Brits and handguns.

[geni]

Is it a perception that pistols are not suitable for large game? I have one of these in 375 JDJ. It fires a 220 grain bullet at about 2200 fps, this is nearly as powerful as the 7.62
NATO or 30-06 and suitable for elk/deer. I have several barrels for it including one for the 22lr; suitable for rabbits.

Ranb

There are still a few punt guns around in the UK. You can keep your little plastic toys.

 

[Ranb]

You have to remember how hard it is to conceive of a handgun that powerful. Sure, you are around them all the time, but remember the first time you loaded what looked like a rifle round into a handgun? It was pretty weird for me.

Actually the first time I saw that was a Remington XP-100 in 21 fireball; a small bottle necked pistol cartridge. Everything else large was just a logical extension of that.

I seem to remember my brother having a single shot .357 that could also shoot .410 shells. It was over 20 years ago, so I could be off on lots, but I remember thinking it quite odd to shoot a .410 shell out of a handgun. I would ask my brother, but I don't have the time for his answer.

It must have been a 45 colt or other based upon that cartridge. The 410 shotshell is 41 caliber or 67 gauge wth the external dimensions of the case being nearly the same as the 45 caliber brass case. It fits in the 45 pistol chamber provided the chamber is made long enough. I recently shot a revolver that could accept 45 Colt, 454 Casull and 410 shotshell.

Ranb

 

[WildCat]

The Governor is a Me Too for S&W. The Judge was there well before it!!

Then there's the LeMat pistol used by the Confederacy during the Civil War which was a 9 shot revolver with a 16 gauge shotgun barrel underneath for good measure.

So the concept has been around a very long time!

 

[Dr. Keith]

I use a semi-auto for clay shooting, improved cylinder choke, mainly because it's the only shotgun I have.

That was the original reason I used my goose gun on everything: it was all I had.

They were using a pump-action tactical shotgun with a laser sight and were having trouble hitting the clays... not really the ideal clay gun.

A bit of understatement there!

It must have been a 45 colt or other based upon that cartridge. The 410 shotshell is 41 caliber or 67 gauge wth the external dimensions of the case being nearly the same as the 45 caliber brass case. It fits in the 45 pistol chamber provided the chamber is made long enough. I recently shot a revolver that could accept 45 Colt, 454 Casull and 410 shotshell.

Ranb

Thanks to you and others for being nice about correcting me on that.

 

[Ranb]

There are still a few punt guns around in the UK. You can keep your little plastic toys.

We will keep them (I hope) long after you continue to give yours up.

Punt guns are still available in the USA, and larger than the 1.75" bore allowed in the UK. http://www.gunsamerica.com/907173464/Guns/Shotguns/Antique/1890_Punt_Gun.htm

Ranb

 

[brodski]

Seriously, can you expand on this. I always liked over/under more than side by side, but I didn't know I was crossing some class line by having such a preference. My very proper anglophile grandmother had an over/under and I think she would be appalled to know it was a vulgar choice. I wonder if that was an intentional choice by her less proper husband.

It's the same line of reasoning that some in the upper echelons of society look down on the fishknife. Over/ under shotguns became popular relatively recently- so someone using one would have purchased their shotgun recently rather than using the family Holland and Holland side by side which has been passed down by for generations. Over/ under therefore became associated with "new money", which is dreadfully vulgar.

 

[brodski]

I'm guessing they are not going to like the semi-auto either. They're just the thing for dove hunting, I can't see having to constantly reload a double barrel for that purpose.

the maximum legal capacity for any shotgun in the UK is 3 rounds, regardless of whether it is semi-auto or pump.
And the sort of class of shooter I am talking about have people to load their guns for them.

 

[GlennB]

This seems to have become a discussion of "guns I love" and "the fun I have with guns" rather than why Brits don't want handguns in general circulation.

 

[Darat]

I'll concede that one. I've never lived anywhere rural enough to see it going on. I'd guess it's still a pretty tiny percentage of the population that is doing it, though.

Would that be with shotguns or rifles?

Surprised about that; around here it is quite a common sight to come across people with shotguns. Rabbit and pheasant hunting is common around here, but since the economic downturn there are less farmers breeding pheasants for shooting parties.

Our local park has a "No shooting" notice alongside the "No littering" and other "nos".

 

[Agatha]

This seems to have become a discussion of "guns I love" and "the fun I have with guns" rather than why Brits don't want handguns in general circulation.

You noticed that too!

 

[Rat]

This seems to have become a discussion of "guns I love" and "the fun I have with guns" rather than why Brits don't want handguns in general circulation.

