Suggest the best gun for self protection

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maziwanka

Lifer
Jul 4, 2000
10,415
1
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Originally posted by: EtOH
For home protection handguns suck. One of the best guns for home protection is a shotgun. You get a larger spread pattern so you don't have to aim as well. On top of that my uncle who is a judge told me what his sheriff told him. One of the scariest things for a thief to hear is the sound a shotgun makes when you rack it. CHA-CHUNK. Very disticntive sound and 99% of criminals will haul ass when they hear it.

Get a 20 gauge non-automatic w/ Buck Shot. You want that sound.

EtOH

hahahaha. i would consider owning a gun when living on my own. however, once i have a family, i think it would be too dangerous to have the possibility of your kid potentially finding the gun and accidentally using one (or inadvertantely shooting your family members)
 

Skyclad1uhm1

Lifer
Aug 10, 2001
11,383
87
91
Originally posted by: TallBill
Originally posted by: Skyclad1uhm1
Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
To a few posters above - if your only firearm experience is in Counter-Strike, you should not be posting in this thread.

- M4H

Never played CS, so didn't know it was used in there. But they do want the 'Copkiller' gun banned in several states.

Which is rediculous.

How many burglars do you know who wear kevlar armor? I can understand the point of view of cops who want it banned as they cannot protect themselves from these weapons.
 

TallBill

Lifer
Apr 29, 2001
46,017
62
91
Uh, btw the whole myth about not having to aim a shotgun as well is ludicris. Check out the box o' truth in my website. Shotguns hold very tight patterns. You most certainly have to aim just as well as any other firearm.
 

TallBill

Lifer
Apr 29, 2001
46,017
62
91
How many burglars do you know who wear kevlar armor? I can understand the point of view of cops who want it banned as they cannot protect themselves from these weapons.

How many burglars spend that kind of money on a firearm?. Most use throw away 100 dollar pistols. Your talking about a crowd that thinks a tec-9 is the best automatic weapon on the market.
 

Calin

Diamond Member
Apr 9, 2001
3,112
0
0
OK, a shotgun will have a spread of a few inches in the length of the room. While this might be ok, and it might be easier to aim a shotgun than a handgun, you certainly must aim it
 

Specop 007

Diamond Member
Jan 31, 2005
9,454
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Originally posted by: Skyclad1uhm1
Originally posted by: TallBill
Originally posted by: Skyclad1uhm1
Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
To a few posters above - if your only firearm experience is in Counter-Strike, you should not be posting in this thread.

- M4H

Never played CS, so didn't know it was used in there. But they do want the 'Copkiller' gun banned in several states.

Which is rediculous.

How many burglars do you know who wear kevlar armor? I can understand the point of view of cops who want it banned as they cannot protect themselves from these weapons.

The gun isnt a "Cop killer" gun, the Brady campaign has (once again) distorted the facts to its own bullsh1t goals.
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
The deal with a shotgun is aim is not so important but you have to be in the right area. Chances are a hit will be more damaging with one than a conventional bullet.

A shotgun in and of itself doesn't make anyone a sure shot though.


Also in regards to body armor and break-ins. Many are only thinking of the typical scenario...what if one was in a high-risk job were threats and bodily harm were a possibility, if one has made enemies, and then you have the general gang bangers...which depending on where you live or work is another level of threat. These types will have better weapons as well as armor most of the time, it is that scenario that you having a better weapon is more important.

I believe people should be allowed to arm themselves as they want, I believe they should be penalized severely if they fail to keep their weapons safe and secure.
 

royaldank

Diamond Member
Apr 19, 2001
5,440
0
0
Get whatever gun you think is cool. You will never use it against an intruder so that shouldn't be a deciding factor.
 

Silversierra

Senior member
Jan 25, 2005
664
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A shotgun doesn't spread very much at the distances likely to be encountered in a home, it definitly needs to be aimed. Get a cylinder, skeet, or improved cylinder choke tube so the pattern is bigger, definitely not a full choke or extra full. A shotgun gauge has nothing to do with the size of the pellets in the shell. A .410 can use the same shot size as a 10 gauge, just the .410 will have many fewer bb's in the shell. The bigger gauges basically just let them fit more bb's in the shell. I shot a piece of drywall with my pump 20gauge at about 15yards and was surprised how little damage it did. I thought it would blow a big hole through it with my full choke, but it just put small holes all over the sheet of drywall. One idea to help aiming a shotgun is a good flashlight attached and aimed where the gun shoots(surefire is awesome for weapon lights). Then where you point the light is where the gun will shoot, plus you may not even have to shoot, because the guy will be blinded.
 

Silversierra

Senior member
Jan 25, 2005
664
0
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Originally posted by: housecat
Since a shotgun will be my trusted companion for quite some time probably.. I think it will be a nice only gun.

