Which gun?

Since I own a few different handguns I have often been asked which one is my favorite. That's not an easy question to answer. I have more than a few guns in most of the different calibers available. Since I have my GWL I carry a gun most of the time except for when I'm at work. You would think that my favorite gun would be the one that I carry the most. I would guess that is true for the most part. In the state of Georgia you have the choice to carry your gun open or concealed as long as you have a Georgia Weapons License. I would say that 75% of the time I carry concealed which usually means I leave my shirt un-tucked to conceal the gun on my belt. There are three guns that I find myself carrying most of the time.

The first one is an
H&K P30 in 9mm.
I bought this gun brand new from Stoddard's in Douglasville.


The following is from the H&K website -
A recent HK pistol design, the P30 is a modern police and security pistol that combines function and safety. Ergonomic features include a special grip frame with interchangeable backstrap inserts and lateral plates, allowing the pistol to be individually adapted to any user. Ambidextrous controls include dual slide releases and magazine release levers. Extensively tested, the P30 has already been adopted by several European police agencies. Excellent weight and balance make the P30 naturally pointable, easy to control, and accurate to shoot. An open notch rear sight with luminous (non-radioactive) contrast points allows for fast and accurate target acquisition, even under poor lighting conditions.
During a recent (2009-2010) endurance test, a P30 test pistol fired more than 91,000 rounds without any major component failures.

The second gun a carry a lot is a
Nighthawk Talon II 1911 with Bobtail in 45acp.
I bought this gun used from Stoddard's in Douglasville.

The following is from the Nighthawk website -
The Talon II comes with all the standard features of the full size Talon, match grade barrel, lightweight match trigger, forged slide stop, tool steel sear, extended mag catch and tool steel hammer. Small wonder that it’s one of our best sellers. The Talon II is a true 4.25" bushing barrel gun.
I'll be honest with you, I don't really know what all of that means but I do know that this is one excellent, easy to shoot handgun.

The third gun I have been known to carry a lot is a
Walther PPS in 9mm.
I bought this gun brand new from Wild West Traders in Marietta.

The following is from the the Walther USA website -
Walther PPS - More Conceal, Less Carry
The Walther Police Pistol Slim (PPS) model narrows the margin between concealment and confidence by packing Walther innovation into an unbelievable 1.04 inch profile. It's amazing how much professional-grade design actually fits into this lightweight sub-compact. Available in either 9mm or .40S&W, the PPS packs in more power. All in all, the PPS embodies both the legendary quality and tradition of innovation that make it not just a great pistol — but a great Walther pistol.

So, those are the three guns I carry the most. Would I say one of them is my favorite? Maybe....
My favorite gun to target shoot is my
Walther P99 in 9mm.
This was another used Stoddard's purchase.
My favorite gun to just look at is my
Smith & Wesson Model 625 JM Revolver in 45acp.
The fine folks at GA Firing Line in Marietta got this for me.
So which gun is my favorite? I have no idea.

Thanks for listening,
The Math Teacher

Websites used in this post -
H&K USA
Nighthawk Customs
Walther PPS

Where to shoot

So you want to go to a range and shoot a few rounds? I shoot at two ranges that are pretty close to the Powder Springs area -

The first range is called
Wild West Traders
2445 Austell Rd.
STE. 200
Marietta, GA 30008
I am a member at Wild West and this is the first range I shot a handgun at.
Wild West Traders has twelve lighted 25-yard lanes featuring a target retrieval system. For range use they allow pistols up to 45 caliber, and rifles that shoot pistol calibers. Twenty-two (22) calibers are allowed but NO magnums. They do not allow rifles, air guns, paint guns, or shotguns. Wild West Traders was founded in 2006 but the range is located in the old Hot Shots location which has been around for quite a few years. They have some of the lowest range rates in the state and charge only $10 per hour to shoot.

Next up is
Stoddard's Range and Guns
5840 Highway 78
Douglasville, Georgia 30134
I am also a member at Stoddard's. (Well, I said I was addicted to guns didn't I?)
Stoddard’s Range and Guns, the newest addition to Georgia’s ranges, is a state-of-the-art full service gun range and store. Stoddard’s features 12 lanes of 25 yard shooting for handguns, rifles and shotguns of all calibers (there are some, but very few exclusions). All lanes at Stoddard’s are controlled by a unique touch screen, multi-programmable system. Shooters can practice on moving and turning targets that can be controlled by the shooter, or chosen from a pre-programmed menu. Adding to the experience, Stoddard’s provides a fully air-conditioned environment, where the shooter is not exposed to the harmful smell and taste of lead and other airborne contaminants. A washstand, and lead-removal floor mats, protect the customer from carrying home an invisible coating of lead.

So that's the two ranges that are closest to me in Powder Springs. I enjoy shooting at both places and do most Saturdays. Yes, I shoot at one of them in the morning and then go to the other one in the afternoon. I know, that seems like a bit much but as I have said -

I'm addicted to guns.

As always,
Thanks for listening,
The Math Teacher