I took my CHL class at Top Gun and used their Glock 9mm, though you can of course take your own pistol.
I know the no-scope may help in short range situations but my experiences from running around in 1st/3rd person shooter video games with a sniper rifle with a scope is I can't shoot jack from close range in such a situation and I get myself killed. LOL That's how I roll...on the ground...dead.
One of the largest gun dealers in the Houston area is Tomball Pawn. They have some of the best prices and they routinely beat Academy by 10-15% in price. If you can get up to Tomball it may be worth it. I also recommend training and taking your CHL classes with a gun more powerful than a .22. You'll want to be able to be proficient with a caliber that you will want to use/shoot later for hobby or for personal defense.
These might not be quite as reliable as the combat style handguns, but if you're looking for something really nice & at least as accurate, this Kimber will be $779 through the weekend: http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/firearms/handguns/kimber/kimber-stainless-ii-3200007.html Please do some research before listening to anyone claiming that a revolver or even a GLOCK is inherently any more dangerous than something with more or different safeties- especially coming from the guy whose idea of safe is depending on a manual safety to protect his children from the handguns in his home! But a DA revolver especially has a longer & heavier pull, & there is no need for a manual safety found on a single action 1911 & the like. While not my first choice after having BTDT, revolvers are really no more dangerous than anything else. Every system has its advantages & disadvantages. You might end up going through a few before finding your favorite. I like point & click- HK & Sig are nice, & GLOCK especially is a good value for a dependable, ergonomic, & accurate handgun, with the biggest calibers & capacities to size & weight ratios. Though their triggers are a love or hate preference among most shooters. If you are in Houston & are interested in a Sig P220 in .45acp with night sights & a comp-tac holster, or an HK P2000 in .40sw also with nights & a comptac, I'm ready to let a couple go. I don't shoot anymore, & want to get back down to the basics- one carry & one range 9mm, & a .22.
As far as I know - no you can't take a .22 to qualify with as another poster has mentioned. The minimum caliber you can use during the CHL range test is .32 Also, if you qualify with a pistol then you will be eligible to carry that and/or a revolver but if you qualify with a revolver then your CHL is just for a revolver.
Most of the time .38 and .357 are exchangeable. I bought a .357 revolver and use .38 ammo all the time. It's fine, and the ammo is cheaper. I'm going to get a rifle that will also be a .357 and use .38 ammo in that as well.
Streamlining ammo reserves? I wanted one of those pistol caliber lever action rifles myself, when I had my revolver, but yeah get a real rifle caliber if you're getting a rifle, if that's your point. That setup has to be underpowered, even with the hottest .357mag loads. BTW BW does HK currently make any combat rifles you'd recommend?
I found some gunat the bottom of ariver, ill sell it Jk man...dunno much 'bout guns, but couldn't resist a joke!
So I can use the same cheap ammo for both of my pistols, and rifle. I wouldn't need to by a different caliber ammo for any of my guns except my 12 gauge shotgun.
Yeah, I use super light loads in everything I shoot. I mean really light 130 gr. bullets. When I shoot, I shoot a lot of rounds very quickly. I need them to be light.
so i went out and bought this Gun just to get me started. I already took it to the shooting rang at some place called Bailey's Rifle & Pistol Range. its not that good you can't rapid fire any gun and you have to wait 5sec between shots. I like this revoler easy to shoot but my aim is awful, I actually did better at the long range targets then in the short rang targets. I guess i just need to practice more.
I think someone used the term "interchangeable" for .357 and .38 shells; that isn't exactly correct. You can shoot .38's in a .357, but not the other way around. Do NOT try to shoot .357's in that pistol. That revolver is made for very close quarter personal protection.....it's not exactly the kind of weapon to use to assess your aim.
