As the title says, this is the final push needed for me to own a gun. We live in a relatively safe area and even though I’ve never been against owning a gun, I’ve never felt the need to get one. My wife who is very middle of the road politically wants us to get one now too, but we’ve never owned one before, so I have questions! You are all like family and I trust your opinions:
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Forgive me, I don’t know much (Especially terms), but we’d probably want a pistol. Any recommendations for someone brand new to firearms?
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What is the process like to acquire 1, especially in Commiefornia?
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We would want to be safe, learn about how to safely shoot it, and go to a range to get lessons. Is it as simple as calling ahead of time and just bringing your gun in?
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Any other tips for a noob?
Thanks fam!
Your best bet for specifics is to rent a few guns at a local range, and talk to the people there, they will be able to help you figure out the legal stuff, as well as point you towards classes(if you want), and help you ingrain gun safety before you pick up any bad habits. beyond that, try as many guns as you can get your hands on before you buy, find something you look forward to putting a few thousand rounds down range with, that has ammo that is a comfortable price. and for gods sake, practice with the ammo you plan to carry, the LAST thing you want is to(god forbid) need to use your weapon, and be surprised by the different recoil. last thing, as nice as revolvers can be, for a novice shooter you should probably go with something mag fed, glock is a solid brand, glock is the mid 90's civic of the gun world, most of them are nothing special, but you can rely on it and it will get the job done without breaking the bank
Interesting I take the opposite approach, as I believe novice shooters who lack the time to regularly train with a semi auto handgun are better suited to choosing a revolver. As there is no need to worry about malfunctions if it doesn't go boom pull the trigger again, no need to worry about clearing a misfeed or jam..If the individual has the capacity and time to train properly then a semi auto is fine.. Of course this is but my humble opinion..
My thoughts were more towards reloading(not fumbling with a speed loader, or worse loose rounds) both for in use, as well as in practice, revolvers are dead simple, and don't have failures to feed, but reloading is much less simple, as I keep saying in the thread, IMO the best gun(by far) is the one you will practice with, and have handy when you need it, but so long as we all stay civil, the differing opinions just give OP all sides of the question to make an educated decision that best fits their circumstances (this is actually why I keep responding to everybody, the more info we give OP to make a decision with the better, provided we do not confuse them by making blanket this gun is better statements)
Agreed, everyone has a differing opinion based upon what experience and education they possess..Your not wrong nor am I right we may just differ in opinion..I see your logic as well, given the reliability of modern semi auto handguns the chance of a malfunction is rather small.. Though I think we can agree that this goes up when using expanding ammunition. Clearing a malfunction is relatively easy to train, I think the most important advice to individuals who have little or no experience in firearms is that of over penetration. And that their selection of weapon and Caliber needs to take this into account..
Overpenetration can be fairly easily mitigated as a problem by being aware of what you will be hitting should you miss or have a pass through, and the correct ammo helps(for example, don't load solid brass +p ammo if you don't NEED it) and yeah, hollow points don't feed as nice as a full jacket(though there is some nice expanding ammo with a polymer tip that is the best bits of both worlds, if you can afford to practice with it), you are correct though that it is a problem that should be taken into account when selecting your gun, as are malfunctions, if you plan on using crappy cheap ammo, get the wheel gun, if you want the mag fed, be sure to feed it decent ammo
Edit: also agree on caliber, probably should avoid the magnum calibers unless you anticipate needing to shoot large wildlife
I bring up the over penetration issue not because of sidearms but because I see people often tell others that one should choose an AR as their go to home defense weapon..If you're using a expanding round in a sidearm your not going to have much to worry about over penetration. We take for granted ammo selection as most new shooters just grab a box of whatever the kid at the shop tells them is best..
Yeah, 5.56 is a small fast round, overpen is VERY easy with that if you aren't careful
I concur. I carry a revolver for a different reason. I've never been in a combat situation, so I'm not sure how I will react. I figure the easier I can make it for myself, the better off I'll be.
