Confession: I once owned a Bersa

[ABC]

Yup. A Bersa. Well.... to be completely honest 2 of them.

I know. I know...

It was the first gun I ever bought. I was in my 20's and just woke up one morning realizing that I should be exercising my right to own a firearm. I knew nothing about guns. I bought a Thunder .45 UC Pro, and a Firestorm .380 because I couldn't decide which to buy, and I didn't know any better.

I sold them without shooting them much because I bought better guns. I never had any problems with them, and I kind of wish I still had the .45 so I could shoot the snot out of it just to see what would happen. Then I remember ammo costs money, and I don't have that wish.

Anyone else have a bad buy confession?

I have quite a few, so please make me feel better by admitting to some of your own.

[ToddG]

My first pistol was a Taurus PT-99.
My second pistol was a Taurus PT-99.
My third pistol was a Taurus PT-92 Stainless.

(in fairness, I only bought the first one; the second two were both warranty replacements)

[Lester Polfus]

AMT Hardballer (a single shot pistol cleverly disguised as a 1911)
Charter Arms Bulldog Pug (no functional problems, but horrendous trigger pull)
EAA Witness in .45 (Cracked frame)

And I'll throw this one in there:

A Colt Officers Model 1911. The prancing pony was merely a layer of gold spray paint for that turd.

I could go on....

[CCT125US]

Don't feel bad, I still own a BT380. I purchased it because I wanted a range gun in .380. The LCP filled a role at the time and I felt having one gun in .380 wasn't enough. Honestly, the trigger is good in both DA and SA. It is accurate to the point of producing 1" groups at 10 yards with the right ammo. (Not bad IMO for a $250 gun) I have shot dueling tree with it and beat a Wilson and a Kimber owner. (Ok the Kimber locked up) It was then I realised it ain't the gun. Do I trust it? No, even though I have had thousands of trouble free rounds through it. Is it a problem that it doesn't eject a live round when racked? For me it is. I would never carry it, but can't bring myself to sell it. There, I said it, I own a Bersa.

[jlw]

The first handgun that I ever purchased was an FIE Texas Ranger. I later gave it away to somebody needing to practice some gunsmithing prior to trying it on an actual gun...

[Clyde from Carolina]

I was raised by a gun nut, so the first gun I went out and bought for myself was a Pre-69 Colt Government Model.

Alas, that gun, even after some custom work, didn't run as good as it should have or as good as a nice modern 1911 suitably customized should. (Or a good Swenson for that matter.)

So I guess the point of my story is, we all tend to start with a Bersa, or Taurus, of some kind or other.

[Joe in PNG]

Let's see:
Ruger P 95
Taurus PT 100, with all that sweet .40 stopping power!
CZ-52- which I had to hold upside down and shake
Interarms PPK
Kel Tec .380 and PF 9
Glock 27

Lord, I've bought some dogs over the years...

[SecondsCount]

Like Todd, my first centerfire handgun was a Taurus PT99. The gun salesman told me that it was just as good as the Beretta in the case next to it. Honestly, the gun never gave me any problems but I was a young college kid at the time and could only afford to put 50 rounds a month through it. It hung around a few years until the AWB ban went into effect. Around that time a friend had bought a nicely used Colt 70 series Gold Cup which gave him hammer bite when he shot it. He offered to trade me the Colt for the Taurus plus $100 because it was "high capacity" and I had two mags for it.

I see quite a few Bersa pistols at the range and they seem to run okay. Not the best but you could definitely do a lot worse...like a Kimber Solo which cost three times more and won't make it through a magazine.

[LHS]

I bought one of those GSG .22LR MP5 clones when they first hit the stores. To be fair, it's been very reliable, going through about 500 rounds or so without cleaning or additional lube, and zero malfunctions that weren't related to the ammo (i.e. no bang, even with a solid firing pin strike). That said... the gun isn't very durable. A few dozen 'HK slaps' on the cocking handle visibly peened the receiver metal, and the A2-style buttstock cracked just while sitting in my safe. This, more than anything else, is why I don't have one of their StG-44 clones, despite a great stirring in my loins for one.

[ffhounddog]

Started out with a Taurus 745 and 24/7. Traded them in on a Glock 26 and Glock 19. Gun shop owner traded me straight up since I had extra mags and these were trade in. Only gun shop I could walk into and sit down with a older gentleman and play chess with.

[Chuck Whitlock]

OK. Here goes:

My 2nd gun was a Taurus PT99.....that I traded a 4" Dan Wesson .357 on.

Another time I traded a Beretta 96D Centurion on a........Kel-tec P11.
(I was cashless and felt I needed a BUG)

[ABC]

I should write Taurus a thank you letter. They are the company that finally put me off "Bad Guns"

It was a 24/7 OSS or some such nonsense. It would not get through a full magazine without some kind of malfunction.

I've had plenty of guns since that ended up not being right for me, but not any that I would qualify as unquestionably bad.

Among my other "bad" guns

Taurus 24/7 OSS (aka the offal suck suck)
Taurus Millennium Pro .45 (aka the Millennium designer should have been blocked by a Prophylactic)
DPMS Sportical (aka the tactical derp-ical)
Beretta PX4 .40 (aka P is for Pitifulx4)
Springfield xd9 (Xtremely dumb)

and a JA .22 that I still own because it is hilariously bad. It hasn't been out of the box for years, but I keep it around because one of these days I'm going to shoot it for the local rimfire league.

