SELECTING A GUN FOR HOME DEFENSE

learn about guns dot com ^ | 10-2008 | Author is not DfU

[Hondo1952]

Those would be the “Shots Heard Round the World” between Lexington and Concord. Still one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been.

[brushcop]

How about a crossbow? (I’m only half joking)

You bring up an interesting point that my friends and I have made many times. We're all hunters, many into archery and let me tell you good archers are really the NORM rather than the exception, you know why?? Because they PRACTICE. Gun owners rarely take their guns and practice and refamiliarize themselves with handling and shooting their guns and they might one day pay dearly for that neglect.

Also, there is no telling how "handy" archers might become if things go south...

[EdReform]

If you’re considering a shotgun, spend some time here:

http://www.thehighroad.org/forumdisplay.php?s=7dc7ff4147049eca0cb44421e05849dc&f=7

and here:

http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/index.php

[the right reverend]

Colt .45 some of us carried them for years

[navyguy]

Great gun. I have 2 of them.

[Who is John Galt?]

1st Choice: A Shotgun:
2nd Choice: a Handgun:
3rd Choice: a Rifle:

Pardon me for disagreeing, but if you are not familiar with firearms, your first choice might be a Ruger 10/22, chambered in either .22 Long Rifle or .22 Winchester Magnum rimfire. Why? You can pop off an entire magazine, with next to no recoil. Total control. With a little extra magazine capacity (available in most locations), you can literally sign your name on (actually, 'through') the perps forehead. And you can take either of these rifles to any shooting range in the country, and practice (very important), without raising an eyebrow anywhere.

There are other rifles that I would rank upfront as well, but I love the Rugers.

Second choice in my book would be a shotgun. Once again, if you're not experienced with firearms, I would suggest a 20 gauge shotgun (less recoil). Go pump (even the AK-based Saigas have reliability issues). Another option would be a 12 (or once again, a 20) with a Knoxx recoil-reducing stock (if legal where you live). I like the Winchesters (the 1200/1300 12 gauges may even feed those neat little Mexican short shells, giving you more magazine capacity ;>).

Handguns? Most folks can't hit crap with them. If you need one, go with a double-action, name-brand revolver, .38 Special or better (unless you find a nice .32 Magnum - and I still prefer .38 or better) - they're next to foolproof. Just keep pulling the trigger. Do NOT buy some elephant killing magnum, unless it also chambers a useful cartridge like .38 Special, .44 Special, or .45 Colt (in which case plan on using the lower powered cartridge for self defense). Hand guns are third choice, at best.

Just my completely unauthorized opinion. Bottom line in my book: if you can't hit the target, what good does it do...

[Claud]

That’s a great observation. I wanna hang out with you guys! :)

[allmendream]

Mine has the 7.5 inch barrel unlike the one pictured. It is currently loaded with hollow points in my bedside dresser. Love the gun.

And I repeat.

REVOLVER for home defense. NEVER a semiautomatic pistol.

Revolver home defense: Grab gun, take out of holster, point and fire.

Semiauto home defense: Grab gun, take out of holster, chamber a round, take off the safety, point and fire.

Also the added complexity of the “hidden” round in the chamber that must be removed if you don't fire.

REVOLVER!!!

[EdReform]

http://www.galleryofguns.com/Genie/Default.aspx?item=51482&index=5&mfg=Mossberg&mdl=500&cat=2&type=Shotgun&cal=12+Gauge&fin=All&sit=All&pid=

[Las Vegas Ron]

Thank you FRiend

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

[doug from upland]

I am not the author.

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

[Who is John Galt?]

I am not the author.

Hope I did not suggest that - my apologies if I did. A valuable post in any case!

Best regards...

[Tijeras_Slim]

How much do you shoot? I’ve never seen an 870 that needed work, including a couple at the skeet range that routinely get 5-6000 rounds a year through them.

[servantboy777]

>>For those who say that an Obama presidency would lead to another Reagan, you are dreaming.”

For those who believe the republicans are going to be any different are dreaming.

Didn't Bush teach us anything about bait and switch?

Listen up! If the GOP loses this election, it's not the fault of independent conservatives.

It will be because the ram-rodded the wrong candidate to lead the republicans to victory. Plain and simple.

The republican party....lets face it, have been so ded-gum inept over the last ten years. They seem to barely be able to chew gum and tie their shoes at the same time.

The republicans had it all. The White House, both houses of congress.....and pissed it away.

Now, is that the fault of those who seek real change? Real conservatism? Nope. Your barkin up the wrong tree.

[Who is John Galt?]

I’ve never seen an 870 that needed work, including a couple at the skeet range that routinely get 5-6000 rounds a year through them.

Ain't that sweet? FWIW, I knew a gent who owned (owns?) a shooting emporium in Camarillo, Kalifornia, years ago, and he told me about a lady who brought in her Ruger .22 self-loading pistol, because it wasn't working quite right anymore. Turned out it had 10-20K rounds through it (GOOD FOR HER!!!). Ruger completely rebuilt that pistola for her, free of charge (good for you, Ruger!)...

[yarddog]

I once traded for an old Ruger .22 Mark I target which was in bad shape, pretty badly rusted and dirty as all get out. I sent it to Ruger and it came back looking like new, and even in a new box. The only way I could tell it wasn't new was they had to buff a certain place so much to get rid of the rust that it had a small depression for an inch or so.

It wasn't free tho, they charged $25 which was still a bargain.

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

Sako TRG-21. Detachable ten round magazine, .308)