Gun store story, your thoughts

[LVshooter]

I was in one of the most popular and busiest gun stores in my area on Saturday.
At the counter were 2 elderly women in their 60's. One of them was obviously attempting to purchase a handgun for self defense. The SALESMAN that was HELPING them was showing the one lady a nice SIG. I was too far away to tell which model, [guessing probably the 229 in 9mm].
The lady was not strong enough to rack the slide on it, and had obvious problems with the decocker. He moved the ladies over to the next counter. I thought to myself, "Oh good, he's taking her over to the showcase with the revolvers." NOPE...
He showed her a couple .380 pistols. I saw her handling the Bersa and again, was unable to successfully rack the slide. Oh well.... no biggie. She bought it.

It took a lot for me to just stand there and watch this go down and not say anything to the retail manager, whom I've known for years.

During the "sales pitch" I heard their conversation a bit. At one point I heard this phrase come out of the salesman's mouth, " yep, with all those rounds, just point and spray".
{That's was while she was looking at the Sig.}

HOLY *%#@!
What would you have done?

[akgunnut]

I probably would have suggested to the lady that if she's having difficulty with running semi-auto handguns that she might consider a revolver instead. As for the clerk's comment on "spraying", well I would have left that alone, and suggest to her that she obtain some good firearm instruction if she hasn't already.

[bennwj]

I was in one of the most popular and busiest gun stores in my area on Saturday.
At the counter were 2 elderly women in their 60's. One of them was obviously attempting to purchase a handgun for self defense. The SALESMAN that was HELPING them was showing the one lady a nice SIG. I was too far away to tell which model, [guessing probably the 229 in 9mm].
The lady was not strong enough to rack the slide on it, and had obvious problems with the decocker. He moved the ladies over to the next counter. I thought to myself, "Oh good, he's taking her over to the showcase with the revolvers." NOPE...
He showed her a couple .380 pistols. I saw her handling the Bersa and again, was unable to successfully rack the slide. Oh well.... no biggie. She bought it.

It took a lot for me to just stand there and watch this go down and not say anything to the retail manager, whom I've known for years.

During the "sales pitch" I heard their conversation a bit. At one point I heard this phrase come out of the salesman's mouth, " yep, with all those rounds, just point and spray".
{That's was while she was looking at the Sig.}

HOLY *%#@!
What would you have done?

I've seen this scene, or a variation of it repeated many times over the years.

Most recently I saw a salesman trying to sell a young lady a 5 shot .38 with a 2"bbl. He was hitting all the right talking points, light weight, easy to carry, safe etc. but he forgot to mention that it is difficult to shoot accurately. Fortunately she said that she was just looking and would cme back with her boyfriend.

I think for the old lady I would have recommended a 4" revolver in .38 if she could not rack the slide on a semi-auto.

Whenever I have somebody ask me what they should get for their first gun I tell them a Glock 19. Good balance of size, power, safety and it's easy to teach people to shoot.

[69HEMI-R/T]

This is the kind of thing that "pushes my buttons" when I observe it happening and I try my best to talk to the woman or women about it BEFORE they actually buy a gun. I do not go up and interrupt any conversation between the idiot salesman and them, though as that rarely has a positive outcome, if you know what I mean!

Most women, young and old have a hard time racking a slide on any semiauto pistol. Usually, it is from bad technique more than a strength issue in the younger ones but , sometimes it is their strength. To sell someone a gun that they cannot rack the slide on is irresponsible at best! Most .380 pistols are harder to operate and shoot than a 9mm and a salesman should know that!

A few months ago I took a friend of my wife's to a range to shoot for the first time in her life. She had been asking me to take her and help her get a gun for home defense. I took a .380 , 2 9mm pistols (glock & a S&W) and a 4" and 6" barreled .38spl revolver. She had trouble with the slide on all the semiautos and never got over her frustration with operating them even though she was a good shot with the 9mm's. Her face lit up with a big smile though, shooting the S&W revolvers! She was eating a big hole out of the bullseye at 10yds. with both of them and this was the first time she had shot any pistol in her life!

