Posted: 10/11/2015 3:17:08 PM EDT
| where did you all learn all that you know? I am trying to learn as much as possible on different handguns and would appreciate all the info/links/books/forums/people to talk to I can get. |
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Shooting, reading (GUNS, G&A, Shooting Times, Handguns, In The Gravest Extreme, No Second Place Winner, Handgun Stopping Power: the Definitive Study, Shotguns & Shotgunning, tons of print catalogs from tons of different manufacturers, etc.) and shooting. Also a variety of forums, websites, friends, family, and shooting.
There is no one place to go and there is no one answer to your question. The toughest part is knowing what to believe vs. all the BS. Believe about half of what you read and hear, and take half of that with a grain of salt. A thirst for knowledge is the key! |
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For "book smarts", forums are good as long as you have enough common sense to read bullshit and recognize it as such.
For practical knowledge, I don't think there is any substitute for putting rounds downrange with a variety of platforms. The reviews in magazines like G&A are worthless, IMO. |
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Quoted:
where did you all learn all that you know? I am trying to learn as much as possible on different handguns and would appreciate all the info/links/books/forums/people to talk to I can get. If you just live long enough, are interested in a subject, and somewhere along the line have learned to read .......... it simply accumulates. |
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Quoted:
For "book smarts", forums are good as long as you have enough common sense to read bullshit and recognize it as such. For practical knowledge, I don't think there is any substitute for putting rounds downrange with a variety of platforms. The reviews in magazines like G&A are worthless, IMO. I agree with this 100%. Nothing is more useful than shooting a variety of firearms and learning from the experience. I have been lucky enough to own firearms from almost all major manufacturers and it has taught me more than I could ever learn from reading alone. |
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Quoted:
Shooting, reading (GUNS, G&A, Shooting Times, Handguns, In The Gravest Extreme, No Second Place Winner, Handgun Stopping Power: the Definitive Study, Shotguns & Shotgunning, tons of print catalogs from tons of different manufacturers, etc.) and shooting. Also a variety of forums, websites, friends, family, and shooting. There is no one place to go and there is no one answer to your question. The toughest part is knowing what to believe vs. all the BS. Believe about half of what you read and hear, and take half of that with a grain of salt. A thirst for knowledge is the key! This is the truth. Those who spew the most outlandish tales (like, "The 5.56 will hit in your forehead and change direction and come out your ankle!") are the ones whose brains have so ossified that they cannot or will not think about what they've heard. |
| I started competition oriented shooting with IHMSA Metallic Silhouette in the late 70's, and at the time was not making much money as a substitute teacher... which led to the progression of casting my own bullets, even for the rifle calibers...about the same time, a local gun range had started shooting bowling pin matches, and turning target matches, so an autoloader came along... need for faster production of ammo, which led to improved reloading machines... when we started the Tampa Bay Combat Pistol League the quest for a reliable and accurate .45 led to as much reading material as possible... a lot of trial and change as there was not a lot of aftermarket 1911 parts for a couple of years... hand scoring of pistol matches provided some down time, so we started shooting a practical rifle match in conjunction with the pistol match, which led to shotgun side matches, that led to 3 gun ... in the mid 90s, the Chevy Sportsman's Team Challenge was in south Florida, so upgraded the shotgun with a lot of skeet and later 5 stand...about the same time, I shot one of Kyle Lamb's North Carolina Tactical 3 gun matches at Fayetteville, and was hooked on multigun....I've had a chance to talk to a lot of world class shooters along the way, and met some very good friends...it's been a good 30+ years, and I estimate well over 350,000 rounds |
| Just accumulated it over the years. My dad, who did not care for guns, bought me a .38 revolver when I was 16 (1988). I learned from guns and ammo, shotgun news, a guy I worked for in the summers, next door neighbor who was a deputy, 13 years of police work, the Internet, numerous friends who enjoy shooting, shooting classes with good instructors, little bit of gunshop nonsense thrown in for good measure. It all just adds up. |
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The internet...
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For "book smarts", forums are good as long as you have enough common sense to read bullshit and recognize it as such. For practical knowledge, I don't think there is any substitute for putting rounds downrange with a variety of platforms. The reviews in magazines like G&A are worthless, IMO. Quoted:
For "book smarts", forums are good as long as you have enough common sense to read bullshit and recognize it as such. For practical knowledge, I don't think there is any substitute for putting rounds downrange with a variety of platforms. The reviews in magazines like G&A are worthless, IMO. This Quoted:
Fortunately, I was able to find some reputable gun shops to hang out in and buy from, which were run by people who knew what they were doing. Knowledgeable gun shop employees? Didn't know there was such a thing. Let me guess, they sold you a Taurus Judge for home defense  
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If you just live long enough, are interested in a subject, and somewhere along the line have learned to read .......... it simply accumulates.  very true
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Quoted: where did you all learn all that you know? I am trying to learn as much as possible on different handguns and would appreciate all the info/links/books/forums/people to talk to I can get. American Handgunner is a wealth of info as they have a couple of writers whom love the older stuff. |
I read & I shoot alot I barrow any gun I can for a mag or a cylinder in return I allow ingested others to do the same. every state has a state shooting association that is NRA & CMP affiliated go find yours become a member start going to the events watch ask learn. these shooting groups are largley older retirees now they are acheing for younger members go find yours. |
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Lots of reading, lots of shooting, and a bit of buying what I've enjoyed the most.
Anyone who says, "I'm in the military...I'm a weapons expert" is generally full of shit. I'm no expert but I know what I like. It took about 15 years of owning handguns to figure it out completely, though I still have the first few guns I purchased. |
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Quoted:
For "book smarts", forums are good as long as you have enough common sense to read bullshit and recognize it as such. For practical knowledge, I don't think there is any substitute for putting rounds downrange with a variety of platforms. The reviews in magazines like G&A are worthless, IMO. Generally a gun is a gun with different models having slightly different features. When possible try to handle/shoot as many different models as possible. |
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Quoted: I agree with this 100%. Nothing is more useful than shooting a variety of firearms and learning from the experience. I have been lucky enough to own firearms from almost all major manufacturers and it has taught me more than I could ever learn from reading alone. Quoted: Quoted: For "book smarts", forums are good as long as you have enough common sense to read bullshit and recognize it as such. For practical knowledge, I don't think there is any substitute for putting rounds downrange with a variety of platforms. The reviews in magazines like G&A are worthless, IMO. I agree with this 100%. Nothing is more useful than shooting a variety of firearms and learning from the experience. I have been lucky enough to own firearms from almost all major manufacturers and it has taught me more than I could ever learn from reading alone. |
| Choosing a handgun is a lot like picking a woman. One size doesn't fit all. Experience a few then make your choice. What I love you may hate. Been shooting for 60 years. When I needed a CCW I tried many. The Kahr CM9 was my choice hands down. !00% dependable and easy to conceal. You may not like it at all. Only YOU can decide. |
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God gave you one mouth, two eyes and two ears. WATCH & LISTEN at least 2x as much as you speak!
Seriously, there is nothing worse than a guy who assumes he "knows" how to shoot by virtue of the balls hanging under his dick. If you are not shooting well, ASK people who are shooting well and try something different. I am by no means a "great" shooter but I consider myself responsible and competent. I take classes, ask for advice and help and spend lots of effective* time at the range. However, here are probably the three most valuable shooting tips I have ever been told beyond the four never shall violate gun handling rules; 1) front sight, FRONT SIGHT, FRONT SIGHT 2) follow-through and reset 3)a grip or a stock is not simply a handle with which to hang onto as you shoot the gun. It is an interface. *effective does not means mag dumps at a few feet. |