Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

Good evening from Southwestern Virginia.

I'm a 70 yr old woman soon to be purchasing her first gun...a hand gun, and will apply for a CHP. Most likely will be using it for in-home protection. Have been reading all I can and doing a lot of listening...and right now, I am leaning toward a Ruger LCR or a Smith & Wesson 442, 642, or 60 perhaps. Later I think I might like to get a 9mm.

I am somewhat limited by arthritis in my hands and fingers, but I can usually work through much of it.

I will be doing a lot more listening here, and hope to learn a lot from all of you!

Thanks

Irish

Congrats on deciding to become a gun owner, and Welcome to VGOF!

great to have you on the best gun owners site I've found. A lot of good people and good info are here, just be wary of the trolls. Its good to see responsible gun owners like yourself joining.

Enjoy

Welcome, when you feel you're ready you may want to take the excellent advice I got there; try and find a range that rents handguns. It lets you see what you like best for only a few bucks. I found it to be a worthy investment.

You're in SW Virginia which is a very broad area, but if you're near Roanoke a place called PSS Range & training rents them out for 10 bucks, but you have to buy their ammo if you shoot their guns so factor that in too. They had a basic assortment of Glocks, S&W, and a few others last time I was there.

Good luck!

Welcome aboard! Let us know if you have any specific questions!

Welcome to VGOF!

from c'ville!

as Kreutz mentioned, PSS is in Roanoke if that's anywhere near you. i was there over the weekend with my brother. it's a no-frills, but nice enough place. they were friendly and had about 20 different pistols for rental.

the two people in the lane one over from us were absolute beginners and one of the guys spent their entire session with them providing some basic instruction. they were right ahead of us in line and i didn't see them charged anything for what amounted to free instruction. ymmv, though.

once you get ready to go down the chp path, there are good classroom-based sessions available for very reasonable cost, both for the basic safety training requirement and for follow-on concealed carry issues/laws/responsibilities training.

To VGOF, Irish!

My mom is in her mid seventies and recently got herself a Ruger LCR. She said it's a bit snappy with .357s in it... she also said OW!

She loves her S&W Model 66 for just an afternoon of target shooting though, and she regularly carries a Ruger MkIII when she's out and about her place - she took two groundhogs with it last summer... The lady is serious about her gardening, I tell you!


Let us know if you have questions!

Wow! Thank you ALL for the great welcome, and the suggestions!! I can use all the help I can get. Roanoke is about 80 miles from me...a fair hike...but that range sounds like it's exactly what I need...and now I'm making plans to go there!

To MNMGoneShooting...I don't mind sharing my reasons. I had some experience with guns when I was a teen. Neighbor was a Marine and an LEO, and I was designated baby sitter. I had to learn to shoot and clean his weapons before he would let me stay alone in the house with the children and the guns. He had quite a few. However, I haven't shot a gun since I was about 18...so I consider myself a beginner, now!

I moved up here from FL...where crime was rampant, and I felt totally unsafe. Here, I am more comfortable, but still have the antsy feeling fallout from FL. I decided that getting a gun would serve 2 purposes. One, I would feel more secure as I get more comfortable with guns, and Two, it will give me something to do, to enjoy. A good hobby to get me out of the house and go do some target practicing. I always loved target shooting with my neighbor and my "baby" brother (he's 66 now)...so I think I will still enjoy it.

To palladin: Such a coincidence...the gun I am looking at is the Ruger LCR...my brother recommended it! I want the 357 also, but will probably shoot more .38s for practice, and a limited # of 357s to keep my hand in, so to speak. $$ is a consideration for retirees!! Probably keep the gun with 357s while in the house for defense??

I also would like to get a .22 automatic or semi-auto, for most of my target shooting, especially at first. Just to get used to shooting again, and being comfortable with a gun in my hands (and the ammo is more affordable!!)...so any suggestions for a good one will be appreciated.

Again...thanks to ALL who have welcomed me, and for all the support you've provided!! It's great to talk to all of you!!

Irish

Congrats!

Irishreign wrote:
Probably keep the gun with 357s while in the house for defense??

I also would like to get a .22 automatic or semi-auto, for most of my target shooting, especially at first. Just to get used to shooting again, and being comfortable with a gun in my hands (and the ammo is more affordable!!)...so any suggestions for a good one will be appreciated.


Irish

Sounds like you've been doing your homework! If .357s in the LCR are uncomfortable for you, then there are good self defense loads in .38 and .38+P, too. At 7 to 10 feet they are still nothing to sneeze at. Being comfortable, confident and capable with your choice is where it's at. Practice.
The investment in a good .22 target pistol would be money well spent, IMO. That's the way Mom started after Dad passed several years ago.