The MD folks would have to chime in on transportation laws but you should be fine taking a real pistol to-from the range. If you are worried about it being stolen you could always lock it in a storage safe in your house. Otherwise if it's stolen you just need to report it to the police.

I wouldn't dare walk into a range with an air gun...just use your backyard? lol

A "powerful" air gun will probably do nothing but irritate an intruder, or scare him since he might not be able to tell what it is until you fire it. But you can guarantee if you DO have to fire and he finds out, your a$$ will get beat...

:iagree:

I got shot in the neck by a 6mm bb going around 650fps. It just stung a bit and broke the skin.

:bowrofl::bowrofl:

Jay, just get you a real firearm, worry about all that other stuff later. Theres only one "you" and a lot of criminals out there that would love to do harm to you, so excersize your right to bear arms, and get you some real home defense and personal protection.

I'm HARDLY an outspoken gun rights person. However, if you are looking for home defense, jayl? Don't waste your time with an air gun to practice. Get the real deal and don't sweat the details...owning a weapon isn't nearly as bad as you think.

I definitely wouldnt trust my life with an air rifle, no way jack.:shakes head:

Laws are not so bad on transportation... It doesn't even have to be locked.

As long as you are going to or from a gun store, a range, or a gunsmith/repair, you can transport it.

Vehicle must not be unattented during this time.... ie Don't stop at iHop on your way to the range.

It has to be in the trunk basically, out of easy reach.

And "separated" from the ammo, ie no loaded mags in the gun or stored "with" the gun.

Although you can transport mags loaded (just not in the gun), some ranges (Continental Arms) will tell you that you can't.
They won't even let you enter range with loaded mags.

My understanding of the term "separated" means you can have the gun inside a range bag, and even have the ammo on a pouch/pocket on the "outside" of the range bag.. That counts as separated.

As for an Airgun.. not sure what you mean by "security".. If you mean "home defense".. forget it.. you might as well hand over the airgun, and allow the criminal to beat you to death with it.

If anything get a .22 rifle, which you can use at any range, and also do small hunting with.

No. Relying on an airgun for self defense is a silly concept. Guns are designed to kill people, and that's an option that you have to have if you feel that you need a weapon to defend your life or the life of another.



There I must disagree. Owning a weapon is a huge responsibility. Not only do you have to find a secure place to store it, but you absolutely have to make sure that you know how it works, how to maintain it, how to use it, and most importantly when to use it. Statistically, it is still true that having a gun in the home makes you far more likely to injure yourself or friend/family than it is to use it to effectively to save your life. The only way to beat those odds are to get instruction, and practice with it regularly. And by instruction, I'm not talking about the the 4 hour permit-to-carry course most people have to take. I'm talking about additional courses afterward, and this is especially true if you're going to actually carry it on your person.

Do not believe, like so many Americans, that just buying a gun, bringing it home, and sticking it in your bedside table will automatically make you safer. If you don't train with it, real instruction, then the opposite will be true. The same is true IMHO if you just rely on your CCW course as all you need to make you an effective pistolero.

:iagree:

Throwing a gun in your bedside table will not help you when the poop hits the fan.

If you don't know how to use it, as many people don't. They just buy it and never even shoot it to make sure it works, and throw it in a drawer.

If you can't hit a target at "minimum" 10-15 yards away, just think what it's like at 2am, when it's dark, you're confused, scared, heart racing...

You forgot where they safety is, and that's if you remembered to load it and c0ck it...

And as Mac said, you also have to know the law, as to when you can fire.

And think about the law afterwards, because even if it was justified, you'd probably spend the next 2 years in and out of court.

Thats the impression I was under... but talked to a coworker who seemed to think it might be ok..

Thanks for the warning about this.. :p better to find out here then there

was it a copper BB?

makes sense honestly as of now I dont feel the need to have something for home defense... however thats because I live in a high rise condo ... but at some point we will be moving into a TH or such...so I was thinking if I need to get something or not..

This is interesting to hear, I will be considering your advice strongly based on how I feel in the new home.

Thanks,

No it was a plastic airsoft BB but I think even a copper one at 600 fps wouldn't do much other than sting like hell and bleed.

If all you want to do is target shoot with an air pistol, you can do this in your apartment hallway... just build a backstop with a large box and newspaper. :icon17:

I agree I would train / practice regularly if I was to get a real firearm, just rite now I didnt feel the need to have a real firearm... however seeing kind of crime that happens I might change the way I think about this..

If you think you want a real firearm now is probably the time to do it, if anything as a hedge against future regulations that make it harder for a law-abiding citizen to get one.

