concealed weapons class

“I just came back from it. Over 8 long. Past the written test with flying colors (was actually way too easy). Past the shooting range test with flying colors.

I have never ever shot a gun before, and guess what? I hit 100%, most of them right in the center. I was told that I would probably embarress my husband, that I am a natural. Yes, I have a big head right now. I can't believe how good I did. Scared to death though... I feel so much better now that I finally got over my fear.

Planning to go on a shooting range at least once a week”

“Sweet! Shooting for sport is a blast (pun intended). Have fun! :-)”

“Uh uh, the anti-gun people's going to come down on you.

Congrats btw.

I used to go target shooting once every 2 weeks. Now, I don't have the time for it. My scores are not as good as yours...that's for sure.

What kind of ammo you shot... .38, 9mm? If you think you were scared...try shooting a .357 magnan.”

“stanlee, I started out with a 45, but that sucker was just way too big for me and scared me to death. lol.

The cop let me use a 9mm, and I really had fun with that one. I am really excited. Had no clue that I would do that good (because I was scared and really never shot a gun before)

You know I had a big head when I came home.

I don't even want to know what a .357 magan would do. LOL”

“Congrats on the class! Now the next time someone tries to get you into an Amway clone...”

“LOL, I am still not taking this thing with me wherever I go. Still have a little fear of it. I just want to be able to use one if I ever have to (hope that will never happen).

The good part is that I am VERY careful in the gun department. I make sure my kids won't be able to get their hands on it, even if that means that I probably won't have a change to use it if I have to. That's just a risk I have to take I guess.

I don't want to think any further, not yet anyway.”

“.45 is too strong and loud for a beginner. A .32 or .38 would have been a better choice.”

“Congratulations.

What is your personal weapon, are you using the 45?

My partner lives in Montana, she carry's a S&W 44 mag, with a 4" barrel for Griz, now thats scary.
She too was smart enough to take a class. Shes pretty good with it too, considering......”

“mtnsteve, my personal weapon is a 45, but not for long anymore. I'll trade it either in the store or with my husband (he got a 9mm).

Not sure if I ever use a 45 anyway, now that found out that I can't carry it out of state.”

“I have to spend 2 (8hr)days on the range to qualify every year. It's basically the only time I shoot. Of course, I've been doing this for over 30 years. I believe that everyone that owns a handgun should be trained to use it safely. I also believe that you should get a safe to store it in. (pref. bolted down)

I'd stay away from the .357 for a few reasons. 1)If you should be forced to shoot as a last resort,target positively identified as foe, you don't want this bullet to go thru walls & harm your kids or your neighbors walls. 2)There is a large muzzle flash that will take away your night vision 3) The muzzle blast inside your home will probably leave you deaf for a few days. Blind & deaf isn't a good way to be with an intruder in your home.”

“But your intruder would be blind, deaf and hopefully dead.

I own a Beretta 9 mm. Alot of my friends say that's too little of a gun. I say bull#&%!$. It's all in the ammo you buy and shot placement.

If you really want to do some damage to an intruder buy a 12 guage shotgun. If you miss he'll definetly wet his pants and run home to mama.”

“I definatelly don't want it to go through walls, I know that for sure. Oh, and I don't want to be blind or deaf. (I think the noise is what bothers me the most...lived through a bad gas explosion -my neighbors- in germany while I was little, since then I kind a hate lound noise with a passion)

Hey...you all forgot, I am a natural . If I should I hit the target where I wanna hit it.

Actually it would be great if there would be a place where I could practice on moving targets. I bet that's a totally different story.”

“good fer you gemini! you go girl!”

“Sounds like you have a good appreciation for the situation.

I prefer 9mm also. I wasn't able too do very well with a 45 until I tried a Colt 45. I am actually not too bad with that.

From what I understand, the muzzle velocity is pretty low for a .45, that makes it less likely to go through a wall than anything else. However, for personal defense it is a heavier slug and can do more damage than a 9mm.

Good luck!”

“Congrades, I had no doubt you would do this with flying colors.. just have to know you and know you will achieve at anything you try.
So now we have a lethal weapon.. hmm should you change your name???? LOL
rox”

“Gemini to Dead Eye?”

“Not necessarily.

Most homeowners are too shaken to shoot accurately at an intruder at night. The risk to family members & neighbors is much too great with a .357

In most states, the cost of an investigation and/or legal representation & trial is very expensive. Believe when I say, you'll go thru h%##.

Most people (incl me) tend to hesitate their first time. You should not shoot at a shadow as it could be a wandering family member or unexpected(welcome)guest.

I like the 12ga with birdshot. It's not going to penetrate walls, you don't have to be accurate but at close range it's effective.”

“Im with the shotgun people for defense.... hard to miss even under pressure and far more intimidating.”