You just described me. Revolver here.
Consider a revolver like the S&W Governor or Taurus Judge. Both can shoot .45 Colt ammo and .410 shotshells. It's like having a small shotgun & good for home defense.
More info here: https://www.personaldefenseworld.com/2018/12/smith-wesson-governor-vs-taurus-judge/
I've heard California takes years, bro.
Get a shotgun and a pistol.
Warrior Poet Society on YouTube (or since they're being monetized, they have a network Warrior Poet Society Network). The guy is new to me but he has a lot of videos for new gun owners.
Also, if Cali does indeed takes years, check out laws about black powder guns in that state. Better to have something than nothing. As far as I know, black powder guns can be purchased without any approval, but check your state laws.
Lol instead of black powder just build your own Glock. It's not hard if you know the basics of how a firearm functions
True, but let warn folks that Glock 80% builds cost 2x as much as just buying a normal gun. Basically, we don't do it to have a gun, we do it for freedom of having a gun without asking permission.
What's the legality of that?
A person legally allowed to possess a firearm can mill an 80% firearm into a functioning firearm. It can't be sold so once you make it, you own it and then it is subject to all the possession laws. Some states require individuals to serialize home builds. I think NJ and PA have laws prohibiting 80%ers that are being challenged.
CA, I have no idea what that communistic state's laws are.
Thanks for the info. Very Cool!
Guessing it's cheaper, too?
Not always cheaper except for ARs. Some careful shopping in normal times can make a build "affordable." Or if you have an extra AR hanging around. In that case you can offset the total cost by selling the serialized lower and just use your build lower with the orphaned upper (uppers are not serialized).
These are not normal times. I don't recommend frantically building something right now or ever.
I believe the ATF allows one to sell a homemade firearm as long as it is marked..
I think you have to have an FFL manufacturers SOT.
You can get cap and ball revolvers in all 50 states without even a background check have it mailed to you..If that's all one can get it's better than nothing.. Shotguns are in my opinion still the king of home defense, with a good full stock 12G and some high velocity bird shot or number 4 buck it's damn lethal and lacks the ability to over penetrate..
not sure about on a state level, but IIRC federally pre-1899 and replicas are not even considered a firearm, even felons can own them, up to and including cannons
Edit: feel free to fact check me, if im wrong please let me know, i don't wish to spread out of date or false info
took my brother In law 1 day.
Here’s some additional things you should start doing immediately (while you wait for permits etc).
Get signed up for safety classes. There are classes that outline your states specific laws as well as demonstrating the basics of gun safety. If you have never been around guns (and aren’t in a circle of friends that own guns), having this kind of hands on experience by someone who can teach is invaluable.
Second. If you are going to use your gun for home defense, do a few walkthroughs of your house, pointing your hands like you had a gun. What are you pointing at? What’s behind the wall you are pointing at? Are you pointing at your neighbors house? If you are on the second floor, is your kid’s playround underneath you if you are pointing the gun down? Muzzle awareness is the single most important safety measure (there are 4 basic rules, this being 2 of them, don’t point at things you aren’t willing to destroy, know you’re target and what’s behind and around it), it’s something you need to practice. You will be responsible for every bullet leaving your gun, and doing this exercise might help you decide the kind of gun and ammo you want.
Wish I could upvote this more than once
Also, keep your booger hook off the bang switch until you are ready to fire
And the reason you do is this is because even a 22LR can penetrate several walls of a house while retaining deadly force.
This is why people favor fat little hollowpoints like 45ACP.
Indeed, What I find hilarious is the trend of getting subsonic 5.56 so they can be tacticool with a suppressed AR..Not realizing that the lethality of the 5.56 is due to the velocity, subsonic 5.56 is just 22lr..
This is some excellent advice...
