I bought my first gun

[Further]

....40 caliber is not a small gun.

No, but from the pic I posted, the gun did look sub compact, but it's just the photo.

For those unaware of ammo size, here are many of the most common handgun ammo.
//i.imgflip.com/5u2iu.jpghttps://imgflip.com/memegenerator

 

[Natebishop3]

I know everyone here is suggesting going with a 9mm, but in my opinion you should look into getting a .40. There is a reason most law enforcement have stepped away from using 9's, they are just a little shy on stopping power. A 45 has a bunch of kick, so it's hard to bring back on target, but a .40 has plenty of stopping power and is very controllable. As I stated earlier, it costs about $2 more per 50 round box of full metal jacket rounds, so the savings isn't what it used to be when it comes to ammo.

The stopping power of a 9mm is fine with the right ammo. There's not much difference. Plus, there's always the argument of "if you put 2 in the chest and 1 in the head, they will not know the difference."

 

[BrianFromWA]

The stopping power of a 9mm is fine with the right ammo. There's not much difference. Plus, there's always the argument of "if you put 2 in the chest and 1 in the head, they will not know the difference."

My motto. Only pistol I've ever fired is the standard-issue Beretta 92FS.

 

[Natebishop3]

My motto. Only pistol I've ever fired is the standard-issue Beretta 92FS.

Accuracy is definitely more important than caliber size. I also like that my 9mm holds 15 rounds.

 

[mook]

Looks like a nice gun. Personally, I prefer shotguns and rifles, both for home defense and sport.

For home defense, I just feel like nothing intimidates like a 12 gauge, it's got a pretty damned low likelihood of missing, and it's much, much less likely to penetrate through walls and go on to injure innocent people. It's also, much, much more difficult to waive a shotgun or rifle in a way that accidentally points it at somebody unintentionally (try pointing a broom at the floor, the ceiling and behind you, vs pointing a carrot in the same directions, for example.)

For sport, eventually I get pretty damned bored shooting at small stationary targets. When you can go out with a couple friends though and blast at 50 or 100 clay pigeons, it's a hell of a lot more fun. Maybe it's especially nice for me because I typically tend to be the best or second best shot in the group, which is a skill that literally took me 20 years to develop. When I'm clowning around with friends a little it's fun to show off by throwing 2 pigeons (one hand thrower in each hand) and seeing if I can pick up my gun and hit 'em both. It's pretty much the only outdoors activity I can do where I feel like I can be at near elite-level on a given day.

Then you add in the potential to go out and hunt, and the big guns can't be beat. So many great memories crawling the mountains of Idaho looking for grouse, chukar, partridge, deer, turkey, moose....now that I'm moving to England I plan on going after wood pigeon and goose more.

If I were you, though, OP, I'd have a hair trigger about giving up my guns at the very first sign of depression. I love what my guns allow me to do, but I've been around a lot of mental illness in my life, and I don't know anybody who really gets "cured." You have good times and bad times, and when things get good it's maybe easy to hope that it never goes bad again. But it probably will. The suicide rate among states with high gun ownership are astronomically higher than those with low gun ownership. It's not that gun owners are more suicidal, it's just that guns are so much more effective than any other means. If you feel things start taking a dark turn, just get rid of the guns. It's just an object like any other--you can buy a replacement for about the same price you sell it, so it's no problem in the big picture to take some time off while you sort things out. You've probably already thought this through, so sorry if I sound patronizing.

TL/DR: Fuck the pea shooters, get yerself a scattergun. It's safer, more fun, better home defense and you can kill critters! Also, don't shoot your eye out.

 

[Natebishop3]

Looks like a nice gun. Personally, I prefer shotguns and rifles, both for home defense and sport.

For home defense, I just feel like nothing intimidates like a 12 gauge, it's got a pretty damned low likelihood of missing, and it's much, much less likely to penetrate through walls and go on to injure innocent people. It's also, much, much more difficult to waive a shotgun or rifle in a way that accidentally points it at somebody unintentionally (try pointing a broom at the floor, the ceiling and behind you, vs pointing a carrot in the same directions, for example.)

