Asking for advice about gun purchase

Xoxo

Xoxo

…
I figure this might be a good place to get some information. Though he doesn’t anymore, my husband grew up hunting in Eastern Washington and has pistol that i doubt is any good since it belonged to his grandmother.

While I’ve never been anti-gun, i also never wanted to own one and i can never imagine ever pointing one at someone with intent to shoot them. But i do have to admit that we have been to remote VRBOs during our fishing trips where i wished we had one.

So we decided to purchase a gun from a good friend . I do NOT want a shotgun, nor do i plan to be the one using it (though i will likely learn to shoot it). We are looking at a 5 cylinder Ruger LRC 38 special +P.

I thought i would ask here what y’all think about this type of gun. It would strictly be for protection. I’m not going to be in bear or cougar country anymore. Appreciate any input.
 
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Good choice in handgun.

Be sure you get a good quality holster and think through how you would carry and use it in various scenarios. They do you no good if you can't get to them when required.

Be sure you are mentally ready. Never pull a gun if you can't actually pull the trigger. Last thing you want is a meth head taking it from you and using it on you.

Train. Consider getting professional training. At least the a basic class. Then shoot it often.

The typical scenario for these will be close encounters where distance and accuracy are less important than your ability to quickly and smoothly draw and fire at a close target. 20 feet is probably a good practice range. Always managed that distance. 20 feet or less - you may get off a shot, but someone can still get you with the knife, hammer, etc...

Bottom line, you will likely never have to use it. And if you are responsible and keep it secure and handle it well, it will never be a problem. And it can give you some extra peace of mind.

Study up on the various gun laws for the states you'll be in. WA is open carry. No permit needed. Concealed carry - permit needed. Hunting, fishing, outdoor activity - no permit needed.


(8) Any person engaging in a lawful outdoor recreational activity such as hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, or horseback riding, only if, considering all of the attendant circumstances, including but not limited to whether the person has a valid hunting or fishing license, it is reasonable to conclude that the person is participating in lawful outdoor activities or is traveling to or from a legitimate outdoor recreation area;

Carrying firearms.​

(1)(a) Except in the person's place of abode or fixed place of business, a person shall not carry a pistol concealed on his or her person without a license to carry a concealed pistol.
(b) Every licensee shall have his or her concealed pistol license in his or her immediate possession at all times that he or she is required by this section to have a concealed pistol license and shall display the same upon demand to any police officer or to any other person when and if required by law to do so. Any violation of this subsection (1)(b) shall be a class 1 civil infraction under chapter 7.80 RCW and shall be punished accordingly pursuant to chapter 7.80 RCW and the infraction rules for courts of limited jurisdiction.
(2)(a) A person shall not carry or place a loaded pistol in any vehicle unless the person has a license to carry a concealed pistol and: (i) The pistol is on the licensee's person, (ii) the licensee is within the vehicle at all times that the pistol is there, or (iii) the licensee is away from the vehicle and the pistol is locked within the vehicle and concealed from view from outside the vehicle.
(b) A violation of this subsection is a misdemeanor.
(3)(a) A person at least eighteen years of age who is in possession of an unloaded pistol shall not leave the unloaded pistol in a vehicle unless the unloaded pistol is locked within the vehicle and concealed from view from outside the vehicle.
(b) A violation of this subsection is a misdemeanor.
(4) Nothing in this section permits the possession of firearms illegal to possess under state or federal law.
 
Chadk said:
Study up on the various gun laws for the states you'll be in. WA is open carry. No permit needed. Concealed carry - permit needed. Hunting, fishing, outdoor activity - no permit needed.

RCW 9.41.050: Carrying firearms. RCW 9.41.060: Exceptions to restrictions on carrying firearms.
(8) Any person engaging in a lawful outdoor recreational activity such as hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, or horseback riding, only if, considering all of the attendant circumstances, including but not limited to whether the person has a valid hunting or fishing license, it is reasonable to conclude that the person is participating in lawful outdoor activities or is traveling to or from a legitimate outdoor recreation area;
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Wait - Is this saying that a concealed carry permit is not required provided that the person is engaged in a lawful outdoor activity?

I never knew that. So for example while upland bird hunting, a person could have a concealed pistol on their person without a concealed weapons permit? Or steelheading on a sketchy river, the fisher-person could carry a concealed pistol without a permit?
 
first part says: (1)(a) a person shall not carry a pistol concealed on his or her person without a license to carry a concealed pistol....Except in the person's place of abode or fixed place of business,

Or this exception: the person is participating in lawful outdoor activities or is traveling to or from a legitimate outdoor recreation area

But I'm not a lawyer...
 
You will get all kinds of replies about best caliber for wolves, grizzlies, tweakers, etc. etc.

Best handgun is the one you'll actually carry with you.

I have the 3" LCRx (exposed hammer) in .38+p and carry it in the field occasionally as it fits nicely in my binocular chest rig.

Light weight aluminum frame, simple to operate, good trigger. Fine choice.
 
Thank you all so much! I knew i could count on PNWFF members! (Thank you @Chadk, especially, for such comprehensive information, including the RCWs. )

We are not interested in a concealed weapon permit, nor do we plan to keep it in our car. We don’t fly fish like we used to so I’m not even sure we would ever carry it outside our home, though i imagine we would if we went on a long road trip.

As a super light sleeper i feel i would hear any noises . Our weapons before, should we need them, were bear spray and a baseball bat that we keep near our bed ever. But if i heard someone banging on our door at 3 in the morning…I have to admit i would rather have a handgun close by, ready to go. (3 am knocking on doors has been a thing lately according to the Next Door Forums…. I really need to figure out how to delete my Next Door account, i don’t need more reasons to want to stay home!