There are many threads on this. Go to a gun shop, apply. If you have a clean background in takes a few minutes, even in CA. If you don’t know what your doing 1st get a shotgun - just a basic one - be honest with the shop as to your intent and experience and they will help and not oversell you. A pistol should be a second gun, and don’t go super cheap (e.g., highpoint) but you don’t need anything crazy either - the pistol is more for practice as it’s hard to find a range that let’s you use a shotgun unless you’re shooting clay. Bottom line - as the gun shop - generally they are all very helpful unless you front like you know everything.
just a nitpick with this, go to a local, SMALLER gunshop, NOT a chain, somewhere like cabellas or dicks or academy is going to squeeze you for every penny(most of them anyhow) without regard for what gun is best FOR YOU
That’s a very good point - I don’t even consider the larger places ‘gun shops’ but should have made that clear to the OP.
fair enough, probably says something about me that those places came to mind for me... at least cheaper than dirt wasn't the first place to come to mind
Also great deals to be had on guns and great bang/buck, but super low-end can fail when you need them most.
i don't really RECOMMEND it, but if you only have a couple hundred bucks, and need something NOW rather than saving for something better, hipoint(for all the hate it gets) while ugly and clunky and uncomfortable is still better than no gun, but if you can ~$500 is a good price point for gun, holster, and a box of ammo to get started, maybe even a couple extra mags
Edit: for new stuff, if you go used you can find some REALLY good deals, but have it looked over by a gunsmith you trust
Used is even cheaper - nothing at all wrong with used. But yes, better than nothing.
That's why the 'if you need it NOW' if you have time to look go for used, or save for something better
Pawnshops can be excellent for buying a decent weapon for less than average pricing..You do need to know the basics of checking functions and bore condition though..
I'm going to disagree on Academy. Ours is often the best price in town, and they will price match competitors. The people behind the counter aren't that helpful but if you know what you need going in it's a good option.
Like I said, most, not all, I've been to a few good ones, but MOST of them were just up selling
go to a gun store. Be cool and polite and admit you know nothing and ask for help. They will gladly get you started.
1000% this, or a local range, most of us shooters LOVE bringing new people into it, and will gladly help you learn what you need
https://www.pewpewtactical.com/beginners-guide-guns/
I was in a similar boat with similar goals. Try this link out for a good overview. The most important thing to know is gun safety and training. Your local range can help with both as well as selecting the right fire arm for your needs. Stay safe!
This is a pretty good new gun owners guide too that I found:
https://www.opticsplanet.com/howto/how-to-new-pistol-owners.html
Thanks pede
I would just like to point out the three basics of gun safety.
Always treat a gun as if it's loaded, even if you know it's not loaded.
Do not put your finger on the trigger until you are ready to fire.
Never point a gun at anything you don't intend to destroy.
If you follow those three basic safety laws, gun accidents will be virtually impossible.
EDIT I see a lot of people recommending semi automatics. There's nothing wrong with that, that's what most people use, but don't automatically discount revolvers. There are advantages and disadvantages to both types.
I totally agree. Safety is so important.
Also very important is to get use to your weapon. The first time you fire it, the trigger will feel like it takes 100 lbs to pull the trigger because you'll be afraid of the BOOM you know is coming. This will cause you to jerk your hand and you won't be able to hit the broad side of a barn.
I'd suggest learning on a revolver. Hold it at the target with the cylinder empty. practice holding on the target and pulling the trigger without jerking, 'cause you know there is no BOOM coming. Then, when you can do that, put one bullet in the cylinder and spin it russian roulette style. Again practice holding on target and pulling the trigger without jerking. One of those 6 pulls will fire a round. Rinse and Repeat that until you are confident you can hold the revolver on target while firing.
Always make sure to open the cylinder and verify it is empty before putting it away while you are learning.
Hey OP, thanks for this post - I was thinking the same thing and don't know how to get started either!
