A gun for my son.

[TheTman]

My son just graduated from K-State College of Engineering (*** Laude), and I couldn't be prouder. He is taking a job out in Dodge City KS, which has a high crime rate. I want to send a gun with him until he gets a paycheck or two and can afford one of his own. His choices are going to be,
1. Taurus model 66, 6 shot revolver blued, 4 inch barrel, in .357/38
2. Dan Wesson Model 14 6 shot blue, 2.5 inch barrel .357/38
3. Taurus model 741 5 shot stainless, 3 inch barrel in .44 special
4. Charter Arms Bulldog Pug 5 shot stainless, 2.5 inch barel .44 special,
5. Remington youth model 870 20 guage.
Not going to give him any semi's at this time, until he gets more experience at clearing jams and stovepipes under his belt. I'm inclined to steer him towards the Taurus Model 66 with a speedloader, plus the 20 guage, plus get him a good flashlight. If he likes the Taurus 66, I think I'll order him some good rubber grips for it and get rid of those "cowboy" wood grips that it came with.
Do you think this is a good combination (the Taurus 66 and 20 guage) for a young man that has little experience with handguns? We're going shooting tomorrow or the next day to get him familiar with the guns in question. I think the .44's will kick too much for him to be comfortable with, and the Dan Wesson doesn't eject spent magnum shells very well. Guess I need to polish the cylinder walls or something on that one. I'll start him out with some .38 specials, and finish with a cylinder or two of .357.

[melissa5]

Congrats to the proud papa! Out of the guns listed, I think I would go with the Taurus and the 20 gauge. The longer barrel on the Taurus would be easier to shoot than the 2.5" or the .44s.

[edinero]

My pick is the bulldog for your novice son.

[melissa5]

Oh boy! Here we go again!

[Bawanna]

Lets talk guns for the boy and and leave the race cards on the race track.

I was leaning towards the bulldog also. Small, compact, meaningful. I had a bulldog and it really wasn't unpleasant to shoot and it shot well. Another one I regret selling.

[mr surveyor]

why not a revolver that will last for more than one generation of owners? Spring for a 3" Ruger SP101 .357 mag and Mossy 500 with interchangeable 18-1/2" and 28" barrels. Best bang for the bucks in both worlds.


surv

[TucsonMTB]

At the risk of sounding like Melissa by offering sage advice . . . wouldn't it make sense to let him decide based on your range experience?

After all, what's good for the ladies should also be helpful with a new shooter. By the way, I hope you plan to have some additional range sessions to help him become more comfortable with the pistol. I'm not sure I would bother with the shotty . . . but that's just me.

[CJB]

If the Charter was good 'nuff for Berkowitz, it'll suit yer son just fine.

Unless your name is Sam. In that case, I'd go with a .38special.

[JimBianchi]

My first carry gun was a Bulldog, so that's where my heart is.

Congrats for raising such a bright young man!

[Cash.45]

At the risk of sounding like Melissa by offering sage advice . . . wouldn't it make sense to let him decide based on your range experience?

After all, what's good for the ladies should also be helpful with a new shooter. By the way, I hope you plan to have some additional range sessions to help him become more comfortable with the pistol. I'm not sure I would bother with the shotty . . . but that's just me.

+1! Based on his limited experience, he should choose what he's comfortable with AND what he can shoot with accuracy!

[melissa5]

At the risk of sounding like Melissa by offering sage advice . . . wouldn't it make sense to let him decide based on your range experience?

After all, what's good for the ladies should also be helpful with a new shooter.

Ach, you got me! I've been pierced to the heart.

[TheTman]

I can't afford any new iron for the kid, and besides he's gonna be making a boatload of money (matches the highest salary I ever got as a computer systems consultant) so he can get what he wants too have later. I'm just have a limited supply of revolvers that I want him to choose until he gets something he wants. I am going to take my 1911 so he'll know what it's like to shoot "The Master", and probably the Beretta Cougar .40, but he aint gettin those! but until he gets more experience, I don't think a semi is the way to go. I want him to have something simple and ready to go when you pull the trigger. I love my little Charter Arms, it's my 2nd most used carry piece, but if that's what he wants then he can have it. I did take those skinny little Barami hip grips off and put the big rubber grips back on it so it shoots nicer. I just think it will be more recoil than he's going to like. I hope I can get him to take a CC class. I'm kind of leery his libtard girlfriend is gonna have a hissy fit over guns, but that shouldnt be a problem for a year or two.

[Bawanna]

Agree with your thinking. The revolver whichever works best for him is the ticket. Maybe now that's he's going to work and away from the influence of college theres time for him to look for a new girlfriend. Better now than later.

Might want to hook him up with a small safe to keep the gun in when it's unattended. Cheap insurance. Bolt it down or hide it or it might get took too.

[jocko]

kinda hard to say anything bad about any of the good revolvers out there, especially for some one not as knowledeagle as some of us. KISS comes into play here with guns to.

Let him buy what he feels good about, not what we feel good about. Aq good example

I just had my buddy call me this morning and saqid heh guess what??I just bought my wife a 2006 used Harely sofetail heritage. His wife has never ridden a motorcyle of any size and "thinks" she might wantto ride, but this fella went right out and bought her what HE THINKS SHE SHOULD HAVE. We tried to tell him a few months ago to buy a metric bike maybe a 650 yamaha for around 4K used and let her see if she likes toride etc and if so then sell it and you won't loose much at all, if any, but like3 many of us gun owners, we seem to think we know what is best for our wives or kids..

[Rainman48314]

Congratulations!

Either the Taurus or the 20 gauge will work for home defense.

Given you're on this forum and own several guns, I'm surprised he hasn't gotten his own before now.

Be sure to check the laws about him possessing a gun registered to another party from another State. The last thing you want happening is your son screwing up his right to later get a CCW or permits.

Good Luck