You say this as if it is a surprise to you.

 

[Darat]

Just something to mull on - the last major changes in gun legislation effected at most 65,000 people (estimates vary from 35 thousand to 65 thousand). And remember not one of those could have legally been walking the streets with their guns loaded, or even have them laying around in the house ready to use - they had to be kept secure and separate from the ammunition.

Before the last change there were about 3.5 million legally owned guns in the UK, after the change there were still around 3.5 million legally owned guns in the UK.

(ETA: I think the figure was nearer to 3 million as I recall the statistic was 1:20 for guns to people in the UK.)

 

[Marcus]

the maximum legal capacity for any shotgun in the UK is 3 rounds, regardless of whether it is semi-auto or pump.
And the sort of class of shooter I am talking about have people to load their guns for them.

Hey, I saw that on Downton Abbey It seems awfully effete to me, but that is tradition, I suppose.

 

[Marcus]

This seems to have become a discussion of "guns I love" and "the fun I have with guns" rather than why Brits don't want handguns in general circulation.

It's just a subject that is easily exhausted. The article claiming that Brits were starting to lose their dislike of guns was interesting but quickly debunked.

 

[scarlettinlondon]

I understand how certain polls are unreliable (does anyone really believe that Americans supported the latest background check bill because 90% of 1700 people polled wanted more background checks?). For the British people on this forum, do any of you really want to own handguns? Anyone here ever hunt with a handgun?

Ranb

I don't want a handgun
I don't want any form of a gun
I've never hunted with a gun
I have never seen a handgun apart from on the movies
I would not have a relationship or be a friend to anyone who had a handgun
I would have nothing to do with anyone who had a gun or any kind UNLESS they were a farmer who needed one
I would not live in a country where people were allowed handguns

I am extremely anti gun. So is ever intelligent person I know. So is every educated person I know. This is partly because we are witnesses to what happens in other countries (such as the states) where the view is different.
I used to know some very foolish and immature individuals when I was very young in London who thought that a gun might be 'cool'. They didn't have guns though and even total idiot me at 18 would have dropped them like a hot potato if they had actually got a gun.

My view is that guns are always a very bad idea. I understand that other people think in a different way. I do not respect their views. I respect their right to hold those views but that doesn't stop me from thinking that they are rather less bright than idiot 18 year old me.

My view is that I am less likely to be attacked/threatened by a gun than I would be if I lived in a different country. I intend that it stay that way.

Regards Scarlett

 

[scarlettinlondon]

Excellent so I can use that. I'm also sick and tired of using a pressure washer to clean the deck and I thing a 12 gauge will make the process much easier.

Liking this attitude.

 

[Marcus]

I don't want a handgun
I don't want any form of a gun
I've never hunted with a gun
I have never seen a handgun apart from on the movies
I would not have a relationship or be a friend to anyone who had a handgun
I would have nothing to do with anyone who had a gun or any kind UNLESS they were a farmer who needed one
I would not live in a country where people were allowed handguns

I am extremely anti gun. So is ever intelligent person I know. So is every educated person I know. This is partly because we are witnesses to what happens in other countries (such as the states) where the view is different.
I used to know some very foolish and immature individuals when I was very young in London who thought that a gun might be 'cool'. They didn't have guns though and even total idiot me at 18 would have dropped them like a hot potato if they had actually got a gun.

My view is that guns are always a very bad idea. I understand that other people think in a different way. I do not respect their views. I respect their right to hold those views but that doesn't stop me from thinking that they are rather less bright than idiot 18 year old me.

My view is that I am less likely to be attacked/threatened by a gun than I would be if I lived in a different country. I intend that it stay that way.

Regards Scarlett

I feel the same way, that is, I don't respect your views but I respect your right to hold them. Your view that people who disagree with you must be less intelligent is somewhat dim, to put it politely.

 

[Last of the Fraggles]

No, there is no real demand in the UK for people to own guns. There really isn't.

We'd rather have the right to own slaves.

 

[DDWW]

Is that what happened to the passenger pigeon?

No. They disappeared due to excess baggage fees.

 

[Rolfe]

It seems to me this is a bit like the discussion about compulsory seat belt use. On average, you're a hell of a lot safer wearing one. Very occasionally, an accident happens where it's arguable that the seat belt was actually counterproductive.

This is a bit like looking at one of these accidents (and I stress I only said "arguable") and arguing passionately that people should be free not to wear seat belts.

It's immeasurably safer living in a society where guns are few and far between. Hard cases make bad law.

Rolfe.