I ended up helping her find a very nice used S&W Model 65 with a 4" barrel and she is happy as can be! She knows how to load and unload it, likes the "feel" of the gun in her hands and can shoot it very well. She does practice with it and likes to shoot some of my revolvers when we go to try other ones but has no inclination to ever want a semiautomatic. She is probably 55 yrs. old and made the perfect choice for her.

Idiots that push off semiautos on old ladies that cannot even rack the slide need to find another job! I understand you not getting involved as it is a tricky thing to do without making someone angry but, they were given something that will be more than useless to them if they ever need it. Probably just get them killed with there own gun.

[M2 Carbine]

I would and have interupted a salesman when he's feeding a customer a line of BS. If the salesman gets mad that's just too damned bad.

[uhlawpup]

I would have never disrespected a salesman in his own place of business. I would have interrupted politely only to offer the lady my assistance, and given her my name and telephone number if she would like to discuss firearms before she made a purchase.

I would have then left the establishment, never to return. I would also have placed a telephone call to the owner, and let him or her know the situation.

[John Watson]

Being one of those "idiot salesmen" you try to help a customer find what will serve them best. As LVshooter indicates he only heard part of the conversation, the ladies may have come in with the opinion that a semi-auto was the way to go. I have customers who have spoken to their resident experts and come into the shop wanting this or that and their mind is made up because Joe next door has guns and he said....

I know every sales person doesn't do the same but I start out trying to determine who much a customer knows about firearms. If they are new I try to show them the points of revolvers and semi-autos. As most people now only see semi-auto on TV and almost all police carry semis they often want what the police have.

All too often however, price is the determining factor in a purchase. The customer wants a gun for the house to feel safer, doesn't intend to find out how to properly use and and wants the cheapest gun they can get. Can't tell you how many times a customer is upset because they purchased a cheap Cobra derringer or auto and it doesn't work to great. Or the dad who comes in to the store to purchase a handgun for his daughter to go off to college with her and after showing him quality revolvers and autos he opts for the Hi-Point cause it was the cheapest.

Wish we didn't carry Cobra or Hi-Point firearms. If you love yours please don't flame me, everyone in intitled to his opinion.

John

[Baba Louie]

It took a lot for me to just stand there and watch this go down and not say anything to the retail manager, whom I've known for years.
Next time you're in the store, do talk to him about it. Or at least ask him to refer that type of clientele to http://www.corneredcat.com/ to learn how to manipulate the slide on semi-autos. (Not to mention other useful information found therein). Perhaps the sales manager could offer her a useful beginners class at a slight discount with your prompting...:whistling:

If that was her 1st handgun in Clark County her 72 hour (cooling off period) wait should be up tomorrow.

[12131]

Mind telling me which store in Vegas that is? The next time I'm out there visiting my brother, I'll be sure to visit it.

[GlockRules]

I would have pointed her to a nice Barrett .50 hehe, nah I would have tried to get her aside somewhere and suggest a .38 revolver myself...I would hate to think someone was trying to sell my mom a gun that was totally wrong for her.

[GLOCK_27]

I would have gave her a GLOCK 17 with a lighter trigger and a 33 rd mag :) that why she wouldn't have to worry about reloading.

[Usingmyrights]

I probably would have suggested to the lady that if she's having difficulty with running semi-auto handguns that she might consider a revolver instead. As for the clerk's comment on "spraying", well I would have left that alone, and suggest to her that she obtain some good firearm instruction if she hasn't already.

Having worked the counter I've seen a person that couldn't even pull the trigger on a DA revolver. I didn't think it was wise that she needed to pull the hammer back to fire, especially under stress. She ended up going with it anyway, since she could pull the trigger if she used both index fingers.

[eddief4]

did he try and help her with racking the slide?

the hold the slide and push down with your strong hand.:dunno:

[Beware Owner]

Hopefully those two ladies never have to use a gun they aren't able to, um, use. Then they'll be thankful somebody stepped in and saved them from chaos.

