Thread: Gun advice needed

Unless she plans to practice a lot....and I mean many rounds on a regular basis...I'd go with pepper spray. Pepper spray probably has more real value and is much less likely to result in serious legal considerations.

Pistols are a bit complicated when one's adrenaline is surging and fine motor skills have suddenly gone missing. If you must, a hammerless revolver, like the S&W Bodyguard in .38 special, would be the way I'd go. Easy to carry and shoot. Very reliable--won't misfeed or jam.

And forget cheap. If you really think you are going to carry to protect your life, you have to ask yourself how much your life is worth. Only $300.00? A S&W Bodyguard will run you $500...with a laser sight. And then plan to spend $50 or more in ammo per month in practice sessions. Don't forget to factor in range fees as well.

Carrying is a tough decision in my mind. I personally don't (no permit needed in Wyoming), I carry pepper spray and a cell phone. If your friend is going to make the decision to carry, she should invest in learning to use the weapon and getting educated on the legal consequences. That's my thoughts, but WTFDIK?

Originally Posted by Nix

Unless she plans to practice a lot....and I mean many rounds on a regular basis...I'd go with pepper spray. Pepper spray probably has more real value and is much less likely to result in serious legal considerations.

Pistols are a bit complicated when one's adrenaline is surging and fine motor skills have suddenly gone missing. If you must, a hammerless revolver, like the S&W Bodyguard in .38 special, would be the way I'd go. Easy to carry and shoot. Very reliable--won't misfeed or jam.

And forget cheap. If you really think you are going to carry to protect your life, you have to ask yourself how much your life is worth. Only $300.00? A S&W Bodyguard will run you $500...with a laser sight. And then plan to spend $50 or more in ammo per month in practice sessions. Don't forget to factor in range fees as well.

Carrying is a tough decision in my mind. I personally don't (no permit needed in Wyoming), I carry pepper spray and a cell phone. If your friend is going to make the decision to carry, she should invest in learning to use the weapon and getting educated on the legal consequences. That's my thoughts, but WTFDIK?

I agree wholeheartedly...

Let me just point out that she is not an inexperienced shooter. Spending time at the range is something she's more than happy to do, as well.

Right now, the pepper spray is going to be the stop-gap, but ultimately there will be a firearm in the equation.

S & W Bodyguards run in the high $300 range at the moment. A laser sight is not something I'd even consider as an add-on. It adds bulk with no real improvement in functionality (in my opinion, we'll just have to ask her, though)

Originally Posted by joesixpack

she is not an inexperienced shooter.

An experienced shooter should not need to ask what type of weapon they need to carry, if any. The most experienced shooters know that carrying a lethal weapon often causes more problems than it solves. As my Aikido sensei used to stress, the whole point of defensive training is not to put yourself in situation where you need to defend yourself.
It's different for law enforcement and military personnel, who often have to put themselves in life threatening situations to carry out their job and therefore need to carry a weapon.

Originally Posted by welshwizard

An experienced shooter should not need to ask what type of weapon they need to carry, if any. The most experienced shooters know that carrying a lethal weapon often causes more problems than it solves. As my Aikido sensei used to stress, the whole point of defensive training is not to put yourself in situation where you need to defend yourself.
It's different for law enforcement and military personnel, who often have to put themselves in life threatening situations to carry out their job and therefore need to carry a weapon.

Well, I suppose I could have chosen my words better, but when I said "not inexperienced" I didn't mean to imply "Highly experienced" .

And to further address your post, I am a very experienced shooter but I've never carried, so I would have the exact same questions if I intended to begin carrying a concealed weapon. How to carry and what to carry are important questions, and knowing people with experience doing so would be welcome insight, at least for me (or my friend).

As far as keeping out of situations where you may be called upon to defend yourself, well that's a luxury that some people don't have. Economic times being what they are, people sometimes find themselves taking jobs or living in places where they are much more vulnerable that we would like to be.

There are some good, consistent thoughts in here.

No matter the object in hand, or merely the hand itself, the intent to do what is necessary must be present. Once the question of intent has been answered, then practice, practice and more practice until the body will act, consistent with one's intent, as required to answer the perceived threat. No more, no less. If she can't get to that point, don't arm her.

Pepper spray is quite good enough, but there also has to be a willingness to draw the perp in close enough to make sure that her action will end the threat, so she can calmly and purposefully dial 911 and wait for help. That also requires practice and intent. Dilute pepper spray from a distance is no better than warm spit when someone else's intent is stronger than yours.

The best thing to do is to study human behavior and awareness. Then she can read a situation, or the environment, from a long way off and not walk into something, unless she wants to.