The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Handguns => Topic started by: mooresauce34 on February 07, 2012, 12:08:15 AM
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Hi I'm 19 grew up in California with strict gun laws. I will be moving to Alaska,and would like to purchase a handgun for protection from animals and intruders I would like it to be comfortable enough to holster regularly. Any ideas on caliber and model? Thanks
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Might help to know a little more about you and your shooting experience.
Richard
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Congratulations on the impending move. You will learn what true (almost) liberty feels like. Don't let it go to your head tho.
First, what ellis said.
Caliber and model are the least important topics, and easily resolved. Got to a store, handle a bunch, find the ones that fit your hands. Then off to a range and rent those you like - and some you don't - and shoot them to find which ones fits you the best.
Caliber depends on what you're shooting. If you expect to encounter bears, I would go with a S&W .500 caliber something. Bad guys coming through the front door? Something a tad lighter would be acceptable.
Get training, and since you'll be in a new state, check with a lawyer with experience in firearms cases.
Then worry about brand/model and caliber.
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If you have no experience, I suggest that you consider two handguns. An inexpensive 4" barrel .357 would be nice to start because you could shoot .38 specials from it, a relatively low recoil round for practice. It would be an ok home defense weapon, escpecially loaded with .357.
For bear encounters you need 44 mag or greater, like Path suggests. Get the range time in with the .38 rounds and have the cannon for carry and animal protection.
Just my 2 cents.
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If you have no experience, I suggest that you consider two handguns. An inexpensive 4" barrel .357 would be nice to start because you could shoot .38 specials from it, a relatively low recoil round for practice. It would be an ok home defense weapon, escpecially loaded with .357.
For bear encounters you need 44 mag or greater, like Path suggests. Get the range time in with the .38 rounds and have the cannon for carry and animal protection.
Just my 2 cents.
I wuz thunkin' the same thing, Jaybet. 'septin I wuz thunkin' .22 and .44 mag (or maybe .454 so ya could shoot .45 colt as well).
One fer practice the other loaded as appropriate fer either 2 legged or four legged varmints.
And I would definitely go with a revolver in any case.
Also if ya stick with the .357, 44 mag, 45 colt or even the 454 if ya want to later ya can buy a lever gun in the same caliber.
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First off, I don't think you can buy a handgun until you're 21.
Until then, I'd suggest a 12 ga pump shotgun for close quarters critter defense and it would suffice for home use as well. Or, as suggested by others, a lever gun in .44 or .454 which would compliment a future purchase of a big bore revolver in the same caliber.
Get some training in the operation, safety and do's and don'ts of firearms use and have fun!
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First off, I don't think you can buy a handgun until you're 21.
Until then, I'd suggest a 12 ga pump shotgun for close quarters critter defense and it would suffice for home use as well. Or, as suggested by others, a lever gun in .44 or .454 which would compliment a future purchase of a big bore revolver in the same caliber.
Get some training in the operation, safety and do's and don'ts of firearms use and have fun!
I was thinking the same thing but I thought maybe it would be a gift. He can own one (at least here in FL) at 18. I am not completely familiar with carry laws in AK other than no permit required and open carry allowed but I do not know the age limit (or even if there is one).
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I have a lot of experience in shooting a tarus 45, and a nine millimeter star and a smith and wesson 40. Family guns. I can't stand the 40 its a short barrel and i can't hit anything with it. I have no experience with revolvers
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I have a lot of experience in shooting a tarus 45, and a nine millimeter star and a smith and wesson 40. Family guns. I can't stand the 40 its a short barrel and i can't hit anything with it. I have no experience with revolvers
Revolvers in general are simple, accurate, easy to maintain and will go bang when you need them to! Simple is better when you're staring at a critter that can make a quick lunch of you. Most anywhere else in the lower 48 I'd be comfy with a 4" revolver in .357 and a shotgun but for some of the western states and Alaska a big bore revolver and lever gun would be better.
If you do some research on folks that hunt with a handgun I think you'll find that 99.9% are using a revolver and probably one with a longer barrel to maximize velocity and energy of the chosen caliber.
I'm sure you'll find a wealth of knowledge from the locals you encounter when you get there. That's the advice that matters most!
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I have a lot of experience in shooting a tarus 45, and a nine millimeter star and a smith and wesson 40. Family guns. I can't stand the 40 its a short barrel and i can't hit anything with it. I have no experience with revolvers
Hell, in that case go out and get a 6: barrel 44 mag and call it a day!
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I ABSO-FRIGGIN-LUTELY agree with a 6 inch revolver. I'm just not sure a 44mag is gonna stop a BAB (big assed bear). That is why I mentioned the .454 that can also shoot .45 colt. Get a lever gun to match and yer covered for anything. Revolvers are just 'bullet proof' when it comes to 'gotta go BANG NOW! Look at the Rugers (whatever caliber ya decide on) in either the Alaskan, Super Redhawk or the Super Blackhawk. Darn things are built like a tank.
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A Public Service Announcement concerning bears...
"Due to the frequency of human-bear encounters, the B.C. Fish and Wildlife Branch is advising hikers, hunters, fishermen and any persons that use the out of doors in a recreational or work related function to take extra precautions while in the field.