For sport, eventually I get pretty damned bored shooting at small stationary targets. When you can go out with a couple friends though and blast at 50 or 100 clay pigeons, it's a hell of a lot more fun. Maybe it's especially nice for me because I typically tend to be the best or second best shot in the group, which is a skill that literally took me 20 years to develop. When I'm clowning around with friends a little it's fun to show off by throwing 2 pigeons (one hand thrower in each hand) and seeing if I can pick up my gun and hit 'em both. It's pretty much the only outdoors activity I can do where I feel like I can be at near elite-level on a given day.

Then you add in the potential to go out and hunt, and the big guns can't be beat. So many great memories crawling the mountains of Idaho looking for grouse, chukar, partridge, deer, turkey, moose....now that I'm moving to England I plan on going after wood pigeon and goose more.

If I were you, though, OP, I'd have a hair trigger about giving up my guns at the very first sign of depression. I love what my guns allow me to do, but I've been around a lot of mental illness in my life, and I don't know anybody who really gets "cured." You have good times and bad times, and when things get good it's maybe easy to hope that it never goes bad again. But it probably will. The suicide rate among states with high gun ownership are astronomically higher than those with low gun ownership. It's not that gun owners are more suicidal, it's just that guns are so much more effective than any other means. If you feel things start taking a dark turn, just get rid of the guns. It's just an object like any other--you can buy a replacement for about the same price you sell it, so it's no problem in the big picture to take some time off while you sort things out. You've probably already thought this through, so sorry if I sound patronizing.

TL/DR: Fuck the pea shooters, get yerself a scattergun. It's safer, more fun, better home defense and you can kill critters! Also, don't shoot your eye out.

Home protection, yes, but he's getting a concealed weapon permit. You can't hide a shotgun on your person.

 

[mook]

Home protection, yes, but he's getting a concealed weapon permit. You can't hide a shotgun on your person.

Yeah, and I guess I just don't get that so much. If I'm out and about, odds are that if I'm mugged I'm not going to want to shoot the guy anyway. I'd rather hand over wallet and my shitty car than live with the guilt of shooting somebody, even if I only wounded them. I've killed a lot of animals in my life, and I've seen some pretty grim deaths where I fucked up. I can live with it because it was an animal that eventually fed me. I couldn't live with myself if that happened to another person.

A Sandy Hook scenario is so remote that it seems ludicrous to even consider.

If somebody is breaking into my home, though, my wife and kids are there, it's dark, and I think I have a primal instinct in me that wants to defend my own turf. I don't know if it's rational, but it's somehow different for me. I could live with shooting somebody there.

If I lived in an area where I felt I really needed a concealed weapons permit just to be out and about, I'd focus more on moving than getting that permit.

 

[Natebishop3]

Yeah, and I guess I just don't get that so much. If I'm out and about, odds are that if I'm mugged I'm not going to want to shoot the guy anyway. I'd rather hand over wallet and my shitty car than live with the guilt of shooting somebody, even if I only wounded them. I've killed a lot of animals in my life, and I've seen some pretty grim deaths where I fucked up. I can live with it because it was an animal that eventually fed me. I couldn't live with myself if that happened to another person.

A Sandy Hook scenario is so remote that it seems ludicrous to even consider.

If somebody is breaking into my home, though, my wife and kids are there, it's dark, and I think I have a primal instinct in me that wants to defend my own turf. I don't know if it's rational, but it's somehow different for me. I could live with shooting somebody there.

If I lived in an area where I felt I really needed a concealed weapons permit just to be out and about, I'd focus more on moving than getting that permit.

There are other advantages to having one. You can have a loaded gun in your car if you have a CHL, you can't do that without one. Personally, I have a CHL but I almost never carry. I know a lot of people who feel naked if they aren't carrying. I don't want to feel like that.

 

[Reep]

TL/DR: Fuck the pea shooters, get yerself a scattergun. It's safer, more fun, better home defense and you can kill critters! Also, don't shoot your eye out.

Some of those pea shooters can be pretty intimidating too:

This is my backup in case of serious need. Main is a HK45.

I don't disagree with the shotgun approach though. If I had one and a place to get very good using it I might do that (not as many shotgun ranges as pistol ranges in SoCal).

Reasons against should be considered too:
1) harder to lock up and get to than a pistol. I have a quick release coded locked case by my bed I can get into in 3 seconds ready to shoot. I don't want a loaded shotgun sitting around and haven't seen a good way to keep one locked, but get to it quickly.
2) more difficult to get proficient with a shotgun if you live in a city.
3) depending on the layout of your home, overspray from a shotgun could be more dangerous than penetration from a handgun.