[Clyde from Carolina]

The king of jamamatics for me was a Kel Tec 9mm, whatever flavor of the month was being written up as gang busters in the gun rags at the time, I forget the model number.

I was so put off by that experience that I took it back to my favorite gun shop where I had purchased it and proceeded to trade it for a fairly decent Glock 26.

[LOKNLOD]

Cobray M11 9mm.

[TheTrevor]

I came within a hair's-breadth of buying a Ruger P90 as my first handgun. Thankfully I came to my senses once I got outside the reality distortion field of the store and realized that I was picking based on (1) price point and (2) what the gun salesweasel happened to hand me first, and did not buy that bloated, frame-safetied second-tier facsimile of a service pistol.

Held off a bit, put aside a bit more money and bought an HK USP instead.

[Guinnessman]

My first handgun was a Sig 229 in .357 Sig (bought a .40 barrel immediately), followed by a blingin bright nickel finished, Taurus PT92. I figured "Hey it looks just like a Beretta."

Once the AWB expired in 2004, I quickly traded the Taurus on a HK USP and never looked back. That Taurus would have been a great Hollywood gun though! :D

[Chuck Haggard]

First gun I ever bought was a Glenfield model 60, aka Marlin model 60, I was 12 years old. Good gun.

First handgun was a H&R model 999 "Sportsman" 4", which I though was completely cool because is was a break top like a Webley and had a vent rib like a Python.

First semi auto was a Taurus 99af, which was actually completely reliable for years though thousands of rounds.


I've also owned a Raven (100% reliable, most are that I have seen), Jennings J22 which is still the most accurate handgun I have ever owned (even compared to my Gold Cup and HK USP Match .45) but chokes a lot, Titan .25 (not reliable), a couple of Charter .38s (junk),,, I could go on.

To quote the great philosopher Jack Burton, "Hey, you never know till ya try"

[Default.mp3]

My first handgun was an HK45. My first holster was a RCS Phantom (wait time was two whole weeks, what kind of nonsense is that). My first WML was a Surefire X400. Man, do I have impeccable tastes or what.

[Chuck Haggard]

My first handgun was an HK45. My first holster was a RCS Phantom (wait time was two whole weeks, what kind of nonsense is that). My first WML was a Surefire X400. Man, do I have impeccable tastes or what.

Show off.

[Paul D]

First gun: Ruger P89. Pure unadulterated junk. I sold that after 1 year and got a Glock 19 in 1993 (before the AWB) with 6 spare mags. It still have that gun.

[JDM]

I had a terrible Romanian AK74 Clone, and I had a Bushmaster carbine that ran well for about 2 magazines, and then it was absolutely terrible.

[JAD]

I traded my first handgun, a G19, for a bhp in .40 because I was getting into ipsc and wanted to make major. Ugh.

At one point I owned a kel tec P9 that broke on round 49, went back to the factory, broke on round 98, back, got sold.

Kimber ultra compact with the external extractor, not so much with the running.

Other than that, they've all been really nice guns.

[WobblyPossum]

My first gun was a Remington 870. My first handgun was a Gen 3 G19 with a wide range of ejection problems.

[fixer]

1st: Taurus PT 111. The take down pin sheared in half. Then the safety lever sheared. After warranty replacement. It was gone.
2nd: Ruger P94. Good gun actually.
3rd. Beretta M9.

Confession: I have 4 PX4 and like them. :p

[Tamara]

First smokeless powder cartridge handgun I ever owned was an Excam Targa GT-27. First one I ever filled out a 4473 for was a Grendel P-10. I have also owned a Bryco 59 and more than one fine product from the Stallard/Hi-Point line of firearms.

We live and learn.

[MichaelD]

Being the geek I am, I researched my first gun purchase to death and ended up getting an M&P9 (a decision heavily influenced by ToddG's M&P test).

I have yet to make a bad gun purchase thanks in no small part to P-T.com, P-F.com, M4C, great advice from ToddG, DocGKR, as well as good friends like SecondsCount, hyrax (from UtahConcealedCarry.com) and moyler (from M4C), and a few others.

[Byron]

The first firearm that I asked for was a Glock 17. It was a present from my father for my 16th birthday.

While it turned out to be an excellent choice, my interest in Glock was first inspired by Tommy Lee Jones in U.S. Marshals (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120873/), after I heard him declare:

They shoot underwater. You can pour sand in them and they'll shoot. Shoot every time. It's a good choice.
I thought that sounded pretty damn awesome, and it caused me to start reading up on Glocks.
That movie used the 22, but after my research, I ultimately asked for the 17.

The first firearm that I bought was a Remington 870.

I've purchased plenty of stupid things in my life, but I've done OK when it comes to firearms. No regrets.

[YVK]

My first handgun was an HK45. My first holster was a RCS Phantom (wait time was two whole weeks, what kind of nonsense is that). My first WML was a Surefire X400. Man, do I have impeccable tastes or what.

P7M8 in a DelFatti holster.

I like a quiet, understated style...

