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Butting in on an overheard conversation

PT111

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 31, 2007
Messages
2,243
Location
, South Carolina, USA
Very seldom do I jump into a conversation that I overhear especially when it involves a salesman trying to make a sale. Since I am in the computer business I overhear all kinds of mistakes (BS) clerks telling people but I am long beyond trying to correct any of that. Yesterday I was in a local gunstore and the owner was out at lunch and had his son and daughter running it. They are both around 20 or so and nice enough and helpful unlike many gunstore clerks.

I was over looking at some used long guns when I heard a customer ask, "Now with this 22 magnum I can shoot regular 22 long can't I"? I heard the son say, "Yes I am pretty sure" and the daughter didn't say anything. With that I had to interrupt and tell them NO you can't do that. We got into a conversation about it and I told them that the 22 WMR was a different casing. The customer asked how much bigger and I told him I didn't know but enough to make a difference.

The daughter then pulled a box of 22 mag and LR so they could all see the difference. As I say I don't like to but in on overheard conversations but I didn't want that fellow buying a 22 mag Revolver and trying to shoot 22 LR in it and possibly get hurt or find out after he had bought the gun. At least 3 people learned something from my butting in but I cannot stand those the while you are looking at an XD feel it is necessary to butt in and tell you than you need a Glock instead. I felt that this was worth getting involved and the fellow thanked me afterward.
 

stickbow95

Regular Member
Joined
Sep 21, 2010
Messages
99
Location
Eagle River, WI
You did the right thing. While it would not be "wrong" to mind your own business, you saved someone from possibly formulating a bad opinion of the shop, or even worse, injuring themselves.
I usually keep my mouth shut when I hear opinions flying around. However, if there is a safety issue or uneducated/faulty info given, I will usually pipe up. (That is if I'm familiar with the subject.) Usually in a sales situation the staff appreciates the info.
 

45acpForMe

Newbie
Joined
Nov 21, 2008
Messages
2,805
Location
Yorktown, Virginia, USA
As a matter of safety it is fine to butt in. :)

Like most gun-fans I like to impart my (limited) knowledge when the opportunity arises. I haven't had many at gun stores but made a point to butt in one time when a customer who was not very knowledgeable was looking at one of my favorite guns. When the salesman handed him a Sig P220 and described it to him, I butted in and told him that it was my favorite gun to shoot as well as all the other good attributes of being a Sig. :)

I don't want to be rude though and won't butt in when the salesperson has things under control.... usually. :)
 

SouthernBoy

Regular Member
Joined
May 12, 2007
Messages
5,837
Location
Western Prince William County, Virginia, USA
I was in one of our fine local gun stores on Monday and a man and I just started talking; he began the conversation. I was looking at the Kahr P380 and he was also looking at some of the small .380's for his girl friend who just received her CHP. She is a nurse and worries about her safety at times when leaving the hospital in the wee hours of the morning.

Although he says he collects handguns, he also said he didn't know too much about these offerings. I asked him if he had considered a compact 9mm for her and he said that was the caliber she really preferred. From his descriptions of her likes and dislikes and her preferences, and the price range, I suggested that he might want to consider a K9 Kahr or something in that category. The store did happen to have a K9 in their display case and a salesman let him handle it... which he found to be very pleasing. I was standing there pointing out some things and the salesman was not saying a thing. When I realized this, I apologized for "taking over" and let the two of them discuss the gun... which they did little of.

It's a natural thing to talk guns when in a gun store. The only problem I have with this is the people (customers and sales staff) who make outlandish and ridiculous claims and statements to the point of lunacy. Most of the time, I try to bite my tongue and if I get the poor trampled on customer alone, I will attempt in a careful way to correct any nonsensical crap they have been told. Most of the time, I just let it go unless it is really out there.
 

45acpForMe

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Joined
Nov 21, 2008
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Yorktown, Virginia, USA
I was in one of our fine local gun stores on Monday and a man and I just started talking; he began the conversation. I was looking at the Kahr P380 and he was also looking at some of the small .380's for his girl friend who just received her CHP. She is a nurse and worries about her safety at times when leaving the hospital in the wee hours of the morning.

