re: First Time Gun Owner - General Questions

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No joke. It is all good info I am sure... but I feel like it could be learned with a lot less hours of time

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I felt that way when I took a course about 10 years ago. It isn't a requirement in Alabama, but I was a noob and so was my wife. It was actually her that wanted one because I was travelling for work and left her alone in our house all week. Now she's kind of in the other boat, not wanting them loaded in the house because of the kids. I actually had to show her how to operate the shotgun again a few weeks ago. I need to get her to the range again. Once she's shot a few rounds she gets comfortable, but it has been years.

But the classes, even if you only take away 2-3 things from them immediately, you might remember something later and it come in handy.

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Ruger® LCR™ .38 Special Double-Action Revolver

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My wife carries the same gun. She often carries inside her purse and sometimes carries on person in a IWB or under bra holster.

There are certainly some nice features for a female when discussing a revolver. Most notably it will go bang every time you pull the trigger and if it does not you pull the trigger again to fix the problem.

Also the .38 special +P is considerably more powerful than .380, the other popular carry caliber for women. However, a superlight frame, short barrel, and relatively small grip make this little revolver a single function firearm. It is no joy to shoot. For a beginner I would suggest learning proper grip, practicing with an empty gun on trigger pull, and initially shooting no more than 50 rounds per outing. Your wrist will not like a 250 round first time usage.

On the down side there is no safety. So, if you have small children are you are ever around children you need to secure the firearm at all times. Some people choose to carry revolvers with the first firing chamber empty as a form of safety. This requires a double trigger pull in time of need and I do not like this method. When you are carrying it you need to be sure that the trigger is protected from accidental pressure. Thus, any holster you use should fully cover the trigger and trigger guard. If the weapon is in your purse or bag, it should be in a separate quickly accessible pouch with NOTHING else in the pouch (lipstick, tampon, change, pen or pencil) that may get inside of the trigger guard or cause you to reach into that pouch for any other purpose than grasping the gun.


As far as purse carry, Cades Cove recommend against it because a weapon inside a purse is difficult to get at for the shooter and an easy targeted free gift for purse snatchers. There are some concealed carry purses that are designed to make carrying in this fashion safer. Some have special pockets for the firearm for easy access and others that allow operation of the gun inside the purse. (.38 +P is sufficient to shoot through the purse if you absolutely must). Some have longer straps intended to go not just on your shoulder but over your head so the strap is on the contra lateral shoulder of your carry. This makes it much more difficult to snatch a purse. Some have reinforced straps and hardware to also prevent the purse being broken free. YOU DO NOT WANT TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE ILLEGALLY AQUIRED WEAPONS ON THE STREET. Be aware however, if a full grown man grabs your purse when it is wrapped around your neck, you will have little ability to maintain your balance much less physically fight him off.


Revolvers are relatively thick firearms and thus IWB is difficult to conceal for most women with today's tight fitting styles. However, women do have a few more options of carry based on clothing like inner thigh with a skirt, and under bra or side bra if they are blessed. I would not want to open carry a weapon without a safety personally.

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Send in paperwork or file online. Wait 6 weeks for permit to come in.

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Not at the moment... as of the 1st week of April they were still processing January applications. Meaning once you pay, then they do the background check and that takes 30 days.

So double that 6 week waiting time..

If it stays in the car consider making it more secure with something like a console vault.

LINK /

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don't ask if your husband can sit in on the class.

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You will get good advice here. Mostly. Chad is the self proclaimed resident ahole but he admits it and I think he ultimately means well. Maybe.

If you are going to carry do it concealed. All the time except at your farm or in the woods. Open carry folks look for attention and its not a great strategy for defense IMHO. Dont open carry like the douche i saw here in a hotel today wearing all goth and proudly showing his glock with his fierce looking panther hoodie.

Happy shooting.

So did Bird go to the dawg pound and take the course? Is she packing right now?

I do not know her.

(no message)

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Great first gun. Leave the first chamber to fire empty and it's should be safe and easy to use.

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You obviously haven't paid attention to modern revolvers. I can't think of a single one that has a firing pin mounted on the hammer anymore. Virtually all of them have an internal firing pin so the "empty chamber" deal isn't necessary. I agree on the hollow points part though.

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You're on dope.

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Give me your reasons why you think I'm wrong. And find me a single full sized semi automatic 9mm that is harder to shoot well than a micro 38. Those things are a huge pain in the arse to shoot well and a HORRIBLE first handgun for a new shooter. They are fine as a carry gun but as a general first gun they are garbage.