I do not agree with buying and using a shotgun. A handgun would be the better choice for most people. Here is a great conversation on that subject.
https://www.nrafamily.org/articles/2020/1/20/home-defense-pistols-vs-shotguns-vs-rifles/
It is not that complicated to get a gun. Go and fill out the forms and wait. You can precheck your qualifications without buying a gun as well with the CA DOJ.
Generally speaking you need to have your drivers license match your current address and have no bad in your past.
First step go get the firearm safety certificate. Go to the link below to read the booklet and practice for the test. You will take this test at any California gun store. You must have this before you can take your gun home.
Second go to a range that has guns and try them. The recommendation for good equipment is important.
Third, get training. Even without a gun the NRA teaches classes on basic pistol and you do not even need to own a gun. I am an NRA instructor and recommend this route for everyone.
https://oag.ca.gov/firearms/fscpfaqs
Go to calguns and ask away http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/index.php
if you expect to use it indoors, i STRONGLY recommend against a shotgun if you wish to keep your hearing
BANG! what’s this ringing? Lol
I just sent an email to my local PD to get a licence. Takes two to six weeks in MA.
Oi mate!
email? I had to personally deliver 3 copies of application in my county...
Man I’m glad I live in free America
Get a shotgun, semi-auto pistol, and a semi-auto rifle; in that order.
Shotguns are cheap, easy to use, and reliable. Always have a shotgun. They are great for home protection, having fun with clay targets, or hunting. I prefer pump actions over semi-auto. I like the Mossberg 590's & 835's, but the 500 is also good. The Maverick 88 is basically the same as the 500 with some cost cuttings.
A pistol is good for close quarter personal protection. Glock, S&W, Ruger, Springfield, Sig, and Walter are all good brands. Get a 9mm for easy shooting. The 40 S&W is snappy and packs a punch. The old timer, 45 ACP, is a legend for a very good reason. The 380 ACP is good for a pocket pistol. A pistol is good for auto, everyday carry, or other compact places until you can get to your shotgun or semi-auto rifle.
A semi-auto rifle, like a AR-15 or AK-47, is good for crowd control. The left wants to ban them so their riot gangs can loot freely. The left are working around the clock to ban them, so I do 80% because I don't like the idea of leaving a paper trail for the government. Will it help? Doubtful.
The important thing to remember is that it's better to have 1000 rounds of ammo and one gun, than a 1000 guns and one round.
Frankly a shotgun for home defense is a great way to lose your hearing, but your choice of home defense gun is a very personal matter that comes entirely down to personal preference, as does the order you buy in, the BEST gun is the one you will have to hand when you need it, and be able to hit the target with, so it needs to be something you are comfortable practicing with, and can afford to practice with your defensive ammo, as well as something you do not find cumbersome to keep handy, all other concerns are secondary, so if what you are able to practice with is a .22 short revolver, that is better than the desert eagle in .50ae you have only fired once because the ammo is expensive and it hurts your hand to shoot
My bad. I forgot to mention that you need a pair of electronic protection near your gun. It's just second nature to me now.
Here's a good model:
https://www.amazon.com/Howard-Leight-Amplification-Electronic-R-01526/dp/B001T7QJ9O
If you buy a handgun, don't forget to budget for holster, hearing and eye protection, cleaning supplies, extra magazines, ammo. Maybe a safe too, depending on your jurisdiction and if you have small kids.
This!! You have to know how to clean it, not just shoot it.
Long range (rifle)
Short range (shotgun)
Personal range (pistol)
You need all three.
So much this.. To have a true home defense system you need motion sensor lights, some type of cctv and a minimum long , short, personnal and I even throw in alittle training in hand to hand combat.
for security systems, don't get those cloud / nest pieces of shit, get real cameras from Hikvision
Also have solar powered motion sensored lights. Under a real attack, the power will be cut. Have both a defense plan and an withdraw plan.
As much as I hate solar panels it would be a good idea on a small scale. I have a nautral gas generac I installed for the house. A will light up area how ever you get it is ideal. For the obvious reasons and to capture good quality audio / video for defense.
