The wife says "buy some guns"?!?

[mjohnson]

So my wife expresses an interest in firearms...

Coworkers remind me that not all "hunting accidents" are accidents. Well, I trust her.

We bought a Kimber Classic II and a Ruger MarkIII comp target model.

She says "that's all?"

How cool is that?

I hadn't shot a 45 in years - forgot how much fun it is to throw big pieces of lead slowly downrange. "Poof" instead of "ker-pow". Also, the trigger action on the 'cheapest' Kimber is so much much nicer than the 'better' Ruger.

The coworkers are jealous. "Can you get your wife to talk to my wife???".

I'll say that I'm lucky, anyday

Sorry, no pictures - my PC's USB stuff is fighting with the camera.

mike
'78SC

[2.7RACER]

I work on my 1911's. I own 4 various models from a Strayer-Tripp custom "race gun", Colt National Match Gold Cup '72 series, and a couple custom hand built 1911's.
All have triggers in the 2 to 3 pound range. Target sights, tight match barrels and other trick stuff.
These aren't carry guns, basically steel or targets.
A gunsmith specializing in 1911's can make most of them into accurate fun shooters.
Start with a decent manufacturer, Springfield or Colt.
There are a few other good manufacturers and lot's of cheap ones not worth the time and effort.
The trick is to find a gunsmith with the necessary skills.
There's a few "name" gunsmiths and more great local specialists.
Ask around from the guy's beating everyone in competitions.
Kimbers are good out of the box, but even they can be tuned for a discriminating shooter.
Once you shoot a really well made and tuned hand gun there's no going back to those off the shelf, out of the box hand guns.
A "better Ruger" haven't seen one.

You have an exceptional bride. Sounds like a keeper.

[Jim Bremner]

During Katrina, my wife saw what was going on in St. Louis.

She asked me if we had enough ammo.



No dear, we don't...but I'm working on it!

[widgeon13]

Good woman!

Nowadays, you can never have enough guns or ammo.

[on2wheels52]

Sounds like you have things under control. I would have suggested a quality revolver but if your wife is comfortable with the self-loaders that's great.
Jim

[Joeaksa]

Jim brings up a good point. Most ladies are better with a "wheel gun" over a autoloader, aka automatic. Once they get used to shooting then they can use whatever they wish but starting out might be easier.

A good .357 revolver loaded with .38 specials is a good and cheap way to shoot. Course a .22 is even better then step up when ready.

[legion]

I'm really enjoying my G17, especially after I did the 25¢ trigger job.

I recently picked up an H&R 929 to help me fill out my time at the range. I have to purchase range time in 1-hour increments, and it was taking me 20 minutes to shoot through 100 9mm rounds ($16 of ammo). Now with a .22, I can shoot for the full hour without spending big bucks...

[mjohnson]

Thanks for the comments.

Yes, I'm lucky to have her - she's supportive of my whims. BTW the Porsche was her idea.

We'll be using the pistols for defense from maneating bowling pins and charging killer silhouettes.

Plinking and the occasional 3-gun match. Nothing serious.

I'll let the pistols (and this shooter) settle in over a few k rounds before getting work done on them. I expect the Kimber to have more potential than the Ruger.

We will, however get our CCW this summer. While I have no interest in carrying right now I consider it an act of "civil obedience". I'd like to exercise some of our rights.

Yes, a revolver and maybe a matching lever action is next, though she's drawn the line somewhat short of the western girl costumes in the cowboy action shooting crowd (think blond Trinity over Dr. Quinn).

mike
'78SC

[widgeon13]

CT and NY might be more strict than NM but did you not have to have a permit or CCW before buying the pistol.

In both CT and NY you are required to have permit/CCW in order to make a purchase and the NY permit must have weapon serial numbers on the permit.

Just curious??

[onewhippedpuppy]

Suggesting guns and a Porsche? Seriously, do all you can to keep her happy, she's one of a kind.

My wife always hated my Porsches, but did buy me a 1911 for Christmas.

[Jim Richards]

Mike, please update your will to add me to your list of beneficiaries.

[red-beard]

I call shenanigans

No wife is ever that cool. It is impossible.

[teenerted1]

Originally posted by widgeon13
CT and NY might be more strict than NM but did you not have to have a permit or CCW before buying the pistol.

In both CT and NY you are required to have permit/CCW in order to make a purchase and the NY permit must have weapon serial numbers on the permit.

Just curious??

out in the west a CCW is just that concealed carry weapon permit.
some communities don't care if you have out on a holster for all to see. that wouldn't be concealed so you don't need a permit.

you still have to pass the 5-7day waiting period for a handgun if i recall.

