Prep for your first Handgun class

[insidethebunker]

This is for LouKy who is taking her first handgun class on 2/6. Way to go!

OK, ammo: There is a good chance you won't be able to find 22 ammo at Wal-Mart so you might have to hit Dicks or Bass Pro. For ammo you want 22LR, nothing fancy. Probably about $6.00 for 100 rounds or $15.00 for 500 rounds. Before class get a 22 pistol cleaning kit from Walmart. It has everything you need to take care of your Ruger, gun oil, brush, etc. If your pistol has been sitting for a while it needs some TLC. I'm thinking they will show you how to clean your gun at class. If not it's pretty logical with the wire brush and then the cloth squares next. You can find a video on You-tube for that. However I would go ahead and do the following: Take a terry cloth towel (or paper towel) and bathe your gun in oil. Put oil everywhere, really if you can squirt it in a spot, oil it and let it drip and wipe it down. You'll probably want to leave it sitting on that towel for a day or so and turn it over a time or two for the oil to penetrate everywhere. It will also allow oil to drip out so it won't be dripping when you go to class. I tend to keep my pistols wrapped in a towel that has a lot of gun oil in it as it helps prevent rust. Of course you've got kids in the house so you'll have to keep a pistol lock on the gun when not cleaning it, while it's dripping etc.

A quick run down on Gun Safety that I'm sure they will cover, but you need to think about even as you clean your Ruger to get ready for class:

RULE I: ALL GUNS ARE ALWAYS LOADED (even if you swear it's not you still act like it is, because you might be wrong!)
RULE II: NEVER LET THE MUZZLE COVER ANYTHING YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO DESTROY
RULE III: KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOUR SIGHTS ARE ON THE TARGET
RULE IV: BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET

By the way, Rugers are just about the most perfect 22 ever made. We've got several. They are great for target practice because the ammo is so inexpensive.

Have fun at class! I'm truly excited for you as you begin this adventure.

[LouKy]

Awesome!! Thanks so much! I really, really appreciate the information!

Gun cleaning is one of the things they'll be covering but I'm going to take your advice and go ahead and clean it as much as I can before the class. My dad was very careful with all his weapons and kept them all in great condition, but considering this pistol has been sitting in the case for at least 6 years, it could probably stand for a good oiling.

My dad taught me all the same gun safety rules that you have listed but he never let me handle any guns except for when we went skeet shooting and even then, he was the one who did the loading -- all I did was aim and shoot. My dad was a BIG shooting fan. He had several rifles, handguns, etc He even loaded his own shotgun shells (one time he loaded some with rock salt, but that's a story for another time :-) ) and smelted lead and made his own bullets for his black powder guns. I'm sure he's looking down on me smiling at the fact that I am finally going to be learning more about guns. :-)

Thanks again for your help!

[matthiasj]

Great advice ITB. Lou, I hope you have fun! Let us know how the class goes.