I also appreciate the comments letting me know this particular handgun is a good choice. Thank you!
 
I think it would be a fine handgun. My suggestion is to put lots of rounds through it from both you and your husband. Get comfortable with it and confident.
 
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Jojo said:
I figure this might be a good place to get some information. Though he doesn’t anymore, my husband grew up hunting in Eastern Washington and has pistol that i doubt is any good since it belonged to his grandmother.

While I’ve never been anti-gun, i also never wanted to own one and i can never imagine ever pointing one at someone with intent to shoot them. But i do have to admit that we have been to remote VRBOs during our fishing trips where i wished we had one.

So we decided to purchase a gun from a good friend . I do NOT want a shotgun, nor do i plan to be the one using it (though i will likely learn to shoot it). We are looking at a 5 cylinder Ruger LRC 38 special +P.

I thought i would ask here what y’all think about this type of gun. It would strictly be for protection. I’m not going to be in bear or cougar country anymore. Appreciate any input.
Click to expand...

As of 6 months ago 38 special ammo was hard to come by.. don't know of that has settled down or not.
These days ease of finding ammo is a major consideration in firearms purchases.
 
Had an Ruger LCR in my collection, excellent for your intentions. Accurate, pleasent shooter. Suggest you use 148gr match wadcutters, a highly accurate round with mild recoil, as well as a very good self defense round for the home.
The recoil difference between +P and wadcutter rounds is significant in what is a lightweight revolver, and over penetration of surrounding walls and eardrum shatterring noise is a serious problem with +P rounds when fired inside a domiclie.
A .38 loaded with match wadcutters is the first weapon available to my wife and I inside of our home.
 
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I have the Smith and Wesson equivalent of this gun. For what it gains in ease of operation.. being a single action, hammerless revolver. It can be incredibly inaccurate due to the short barrel and long hard trigger pull. So practice if you can find ammo.
 
@Jojo a revolver in close quarters is a decent defense. But so many variables come into play. Time of day, light or dark, awakened from sleep, etc. Few but professionals are conditioned to respond with success. That said, like several have said, practice, practice, practice. If you haven’t already bought one, consider a six shot model. One more round might decide the outcome.
PM to follow…
 
Get some good earmuffs, and use earplugs with the muffs. Revolvers are loud. Have fun target shooting and you will be more likely to shoot enough to become proficient. Charcoal briquets are a challenging target with a satisfying puff when you get it right. The paper targets that reveal a high visibility ring around the point of impact help you see how you are doing.
You may not want a concealed carry permit, but I would highly recommend taking the qualifying course to get one. Especially one that involves live fire practice. It is best to learn from someone trained in proper safe firearm handling. There are a lot of people that think they know, but a certified instructor will put you on the right path.
 
Get it and practice, practice, practice. Until it’s second nature to safely carry, use, and clean it odds are it’s more dangerous to you than anyone else. At least, that’s what I was taught in gun safety classes.
 
Jake said:
Get it and practice, practice, practice. Until it’s second nature to safely carry, use, and clean it odds are it’s more dangerous to you than anyone else. At least, that’s what I was taught in gun safety classes.
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I totally understand this about it being more dangerous and honestly I’m not sure how good i would be at this but i totally trust my husband will be fine so maybe i don’t need to be.

He just informed me that he IS wanted to get a concealed carry permit as he had been talking to his brother who has one. Now that he is retired he has the time to go through whatever training he needs. But that is something i would never want to do. Though I do want to go through the gun safety course and do want to practice. If i find out I’m terrible at shooting i will just forget it and leave it all to my husband.

@Rob Allen , i didn’t know that about the ammo. Thank you. I think our friend is supplying it as he has quite a few handguns.

Thanks again y’all. Y’all are so great! This really helps a lot.

P.S. i do know it’s a Ruger. I made a typo calling it a Roger earlier. Lol.
 
Before you proceed check all the gun laws in Washington. Even when buying a hand gun from a friend a back ground check is required and there are in home storage requirements as well.
 
@Jojo , that is a solid choice for your purposes. It is a simple pistol that is safe with little to go wrong. I strongly advise spending time shooting at a range with it and even getting instruction. Even when planning not to be the one using it I feel it's always good for everyone to be familiar with a particular firearm if it is in their party and known to them.
 
GET EXPERT INSTRUCTION FOR SAFE HANDLING AND TACTICAL SITUATIONS.

There are a lot of “experts” around full of advice, short on experience.

Here’s A little article on a book I read and found helpful in treating many men who killed human beings. It applies to killing, period. The author has excellent credentials, by the way.

en.wikipedia.org

On Killing - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org
 
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JO JO, I have had a concealed weapon license for some time now and my pistols are equipped with a laser sight. It is made by CTL Crimson Trace Laser Corporation. The device projects a red laser that is visible to the person holding the gun it contacts a surface where the firearm is aimed. The sight is also visible to anyone in line of fire. Along with the package is a DVD with some information that the company developed by interviewing inmates. they found that the prisoners had no fear normal of firearms being aimed at them. But when there was a laser was involved, the inmates, almost to a man, were convinced that if fired, the bullet had to hit them in the eye. In the end, they were deadly afraid of laser-equipped firearms.
Now it is a good piece of info.................if it is true, but if it is just some advertising bs from the company trying to make a sale we are back to ground zero. I happen to like them.
 
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