In CA (ref https://www.pewpewtactical.com/gun-laws-state/california-gun-laws/) I am going to recommend that you consider a long arm, and just to keep this simple and unburdened with a lengthy training regimen and delays, a pump action shotgun such as the Remington 870.
Consult your local shop and explain your needs and situation.
Oh, and please take a handgun course ASAP both for enjoyment and familiarity. Again, see your local shop for advice.
The Donald is a great place to ask firearm questions. Many avid gun owners here.
My 2 cents, a 12 guage shotgun with low recoil 00 buck shot is hard to beat for home defense. Shotguns are versitile as they can be loaded with slugs, buckshot or birds shot. Shotguns also come in various gauges (calibers) which means some types are more or less powerful.
There is a myth that you don't even need to point a shotgun, that it let's loose a wall of lead. This is false, you need to aim!
A revolver would be a good choice for a noob, less things to go wrong, much simpler a design.
Get a nice Tactical shotgun with a full stock no pistol grip only shotguns. Get some high velocity bird shot..Makes an excellent home defense weapon, as it's easy to train on, has some forgiveness in the need for accurate shot placement, and most importantly it is less likely to over penetrate. This is the one thing I seldom to never seen discussed and it's one of the most important considerations for using a firearm for self defense. If you don't live in a city and have no neighbors around then an AR is a great choice, yet seldom do people talk about the 5.56 or any intermediate rifle rounds and their potential for penetration and the danger of missed shots... Pistols are a good option 9mm in a expanding round is cool a frangible round even better..Keep in mind handguns require training to be effective, also if you have little experience I would suggest starting with a revolver if you insist on a handgun..It's stupid simple, no need to worry about rectifying malfunctions if it doesn't go bang pull the trigger again..I would suggest a 38 special with a hot load and of course hollow points.. Larger calibers should be avoided, it's far more effective to hit what your aiming at as well as the recovery time after the first shot..Of course these are my own opinions and you should handle many weapons and choose what feels best and what you feel you're most capable of handling..
I disagree on the revolver, while they ARE simple, you have to weigh likelyhood of malfunction and ease of clearing against ease of reloading, and on the shotgun, you NEED to consider noise level, bottom line is that your choice of defensive gun is a personal choice that needs to be carefully considered, and depends heavily on use case and local law, the gun you will practice with and keep handy is the right gun
Logical points, yet virtually all civilian home defense shootings are resolved within 3 rounds fired. With the vast majority being one shot, the only noise from a shotgun is charging the weapon and it despite the urban lore isn't much louder than charging ones sidearm.. Ideally you don't want to go "hunting" for an intruder in your home, you want to arm yourself and if possible gather into a defendable room..Then shelter while the police are inbound and engage if the intruder tries to breach the room you and your family are in...So the negligible sound of racking your shotgun is pretty much irrelevant..
The sound I mean is that of firing, if you need to use your weapon the only sounds the threat should hear are "reach for the sky"(or some such) followed(if they do not comply) by a bang, and yes you should not go hunting unless you have someone less capable not accounted for, as for the 3 rounds thing, I still have riots on the brain, if there is a mob outside I want to be able to reload quickly and with minimal difficulty even under high stress
Indeed, personally I wouldn't choose to engage rioters even if they are burning my shit..As long as my family is accounted for.. Though the current situation changes things for sure, I actually would choose my AR as my go to in a riot situation all day every day..
Yeah, with something like that I would go for the rifle as well, but OP was asking primarily about pistols, IMO a nice short AR is the most versatile barring a need to conceal, build it stubby and it's still good for up close, but also mid range, kinda hobbled by mag laws in CA though
If proper ammunition selection an AR is a good choice..Yet this selection would also require a fair amount of training to properly utilize it safely in a combat situation..As I said clearing or resolving potential malfunctions is something that takes training to gain the muscle memory and awareness to overcome..One would also be wise to select a frangible ammunition..
https://www.reddit.com/r/CAguns/
or find a friendly rooftop Korean
I applied online for an Illinois FOID yesterday.
So you're list is a bit out of order. Here's what you do:
This is a long process. Take it seriously.
I definitely support the NRA, but what does being a member do?
Gives them more money to spend on lobbyists who endlessly capitulate to the gun grabbers. Fuck the NRA join Gun Owners of America.
Many folks have rightly stressed the need for training and practice. To those requirements, I would also suggest setting aside time to practice with the ammo you will likely be using in a personal defense situation, as well as practicing at the ranges you will likely be firing at.
If your hallway is 10 feet long, in other words, take at least part of your training time to make sure you can put rounds on target quickly and accurately within those distances.
Thank goodness I have never had to use my weapons in self-defense, and I never want to. But if I ever do need to, I imagine the experience will be somewhat different than shooting at paper at my local range. I try, at least once in a while and as far as my limited circumstances allow, to change up my practice sessions to give me a better simulation of what I might encounter, late at night, in a darkened house, adrenaline coursing, people screaming.
What a nightmare. I can only imagine that muscle memory, in a situation like that, would be very helpful. As a wise man once said, most people do not "rise to the occasion." They only fall back to the level of their training.
Get a 12 gauge remington 870 shotgun and a 9mm glock handgun. Then take some basic gun training classes.
Get some double ought buck and slug rounds for the shotgun. One is large pellets and the other is a giant bullet. Slugs can reach out pretty far and will fuck someone up even if they are wearing armor.
Contrary to popular belief, smaller handguns are typically harder to shoot.
Without training and practice, guns are not very helpful. Make sure you get good training.
Be careful, it's habit forming. Kiss your paychecks goodbye
Pardon my ignorance, but, I have been thinking the last few days about how intimidating it is to hear a shotgun being prepared to fire. That unmistakable sound. I would think it is a great deterrent. So, just what kind of old fashioned "Jed Clampett" shotgun would that be? I suppose a shotgun is a bit large and unwieldy for a small person to handle? On the other hand I was just wishing to hell I had a gun, any gun, last night. I understand that there is one model of glock that is best for a person with small hands like me. Please say again what that model is.
the sound you are likely thinking of is chambering a round in a tube fed(pump action) shotgun, that is what you hear so often in media(though exaggerated), and is commonly associated with them, as for being unwieldy for a small person the size of some can make them cumbersome, but something to remember is that weight helps tame the recoil of a firearm, a smaller & lighter gun firing the same ammo is going to have more FELT recoil
My first time buying was recently. California has the strictest gun rules. There is a 10 day wait period. I don't live in California but I belive that AR 15s are not "California legal". Everyone on .win has their own opinion on which gun is th "best gun" but some people say the best kind of gun is one that works when you pull the trigger. With that said I will tell you my next gun purchasing strategy will be.
Make sure it's made in America. Americans make the best guns.
Simply ask what the Gun dealer thinks you should get. He will respond with a couple of questions of his own. And then this will narrow down your options. As long as your gun is American made you shouldn't have too many issues. Also think about maintenance. Is the gun prone to getting jammed? Does it need to be lubed? (mine doesn't cuz its treated with RF-85 material). Does it work well after being dropped on the ground? These are things you should consider and let your gun dealer help out with the rest.
as long as you are calm and seem behave like a stable human and remain unpanicked things will be smooth
I bought a rifle. The problem with rifles are that you can't really hide them well in a riot scenario. So think of that. Also, ammunition is a big thing. I just bought ammo from this website because its sold in bulk. https://www.bulkammo.com/rifle/bulk-5.56x45-ammo
You can buy a good gun for less than $700. Expensive doesn't always equal quality.
It might be cheaper to get two hand guns. One for you and one for your wife as opposed to one rifle. This is the more tactical option. Also I I belive 9mm ammo is cheaper. 45mm rile ammo is a bit pricey. So. Buy in bulk.
