutes just to unlock the gun, go get the ammo, and load it. Sport only. I don't live in a bad part of town, my apartment complex has a separate key just to get in the building, and as far as I know I haven't pissed anyone off haha. And sorry for the technical terms mix-up. Wasn't aware that a firearm was a pistol. I just figured anything that went boom was a firearm... The weather though...this is like waiting to drive a convertible when it's winter!

No worries on the "tech terms," its just the legal jargon Pennsylvania uses. As a PA resident, I figured it may be useful.

As for the weather, put on a sweatshirt, rain coat and a baseball cap and shoot some stuff! The Rem will laugh at the rain and you will have an excuse to clean it when your done. I have used allen wrenches as punches, the pins should not be in so tightly to need a real punch.

A range bag is one of the most useful things I have ever received as a gift. I used to make multiple trips from the car to the range and have things awkwardly in a backpack. If she hasn't started sewing yet, take her to look at some of the bags for sale. Small compartments for safety glasses and ear protection, expandable ammo pouches and little places for small tools, velcro and a sturdy handle are wonderful things!

Sounds like a nice shot gun. I love target shooting. I hadnt shot a single gun until a week before i left for boot camp, shot a 1911, got hooked. Unfortunatly, even though im a MP and arm up with a pistol and rifle everyday, im only 20, so i cant legally own my own firearm yet (21, state law). Ah...how hypocritical the goverment is....

spdracer315 wrote: Sounds like a nice shot gun. I love target shooting. I hadnt shot a single gun until a week before i left for boot camp, shot a 1911, got hooked. Unfortunatly, even though im a MP and arm up with a pistol and rifle everyday, im only 20, so i cant legally own my own firearm yet (21, state law). Ah...how hypocritical the goverment is....

What Volksrepublik do you live in? I'd leave. :( Here in God's Country of Virginia you can buy a long gun when you're 18. (Only one handgun a month, though...unless you have a CHP. Whatever. We need an eyeroll smilie).

South Carolina law says a gun in a car must be in a closed container. The glove box, center console or even a cardboard box. According to a Hwy Patrol friend, they want you to have to make more than one move to draw it. No permits are required unless you have one on your person, for example a pocket or under a jacket.

As far as off duty officers. One of the local cities recommended that off duty officers to be armed at all times. A lot of their officers carried while off duty. Doesn't bother me any. Of course I think everyone should carry in sight at all times. An armed society is a respectful and polite society.

I think the concealed permits are meant to be a deterrent for the criminal type. If they know that some people are armed they will be more circumspect about who they rob. If I was one to carry large amounts of cash and valuables I would definitely carry. Working on military bases means I don't even have one on my truck.