[PPGMD]

My first pistol was a Walther P22 that I just bought last week. Is there anyway that I can tame the recoil on this thing? :p

But seriously my first gun was a Walther P22. That is probably the gun I've purchased with the lowest reputation. I was lucky in that the internet was already up and running, so I've always done a ton of research on my guns before purchasing.

[texasaggie2005]

My 1st handgun was a Springfield XD45 Service in a SERPA holster, because 45 manstopper and ultimate retention yo!

[Default.mp3]

P7M8 in a DelFatti holster.

I like a quiet, understated style...

Yeah, I'm not proud of how I ultimately came to chose the HK45. So, back in high school, I played a lot of a game called Counter-Strike, and the starting gun was either a USP-T .45 or else a Glock-18 (and yes, I still regularly play the newest version of it). For whatever reason, the USP was generally seen as being better than the Glock, stat-wise. Didn't hurt that the USP model looked a lot more sexy than the Glock, especially with the detachable KAC suppressor, and that it just sounded better (nice, throaty "BAM" rather than the wimpy "blat" the Glock had). That was how I got started on my H&K fan-boy phase (which carried directly into my airsoft, then shooting phases). But then... the HK45 came out. Picatinny rails! New flagship model! Larry Vickers! JCP! Etc. How could I not get that over the USP-T? The RCS came naturally after that; ain't no one else was making a concealment holster for the HK45 at the time. I guess I got lucky that Counter-Strike hadn't been using an XD or Colt 2000.

The X400 was just a happy accident/price mistake; was wandering around Bud's Gun Shop for the first time (the actual brick and mortar store, I was living in Lexington at the time), and saw it, idly asked how much it was. "260 dollars, sir". Wait, what? This was when it was "just" 460 USD MSRP, but even then, I recognized it was a screaming deal. I didn't even have a gun at that point (was between firearms), but I still snatched it up. Figured I'd flip it if I didn't find a use for it. Still going strong, too, after all those years and over 10k rounds through it, only had to replace the Nylok zeroing screws thus far.

[Tamara]

So, back in high school, I played a lot of a game called Counter-Strike...

My lawn, you are on it. ;)

[PPGMD]

Yeah, I'm not proud of how I ultimately came to chose the HK45. So, back in high school, I played a lot of a game called Counter-Strike, and the starting gun was either a USP-T .45 or else a Glock-18 (and yes, I still regularly play the newest version of it). For whatever reason, the USP was generally seen as being better than the Glock, stat-wise. Didn't hurt that the USP model looked a lot more sexy than the Glock, especially with the detachable KAC suppressor, and that it just sounded better (nice, throaty "BAM" rather than the wimpy "blat" the Glock had). That was how I got started on my H&K fan-boy phase (which carried directly into my airsoft, then shooting phases). But then... the HK45 came out. Picatinny rails! New flagship model! Larry Vickers! JCP! Etc. How could I not get that over the USP-T? The RCS came naturally after that; ain't no one else was making a concealment holster for the HK45 at the time. I guess I got lucky that Counter-Strike hadn't been using an XD or Colt 2000.

I'm probably a few years older, but the USP was huge influence in my early shooting until I got involved in competitive shooter. But my influence came from the game Rainbow Six, which had this on the cover:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/23/Rb6box.jpg

Which meant that I had to get me a USP. Which also meant that I had to complete the package:
http://www.lazyeights.net/Avion/Blackside_USP_Med.jpg

I still have everything except the X200 (which got shorted out and Surefire replaced it with a X300).

[SGT_Calle]

My 1st handgun was a Springfield XD45 Service in a SERPA holster, because 45 manstopper and ultimate retention yo!

Same here, except in .40, then .45, lol.
Next was a FN 45 Tactical, right after it came out. It's the only gun I really wish I still had.

[Gadfly]

First gun purchase? A used Ruger 10/22 when I was 15. Still have it, still love it.
First Handgun purchase? A Beretta 92fs when I was 21. Why? Because Die Hard was such a cool movie...

As far as purchases I regret and am mildly ashamed of:
1) Taurus PT-908 Why? because it was single stack and my girlfriend was having a hard time with my Beretta. Total piece of shit. Sold it.
2) EAA Witness in .40... Why? Because it was sort of a Bren 10. Piece of Shit. Went back to the factory twice because the safety would kick on during recoil every few shots. Factory told me to hold the safety down with my thumb. I did not think that was part of the design. Sold it.
3) Stainless Colt Delta Elite Gold Cup in 10mm... Why? Because it was almost a Bren 10 (seeing a pattern?). I bought it used and after shooting it a few months was bothered by how "mushy" the safety felt. Not a positive click off and on. I took it to a reputable gunsmith. He proclaimed the coffee table gunsmith had somehow jacked up the gun, so for safety reasons, I traded it for a Sig 220.

These days, a Glock 17 or 26 is on me 99% of the time. You live and learn.

(I still want a Kel Tec Sub 2000 that takes Glock mags for some strange unfathomable reason... It is my shame. It is my cry for help. Someone talk me out of it...)

[Lester Polfus]

I was lucky in that the internet was already up and running, so I've always done a ton of research on my guns before purchasing.

This. Those of us who are gun children of the 80's and 90's had exactly two sources of information: the word on the street, and gun magazines.

If I were interested I could probably find a gun magazine review of every crappy gun in this thread. That review will talk about the incredible fit and finish, supreme accuracy, and ultimate reliability of the piece in question. Often the article will be right next to the full page ad for the same gun.

