on December 17, 2009 12:57 PM
I have a pretty good relationship with my neighbors, and recently one expressed an interest in getting a pistol to me, so I offered to take him to the range and let him try my assortment of handguns.
He kind of reminds me of myself a few years ago. I had a number of long arms that I used only for hunting, and hardly ever hunted. I didn't really know anything about handguns back then.
He had a number of ideas about what makes a good handgun. One of my guns that he was really interested in was my Ruger LCP, because a friend of his had turned him onto the Kel-Tec P3AT (which is nearly the same gun).
I don't try to make up people's mind for them, but the LCP is a lousy first gun, so I let him shoot that first. He didn't hit paper from 7 yards with it, and I think he learned a lot from that. The LCP is a fine backup gun, or ultra concealment gun, but it's hard to shoot well, and pretty much impossible for a novice to shoot well.
From there I let him shoot my RIA Tactical in .45 ACP. He liked that more. I don't blame him. He said it had less recoil than the LCP, and it has a much better trigger and sights.
I also let him try my Springfield EMP and my Browning Hi-Power.
Of all my guns he liked the Hi-Power the best. He said it felt the best in his hands and when he concentrated on the front sights he got good hits. Everyone who shoots it loves it, so I wasn't surprised. It's a full sized 9mm so the recoil is pretty tame and it has the famous Browning ergonomics. (If only he could have worked the 1911 trigger into it.)
In the end, I recommended a Springfield XD9 Service or Glock 19 for him because he wants a larger capacity gun and no manual safety.
I imagine we'll be up the range some more in the coming months.
He kind of reminds me of myself a few years ago. I had a number of long arms that I used only for hunting, and hardly ever hunted. I didn't really know anything about handguns back then.
He had a number of ideas about what makes a good handgun. One of my guns that he was really interested in was my Ruger LCP, because a friend of his had turned him onto the Kel-Tec P3AT (which is nearly the same gun).
I don't try to make up people's mind for them, but the LCP is a lousy first gun, so I let him shoot that first. He didn't hit paper from 7 yards with it, and I think he learned a lot from that. The LCP is a fine backup gun, or ultra concealment gun, but it's hard to shoot well, and pretty much impossible for a novice to shoot well.
From there I let him shoot my RIA Tactical in .45 ACP. He liked that more. I don't blame him. He said it had less recoil than the LCP, and it has a much better trigger and sights.
I also let him try my Springfield EMP and my Browning Hi-Power.
Of all my guns he liked the Hi-Power the best. He said it felt the best in his hands and when he concentrated on the front sights he got good hits. Everyone who shoots it loves it, so I wasn't surprised. It's a full sized 9mm so the recoil is pretty tame and it has the famous Browning ergonomics. (If only he could have worked the 1911 trigger into it.)
In the end, I recommended a Springfield XD9 Service or Glock 19 for him because he wants a larger capacity gun and no manual safety.
I imagine we'll be up the range some more in the coming months.
If all 3 schedules (yours, mine, neighbor) mesh, he's certainly welcome to try out my XD-9 Service.