[crazypilot]

I hope it wasn't Discount Firearms. They are usually pretty good guys. Sorry, not ragging on Bersa's but the brand new Bersa I shot, kept jamming. I was teaching a friends wife's to shoot and I'm pretty sure she's is now familiar with clearing malfunctions. Wouldn't trust it myself.

[TWalker]

My mom is in her 80s. She can't work an auto's slide. I gave her a Beretta M21 with the tip-up barrel. She can load it then fire it double action without having to work the slide or cock the hammer. If she fires it and then need to uncock it, I have her open the barrel and empty it, then uncock the hammer. She shoots it on a regular basis. I also cut the barrel on a H&R .410 shotgun down to just over 19 inches. She can easily load it, shoot it, and reload quickly. She can keep slugs on a paper plate at close range and hit drink cans with shot loads every time. This is one great-grandmother I wouldn't mess with. It makes me angry when salesmen treat old people poorly and don't try to help them honestly.

[Dogbite]

I think for the old lady I would have recommended a 4" revolver in .38 if she could not rack the slide on a semi-auto.

That is exactly what i would have said.

[RedsoxFan4Lyfe]

I think sometimes people dont get the best advice. There is nothing we can do but sit back and watch. I really believe about 85% of people would be much better off with a GOOD revolver any day of the week than an auto, that they are simply not prepared or trained to manage in a life or death situation.

Think about it. People would rather by a Bersa, Hi-Point, Jennings, Cobra etc... cause its an auto. They could get a used S&W or a Colt or a Ruger, in various calibers and in great condition for the price of those guns or LESS. I carry a Colt Snubby a lot. Its easy to carry and shoots in my hands very well. I also have a S&W .357 Magnum snub, while far from pleasant its a nice package to have. I even have a SAA Ruger in .45LC I keep around. Point is MOST shootings for defense are solved without having to fire your weapon and for those that DO have to fire, your done one way or another within 4 rounds.

Just my opinions on it all. I would rather have a revolver any day of the week over an auto of questionable make. You dont have to test a revolver either. Load the right caliber ammo and its works, period. No function testing, slide racking, jam clearing, if it goes click, pull the trigger again till it goes bang. All of those things are very good for a newbie IMO.

[machinisttx]

I think sometimes people dont get the best advice. There is nothing we can do but sit back and watch. I really believe about 85% of people would be much better off with a GOOD revolver any day of the week than an auto, that they are simply not prepared or trained to manage in a life or death situation.

Think about it. People would rather by a Bersa, Hi-Point, Jennings, Cobra etc... cause its an auto. They could get a used S&W or a Colt or a Ruger, in various calibers and in great condition for the price of those guns or LESS. I carry a Colt Snubby a lot. Its easy to carry and shoots in my hands very well. I also have a S&W .357 Magnum snub, while far from pleasant its a nice package to have. I even have a SAA Ruger in .45LC I keep around. Point is MOST shootings for defense are solved without having to fire your weapon and for those that DO have to fire, your done one way or another within 4 rounds.

Just my opinions on it all. I would rather have a revolver any day of the week over an auto of questionable make. You dont have to test a revolver either. Load the right caliber ammo and its works, period. No function testing, slide racking, jam clearing, if it goes click, pull the trigger again till it goes bang. All of those things are very good for a newbie IMO.


Where are you finding Ruger, Colt, or S&W revolvers for under $200????

[carbofan21]

Mind telling me which store in Vegas that is? The next time I'm out there visiting my brother, I'll be sure to visit it.

i would like to know which store it was as well

crazypilot
I hope it wasn't Discount Firearms.

agree about discount. i don't even bother going into the gun store on tropicana anymore

[beefums]

I wouldn't have done anything. If you are dumb enough to trust a salesman then you don't deserve my help.

[Vincep]

Remember the machine gun granny?



