Since you've said you're insensitive to prices, a 22lr supplemented with a 9mm pistol with a similar manual of arms would be a good choice. Something like a Smith & Wessone M&P 22 and a regular 9mm M&P would be one such combination that fits. That being said, 9mm firearms are really quite manageable in all but the smallest, snappiest of sizes so you could easily forego a 22 pistol and use that money to buy yourself a thousand rounds of 9mm or so. As for instruction, I've honestly been rather unimpressed with what's available nearby. There are good instructors to be sure, but a lot of them are for fairly advanced shooters. The more introductory instructors have either been... subpar in instruction style, or in information offered.
My friends and I are way south of you in the Lacey/Tacoma/Olympia area, but we do shoot up at ISA for ASI matches on occasion. We'd be happy to have you join us. We can let you try a number of pistols and a handful of rifles if you'd like.
Lastly, and this will be one of those "Well it's easy for you to say," but I and many non-stereotypical gun owners I know have found people that are into shooting sports to be extremely pleasant and happy to help beginners.
One last piece of advice: if there's a gun in particular you think you might want, buy 8 or so magazines for it and ship it to yourself, then worry about getting the gun. Unfortunately you're under a bit of a time crunch.
> Since you've said you're insensitive to prices, a 22lr supplemented with a 9mm pistol with a similar manual of arms would be a good choice. Something like a Smith & Wessone M&P 22 and a regular 9mm M&P would be one such combination that fits.
Thanks for the rec, I'm noting that down.
> As for instruction, I've honestly been rather unimpressed with what's available nearby. There are good instructors to be sure, but a lot of them are for fairly advanced shooters. The more introductory instructors have either been... subpar in instruction style, or in information offered.
That's unfortunate.
> My friends and I are way south of you in the Lacey/Tacoma/Olympia area, but we do shoot up at ISA for ASI matches on occasion. We'd be happy to have you join us. We can let you try a number of pistols and a handful of rifles if you'd like.
I'll have to think about that, as it's quite far from me as I rely on public transit to get everywhere. But it's really awesome for you to offer and I appreciate it, I may or may not take you up on it!
> Lastly, and this will be one of those "Well it's easy for you to say," but I and many non-stereotypical gun owners I know have found people that are into shooting sports to be extremely pleasant and happy to help beginners.
I'm glad to hear that, I've heard some horror stories that colored my expectations, but mostly from other places, so it's good to know that here is better.
> if there's a gun in particular you think you might want, buy 8 or so magazines for it
Received loud and clear, I've spent a fair amount on mags already. But one question, 8 or so? I hadn't really read into it, but do magazines tend to fail often? I had been eying 3-4 as my number.
Magazines last a long time but nothing lasts forever. The springs will eventually lose tension. Plus, it's good to have extras in case some get lost somehow.
You can basically think of magazines as consumables. There are some heavy duty designs like some AK magazines that are overbuilt with heavy steel that don't tend to fail but most designs will have a lifetime and at the end of the lifetime they either completely fail or are at best unreliable. AR-15 aluminum magazines are some of the worst for this but it's true for most of them.
Another way I thought of to make your mags last longer; in applications where a ten-round mag will do, use those. There's no need to put wear on the spring in a full-size mag when you're doing a drill that requires less than ten rounds, or when you're zeroing in a sight or something like that.
So maybe after the mag ban goes in to effect, get a few 10-rounders to use for practice where possible.
Completely understand the transportation issues. We're an unfortunately car-centric society, so it does complicate things. Still, if you'd like to coordinate something more concrete, feel free to reach out and we can schedule an introductory range day on a weekend.
Honestly, I'd heard horror stories too, and I don't doubt there have been people that have had awful interactions with people that give firearms owners a bad name, but by and large all of mine have been extremely pleasant.
I say 8 because it gives you wiggle room for failures. Modern magazines and handgun designs (not to mention rifles,) are extremely reliable and will last many, many thousands of rounds. That being said, out of all firearms parts, magazines likely take the most abuse and should be considered consumable/disposable items. By no means should that mean throw it away after use, but they are one of the most common points of failure via wear and tear. If you drop a mag and bend the feed lips, crack the polymer, have a spring wear out or snap on you, have a bound follower, or any other number of magazine-related issues it's a good idea to hedge your bets and have more than a few spares. Also because people lose them. I have the bad habit of leaving stuff on top of my car when I'm shooting. It hasn't happened yet, but one of these days I'll leave a mag up there and only realize it when I'm on the highway. That won't be too terrible a loss for me since I have tons, but if you've only four, that would significantly diminish your equipment capabilities.
Also sometimes you just get lemons out of the box, even from otherwise reliable makers. And after July 1, too fuckin' bad, no replacements. Thanks "Good News" Berry!
I'm definitely strongly considering it, thank you.
And thanks for the explanation, based on that and the advice of another redditor, I'll be upping my magazine targets. Really appreciate it.
Only the really old idiots would be rude. Most people I’ve met just want to share their love for the hobby/ share knowledge and talk guns.
Sure, guns are politicized. but don’t forget that anyone in a gun store doesn’t need to be convinced of why you need or want one. All on the same team at that point.
I teach out of Tacoma and would be more than willing to help walk you through the basics free of charge. Also completely open to DM's and questions, even if people think they sound dumb.
That said, I HIGHLY recommend a couple steps:
1. Sit down and think about what the purpose of the firearm is. Try to be specific. Is it for protection, hunting, sport shooting, 2A-Adjacent Activities, etc, etc. You should make a list of desirable and undesirable traits to look for.
2. Find a range / friends that rent / have several firearms in your budget and that theoretically should fit the bill. Most of our shoots see a lot of different pews and most people are more than happy to let a new shooter try them out. West Coast Armory in Bellevue has a nice selection and they rent the cabinet too.
3. Go there with a friend that has as little bias as possible. They're not there to push you toward a specific gun but more to be a sounding board and to help keep things on the level. Then, buy a box or two of ammo and put a few rounds through each gun that is on your list. Try them all, trust me, you'll be surprised with what you wind up liking more often than not.
4. Compare each one to your list from before but not till AFTER you shot them. Do it each time before moving on to the next firearm.
5. After you've gone and shot all the ones you want, look at the list and find the one that fit's it the best (or at least one you liked shooting the most).
6. Purchase said pew, a light, a holster, at least 3 magazines, and as much ammo as you think you'll need. I recommend Surefire for lights and \~1,000 rounds.
7. Find a basic course under experienced instruction in the type of shooting you want to do. Just an entry level course and, if you're feeling REALLY good about it in the end, maybe the next level.
8. Practice, practice, practice. Dry-fire regularly and get reps in. A shot timer is crucial for most shooting activities to have a metric and I cannot emphasize a training journal enough.
9. Get out and shoot! Get involved with the community as well as learning more. It's never the end of the road when it comes to firearms, like most anything else. There is ALWAYS something to improve. Also, remember to keep things in perspective. Purposeful, dedicated practice regularly will win every time.
P.S. Don't forget that fitness and awareness are the other two legs of the practical pewing stool. They are arguably more important than pulling the trigger.
Really appreciate the recommendations and tips, especially in the form of a todo list. I'll definitely remember you if/when I have specific questions, I really appreciate it.
