I want to buy a gun or two I was thinking of either a Sig P226 or Colt Defender. I'm new to this so help is needed. Thanks

 

www.gunbroker.com

Get an FFL dealer (local gunshop) to do a private party transfer. Irvington Arms in Fremont is a really cool shop... It's small as hell, but if you get your gun from gunbroker, use them for the FFL... They are a bunch of honest cool guys.

 

What exactly is your question? Is it just to find a reputable dealer in your area? A few people besides me can help with that.

If you've come here for advice on which to purchase to make keep in mind the tastes of members here vary too much based on personal tastes. So take everyone’s advice with a grain of salt regardless of how much experience we all have, including mine.

My advice would be to find a range that allows you to test weapons, or link-up with someone from here to test some. I suggest you keep it simple for your first purchase. For example, Glock makes a great weapon and at a great price to boot. But for a novice shooter the Glock may give the wrong impression of design, function and feel of what other weapons are with more traditional design and features. I also find Glocks to be too light for beginners in some case, especially those with no shooting skills that will tend to flinch and/or breath poorly. I say if you can afford a SIG (and I assume you can seeing how you're interested in buying one), then I say do so after you test one. Yes, they are somewhat light as well but the workings are more basic and more characteristic of most handguns available. Not to mention the craftsmanship and company reputation is top notch.

 

Experience? judging from your two choices, I'd go to reeds guns and rent a few different gun to see what you like. Take a friend since you cant rent alone.

 

careful with irvington arms...

i went in there to FFL a neutered AK and i ended up paying over $700...










granted, they gave me a hell of a deal on a remington tacti-cool shotgun...

IA is a great place. while other FFL wouldnt touch my transfer with a 10 foot pole or rape for their services, they were happy to deal with my transaction and fees are very good...


dont forget when getting a handgun, you need to pay the state an additional $20 (or is it $30) for that stupid HSC thingee....

also, while the sig 226 is already on the list of kalif approved handguns, if you get a weird special edition, it may not be.

 

Just go and get yourself a Springfield Mil Spec 1911. For handguns, I wouldn't mess with anything that has a caliber that doesn't start with a .4 and end with a 5. The "Fo Fif" FTW!

 

im new to guns too, and im probably leaning towards something in the Sig Sauer line, but with a fairly large caliber..... eventually..