Do any RFFers dabble in firearms?

erikhaugsby

erikhaugsby

killer of threads
Local time
10:19 PM
Joined
Mar 14, 2006
Messages
1,893
Location
Innsbruck
View My Gallery
Ever since I discovered the local firing range I've been hooked on the idea of buying myself a nice little handgun for some stress-relieving. The Beretta 21 Bobcat (it can shoot either .22 or .25 ACP, though I'm led to believe one must purchase different clips and barrels to shoot both sizes with one gun) has currently caught my fancy, though I haven't formally narrowed my search to any one brand/style. It's much like jumping into the world of cameras--so many methods of shooting so many different sized rounds.

Does anybody else here like to shoot firearms for fun, be it at a range or out hunting?
 
I'm not familiar with that Baretta so I can't comment on it.
I was a competitive shooter from about the age of 14 to 37 and I've handled more guns than I can count.
I might be able to say a few reasonable things about guns for various purposes.
If you have questions....
 
I enjoy target practice with 0.22 rifles at the range. Easy to use and accurate, although I don't own one. Target shooting is a nice, manly sport - recommended. I'm not a heavy rifle person -- too much recoil, and too expensive. I bought my son a BB gun, but there's hardly anywhere we can use it in Pasadena (need rural spaces for that).
 
Yea, shot for about 30 years until the paper work got too much. Enjoyed it very much and found some skills learned while shooting were directly applicable to using a camera. I think you are perfectly fine posting this in the OT forum.

Bob
 
The question would be, what would be the Leica equivalent in the pistol world? You know, simple design without excess, but still an attractive piece, durable and reliable, etc.

The Glock is certainly reliable and simple but they're just not pretty.

I'd say Sig Sauer would be the choice. They're pretty, reliable, well-built guns, a bit pricey, and they have a few of their own "special edition/commerative" models, just like Leica.
 
I was in the Army (US) and I have experince with a variety of weapons.

Fact: 75% of individuals who are shot are done so with their own weapon. Some weapons have hair triggers and people wind up accidentally shooting themselves or loved ones.

Firearms are lethal and users should get some training before using them. This is not like shooting pix with your favorite camera.
 
I agree with getting training, Go to a range with very high safety standards, they wil give you good safety training. practice, do some competitions. Just about every pistol club here is like that though, it is a legal requirement. Try a few different guns before you buy one. My first was a beretta 92fs, it shot well and felt right and was super reliable till I broke it. One of the best and best value I have used was a STI Trojan 1911 style in 9mm, it is so smooth it is almost like it has no recoil and is so well built it is ready for 50m competitions right out of the box. A nice smith & wesson or ruger revolver is good to shoot. A ruger or buckmark is a good .22 to start on and accurate enough for many types of competition.

If you can get a 5"group or smaller with a bog standard service pistol at 25m, you can handhold your camera at 1/10 of a second.

Pistol shooting develops patience, concentration, a steady handand awareness. All useful for photography I think, and good relaxation too.
 
I was member of a Rifle Guild from when I was 14 to 24. We started out with .22 LR Floubert rifles, then the government thought it was a bad idea to have all that flying lead getting lost in the environment and made bullet-catches mandatory. Not many Guilds could afford that so switched to crossbows and handbows. That took much of the fun out of it for me.
I spent a few years as a competition air rifle shooter. But gave it up a few years ago.

I have shot Mauser K98Ks, Lee Enfields, M1 Garands, M1 Carbines, M1919A4 Machineguns, a M3 SMG 'Greasegun', a Model 1870 Beaumont and some kind of Kalashnikov medium machinegun (RPK or AKM, can't remember).

Currently only have an M1 Garand in my locker and I am about to get an M1 Carbine added to my license.

Further I have some deactivated Mosin Nagants and a M1903 for display.

I am looking for a nice Colt M1911 or M1911A1 for my collection. But funds are a little tight (what with all the Camera Gas). I might have to settle for a Norinco copy.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom