I've noticed a few on this thread are not really country folk and may be interested. Most folks think of a pistol for self defense, and thats not a bad choice, but not a good one either. Pistols take practice and skill. Shotguns are pretty self tutorial. If you live in a city, you will likely not be hunting, so this will not be a priority. (all though the 12 or 20 ga pump shotgun can do that well.)
That being said, my opinion as a life long shooter, ex-cop, ex-military, etc, is a 12 ga pump shotgun.(20 guage if your a small women) Walmart, Academy sports, pawnshops etc carry them.
One stands out if your cost conscious. MOSSBERG MAVERICK SHOTGUN. This is a Mossberg 500 in work cloths. Its used today in Iraq. Academy.com lists it for $154 bucks. (Today)Used from a Pawnshop should be cheaper.
Get it with two box of dove/quail #7 or#8 for practice. Then buy two box's of 2 3/4" number 1 buck shot (16 pellets) and one box of 2 3/4" slugs. Slugs are accurate out to 50 yds for average shooter,(many out to 100 yds) and also keep in mind that unlike the movies the buckshot at 10 feet may only spread about 6 inchs, so aim it. You can miss at 10 feet shooting from the hip. Also, birdshot is for birds, not defense. Some men have walked away from being shot with birdshot. IF your handy, remove the barrel from the gun, very easy, and measure 19 inchs from the chamber and hacksaw it off. Its legal and makes it shorter.Or buy the defender model with a short barrel, but costs more
. This all together should run less than $200 bucks today. If you think you want to shoot birds for emergency food, get a .177 cal pellet air rifle and it will take bird/squirrel, etc. With care, it can be shot indoors into a box full of tightly packed newspaper.
Try to get someone to show you the rules and how it works. If you can't, dry fire it a few times (not many as this may harm the firing pin) to feel the trigger and action, and remember the two basic gun rules,
1. All guns are ALWAYS loaded and should be treated that way
2.NEVER point a gun at anything you don't want a big hole in.
There are more, but thats the basics.
Saying all that, I'll doubt you need it, but I leave you with this poem:
by Dennis Dezendorf
It's all a tale of living, of what a man can be.
I'll pass it on from my life, so maybe you can see.
There's very few things that can't get done
With five hunnerd dollars and a pump shotgun.
It's been passed on to me, from father to the kid.
Sometimes you have to stand tall, sometimes you best be hid.
But a man can always stand tall, he never has to run
With five hunnerd dollars and a pump shotgun.
There's times when life is fearful, there's times that aren't so good.
When a man does what he has to, when he does just what he should.
But he can keep his house warm, his place there in the sun
With five hunnerd dollars and a pump shotgun.
One night the prisoners broke out, a few had rushed the gate.
And Daddy heard that they were coming, heading down the interstate.
But they didn't stop at our house, they continued on the run
Cause Dad was on the front porch with a pump shotgun.
Sometimes my Dad worked overtime, sometimes from out of state
My Momma didn't worry when the old man got in late
She knew where Daddy kept them, could grab them on the run
She had five hunnerd dollars and a pump shotgun.
It didn't matter what the trouble, didn't matter what the cause,
If a kid got sick or the roof blew off, it didn't give her pause.
If a wolf got in the chickens, just trying to have some fun
Mom would greet him warmly with a pump shotgun.
And when I started my house, with a baby on the way
Dad came by one evening, said what he had to say
"Remember all your lessons, and do what must be done.
Here's five hunnerd dollars and a pump shotgun."
I now have my very own .20 gauge shotgun. I can use a .22 rifle with a scope and am learning a 9mm pistol. Even "old" ladies need to learn new tricks.
1. All guns are ALWAYS loaded and should be treated that way
2.NEVER point a gun at anything you don’t want a big hole in.
There are more, but thats the basics.<<<
Thank you, your post contained excellent advice for all of us.
I very much like your poem, makes one want to meet the Dad and Mom...........special Americans
There was a time when I knew a little about guns, but I have forgotten most of it, so if you would keep us on the right path, it would help.
There are others who know more than I.
Thank you for joining in.
I thank you for doing your best for our country, as a Police Officer and as U.S. Military.