But like Mac and Troop were saying you need to commit to doing it right.

thats interesting, they have warnings on the air gun pistol's if used improperly it can cause death... These to me seemed completely different that the airsoft BB... however most of you on here are experts about it.

:icon18: don't think my neighbors would like this.

Oh they are definitely dangerous and could kill someone in the right situation.

Steve, you talking about your .40 cal again.. :supergay:

:stirthepot:

9mm here bro!

:confused: about pulling the trigger... on this one

:iagree:

1) If you don't want a "real" gun, don't get one. You seemed pretty reluctant a couple of posts ago. It has a lot of responsibility, and can have major consequences if not handled correctly.
2) Talk to people, these guys included. They give a lot of flack, but also a lot of good advice. Feel free to pm me if you want and I'll be more than happy to tell you what I did. Just note that I'm a noobie to shooting myself, am by no means an expert, am borderline ocd, and an anal retentive possessive control freak. Now sit back and see what kind of comments that last sentence gets me.
3) Try to find a shooting range around you that rents. Try some out, see what you like.
4) Go from there and have fun.
See, isn't that easy?

Jay if you are not ready to buy i am sure you local ranges have guns for rent. In the time leading to a firearm purchase, gun rental for your situation is a great option as it gives the option to become comfortable with a firearm and learn the proper storage, safety and operating techniques needed to reduce chances of accidental discharge of your firearm.

One thing i will say is that i am constantly scounting guns and since late november/early December i have seen prices climb anywhere from 30-50$ on each firearm i have tracked. This is not subject to everywhere, i do a bunch of scouting on Budsgunshop.com as they tend to have a very competative prices. With that being said it could just be from low stock from the holidays or the beginning of price hikes as the end of 2012 nears "elections".

Sorry, maybe I was acting a BIT too nonchalant. Obviously I feel proper training and the level of responsibility required is important to understand. I more meant that its just not as bad as he thinks, and if he takes the proper precautions and does what he's supposed to, its not that bad.

I agree, it's not as bad as it seems if shooting is something that that person is interested in. The nightmare scenario is the person who is otherwise "non-enthusiastic" about firearms, has a threatening experience and reacts by going out, buying a gun, and putting in their bedside table. The opposite is the person who is otherwise "non-enthusiastic" about firearms, has a threatening experience and reacts by taking a firearms familiarization course (the NRA sponsors these in a million places across the country, then a CCW, buys a gun, takes Firearms Defense I, Firearms Defense II, practices with it on a regular basis, takes refreshers, then puts that gun in their bedside drawer. Now, it's impractical to believe that every firearms hater will ultimately become the Atalanta Lady, but you never know.

My wife is not a firearms enthusiast, but she is a woman of scary self-determination and totally believes in her right...obligation...to save her own life if necessary. She regularly takes firearms courses and will go to the range whether I go or not. Not to hang out, not because she loves to shoot, but because she believes there's nothing more dangerous than an untrained person with a gun and if she is going to take other people's lives into her hands, she had better be as good as she can possibly be. I admire the hell out of her.

Yes, and yes...

:facepalm: :facepalm: when one face palm just is not enough...

You can just see dirty Harry right now exclaiming that this here is the most powerful airgun in the world.. Go ahead make my day...

An airgun is fine for learning the fundamentals of marksmanship, but unless you want it shoved up your :icon23: I would not shoot an intruder with it..

Get one of us to take you to On Target or whatever range is closest and start you out right with something that won't intimidate you.... I think Steve and Darren have a bunch of euro pellet launchers...

Seriously owning a gun is a Right. If you don't exercise it you will loose it. It's not a big deal to own one in The People's Republic do Maryland... Darren already covered the transport issues and for the most part that is it...

Understood.

I definitely want to go to a range with someone from here..

Jay, you can ride with me man, we can go to Maryland Small Arms range down in Upper Marlboro, I can atleast get you set on the Glock 9mm, and the .40cal. I have both, you may like.

LOL, what's ya issue? :nutswinger:

Our 9s are intimidating his :superghey: .40 cal. :p

Like a 40 would be scared of a little old 9 - NOT!!

Can you tell me more? I think it looks like fun.

I know right. .40 = knock down power

....and thats all that matters.:tup:

you need a holster and a jacket of some sort.... Yes it is fun. Much better than shooting at a static bulls eye target all the time.

I recommend these guys for the holster Comp-Tac

Investigate the local club near you and sign up for a match. nothing else to it...

Clunky design.
Crap trigger.
9mm euro pellet.

but hey at least it is not one of those plastic pos striker guns with no safety...

Thanks!!