I am just curious about how some of you feel about handguns and if you ever had a period of feeling uncomfortable about them? I grew up around long guns and have no fears about owning or handling them. When it comes to handguns which I do not own yet (still waiting on permits) I am afraid something wrong will happen no matter what I do. I worry about "slamfire" more than anything but I feel that I should give them the white glove british museum treatment. I have pretty much decided on taking a few classes if possible to become more knowledgable and comfortable. But I just want to see what the general feel is towards them and how long before you felt comfortable with your handguns.

First time go with a revolver. Very tough to jamb. Go with a smith & Wesson or a Ruger. Forget about the off brands.

Like you already said in your post, sign up for a couple classes. Probably an NRA basic pistol class would be a good place to start.

NRA First Steps Pistol Course...... take it. You will feel much better after.....

Sounds like a plan. Thank you for taking the time to respond. I will have to see how long it takes to get my permits.

NRA First Steps Pistol Course...... take it. You will feel much better after.....

 

I'll second this. My GF admitted to having some fear of guns in general, and she felt much more comfortable after taking this class at GFH.

I believe that anyone who did not grow up exposed to or handling hand guns in particular from an early age will have a brief period of uncomfortable unfamiliarity. That is why it is imperative that you get even the most basic of training beforehand.

I too went through a period of nervous unfamiliarity but after following all the rules,breaking down the gun and reassembling,dry firing with snap caps and ample range time that mystique fades and you realize a pistol is like any tool who's proper use has to be learned and in turn respected.

Slamfire never crossed my mind but forgetting a round in the chamber was and still is my greatest fear and I clear my guns constantly.

I'm the opposite, I feel more uncomfortable with long guns, up until yesterday I had never fired a long gun. Thanks to a member of this forum, he let me have a go at his hunting rifle and AR. I was very nervous, but he walked me thru the proper steps to safely fire them, and I think I did very well, as a matter of fact I managed to hit the bull's-eye with the hunting rifle. I too have plans to take NRA safety courses for both rifles & pistols.

Slamfire never crossed my mind but forgetting a round in the chamber was and still is my greatest fear and I clear my guns constantly.

 

+1.. it's almost like OCD with me. I know I just cleared it 1 minute ago but there I go again clearing

If you are not comfortable - don't rush into a hand-gun purchase.

Have no fear, you will acclimate. A revolver is a good start. If you are still nervous, start with something with a good safety (e.g. not a Glock!) until you are more comfortable.

 

With a handgun, you often have to be much more conscious about what you might be sweeping with the muzzle (including your lower abdomen if you are pulling incorrectly from a holster). It is easy to get sloppy - take a class and learn right from the start. Like was said above, with a handgun it is good to be a little OCD.

follow the same safety rules and you will be fine. slam fires only occur in guns that are not maintained properly. but should you have one and you are keeping the muzzle in a safe direction like you should, it will go bang and maybe scare you but that is all. safety first.like others have said, take a class and learn proper handling of a pistol.

I have three responses so I will list them and choose the one you like:

 

1. Join the Brady Campaign as you would be with others who feel the same way.

2. Do not worry about it because by the time you get your permit all handguns will fire a laser beam.

3. Take a training class because all fear of guns is based on lack of knowledge about how they work.

Treat it as if it is always loaded. Keep your finger away from the trigger unless you want it to go boom. Never point it at anything you don't want to destroy. Do those things and you will be fine.

Look into the Beretta 92 or M-9. It's almost military proof and that by far exceeds anything you will ever subject it to unless you plan on hammering nails with it.

I took NRA basic pistol class today @ Heritage Guild, been shooting handguns for a while. I still got some good info out of the course. Don't worry about ego being damaged. Just think, you'll be ahead of the mad rush IF we have to take a course for FID renewal. And you will feel more comfortable.