The internet isn't just for porn and dumb arguments, I actually learn stuff on here.

[BaiHu]

URBAN MOTHER-KITTEN OPS!!!

God they lost their minds not just updating that game with new graphics/engine every year. I'd still be playing it today.
:mad::mad::mad: infinity.

[EMC]

First handgun purchase was an FNP40 because FN makes great belt fed weapons and I wanted to be different.

[Chuck Haggard]

Gadfly, my sub2000 is over 2200 rounds now with zero stoppages. Mostly 124 and 115gr ball ammo, but enough Gold Dot, WWB JHP, Golden Saber, Silvertip, HST and Ranger-T to know it will feed JHPs just fine.

I only cleaned it after it got so gunky that no one could shoot it without looking afterwards like they had changed the oil on an engine that was running.

Dooooo Eeeet

[Gadfly]

This. Those of us who are gun children of the 80's and 90's had exactly two sources of information: the word on the street, and gun magazines.

If I were interested I could probably find a gun magazine review of every crappy gun in this thread. That review will talk about the incredible fit and finish, supreme accuracy, and ultimate reliability of the piece in question.

I had up to 5 different gunzine subscriptions at a time in the late 80s and early 90's... those were dark days indeed.

My wife (girlfriend at that time) wanted me to buy her a "Firestar 9mm" because it was proclaimed "handgun of the year" by one publication back in the early 90's... Handgun of the Year means it HAD to be the best. Back then I actually thought that meant something more than just "who spent the most on ad space this year". Fortunately I was too broke to indulge her.

[Gadfly]

Gadfly, my sub2000 is over 2200 rounds now with zero stoppages.

Chuck, you are not helping me fight my urges...

I refuse to pay the scalper prices ($600+) I always see them for. What happened to the $300-$350 Sub 2000s???

[Chuck Haggard]

Chuck, you are not helping me fight my urges...

I refuse to pay the scalper prices ($600+) I always see them for. What happened to the $300-$350 Sub 2000s???

Scalpers bought them?

And yeah, I'm with you on that. Mine was on the shelf before the big panic, for $300 and change. Impulse buy, and a good one it was.

[JAD]

. So, back in high school, I played a lot of a game called .

So, back in high school, I played a lot of a game called AD&D....

[Tamara]

This. Those of us who are gun children of the 80's and 90's had exactly two sources of information: the word on the street, and gun magazines.

...and TSR's Top Secret game.

I mean, if they were nerds, which I know nobody here is. So you probably don't even know about that game.

Heck, I've never heard of it, either.

I'm just, you know, mentioning it.

[Lester Polfus]

...and TSR's Top Secret game.

I mean, if they were nerds, which I know nobody here is. So you probably don't even know about that game.

Heck, I've never heard of it, either.

I'm just, you know, mentioning it.

Oh my. You mean the original version, which actually took into account the choke of a shotgun in the combat rules? Or the later Top Secret/SI version, which had simpler, albeit less "realistic" rules?

Let's not forget Twilight 2000....

Or, uh, at least that's what my nerdy room mate said...

[Tamara]

I had up to 5 different gunzine subscriptions at a time in the late 80s and early 90's... those were dark days indeed.

My wife (girlfriend at that time) wanted me to buy her a "Firestar 9mm" because it was proclaimed "handgun of the year" by one publication back in the early 90's... Handgun of the Year means it HAD to be the best.

A certain type of gun nut (the kind that maybe spent more time reading Cooper than actually shooting) was ga-ga over the Firestar because it was small, single action, and could be carried C&L. It was supplanted in their affections by the Painted Ordnance P-12, which was the "gotta have" gun for a while.

[Bigguy]

This. Those of us who are gun children of the 80's and 90's had exactly two sources of information: the word on the street, and gun magazines.

If I were interested I could probably find a gun magazine review of every crappy gun in this thread. That review will talk about the incredible fit and finish, supreme accuracy, and ultimate reliability of the piece in question. Often the article will be right next to the full page ad for the same gun.

The internet isn't just for porn and dumb arguments, I actually learn stuff on here.

This! And the reason I post so little, or that my posts usually aren't about guns. There is little to nothing I can contribute to any discussing going on here. Until I started reading this forum, I didn't even know how much I didn't know. And to put things in perspective, I truly did grow up with guns. My fist was a break action 410 dad gave to me when I was 11 or 12. I'd carry it when he took me hunting. I went through several .22s, the most memorable of which was a Nylon 66. The first firearm I ever purchased was a Remington model 788 .243 when I was in 11th grade. (Until then I deer hunted with my uncle's borrowed 30-30 lever action, or dad's 12 gauge loaded with slug or buckshot.)
My first pistols were a Colt 1917 .45 and a Smith & Wesson .38 M&P revolver that I inherited from dad. I gave the Colt to my son, and I've still got the .38. I purchased my first semi auto hand gun about 30 years ago. A Taurus Eagle .25. I probably only put about 2,500 rounds through it in the time I had it. I know that's not a lot, but it never misfired or jammed on me. I finally sold it about a year ago for $100.
But in southeast Arkansas in my time, your ammo selection was Remington or Winchester. .22 came in short, long, or long-rifle with either round nose or hollow point. When I wanted ammo, I went to Places' hardware store or Jody's dry good store, told them what caliber I wanted, and they'd hand me a box of it. Sometimes, if they carried both Remington and Winchester, they'd ask me which. Often as not, they'd just grab what ever was closest. I can't say I was ever aware of any real difference in the brands. It seems like either always worked flawlessly in any of my guns.
Now jump ahead 30 years to my first purchase of Tula for my little LCP. Outraged, I wagged it back to Wally world demanding a refund (despite what the sign said.) because this was obviously defective ammo. I was both surprised and a little hurt that my friends didn't take my side in this, saying things like, "well what did you expect when you bought that cheap com-block crap." Over the last couple of years, I've learned to talk less and listen more.
And I do appreciate you guys sharing your knowledge.