But, shotguns are very good for many, if not most people.

 

[Further]

Looks like a nice gun. Personally, I prefer shotguns and rifles, both for home defense and sport.

For home defense, I just feel like nothing intimidates like a 12 gauge, it's got a pretty damned low likelihood of missing, and it's much, much less likely to penetrate through walls and go on to injure innocent people. It's also, much, much more difficult to waive a shotgun or rifle in a way that accidentally points it at somebody unintentionally (try pointing a broom at the floor, the ceiling and behind you, vs pointing a carrot in the same directions, for example.)

For sport, eventually I get pretty damned bored shooting at small stationary targets. When you can go out with a couple friends though and blast at 50 or 100 clay pigeons, it's a hell of a lot more fun. Maybe it's especially nice for me because I typically tend to be the best or second best shot in the group, which is a skill that literally took me 20 years to develop. When I'm clowning around with friends a little it's fun to show off by throwing 2 pigeons (one hand thrower in each hand) and seeing if I can pick up my gun and hit 'em both. It's pretty much the only outdoors activity I can do where I feel like I can be at near elite-level on a given day.

Then you add in the potential to go out and hunt, and the big guns can't be beat. So many great memories crawling the mountains of Idaho looking for grouse, chukar, partridge, deer, turkey, moose....now that I'm moving to England I plan on going after wood pigeon and goose more.

If I were you, though, OP, I'd have a hair trigger about giving up my guns at the very first sign of depression. I love what my guns allow me to do, but I've been around a lot of mental illness in my life, and I don't know anybody who really gets "cured." You have good times and bad times, and when things get good it's maybe easy to hope that it never goes bad again. But it probably will. The suicide rate among states with high gun ownership are astronomically higher than those with low gun ownership. It's not that gun owners are more suicidal, it's just that guns are so much more effective than any other means. If you feel things start taking a dark turn, just get rid of the guns. It's just an object like any other--you can buy a replacement for about the same price you sell it, so it's no problem in the big picture to take some time off while you sort things out. You've probably already thought this through, so sorry if I sound patronizing.

TL/DR: Fuck the pea shooters, get yerself a scattergun. It's safer, more fun, better home defense and you can kill critters! Also, don't shoot your eye out.

Nice post. Ok, a few topics to touch on. First, the most important, I agree about giving up my guns immediately if depression returns. But honestly, I think I'm over that. There were some major issues I needed to deal with and have worked on those. Not to say I won't get depressed, but there is a big difference between normal depression and a clinical one. But one of the benefits of coming clean on those issues to close family and friends is I now have people in my corner to help make sure a clinical depression never sets in, and if one does, I have people to observe me and make sure I seek immediate assistance with those issues.

Next topic, the CHL. I don't plan on being someone who carries, but taking the class and getting the license is part of my process in educating myself properly. I'll likely also take a course or two on shooting. If I'm going to own, I want to be knowledgeable, and I didn't grow up with any firearms or firearm education. Also, as Nate said, keeping it in the car, or going to and from the range, it's nice to not have to separate the gun and ammo or open carry. Also, I camp a lot, and there is always a risk when in the wilderness that you come upon a meth head or something like that.

Why do I have a gun? It's not to protect my property, it's to protect myself and my loved ones. But more than that, if there is an environmental (or economic) catastrophe and society breaks down for a period of time, I want to have protection in that case. I'm not a doomsday believer, but earthquakes happen and riots happen, and even if unlikely, I would like to be able to protect my loved ones. Also in the back of my mind, being Jewish, I will always worry about a neo-nazi uprising.

I may also get a shotgun or rifle in the future, in fact I have been looking into it. I have a couple friends who go hunting and I do believe that since I eat meat, I should at some point go hunting and better connect myself with the food I eat. I have been thinking about a Ruger American 30.06 as recommended by a friend, but lately I have been thinking a hunting shotgun might be more appropriate, as I could use it for deer, water foul or anything in-between. I won't be hunting this season, it would be next winter if I do, so I have plenty of time to consider this topic. Honestly I'm not too sure if hunting is for me, but I think I should experience what it is to track, kill, skin, gut, chop up and eat from start to finish. Also, I simply love hiking and being outdoors with friends, so a hunting trip sounds like a good time even if we don't get a kill.



I went skeet shooting once years ago and had a fun time. It does seem like a good choice.

