Zach said:
What's recommended for first time buyer/user?
(ie. one-on-one with an NRA member/instructor? beginner's class?)
If you have someone knowledgable (relative?) who can teach you the basics, that's a reasonable way to start.
Would have been nice to start learning when you were maybe 5 or 6, but at least you're here now.
It'd be good anyway to take a structured class, of whatever flavor, as long as it's backed by a reputable organization. (Check credentials & reputation.)
I lean toward
NRA 'cause AFAIK they've been around the longest & I'm certified by them.
(That's a link to the class search page. You probably want to start with a Basic Pistol course. Put your zip in at the bottom of the page, & a search radius.)
What sort of "gear" will I need?
For carrying, a holster with some sort of retention. Can be a strap you unsnap w/ your thumb, or a button to push, or several things you have to do at once. (Will you remember the combination in an emergency?)
Cleaning supplies. Get a small kit @ the store; it should have solvent, oil, fabric patches, a wire brush, something that looks like the eye of a needle, & a rod. Might have more. The brush has to be the right size for your barrel.
A case, preferably locking. (Must be hard-sided & locking for air & rail travel, & only you have the key or combination.)
A safe for your home.
Consider a safe for your car, one that cable-locks (or is bolted) to the car.
Eye & ear protection for practicing.
Is it as hard as it looks to clean firearms?
For a Glock, no. It's simple to take them apart & put them back together. Just read the owner's manual to see where to occasionally put a small drop of oil.
:arrow: ALWAYS
ALWAYS ALWAYS triple-check that your Glock is completely unloaded before starting to clean it! :exclaim:
The one feature I dislike about them is that you have to pull the trigger to take it apart.
While it's written for & by women, there's a lot of useful beginner info on
www.corneredcat.com
Safety, care & feeding, shooting basics, all sorts of questions commonly asked by people new to shooting (hi there!)...
Gun cleaning & the 4 rules
Gun cleaning 101
Gun cleaning 102: cleaning a Glock
That last has very detailed instructions & good pictures.
Hint: it's much easier to clean just after using, once it's cool enough to handle.
kcgunfan said:
Under federal law, you have to be 21 to purchase a handgun from a FFL. You have to be 18 to purchase it in a private sale.
... at the range the RSO (Range Safety Officer) will be happy to go over [rules] with you.
... Learn the 4 rules of firearm safety well, as well as how to apply them:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Cooper#Firearms_safety
What he said. Check out
www.handgunlaw.us & click on your state (or whatever state you plan to visit) to learn about the laws there. Their PDFs include links to state sites & resources, so you can read the original for yourself. Very important.
Zach said:
I couldn't find a way to multiquote on the forum, so replying to each one individually.
Look in the lower right of each post. See the little + sign? Click on that. See how it turns to a checkmark? That means that when you eventually click "reply to thread" that post will be quoted.
It's also nice to delete parts of posts that aren't relevant to your reply. Saves space & reading.
Zach said:
I am concerned about the physical difficulty of firing higher caliber.
...I'm not a very strong person. How much strength does it take to fire those larger .45 ACP, etc calibers?
The trigger pull is the same no matter the caliber. (Though you can get lighter or heavier than normal triggers.)
For recoil on the larger calibers, lean into it a bit more. Pay attention to the basics of stance & grip & it shouldn't be a problem. [See above about taking a class from a reputable source.]
A full-size pistol, such as the G17, will have less recoil than the "baby Glocks" (G26 for the 9mm).
Yard Sale said:
Cons: No external safety, Sights unsuited for targets, Sights unsuited for defense, Trigger unsuited for targets
:banghead: :cuss:
Glocks do have an external safety. It's built into the trigger.
If your finger isn't on the trigger, all 3 safeties are on.
If your finger squeezes the trigger squarely, the trigger safety is taken off, which allows the 2 internal safeties to come off, which allows the gun to go bang.
Here's a neat little thing - an interactive illustrated Glock (that's what it says on the page).
As for the rest, I'm able to target shoot just fine with all of mine, & for SD you won't have time to use sights.