Gun Primer

Gun Primer Click on "Firearms" then Click on "Firearms Primer"

The basics are simple... BulletWeight X Speed = Power.
Small bullets + slow speed = low power.
Big bullets + fast speed = high power.

Actually this should be called a "Bullet" Primer. Because what you want is bullet power. The gun just delivers the bullet. Small arms ammunition, or cartridges, are used in a variety of firearms ranging from pistols to rifles and shotguns to heavier automatic weapons. The term "bullet" is commonly used to describe the cartridge, when in fact, it actually only refers to the projectile. Bullets are designed to a specific purpose, so depending upon your purpose you select a specific bullet.

Here are some handgun bullet examples:

LRN practice ammo.
WC and SWC make nice clean holes in paper targets... good for competition scoring.
SJ designed to penetrate and expand.
FMJ designed to penetrate.
SJHP and JHP designed to expand on impact. Each expand at different rates.
RBCD designed to disintegrate on penetration leaving greatest shock.

Handgun

Good for personal defense. Generally not good for hunting. The popular hand gun calibers are .22 Long Rifle, .25ACP, .32ACP.38 Special, .357 Sig, 9mm, 10mm, .40 SW, .44 Magnum and .45ACP. A hand gun may either be a auto load or a revolver. The revolver is generally easier to use and come in the same calibers.

Both type come in single action and double action. The size of hand gun you get should be as large as you can comfortably handle. As they say, "A hit with a .22 is better than a miss with a .45." In my opinion you should stay away from .25 and .32. There is one combination gun in which all should check out and that is the .38/.357. Small for practice... BIG for carry.

A hand gun is very hard to shoot accurately. It takes plenty of practice to become good. Each model is slightly different is style, feel, sights, safeties and action. You need to, again, get one with which you are comfortable with. The price ranges from a few hundred to thousands of dollars. Ammo prices range from a few cents to dollars. Don't let price be the first priority. Choose a gun which is reliable, dependable and appropriate for your situation. You will have it a long time.

Practice, practice, practice. If you can't hit the target with all the time in the world to take aim and squeeze the trigger. When you are under pressure you will not hit the target with your heart pounding, heavy breathing, hands shaking, and adrelinan in your veins. You surely wouldn't hit any thing combining this with rapid shots.

My Hand Gun Safety Lessonplans
Pay special attention to the bullet section.

How to Shoot Accurately...
At the bottom of this page click on the "More Articles" link.

Rifle

Good for hunting and can be used as a backup for personal defense. Rifles, like pistols, come in all types of calibers. The popular rifle calibers are .22LR, .223 or 5.56 NATO, .243, .270, 30-30, 7.62 Soviet, .300, 7mm, .308, and 30-06. But there are many more calibers available and some rifles are made in "Hand gun" cartridges also.

The kick of shooting these guns range from nearly none to "Like a mule." Select something you can handle well and, like the handgun, suits the purpose for which it is intended. This means you will have to study a little about ammo (the bullets available in each caliber). The price of the gun and ammo ranges greatly also.

Shotgun

Good for hunting and good for personal defense. The shotgun basically come in three sizes... .410 gage (not really a gage), 20 gage and 12 gage. Here again you must look into the ammo available. Nope, all shot (bird and buck) is not the same. There are various sizes and material; including one slug. I believe they even make shells which shoot salt.

Generally, however, a shotgun with a barrel length less than 24" is a "Scatter gun". The longer the barrel the more accurate it is in distance. Both 26" and 28" barrel are popular for home protection and hunting. A shotgun with less than an 18" barrel will get the ATF knocking on you door because it is illegal. You really want to keep these folks out of your life.

Crossbow

Good for hunting. Silent and deadly. Shoots like a rifle and therefore does not need a great deal of practice.

Excellent classes are available in the Austin area at KR Training, Reds and Eagle Peak.