:D Let me butt in...:D

I picked up a Kahr P380 and really like it, alot! I wanted something with a little more recoil for my daughters to train on and potentially for a BUG/CC option. The ONLY thing I don't like about it is that it is a .380 and I don't think that caliber is sufficient as a SD round. So yes it is a great gun but would strongly consider something larger 9mm etc for SD.

But for someone that is really caliber/recoil sensitive it is a great gun and can be found for around $500 on gunbroker.com.

:D ...butting out now. :D
 
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SouthernBoy

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May 12, 2007
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Location
Western Prince William County, Virginia, USA
:D Let me butt in...:D

I picked up a Kahr P380 and really like it, alot! I wanted something with a little more recoil for my daughters to train on and potentially for a BUG/CC option. The ONLY thing I don't like about it is that it is a .380 and I don't think that caliber is sufficient as a SD round. So yes it is a great gun but would strongly consider something larger 9mm etc for SD.

But for someone that is really caliber/recoil sensitive it is a great gun and can be found for around $500 on gunbroker.com.

:D ...butting out now. :D

Most in the gun culture consider the .380ACP to be at the bottom rung of the ladder when it comes to an effective SD caliber and I agree with that belief. I have a P3AT and a Ruger LCP, and when I carry such guns, it is because I either want to have a BUG on my person or the situation at hand determines my choice. I would not consider the .380 as a primary SD caliber when I have the option to carry on of my "normal" carry pieces. Better than a hammer and could get you out of a bad situation, I would still prefer something else given the choice and opportunity.

This is why I tried to steer the gentleman in the gun shop to a 9mm for his lady. Thinking back, perhaps I should have also mentioned the PM9 Kahr to him as well. Small and still quite a decent carry gun. Funny. Since he did tell me he was more into collecting handguns than long guns, I would have thought he would have really been up on the many popular offerings.
 
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Cavalryman

Campaign Veteran
Joined
Jun 6, 2010
Messages
296
Location
Anchorage, Alaska
I usually don't butt in to conversations, but if someone's safety is at stake I think it's the right thing to do. It's good that you were able to help.
 

hogeaterf6

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Jun 21, 2010
Messages
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Why not a .380? Its real close to a 9mm. I carry a .380 and with the right round really blows holes into items. Plus I got 16 rounds to 'stop' a threat. Folks die that get shot with a .22LR.
 

45acpForMe

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Why not a .380? Its real close to a 9mm. I carry a .380 and with the right round really blows holes into items. Plus I got 16 rounds to 'stop' a threat. Folks die that get shot with a .22LR.

Typically you want to carry the largest caliber that you can control and carry based on the situation, style of clothing. I prefer a 45acp Pistol on my hip and another in my pocket but sometimes I can't OC, and CC of the 45acp prints too much so a smaller gun is warranted.

Yes it punches holes in things just like any other caliber but I like bigger holes rather than smaller ones in case my aim is off a tad bit. :) My FNP-45 is a 15+1 45acp gun. I would rather have that than my P380 which is 6+1. Yes shot placement is more important but I have no problem placing a 45acp round on target. :)
 

SouthernBoy

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Why not a .380? Its real close to a 9mm. I carry a .380 and with the right round really blows holes into items. Plus I got 16 rounds to 'stop' a threat. Folks die that get shot with a .22LR.

Well.. actually it's pretty far away from a 9mm in energy. And you are not about to find a 147gr bullet for it, either. While certainly better than no gun at all, the .380 should be considered a BUG caliber or a "when-I-don't-have-the-ability-to-carry-a-more-serious" caliber.
 

SouthernBoy

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Typically you want to carry the largest caliber that you can control and carry based on the situation, style of clothing. I prefer a 45acp Pistol on my hip and another in my pocket but sometimes I can't OC, and CC of the 45acp prints too much so a smaller gun is warranted.