11h later and OP has made zero replies.
50/50 we have given the OP more info and differing opinions than they can digest quickly
But they haven't said anything. No "Thanks for the info", "appreciate it", nothing.
Not everyone hops on win as much as others, so I'm not being too critical.
Nobody suggested a 10-22 tho, so I'm kinda pissed about that.
10-22 is a great gun, but doesn't really fit what OP was asking
Edit: checked OP's post and comment history, looks like they asked just before logging figuring they would let it accumulate some info, probably didn't expect this many responses
When OP mentioned that they were in CA I kinda hit a rock wall, but I always recommend a rifle for beginners, much easier to learn muzzle discipline. I see older experienced guys with horrible muzzle control. Can't expect a cali soyboy to do any better.
OP being in CA limits things a great deal, likely in ways those of us not there are not aware of, that's why the first thing i recommended was to visit a local range, the people there will be able to tell them what they need to know on that front.
Also in all likely hood the people at the range will be glad to help them implement the only gun control i am FOR, being in full control of your gun.
Righteous. Good advice.
Two words: Yeet Cannon!!
Remember that gun stores are a business and will point you to things they want to sell. A 500-600 glock/cz/sig/etc will be great, but so will a hand gun that's 300 if you pick right (at least in my market the prices may be higher in CA overall).
I bought something in the 600 range and I don't actually regret it, but these days an extra couple hundred would have been nice to have.
I live in Massachusetts and looking online at what I have to do to be able to own firearm seems daunting, but I'm doing it. I am never going to be in a position where I feel like I can't defend my family again.
Get something hefty. I'd recommend a Smith & Wesson with full capacity i.e. 15+ bullets in the magazine and a good barrel. You wouldn't be able to hit the broadside of a barn with one of those wimpy guns.
The process is lengthy and arduous. The most annoying part is the "waiting period." You can skip all that by getting it from an individual. Do you know a guy???? If not, prepare for a 5-day waiting period. Do not buy new. There is no point in paying $750 when you can pay $350 for the same shit.
Safe shooting is as simple as this. Get a pistol permit so you can keep your gun on you at all times, even in your car. Learn to grab your gun while avoiding the trigger so as to safely keep it in your pocket. Always treat your gun like it is loaded and never point it at anything you love, even while cleaning it. Always be aware of what is down range: is there something wayyyyyy behind your target you can't shoot? Example: when I was a child I shot a BB at a flower 3 feet away and hit a window 100 feet later. Know how your gun works. Google its assembly and disassembly. Know how hard your trigger pulls; some guns don't actually have safeties, they just have hard triggers. My S&W MP40 doesn't. Become proficient in its firing. And yeah, most any range will happily show you the ropes.
Get hollow-pointed bullets. They do way more damage. And that pistol is mostly for mobile defense. For flawless home defense get a fucking shotgun with some high-brass slugs and throw a drum magazine on that bitch.
Lot of info here. My opinion is go to a gun store, start the ball rolling on purchasing a gun, safety is a must but I'd say you can avoid classes if you watch the many gun channels on youtube. The good ones teach and preach safety, and always remind you that a gun is a last resort. Hickok45 is a very good channel.
You need to go to a range several times, shooting a gun to a novice can be jarring, also you want to get your aim decent. I would recommend a Glock, but you may want something with a safety. Which there are many options.
Pistol: glock 19, m&p9c, or sig p320. Pick one you think looks good. Any one of them will serve you well
You gotta check your own laws. We can’t lawyer for you.
Learn the basic firearm safety rules, and primarily focus on never touching the trigger when you handle the gun. YouTube has a bazillion videos on this subject
M1 Garand rifles through the CMP (civilian marksmanship program) can be purchased in all 50 states. You have to be a member of one of a list of groups if I recall.
M1 isn't the greatest rifle compared to modern stuff, but if you are dealing with California laws...
.357 magnum on an 1873 Winchester frame is also supposed to be good for California