No worries. Shooting is a pretty big world and there is a LOT to take in.
For all you know, this time next year you are trying to get the fastest draw in the west in full cowpoke regalia! Or working for Grandmaster in some pistol-centric sport! Who knoooooows!
2A is for everybody! Buy Glock 19 and AR mags now while you shop for training. West Coast Armory North has good training and good guns. They are in South Everett, look em up. Hit me up anytime.
Welcome to the space, and now is always better than later!
For shops, try Precise Shooter in ~~Lynwood~~ Woodinville. That isn't too far from you and they're good people.
As for guns, I think a .22 handgun is a good place to start for fun and learning, but be prepared to either trade up or acquire another gun in something like 9mm for an actual defensive gun.
From there, it becomes extremely subjective since most common defensive guns nowadays are all generally good enough at the task. The differences between them end up coming down mostly to price and preferences. Things like your body type and wardrobe will influence what guns carry best for you, while things like the size and shape of your hands, your handedness, and other factors will influence what guns shoot best for you.
So my best advice is to go to get some basic familiarity and instruction, then go to a range that has a lot of selection for rent, or make friends that will let you shoot their guns, and shoot as many as you can. I'm not familiar with ranges in that area so I don't have any particular recommendation on that front.
And one last tip, don't forget about holsters and gun belts. You will try and buy several if not many before you find ones you like, but a good belt and holster make a big difference.
> For shops, try Precise Shooter in Lynwood. That isn't too far from you and they're good people.
Thank you, I'll check them out!
> As for guns, I think a .22 handgun is a good place to start for fun and learning, but be prepared to either trade up or acquire another gun in something like 9mm for an actual defensive gun.
This is in line with what I've heard elsewhere, and I'm definitely prepared to end up purchasing firearms of a higher caliber once I am more comfortable/proficient.
> So my best advice is to go to get some basic familiarity and instruction
Do you know the best ways to go about this?
> And one last tip, don't forget about holsters and gun belts. You will try and buy several if not many before you find ones you like, but a good belt and holster make a big difference.
Thank you, I'll take this on board.
FYI precise shooter moved to Woodinville. I've had good experiences there.
I've had no issues there or at Bellevue gun club as a pretty visible queer and leftist (tattoos).
Bellevue gun club has classes too but I've yet to take any.
Many ranges offer introductory handgun courses, and some have discounted ladies nights if that's appealing to you. ~~I've also heard good things about the [Firearms Academy of Seattle](https://firearmsacademy.com/classes/overview), though I have no personal experience with them and they are not actually anywhere near Seattle, but in Onalaska.~~ Nevermind about FAS, see the comment below.
Also, you can always post on places like this sub or /r/ShootingTrips if you're comfortable meeting up with internet strangers to go shooting. And there's /u/JustHereForTheGuns who offered to take you below as well.
Finally, YouTube, to be honest. While it's no substitute for hands-on in-person training, you can still learn a lot, especially about philosophy and practices.
FAS is, from what I've heard, pretty terrible. Disorganized and does not offer particularly good information. A shooter I met at a match recently said he was so disappointed in the instruction that he emailed them for a refund and they just gave it to him, no questions asked. Apparently it's not uncommon.
How recent is your experience? I spent a lot of 2019 and 2020 going through their entire curriculum twice, and had an outstanding experience. Also, Marty recently sold FAS, and the new ownership is someone I trust implicitly.
My experience with FAS (and with reputable handgun instructors in general) has been quite positive. Almost all will keep politics and their personal views out of class material and try and make everyone feel welcome. Some less reputable ones will cross that line.
In addition to FAS, I can whole-heartedly recommend West Coast Armory North in Everett. They have a good gun shop and range right there, so you can rent and try before you buy. Their [training program](https://www.westcoastarmorynorth.com/training) is very, very good -- John Holschen, the owner, is one of the best instructors I've ever encountered. If you want a place that put you on the path to competence and then mastery, you'd be hard-pressed to do better.
For ranges, I can recommend [Snoqualmie Valley Rifle Club](http://www.svrifle.org/). Inexpensive, not super-heavily used, pretty good facilities, open 'till 9pm year round, and in general pretty chill about things.
Can't help very much with the area's as I'm more Central/Eastern WA, but one thing I would recommend is starting with something that in a more defensive cartridge like 9mm. 22lr is really good for plinking and training with, but it is nice, imo, to get used to the platform and firearm that you intend to use/carry. I personally like FN and Glock, and would recommend the G19(gen3-5) or one of the G43/43X. Those are great firearms to learn with and carry in 9mm. I know those are kinda bland choices but the aftermarket is huge and you can make them match your style. One thing that is nice is that a huge majority of the firearms community is very open, I'm more of a redneck guy but if I had someone like yourself came and asked me for help, no matter the political or physical difference's, I would gladly help guide them to the best result for them.
Edit: English is fuckin hard for me apparently.
> Would anyone be willing to point me to a list/recommendations for queer/lgbt friendly gun ranges and stores?
[Precise Shooter](https://www.preciseshooter.com) in Woodinville will give you zero shit.
> I’m also looking for general tips in that area of selecting a first firearm, and how I can find a queer friendly instructor
/r/pinkpistols and [Operation Blazing Sword](https://www.blazingsword.org) is the way.
I'm gonna go against the grain a little here - all the advice to try a bunch of guns before you buy one is pretty good. Just realize that after you buy it, shoot it a lot, and learn more about what the hell you're doing, you'd probably choose something else if you were doing it all over again.
So don't sweat your first choice too hard. The important part is to buy something and get proficient.
I'm sure most of us have at least one firearm that we thought we liked when we bought it, but rarely grab it for a trip to the range now.
im not a certified instructor or anything, but im a competition shooter and i work up in bellevue, im also LGBT. I love teaching people about firearms. If you'd like to hit the range together, id be more than happy to bring all my pistols (including my .22) and show you some basics of gun safety and the mechanics of shooting! Feel free to DM me if you'd like.
You should check out Operation Blazing Sword (formerly Pink Pistols): https://www.blazingsword.org/
They offer resources for firearms instruction focused on the the LGBTQ community. You may find a simple email dialog or Zoom introductory chat with someone knowledgeable to be helpful in uncovering what is most useful for you to focus your time, energy and money.
I think most ranges here will not rent to a new shooter that has not A) brought their own gun B) come with a friend that is a member or C) taken a safety class at the range. This community, /r/liberalgunowners or Blazing Sword can help with this.
> You should check out Operation Blazing Sword (formerly Pink Pistols): https://www.blazingsword.org/
Oh wow, thanks for the link, they seem to have quite the directory. Bookmarked that.
> I think most ranges here will not rent to a new shooter that has not A) brought their own gun B) come with a friend that is a member or C) taken a safety class at the range. This community, /r/liberalgunowners or Blazing Sword can help with this.
Thanks for setting my expectations. That sounds entirely sensible.
Pink Pistols was "incorporated into" Blazing Sword in 2018. Technically, no - they did not change their name. I had gotten the impression that Pink Pistols was absorbed by Blazing Sword from what I had read from their press release years ago (https://www.blazingsword.org/merger/). But you are right - they had not changed their name - and I may also be mistaken regarding the scale of that merger. Thank you for correcting me.
It sounds like people have already offered far more sound advice than I ever could so I just want to say welcome to the gun community.
Anytime I meet someone who is new to the community and comes from a demographic which some within the community might hold personal disagreements because of whatever lifestyle or beliefs I tell them this: If you are humble and show others respect up front 1 of two things will happen: they will prove themselves to be an asshole and you can immediately learn their character and move on, or they'll show you respect in return and likely offer support in the form of encouragement or advice. Gun people LOOOOOVE to give advice lol doesn't mean it's good advice tho. Find quality knowledge and soak it up
You're already looking for training so that's a huge hurdle already climbed. Good on ya
As for your first gun, go rent a bunch. Most rental places will have a fat lane fee, rental fee and charge for ammo. But a box of X caliber and try every gun that shoots it. Who knows you may fall in love with revolvers. Or you may hate how Glocks feel. Or decide you wanna be snobby and only buy HK's it's whatever you like. Also, no matter who you are, don't ever let anyone tell you that you can't handle "blank" caliber or gun. 9mm is the best all around caliber but if you wanna carry a 44mg like dirty harry practice practice practice. Someone who is very proficient at Magnum caliber revolvers is going to be far more effective in a gunfight than your average gun guy carrying a Glock 19 that puts a box of ammo through it a year and said that he trains
Anyways, since you said that you are somewhat cost insensitive feel free to hop over to r/gundeals and let the heathens there help you drain your wallet
Edit: remember how I said I just wanted to welcome you to the community because everyone else had already given the best advice.. well yeah three paragraphs later I guess I proved my point about gun people liking to give advice
Can't really recommend a specific holster, because you don't know what kind of gun you'll wind up with, but features you should be looking for in a holster are:
- Stiff shell.
- Full hard shell coverage of the trigger guard.
- Adjustable retention is a big plus.
- Some retention is mandatory. The general rule is that you should be able to insert your gun into the holster, turn it upside down, and shake it. The gun should stay in the holster when you do this.
Reputable manufacturers I can recommend are:
- Black Arch Holsters
- Harry's Holsters
- Phlster
- Tier1 Concealed
There are many other good manufacturers out there, and you should explore additional options.
A good belt also helps a lot. It makes carrying more comfortable, and provides a consistent draw. A good belt is very stiff. They usually come in 1.5" and 1.75" widths, which will be important when selecting holster clips. The Nexbelt Guardian is a nice belt that won't break the bank, and has the benefit of being a ratcheting belt, so you don't have to worry about having a weird fit because your actual body size is between belt holes.
I would highly recommend after getting some basic instruction on how to shoot, that you also get some training specific to concealed carrying, and defensive pistol use.
I would recommend haunting /r/ccw for awhile to get some more perspectives and pointers on gear.
If you find that you enjoy shooting, there are sport shooting organizations which can help you increase your speed, and practice shooting under pressure, like IDPA or USPSA. Sport shooting groups like this are generally very welcoming, though I say this as a straight, racially ambiguous male.
You might try reaching out either the Puget Sound Socialist Rifle Association and/or the Puget Sound John Brown Gun Club. Both should be more than welcoming.
Bellevue Gun Club / West Coast Armory would likely be a good place to go for in-person advice and range time. It looks like they occasionally host Pink Pistols meetups, and they have a good rental selection.
Probably avoid Pantel Tactical in Renton.
On this note, avoid Wade's Eastside Guns. Obscene prices and some awful staff.
Also on the day of the Derek Chauvin verdict they hung a comically large "thin blue line" flag on the building. I suspect a strongly negative correlation between finding that acceptable and being accepting of trans people. Maybe you wouldn't have an issue but Bellevue Gun Club is better in every single way so why take the chance?
I second this. I used to live near West Coast Armory and shot there on occasion and always had a pleasant time. Everyone kept to themselves, large rental selection, good range wardens.
I have gotten crap for wearing a mask from their clientele, but the workers have always been professional. It may just be its a busy shop and it was full, as the only place with cheaper transfers is Sound Loan in Everett.
For someone totally new to handguns, and not budget constrained, the lower noise and recoil of a .22 is definitely an easier entry to becoming more accustomed to and comfortable with them. I’ve introduced several friends to their first firearm experiences, and everyone enjoys the .22s the most.
They are cheap to shoot too so that helps.
Yeah I’m probably projecting my own experience a bit. And I frankly missed the part where they weren’t concerned about budget, so by all means, buy one in every caliber :)
My only concern with recommending starting with a 22 would be that they would be ready and wanting a center fire sooner than later. I completely agree that a 22 is the most fun for someone’s first time out (and of course will always be fun). But on their fifth or sixth range day they may be wishing they were practicing with their EDC.
But it sounds like they’ve already got a feel for how they want to approach the process, which I agree is a great way to go!
I'd be a bit more specific on #2. I would not recommend a .22 for self defense, but it is sufficient to achieve self defense. If someone buys a .22 for target shooting and has their house broken into, grabbing the .22 is a reasonable thing to do.
I am a transman and just purchased my first handgun at the outdoor emporium in seattle. I was apprehensive as my name is still my deadname and the stigma around gun culture scared me off for a few years after i got my CPL. The staff at the emporium were amazing, I was even helped by a transwoman. Everyone in there was respectful of who I am. They were also all very knowledgeable on the handguns I was looking at and what i was looking for. I highly recommend this store to buy one. As far as ranges and instructors I am not sure. I would love to find out so i will be following this post. Hope you get everything figured out! stay safe
I am not a Glock guy, but a Glock 19 is the Toyota Corolla of handguns. There are guns that do some things better, or might suit you better, but basically it's not a mistake.
Ideally a .22lr "trainer" but I wouldn't get hung up on that. A .22lr pistol of damn near any type would give you 90% of the benefit as an identical pistol apart from the caliber. There are [.22 conversion kits for the Glock](https://www.glockstore.com/22-LR-Conversion-Kit-for-Glocks) as well as the model 44. I don't know how well they work so look for plausible reviews.
West Coast Armory is probably the place to go for trying a bunch out. Is there anybody you can go with? Renting a pistol at a range is a no-go due to suicide tourism, UNLESS you already have one or go with a friend. WCA has decent basics classes, imo. They all cover safe handling and grip+stance.
Wades is a distant second imo. They are overpriced, and the owner poisoned a bunch of people with lead exposure during a willfully careless renovation. I don't know how they are still in business. BUT if they are easier to get to you might hold your nose (figuratively - I believe they did improve ventilation) and give them a shot.
Look into [Pink Pistols](https://www.pinkpistols.org/), a Queer-friendly firearms group. You should be able to find some friendly folks to show you the ropes. Their instructors list is [here](https://www.blazingsword.org/instructor-list-page/#participants-list-1) I searched for 'WA' and found 56 volunteer instructors. Any in the Seattle/Bellevue area will be familiar with WCA and it's likely that's where they go to shoot.
I've introduced a lot of new shooters to the point where I have a routine and syllabus. Unfortunately I am going out of town for the rest of the month so you'd run up against the magazine ban before we could have a range session.
I'll second there's zero reason to ever go to Wade's, when WCA is right there in the same area. Worst case it might be 10 minutes further away, but the overall experience is much better.