[911boost]

I have an Ultra CDP II Kimber and once I got rid of the whole screwy external extractor, its been a great gun.

Bill

[red-beard]

Originally posted by teenerted1
out in the west a CCW is just that concealed carry weapon permit.
some communities don't care if you have out on a holster for all to see. that wouldn't be concealed so you don't need a permit.

you still have to pass the 5-7day waiting period for a handgun if i recall.

I was showing one of my English buddies the different guns for sale at a Gander mountain, then proceeded to buy a Springfield 1911A1 in Stainless Steel, to show him how easy/quick it was...

[mjohnson]

Sportsmans Warehouse, Albuquerque, Nuevo Mexico

I filled out the background check paperwork, the kid at the counter spent 10 minutes on the phone to somebody/somewhere, I paid and walked out. He said he got a supervisor so they were luckily able to quickly handle some inconsistencies (frequent checks against) in my record.

I had to give them my county of birth - something about multiple simultaneous handgun purchases raises the bar I guess.

From "Ugg. Me want them two." to us strolling out with a heavy shopping bag took 15 minutes.

The "corporate (evil!) chain store" was much more pleasant to deal with at every level than any of the "virtuous lovable local shops" were when we were shopping around. The manager even came out of his office to thank us for our business. That was nice of him. Other stores could learn something there...


mike
'78SC

[mjohnson]

Originally posted by teenerted1
out in the west a CCW is just that concealed carry weapon permit.
some communities don't care if you have out on a holster for all to see. that wouldn't be concealed so you don't need a permit.

you still have to pass the 5-7day waiting period for a handgun if i recall.

This is the wild west. Open carry is legal here as far as I know. With the exception of Santa Fe (our very own Boulder/Berkeley/Austin/Madison/but without any large college), NM likes its guns. Los Alamos in particular is very heavily armed - there are lots of very well paid technical minded folks here with a taste for machine guns and other interesting weaponry.

Say whatever else about him but Gov. Richardson (running for Pres) has a CCW permit.

No waiting period or permits here for anything short of what is federally required for the class 3 stuff.

happy shooting,
mike
'78sc

[on2wheels52]

Mike
I presume the counter kid was making the call to NICS, the nominally 'instant' criminal background check a section of the FBI runs. The first person you talk to is something of a flunky, an FFL dealer can do that part online. From my experience about 80% get a 'go' at that stage, two minutes or so of phone time.
If some anamoly comes up, a supervisor takes over who can usually wade through the information and make the decision (as in your case).
In a small percentage of calls they require more information to make the decision, they have three working days to collect what they're looking for. If nothing negating the sale shows up in the three days you can pick up the firearm (or be denied if they find cause to do so).
A person buying two or more handguns from the same dealer in seven days requires the dealer to complete a funky three carbon postcard affair describing what was purchased and by whom. One copy to the feds, one to the local state police, and the dealer has to retain the third. An extra PITA for me (us). Since that situation comes up infrequently, I usually tell the buyer to wait ten days to pick up the second handgun.
re "virtuous lovable local shops", I haven't thought of my place in quite those terms, but should you find yourself in town feel free to stop in and make your own judgement. And please bring your wife, but I may make you stand in the corner while she makes her selection.
Jim

[mjohnson]

Originally posted by on2wheels52
re "virtuous lovable local shops", I haven't thought of my place in quite those terms, but should you find yourself in town feel free to stop in and make your own judgement. And please bring your wife, but I may make you stand in the corner while she makes her selection.
Jim

Heh... She actually was afraid of guns a few years ago. No particular reason but they made her jumpy. She's not an avid shooter yet but we're working on it. Shooting the Ruger, she dealt with and cleared two jams without much drama - something she wouldn't have done in the past. I'll let her ask to try the 45 - I won't push that one on her even though the bark is far worse than the bite.

I can't stand too far in the corner though. Now and then her eye wanders towards megabuck antique revolvers. Luckily Sportsmans Warehouse didn't sell those.

Regarding independent shops, I'm a huge fan. I just haven't found any particularly friendly ones yet in Santa Fe or ABQ. We usually go non-chain for dining and specialty goods, willing to pay a little more to deal with someone knowledgeable who's eager for our business. The thing is that on the surface we're pretty much yuppies. Yes, we have a Volvo. Yes, she wears Banana Republic to work. I've even been seen swinging a golf club. Such outward imagery doesn't always get us loving attention at the gun or 4x4 shop - two places we're more than willing to spend hard earned money.

So if you see muffy and biff (though I'm far too ugly to be a biff) in your shop in Arkansas, maybe it's us taking you up on your offer. I'm sure you'd help us through an out-of-state purchase.


mike
'78SC