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--K3X6rptE4

[nick__45]

i just went to gm this weekend and saw something very disturbing. a group of young black men were hovering over the glock section while one member of the group talked to the gm gunsmith about selling his matching pair of luger. the pair is very early example with nazi simple, long barrel, and artillery setup. they finish is at least 90% which makes me think these were very piece. the guy obviously knew nothing about these fine specimen and even admitted that his grandma gave them to him when his grandma passed away a few weeks earlier.

the gm gunsmith took them to the back and came out 30 minutes later and said he'd give the fellow $700 for both. the fellow's jaw dropped like he hit the jackpot and say if he could apply the fund to a new glock 17, which gm had for $679 but will make an exception and give that to him for $700 out the door. he just need to show id and do the normal sell paper and purchase paperwork.

when the gunsmith went to the back to fill the paperwork, i gently walked over to the fellow and full knowledge of what just happned. i ask him if he's willing to sell it to me for $1000 and i'll give him a almost new g19 with 4 33rd magazines. he looked at me like i am some kind of fbi or cop trying to trick him. he was like that is illegal selling it to me. i politely told him that private sell between same state residents with no restriction is perfectly legal. he didn't me me one bit and thought i was trying to pull something on him. i again politely suggest him back out of the sale and go read the gun law on gt forum and also do some research on how much his guns really worth. he told me this and i quote "nah man, i am cool, i am straight, i wanna get a glock today." i calmly walked away in disgust at the level of ignorant of stupidity this guy had and almost the level of greed gm has.

on this same trip i also figured out who are gm's client base. the clients are mostly uninformed people who has little very knowledge about guns in general and just too lazy to learn about the sport that obviously gave them enough joy to get them spend a lot of money on. every saturday that i visit, this particular gm store sells at least 15 guns during my 2 hrs loitering campaign. since there is only 1 other gun store within 40 miles radius and that one has only 4 pistol and 3 revolvers and several ak47, that place carters to enthusiasts more than gm's typical shoppers.

[Mr. Blandings]

I have been on both sides of the counter during exchanges such as those, but let me throw a few examples of what the salesman may have been up against for consideration.

I remember well an elderly woman who explained her adult son was adicted to crack cocaine and threatening her. She had made the decision that she would not be victimized at his hands (or anyone else's). She had the money to pay for a used $80 Jennings J-22. I reasoned, explained, begged, pleaded with her to use the $80 as a deposit on a used Rossi .38. She would have none of it. She wanted a gun as soon as possible, and didn't feel she had time to wait until her next paycheck would come.

There was a gentleman in a new Lexus, wearing a Rolex who selected a Lorcin .380 because, "Well, I'm only going to use it for self defense. It's not like I'm going to be shooting it all the time."

Lost count of the number of female shoppers who I tried to convince that they would be better served with a revolver instead of a semi-automatic. Even after watching them fail to be able to manipulate a slide. Many would say, "Well, I'll just have my husband,boyfriend, neighbor, etc... load it for me." They had to have the semi-auto.

The story of one woman in particular is still used to chide me by some who know the story. An average woman with zero firearm experience who stated she had no plans to attend any classes or training. Her son had told her to purchase a Glock 22 with tritium sights and a LaserMax guiderod laser. She was another example of someone who couldn't rack the slide, yet she would hear none of my advice to consider another option. In the end, my attempts upset her so much she left the store quite convinced that I was a miserable salesman.

I suppose I was a miserable salesman. I tried to match what seemed to be the need(s) of the customer with the proper equipment. Often times, my assessment did not agree with what the customer had in mind - even if it would cost less or do the job better.

Just my 2 cents worth.

[LVshooter]

i would like to know which store it was as well



agree about discount. i don't even bother going into the gun store on tropicana anymore


You sunk my battleship!

[Burncycle]

My mom has some trouble racking slides on pistols

No problem racking the .410 though :cool:

[Usingmyrights]

I would have then left the establishment, never to return. I would also have placed a telephone call to the owner, and let him or her know the situation.