 

[Denny Crane]

Much more impressive:

 

[Reep]

Much more impressive:

I bought a Hoyt competition compound bow to work on shooting in my back yard (1+ acre). I took archery on a recurve and shot a friends light compound at the same time. The Hoyt I had was probably 50 lbs on the hold. Took one shot with it. Arrow took off at the speed of light, skimmed the ground and started it's way around the world. Scared me so much I sold it. But, it makes a great movie weapon.

 

[oldguy]

Some of those pea shooters can be pretty intimidating too:

This is my backup in case of serious need. Main is a HK45.

I don't disagree with the shotgun approach though. If I had one and a place to get very good using it I might do that (not as many shotgun ranges as pistol ranges in SoCal).

Reasons against should be considered too:
1) harder to lock up and get to than a pistol. I have a quick release coded locked case by my bed I can get into in 3 seconds ready to shoot. I don't want a loaded shotgun sitting around and haven't seen a good way to keep one locked, but get to it quickly.
2) more difficult to get proficient with a shotgun if you live in a city.
3) depending on the layout of your home, overspray from a shotgun could be more dangerous than penetration from a handgun.

But, shotguns are very good for many, if not most people.

Perhaps the biggest advantage to a shotgun is (assuming it is a pump action) there is probably no more intimidating sounds than jacking a round into a 12 gauge chamber. To someone in a dark, unfamiliar house, that sound should make them run for the door, which is the best outcome.

My experience is that, even with an 18" barrel, a shotgun's pattern doesn't spread out that much in the 20-30' you are likely to shoot in a house. So you still have to place your shots.

Go Blazers

 

[oldguy]

Nice post. Ok, a few topics to touch on. First, the most important, I agree about giving up my guns immediately if depression returns. But honestly, I think I'm over that. There were some major issues I needed to deal with and have worked on those. Not to say I won't get depressed, but there is a big difference between normal depression and a clinical one. But one of the benefits of coming clean on those issues to close family and friends is I now have people in my corner to help make sure a clinical depression never sets in, and if one does, I have people to observe me and make sure I seek immediate assistance with those issues.

Next topic, the CHL. I don't plan on being someone who carries, but taking the class and getting the license is part of my process in educating myself properly. I'll likely also take a course or two on shooting. If I'm going to own, I want to be knowledgeable, and I didn't grow up with any firearms or firearm education. Also, as Nate said, keeping it in the car, or going to and from the range, it's nice to not have to separate the gun and ammo or open carry. Also, I camp a lot, and there is always a risk when in the wilderness that you come upon a meth head or something like that.

Why do I have a gun? It's not to protect my property, it's to protect myself and my loved ones. But more than that, if there is an environmental (or economic) catastrophe and society breaks down for a period of time, I want to have protection in that case. I'm not a doomsday believer, but earthquakes happen and riots happen, and even if unlikely, I would like to be able to protect my loved ones. Also in the back of my mind, being Jewish, I will always worry about a neo-nazi uprising.

Queue Zags telling you he is embarrassed for you that you could think that something like that could happen. (And the earthquake WILL happen, and if it's 9+, you better be able to take care of you and yours.....cause it will be BAD.) It's just a matter of when.

I may also get a shotgun or rifle in the future, in fact I have been looking into it. I have a couple friends who go hunting and I do believe that since I eat meat, I should at some point go hunting and better connect myself with the food I eat. I have been thinking about a Ruger American 30.06 as recommended by a friend, but lately I have been thinking a hunting shotgun might be more appropriate, as I could use it for deer, water foul or anything in-between. I won't be hunting this season, it would be next winter if I do, so I have plenty of time to consider this topic. Honestly I'm not too sure if hunting is for me, but I think I should experience what it is to track, kill, skin, gut, chop up and eat from start to finish. Also, I simply love hiking and being outdoors with friends, so a hunting trip sounds like a good time even if we don't get a kill.

I went skeet shooting once years ago and had a fun time. It does seem like a good choice.

If you are going to hunt both deer and elk, an '06 is a decent choice. For deer only, I would take a .243 Win. any time. It shoots much flatter, and it knocks the crap out of deer sized animals. It has FAR less recoil than an '06. If I was just starting into hunting I would have a .243 for deer and a .300 win mag for elk. There are some sexier new calibers out, but ammo is harder to find and pretty pricey.

