[MDJAK1]

In NY (suburbs) where I live, you have to buy a gun BEFORE you can submit application for CCW. You can’t take possession. Store holds it until permit is issued. All I was able to do, with the dearth of gun shops around here and few ranges, was go to a store that had a good selection and hold whatever I wanted, after basically doing a lot of research online, and see what fit my hand best. I tried Sig, also Hellcat, and a few others. When I put my hand around the grip of the 43x, it felt like an old friend.
So why do I ask if I made a mistake? Because as a novice, the two instructors of the 18 hr mandatory class I took, along with now five range days with them, including a defensive shotgun course last week, insist (one is retired police sgt, the other ex-military) that a beginner should buy nothing but a minimum 4” barrel. If I’m not mistaken, the 43x is 3”. I did not want a 4” as it just seemed to big to easily conceal and too big to carry with at least a modicum of comfort. They espouse that smaller guns are too hard to learn to shoot well.

I don’t plan on it being my one and only gun, but just wondering.

Opinions are welcome. Ty.

 

[MDJAK1]

Mandatory training class is required ?

In NYS you have to take 16 hr classroom followed by 2 hours at range to file for permit. And the course runs from $525-$600. The application fee is $120. The gun store charges $35 a month to store the gun after 6 months. It can take 8 months just to get an appt for fingerprints and handing in the application and then another 4-6 months waiting for a judge to review it. I was able to move the handing in portion by repeatedly calling to see if they had cancellations.

It’s now a waiting game.

I thank you all for the words of encouragement. As I mentioned, I’ve taken multiple classes since December when I sat for the class, shooting from cover, shooting in a dark indoor range with weapon mounted lights, etc. unfortunately I must borrow a gun to take the classes, and they usually give me a small 22. Nothing wrong with that except it has very poor sights on it. They did loan me a 9 when we practiced jams with randomly loaded dummy rounds. Just looking forward to getting the permit and my Glock.

I did take a class, file for and receive my Utah CCW but it doesn’t really do me any good as it’s not honored here and you can’t buy a gun outside your own state, at least here, where it’s not legal to possess without the hard to get permit.

 

[MDJAK1]

It’s worse than I described. You have to get 4 people who’ve known you at least 5 years, no relatives, no one in your household, and they must write an essay attesting to your good character, they must get it notarized, and then you have to meet up with them because they have to also sign your application. The application must be near 15 pages. It goes on and on.

 

[MDJAK1]

Again I thank you all. Excellent advice and replies. I am and will continue to practice as much as possible. I just ordered dummy shells for the shotgun I purchased for home defense. I watched a lot of videos and saw how quickly and smoothly experienced shooters were able to load it. I actually surprised myself, as I’m not that talented at certain things, that after a while on the range with dummy rounds provided by the instructors, I got pretty good at it. I have it in cruiser now and want to practice loading more but didn’t want to do so with live rounds.

one thing I take very seriously is safety. I have excellent trigger discipline. My finger naturally stays off until ready to fire. I concentrate on that every time.

I am in my 60s. In the early 80s the position I held in NYS govt, while not LE, had peace officer status and so for a few short years i owned a Colt Python 357, 2” barrel, and a Browning 380. I went to the range at least two nights a week back then. After an incident in a bar with a judge’s law secretary, drunk, pulling out his gun, it hit the news and the then loosely written law was changed and my, and others, peace officer status was gone. I sold both guns and never owned another until now with the shotgun and soon, I hope, to be in my possession 43x.

To address a comment above about the MOS model. I was unaware of it at the time or would’ve gotten that as I do want to try a red dot. I have seen many videos by the Glock store in Tennessee where they say they can mill the slide to install one, but I’ll learn iron sights and when I get another gun try red dot.

 

[MDJAK1]

I teach noobs to shoot the guns they bring to class, minus any editorials, op-eds or gun-shaming. Jimmies, HiPoints, Ravens, Taurus, whatever. You bring it to class, that's the one I teach you to shoot. You are paying for a mandatory class, not a bloviation station. Finish the class, get your certification and take care of business..

No, there isn't anything wrong with a 43X

Good luck with it all.

