can never go wrong with an Ithaca... 
Posted on 02/22/2013 9:03:26 PM PST by martin_fierro
POSTED THE OTHER NIGHT ON FB WHILE FR WAS DOWN:
Stopped by my local gun shop tonight for the first time, to see what their inventory/prices were like.
Was surprised by the friendly reception I got. Bunch of good ol' types hanging around.
I'm looking for a handgun + shotgun for home defense. The units would be low maintenance, use comparatively inexpensive ammo and be easy for a man or woman to use.
I looked at a Mossberg 500 (20 gauge) & some Taurus Millenium Series .45 ACPss -- these latter looked to be far too large
http://www.taurususa.com/gun-selector-results.cfm?series=MP1&toggle=tp
What do FReepers recommend?
can never go wrong with an Ithaca...
I second, if the the $ was right. Oh, and make it a 12ga.
/johnny
12 ga, really?
Our house is very close to neighbors on either side — in the event of an in-house encounter, I’d hate to fire something that could penetrate surrounding homes.
The nice part about a shotgun is that you can tailor the load to the situation. #8 shot for birds or people you really, really don't like, but want them to live to know it, maybe, to #4 shot that puts a stop to lots of problems but won't penetrate a standard house wall from any distance, to slugs, that will drop deer from 50 yards.
I'd go with 12 Gauge, too. I load mine with #2 and #3 shot generally. I'm fairly serious about solving problems. If I shoot that in the house, there's no way it's going to make it to the neighbor's house.
/johnny
Winchester 1300 Defender (pump, 12 gauge). Anything smaller is a waste of time, and this thing will fire reliably. 12 gauge ammo is plentiful. I keep #4 ammo at the ready for mine; about a 1 foot spread at 20 feet. Don’t use slugs/buckshot in a house unless you *want* to go through walls for some reason.
Revolver, blued (not chrome). Brand etc barely matters, just don’t buy cheap crap. Get at least a .357 if this is the extent of your gun buying and it’s only for the house/vehicle.
In either case, make sure it’s comfortable (fits your hand/shoulder/etc), and practice - a lot. Remember you’ll be using it in the dark, half asleep, probably in a panic. Needs to be second nature to load/chamber/unsafe/aim/bang.
If you’re the slightest bit uncomfortable, or entirely new to this, take a gun safety course. Apparently it helps, but I grew up with them and have never attended one.
Did you look at the Taurus Judge for a handgun? Did you pick it up and hold it? I’m just saying . .
I keep a pair of muffs next to the handy shotgun. I'd like to be able to hear the nice police officers after the event.
/johnny
The 410 hand-cannon mess-maker? I don’t want to be anywhere nearby when someone gets the bright idea to squeeze off a few rounds.
Go for the 20ga. I prefer the stopping power (relative. Dead is dead) and the availability of various ammo for the 12ga.
No one seems to pay much attention to what is downrange. It may not matter, but if someone is hit next door or next block over, you are in a world of hurt whether you put the bad guy down or not.
I have only one direction I could shoot without worry, so I do worry. Be forced to maneuver to get a shot in that direction if I could manage it. Rather not have to.
If there’s a range nearby, you may be able to rent a few pistols at the top of your list. I don’t have one, but the Judge or the Governor are kind of a twofer that may fill both your needs.
Yeah, great.
I’ve got real concerns about protecting my home & family for when Obozo collapses our economy, just when Asshat Biden shoots his mouth off about shotguns, and everybody wants to talk about *him.*
Consider as Glock pistol.
Here's an Obama compliant longgun
That’s the whole idea of a self defense weapon. The intruder realizes he’s messed with the wrong person. If you don’t hit them, they will hightail it and run. Drywall is easy to fix.
Yeah, but my understanding is that Glock ammo is all being snapped up by the Gub’mint.
Before considering firearms, be sure to have an early warning system for house intrusion. An alert dog who barks at noises is best. If dog is not practical, install alarms on vulnerable doors and windows. You can buy a cheap GE alarm for under $30 which will cover 4 doors/windows.
The last thing you want is being rudely surprised by an intruder when you are fast asleep. You will not have time to grab the gun, load it and fire it. Early warning is a must.
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