I took the class to fullfill requirements for CCW, so I can take next class level

With fear comes respect !! I fear my wife so I respect her !!

i am quite new to this "sport" (or whatever you guys want to call it). I had never fired any weapons, outside of a BB gun, in my life until New Years Eve of this past year. My wife has had a .38spl since before I knew her, and had her FID just so she could own that revolver, even though she only ever shot it once (although she had shot other revolvers a long time ago). We had made plans to go shooting at a range in the summer of last year, but never got around to doing it. After witnessing the incidents that happened in the following months after the summer, we were sitting around in December and thought that it was probably about time that I learn to shoot.

 

I was not "afraid" of guns, but since I had never actually fired one, I guess you could call me apprehensive in a way. We went to SS the first time we went shooting because we decided that we were really interested in getting a different gun than the little snubbie my wife owned (she didnt like it, had too much recoil for her, as she had shot much longer barreled revolvers in the past) and they rented guns. So we made the trip to SS and rented a Glock 17 and a Ruger 357 revolver (but used 38's since neither of us had shot it before). Their RO showed us how to shoot those guns (see, i dont dislike everything about SS) and he was quite helpful. Before I took my first shot, I noticed my hand shaking ever so slightly. I guess that was the nervousness you feel right before you fire your first ever weapon. Well, I took that first shot, and while it didnt hit bullseye, it wasnt all that far off either. After that, the trembling ceased and i found it to be quite exhilarating.

 

The experience was perfect, since I was not a huge fan of the Glock (it bit me more than once). However, it did not put any of that apprehension back into me.

 

Before I purchased my first pistol, I did an enormous amount of research and joined this place to get more information. As I got more knowledge and more information about guns, I knew it was the right thing to be doing. Between reading up on how to break them down, how to clean them, how each of the different types of handguns work, getting as much information about them beforehand is imperative. As others have mentioned, taking a class is also a great idea (even though I have not yet). It is good to have as much info as you can, and that alleviates some of the fear.

 

So.. in the end, people who have grown up and never really been around guns (whether it be long guns or handguns) will always have a bit of nervousness around them to start off with. If they are brought into it slowly and with a manageable caliber gun for a noob, they are much more likely to stick with it (bringing in someone new and telling them to shoot a 357 or a 45 is probably not the best idea). Starting off with a 38 or a 9mm (or a .22lr) is the way to break through that bout of apprehension.

 

Some of this doesnt necessarily apply to the OP, as he had been around long guns previously. But for others, such as myself who had no experience, its right to start off slowly, and the bug will catch... And as always, be safe with ANY gun. (something I learned from the very start)..

 

Sorry for the ramble, but I have grown to REALLY enjoy shooting in a relative short amount of time!

I would recommend getting a .22 cal lr double action revolver as your first handgun. No jamming fears, inexpensive to shoot (well it was inexpensive to shoot in 2012), low maintenance, no recoil.

 

When your ready, get a .357 or 44 magnum.

With fear comes respect !! I fear my wife so I respect her !!

 

LMAO... Good one.

Classes this summer. Maybe a handgun this fall... depending on my permits. I will for the most part be using whatever I buy for range only. I think no matter how much I learn I will always go for my rifle or shotgun in a bad situation first (home defense). [Georgia Habits]

I think no matter how much I learn I will always go for my rifle or shotgun in a bad situation first (home defense). [Georgia Habits]

 

A shotgun is excellent for home defense and Remington 870 or Mossberg 500 are good models. If you want to know which ones people prefer Just start a separate thread something along the lines of "Remington 870 vs. Mossberg 500" for the subject line.

Ask for help, train, practice, train, practice, train, practice... You will be fine.

I was in the same boat,Hunted, always had shotgun in my room as a kid.

i bought a S&W .357 revolver and still love it 15++ years later.

Careful. I started out with only rifles as that is what I was used to as well. Since picking up my first handgun, I rarely touch a rifle. It gave me a whole new outlook on guns and got me involved in several different competitions. They are a hell of a lot of fun and addicting as hell.

Its good to respect a hand gun. The only time you should fear one, is if your staring down the wrong end of the barrel.

You are worried about pistol SLAM FIRE???? No no no. Then make sure you don't own any floating firing pin RIFLES like SKS, AK, etc.

 

Anyway if you have concerns about handguns then don't buy any handguns.