I'm a firearms enthusiast...Ask me anything!!

[Aleks]

Originally Posted by YYC in LAX

I'm highly interested in starting to hunt. I have no guns, permits, or hunting licenses.

1. How much am I looking for start up costs? (The cost for the paperwork and a solid new gun)
2. If I applied for permits/licenses today, how soon could I be hunting?
3. What rifle would you recommend? I don't want a "solid beginner" gun. 30-6?

1: Your PAL and RPAL cost about $80-$120 each. Best to do them both at the same time. Most people get the R afterwards anyhow, and you save money on the application by doing both at the same time. Just affords you more options if you expand into the sport (like wanting to shoot restricted rifles). After the course, the application fee is $80. Courses can be done almost any weekend, the application is what takes time. There is a mandatory 28 day waiting period for all applications (they call it a "cool down"), and then they get processed. Most take about 2 months from app to having the card in your hand. As for a decent rifle, it depends! Calibre? Stock material? Quality? etc all play into it. You can get decent rifles that will get you going for $500-$700 with a low end scope (bolt actions)

2: Realistically, if you started today, probably by November

3: Budget conscious guns would be ones like Mossberg Night Trains, Savage Axis line. More money, Sako and Remington come to mind. They'll all go bang when you pull the trigger, so its whatever is comfortable for you, and feels nice. I would say a decent beginner calibre is .223, its dirt cheap and very manageable recoil, still good enough to hunt smaller animals (AB regs say its ok for Deer, I'll leave the ethics decision up to you). If you want more, go to .308, once again, very common, very affordable

[CaramonLS]

What is your opinion on the Beretta 92F as a 9MM option? I'm looking at picking up a 9MM and it was probably the one that felt most 'right' when using it.

However, most ranges / people I talk to really are down on the durability (unlike a CZ for example, which has a very positive impression).

[SeeBass]

Originally Posted by Aleks

Yes. But if guns were outlawed, many gun owners would not surrender their property, so in essence becoming outlaws....its like the twilight zone....

But in all seriousness, firearm prohibitions have done very little to ever prevent the criminal element on possessing or using firearms.

Why is there a survey out there asking criminals if they tried to get a gun and were they ever unsuccessful? You dont know how many people have wanted a gun to commit a crime. For every 10 guns crimes was there 20 being prevented, you don't know.

[Aleks]

Originally Posted by Tron_fdc

So I can transport an unrestricted firearm as long as it is unloaded? Does it have to be out of sight? As a kid I remember seeing trucks with a gun rack in the cab, and guns on them. I haven't seen that in years, so I'm wondering if it's now illegal.

It only has to be out of site if you are away from the vehicle. I literally throw mine on the back seat if I'm going out...If I stop for coffee, they gotta get stashed. Drives my girlfriend crazy sometimes. I case them most of the time now, just cause I don't need a parade of firearms going in and out of my house, that is just asking for a break in

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by Tron_fdc

So I can transport an unrestricted firearm as long as it is unloaded? Does it have to be out of sight? As a kid I remember seeing trucks with a gun rack in the cab, and guns on them. I haven't seen that in years, so I'm wondering if it's now illegal.

I assume the answer would be no, they don't have to be out of site if you are in the vehicle...

However if you leave the vehicle...

From the document that Alex posted the link to :

Leaving any class of firearms in an

unattended vehicle

Lock non-restricted firearms
and locked containers carrying
restricted or prohibited firearms
in the trunk or in a similar
lockable compartment.

If the vehicle does not have a
trunk or lockable compartment,
put firearms and firearm
containers out of sight inside the
vehicle and lock the vehicle.

If you are in a remote wilderness area and cannot
lock your non-restricted firearms inside your
vehicle, unload them and put them out of sight.
Attach a secure locking device to the firearms

unless they are needed for predator control.

[Aleks]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

What is your opinion on the Beretta 92F as a 9MM option? I'm looking at picking up a 9MM and it was probably the one that felt most 'right' when using it.

However, most ranges / people I talk to really are down on the durability (unlike a CZ for example, which has a very positive impression).

I'm very baised toward CZ, one of my pistols is a CZ75 SP-01 Shadow bi-tone. Its by far the best handling pistol I have ever shot. Since you're asking MY opinion, I'll tell you what my observations were with the Beretta. First off, they have a good following, so they must be doing something right, secondly they are technically a "service pistol", so reliability has been proven (some US military branches use it as their side arm). I'm not big on their appearance overall (unless the Inox version), and I found the controls such as the slide release awkward for my hands. Some people just cannot shoot certain pistols because of ergonomics, so its best to try before you buy, like you did. Curious to know what others you have shot?

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

See at least Rerun can have a little fun with this. But seriously, do we need threads for "Experts" on everything? If so lets go ahead with the "Coitus Expert" thread, the "Beer and Jack Expert" thread. Judging from the fact that 9 of the first 10 posts were meant as jokes or to be humourous shows I'm not the only one, nor will I be the only one, not taking this thread very seriously.

Most of us already know what we need to about this.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Kudos to Aleks for not giving in to the sniping.

[CaramonLS]

FN9, CZ 75B and Beretta Storm. Of those 3 I liked the CZ better. But the 92 was at the top of the list.