[LHS]

So, back in high school, I played a lot of a game called AD&D....

We didn't have them fancy book rules for guns in D&D, so we write our own. Of course, single-action autos got a +1 to hit, and .45 ACP was +1 to damage, because Cooper, duh.

[EricP]

First gun was a Walther P99. First dog was an EAA Witness-P Carry Comp in .45 with Wonder Finish. It couldn't make it through a magazine without choking.



2) EAA Witness in .40... Why? Because it was sort of a Bren 10. Piece of Shit. Went back to the factory twice because the safety would kick on during recoil every few shots. Factory told me to hold the safety down with my thumb. I did not think that was part of the design. Sold it.

When I called EAA, they told me I *could* send it back, but I had to pay shipping and a $25 service fee.

[5pins]

A certain type of gun nut (the kind that maybe spent more time reading Cooper than actually shooting) was ga-ga over the Firestar because it was small, single action, and could be carried C&L. It was supplanted in their affections by the Painted Ordnance P-12, which was the "gotta have" gun for a while.

I’ve owned two Firestars. The second one was a replacement for the first POS. It took four month after I sent it back to get the replacement and I sold never shooting it.

[HCM]

Chuck, you are not helping me fight my urges...

I refuse to pay the scalper prices ($600+) I always see them for. What happened to the $300-$350 Sub 2000s???

Scalpers happened. If you can wait 6 months, you can order one direct via the Kel Tec LEO purchase program. Check your PMs.

[Tamara]

I’ve owned two Firestars. The second one was a replacement for the first POS. It took four month after I sent it back to get the replacement and I sold never shooting it.

I've had one. (Maybe two? I've slept since then.)

Roomie has three or four in different calibers and finishes (as well as Firestar Plus, Ultrastar, Megastar, et al,) but she's gaga for odd Spanish pistols.

They ran okay. Maybe not the pragmatist's choice, and certainly not the gun for somebody who runs the wheels off their pistols*, but I don't know I tell somebody "zomg sell that, it's gonna get you killed!" :o


*I had an Astra A75 in .40 briefly, right about the time I started working at the gun store; I think it filled the brief interlude between the short KP91DAO and very long Glock 23 eras. It ran okay for the few hundred rounds I had it. Traded it in and some kid's grandpa bought it for him. A year or two later, kid got the hankering for a 3rd Gen Smith and traded the A75 back in and I could not believe how loose and rattly it had gotten in that time. Kid said he'd put "more than two" cases of ammo through it. (His grandpa had bought him two cases of ammo in the intervening time, plus whatever ammo he got in onesie-twosies.)

[SGT_Calle]

(I still want a Kel Tec Sub 2000 that takes Glock mags for some strange unfathomable reason... It is my shame. It is my cry for help. Someone talk me out of it...)

Me too, we were just talking about this in another thread. I have no shame in wanting one, lol.

PSA Greenville got one about two weeks ago and mentioned it on FB. By the time I got there two days later to look at it, it was gone. I think they were asking $450 for it.

[ToddG]

...and TSR's Top Secret game.

World's weirdest hand-to-hand/martial arts system. You pick an attack, he picks a defense, then you look at a table and see how they add up.

Also, how many games have a chart telling you what the odds are that someone will die from a particular type of torture?

I never played it, of course, but I bet it had those things. Just, you know, random chance.

[Maple Syrup Actual]

Colt 1911s and Glocks.

Weirdest I ever got was a GP100, and, I guess, careful builds on Norinco 1911s.

I like stuff I trust. But I did have a good friend with one of the 225 pound Firestar .45s. And another with a stainless 4506. And I liked them both.

But I wouldn't have bought either.

[Chuck Haggard]

Ooh

Almost forgot, I have a Nagant revolver in the gun locker. Just because.


Used to have a VP70Z for many years before I sold it off. Still not sure why I bought that one other than morbid curiosity.

[Drang]

First pistol I bought was a Colt Combat Commander.
First rifle I bought was an M1 Garand.
:cool:
Played D&D when it was three pamphlets, and the Grayhawk Adventures supplement was The Stuff.
Big controversy in Twilight 2000s rules was the slight possibility you could take a round from the Sov AGS auto grenade launcher in the chest and live.
Traveller was also... interesting.
And I never played The Morrow Project but I knew the guys who wrote it...

Mrs. Drang's first pistol was a Taurus 85, which she replaced with a Rossi 971, which was sidelined in favor of a Firestar .40, which she loves, but finds too heavy to tote.
So last weekend she bought a Star BKM. (She was looking at PDs.)

