Question for those who carry....

[mrfuni]

Since the thread on "Concealed Carry On A Bike" was written, and the horror stories I've been reading, I got to thinking. Since I ride often solo, maybe I should consider some protection. After all, the Nomad could be a target for a solo rider since she is so pretty.
Question I have is what is the best way to acquire a firearm and are laws different from state to state? I'm in Florida and don't know where to begin. Thanks ... Joe ???

[Todd]

Laws definitely vary from state to state. I am assuming from your post that you are not very familiar with firearms, so my first advice is don't go get one yet. First, check with your local laws and see what they say...I you will probably need permit to buy a handgun...you may need more to carry it .... I know you will need more to carry concealed. Next, learn basic gun safety and handling.

If you have some friends that shoot...go with them a few times. If not, Go down to your local shooting range/ gun club and maybe some local gun dealers. They usually have some guns that you can rent to try out different calibers...Auto vs. Revolver..etc. Learn how to use a weapon and become very familiar with it's use. Practice Practice Practice both shooting and safety.

[dragon57]

Joe; try this link. I think it will help get you started.
http://www.nraila.org/statelawpdfs/FLSL.pdf

[mrfuni]

Thanks. Think I'll start locally and learn the basics of firearm safety, then find a local course and range to practice. Joe

Your local gun shop is usually a good source for local laws and also beginner classes for firearm safety

[Top Cat]

Great! Now we made another law abiding citizen parinoid.
horror stories? ??? I better go read that thread again, I may have missed something. I'll report back. :)

[Top Cat]

Re read the whole concealed carry thread.
OK there were four incidents stated;
unwind2's mom , Todd's situation, dui546's truck load of weapons and Ron's wife being car jacked.
I would consider them horror stories if any of them happened to me.
But as someone stated the chance of it happening to one of us is pretty slim. I would still rather be prepared just in case

[dogdoc]

'44 magnums work well Joe, just put one in each saddlebag and your ready for most anything!

[rlfaubion]

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What a name! It’s based on the fact that many judges are now carrying it into the courtroom with them – and for good reason. We know of no better self-defense firearm. Whether loading all 45s – all .410s or alternating them in the cylinder, the Judge is the ultimate shotgun/revolver duo.

New for 2007, we’re giving you the Judge in Ultra-Lite forged alloy. You’ll be amazed how light this gun is and how easy it is to tote around. Also new is the Judge 3” Magnum. Larger and more powerful, this Judge gives you the extra firepower you need when you have to lay down the law.

[jayc]

FEATURED NEW REVOLVER Back

Tauras - The Judge - 4510TKR



What a name! It’s based on the fact that many judges are now carrying it into the courtroom with them – and for good reason. We know of no better self-defense firearm. Whether loading all 45s – all .410s or alternating them in the cylinder, the Judge is the ultimate shotgun/revolver duo.

New for 2007, we’re giving you the Judge in Ultra-Lite forged alloy. You’ll be amazed how light this gun is and how easy it is to tote around. Also new is the Judge 3” Magnum. Larger and more powerful, this Judge gives you the extra firepower you need when you have to lay down the law.

Wait a second, I thought this guy made parts for Vulcans ;

[unwind2]

Don't know where you are located but if you google firearm safety classes ....there are lots of places all over the usa that have classes. The place where I took my concealed carry class rents handguns for you to try and use at the indoor range. The have all level of classes from beginner on up.

As others have said don't go out and buy anything until you have done some research. There are so many different types of handguns.....so many features....some are very lightweight easy to carry concealed but not necessarily always the best choice....some very big handguns not necessarily the best to carry for more than obvious reasons. Some handguns have a lot more 'kick' than others etc...You may want to look at the NRA site also and a good site with lots of infor (although female oriented) but still lots of good info is http://corneredcat.com

[dogdoc]

I'm liking the gun Ron, thanks for the info.