Sounds to me like overall, if a guy was to only own one gun.. shotgun would be it.
Cheap, cheap ammo (i think), easy maintanence (dont really know this, just guessing), very effective.

Something I can use on a wild animal if need be as well. Or putting the dog to sleep with.. I think dad used a rifle though growing up. One to the head saves a bit of cash instead of goign to the vet to have it done.
I think putting the dog to sleep with a 12gauge might be a bit nastay.

Now that I think about it, we used a rifle to put pigs asleep that were sick on my neighbors farm I worked on growing up.
Could have been a shotgun with a slug.. I dont remember.


Can anyone tell me more about shotgun ammo? Like do all shotguns accept beanbag ammo like the cops use sometimes? And slugs ect? Hollow point slugs?
And what are the range on the slugs/hollow points from a mossberg double barrel 12gauge? Thats just my example and about what I'm looking for.

I'm guessing the regular shotgun shot is "birdshot" or whatever you gun people call it.. thats what I used in my .22 most of the time to shoot at birds or cans.

This shotgun is starting to sound like a great all around weapon.. it will be alot of fun getting to know it at the range.. another question, can I shoot clay ducks with it?Or do ppl use something else? also what ammo is used for clay ducks


If the beanbag ammo is the right gauge and shell length, it should work. Regular slugs can be used in most shotguns if they have a choke that isn't too restrictive(cylinder, improved cylinder, etc). Sabot hollow point slugs are more accurate if you get a shotgun with a rifled barrel, but don't fuction properly in a regular barrel.
Slugs will shoot a couple hundred yards and still be dangerous. The higher the number for shot size, the smaller the bb is. 9 is small shot, 2 is big. Buckshot is bigger than regular shot though. BB(.18 cal) is small buckshot(bigger than 2 regular though), and BBB is bigger, then T, then #4, then 00, the biggest(.33 cal). I don't know how they got the weird naming for buckshot sizes. The shotgun is what people use to shoot clay pigeons. Usually they use an non restrictive choke so they have a better chance of hitting the moving target, and small shot so there are more bb's which increases the odds of hitting it.
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
A lot of gun ranges will not allow 'shot' to be fired.

A lot are thinking too narrowly on what the best gun is for anyone. For someone wanting a gun on their person obviously a shotgun is going to be problematic.

Concealed carry / open carry options are only as good as the license you have. If normal people know you are packing they get really upset.

Your best bet is something compact and least visible. You are not out to get into a gunfight, but rather have enough firepower to get you out of the situation. In a carjacking chances are it's too wait to pull out and fire....on the street getting approached you can at least make it clear you are carrying and move out.

It's pretty hard to carry a desert eagle, .44 magnum, etc of the large caliber pistols. There are compact ones that sacrifice capacity to give a small form factor. I'd like to have a least 6 rounds.

At home though anything goes pretty much and a shotgun is a great weapon especially for it's distinct sound and ability to have great stopping power.
 

hysperion

Senior member
May 12, 2004
837
0
0
Originally posted by: Hammer
if you have no experience with guns, i think shotgun would be best for you.

Shotguns are the best weapon for home defense....look for a benelli M1 thru M4 with a surefire light for temporarily blinding the perp....
 

Doboji

Diamond Member
May 18, 2001
7,912
0
76
Originally posted by: housecat
Originally posted by: bradruth
Originally posted by: housecat
I dont know if you are honestly confused.. or just giving attitude.. but, if there was a massive breakdown like the government falls out, or we are invaded by the Chinese on land instead of being nuked to death.. I'd like to be ready for defending the homeland.

We had a revolution, a civil war relatively shortly later.. from our history would it really be that surprising?
I guess you like taking chances.. I dont.

Do you know who I am/where I work? I'm armed anytime I leave my home. But talking about defending the homeland from the Chinese? Are you fvcking nuts? If you want to do that, join the military...just hope they don't give you a psych eval.

No one said they want to do that? Hmmm... come on now.
You think China will never present a threat, and that an invasion couldnt happen? Get real!
I said I'd like to be ready for anything. Not waiting with anticipation to fight the chinese in the streets hand to hand LOL

Wow.... are you for real?.... You sound exactly like the kind of person I DONT want armed in my neighborhood. I'm all for gun ownership, and limits on gun regulations... but I also believe that not everyone should be able to get a gun... you sound like you should probably be on the no list.

-Max
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
Originally posted by: bradruth
Originally posted by: housecat
Do you know who I am/where I work? I'm armed anytime I leave my home. But talking about defending the homeland from the Chinese? Are you fvcking nuts? If you want to do that, join the military...just hope they don't give you a psych eval.

Some cop or security guard is the last guy I'd like protecting me should for whatever reason our own government steps outside their boundaries or should several thousand zombies rise up from their graves.

I love how people fail to remember why gun ownership was part of the founding of America and how putting a gun in everyone's hand would be a great equalizer rather than create a problem.