We also have his and hers Sub2Ks.

[Tamara]

Almost forgot, I have a Nagant revolver in the gun locker. Just because.

Well, I have a Nagant because I collect military arms. Goes well with the 91/30, although neither one would be my first choice for fending off zombies.

[Chuck Haggard]

Well, I have a Nagant because I collect military arms. Goes well with the 91/30, although neither one would be my first choice for fending off zombies.


True dat.


I need 7.62R snap caps, because that thing is also a really good trigger finger exercise machine.

[Lester Polfus]

Never played The Morrow Project either, but it was a big inspiration for The Guardians series by Steve Austin, which were pretty cool until they jumped the shark.

[Corey]

I have been lucky overall. First gun I filled out a 4473 for was in 1986. I had decided on an AMT Longslide Hardballer (because Terminator!). I called around to several shops and nobody had one, but one place said they would order one for a price that I could afford if I paid up front. I went in to make the deal and the guy on the counter gets talking to me and asks what kind of shooting I was going to do. I told him I was interested in getting started in some competition shooting. There was a USPSA club I had visited a couple of times and it looked fun. He ended up setting me up with a used but clean and unmolested Series 70 Government Model for the same price as what the AMT would have been. So I dodged a bullet there.

My brother and I did buy a pair of S&W 2206 for rimfire plinkers and both were dogs. One of them would not run a magazine without at least one malfunction no matter what we tried. The other ran good but at 50 feet would barely stay on paper. Both of those guns later got switched out for Rugers.

[Hatchetman]

First gun: Colt Gold Cup a friend o mine's brother-in-law, a Chicago cop, was looking to sell in the '80s. Still the gun that feels bestest in my hand, though it's a safe queen currently.

Dumbest purchase 1.0: a Davis .380. Only runs ball, and that only some of the time. Weighs a bleeping ton for its small size. Probably work best if you dropped in in a sock and beat people with it. Offloaded that dog.

Dumbest purchase 2.0: as a prize for my then 11 year old or something getting decent with a .22 rifle, I let him choose a .22 pistol. He went with a Walther P22. There were 3 ways you could reassemble that POS, all of which rattled. My son bought the long barrel one; that stupid front end kept rotating in battery, taking the front sight along with it. Offloaded that dog.

Biggest misallocation of resources: Just before I drank the Glock Kool-Aid I bought a hi-cap, wide-bodied Springfield GI 1911 I then had run through their custom shop for sights, dehorning, and such. It runs, but is very magazine persnickety. There ain't a problem it solves that a Glock doesn't solve better, but it let me feed my 1911 atavism aren't-we-different chubby so there it sits in the safe. Wear it to weddings and the other rare times I don a tie.

[LHS]

I too had a P22. My name came up early in the IDPA match raffle, and I picked the only gun left on the table. After I realized what a POS it was, I kicked myself for not grabbing the Dillon 550b instead. At least the P22 prompted me to get a suppressor.

[Mike Honcho]

PT 1911.

[TR675]

We didn't have them fancy book rules for guns in D&D, so we write our own. Of course, single-action autos got a +1 to hit, and .45 ACP was +1 to damage, because Cooper, duh.

Forum needs a "like" button.

[Chuck Whitlock]

A certain type of gun nut (the kind that maybe spent more time reading Cooper than actually shooting) was ga-ga over the Firestar because it was small, single action, and could be carried C&L.



They ran okay. Maybe not the pragmatist's choice, and certainly not the gun for somebody who runs the wheels off their pistols*, but I don't know I tell somebody "zomg sell that, it's gonna get you killed!" :o

I had a nickel .40 Firestar I bought to complement my .40 BHP MKIII. Never had a problem with it until I chipped the extractor. In hind sight, I think I might've dropped the slide on a chambered round a time or two, because....tacticool. Did someone say something about live and learn?

[Nephrology]

Biggest regret was a pre-EA Tanfoglio 9mm. It was some transitional model. Beautifully machined and put together but couldnt run for crap and had a frame mounted safety. That thing got sold for a glock 21, which then was traded for my G17RTF. No regrets there!

First gun was a beautiful po-surp Remington 870 Wingmaster. Still have it and love it to death. It's gotten some upgrades (railed clamp, +2 mag tube, sidesaddle) which I think one day I will strip off and sell. The thing works just great as it is.

[Cacafuego]

Ooh

Almost forgot, I have a Nagant revolver in the gun locker. Just because.


Used to have a VP70Z for many years before I sold it off. Still not sure why I bought that one other than morbid curiosity.

I just bought one :o $175 out the door, what the hell.

[Tamara]

I just bought one :o $175 out the door, what the hell.

I think for that price I'd have pulled the trigger too, and for the same reason. :D

[Chuck Haggard]

I think for that price I'd have pulled the trigger too, and for the same reason. :D

I woulda bought it too.

Sold mine for $450, with three mags.

[Cacafuego]

Are you accusing me of harboring mercenary intentions? :eek:

[Drang]

I had a nickel .40 Firestar I bought to complement my .40 BHP MKIII. Never had a problem with it until I chipped the extractor. In hind sight, I think I might've dropped the slide on a chambered round a time or two, because....tacticool. Did someone say something about live and learn?

HH6's is "Starvel", AKA Electroless Nickel .40 S&W.