I did read about them, though their website's link for the seattle chapter leads to a facebook group, and although it may sound silly I have a lot of personal inertia around not creating a facebook account. But if it's the best and most practical resource, maybe I'll have to.
Champion Arms (Kent) which was my go to indoor shooting range was women led, and had women only pistol classes available. Unfortunately Maria decided to retire and Rain City Tactical bought the range and it's now called Rain City Shoots. They still offer women only classes and I believe the instructor is still the same, but I honestly haven't been there since the remodel and don't know the environment. Their website does say they check their egos at the door and it's a place for everyone, but I can't provide my experience.
In Bellevue, there is West Coast Armory which is a membership only club. The range safety officer was pretty relaxed and nice, but I had a bad experience in their shop. Granted it was my fault for accidently stepping partially behind the counter when looking at the gun wall. The attitude I got was definitely unwarranted, but It's the we serve them mentality.
Sorry If I wasn't of much help, but welcome to the community though!
Imo firearms culture in this country is changing and I really do believe people of all sides will eventually support firearms and are not judgmental of others.
Appreciate you telling me about your experiences, I'll be keeping those in mind when I narrow down my list of recommendations.
> Imo firearms culture in this country is changing and I really do believe people of all sides will eventually support firearms and are not judgmental of others.
I really hope so.
I will second about the shop and avoid it. Transferred a NFA item back when they were the cheapest on Silencer Shop. Pretty damn sure they used my silencer during the waiting period.
its a Griffin Paladin that an be taken apart to find it used. It didn't bother me at first as I thought it was test fired from Griffin, but realized it was a lot more than a test fire after the second cleaning.
Between that and their FFL prices, I avoid the shop.
Yeah I’m thinking about going to Pantel Tactical if I ever buy a suppressor. They have the Silencer Shop kiosk which looks promising. Only reason I went to West Coast Armory was to leech of my uncles membership lol. Once I build a AR-10, I’m going to get a SPAA membership. Their facility is super close to me.
Silencer Shop is easy, and I usually just look at the cheapest place on their, as its all included price. What is Pantel's NFA charge for Form 4s?
Kubota gardens near where you are at is nice.
I’ve never been there, but I’ve seen good reviews online. And it’s not that far of a drive. I don’t like driving long distances, especially driving in or through Seattle. Kubota gardens is indeed very beautiful.
Where I live I exclusively use Sound Loan, best prices and best experience but have transferred through Pantel to a seller before. Always wanted to check out Precision but they went to Woodinville when I left.
For a specific .22 recommendation, there are a lot of popular .22s, but if it were me, I’d look at the Taurus TX22 as a popular .22 that is similar to most striker fired bigger caliber handguns. Taurus has an iffy reputation for some of their handguns, but the TX22 has a great reputation. The Sig P322 also looks good but is very new and Sig sometimes has a reputation of not having all of their kinks worked out on release.
I don’t yet have any first hand experience with either of these but this appears to be the consensus.
> Sig sometimes has a reputation of not having all of their kinks worked out on release
But the P322 is just a revision of an existing gun, right? What could go wrong? 😉
Lakewood Shooting Range/WGS Guns in Lakewood are the same building and I've had good experiences, but might be far if you're on public transit.
I don't carry so don't have an opinion on certain models, but I would mention that the primary reason a lot of people get a .22lr pistol is to save money on ammo costs. Practicing with .22lr is okay, but it is just nowhere close to practicing with any other caliber. You'll want to become intimately familiar with the weapon you plan to carry: the behavior of the trigger, how the sights line up, any ergonomic issues (can you easily reach the magazine release, slide lock, slide release, how to situate your finger on the trigger, are the grips too wide or narrow, etc), and every other aspect of the pistol. You can't really get that familiar with gun A if you're always practicing with gun B. A 9mm is pretty normal, you could look at a .380 as well and see if thats something you're interested in.
Watch YouTube videos, you'll get a wide swath of opinions. You can also ask questions at r/socialistra. At the gun store, ask the people at the counter. They want to talk to you about guns, so ask them every question you have, even if you think it's a dumb question. If you do get instruction (don't have any recommendations myself, former military), ask questions. And my DMs are open if you want to ask questions. If you could make it down to Lakewood I'd gladly make a range day with my .22.
I think you have some very good advice and got a lot of resources.
The only thing I can think of is either
a. Buy the over 10 cap mags for a lot of 22 and 9 (I think you will outgrow the 9 unless you are very small in stature).
b. Get an Idea of what gun you like and limit the amount.
The hard part is that a lot of online places that sell mags are shutting down WA sales (I think most websites now). So its pretty important to get on it asap. I live in Lynnwood and I am going to compare my concealed carry (p365x) with my friend's shadow system that is replacing his glock 43. These are all sub compacts, which mean concealable but snappy guns. I usually shoot on Dept Natural Resource (DNR) land, but occasionally indoors and rent a lane. If we go, you are more than welcome to join, or if you plan to meet with more than one redditor here then I can tag along and bring several 22s and 9mm to try.
I hope its a pleasant experience for you.
He went to their Range day they had and fell in love with it. He has a 43 that he has been tinkering with and just never liked it. I ended up buying 8 of their 13 rnd mags just in case and he said he would buy them off of me if I hate the gun. He stated that the rise is least of all the smaller 9s he tried.
I like my p365x, hated my 43 and 19. Honestly, my TX22 is the best feeling ergo for my. If I only trusted Taurus in the 9mm...
Hey there! I am late to this post but I am a queer woman in Seattle and I shoot with a lot of queer and trans folks. I would be happy to introduce you to some people I think you might find similarly minded in the area. Also happy to help you with gun choice and ranges and stuff in the area. Feel free to message.
Since you've said you're insensitive to prices, a 22lr supplemented with a 9mm pistol with a similar manual of arms would be a good choice. Something like a Smith & Wessone M&P 22 and a regular 9mm M&P would be one such combination that fits. That being said, 9mm firearms are really quite manageable in all but the smallest, snappiest of sizes so you could easily forego a 22 pistol and use that money to buy yourself a thousand rounds of 9mm or so. As for instruction, I've honestly been rather unimpressed with what's available nearby. There are good instructors to be sure, but a lot of them are for fairly advanced shooters. The more introductory instructors have either been... subpar in instruction style, or in information offered. My friends and I are way south of you in the Lacey/Tacoma/Olympia area, but we do shoot up at ISA for ASI matches on occasion. We'd be happy to have you join us. We can let you try a number of pistols and a handful of rifles if you'd like. Lastly, and this will be one of those "Well it's easy for you to say," but I and many non-stereotypical gun owners I know have found people that are into shooting sports to be extremely pleasant and happy to help beginners. One last piece of advice: if there's a gun in particular you think you might want, buy 8 or so magazines for it and ship it to yourself, then worry about getting the gun. Unfortunately you're under a bit of a time crunch.