You would need to educate, and what not, but I would guarantee petty crimes would go down once people feared they would have several armed citizens at any given moment upon them.

Gun Control in general is about as effective as telling a teenager they should drink, do drugs or screw.
 

daniel1113

Diamond Member
Jun 6, 2003
6,448
0
0
I don't know which gun is the best for home protection, but I do that in approx. 11 months, I will have one of these. Specifically, the O1091 Government 1991 Stainless version.
 

housecat

Banned
Oct 20, 2004
1,426
0
0
Originally posted by: alkemyst
Originally posted by: bradruth
Originally posted by: housecat
Do you know who I am/where I work? I'm armed anytime I leave my home. But talking about defending the homeland from the Chinese? Are you fvcking nuts? If you want to do that, join the military...just hope they don't give you a psych eval.

Some cop or security guard is the last guy I'd like protecting me should for whatever reason our own government steps outside their boundaries or should several thousand zombies rise up from their graves.

I love how people fail to remember why gun ownership was part of the founding of America and how putting a gun in everyone's hand would be a great equalizer rather than create a problem.

You would need to educate, and what not, but I would guarantee petty crimes would go down once people feared they would have several armed citizens at any given moment upon them.

Gun Control in general is about as effective as telling a teenager they should drink, do drugs or screw.

BTW that quote is incorrect. I never said that, bradruth did.

Amazing how I'm crazy wondering of the possibilities of what could happen one day.
Some ppl think there could never be another war inside America. Whatever. Keep thinking that.

I do not comprehend how I'm "nuts" for saying I would like to have some protection in case the US is ever invaded or a civil war occurred.
And I'm not goign to argue about it, quit trying to make me out like some crazy loose cannon bastard when you have some liberal agenda. I think ppl who apparantly think this country is invincible and infallible are nuts.
See this nations history for liklihood of another war: Revolution, 1812, Civil, WW1, WW2, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, War on Terror... hmmmmmmm not to mention government attrocities like ruby ridge and Waco and other assorted skirmishes I missed that filled in the gaps.
Enjoy living your lives banking on the govt to keep everyone off our soil :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup: I plan on getting something to defend myself with if it ever does happen.



My view on gun restrictions is this:
all they do is limit what LAW ABIDING CITIZENS can have.. the criminals will get whatever gun they want anyway!!
But of course big brother (aided by the liberals) would love to stop the guy who follows all the laws to be defenseless FROM THE GOV'T.

Then you get into the argument about assault weapons, well..
i always said if people didnt have guns they'd be killing each other with pointy sticks.
Nuff said.
 

drpootums

Golden Member
Oct 22, 2004
1,315
0
0
I'd stay away from a Mossburg (unless it's a 590 :)), they're not exactly high quality (once again, except for the mossburg, it's probably the most used shotgun in our military). If you're going for a shotgun, a Benelli Nova 12ga ($300 or so) would be really good, but once again, i recommend a .357 magnum...Get a S&W and be happy man!
 

Slickone

Diamond Member
Dec 31, 1999
6,120
0
0
I'd like to get a use 9mm or .357. Where might I find a good deal on one online? Sig, Beretta, Taurus, CZ...

Originally posted by: Baked
Taser gun. I learned the hardway by shooting the mofo who broke into my house w/ a shotgun in the leg. The bastard sued me.
Really? More info please.


Originally posted by: Squisher
Huh? In my experience the shaking like a leaf happens after the emensity of the moment hits you, after it's all over.

I confronted a burglar, from which I sport a nice crease in my skull, it all seemed like it was happening to someone else and I was too focused getting him the fvck out of my house that it never really occured to me to be scared.

I didn't sleep for two weeks.
Wow. More info! Unless it bothers you to speak about it...

Originally posted by: Squisher
Just for fun
That rocks.
 

bishopj76

Junior Member
Mar 5, 2005
8
0
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I have a Smith & Wesson 40 cal. Sigma Series Model SW40C
It's probably the best handgun I've come across. I was arrested once when I was pulled over and had forgotten my wallet with me gun permit inside. (just took me to the station until my wife brought it and released me). But all the cops had Glock 9mm's and everyone of them liked my S&W better.
 

Nebor

Lifer
Jun 24, 2003
29,582
12
76
Originally posted by: Specop 007
Theres a Texan who might be alive today had he had that "Cop killer" gun.........

Very true. A local man stepped forward with his legally concealed handgun and attempted to stop a gunman armed with an assault rifle from killing yet more people in his attack on a Denton County Courthouse. He shot the gunman several times, failing to realize that he was wearing ballistic armor. The gunman then shot and killed the would-be hero.

For those who buy into the Brady bull, consider that basically any rifle in the world can penetrate a bullet proof vest. Also consider that there are plenty of handguns out there that are just as accurate, and have high capacity magazines just like the five-seven. Then consider that no criminal is going to buy such an expensive gun.