And either you've been on every forum I've discussed her Firestar on, or dropping the slide on a chambered round and damaging the extractor is the most common way to disable a Firestar.

[JeffJ]

How does one drop the slide on a chambered round?

[Lester Polfus]

How does one drop the slide on a chambered round?

Lock slide to rear. Insert round into chamber. Release slide.

The extractor has to snap over the rim of the cartridge, hence the breaking. It's ok with some guns, like bolt action rifles. Generally a no-no with semi-auto pistols.

[JeffJ]

It would never even occur to me to do that. Honestly I feel like someone's telling me, "Don't hit your pistol with a sledge hammer, it might break."

Purely out of morbid curiosity, is there something inherit to certain models of pistols that would necessitate that?

[Lester Polfus]

It would never even occur to me to do that. Honestly I feel like someone's telling me, "Don't hit your pistol with a sledge hammer, it might break."

Purely out of morbid curiosity, is there something inherit to certain models of pistols that would necessitate that?

Off the top of my head, I can't think of any that would make that necessary. It's just kind of a goober thing to do, like swinging the cylinder of a revolver closed, or putting an idiot mark on a 1911. Some people just don't know better, because they can't be bothered to check out a book from the library, or go to www.justfreakinggoogleit.com

[Chuck Whitlock]

HH6's is "Starvel", AKA Electroless Nickel .40 S&W.

That would be the finish.


Off the top of my head, I can't think of any that would make that necessary. It's just kind of a goober thing to do, like swinging the cylinder of a revolver closed, or putting an idiot mark on a 1911. Some people just don't know better, because they can't be bothered to check out a book from the library, or go to www.justfreakinggoogleit.com

Pretty much just Cletus-ish. I think my thought process at the time was, "You wouldn't want to do that with something like a 1911, but this spring-loaded external extractor will just snap right over the rim." :o
Also, some of us older farts predate this internet thing and were products of newsstand gun rags. Some of us were lucky to grow out of it.

[Lester Polfus]

That would be the finish.



Pretty much just Cletus-ish. I think my thought process at the time was, "You wouldn't want to do that with something like a 1911, but this spring-loaded external extractor will just snap right over the rim." :o
Also, some of us older farts predate this internet thing and were products of newsstand gun rags. Some of us were lucky to grow out of it.

I think my response came off as a little more personal-ish than I intended...

We can talk about the time i made my EAA Witness go full auto if you want....

[GardoneVT]

Lock slide to rear. Insert round into chamber. Release slide.

The extractor has to snap over the rim of the cartridge, hence the breaking. It's ok with some guns, like bolt action rifles. Generally a no-no with semi-auto pistols.

It's a Hollywood thing. Think back to Lethal Weapon 1's attempted suicide scene when Mel Gibson dropped in a 9mm round and thumbed the slide forward on his trademark 92F. A bad habit no matter what gun it is, although some pistols tolerate the abuse better then others.It's the semi auto equivalent to whipping the cylinder shut on a revolver.

[Tamara]

I think my thought process at the time was, "You wouldn't want to do that with something like a 1911, but this spring-loaded external extractor will just snap right over the rim." :o

I feel your pain. There was a time when I, for some reason, had taken it into my head that the difference between self-sprung internal extractors and pivoting external ones was somehow equivalent to the Winchester Model 70/Remington 700 thing. Surely you can see how this strange thought could take up residence in a young person's noggin. :o

[Chuck Whitlock]

I think my response came off as a little more personal-ish than I intended...

We can talk about the time i made my EAA Witness go full auto if you want....

All good.....I didn't take it that way.

I don't know what demographic you fall into, but I forget that I sometimes interact with folks for whom a world without the internet or 24 hour cable TV never existed. Hence that comment.

[Lester Polfus]

All good.....I didn't take it that way.

I don't know what demographic you fall into, but I forget that I sometimes interact with folks for whom a world without the internet or 24 hour cable TV never existed. Hence that comment.

Oh I'm 41, but I did grow up with the benefit of excellent gun handling instruction, which included "don't ever load a pistol this way."

It was when I started reading gun magazines I started getting myself into trouble...

[Drang]

It would never even occur to me to do that. Honestly I feel like someone's telling me, "Don't hit your pistol with a sledge hammer, it might break."

Purely out of morbid curiosity, is there something inherit to certain models of pistols that would necessitate that?

I think people started doing this because it was an easier way to go with a full mag +1 in the chamber than chambering one from the mag, dropping the mag, topping it off, and then putting it back in.

[JeffJ]

I think people started doing this because it was an easier way to go with a full mag +1 in the chamber than chambering one from the mag, dropping the mag, topping it off, and then putting it back in.

That makes sense, I can see the allure to doing that.

[Bigguy]

I think people started doing this because it was an easier way to go with a full mag +1 in the chamber than chambering one from the mag, dropping the mag, topping it off, and then putting it back in.
I've done exactly that for exactly that reason. Didn't realize it was a bad thing. Stuff like this is why I keep coming back.

[ToddG]

The Beretta 90-series pistols were specifically designed to be "direct chamber loaded" without damage to the extractor or other parts. I used to load my Berettas that way all the time and never had a problem. When I switched to SIG I stopped doing it and haven't done it since.

