To A.T. Hagan re firearms

greenspun.com : LUSENET : TimeBomb 2000 (Y2000) Preparation Forum : One Thread

Alan,

In your "have you tried your . . . .?" you asked,

"Have you shot the new firearm you bought? Do you know how to load and unload it? In the dark? How to clean it? How to field strip it? Do you even know what the term "field strip" means? A firearm in the hands of the untrained is as dangerous to the shooter as to the target. "

My answer is no, I don't know what "field strip" means. Would you be so kind as to tell me?

Also, I tried to buy a .22 pistol cleaning kit at Wal-Mart with no luck. Can you recommend a source for such a thing? I trust such a kit will come with good instructions, since I don't know how to clean a gun.

I don't want to be untrained and dangerous, but so far I don't have much experience.

Many thanks -

-- peg (peg@futureandahope.com), December 02, 1999

Answers

Contact the NRA and get all of the courses you can, even if you have to drive for several hours to attend. Your local gunshop or firing range should know who is the local instructor(s) and perhaps their schedules. The courses and materials are worth the effort.

-- Ken Seger (kenseger@earthlink.net), December 02, 1999.

To field strip a firearm means to disassemble to the point where it can easily be cleaned and maintained. The degree to which you can do this with a particular firearm depends on its specific design. Most military/paramilitary firearms can be broken down fairly easily for cleaning. Some civilian firearms can as well but many cannot.

You should have received a manual with your firearm (presuming you bought it new) that will give instructions on how far to disassemble the piece for cleaning. If you bought the piece used then do a web search on the manufacturer. Every gun manufacturer in the country will be happy to send you a manual for your particular firearm if you ask.

You mention a .22 pistol cleaning kit so I'll say this, if you bought a Ruger .22 semiautomatic pistol I would NOT disassemble it before finding someone who's had one apart and put it back together again. They're damn fine pistols but they can be tricky to put back together, even with an instruction manual.

I don't know what's available in your area so far as gun supplies but I'd check with a different Wal Mart, if you can, KMart, Sports Authority and then I'd go to the local Yellow Pages and start looking for gun shops. In fact, start with the gun shops first. They'll be able to help you find an NRA instructor. In order of desirability, check into the following NRA courses, The Personal Protection course (includes vital legal self-defense info as well as shooting), the Basic Pistol course (just shooting, safety and maintenance) and finally the Home Firearm Safety course (no shooting but you'll at least learn how to safely store it and not shoot yourself or others, by accident).

Given the shortness of the time remaining if you just can't find a decent firearms course to take, try to find someone who is an experienced shooter, preferably with handguns. Have them go over with you how to safely load and unload your pistol and how to clear jams and such. Don't buy the cheap, dollar a box ammo, get the decent stuff. It doesn't have to be hyper-velocity, or sniper ammo or any of that stuff, just a good brand. You won't go wrong with Winchester, Remington or CCI.

Do try to get a decent beginning shooting class if you can.

..........Alan.

The Prudent Food Storage FAQ, v3.5

http://www.providenceco-op.com

-- A.T. Hagan (athagan@sprintmail.com), December 02, 1999.


K-Mart has a .22 cleaner for less then $5.00

-- Dan Newsome (BOONSTAR1@webnet.tv), December 02, 1999.

A.T.,

I'll second that about Ruger semiauto .22 pistols. Reliable gun but my first time disassembling it made me REALLY appreciate my Glock...

-TECH32-

-- TECH32 (TECH32@NOMAIL.COM), December 02, 1999.


Many thanks, all - obviously I need to take a course. A good friend (who lives four states away) showed me how to shoot the gun about six weeks ago, but the next time I went out to shoot I couldn't even remember how to load it! I do know that much now, but there's no doubt I need some serious instruction. I'll try the gun shops and the NRA ASAP - if nothing else, I can probably get some help from the Sheriff's Dept, which is where we bought the gun in the first place.

Thanks again -

-- peg (peg@futureandahope.com), December 02, 1999.



Moderation questions? read the FAQ