Monk

iTrader: (3)

What G said. That's a pretty loaded question (pun fully intended).
If you're fairly new to shooting, choose the platform you are most familiar with and train. A lot.
If you are comfortable with the 870, that would be a really good place to start.
Shotguns are very versatile and reasonably cheap for a beginner.

samnavy

iTrader: (7)

I'm missing something here. By "department", do you mean "Police Department". Are you a sworn officer of some kind? If so, I'm surprised that you would ask this question. Most dept's have an approved list of off-duty carry guns. Also, why would you title the thread asking about daily carry, then write the sentence, "something to keep in the car". Do you mean "police car" or personal vehicle? Why wouldn't you just have your duty weapon in your personal car or on your person?

Also, I'm sure there's a short course at the academy that covers "covering your ***" when it comes to the lawyers. Bragging about your shooting skills in a public forum in the manner that you did doesn't strike me as something a job-conscious sworn law enforcement officer should be doing. You may think it's an innocent comment... it's not. In the event of a shooting, a good lawyer will scour the internet looking for stuff like that and use it against you. They'll twist some innocent bragging talk into a "this officer couldn't wait to get out in the field and start taking head-shots".

All of that aside, the G19 is generally discussed when somebody asks "what should I carry?". It's "less-than-full-size" frame is small enough that your average person should have no problem IWB throughout the year, even with beach trunks (which I do all summer long). Anybody but the slimmest of dudes and small women could also carry OWB with the correct holster choice. If 9mm isn't your thing, then the G23 in .40s&w probably is.

After my deployment, I'm trading my G19 in on a G23. A few years of evaluating the caliber vs. capacity debates that always occur, I'm comfortable sacrificing a few rounds for the additional stopping power. I'm still going to keep a full-size 9mm at home for HD, but the variables outside my home have led me to "upgrading" to .40 for EDC... and of course, the G23 is a no-brainer.

If the G19/23 is too big, S&W sells a compact version of your issue M&P9 that will take the full-size magazines. No additional controls to learn and the trigger will be the same... as horrible as it is. I like the day sights of the M&P better than the Glock, but not as much as the Rugers... haven't shot a M&P with night-sights which is undoubtedly what your dept. issues to you. But any gun can have it's sights upgraded and you can certainly upgrade the trigger on your personal gun as long as whatever regulations your dept has says so.

The cheapest place I know to buy S&W online is BudsPoliceSupply. The day-sight 9mm and .40 are $398 shipped and you get a $50 rebate through S&W... total should be about $370 with your FFL fee... but most cops I know have "a guy" who does it for less.

As for a truck shotgun... buy whatever modern 12ga 18" pump is cheapest. You can always hit a Pawn shop and walk out with a decent Mossy 500 for $200 cash. Or, since the gun-buying bubble has burst huge, all the factories in Mexico, China, and Turkey that have been working at 110% and flooded the market with knock-off 870's and 500's means you can have good quality for dirt cheap. The H&R Pardner is the best 870 clone out there, and quality-wise is the equal of an actual Remington. You can have 2, plus a good flashlight and some ammo for the price of a real 870. For an HD or truck gun, you'd need a very small ***** to justify spending more. The Hawk is another quality clone.
H&R 72312 Pardner Pump Protector 5+1 12ga 18.5" $155.00 SHIPS FREE

That being said, I like a bolt-safety and my Dad is a Mossberg guy, so I bought a pair of 88's a few years ago for $200ea and have put a few hundred rounds through each of them with no hiccups. But saying "I've put hundreds of rounds through..." means nothing when they're good for many tens of thousands of rounds.

Pen2_the_penguin

iTrader: (4)

speaking of shotguns, out of my wish list I think its time I buy my first shotgun.
Any recommendations for price, reliability, durability, and overall funess? Im not a trap shoot type of guy, so no over under's for me, or any double barrel of fashion. I was looking at a mossberg the other day, forgot the barrel length but it seemed like a nice pistol gripped pump action-- wife drug me out of the store though since we werent there to look at guns.

Pen2_the_penguin

iTrader: (4)

speaking of shotguns, out of my wish list I think its time I buy my first shotgun.
Any recommendations for price, reliability, durability, and overall funess? Im not a trap shoot type of guy, so no over under's for me, or any double barrel of fashion. I was looking at a mossberg the other day, forgot the barrel length, but it seemed like a nice pistol gripped pump action, but it seemed good for a emergency home defense weapon too, as I was able to tuck it to my body easily, and its not too lumbering or oversized-- wife drug me out of the store though since we werent there to look at guns.