I mostly shoot .45s though as I have 2 - Colt 1911s right now.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

Kudos to Aleks for not giving in to the sniping.

punny

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

punny

Oh man, I can't take credit for that. Did not even mean to be punny.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

What is your opinion on the Beretta 92F as a 9MM option? I'm looking at picking up a 9MM and it was probably the one that felt most 'right' when using it.

However, most ranges / people I talk to really are down on the durability (unlike a CZ for example, which has a very positive impression).

I own the 96A1 which is the .40 calibre version of the same hand gun. Love it. It's the only one I own so far but have shot Glocks and Sigs as well.

The US recently dumped it as their sidearm from what I recall. Or maybe it was just doing away with the 9mm version, don't recall. But ya, for years and years it was the side arm of the US armed forces. Many police dept use it as well.

I agree with "feeling right" as that is one of the biggest factors you should take into consideration when purchasing a handgun. It should feel natural and comfortable in your hand. An extension of your arm if you will.

I have had zero durability issues with it at all so far but I've only put maybe 4000 rnds through it. I'm pretty anal about cleaning and lubricating though. I clean and oil it within a day or two of using it every time. My only real complaint with it is the guide rod. It's the part of the gun that holds the spring that slams the slide forward again once the gun goes off. It's made out of plastic which I'm not a huge fan of but you can have steel ones made for it.

Glock are crap IMO. The feel so cheap and blocky in my hand and it's the only one that gave me some discomfort in my hands after firing it for a bit. The larger calibre versions suffered from "Glock Buldge".

If you are serious about picking up a handgun, I'd look at a Sig. You'll pay a bit more up front but has a good blend of form and function. I believe it is the sidearm of choice for the Seals so that's a prett good endorsement.

[Calgaryborn]

Originally Posted by Rerun

I assume the answer would be no, they don't have to be out of site if you are in the vehicle...

However if you leave the vehicle...

From the document that Alex posted the link to :

Leaving any class of firearms in an

unattended vehicle

Lock non-restricted firearms
and locked containers carrying
restricted or prohibited firearms
in the trunk or in a similar
lockable compartment.

If the vehicle does not have a
trunk or lockable compartment,
put firearms and firearm
containers out of sight inside the
vehicle and lock the vehicle.

If you are in a remote wilderness area and cannot
lock your non-restricted firearms inside your
vehicle, unload them and put them out of sight.
Attach a secure locking device to the firearms

unless they are needed for predator control.

I thought that if you were on a public road and you had a trunk you had to carry your unloaded rifle in the trunk rather then up front. I could be wrong. Also, I'm pretty sure the action has to be open if you are carrying the rifle up front.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by Aleks

3: Budget conscious guns would be ones like Mossberg Night Trains, Savage Axis line. More money, Sako and Remington come to mind. They'll all go bang when you pull the trigger, so its whatever is comfortable for you, and feels nice. I would say a decent beginner calibre is .223, its dirt cheap and very manageable recoil, still good enough to hunt smaller animals (AB regs say its ok for Deer, I'll leave the ethics decision up to you). If you want more, go to .308, once again, very common, very affordable

I would also give a nod towards Savags as an excellent first rifle. They are cheap, no frills rifle but are legendary for their accuracy and trigger systems. I want a modern bolt action myself to use and would certainly look long and hard at Savage. If you bought a decent rifle and scope, you could probably get er done for under $1000.

Any cartridge in the .30 calibire ranges is suitable for most game in Canada. I'd stay away from the .223 as well as they are basically just pointy .22 rnds. Bit more jam obviously but don't have the same mass that a .30 calibre would have.

Interesing thing that I learned about cartridges not all that long ago. They don't actually have all that much gun powder in them. I always assumbed that a cartridge would be filled with gun powder from the primer cap all the way up to the base of the actual bullet. Not so much. Pull the bullet out of a .30 calibre rnd and dump out the powder, you would wind up with basically a pinch of salt. Very little in there. I guess all the empty space is required for proper ignition.

[Flash Walken]

How I used to picture CaramonLS



How I picture CaramonLS now:

[Aleks]

Originally Posted by SeeBass

Why is there a survey out there asking criminals if they tried to get a gun and were they ever unsuccessful? You dont know how many people have wanted a gun to commit a crime. For every 10 guns crimes was there 20 being prevented, you don't know.

You are correct, but it is a shaky argument. We have clear evidence of criminals and unlawful gun possession already (unregistered guns, prohibited guns, unsafe transport, concealed carry, prohibited ammunition, unsafe discharge, etc) under the umbrella of relatively strict and clearly laid out gun control. So with the disregard in place right now, why would that change? Prohibition of firearms does nothing except remove lawful property from the hands of lawful owners

[flamesfever]

When I'm big game hunting I never put a shell in the chamber until I'm ready to shoot. I'm always a little nervous of people who walk with a shell in the chamber, relying on the safety for protection. What are your thoughts?

[RedMileDJ]

I'm thinking of picking up my first gun (pistol) and getting into target shooting.

Can you suggest any "beginner" type models? I did some target shooting last year at Shooting Edge and we had a lot of fun with the hand-guns they provided. I don't remember the types. "Same if not similar to what the police use", as I seem to remember them saying.

As well, what are the requirements for storing a hand-gun in the home? Types of storage? Etc?

[RedMileDJ]

Oh, and how do I convince my wife to let me get a gun?

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Red-Mile-DJ

Oh, and how do I convince my wife to let me get a gun?

Take her to the range, take a picture of her smiling as she shoots a gun.

Show her the picture when you're done.