I’d love to learn from you. You sound like a great instructor. One guy at the shotgun class last week was wearing a camo vest. He wasn’t using it to hold those esstac shell holders in pockets of it, in fact wasn’t using it for anything I saw, but one if the instructors couldn’t stop negatively commenting about it, saying I’d never want to look like I just stepped out of Fallujah, and then later, if he wants to look like he’s playing a video game that’s his problem. I felt bad for the guy.
at one point we were learning to shoot from cover, slugs, @25 yards. The former military instructor was standing next to a pole to demonstrate. He was facing a concrete wall which divides two ranges. It was outdoors. He was near the end of the wall, so close to where you’d walk by to the next range. There was an instructor there wearing a NYS Trooper jacket. Weather legit, I don’t know. He saw what our guy was doing and said point your gun down range. Our guy didn’t like that, said I’m pointing it at a wall, again the other guy said it’s not safe, all weapons sb pointed down range. They wound up getting into an argument. I knew the other guy was right.

 

[MDJAK1]

Btw, here is a quick pic of the range and shotgun class last week.

The instructor in red was the one I was talking about. He was pointing at the wall on the right, but all the way to the foreground, so near where you’d pass to go to the next range.

My new shotgun is leftmost on rack. Can you tell what it is?

 

[MDJAK1]

Hope you guys don’t get tired of me thanking you for the time and effort taken to reply to this thread. I read each and every one in an effort to continually learn.

 

[MDJAK1]

As far as comments re grip, when I go take classes and borrow the 22 I mentioned, the first two mag changes and I pinched my palm. Don’t want to sound like a baby, but damn that hurt. I thought it was only me but have seen others say happened to them with shorter grips.

On side note, recently with my A300 Ultima shotgun, I was bleeding from my cuticle on thumb from loading it. I then saw a highly regarded YouTuber say the same thing happened to him. I put gloves on and was able to load no problem.

Yet another aside. Don’t want to drag this thread into the deep, dark world of politics, but why do I think if I sat down with any gun control nut, be they politician or not, they would not have an answer to the simple fact criminals don’t follow laws. In NY can’t have a magazine that holds more than 10. I’m sure a criminal would honor that. Friggin joke.

 

[MDJAK1]

Born and raised in NY. Accident of birth. Note I did not say I grew up here as I never grew up. Lol.

 

[MDJAK1]

Just as a quick follow up, got my permit yesterday. Submitted it in January. Judge signed off 4/16. County clerk took few weeks to send me the letter. Naturally I’m working all week so can’t get it till Saturday and will go straight to the range. Ty all. Truly appreciate all replies.

 

[MDJAK1]

@MDJAK1
I so love “experts”. Like you, my first Glock was a 43x for a lot of the same reasons you chose one. While I was not new to shooting I was new to 9mm, striker fire pistols and at the time wasn’t shooting that frequently. I loved it and still do.

Recently I bought a 48 MOS not that I felt the need for one but just wanted a 48 (4” barrel”) as a companion to my 43x. If it weren’t for the specific reasons I had for getting the 48 I still think the 43x was the right choice.

I’m not a great shot but I’m working on it. Below are two targets out to 21’/ 7 yards. On the left is a group from the 48. On the right, a group from the 43x. I was just getting used to the 48 so not as tight as I would be now having trained with it….
But do you see anything wrong with the grouping from the 43x? Hopefully this will answer your question and resolve any doubt.
As a side note I highly recommend putting a Streamlight TLR-6 light on your 43x. In addition to having a light on it, more importantly it reduced felt recoil which might be extremely beneficial for a new shooter. Also the laser on mine showed me how the rear sight needed to be adjusted. JMO

View attachment 1190459

Thank you. Very helpful. I did not get the MOS version because I didn’t know it existed and naturally the gun store didn’t mention it. Would I still be able to add that light? Turns out I’m picking up the 43x tomorrow.

 

[MDJAK1]

Not sure why anyone would even bother with a gun in NY. If you ever shot it you are going to jail directly. Fat Alvin will get you !!! No reasonable people running that state.

Hard to argue with that. As I waited for the permit, I questioned myself over and over, knowing full well the nightmare that will ensue after its use. one thing, though, is Alvin only has jurisdiction in one county of 62 and I’m not licensed in that county or the four adjoining ones which make up the City of New York.

 

[MDJAK1]

Wow, I didn't realize your CCW Licences were by county. Scary! In Pennsylvania my License to Carry Firearms is good in all counties. There are a few exceptions, schools, court houses & and parks in Philly. You could cross a street and be breaking the law, that's just dumb.

Perhaps I misled you unintentionally. NYC, which is made up of 5 counties, Manhattan, Queens, the Bronx, Brooklyn and Staten Island, requires its own permit. each county has its own District Attorney which office brings charges. Alvin is the DA in Manhattan.
I live in the first suburb north of NYC and my permit is good in every other county.

 

[MDJAK1]

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