[Todd]

very short range it would probably be effective with the shotshells.....I seem to remember reading that they are coming out with a magnum 000 buckshot load .410...has like 3 or 4 pellets in it...that might be wicked in this little gun............the shock value of seeing that big muzzle would probably give most a heart attack.

To get much range accuracy at all you would probably need to load with the .45's.

[rlfaubion]

To get much range accuracy at all you would probably need to load with the .45's.

You can Google "Tarus 410" for some reveiws. This revolver retails for $550. Here's one review:

Patterning the .410 shotshells proved that this revolver is, as I expected, a close range proposition, which is just fine. Any farther than twelve feet away, the pattern opens rather quickly. The number 7-½ shot at that range is pretty sparse. I would have liked to have some number 9 shotshells for testing, but none was to be found. Anyway, the 7-½ penetrates better, and at normal "A SNAKE!!!" range, it does just fine. The spread is wide enough to assure a good hit, and the pattern tight enough to assure a quick kill.

I also tried some number 4 shot at closer range, and it is with larger shot such as this that The Judge becomes better suited for solving social disputes of the most unfriendly kind. I see this as an ideal weapon to keep on the car seat to quickly resolve an attempted car-jacking. When a punk jerks the car door open, a face full of number four shot should rapidly dissuade the social misfit from wanting anything to do with your car, and should also render him unable to pass the eye exam for a driver’s license for the rest of his miserable life. If this seems cruel, so be it. If someone sneaks into a parking lot and hot-wires a car, that is one thing, but if he tries to forcibly take an occupied vehicle at a traffic light, he can learn to read Braille in prison as far as I’m concerned.

I tested the penetration of the number four shot loads on some aluminum bottles (no, I did not empty them. I found them that way) and some tough cured country ham hocks. The shot completely penetrated both the lightweight bottles and the tough meat, and would surely do the same on a close range snake or small game for the pot. Anything farther than about twelve feet, and the cylinder needs to be stoked with the .45 Colt loads.

I really had no high expectations of accuracy using the .45 Colt ammo, considering the long cylinder and fixed sights with the fiber optic bead front. I was, however, very pleasantly surprised at the practical accuracy of the weapon, especially at combat ranges. After shooting the gun offhand, I wished that I had ordered an insert for my Ransom Rest to see just how accurate the gun would be without the handicap of the shooter influencing the outcome. At any rate, the Judge is not meant to be a paper-punching target revolver, but rather a practical and versatile fighting weapon. At seven yards, the five shot cylinder would place the bullets right at point of aim, and grouped tightly together. The double action trigger pull was smooth, and measured nine and one-half pounds. The single action pull measured a crisp four and three-quarters pounds, and in either mode, the Judge was a delight to shoot. Recoil was easily controlled, and the Taurus Ribber grips took any bite out of the Judge’s bark. The grip is very comfortable, and the backstrap well-padded. The Judge has the "Taurus Security System" key lock, for those who like to use it. The test gun wears a three inch barrel, but longer barrels are offered. However, I think that the three inch is the better choice for social work. It is just a lot handier. The Judge also can be purchased with either two and one-half or three inch chambers, the test gun being the former. You also have a choice of blued or stainless steel. The test gun was very well finished, with no visible flaws, and functioned perfectly with all ammo tested. The barrel/cylinder gap measured .006 inch. The ejector rod is fully shrouded, and cylinder lockup was tight. The color casehardened hammer and trigger contrast nicely with the deep blue-black finish. The Judge has a nice, business-like appearance.

I was pleasantly surprised by the performance of the Judge, with both shotshells and solid bullet .45 Colt ammo. It offers a lot of versatility in snake country, and can be carried for urban defense loaded with shotshells, heavy .45 Colt hollowpoints, or a combination of both. A number four shot load followed by four hollowpoints might be just about ideal for social work.

[unwind2]

Another good site with lots of info in addition to Cornered Cat is:

www.christiangunowner.com