YAGT: OMG I love guns

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alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
Alright so, i've seen a lot of people get guns and say something along the lines of 'theres a mark here or a blemish there" but the gun is still functional and i dont care. I am a pretty anal person when it comes to getting semi expensive-expensive stuff...i want it to look almost perfect. Should i not have this expectation with guns?

there shouldnt be any blems on a new gun despite handling.
 

shortylickens

No Lifer
Jul 15, 2003
80,287
17,081
136
Thank ye sir. I suppose people put up with them because it seems like return processes for guns are a complete pain in the ass depending on where you order from/pick up from.

My local store doesnt buy back. They will put up stuff on consignment however.
 

Merad

Platinum Member
May 31, 2010
2,586
19
81
Yeah, i understand that, but new guns? I'm getting a gun because i enjoy shooting at the range, but i ALSO want it to look cool. That's why i'm gonna pay a lot more for stainless. :(

If you are particular about the gun having an absolutely flawless appearance you need to inspect every square mm of it before doing paperwork or handing over $$, IMO.

Gun are like anything else. There will be imperfections occasionally from the factory. Usually very minor, sometimes more major and/or affecting functionality. This is a good example of where the internet highlights negative feedback.
 

RampantAndroid

Diamond Member
Jun 27, 2004
6,591
3
81
Alright so, i've seen a lot of people get guns and say something along the lines of 'theres a mark here or a blemish there" but the gun is still functional and i dont care. I am a pretty anal person when it comes to getting semi expensive-expensive stuff...i want it to look almost perfect. Should i not have this expectation with guns?

Yeah, i understand that, but new guns? I'm getting a gun because i enjoy shooting at the range, but i ALSO want it to look cool. That's why i'm gonna pay a lot more for stainless. :(

There should be no marks on a new gun. A used gun will be marked 99% of the time, and that's a fact of life. But realize, if you shoot the gun it WILL be marked within the first few trips to the range, no matter HOW ginger you are. If you're buying a WWI era Rock Island 1903 Springfield, it's a display gun or safe queen. You don't however buy a modern CZ to display :)
 

boomhower

Diamond Member
Sep 13, 2007
7,228
19
81
There are pretty much no returns on guns. You buy it you own it. So make sure it's looks well enough before you buy. Guns are meant to be used. In doing so your going to get dings and scratches, I look at it as character. If your not happy your choices are to live with it or sell it, your not going to be able to return it.
 

RampantAndroid

Diamond Member
Jun 27, 2004
6,591
3
81
Damn, thanks guys. So make absolutely sure it's good before you sign, got it. Anything to look out for? Hopefully it's not awkward inspecting it at the ffl haha.

Dry fire it. Pull the slide back. Check the safeties. Ask to have the gun disassembled for you to inspect. (just ask for a field strip of the gun.) Handle the gun, be SURE you like THAT gun. And honestly, hold a 1911 and pull its trigger for a comparison on the trigger pull. The 1911 is what I grade semi-auto handguns by.
 

IEC

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Jun 10, 2004
14,597
6,076
136
Rent some 9mm pistols at a local range before you buy. The gun you buy should fit YOUR hand.

Glock 19 is a well-rounded 9mm - good for carry, good for range, and accurate enough. Some people don't like the grip angle though.
 

RampantAndroid

Diamond Member
Jun 27, 2004
6,591
3
81
Rent some 9mm pistols at a local range before you buy. The gun you buy should fit YOUR hand.

Glock 19 is a well-rounded 9mm - good for carry, good for range, and accurate enough. Some people don't like the grip angle though.

Good advice. Honestly, fire a gun IF POSSIBLE before buying. I say if possible, sine I couldn't fire a .41 magnum before buying.
 

BladeVenom

Lifer
Jun 2, 2005
13,365
16
0
Damn, thanks guys. So make absolutely sure it's good before you sign, got it. Anything to look out for? Hopefully it's not awkward inspecting it at the ffl haha.

For looks, check for scratches near the slide release. Especially common on 1911's. So common they call it the idiot/dummy scratch.

Check grip screws. There's always a chance some idiot cross threaded them.
 

CRXican

Diamond Member
Jun 9, 2004
9,062
1
0
So everyone loves 1911s but I hear they mostly suck in 9mm. Is this true?

nope, just read about a guy who loves his Springfield 1911 in 9mm. obviously expensive though

I'm glad this thread exists so I can admit I suck at shooting pistols and that I love my AR15
 

pontifex

Lifer
Dec 5, 2000
43,804
46
91
I mean I guess it isn't a huge deal but maybe I'm more uncomfortable with it because I have no idea what to look for if one of those people who were touching it messed it up, it's pretty expensive (more than (my) clothes), I can't really get extensive time to test it like test driving a car, and most importantly: I can't return it.