We advise the outdoorsman to wear little noisy bells on clothing so as to give advanced warning to any bears that might be close by so you don’t take them by surprise.
We also advise anyone using the out-f-doors to carry “Pepper Spray” with him is case of an encounter with a bear.
Outdoorsmen should also be on the watch for fresh bear activity, and be able to tell the difference between black bear feces and grizzly bear feces. Black bear feces is smaller and contains lots of berries and squirrel fur. Grizzly bear shit has bells in it and smells like pepper."
;D
couldn't help it.... ;)
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Regardless of caliber, I'd go with a DA revolver like the Super Redhawk. The reasoning behind this is that unless you are well practiced with it, in a high stress situation (such as may arise in Alaska = BEAR!!!)....the DA would be easier to get into action.
Like others have said, since you have some shooting experience, it shouldn't be a hard jump to a large caliber.... with some dedicated practice.
If funds permit, I would still get a .22lr to accompany the big bore gun........ for the sake of trigger time and practice expense.
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Here's the one I dream about. A 5.5" Ruger Redhawk .44 Magnum.
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Here's the one I dream about. A 5.5" Ruger Redhawk .44 Magnum.
Nice! I'll take one, too.
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All good advice. Also consider that in Alaska, extreme cold wind and weather effects gun oils and "traditional" lubricants...
I know its here somewhere, but there are plenty of members that live in "the great white north" that can recommend a cold weather lube.
It's important,...guns can gum up and freeze in extreme cold with the wrong lube.
Nice starter set:
+1 on a good 12g.
+1 on a good 4 or 6" revolver (.357 minimum) 4" revo's holster nicely when your bundled up like the Michelin Tire Man..
+1 on a lever action carbine that shoots the same pistol rd.
+1 on a good cold weather lube.
Contact a gun club/range/store in the area your moving, probably have a web site, and review the inventory.
Learn about reloading, you'll have lots of time in the dark and cold, or endless daylight and cold, to make your own bullets. ;D
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Hey guys thanks for the ideas I went to the shop today and looked at a lot and i think I settled on a tarus 44 magnum with a 4 inch barrel
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That should do the job. Shoot the hell out of it.
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Good choice. Now find an inexpensive source of ammo and run a lot of rounds through it. (100s) You might want to do some of that practice with .44spl rounds.
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44 mag? Why didn't you get something with some power?
Hahaha just kidding, great choice. You might want to invest in a few speed loaders. Don't write off the possibilities of loading your own ammo. That is a great caliber to reload. You can save tons of money , you can tailor your loads for your specific needs. You can get into an entry level reloading kit very cheap. not hard to learn either.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using Tapatalk
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44 mag? Why didn't you get something with some power?
Hahaha just kidding, great choice. You might want to invest in a few speed loaders. Don't write off the possibilities of loading your own ammo. That is a great caliber to reload. You can save tons of money , you can tailor your loads for your specific needs. You can get into an entry level reloading kit very cheap. not hard to learn either.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using Tapatalk
That's been proven to be untrue.
You shoot more for the same money. ;D
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Have you looked into maybe a 10mm. Colt/Glock/S&W
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That's been proven to be untrue.
You shoot more for the same money. ;D
Yes, I have found that I cannot save $ reloading 9mm ball so what I do is purchase normal 9mm FMJ to train and plink, and then I reload the brass with good quality JHP and seal it up for a AHBL situation. 223, .40, and especially 357sig is a different story, I can always save by loading those calibers! let me stress again, ESPECIALLY the 357 SIG!!! wow what an expensive round to purchase considering it shoots a 9mm projectile! I digress, I am getting off topic.... Point is I do shoot alot more now! haha
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If you are really looking for just 1 gun it's impossible to cover every possible encounter. Just because you're in Alaska doesn't mean you are always going to be in danger of bear attacks. I doubt they're grabbing people up outside a bar in downtown Anchorage. I live in Central Florida and spend a lot of time around big gators but I'm much more concerned with human predators. I'd look at getting a Glock 29 and when your in a more urban setting load something like a Cor-Bon Powerball and when you head to the woods switch out to a balls out solid bullet 10mm load from Buffalo Bullets.
It's obviously a little underpowered for a big grizzly but so is anything under a 454/460/500. That loading will give you an easy to carry and conceal pistol with the ballistics of a .44mag. If I had to use it on a bear I'd feel good knowing I had 9 to 11 rounds (depending on mag) on board without a reload. You can buy a .40 S&W conversion barrel and/or a .22LR top end for cheap practice so you get familiar handling the pistol without spending 10mm money on ammo.
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Can I reccomend a lubricant called "Gun Butter". It worked well enough in Maine..
In that kind of weather, you might want to look toward synthetics.. They don't attract dust either..
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Shame they dont make a 460 in 5 or 6 inch barrels, would have been perfect.
.45LC for practice and plinking moving up to .454 or 460 for serious hole poking ability. With a ported barrel recoil would not be that severe.
I find my 7.5inch 44 barks in my hand more than factory 460 rounds.
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Well the .44 Mag will surely do the job. Good luck and have fun with it. Hazcat is right about being able to use it in a rifle. Now you need a Henry Rifle to go with it. ;D