A Shot in the Dark

If the idea of firing a handgun isn’t entirely repellant, or doesn't go against the grain of everything in which you believe, give it a shot. Look online for a shooting range near you. Initially, you need to find a range that rents guns, and ear and eye protection, sells ammunition and targets, and offers personal instruction or classes. You will be able to test different types of weapons in the event you later decide to purchase one for protection or recreational use.

When dealing with handguns, you have two different basic types: revolver and semi-automatic. Revolver, think Westerns and Dirty Harry. Semi-automatic, think about the hand cannons Demi Moore used in “Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle.”

Determining which weapon is right for you is a matter of personal opinion. Here are the highlights.

Revolver

A revolver has several firing chambers comprising a cylindrical block that is brought into alignment with the firing mechanism and barrel, one shot at a time. Since I don't own one, I cannot take a picture, but think of all of the movies in which someone played Russian roulette. They put one cartridge into one of firing chambers and spin, close and hand it off to sucker number one. The spent shell of the cartridge (the bullet is inside the cartridge) is stored in the chamber until you empty it and reload the cylinder. A revolver can hold between five and 10 rounds (cartridges) of ammunition.

Semi-Automatic Pistol

I am not certain how well this image will translate to the blog and, frankly, it's not my best work- so I promise to improve upon this later. My gun is too gorgeous to be minimized this way- but time and space have brought me here. Let me diagram the above for you so you are informed reading forward. You grip the gun at the stock. The magazine, pictured below the stock is where the cartridges are housed- this is inserted to the stock. Currently, the slide is back on my firearm- this is how you chamber a round "cartridge." This action pulls the hammer back and prepares the gun for firing. There are four toggles and buttons on this side of my gun. From the front- left is the slide lock- if you want to lock it open you flip it up while the slide is back (this is usually the way the fire arm has to be to take it onto a range- the range master will want to make certain the status of your weapon- not loaded). Next is the de-cocking lever, then the slide release (what I would need to utilize right now to release the slide) and then the little round button (difficult to see) is the magazine release. Pushing this will eject the magazine for reloading.

A semi-automatic pistol utilizes magazines (holders) to house previously loaded ammunition. You insert a magazine into the grip of the gun, pull back the slide and load a cartridge into the firing chamber. The slide is the top portion of the gun that actually moves back and forth. This action both cocks the hammer and loads a cartridge into the chamber to prepare for firing. A semi-automatic uses the energy of one shot to reload the chamber for the next. During this action, the spent casing (of the bullet) is discarded and another bullet is loaded for immediate fire. Under the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, the magazine capacity of handguns is limited to a maximum of 10 cartridges. Because firing 15 rounds into someone is considered violent, where 10 is …

Each semi-automatic will have a de-cocking lever, which, once de-cocked, will result in a longer pull on the trigger to fire the weapon. When a gun is cocked, it will have a hair trigger requiring very little pressure to discharge the weapon. A magazine release will expel the magazine so a new one can be inserted. Some will have a slide lock as well to keep the gun in a safe position until prepared to ready the gun for firing.

Though you will be instructed, a classic shooting stance is as follows: Feet about shoulder width apart, gun in the right hand, index finger projecting straight forward across the trigger guard, never to be placed on the trigger unless you are about to fire immediately. The left hand will cradle the base of the grip and the right hand. Arms are straight out in front of you. Holding the wrist of the right hand is pointless, as is shooting one handed. The more stability you can place near the grip, the more accurate your shooting will be.

When testing firearms, the first thing that will surprise you is how unbelievably loud the discharging of a weapon is. Ear protection is critical and comes in the form of ear plugs and noise-reducing headphones (stylish, I know); this is non-negotiable. The next thing you might notice is the tremendous, almost unfathomable force in your hand. I was never afraid of being shot until I fired a handgun. The hand may sting or ache a bit at first, but once you find a weapon which fires smoothly in your hand, the discomfort will be minimal.

A gun term that hasn’t been discussed above is “action.” Single-action weapons require the hammer to be cocked each time the weapon is to be fired. A double-action weapon will fire without the gun cocked (resulting in a harder pull on the trigger), or with it cocked (this leaves a sensitive trigger; in this state there is generally more accuracy). Double-action only weapons will not feature a trigger at all and will not be cocked to discharge the weapon. You will always have a longer pull on the trigger.

Working it in

Action is a great word to throw around. It will also help you skirt tough questions if your experience is limited. Action refers to how the gun is cocked, fired and reloaded. Since action refers to how the gun fires, when questioned about why you prefer one handgun over the other, instead of stumbling through cost, the way it feels in the hand, etc., you can say, “I fired the Beretta and the Glock, but I preferred the action of the Sig,” or something of this nature. Once you have fired a few different handguns, you will realize that action can be stiff, clunky, tight or smooth. Action is a sexy term; put it to good use. Talk of loaded chambers, cocking, weapons firing, massive impact and pulling the slide will definitely get some attention.

An impressive gun to hold, fire and talk about is the ultra sexy, gas-powered, 50-caliber Desert Eagle. To say you’ve fired one would impress any man who knows his guns. The double entendres are endless. “It was amazing to hold something so big and powerful in my hand,” “I could barely handle it.”

You will learn enough in your first experience to hold your own with most men. If you find yourself in a bind, redirect the question or ask one of him. “Why do you prefer the Glock?” “How do you like the action on the Sig? I thought it was really tight.” When in doubt, prompt a man to talk about himself.

Tomorrow- we can talk about who shot what in Hollywood- it will be a light day because it's my 100th birthday and I am heading down to the medical supply shop to see what I need to usher in the new year.