“Good for you, Gemini.

I agree with the others who advocate a shotgun for home defense. In a stressfull, low-light situation where someone might be shooting at you, you might find your range skills on inanimate paper targets severely eroded. A shotgun will give you a tactical advantage over an intruder while presenting less of a threat to a family member behind another wall in your home.”

“45 Long Colt 5" barrel. Destroy what it hits, stops, low recoil. Silver-tip hollow pts expand to approx .72-.75. Home and in vehicle protection. 22 Mag derringer 4 trail protection of 2-legged rats. Shotgun in closet and for squirrel/rabbit eatin'. Only Grizz 'round here is my ugly mug!”

“For home defense, what about "snake shot" for a handgun?

I would rather give a warning shot first (at something that can stop a bullet), than at an intruder...he/she will definitely leave a bloody mess.”

“I was taught that if you pull your weapon, you aim carefully, then shoot to kill.....NO warning shots.....you may not get a second chance.”

“Stan, if you use "snakeshot" (and I have) you would have to basically aim for the face. There would be a LOT of blood & the intruder would most likely go into shock. The pellets would just go under the skin. The advantage is that it's a safe round (wall penetration)with minimal damage to your possesions & the shot pattern is large.They do have balled snake shot such as a Glasier safety slug that doesn't penetrate walls easily.”

“Congrats Gem!”

“So Gemini, Does this mean you will be packing heat on the Devils Path? If so we will hang all of the food around your tent! JK
Good job on the test! I used to compete with the NRA whan I was younger, with a .22 rifle. Played around with a pistol target shooting. There were guys(with pistols) in my club that used playing cards as targets and hit them on edge! Pretty impressive, just like everything it takes pactice.”

“mtnsteve, that's what I learned yesterday, you aim to kill, and not for anything else. Still something I have to get used to, but oh well...

LtHiker, yeah right, like I am going to take my gun with me, huh? :) Naaaa, to much weight. The playing cards are a pretty good idea, hmm, wonder where I could practice? That maybe would be a good goal to go after. I hit the bulls eye most of the time, but not sure if I would really be able to hit a playing card. (seams darn hard to do)

my head is still big I totally forgot to call my sis in germany to brag about it. ”

“If they teach you "to aim to kill" you are learning from people that have never been before a grand jury & they will crucify you.

You are aiming to "stop the intruder" from doing harm to you & your family. You are aiming for "center of mass" because that is the largest target & you'll probably be off a little bit.

I suggest you get some legal advice from your state on this subject. Experience & not conjecture.”

“catshiker, I don't think I will ever aim to kill. For now I just hope that I will never get into a situation where I have to use my gun. For now this will be a learning expirience and lots of fun during target practice.”

“All I'm suggesting is "don't use those words"

A defense in this area can cost $25k & then the intruder or his family will in all likelyhood sue you for god only knows what.

I'm not telling you to shoot or not-to. I'm telling you to get training which it seems you are. Most people fall back on their training in stressfull situations.

I believe everyone has the right to defend themselves. I don't know what mother wouldn't cause serious physical injury to protect her children.

Be prepared. Learn as much as you can INCLUDING your state's law.”

“In CA there is a class offered at many colleges called 832 PC, Arrest and firearms. It teaches the Ca penal code as well as giving a hands on, gun range class in firearms and different shooting techniques.

I had to take the class for SAR, what was funny was there were more then a few, bad guys, in the class. They wanted to know what their rights were.”

“A little more info on legalities. Things to avoid like the "shoot to kill" statement instead of trying to "stop" the aggression. I handload everything I shoot, with the specific exception of defensive ammo for my carry gun. This is because any smart attorney would get you in court and ask about how you "cooked up" a more deadly load just to try and kill. In that vein, don't carry glazers, Black tallons, etc or whatever new "exploding" round is on the market. You'll be dragged over the coals for "trying" to kill the poor bad guy. I carry one snake shot (under the likely hood I'm more likely to have to shoot something not human) followed by 4 125 grn normal HP bullets in a small frame 357. If you want a firearm for not penetrating walls, use a short ( over 18" but not a lot)shotgun and regular bird shotin a low brass load. Even a 12ga shotgun with #8 shot in a skeet load will be very ugly on a person but will not shoot through two pieces of sheetrock into another room. Again here its a lot better to have "used my daddy's old bird gun" to stop the bad guy than have offed the perp with a sawed off pistol grip "riot gun" loaded with buckshot.”

“Better to be tried by twelve than carried by six.”

“It's one thing to be trained to shoot to kill, and quite another to actually shoot to kill. Hope none of us ever has to go there.