This is pretty much dead on the same thing that a Sheriff's captain in Fairfax, VA said in 1995 at the top of his lecture I attended on the use of deadly force. He was a no-nonsense type of individual who liked to cut through the crap and get right to the bear bones meat of the issue.
 

slowfiveoh

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Sep 15, 2009
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Location
Richmond, VA
Very seldom do I jump into a conversation that I overhear especially when it involves a salesman trying to make a sale. Since I am in the computer business I overhear all kinds of mistakes (BS) clerks telling people but I am long beyond trying to correct any of that...

Oh God please share your secret!

I swear whenever I step into Best Buy or any other large computer store, that I am going to die from an aneurism brought on by not being able to handle the BS commentary I overhear.

So much so, that I literally dive in, grab what I need, and then dive out.
 

oldkim

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Apr 6, 2009
Messages
375
Location
Kent, Washington, USA
For Safety Sakes...

Safety First

Yes, it's everyone's duty to butt in when safety is involved.

Remember anyone can call a cease fire for safety reasons. It's good you jumped in and let them know - it's obvious they needed a bit of schooling. I'm sure they know now.


On the side: some revolvers do make a .22LR cylinder for their .22 Mag revolvers (you do have to swap out for the correct cylinder).
 

PT111

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Jul 31, 2007
Messages
2,243
Location
, South Carolina, USA
Oh God please share your secret!

I swear whenever I step into Best Buy or any other large computer store, that I am going to die from an aneurism brought on by not being able to handle the BS commentary I overhear.

So much so, that I literally dive in, grab what I need, and then dive out.

Only if you will share your secret for diving in to Best Buy and out and paying for it. The last three times that I have tried to buy something from Best Buy I wound up putting it down and walking out. Thank goodness for other stores and on-line shopping that I do not have to ever go back there again. :banghead:
 

Ruby

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May 5, 2010
Messages
1,201
Location
Renton, Washington, USA
Why not a .380? Its real close to a 9mm. I carry a .380 and with the right round really blows holes into items. Plus I got 16 rounds to 'stop' a threat. Folks die that get shot with a .22LR.

Any gun can be effective in the right hands but, I prefer to not have to shoot someone 10 or 12 times to stop them. By that time, they may have been able to reach me and injure or kill me, which is why I carry a .45 with 200gr JHP. I also carry 2 extra mags, just in case.
 

shotcop

Regular Member
Joined
Nov 28, 2010
Messages
67
Location
Colorado
Safety First

Yes, it's everyone's duty to butt in when safety is involved.

Remember anyone can call a cease fire for safety reasons. It's good you jumped in and let them know - it's obvious they needed a bit of schooling. I'm sure they know now.


On the side: some revolvers do make a .22LR cylinder for their .22 Mag revolvers (you do have to swap out for the correct cylinder).

You must own a Ruger Single action also, the most accurate of the 22 hanguns I own!
 

zack991

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 29, 2009
Messages
1,535
Location
Ohio, USA
I learned something new today that I did not know that the 22 magnum and a 22LR are different sizes. Mainly because I don't own either.
 
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SouthernBoy

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May 12, 2007
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5,837
Location
Western Prince William County, Virginia, USA
I learned something new today that I did not know that the 22 magnum and a 22LR are different sizes. Mainly because I don't own either.

The first firearm I ever purchased was a Ruger Super Single Six in 1968, the day after King was killed. I had order a Single Six version but it had not arrived so I cancelled the order and bought one of the Super Single Sixes they still had in inventory. The Single Six was $65 and the Super Single Six was $78. Both came with two cylinders, one for shorts, longs, and long rifle and the other one for WRM only. With a 5 1/2" barrel I had a ball with that little revolver and should never have let it go.
 

stickbow95

Regular Member
Joined
Sep 21, 2010
Messages
99
Location
Eagle River, WI
I own one. I love it. Mostly I use it for pest control. Also as cheap revolver practice in place of my .475 Linebaugh. Great little handgun.

When I was a kid I used to shoot my Dad's. (He still has it) Now I have one and my seven year old son is learning with it.

Sorry for hijacking the thread a bit. :)
 
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