Firearms: my anti-fap

So everyone needs some kind of hobby, an anti-fap. Something you'd rather be doing than wasting your time with porn. Truth is I have a few. I've been learning guitar on Rocksmith, video games in general help as a big distraction, but firearms are something I've enjoyed operating and researching since I was a kid. I hunted a lot in my youth and now I'm the Weapons Petty Officer at my unit, making me responsible for the care and use of my units small arms.
I have a carry permit and own a Smith&Wesson Shield .40, an FNX-40, a Remington 870 20ga. set up for hunting quail and an SKS. Anyone who wants to have a sane conversation about firearms in general or get into specifics, jump in here.
***DISCLAIMER!!!***
This thread is NOT for politics. I get plenty of that in my day to day life and I don't need it here, a place I come for solace. If you post anything political in here, one way or the other, pro or anti-gun, I'm not responding to it and if this thread gets hijacked by politics I'm not gonna dignify it with comment, I'll jump ship.
But maybe this thread will go completely ignored, but I'm posting it anyways.

 

I've fired the Springfield XDM 40, wasn't for me but I did enjoy firing it. What's your carry weapon now, if you have one? The Shield 9 is good for small hands, more manageable recoil than the 40. I've had my eye on a Glock 42, very easy gun to shoot and great for small hands. My wife is trying to get her permit now and that will probably be her carry weapon.

 

Yeah they are hideous looking, and a bit too finicky for my liking, bit the 42 is easy and accurate once you get used to it. For more punch I DEFINITELY recommend the Shield 9. Top notch weapon and very concealable. If you want even more boom the 40 is great too, but the frame and barrel length is identical to the 9 so while it's quite concealable the recoil is extreme.

 

Smith and Wesson makes a revolver with a an internal hammer (not a striker) for that very reason, my grandmother has once actually. You do need to practice a different grip with a revolver otherwise you'll wind up with powder burns.
And as for women and guns, my wife almost always shoots better than me.

 

It really depends on the weapon. Some have a lighter pull than others. Depending on your state most hang around 6.5-8.5 pounds. My FNX 40 is DA/SA and that first pull is very heavy. If it's a heavier pull, especially with a shorter barrel, it's gonna take a lot of practice to get better.

 

Can't say I'm familiar with either if those.

 

I forgot to list it, for my hunting rifle i use a Weatherby 270, great for dialing long distance. Been over a decade since i got to bag anything with it though. Military lifestyle in the Northeast doesn't lend itself to hunting.

 

Gotta love the 870, we use the riot variant at my station and I'm looking to convert my 20ga to a home defense shotgun.
I'd like to set up my SKS with a scout scope but that's lower on my priority list of weapons purchases. Wanna get a rail light/laser for my FNX and night sights for my Shield first.

 

Anyone can handle any caliber in any configuration with enough practice. That said going with 9mm over 40 will require LESS practice to become comfortable and proficient. If you don't have much experience with pistols, especially compacts, go with 9mm. I carry 40 because that's what the Coast Guard has me use at work and i want to buy one type of ammo for all my handguns (until we get a 42). Even a 380 will do all the damage it needs to if your shot placement is good.
My first round is always on the money with my Shield. After that it gets more wild, but that first shot is the one that counts the most.