Actually, the point I want to make is that you really have to watch the verbage. Recently, I heard about an overweight woman training to be a nurse. It is a prerequisite that to be a nurse, you are able to effectively stich up a wound. She couldn't. She should have failed out on those terms alone. Unfortunately, the teacher said her fingers were too pudgey to allow her to stitch a wound. Now she is able to sue, and quite possibly win a lawsuit against the teacher, the school, and who knows who else, all because of the use of the term pudgy. Had the teacher said, " she can not properly stitch a wound", there would be no lawsuit. Verbage, very important how you word things.”

“Got it! Won't use those words again. :D
Anyway, I have exchanged my 45 for a 9mm Beretta 92FS. Cool gun! Now I have to find out about the target practice here in SC. I know there is one place that will let women practice for free on wednesday.
You guys did NOT missunderstand me, or did you? (just always have to make sure because my english still sucks). I do NOT have my gun around the house without securing it properly.”

“If you're going to use your pistol for home defense, it might be wise to invest in Trijicon (or similar) night sights.”

“I understand you fine. Your English is great. Sounds like you're doing everything you should.”

“Mutt surprises me once again! Are you a shooter Mutt? I never had you peged as a shooter.

Ohio is in the proccess of passing a CW permit. If it goes through I'll probably go through the classes. Birch had told me once he read a study about what caliber is the best as far as actually killing or stopping a perp and it was the .380. I was floored! He said that because it is a more managable round people were better with it than higher calibures. It's not too far fetched when you consider most home invasion shootings happen at 12' or less.”

“I read somewhere that, if you even changed the grip of the gun, to fit you better, the procecutors can use that against you. That goes for night vision sights and ventilated barrels etc., at least in Canada. Don't know about the U.S.”

“You could face either a criminal suit, or a civil suit. A criminal suit is brought by a state attorney, a prosecutor.
If you are afraid for your life, and you shoot an intruder in your home, I doubt any prosecutor would charge you with a crime. Its within their discretion to not presecute, of course.

However, you have to be afraid for your life and acting in self defense. At least thats the law in Idaho, and each state has slightly different laws.

On the civil side, you can be sued by a private individual.
In the US, any person can sue another, for any reason. So the perp's family can sue you for shooting him/her. However, it would be the rare jury that would convict you.

If your choice is to shoot and live, or don't shoot and maybe die, its an easy choice. Even if you might have to deal with a wrongful death trial, at least you'll be alive to do it.

I chose a big gun, a 40 cal. They make a lot of noise, and sound like a cannon, which should scare the hell out of an attacker. If the bullet hits anywhere, they know they've been hit, and are not likely to charge forward. The big slow slug is not as likely to penetrate your house and go into your neighbor's house.”

“"The big slow slug is not as likely to penetrate your house and go into your neighbor's house."

They are slow but man can they go SPLAT and knock a guy down.”

“Yeah, Nigal, I enjoy shooting. But I'm not really an "enthusiast". I have a decent pistol (9 mm), shotgun (12 guage), and rifle (.308). Oh, and an ancient .22LR for plinking.”

“Just got back to this..a 380 is a POS as is IMHO and FBI research the 9mm. A .38 spl (even though the same diameter) is a better round for defense, 45 ACP is about the best but hard for a lot of people to carry concealed and handle confortably. I carry a feather weight 38 spl w/ 125 grn jacketed HP rounds. Its small and light enough to go in the pocket of a pair of shorts and frequently does. No hammer, crappy sights but you're not going to be shooting it further than about 20 feet. Please--for home defense, think shotgun, not handgun and really not rifles. Shotguns much safer for people beyond the next wall. Even a 410 is sufficient, light (small diameter) shot.”

“Shotguns can be unwieldy in tight spaces. Having experimented with this in my bedroom, I found that I can pull my pistol out faster and have a target sighted faster than I can with my scatter gun. If speed wasn't of the essence, then I'd grab the scatter gun. It's probably wise to have both.”

“It also looks better in court if you cap the guy with a hunting gun like a standard shotgun. Anything else and some lawyer like chili36 will be making ya look like you were sitting up at night just waiting to get to shoot some guy. LOL!”

“Smith & Wesson 40 calibur, I believe it's a 10 mm. Semi-auto, holds about 10 rounds. That oughta take care of whatever.”

“A 10mm is in between .40 cal and .45acp. Kentucky State Police carries a Smith 10mm, but are transitioning to the Glock Model 35 in .40 cal soon.”

“a 40 or a 10mm are good rounds. I like a 45ACP. You must have a really small bedroom. When you see cops entering a house you'll notice they've got their shotguns. When the army is fighting from house to house, like in Germany in WWII, yep, there too, the winchester 97, it was also popular in trenches as small as your bedroom”

“A spurless 5-shot .44 Special 240WC just under 1k fps.”