Some don't care as long as the customer is buying. I worked for a guy that would get mad because I wouldn't push through a sale like the one mentioned above. Never really got thanked though for getting someone to buy that stormed out minutes earlier due to another salesman who didn't want to serve them. They said he was being racist, and were right.

[Usingmyrights]

My mom is in her 80s. She can't work an auto's slide. I gave her a Beretta M21 with the tip-up barrel. She can load it then fire it double action without having to work the slide or cock the hammer. If she fires it and then need to uncock it, I have her open the barrel and empty it, then uncock the hammer. She shoots it on a regular basis. I also cut the barrel on a H&R .410 shotgun down to just over 19 inches. She can easily load it, shoot it, and reload quickly. She can keep slugs on a paper plate at close range and hit drink cans with shot loads every time. This is one great-grandmother I wouldn't mess with. It makes me angry when salesmen treat old people poorly and don't try to help them honestly.

Thats usually the best way to go. Caliber isn't the best but its better than nothing.

[Usingmyrights]

Think about it. People would rather by a Bersa, Hi-Point, Jennings, Cobra etc... cause its an auto. They could get a used S&W or a Colt or a Ruger, in various calibers and in great condition for the price of those guns or LESS.

You dont have to test a revolver either. Load the right caliber ammo and its works, period. No function testing, slide racking, jam clearing, if it goes click, pull the trigger again till it goes bang. All of those things are very good for a newbie IMO.

I would love to find one of the above mention wheelguns for under $150. Never seen it unless it was an old beat to crap, non-usable Smith.

You do have to function test revolvers. I've seen them brand new from the factory not working properly. A Smith, few Taurus, Beretta/Uberti...

[Usingmyrights]

on this same trip i also figured out who are gm's client base. the clients are mostly uninformed people who has little very knowledge about guns in general and just too lazy to learn about the sport that obviously gave them enough joy to get them spend a lot of money on. every saturday that i visit, this particular gm store sells at least 15 guns during my 2 hrs loitering campaign. since there is only 1 other gun store within 40 miles radius and that one has only 4 pistol and 3 revolvers and several ak47, that place carters to enthusiasts more than gm's typical shoppers.

Agreed. I was blown away at the prices I saw the one time I went into one. Even some of the "sale" prices where around the same (a couple even higher) then the sheld price at most of the local shops.

[oneshortofpar]

That's just terrible. I would have had to say something. All of the women in our family are proficient revolver shooters. We have set them all up with .38's then changed out the grips and bumped them up to .357 mags. Mainly S&W model 65's with 4 inch barrels. Revolvers are great for men or women with arthritis or just not that much hand strength, or because they just don't care to learn about semi-autos.

Every American home should have a revolver and a shotgun that everyone in the house knows how to use.

[LoneRanger19]

I would love to find one of the above mention wheelguns for under $150. Never seen it unless it was an old beat to crap, non-usable Smith.

You do have to function test revolvers. I've seen them brand new from the factory not working properly. A Smith, few Taurus, Beretta/Uberti...

Your lucky to get any functional DA revolver for under $150. Even used Taurus and Charter Arms revolvers are going for over $150 now a days.

Some places are helpful, some places just want to sell guns.

[Berto]

I would and have interupted a salesman when he's feeding a customer a line of BS. If the salesman gets mad that's just too damned bad.

I haven't gone that far, I have have taken people aside before and lended a 'different perspective', when the salesman wasn't looking.

:supergrin:

[osiruscyn]

i bet i know exactly the guy you are talking about at discount.

[Berto]

i bet i know exactly the guy you are talking about at discount.

Slightly OT;

Do the Discounts in Hell give the guns away for free, or do they overcharge?
:headscratch:

[bigdollars]

I was in one of the most popular and busiest gun stores in my area on Saturday.
At the counter were 2 elderly women in their 60's. One of them was obviously attempting to purchase a handgun for self defense. The SALESMAN that was HELPING them was showing the one lady a nice SIG. I was too far away to tell which model, [guessing probably the 229 in 9mm].
The lady was not strong enough to rack the slide on it, and had obvious problems with the decocker. He moved the ladies over to the next counter. I thought to myself, "Oh good, he's taking her over to the showcase with the revolvers." NOPE...
He showed her a couple .380 pistols. I saw her handling the Bersa and again, was unable to successfully rack the slide. Oh well.... no biggie. She bought it.