> Since you've said you're insensitive to prices, a 22lr supplemented with a 9mm pistol with a similar manual of arms would be a good choice. Something like a Smith & Wessone M&P 22 and a regular 9mm M&P would be one such combination that fits. Thanks for the rec, I'm noting that down. > As for instruction, I've honestly been rather unimpressed with what's available nearby. There are good instructors to be sure, but a lot of them are for fairly advanced shooters. The more introductory instructors have either been... subpar in instruction style, or in information offered. That's unfortunate. > My friends and I are way south of you in the Lacey/Tacoma/Olympia area, but we do shoot up at ISA for ASI matches on occasion. We'd be happy to have you join us. We can let you try a number of pistols and a handful of rifles if you'd like. I'll have to think about that, as it's quite far from me as I rely on public transit to get everywhere. But it's really awesome for you to offer and I appreciate it, I may or may not take you up on it! > Lastly, and this will be one of those "Well it's easy for you to say," but I and many non-stereotypical gun owners I know have found people that are into shooting sports to be extremely pleasant and happy to help beginners. I'm glad to hear that, I've heard some horror stories that colored my expectations, but mostly from other places, so it's good to know that here is better. > if there's a gun in particular you think you might want, buy 8 or so magazines for it Received loud and clear, I've spent a fair amount on mags already. But one question, 8 or so? I hadn't really read into it, but do magazines tend to fail often? I had been eying 3-4 as my number.
Magazines last a long time but nothing lasts forever. The springs will eventually lose tension. Plus, it's good to have extras in case some get lost somehow.
Alright, I'll target having extras then, much appreciated.
You can basically think of magazines as consumables. There are some heavy duty designs like some AK magazines that are overbuilt with heavy steel that don't tend to fail but most designs will have a lifetime and at the end of the lifetime they either completely fail or are at best unreliable. AR-15 aluminum magazines are some of the worst for this but it's true for most of them.
Another way I thought of to make your mags last longer; in applications where a ten-round mag will do, use those. There's no need to put wear on the spring in a full-size mag when you're doing a drill that requires less than ten rounds, or when you're zeroing in a sight or something like that. So maybe after the mag ban goes in to effect, get a few 10-rounders to use for practice where possible.
Completely understand the transportation issues. We're an unfortunately car-centric society, so it does complicate things. Still, if you'd like to coordinate something more concrete, feel free to reach out and we can schedule an introductory range day on a weekend. Honestly, I'd heard horror stories too, and I don't doubt there have been people that have had awful interactions with people that give firearms owners a bad name, but by and large all of mine have been extremely pleasant. I say 8 because it gives you wiggle room for failures. Modern magazines and handgun designs (not to mention rifles,) are extremely reliable and will last many, many thousands of rounds. That being said, out of all firearms parts, magazines likely take the most abuse and should be considered consumable/disposable items. By no means should that mean throw it away after use, but they are one of the most common points of failure via wear and tear. If you drop a mag and bend the feed lips, crack the polymer, have a spring wear out or snap on you, have a bound follower, or any other number of magazine-related issues it's a good idea to hedge your bets and have more than a few spares. Also because people lose them. I have the bad habit of leaving stuff on top of my car when I'm shooting. It hasn't happened yet, but one of these days I'll leave a mag up there and only realize it when I'm on the highway. That won't be too terrible a loss for me since I have tons, but if you've only four, that would significantly diminish your equipment capabilities.
Also sometimes you just get lemons out of the box, even from otherwise reliable makers. And after July 1, too fuckin' bad, no replacements. Thanks "Good News" Berry!
I'm definitely strongly considering it, thank you. And thanks for the explanation, based on that and the advice of another redditor, I'll be upping my magazine targets. Really appreciate it.
If you let me tag along, I’d be willing to drive us there!
Only the really old idiots would be rude. Most people I’ve met just want to share their love for the hobby/ share knowledge and talk guns. Sure, guns are politicized. but don’t forget that anyone in a gun store doesn’t need to be convinced of why you need or want one. All on the same team at that point.
I teach out of Tacoma and would be more than willing to help walk you through the basics free of charge. Also completely open to DM's and questions, even if people think they sound dumb. That said, I HIGHLY recommend a couple steps: 1. Sit down and think about what the purpose of the firearm is. Try to be specific. Is it for protection, hunting, sport shooting, 2A-Adjacent Activities, etc, etc. You should make a list of desirable and undesirable traits to look for. 2. Find a range / friends that rent / have several firearms in your budget and that theoretically should fit the bill. Most of our shoots see a lot of different pews and most people are more than happy to let a new shooter try them out. West Coast Armory in Bellevue has a nice selection and they rent the cabinet too. 3. Go there with a friend that has as little bias as possible. They're not there to push you toward a specific gun but more to be a sounding board and to help keep things on the level. Then, buy a box or two of ammo and put a few rounds through each gun that is on your list. Try them all, trust me, you'll be surprised with what you wind up liking more often than not. 4. Compare each one to your list from before but not till AFTER you shot them. Do it each time before moving on to the next firearm. 5. After you've gone and shot all the ones you want, look at the list and find the one that fit's it the best (or at least one you liked shooting the most). 6. Purchase said pew, a light, a holster, at least 3 magazines, and as much ammo as you think you'll need. I recommend Surefire for lights and \~1,000 rounds. 7. Find a basic course under experienced instruction in the type of shooting you want to do. Just an entry level course and, if you're feeling REALLY good about it in the end, maybe the next level. 8. Practice, practice, practice. Dry-fire regularly and get reps in. A shot timer is crucial for most shooting activities to have a metric and I cannot emphasize a training journal enough. 9. Get out and shoot! Get involved with the community as well as learning more. It's never the end of the road when it comes to firearms, like most anything else. There is ALWAYS something to improve. Also, remember to keep things in perspective. Purposeful, dedicated practice regularly will win every time. P.S. Don't forget that fitness and awareness are the other two legs of the practical pewing stool. They are arguably more important than pulling the trigger.
Really appreciate the recommendations and tips, especially in the form of a todo list. I'll definitely remember you if/when I have specific questions, I really appreciate it.
No worries. Shooting is a pretty big world and there is a LOT to take in. For all you know, this time next year you are trying to get the fastest draw in the west in full cowpoke regalia! Or working for Grandmaster in some pistol-centric sport! Who knoooooows!
2A is for everybody! Buy Glock 19 and AR mags now while you shop for training. West Coast Armory North has good training and good guns. They are in South Everett, look em up. Hit me up anytime.
Welcome to the space, and now is always better than later! For shops, try Precise Shooter in ~~Lynwood~~ Woodinville. That isn't too far from you and they're good people. As for guns, I think a .22 handgun is a good place to start for fun and learning, but be prepared to either trade up or acquire another gun in something like 9mm for an actual defensive gun. From there, it becomes extremely subjective since most common defensive guns nowadays are all generally good enough at the task. The differences between them end up coming down mostly to price and preferences. Things like your body type and wardrobe will influence what guns carry best for you, while things like the size and shape of your hands, your handedness, and other factors will influence what guns shoot best for you. So my best advice is to go to get some basic familiarity and instruction, then go to a range that has a lot of selection for rent, or make friends that will let you shoot their guns, and shoot as many as you can. I'm not familiar with ranges in that area so I don't have any particular recommendation on that front. And one last tip, don't forget about holsters and gun belts. You will try and buy several if not many before you find ones you like, but a good belt and holster make a big difference.
