Does anyone keep a pistol on hand they consider a "loaner gun" ? If so, what is it?
Perhaps a some-what hypothetical situation will clarify what I'm talking about.
Suppose you have a family member who is not familiar with guns and does not own one. This family member has had problems with someone else that are not bad enough to call the police over, still give those concerned a little discomfort. This family member also lives alone.
Ideally, this person would acquire their own means of self defense. But that may not be financially possible, so they need something loaned to them in the mean time.
Considerations:
1) This person is unfamiliar with guns, which includes gun safety. You can explain the rules to people but in practice, especially in a stressful situation it may not sink in as perfectly as you'd like.
2) You may have to loan the gun now and schedule the range time for later. I know this is far from ideal, but it happens. But assume you have time for a dry fire demonstration. Or possibly time and finances do not allow for enough range time for that person to really work on their skills
3) In teaching my wife to shoot, I've learned some can not handle racking slides or heavier double action pulls. Sometimes this is strength, sometimes its just technique but neither is probably fixable in the time frame we're discussing.
4) A true carry piece is not needed, looking for more of a home defense or car gun (to a lesser extent). In other words size and weight isn't a big factor
What I'm NOT concerned about is price (for the most part) or legal implications. This would be a gun I enjoy and have a use for but wouldn't miss to the point I hesitate to loan it out, and its not a gun I worry about getting back. Either the person I loan it to is trusted enough to return it or I care enough that they can keep it as long as they need to. Price wise I'd spend enough to get something I'm comfortable trusting a loved one's life with but something I can afford to have as an "Extra".
Two guns have come to mind for this. An S&W model 10 and a Sigma 9mm. I think the model 10 is simple and easy for a new person to understand, adequate power, always reliable, and the trigger pull is heavy enough to reduce negligent discharge but light enough most people can pull it. My only concern is the capacity. 6 shots is enough for someone who actually practices but might not be sufficent for someone who has never shot a gun, or hasn't in a long time. That consideration is where the Sigma comes in but with the downside of racking the slide. Of course going semi-auto also ads a another level complexity.
I could also see a pump action shotgun for this purpose.
So, what say you ODT?
Perhaps a some-what hypothetical situation will clarify what I'm talking about.
Suppose you have a family member who is not familiar with guns and does not own one. This family member has had problems with someone else that are not bad enough to call the police over, still give those concerned a little discomfort. This family member also lives alone.
Ideally, this person would acquire their own means of self defense. But that may not be financially possible, so they need something loaned to them in the mean time.
Considerations:
1) This person is unfamiliar with guns, which includes gun safety. You can explain the rules to people but in practice, especially in a stressful situation it may not sink in as perfectly as you'd like.
2) You may have to loan the gun now and schedule the range time for later. I know this is far from ideal, but it happens. But assume you have time for a dry fire demonstration. Or possibly time and finances do not allow for enough range time for that person to really work on their skills
3) In teaching my wife to shoot, I've learned some can not handle racking slides or heavier double action pulls. Sometimes this is strength, sometimes its just technique but neither is probably fixable in the time frame we're discussing.
4) A true carry piece is not needed, looking for more of a home defense or car gun (to a lesser extent). In other words size and weight isn't a big factor
What I'm NOT concerned about is price (for the most part) or legal implications. This would be a gun I enjoy and have a use for but wouldn't miss to the point I hesitate to loan it out, and its not a gun I worry about getting back. Either the person I loan it to is trusted enough to return it or I care enough that they can keep it as long as they need to. Price wise I'd spend enough to get something I'm comfortable trusting a loved one's life with but something I can afford to have as an "Extra".
Two guns have come to mind for this. An S&W model 10 and a Sigma 9mm. I think the model 10 is simple and easy for a new person to understand, adequate power, always reliable, and the trigger pull is heavy enough to reduce negligent discharge but light enough most people can pull it. My only concern is the capacity. 6 shots is enough for someone who actually practices but might not be sufficent for someone who has never shot a gun, or hasn't in a long time. That consideration is where the Sigma comes in but with the downside of racking the slide. Of course going semi-auto also ads a another level complexity.
I could also see a pump action shotgun for this purpose.
So, what say you ODT?
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