Maggie’s Tell me why

[pepperbelly]

I am not ex-mil like a lot of ya'll are. I am an ex-cop from a long way abck. I have been shooting for at least 45 years and have been handloading for over 40- under dad's supervision at first. I shoot competition- I am much better with a pistol than a rifle so of course I spend most of my money on long guns. Go figure.
Around my shop everyone considers me to be the gun expert. I know what I know and, more importantly, I know what I don't know.
OK, here is my question. Since they come to me to ask about a gun they want, or one they have, why in the hell don't they listen to my answers?
One guy at work has asked me for the past year about which pistol he should get. I asked how much practice he planned on doing to get a feel for his proficiency and determined it would be very little. I told him to start with a .22 and to practice and he didn't want to. Since he wouldn't be shooting much I figured a 1911 was out even though he wanted one like mine. He asked about several semi-autos and I told him that the Glock, Sig or HK are all good. He needed to hold and shoot them if possible to see which fit his hand best. He must have asked 10 times in the past year. He now tells me he bought a Hi-Point and wants to know what I think about it. WTF? I told him they are crap. This is where it gets really good. He is wanting to join the Texas State Guard and carry this POS. I told him if money was tight to buy a used police trade in Glock and not worry about it. Dipshit.

If they think I know guns why the hell don't they listen to my answers? I mean, hell, I'm 52. I have seen a few things that work, and that don't work, in my life. I know ya'll get the same thing. I just don't get it.

Jim

 

[Big Bo]

Re: Tell me why

Whenyou get the answer tell me. Gal I am dating wants a small handgun for home protection. I told her to go and look at .38 snub nose, and 9mm. Her son who is in med school told her to get a .22 or .25. I told her do what you want.

Later she asked me again, I told her that her son may know about meds, I would give him that. I know about guns like he knows meds.

Now she wants a .38. WTF?

 

[Rarebreed93]

Re: Tell me why

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Big Bo</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Whenyou get the answer tell me. Gal I am dating wants a small handgun for home protection. I told her to go and look at .38 snub nose, and 9mm. Her son who is in med school told her to get a .22 or .25. I told her do what you want.

Later she asked me again, I told her that her son may know about meds, I would give him that. I know about guns like he knows meds.

Now she wants a .38. WTF? </div></div>

Be nice, she has decided that you know what your talking about.
Take her shooting.

 

[Yasherka]

Re: Tell me why

I'm in the same boat: 47, been shooting since 4, retired Army (with a bit of Navy thrown in), reloading since '85, waaay too many guns in the vault (or so the wife says). People ask me all the time what sort of gun they should buy....then don't.

I ask them what their intended purpose is, what the conditions are (esp. if they want a defense gun and live in an apartment). Give prodigious amounts of time and effort to recommend what I believe will suit them best. And they blow me off about 60% of the time. INCLUDING a co-worker who bought a piece of shit Hi-Point jam-o-matic against my strenuous objections. Then wondered why you couldn't feed it with a spoon.

I came to the realization years ago that when someone asks your opinion on a firearm purchase, what they are REALLY wanting is for you to validate the choice they've already made. Doesn't change my methodology for answering their question, but it does keep me from getting overly pissed when I point 'em in the right direction and they decide to go uber-cheap.

It also saves me time as I don't bother to answer their questions again... unless they grovel and buy me bourbon

.

 

[ewoaf]

Re: Tell me why

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Yasherka</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I came to the realization years ago that when someone asks your opinion on a firearm purchase, what they are REALLY wanting is for you to validate the choice they've already made. </div></div>

we have our answer.

 

[The Mechanic]

Re: Tell me why

Me, personally when I hear this I take them shooting. I am fortunate enough to own a selection of different pistols and I ALWAYS start them out on either the .22 bearcat or the MK2. Then it is off to the bolt action .22's all with ear protection and eye protection. Lots of reactive targets like shaken warm soda cans.

After about 20 minutes or so pull out the .357 with .38 SWC's and the 92f. After that they get to decide what they want. I personally steer them toward a revolver if they won't shoot much or something with a weapon light as you can't have to much light at night.

 

[Halfnutz]

Re: Tell me why

I like to tell them to get an AR, it'll do about anything... Home protection, varmint hunting, popular uprisings, (or unpopular uprisings). They look cool, LOTS of accessories to be had, resale value is decent and <span style="color: #FF0000"> IT PISSES OFF GUN HATING LIBERALS.</span> Every law abiding, able bodied, red blooded, American man, women, and child should have one or two.

Otherwise I agree, they should get something of quality that they like, with the possibility of supplementing it with a similar .22 or a conversion for practice.

Gift memberships for the NRA are only $19 when you renew yours.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Re: Tell me why

Good question. HeckifIknow.

When I answer a question, I try to answer it as what I'd do. Nobody has to do what I'd do, and some of them could probably do a lot better doing something else. Not my choice. Big world, lotsa ways to defur felines. I move on.

Greg

 

[MEDICGORDO]

Re: Tell me why

I usually recommend the "im not going to practice much persons" a hi-point or a weapon of like quility.odds are it will jam and there is less chance of getting shot 2-3 times by their own gun when the bad guy takes it from them.

 

[Lank]

Re: Tell me why

While on the opposite end of the stick, when you know exactly what you want and go to special order the precise model with specific accessories, it can be equally as frustrating when the dealer tries to sell you something else that happens to be in stock.
Not belittling your scenario, just adding to the level of frustration from yet another angle.