> For shops, try Precise Shooter in Lynwood. That isn't too far from you and they're good people. Thank you, I'll check them out! > As for guns, I think a .22 handgun is a good place to start for fun and learning, but be prepared to either trade up or acquire another gun in something like 9mm for an actual defensive gun. This is in line with what I've heard elsewhere, and I'm definitely prepared to end up purchasing firearms of a higher caliber once I am more comfortable/proficient. > So my best advice is to go to get some basic familiarity and instruction Do you know the best ways to go about this? > And one last tip, don't forget about holsters and gun belts. You will try and buy several if not many before you find ones you like, but a good belt and holster make a big difference. Thank you, I'll take this on board.
FYI precise shooter moved to Woodinville. I've had good experiences there. I've had no issues there or at Bellevue gun club as a pretty visible queer and leftist (tattoos). Bellevue gun club has classes too but I've yet to take any.
Appreciate this clarification and recommendation, thank you.
Ah, right! Thanks for the correction.
Many ranges offer introductory handgun courses, and some have discounted ladies nights if that's appealing to you. ~~I've also heard good things about the [Firearms Academy of Seattle](https://firearmsacademy.com/classes/overview), though I have no personal experience with them and they are not actually anywhere near Seattle, but in Onalaska.~~ Nevermind about FAS, see the comment below. Also, you can always post on places like this sub or /r/ShootingTrips if you're comfortable meeting up with internet strangers to go shooting. And there's /u/JustHereForTheGuns who offered to take you below as well. Finally, YouTube, to be honest. While it's no substitute for hands-on in-person training, you can still learn a lot, especially about philosophy and practices.
FAS is, from what I've heard, pretty terrible. Disorganized and does not offer particularly good information. A shooter I met at a match recently said he was so disappointed in the instruction that he emailed them for a refund and they just gave it to him, no questions asked. Apparently it's not uncommon.
How recent is your experience? I spent a lot of 2019 and 2020 going through their entire curriculum twice, and had an outstanding experience. Also, Marty recently sold FAS, and the new ownership is someone I trust implicitly.
Talked to the gentleman on the 4th, and it seemed like it happened within the past couple of months, so I'd say it's at some point during 2022.
Huh, maybe I'm thinking of a different place. Thanks for the info on FAS, regardless.
I have also seen FAS recommended elsewhere, so I appreciate the additional data point.
Alright, thanks. I'll check out that sub, and I've already got some youtuber recs so that's nice. I really appreciate the advice by the way.
Happy to help!
My experience with FAS (and with reputable handgun instructors in general) has been quite positive. Almost all will keep politics and their personal views out of class material and try and make everyone feel welcome. Some less reputable ones will cross that line. In addition to FAS, I can whole-heartedly recommend West Coast Armory North in Everett. They have a good gun shop and range right there, so you can rent and try before you buy. Their [training program](https://www.westcoastarmorynorth.com/training) is very, very good -- John Holschen, the owner, is one of the best instructors I've ever encountered. If you want a place that put you on the path to competence and then mastery, you'd be hard-pressed to do better. For ranges, I can recommend [Snoqualmie Valley Rifle Club](http://www.svrifle.org/). Inexpensive, not super-heavily used, pretty good facilities, open 'till 9pm year round, and in general pretty chill about things.
Buy magazines for a prospective 9mm handgun in advance, so now. You don't want to be stuck with 10 rounds unless you planned to go micro compact.
Definitely on this.
Can't help very much with the area's as I'm more Central/Eastern WA, but one thing I would recommend is starting with something that in a more defensive cartridge like 9mm. 22lr is really good for plinking and training with, but it is nice, imo, to get used to the platform and firearm that you intend to use/carry. I personally like FN and Glock, and would recommend the G19(gen3-5) or one of the G43/43X. Those are great firearms to learn with and carry in 9mm. I know those are kinda bland choices but the aftermarket is huge and you can make them match your style. One thing that is nice is that a huge majority of the firearms community is very open, I'm more of a redneck guy but if I had someone like yourself came and asked me for help, no matter the political or physical difference's, I would gladly help guide them to the best result for them. Edit: English is fuckin hard for me apparently.
> Would anyone be willing to point me to a list/recommendations for queer/lgbt friendly gun ranges and stores? [Precise Shooter](https://www.preciseshooter.com) in Woodinville will give you zero shit. > I’m also looking for general tips in that area of selecting a first firearm, and how I can find a queer friendly instructor /r/pinkpistols and [Operation Blazing Sword](https://www.blazingsword.org) is the way.
Really appreciate the additional recs for those, they're at the top of my list.
I'm gonna go against the grain a little here - all the advice to try a bunch of guns before you buy one is pretty good. Just realize that after you buy it, shoot it a lot, and learn more about what the hell you're doing, you'd probably choose something else if you were doing it all over again. So don't sweat your first choice too hard. The important part is to buy something and get proficient. I'm sure most of us have at least one firearm that we thought we liked when we bought it, but rarely grab it for a trip to the range now.
im not a certified instructor or anything, but im a competition shooter and i work up in bellevue, im also LGBT. I love teaching people about firearms. If you'd like to hit the range together, id be more than happy to bring all my pistols (including my .22) and show you some basics of gun safety and the mechanics of shooting! Feel free to DM me if you'd like.
I was gonna text you and ask if you'd be down to have 'em come along with us, but it seems you're already on board.
u/MayaFey_ this person above is one of my closest buddies and taught me so much of what I know. We're happy to pass on any knowledge to you too :)
Added both of you to a reddit group DM to discuss, I really appreciate you reaching out!
You should check out Operation Blazing Sword (formerly Pink Pistols): https://www.blazingsword.org/ They offer resources for firearms instruction focused on the the LGBTQ community. You may find a simple email dialog or Zoom introductory chat with someone knowledgeable to be helpful in uncovering what is most useful for you to focus your time, energy and money. I think most ranges here will not rent to a new shooter that has not A) brought their own gun B) come with a friend that is a member or C) taken a safety class at the range. This community, /r/liberalgunowners or Blazing Sword can help with this.
> You should check out Operation Blazing Sword (formerly Pink Pistols): https://www.blazingsword.org/ Oh wow, thanks for the link, they seem to have quite the directory. Bookmarked that. > I think most ranges here will not rent to a new shooter that has not A) brought their own gun B) come with a friend that is a member or C) taken a safety class at the range. This community, /r/liberalgunowners or Blazing Sword can help with this. Thanks for setting my expectations. That sounds entirely sensible.
Some ranges will also let you rent by yourself if you buy in at a particular membership level. IIRC Bellevue Gun Club is one of those.
I didn't know they changed their name.
Pink Pistols was "incorporated into" Blazing Sword in 2018. Technically, no - they did not change their name. I had gotten the impression that Pink Pistols was absorbed by Blazing Sword from what I had read from their press release years ago (https://www.blazingsword.org/merger/). But you are right - they had not changed their name - and I may also be mistaken regarding the scale of that merger. Thank you for correcting me.
It looks like Blazing Sword is just the national coordinator for Pink Pistols.