Monk

iTrader: (3)

Well, since you asked twice... What is your primary use going to be? I would steer clear of anything with a pistol grip (for any role), unless you really need it to be as short as possible. There are many good choices today, it really just depends on what you want it for.
That being said, you can't really go wrong with a mossberg 500 or remington 870 for an all-around working gun.
I like mossberg's controls better (mostly due to the safety location); however, the 870 has a little better aftermarket, and you can expand magazine capacity.
The 870 also has tons of direct knockoffs, so you can get one really cheap.

Monk

iTrader: (3)

For the record, I have owned a 500 field combo for over a decade, and it has been flawless.
I also own this:

supercooper

The 870 is a great gun, very reliable, and has HUGE aftermarket support. I have one of those with a wood stock and pump, But my FAVORITE shotgun in my collection is my Winchester 1800. Its a beast.... and long as *****. That is followed closely by my antique 1914 Ithaca double barrel that was handed down by my grandpa, and my old 10 gauge

rmcelwee

iTrader: (1)

QFT

I have a Mossberg Persuader with pistol grip (top in picture) and it is downright painful to shoot. I'd get rid of it in a heartbeat but for some reason it makes my wife feel safe. That is worth far more than I could get for selling it.

Pen2_the_penguin

iTrader: (4)

thanks dudes! thats exactly what I was hoping to get back in terms of feedback-- i also heard the super awesome tactical pistol grip is **** to handle

samnavy

iTrader: (7)

To be precise, a PLAIN pistol grip is a bad idea for any purpose other than ultimate shortness. There is no hunting application, and the HD thought process needs to be really thorough. The only way I would consider using one is with an attached light with a focused beam at indoor engagement distance. Even raising one up to get a good sight picture with sights will not be accurace enough at more than "in-room" distance, and you'll never hit a moving target.

However, some guys very much prefer an integrated pistol-grip with a full stock. I think it comes down to what you learned on.

My current HD shotgun is a pair of plain-jane 18.5" Maverick88s with a Streamlight Polytacs on a magazine tube mount. The Mav88 is a "made-in-Mexico" Mossberg 500 with a bolt-safety (I prefer) vice a thumb tang-safety. I've fired about 500rds of mixed shells and have taken 4 deer with them. They take all Mossy500 parts except the foregrip.

Like I said in my last post, you simply cannot go wrong with the current crop of $200 18.5" HD shotguns. The Remmy870 and Mossy500 are obviously longtime benchmarks for pump shotguns, but I just can't justify the cost they ask.

I linked the H&R Pardner above that is an 870 clone. There are some gotchas about it though... I don't think it will take 870 barrels for example... however will take 870 mag extensions. If you're gonna buy a clone (or 3), just make sure you know where the manufacturer changes things up.

Also, don't forget a good recoil pad for whatever you buy.

samnavy

iTrader: (7)

To be precise, a PLAIN pistol grip is a bad idea for any purpose other than ultimate shortness. There is no hunting application, and the HD thought process needs to be really thorough. The only way I would consider using one is with an attached light with a focused beam at indoor engagement distance. Even raising one up to get a good sight picture with sights will not be accurace enough at more than "in-room" distance, and you'll never hit a moving target.

However, some guys very much prefer an integrated pistol-grip with a full stock. I think it comes down to what you learned on.

My current HD shotgun is a pair of plain-jane 18.5" Maverick88s with a Streamlight Polytacs on a magazine tube mount. The Mav88 is a "made-in-Mexico" Mossberg 500 with a bolt-safety (I prefer) vice a thumb tang-safety. I've fired about 500rds of mixed shells and have taken 4 deer with them. They take all Mossy500 parts except the foregrip.

Like I said in my last post, you simply cannot go wrong with the current crop of $200 18.5" HD shotguns. The Remmy870 and Mossy500 are obviously longtime benchmarks for pump shotguns, but I just can't justify the cost they ask.

I linked the H&R Pardner above that is an 870 clone. There are some gotchas about it though... I don't think it will take 870 barrels for example... however will take 870 mag extensions. If you're gonna buy a clone (or 3), just make sure you know where the manufacturer changes things up.

Also, don't forget a good recoil pad for whatever you buy.

