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Blued finishes reflect less light, but are less resistant to corrosion than stainless. Many other finishes exist; all are compromises. |
Current Location: Home : Firearms : Juuhoukata Chap. 3-4
Finish is another consideration. Most guns are blued or stainless... bluing is actually a very thin patina of "good" rust, put on the naked steel with a chemical solution. It usually appears black. It requires a bit more care to maintain, but is non-reflective. Stainless guns are not cure-alls for the problems of corrosion, but they are much more resistant to rust and damage. There are also other finishes like parkerized and anodized; but mostly your choices will be stainless or blued. I prefer the ease of care of the stainless finish.
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Blued finishes reflect less light, but are less resistant to corrosion than stainless. Many other finishes exist; all are compromises. |
Once you've decided on what you like, you'll have the choice of buying a new or used gun. New guns are, of course, free from excessive wear; and come with all of the manufacturers literature on their operation and care. There is nothing wrong with buying a used gun, if you ensure its quality before you buy it. There's generally no manual provided with a used gun; but stamped on the side of almost every gun sold today is the manufacturer's name and address. Most all of them will be happy to provide a free manual for the gun if you write asking for one. Having the manual is essential, unless you are already very familiar with the gun's operation. They provide information on cleaning and disassembly of the gun and can prevent much heartache when you discover you can't put the gun back together after cleaning it because you didn't read the manual. There are aftermarket books that cover the assembly/disassembly of many different guns, but the manufacturers' reccomendations are best.
In any case, when looking at a gun to purchase, there are several things you can and should check. Feel the barrel to make sure there are no bulges or rings, indicating damage. The interior and exterior should be free from rust and pitting; as should the entire gun. The barrel should be tight, and the muzzle should be undented or nicked. Check for cracks over the entire gun. Cock the hammer (make certain there are no rounds in the weapon!) and push against it with your thumb,with your finger off of the trigger. If it can be "pushed off", then it is unsafe. Ensure that the firing pin is undamaged.
On revolvers, check the cylinder. When closed, it should lock tightly. When open, it should spin freely but not exhibit any side-to-side wobbling. Check the gap between the front of the cylinder (closed) with the forcing cone- an excessive gap here decreases accuracy. The amount of gap differs from gun to gun, but generally, the smaller it is without actually touching the better. On semi-autos, ensure that the slide operates smoothly and that the slide lock works properly. Check the feed ramp on the barrel for smoothness and cleanliness. The barrel and slide should not move or rattle when the slide is closed. The barrel may move some when the slide is open, depending on the manufacturer. Check the manual safety mechanism to ensure that the gun will not fire when it is engaged.
Check the sights to ensure they are not damaged or grossly misaligned. Choose sights that are smooth and relatively small... large target sights will snag on clothing. Also, large hammer spurs may also catch on clothing. Finally, check the trigger. Most gun shops frown on "dry-firing"... pulling the trigger without a round in the chamber. Dry firing doesn't hurt modern guns; but can damage the firing pin on rimfires or revolvers with the firing pin attatched to the hammer. Always ask before dry firing. If they won't let you dry fire, place the thumb of your shooting hand on the hammer spur and the index finger of your off-hand in front of the hammer and gently lower the trigger. Be careful not to let your thumb slip, as you will pinch your other finger painfully against the hammer. The trigger pull should be smooth and continuous; if you feel "catches" or the pull is inordinately hard or far too easy, there may be something wrong with the trigger mechanism.
The gun in general should be clean and free from rust or pitting. Most gun stores do not clean their used guns; so a clean used gun is an indication that its former owner took good care of it. In any case, there should not be enormous amounts of lead or powder fouling present.
A final word on price. You can find guns from $50 "Saturday Night Specials" to $2000 beautifully engraved and finished show pieces. But that cheapo belly gun is likely to fail on you when you most need it, and that gold-plated monster is unnecessary. A good new handgun should retail from anywhere between $350 to $750, depending on manufacturer and model. You get what you pay for, and it is your life you're buying here, after all.