I know I'm blowing this way out of proportion. I don't really care that much, just found it odd. I know it's not going to change, lol. Maybe ordering it from the net wouldn't be a horrible idea to put my crazy newb fears to rest (hopefully they don't display/let people touch those, lol...).

going to be pretty hard to mess up a gun in a gun shop. not much you can do to it plus the employee isn't going to walk away and let you like throw it on the ground, etc.

used guns are what you have to worry about. any good shop will look over and repair a used gun before selling it.
 

IGemini

Platinum Member
Nov 5, 2010
2,472
2
81
So everyone loves 1911s but I hear they mostly suck in 9mm. Is this true?

1911 9mm pistols tend to be, relative to other 9mms (pick two):
- expensive
- overweight
- low capacity

1911s are bricks in the pistol world as far as weight. 34oz is the heaviest 9mm I'd go for, and 1911s are around 40oz. It's best when managing the .45 ACP round it was designed to handle. It's not that they suck, but there are so many better alternatives for whatever purpose one would need a 1911 in 9mm.
 

Merad

Platinum Member
May 31, 2010
2,586
19
81
I wouldn't bother with a 9mm 1911 unless you absolutely have a hardon for 1911's. And TBH if you want a 1911 that badly just get it in .45.

Since this seems to be the main gun thread ATM... I'm trying to figure out what to get myself for my birthday in a couple weeks. Been mainly looking at lower mid level 1911s (Springfield, etc) or a 4" .357 mag revolver. Decisions, decisions...
 

RampantAndroid

Diamond Member
Jun 27, 2004
6,591
3
81
Not always. Depends mostly on brand.
You could also get a Browning Hi-power in 9mm.

If you want a 9mm 1911 style gun, the BHP is the way to go. Just be sure to remove the magazine safety ASAP.

Why are you aiming for 9mm kazaam? Personally I find 9mm to be a sub-par round; I either go large bore revolvers (I prefer .41 magnum or larger), or .45 ACP as the smallest I use. If I would get any other semi-auto caliber right now, it'd be a 10mm gun - probably a Wilson Combat 10mm 1911.
 

gorcorps

aka Brandon
Jul 18, 2004
30,739
454
126
Well....22 didn't seem powerful enough for my only gun, .45 ammo is expensive, .40 has a shit load of recoil and is still more expensive than 9mm...so that left me with 9mm. Oh, and a lot of people said its a good round to start with.

It is. Not sure why anybody would think bad of it. It's the best priced round of the "real" rounds, and they're fine for self defense if you get rounds specifically designed for that. If you're just shooting paper then it's a perfect round.
 

RampantAndroid

Diamond Member
Jun 27, 2004
6,591
3
81
Well....22 didn't seem powerful enough for my only gun, .45 ammo is expensive, .40 has a shit load of recoil and is still more expensive than 9mm...so that left me with 9mm.

.40 has little more recoil than a 9mm or a .45. .40 S&W is a scaled down 10mm cartridge - apparently 10mm was too much recoil.

For price, generally 9mm is 20-30 cents per round, depending on how much you buy. .45 ACP is about 25-35 cents, again based on how much you buy. This is all target ammo - defense ammo costs MUCH more, and you don't complain about the cost there. $1 a round for defense ammo isn't uncommon or, IMO, unreasonable.


It is. Not sure why anybody would think bad of it. It's the best priced round of the "real" rounds, and they're fine for self defense if you get rounds specifically designed for that. If you're just shooting paper then it's a perfect round.

Because in terms of penetration, .45 only penetrates on calibrated gel a difference of 2" usually, while expanding much more. The best round in SD is going to be the round that penetrates the best while expanding the most. I think shot placement matters a lot more with a 9mm round in comparison to a .45 round. As for capacity, if 7+1 rounds is not enough, you either found yourself in the middle of a war, or your aim is terrible and you had better put the gun down. There is absolutely no need for 16 rounds in any self defense situations you can come to expect.
 
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shortylickens

No Lifer
Jul 15, 2003
80,287
17,081
136
If you want a 9mm 1911 style gun, the BHP is the way to go. Just be sure to remove the magazine safety ASAP.

Why are you aiming for 9mm kazaam? Personally I find 9mm to be a sub-par round; I either go large bore revolvers (I prefer .41 magnum or larger), or .45 ACP as the smallest I use. If I would get any other semi-auto caliber right now, it'd be a 10mm gun - probably a Wilson Combat 10mm 1911.

The 9mm penetrates deeper.
Just how many people have you shot?