One more piece of unsolicited advise....consider getting a .22 pistol to practice with. Loads of fun and much cheaper to shoot. I love my Browning Buck Mark....about $400 (and made in the USA). Ruger Mark I, II, III are nice pistols as well (but a little goofy to field strip and clean the first few times.)

Go Blazers

 

[Natebishop3]

Queue Zags telling you he is embarrassed for you that you could think that something like that could happen. (And the earthquake WILL happen, and if it's 9+, you better be able to take care of you and yours.....cause it will be BAD.) It's just a matter of when.



If you are going to hunt both deer and elk, an '06 is a decent choice. For deer only, I would take a .243 Win. any time. It shoots much flatter, and it knocks the crap out of deer sized animals. It has FAR less recoil than an '06. If I was just starting into hunting I would have a .243 for deer and a .300 win mag for elk. There are some sexier new calibers out, but ammo is harder to find and pretty pricey.

One more piece of unsolicited advise....consider getting a .22 pistol to practice with. Loads of fun and much cheaper to shoot. I love my Browning Buck Mark....about $400 (and made in the USA). Ruger Mark I, II, III are nice pistols as well (but a little goofy to field strip and clean the first few times.)

Go Blazers

I don't really see the point in getting a .22 to practice with. There isn't enough recoil to simulate shooting a bigger handgun, so you're really just going for muscle memory. At that point, you might as well just get a gas blowback airsoft pistol because you can get all the same muscle memory, the guns cost about $150, you can shoot it in your backyard, and the ammo is about $15 for 10,000 rounds.

 

[oldguy]

I've never shot an airsoft gun, so maybe that's a great option to consider.

Go Blazers

 

[Reep]

Perhaps the biggest advantage to a shotgun is (assuming it is a pump action) there is probably no more intimidating sounds than jacking a round into a 12 gauge chamber. To someone in a dark, unfamiliar house, that sound should make them run for the door, which is the best outcome.

I do have a 460XVR, but would never shoot it in the house. The percussion would blow the ear drums out of everyone therein (not joking). Is the percussion of the 12-gauge low enough as to not present those kind of problems? I don't shoot shot guns, but my .40 is almost too loud. Hard to imagine a shot gun with that much powder would be quieter.

 

[Denny Crane]

Weapon of choice for real men when hunting bear.

 

[Natebishop3]

I've never shot an airsoft gun, so maybe that's a great option to consider.

Go Blazers

They're virtually exact replicas.... especially the Glocks. They break down almost exactly like a real Glock. The weight is similar as well, because most of the metal is comparable. It's a little off because of the lack of bullets, but you can practice mag changes, tactical reloads, and just drawing your weapon from a holster. The biggest advantage is that you can do it in the privacy of your backyard without worrying about the man busting down your door. There is a slight recoil because they run off propane, and the action works, but obviously it's not anywhere near the recoil of even a 9mm. I think it's probably comparable to a .22 though.

This is the one I have.

http://www.airsplat.com/Items/GP-KSC-G19-MET.htm

 

[BrianFromWA]

Weapon of choice for real men when hunting bear.

 

[oldguy]

I do have a 460XVR, but would never shoot it in the house. The percussion would blow the ear drums out of everyone therein (not joking). Is the percussion of the 12-gauge low enough as to not present those kind of problems? I don't shoot shot guns, but my .40 is almost too loud. Hard to imagine a shot gun with that much powder would be quieter.

That's a good question, and I don't know the answer because I've never shot a 12 ga in the house. I suspect that, if there need arose that I need to do that, the hearing would have to suffer.

I was in a pickup once when a guy shot a .44 mag with the barrel barely out the window. It wasn't funny. My ears rang for 3-4 days, no joke.

TBH, I have a 9 on the nightstand. I seldom have the 12 ga. loaded, ready to go, even given the advantage the noise of a pump action makes when chambered.

Go Blazers

 

[Further]

To tell the truth, having this pistol is more fun than I thought it would be. But I'm trying to approach the firearm issue from a healthy perspective, where I learn sufficiently about it and have adequate supplies and training, but don't let it (either the gun or worrying about catastrophes) monopolize too much of my time or resources. Basketball, music, hiking, biking, work, family and friends all need to take a higher priority for me than firearms. So I'm just looking to approach this as just another hobby amongst many.

