Guns...ammo???

Question

Im a 32 y/o F that is interested in getting a gun. I plan on going to the range and becoming familiar with the weapon just not sure where to start... pistol or revolver??? I want to take my conceal to carry course and it states I need 35 rounds of ammo... am I correct in assuming a round is how many bullets my particular gun will hold and if so wouldnt people that have pistols need to bring less ammo? Forgive my ignorance but I am trying to educate myself before making my purchase.

Thanks!!!

Answer 1

It sounds like you just need to shoot 35 rounds of ammo to pass the course. It doesn't matter how many rounds your gun will hold. You will just have to reload a few times. No big deal. The big difference between revolvers and semi-automatic pistols is the difference in time to reload and ammunition capacity. The revolvers are slower to reload and the cylinder generally holds only 6 rounds, but revolvers also require less maintenance and their design has been embraced for almost a century now.

Personally, I prefer a semi-automatic pistol over a revolver. For a first gun I would buy a 9mm. This is a great gun for a beginner and still sufficient for self-defense. The recoil is very controllable and the ammo is cheap too so you will be able to practice frequently. There are many 9mm pistols you could buy. Just browse for one you like. Glocks are pretty popular and very reliable. If you are on a budget the Kel-Tec P11 might be for you. It is extremely compact and reliable as well. They only run about $250.

Answer 2

First, know your state requirements:  some states require you to qualify with the weapon that you will be carrying.

Rent a .22 revolver to become familiar with the basics of sight alignment and stance without being worried about recoil.

If 35 rounds are needed, get a box of 50 -

not very expensive, and you ARE  going to practice,right?

Good luck and welcome aboard.

Answer 3

A .32 or a .25 caliber pistol would be the WORST choice for a first gun. Usually small with terrible sights, these anemic automatics are poor for self defense, and have poor accuracy. I would like to suggest buying a revolver, in .38 special or even .357 Magnum. There are several small frame revolvers of high quality that can easily be concealed. You will find a revolver to be the simplest to learn how to use, either in loading, unloading, or shooting. A loaded double action revolver is as simple as aim and pull the trigger. There are no safeties, de-c0ckers, slides to cycle, or magazines to load.

When your course requires 35 rounds of ammunition, it simply means you will need 35 individual cartridges to complete the course. Usually, a box of ammunition was 50 rounds, but some of the expensive stuff comes in a smaller box. You can practice with the cheap ammo, but I would use the premium cartridges when you are carrying  concealed. You should practice with these premium  rounds too, to see how they shoot.

I am going to link some choices that I believe would be good for you below.

Answer 4

I would say a small .32 or even .25 caliber pistol would suit you just fine, if you're wanting to carry it in a purse or maybe even your pocket. When they say you will need 35 rounds, that is most likely just the number of shots they figured it would take to prove you are safe with a gun. Unless you buy a high capacity magazine for an AK-47 or some other virtually pointless rifle, you're not going to find a gun that holds 35 rounds (1 round = 1 bullet). Large pistols only hold a maximum of about 9 or 10 rounds. revolvers will only hold 5 or 6 (usually). Unless you live in some ridiculous state like California or New York, you shouldn't need a permit to carry a long gun, so everyone in the class will have either a pistol or revolver. If you go into a gun store they will probably be more than happy to tell you everything you need to know. Also you could post this question in the hunting forum and probably get more answers, or you can e-mail me and I'll try to help. Good luck!