[Tamara]

The Beretta 90-series pistols were specifically designed to be "direct chamber loaded" without damage to the extractor or other parts.

Behold the Webley & Scott Pistol Self-Loading .455 Mk.I N (http://cosmolineandrust.blogspot.com/2006/11/webley-scott-pistol-self-loading-455.html).

The magazine release is in the heel position, but it operates via pushbutton. There are two holes in the rear of the magazine. Push the release and pull the magazine down until it locks in the second hole, so that the top round is low enough that it won't be engaged by the slide.

Now the absence of a cartridge in the feedway will cause the slide to lock to the rear after each shot. When the slide locks to the rear, drop another loose cartridge through the large open square ejection port on the top of the slide and thumb the release and then shoot another spear-wielding savage trying to close with His Majesty's troops.

If it looks like the wogs are about to overrun your position, press the magazine release again and seat the magazine fully home so that you may go to rapid fire from the reserve rounds in the magazine. Be sure to save the last cartridge for yourself and God save the King!

[TheTrevor]

It's a Hollywood thing. Think back to Lethal Weapon 1's attempted suicide scene when Mel Gibson dropped in a 9mm round and thumbed the slide forward on his trademark 92F. A bad habit no matter what gun it is, although some pistols tolerate the abuse better then others.It's the semi auto equivalent to whipping the cylinder shut on a revolver.

Final scene of The Replacement Killers -- Chow Yun-Fat drops a single ornately engraved 9mm round into the breech on his gun and drops the slide.

[Chuck Whitlock]

The Beretta 90-series pistols were specifically designed to be "direct chamber loaded" without damage to the extractor or other parts. I used to load my Berettas that way all the time and never had a problem. When I switched to SIG I stopped doing it and haven't done it since.

So I wasn't an ijit, I was just using the wrong platform! My self image is less fractured.

[TheTrevor]

The Beretta 90-series pistols were specifically designed to be "direct chamber loaded" without damage to the extractor or other parts. I used to load my Berettas that way all the time and never had a problem. When I switched to SIG I stopped doing it and haven't done it since.

The first time I thought about doing this on an HK after hearing it was safe to do on a Beretta, I could hear Gunter The German Engineer in my head shouting "Nein, nein! Gott verdammt Italiener..."

[Suvorov]

...and TSR's Top Secret game.

I mean, if they were nerds, which I know nobody here is. So you probably don't even know about that game.

Heck, I've never heard of it, either.

I'm just, you know, mentioning it.

I still don't think I could pronounce the name of the introductory adventure modual that was packaged with the game box.

[Tamara]

I still don't think I could pronounce the name of the introductory adventure modual that was packaged with the game box.

Shpreck-ǝn-hahlt-esh-tell.

I'll take my nerd points like a grownup, now. :o

[JAD]

Tell-uh.

I will keep your nerd points next to my first edition of Car Wars.

[Tamara]

Tell-uh.

I will keep your nerd points next to my first edition of Car Wars.

LLOL! :D

[Drang]

Shpreck-ǝn-hahlt-esh-tell.

I'll take my nerd points like a grownup, now. :o


Tell-uh.

I will keep your nerd points next to my first edition of Car Wars.

Did I mention playing D&D with the original 3-pamphlets-in-a-box set?

[ToddG]

I still don't think I could pronounce the name of the introductory adventure modual that was packaged with the game box.

The only one I really remember was the cruise ship hijacking. And another was on an atoll somewhere because that's where I learned what an atoll was. :cool:

Also, Boot Hill anyone?

[justintime]

When I turned 21 I bought a glock 19... But I grew up shooting a bersa 380 and a ppk. Out of all my dads guns I really liked them for some reason. I don't actually ever remember it malfunctioning. He also had a pt1911 when they first came out and I still play with it from time to time. It was the first handgun I killed a pig with in a tree stand lol.

[LHS]

The only one I really remember was the cruise ship hijacking. And another was on an atoll somewhere because that's where I learned what an atoll was. :cool:

Also, Boot Hill anyone?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1560768770

D&D with Webleys and C96s.

[Tamara]

Hearing somebody say their dad had a PT1911 when they were growing up is just... How can that be? Taurus just came out with those things, like, five minutes ago. Get off my lawn!

[Tamara]

And another was on an atoll somewhere because that's where I learned what an atoll was. :cool:

Also, Boot Hill anyone?

If popular culture has taught us anything, it's that atolls were invented by nature to be supervillain lairs.

A friend had Boot Hill; never got into it. I did have Gangbusters, though!

[ToddG]

A friend had Boot Hill; never got into it. I did have Gangbusters, though!

Had that. And the space one, and Marvel, and Gamma World, and...

[justintime]

Hearing somebody say their dad had a PT1911 when they were growing up is just... How can that be? Taurus just came out with those things, like, five minutes ago. Get off my lawn!

Heh I'm only 24 :) I can't remember how old I was but they have been out for a bit. He got 5 of them when they first came out and gave them as Christmas presents. All but his and one other had to be returned lol - the bersa was around for a lot longer as I think the pt1911 came around when I was 14 or so

And this was the beast I technically grew up on, but I didn't strike a pistol fancy until the autos.
http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b431/davisjustin10/9307BD3E-1D64-40D2-8F3E-77EA420696E5-16179-000001B081FE92D7_zps04bf82b9.jpg