It took a lot for me to just stand there and watch this go down and not say anything to the retail manager, whom I've known for years.

During the "sales pitch" I heard their conversation a bit. At one point I heard this phrase come out of the salesman's mouth, " yep, with all those rounds, just point and spray".
{That's was while she was looking at the Sig.}

HOLY *%#@!
What would you have done?


Yea I think I would have suggested a 92fs. They are very easy to operate with the open top and all. If the lady could not operate it, I would have mentioned a standard .38 spl revolver.

In that situation a very used gun that has been inspected by a gunsmith would be a good idea. Used guns are alreadys broken in.

The .380 was probably the right choice of caliber but if she could not rack the slide, probably not the right model.

[LVshooter]

i bet i know exactly the guy you are talking about at discount.

Sorry about the misleading riddle earlier: It was the Gun Store on Tropicana. NOT Discount.

The only reason I go to the one on Trop is because they get some good used guns there and sell them at a decent price.

I like Discount for the most part, even if the entire staff isn't perfect.

[osiruscyn]

Slightly OT;

Do the Discounts in Hell give the guns away for free, or do they overcharge?
:headscratch:

why they are free of course and it's any type of gun you want, especially evil assault rifles since they are, after all, evil.


Sorry about the misleading riddle earlier: It was the Gun Store on Tropicana. NOT Discount.

The only reason I go to the one on Trop is because they get some good used guns there and sell them at a decent price.

I like Discount for the most part, even if the entire staff isn't perfect.

I went to the gun store once and that was it. It was over priced and the guys there tried to make me feel like a retard. I haven't returned and wont be returning again either.

I like american shooters store except for the prices and the employees. They are at least $100 more than any other place.

Discount is becoming my new favorite. It's on my way home, they have good hours and decent prices. I just hope who ever buys is doesn't wreck it.

[ArtificialGrape]

I wouldn't have done anything. If you are dumb enough to trust a salesman then you don't deserve my help.

You've got to be kidding -- a novice or new shooter shouldn't be able to go into a shop and get honest and valuable advice?

[Beware Owner]

You've got to be kidding -- a novice or new shooter shouldn't be able to go into a shop and get honest and valuable advice?

Sarcasm is just the epitomy of disgust!

[sfguard]

It wouldn't have been the first time I had interupted a salesman. In fact I am kinda known for doing just that I hate full of ***** salespeople

[carbofan21]

Sorry about the misleading riddle earlier: It was the Gun Store on Tropicana. NOT Discount.

The only reason I go to the one on Trop is because they get some good used guns there and sell them at a decent price.

I like Discount for the most part, even if the entire staff isn't perfect.

yeah same here. i was at discount yesterday, about 10 minutes before they were closing. one of the guys put on a new set of night sights for me, and stayed late to do it. stayed late on a friday..... i didn't even buy the sights there. i haven't shot the gun yet, but the sights look as centered as they can be. only charged me $20. nice folks!

before i went to discount, i stopped by the place closest to my house (the shop/range near bass pro on blue diamond). it was 2 hours before they closed, and they had exactly zero customers. the guy grumbled about putting on a set of sights that weren't purchased from him, so i asked if he sold heinies? "well no," he says, "but meprolights are just as good." he wanted $50 to put the sights on, so i just walked out

[vart]

As I've frequented many, many gun shops over the past 3 decades and been the son of a man that owned a chain of them, I've come to the general consensus that most gun shop sales staff between the ages of 22 and 50 are social misfits that are no more qualified to give life or death advice than Barak Obama is to be President.

If you are working in a gun shop full-time for $7-$10 an hour and aren't, A) retired B) going to college, or C) independantly wealthy, then perhaps you aren't the sharpest knife in the drawer...

