Four Firearms Every Family Should Own: When the World Comes Crashing Down, Protect You and Yours

Associated Content ^ | 10/10/2008 | Loran Montgomery

[NVDave]

Having taught a bunch of gals to shoot, here’s what I have found time and again:

Too many guys think that women “can’t handle recoil.” Not true.

Women can handle plenty of recoil IF THE GUN FITS THEM.

And there’s the rub.

If you’re looking at handguns, go into a gun store and start handling a lot of guns. Don’t pay attention to semi vs. revolver, caliber or anything else at first. Find what fits YOUR hands.

Now, try to maximize what you can find that fits your hands.

I also strongly recommend to NOT outfit women with a super-light handgun or rifle. This obsession with the super-light handgun or rifle has a double edge: If you don’t have the mass in the firearm, the “equal and opposite reaction” has to find a home somewhere — and when the mass isn’t in the firearm itself, the part of the shooter in direct contact with the firearm is going to have to absorb the recoil’s kinetic energy.

ie, these “featherweight” and “titanium” handguns, or the super-light composite handguns — they kick like a mule because there’s no mass in the gun itself to take the recoil. So don’t get sold into something super-light — because if you’re a) female, b) 61, c) have small hands, I’m guessing you’re not going to have a whole lot of mass on your bones you want to put into absorbing recoil because the firearm won’t do it.

There are MANY fine stainless weapons out there now. It is the only way I’d recommend going now. Lower maintenance is only the first reason. They’re also good if you’re in a high humidity environment or live near the shore where you have salt in the air from the ocean, or you need to take the weapon with you and you live in an area that gets a lot of rain, etc.

[KC Burke]

My great grandfather’s pistol is ninety years old and though not a show peice, it isn’t damaged by corosion. Put a little gun oil on a rag, not much, and leave the rag for wipe down where you store the pistol. It will last a generation or two unless stored on concrete which wicks sub-grade moisture.

Remember, it is a tool and doesn’t have to look shiny for its working life. Buy from a dealer with a range where you can fire various calibers. Buy the largest caliber you can fire and place back on target after the kick. A defense pistol is stopping power. Concealed carry is another issue.

Keep in mind, if I had been your kid, I could find every gun you have in the house — I did in mine growing up — but the proper respect kept me from outright abuse of them. I consider this with my grandkids now.

[mojitojoe]

he does mention wheelguns and says they are too hard to reload
___________ Not if you have reloaders.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsLx5ISBXw4&feature=PlayList&p=95CD7615BD1E91C6&playnext=1&index=21

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srM2qghDFuI&feature=PlayList&p=95CD7615BD1E91C6&playnext=1&index=20

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aulxNjoFoOk

[longhorn too]

My son got a PTR91SC for Christmas year before last.

[longhorn too]

Of all the calibers 9MM should be the easiest to find.

[LibLieSlayer]

That 50 cal BMG surplus ammo (at $4.00 per rd) will git ‘er dun!

LLS

[Terabitten]

Amateur wrote this article.

Why do you say that?

[Malsua]

I wish I could find a Glock 17 for $350. They’re $500 every where I’ve looked.

[randomhero97]

Sweet. How does he like it? I really want a Springfield SOCOM 16 but the gun dealer I go to said rifles with military grade parts are nearly impossible to find now. The PTR is a H&K clone with all American parts and from what I have read a pretty comparable to M1 style rifles in terms of a main battle rifle.

The PTR has basically the same furniture as the SOCOM II but weighs it seems like a ton less. I would hate to have to ruck the SOCOM II around.

[calex59]

Winchester Model 74. Had it for ages. Step father owned it before me, bought it new in 1957. It works great, has been used to kill hundreds, if not thousands, of squirrels and rabbits. Still works fine and is in excellent condition, over 99 percent of blue intact, stock is great. Love this old Winchester.

[longhorn too]

He loves it. I bought him a bunch of .308 ammo prior to the election, now you have a hard time finding .308 ammunition.

[acoulterfan]

Okay, I went to the Baretta site and looked at the .32 Tomcat. Neat looking pistol. Read the Operations manual and it went way over my head, especially when they started to explain about the 2 ways to load it, all about the safety (confusing) and how to take it apart.

I can go to the American Shooting Center here in San Diego to take a class and they do sell many brands.

[randomhero97]

I think I might go ahead and pull the trigger, no pun intended, and buy one. As far as .308 ammo goes I usually pick up a few cases at the gun show.

[acoulterfan]

Thanks! I am going to this place to take classes. Really close to my home:

http://www.gotammo.com/

Don’t know if they will put high pressure sales on me but I will definately put my hands on many of them for the feel then and will go stainless as I have a home in Washington State as well as here in San Diego.

I guess I can rent a gun for practice to see how I like it. Guess you buy a bucket of bullets at a time for practice.

Thanks again!

[acoulterfan]

“A defense pistol is stopping power.”

Will definately keep that in mind!

[Shooter 2.5]

1. Mossberg 500 12 Gauge. The safety is where it’s supposed to be unless you go with a pistol gripped full rear stock.

2. Ruger Mark II .22 LR. Dependable and accurate.

3. Ruger 10-22 .22LR. Dependable, accurate and you can buy any extra you wish for it.

4. 1911 45 Auto. In close quarters gunfight, you want the bad guy to die RIGHT NOW. Also in a “end of the world as we know it” scenario, you might have to cast your own bullets. Glocks and just about any 9MM really hate lead.

5. AR-15 .223. Buy a couple of uppers for different calibers. Don’t even think about doing that with an AK. And yes, you might have to shoot out to four hundred yards or more.

[mojitojoe]

I am kind of a low maintenance type of gal. I am 61 with small hands. Have never even been to a gun class but am thinking seriously into considering arming myself

What would you suggest for me?
________________
S&W revolver or a small semi auto. Try them first and make sure you can rack the slide. Some of the semi auto slides can be tough. Sig and Bersa are usually easy. Ruger and Walthers can be hard. The Walther PPK is really hard to rack.

[mojitojoe]

Terrible article. Recommending against a revolver because it takes practice to reload? Puh-leez. Any firearm requires practice. Autos require practice to clean. Anyone’s first sidearm should be a revolver - simple to operate and fewer moving parts. Not to mention less chance of leaving brass lying around for The One’s minions to find.
_______________
Agree, not that it's the only one to have but it's easy, rarely jams. Our S&W will shoot .38 or .357. Kicks like crazy with 357 but in a SHTF situation your adrenaline will kick in and you won't care about the big bang or the recoil.

[mojitojoe]

That is very helpful, thanks. I have handled guns before that were empty and tried to pull the trigger and it was difficult
_______
A gunsmith can fix that and make it easy to pull.

[mojitojoe]

Excellent info. Gun shops always try to push that lightweight S&W. It’s miserable to shoot. I would rather have the same gun with more weight. The lighter is good for carry, but not fun to shoot, that’s for sure.