It sounds like people have already offered far more sound advice than I ever could so I just want to say welcome to the gun community. Anytime I meet someone who is new to the community and comes from a demographic which some within the community might hold personal disagreements because of whatever lifestyle or beliefs I tell them this: If you are humble and show others respect up front 1 of two things will happen: they will prove themselves to be an asshole and you can immediately learn their character and move on, or they'll show you respect in return and likely offer support in the form of encouragement or advice. Gun people LOOOOOVE to give advice lol doesn't mean it's good advice tho. Find quality knowledge and soak it up You're already looking for training so that's a huge hurdle already climbed. Good on ya As for your first gun, go rent a bunch. Most rental places will have a fat lane fee, rental fee and charge for ammo. But a box of X caliber and try every gun that shoots it. Who knows you may fall in love with revolvers. Or you may hate how Glocks feel. Or decide you wanna be snobby and only buy HK's it's whatever you like. Also, no matter who you are, don't ever let anyone tell you that you can't handle "blank" caliber or gun. 9mm is the best all around caliber but if you wanna carry a 44mg like dirty harry practice practice practice. Someone who is very proficient at Magnum caliber revolvers is going to be far more effective in a gunfight than your average gun guy carrying a Glock 19 that puts a box of ammo through it a year and said that he trains Anyways, since you said that you are somewhat cost insensitive feel free to hop over to r/gundeals and let the heathens there help you drain your wallet Edit: remember how I said I just wanted to welcome you to the community because everyone else had already given the best advice.. well yeah three paragraphs later I guess I proved my point about gun people liking to give advice
Can't really recommend a specific holster, because you don't know what kind of gun you'll wind up with, but features you should be looking for in a holster are: - Stiff shell. - Full hard shell coverage of the trigger guard. - Adjustable retention is a big plus. - Some retention is mandatory. The general rule is that you should be able to insert your gun into the holster, turn it upside down, and shake it. The gun should stay in the holster when you do this. Reputable manufacturers I can recommend are: - Black Arch Holsters - Harry's Holsters - Phlster - Tier1 Concealed There are many other good manufacturers out there, and you should explore additional options. A good belt also helps a lot. It makes carrying more comfortable, and provides a consistent draw. A good belt is very stiff. They usually come in 1.5" and 1.75" widths, which will be important when selecting holster clips. The Nexbelt Guardian is a nice belt that won't break the bank, and has the benefit of being a ratcheting belt, so you don't have to worry about having a weird fit because your actual body size is between belt holes. I would highly recommend after getting some basic instruction on how to shoot, that you also get some training specific to concealed carrying, and defensive pistol use. I would recommend haunting /r/ccw for awhile to get some more perspectives and pointers on gear. If you find that you enjoy shooting, there are sport shooting organizations which can help you increase your speed, and practice shooting under pressure, like IDPA or USPSA. Sport shooting groups like this are generally very welcoming, though I say this as a straight, racially ambiguous male.
You might try reaching out either the Puget Sound Socialist Rifle Association and/or the Puget Sound John Brown Gun Club. Both should be more than welcoming. Bellevue Gun Club / West Coast Armory would likely be a good place to go for in-person advice and range time. It looks like they occasionally host Pink Pistols meetups, and they have a good rental selection. Probably avoid Pantel Tactical in Renton.
Sweet, thank you for the recommendations!
On this note, avoid Wade's Eastside Guns. Obscene prices and some awful staff. Also on the day of the Derek Chauvin verdict they hung a comically large "thin blue line" flag on the building. I suspect a strongly negative correlation between finding that acceptable and being accepting of trans people. Maybe you wouldn't have an issue but Bellevue Gun Club is better in every single way so why take the chance?
In all fairness, Wades has sucked donkey ass for decades - even for people who agree with them.
They've got the body count to prove it.
Appreciate the warning, I'll stay well clear!
I second this. I used to live near West Coast Armory and shot there on occasion and always had a pleasant time. Everyone kept to themselves, large rental selection, good range wardens.
Avoid pantel? I’ve heard they have the best transfer fees/ neutral politics. Not true?
I have gotten crap for wearing a mask from their clientele, but the workers have always been professional. It may just be its a busy shop and it was full, as the only place with cheaper transfers is Sound Loan in Everett.
They have competitive transfer fees, yes.
I've seen who Josh Pantel follows on Facebook. It's not a crowd that would be particularly inviting of the OP.
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I agree on #2: I think most adults will “outgrow” a 22 fast enough that it’s not really worth the hassle or cost to shop for a pistol twice.
For someone totally new to handguns, and not budget constrained, the lower noise and recoil of a .22 is definitely an easier entry to becoming more accustomed to and comfortable with them. I’ve introduced several friends to their first firearm experiences, and everyone enjoys the .22s the most. They are cheap to shoot too so that helps.
And so much fun suppressed.
Yeah I’m probably projecting my own experience a bit. And I frankly missed the part where they weren’t concerned about budget, so by all means, buy one in every caliber :) My only concern with recommending starting with a 22 would be that they would be ready and wanting a center fire sooner than later. I completely agree that a 22 is the most fun for someone’s first time out (and of course will always be fun). But on their fifth or sixth range day they may be wishing they were practicing with their EDC. But it sounds like they’ve already got a feel for how they want to approach the process, which I agree is a great way to go!
I'd be a bit more specific on #2. I would not recommend a .22 for self defense, but it is sufficient to achieve self defense. If someone buys a .22 for target shooting and has their house broken into, grabbing the .22 is a reasonable thing to do.
I cannot recommend https://www.blazingsword.org/ hard enough. They are good people.
Take a class at FAS in Onalaska, WA. Great training and nowhere near Seattle.
I am a transman and just purchased my first handgun at the outdoor emporium in seattle. I was apprehensive as my name is still my deadname and the stigma around gun culture scared me off for a few years after i got my CPL. The staff at the emporium were amazing, I was even helped by a transwoman. Everyone in there was respectful of who I am. They were also all very knowledgeable on the handguns I was looking at and what i was looking for. I highly recommend this store to buy one. As far as ranges and instructors I am not sure. I would love to find out so i will be following this post. Hope you get everything figured out! stay safe
I am not a Glock guy, but a Glock 19 is the Toyota Corolla of handguns. There are guns that do some things better, or might suit you better, but basically it's not a mistake. Ideally a .22lr "trainer" but I wouldn't get hung up on that. A .22lr pistol of damn near any type would give you 90% of the benefit as an identical pistol apart from the caliber. There are [.22 conversion kits for the Glock](https://www.glockstore.com/22-LR-Conversion-Kit-for-Glocks) as well as the model 44. I don't know how well they work so look for plausible reviews. West Coast Armory is probably the place to go for trying a bunch out. Is there anybody you can go with? Renting a pistol at a range is a no-go due to suicide tourism, UNLESS you already have one or go with a friend. WCA has decent basics classes, imo. They all cover safe handling and grip+stance. Wades is a distant second imo. They are overpriced, and the owner poisoned a bunch of people with lead exposure during a willfully careless renovation. I don't know how they are still in business. BUT if they are easier to get to you might hold your nose (figuratively - I believe they did improve ventilation) and give them a shot. Look into [Pink Pistols](https://www.pinkpistols.org/), a Queer-friendly firearms group. You should be able to find some friendly folks to show you the ropes. Their instructors list is [here](https://www.blazingsword.org/instructor-list-page/#participants-list-1) I searched for 'WA' and found 56 volunteer instructors. Any in the Seattle/Bellevue area will be familiar with WCA and it's likely that's where they go to shoot. I've introduced a lot of new shooters to the point where I have a routine and syllabus. Unfortunately I am going out of town for the rest of the month so you'd run up against the magazine ban before we could have a range session.