I always try to talk to the guy in his 60's that is wearing jeans and a Wrangler shirt if I have questions. The 30 year old guy with the 511 pants and big mustache is not the one I'd want to ask about variations on the 1911 design...

[LVshooter]

yeah same here. i was at discount yesterday, about 10 minutes before they were closing. one of the guys put on a new set of night sights for me, and stayed late to do it. stayed late on a friday..... i didn't even buy the sights there. i haven't shot the gun yet, but the sights look as centered as they can be. only charged me $20. nice folks!

before i went to discount, i stopped by the place closest to my house (the shop/range near bass pro on blue diamond). it was 2 hours before they closed, and they had exactly zero customers. the guy grumbled about putting on a set of sights that weren't purchased from him, so i asked if he sold heinies? "well no," he says, "but meprolights are just as good." he wanted $50 to put the sights on, so i just walked out

Was the guy at Discount that did your sights named Alan? He changed out my slide stop AND mag release on BOTH of my Glocks.........$20. I shoot there all the time because they let you use your own ammo, FMJ or HP's.

The shop on Blue Diamond is way overpriced and has some heavy-attitude sales guys. The main guy Mike is at least friendly and patient.[usually] Their range is restricted to totally metal encased ammo. Most FMJ's are not allowed. They will sell you their ammo at an outrageous price though!

In my opinion, the gun store in Vegas that really takes the cake as far as HIGH prices and the MOST attitude is Citadel Gun & Safe. There is one younger guy there that is the epitome of the negative stereotype gun salesperson. I have never seen anyone purchasing a firearm there, ever.

[Laserlips]

FWIW:

Folks keep in mind you are discussing a person who's job title is "SALESMAN", not caretaker and helpmate for those who have no clue what they really need, AND can use in a firearm.

The vast majority of salesmen either are paid at least partially on commission, or if not on commission then their job performance is based on sales numbers.. Of course the higher the numbers the "better" salesperson they are?

I believe there is always a small percentage of salespersons in any field with a conscience, but I guarantee you those good folks are in the minority in the sales business. . Personal ego's, performance reports, more commission, job security, etc. all are brought into play when a sales is about to be made.. Or lost.

My opinion, and that's all it is, would be for a person unfamiliar with firearms to find a friend, make a friend, or befriend a total stranger who is knowledgeable in the firearms field and take him/her along when shopping for a firearm as a novice.

I'm of the opinion that the vast majority of novice firearm buyers are best served by a revolver.. I think 38cal. 4" barrel, of quality manufacture will get the job done for a non-gun person as well as almost anything else.

I'm also of the opinion that the person should practice a lot from THREE yards or less at "point and pull" tactics to center mass of a human sized torso target. Point and pull, point and pull, until it's 2nd nature and holes appear in the center mass of that target more often than not.

Most of us on this gun forum are naturally "gun people"... We like guns, and we all have personal likes and dislikes in a gun.. Pistols/revolvers, never a consensus, always a differing of opinion, of which both could be right, or both could be wrong as a persons opinions can be so subjective..

I'm an old fart, with 50+ years of firearms ownership, and I've been carrying (legally) since 1966.. I have pistols and I have revolvers, and one day I prefer cc one and the next day perhaps another.. But I have never felt undergunned with a quality revolver in my waistband.. I have never had one second of concern that my revolver would fire if I pulled the trigger, and I have absolutely no concern that I can hit center mass at close up and personal self defense distance.

I think that's about all we can hope for as gun owners.

Just personal opinion/no offense to those with contrary opinions.

Jesse

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a73/Laserlips/100_9436-1-1.jpg

P.S. Here's what my bride of over 40 years of blissful (most of the time) matrimony prefers as her nightstand firearm of choice..
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a73/Laserlips/100_5166.jpg

[blwnv8]

chances are she'll either shoot it probably ND, shoot herself in the foot, or not rack the slide. Which tends to be a costly paper weight