Monk

iTrader: (3)

I think the Pardner will take 870 barrels if you also change the mag tube. At that point you may as well find a used 870. It's been quite a while since I've looked at them though, so that may have changed by now.
The hawk is great from what I hear, but the barrels are a little more prone to corrosion due to higher carbon steel.
None of that should dissuade you from buying one if it is significantly cheaper than the real deal. They are fine guns.
Like Sam said, the Mavericks are literally Mexican made Mossbergs. They are great, but I am partial to the safety location on the real deal. That is solely a personal preference/ training sort of thing. Keep in mind that if you put an integrated pistol grip stock on a Mossberg, it will be very difficult to dissengage the safety.
I had one on a 590, and it was a PITA to say the least.
Also on that subject, the integrated pistol grip stocks are comfortable and nice...for two purposes: home defense and breaching.
I hate it for hunting, and trying to shoot clays with it was a challenge.

fooger03

iTrader: (2)

I bought a used 870 tacti-cool. For ultimate tacti-coolness I mounted an EOTech weapons sight to the picatinny rail. (Sight probably cost twice what i paid for the gun) This past winter I picked off my first deer ever. An iddy bitty buck running away from apparent other hunters entering a tiny public hunting land. He was running directly from left to right, down a hill, at 40 yards.

You really can't go wrong with an 870. It's like the iPhone of the shotgun world (and I hate iPhones). It's compatible with EVERYTHING.

rmcelwee

iTrader: (1)

I'm putting a link to this here because I will lose it and have no idea how to type " обрез " in Google if I need to do it again. Some pretty interesting pictures of firearms on there (as well as a few dick pictures, not sure what the connection is):

https://www.google.com/search?q=%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B7&client=fir efox-a&hs=NIE&rls=org.mozilla:en-USfficial&channel=sb&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&e i=PHnmU-63KZakyASdyYKADw&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&biw=1440&bih=775

samnavy

iTrader: (7)

******* finally...
AR-10

Their lowers are $25 cheaper than the Aero Precision ones. I think I'll still wait for a sale on the AeroP lower when I get back just so my upper/lower will match brands... but definitely gonna see about picking up a couple PSA lowers when they run a sale on blem's.

rmcelwee

iTrader: (1)

Finally got to shoot my friends Colt Competition Pro AR-15 today. Still not convinced that it is worth $1300 more than my PSA but it does feel like a completely different rifle. We went to his range today. He is in a gun club and they have maybe 6 different pistol ranges and two different rifle ranges. We shot on the 100 - 200 yard range. They also have another range that goes up to 800 yards but he has to take classes and pass a test to be able to shoot on it. It was a nice range but for $600 per year for the membership I think I will pass. Shooting for free at our local state run range is more appealing to me.

BTW, we spent 4 hours out there and spoke to a guy who is nationally ranked in 50 & 100 yard .22lr shooting. Got to look at his $6,000 .22 rifle and watched him use iron sights to put 5 shots in the size of a dime at 50 yards. Was pretty impressive. He said he shoots 3-4 days a week. I would say he was there for 3 hours and he only fired 50 shots total. Probably a good 30 minutes was spent putting on his long sleeve shirt, shooting jacket, special hat, arm braces, etc (it was over 90 degrees today). He spent another 30 minutes assembling his gun and setting up all his wind meters, shooting mat, etc. Not something I would be in to but he did have some interesting advice. He said to buy an Anschutz competition 22 for around $1,000 (have not seen any nice ones for that cheap) and it would never go down in value and you would always be able to get your money back on it. Might be an interesting way to be able to afford to shoot an accurate 22 for a while.

shooterschmidty

That kind of shooting is very fun, and a serious challenge. I shot three and four position smallbore competitively for about twelve years including in college (it's actually an NCAA sport believe it or not) and picked up 10m air rifle as well. For smallbores we shot Anschutz 2013s primarily, but I did use an old Match 54 for a while. The cheapest 54 I've ever seen was $1000 with most being $1500+. He is right that they don't depreciate much if any.

Here's a random photo of me shooting 10 m air in Austria. They take their shooting very seriously in Germany and Austria, which is probably why Anschutz, Walther, and Feinwerkbau are all built there.

Monk

iTrader: (3)

My .22 tack driver:

Apples to oranges, I know, but you could embarrass a lot of shooters with $750 dollars worth of practice ammo.

rmcelwee

iTrader: (1)

Although it is not as flashy as yours this is what I shoot:



I painted it to represent my future car:

Pen2_the_penguin

iTrader: (4)

Alright back to my shotgun businessnessnessness...

Lightly used Remington 870 with nice dark wood furniture for $400 (might be able to bargain a slightly lower price)

or

brand spanky new black Mossberg 500 tactical (non-pistol grip) with tri-rail for $380 out the door?