 

[Natebishop3]

To tell the truth, having this pistol is more fun than I thought it would be. But I'm trying to approach the firearm issue from a healthy perspective, where I learn sufficiently about it and have adequate supplies and training, but don't let it (either the gun or worrying about catastrophes) monopolize too much of my time or resources. Basketball, music, hiking, biking, work, family and friends all need to take a higher priority for me than firearms. So I'm just looking to approach this as just another hobby amongst many.

It can get very spendy. Ammo isn't cheap. Holsters aren't cheap. Classes aren't cheap.

 

[BrianFromWA]

I'm about to get my wife a CCW permit here in FL...they have for $149 combined a 1 week beginner class and a separate CCW class for military/dependents.

I tried to buy the aforementioned Beretta from a shop in CA--military, no criminal history whatsoever, pretty decent clearance, orders to the Sandbox, two forms of ID, documentation of "Expert" shooter in Pistol and Rifle, documentation for safety courses. Denied b/c I didn't have a CA driver's license. I showed my WA driver's license (no expiration as long as you're in the military) and my orders, and they said that if I didn't leave they would call the police.

I still don't have a personal weapon.

 

[Natebishop3]

I'm about to get my wife a CCW permit here in FL...they have for $149 combined a 1 week beginner class and a separate CCW class for military/dependents.

I tried to buy the aforementioned Beretta from a shop in CA--military, no criminal history whatsoever, pretty decent clearance, orders to the Sandbox, two forms of ID, documentation of "Expert" shooter in Pistol and Rifle, documentation for safety courses. Denied b/c I didn't have a CA driver's license. I showed my WA driver's license (no expiration as long as you're in the military) and my orders, and they said that if I didn't leave they would call the police.

I still don't have a personal weapon.

Why not buy in Oregon?

 

[BrianFromWA]

I wasn't in Oregon. I was living in CA waiting for my permanent orders to FL.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

To tell the truth, having this pistol is more fun than I thought it would be. But I'm trying to approach the firearm issue from a healthy perspective, where I learn sufficiently about it and have adequate supplies and training, but don't let it (either the gun or worrying about catastrophes) monopolize too much of my time or resources. Basketball, music, hiking, biking, work, family and friends all need to take a higher priority for me than firearms. So I'm just looking to approach this as just another hobby amongst many.

Beware of GUN FEVER!

 

[Reep]

Beware of GUN FEVER!

A couple years ago I picked up a M&P 45. Then I had to get a HK compact .40, then the 460XVR, then I needed a better .45. Most of the recent part was driven by fears of the CA laws changing though. Wanted to stock up while I could.

 

[Further]

It can get very spendy. Ammo isn't cheap. Holsters aren't cheap. Classes aren't cheap.

Yep, already spent a nice amount on just the gun and ammo. But I'm trying to watch prices. Gun was $340, extra mag $40, $110 for 300 rounds of FMJ and $26 for 25 rounds of hydro-shock hollowpoints. The gun safe would have been $100 but a friend had an extra as well as hunting ear muffs and a couple of crappy holsters that will do the trick for now. Then some small things like the carry class, .40 cleaning kit, spare gun box. I think I'm done spending for except for ammo for a couple months.

But I've seen the same gun go for cheapest $399 and believe it of not, $895 at a different table at the same gun show where I bought mine for $340.

Seems like prices vary much more on guns than most things, so if. I do ever buy that shotgun or 06, I'll certainly put in my time price hunting. Armslist.com seems to have some good prices if you are willing to wait.

 

[Further]

Ok, a few weeks after starting this thread and buying my first gun, I got my second. This time it was actually a gift from a good friend who thinks everyone should own a .22. I got a Ruger 10/22 and can't wait to just go plinking and practice shooting.
//i.imgflip.com/5z59i.jpghttps://imgflip.com/memegenerator

Right now it's just out of the box, no scope or other accessories. I'll pick up a scope tomorrow, nothing special, and I'll keep the factory stock for now. I also need a few magazines and some ammo, which seems hard to track down at the moment.

Anyway, I'm excited to have my new pinker, hopefully I'll get a chance to catch my dinner with it sometime in the coming year, rabbit or something. But I need to learn to shoot first, get a hunting license and then my friend will take me hunting and teach me the finer points.

It's such a light, small rifle, and the ammo seems tiny, I've held BB guns with more heft. It's king of weird, but it's also kind of cool, a gun and ammo round much more about accuracy than destructive force.