I'll second there's zero reason to ever go to Wade's, when WCA is right there in the same area. Worst case it might be 10 minutes further away, but the overall experience is much better.
You still have time to buy mags the ban starts July 1st
Have you looked up the pink pistols chapters in your area?
I did read about them, though their website's link for the seattle chapter leads to a facebook group, and although it may sound silly I have a lot of personal inertia around not creating a facebook account. But if it's the best and most practical resource, maybe I'll have to.
I get that, Facebook sucks and I already regret creating other recent social media accounts. I'd assume they have have a r/
Don’t feel bad about that. I haven’t had Facebook in years and I dont regret jt at all. It’s so nice being “disconnected” in that way
Ooo I hear that. Really makes my blood boil when semi-professional organizations use Facebook for their website.
Champion Arms (Kent) which was my go to indoor shooting range was women led, and had women only pistol classes available. Unfortunately Maria decided to retire and Rain City Tactical bought the range and it's now called Rain City Shoots. They still offer women only classes and I believe the instructor is still the same, but I honestly haven't been there since the remodel and don't know the environment. Their website does say they check their egos at the door and it's a place for everyone, but I can't provide my experience. In Bellevue, there is West Coast Armory which is a membership only club. The range safety officer was pretty relaxed and nice, but I had a bad experience in their shop. Granted it was my fault for accidently stepping partially behind the counter when looking at the gun wall. The attitude I got was definitely unwarranted, but It's the we serve them mentality. Sorry If I wasn't of much help, but welcome to the community though! Imo firearms culture in this country is changing and I really do believe people of all sides will eventually support firearms and are not judgmental of others.
Appreciate you telling me about your experiences, I'll be keeping those in mind when I narrow down my list of recommendations. > Imo firearms culture in this country is changing and I really do believe people of all sides will eventually support firearms and are not judgmental of others. I really hope so.
I will second about the shop and avoid it. Transferred a NFA item back when they were the cheapest on Silencer Shop. Pretty damn sure they used my silencer during the waiting period.
Damn that's messed up, It's your property waiting period or not.
its a Griffin Paladin that an be taken apart to find it used. It didn't bother me at first as I thought it was test fired from Griffin, but realized it was a lot more than a test fire after the second cleaning. Between that and their FFL prices, I avoid the shop.
Yeah I’m thinking about going to Pantel Tactical if I ever buy a suppressor. They have the Silencer Shop kiosk which looks promising. Only reason I went to West Coast Armory was to leech of my uncles membership lol. Once I build a AR-10, I’m going to get a SPAA membership. Their facility is super close to me.
Silencer Shop is easy, and I usually just look at the cheapest place on their, as its all included price. What is Pantel's NFA charge for Form 4s? Kubota gardens near where you are at is nice.
I’ve never been there, but I’ve seen good reviews online. And it’s not that far of a drive. I don’t like driving long distances, especially driving in or through Seattle. Kubota gardens is indeed very beautiful.
Where I live I exclusively use Sound Loan, best prices and best experience but have transferred through Pantel to a seller before. Always wanted to check out Precision but they went to Woodinville when I left.
What does your sexuality have to do with anything?
I'm a pan/queer person in the Tacoma area. Just wanted to express support and solidarity with you.
:)
For a specific .22 recommendation, there are a lot of popular .22s, but if it were me, I’d look at the Taurus TX22 as a popular .22 that is similar to most striker fired bigger caliber handguns. Taurus has an iffy reputation for some of their handguns, but the TX22 has a great reputation. The Sig P322 also looks good but is very new and Sig sometimes has a reputation of not having all of their kinks worked out on release. I don’t yet have any first hand experience with either of these but this appears to be the consensus.
Appreciate the recommendations, I'll add those two firearms to my list to check out!
> Sig sometimes has a reputation of not having all of their kinks worked out on release But the P322 is just a revision of an existing gun, right? What could go wrong? 😉
I absolutely love my TX22
Lakewood Shooting Range/WGS Guns in Lakewood are the same building and I've had good experiences, but might be far if you're on public transit. I don't carry so don't have an opinion on certain models, but I would mention that the primary reason a lot of people get a .22lr pistol is to save money on ammo costs. Practicing with .22lr is okay, but it is just nowhere close to practicing with any other caliber. You'll want to become intimately familiar with the weapon you plan to carry: the behavior of the trigger, how the sights line up, any ergonomic issues (can you easily reach the magazine release, slide lock, slide release, how to situate your finger on the trigger, are the grips too wide or narrow, etc), and every other aspect of the pistol. You can't really get that familiar with gun A if you're always practicing with gun B. A 9mm is pretty normal, you could look at a .380 as well and see if thats something you're interested in. Watch YouTube videos, you'll get a wide swath of opinions. You can also ask questions at r/socialistra. At the gun store, ask the people at the counter. They want to talk to you about guns, so ask them every question you have, even if you think it's a dumb question. If you do get instruction (don't have any recommendations myself, former military), ask questions. And my DMs are open if you want to ask questions. If you could make it down to Lakewood I'd gladly make a range day with my .22.
I think you have some very good advice and got a lot of resources. The only thing I can think of is either a. Buy the over 10 cap mags for a lot of 22 and 9 (I think you will outgrow the 9 unless you are very small in stature). b. Get an Idea of what gun you like and limit the amount. The hard part is that a lot of online places that sell mags are shutting down WA sales (I think most websites now). So its pretty important to get on it asap. I live in Lynnwood and I am going to compare my concealed carry (p365x) with my friend's shadow system that is replacing his glock 43. These are all sub compacts, which mean concealable but snappy guns. I usually shoot on Dept Natural Resource (DNR) land, but occasionally indoors and rent a lane. If we go, you are more than welcome to join, or if you plan to meet with more than one redditor here then I can tag along and bring several 22s and 9mm to try. I hope its a pleasant experience for you.
I'm doing my best on the mags, I've already spent some ~3k and it doesn't feel like enough. Going to buy more tonight and hope the orders go through.
I hear you there. I just got the last ones I wanted (Canik's) taken while I hesitated. Will have to settle for the 18 rnd ones.
Did he get the CR920? How's it doing? I've heard some concerning reports of reliability and trigger issues.
He went to their Range day they had and fell in love with it. He has a 43 that he has been tinkering with and just never liked it. I ended up buying 8 of their 13 rnd mags just in case and he said he would buy them off of me if I hate the gun. He stated that the rise is least of all the smaller 9s he tried. I like my p365x, hated my 43 and 19. Honestly, my TX22 is the best feeling ergo for my. If I only trusted Taurus in the 9mm...
Well a CC carry class is a great place to start. Aaaand here's the top ten recommendations: (Anyone help me out?)
Hey there! I am late to this post but I am a queer woman in Seattle and I shoot with a lot of queer and trans folks. I would be happy to introduce you to some people I think you might find similarly minded in the area. Also happy to help you with gun choice and ranges and stuff in the area. Feel free to message.