[Travis McGee]

So much depends on your temperment and mental capabilities. Any pistol .38 or better can be extremely effective for personal self defense against someone who doesn't know you have it until you pull it out and shoot. Even if it's some jihadist with a shotgun or rifle that's not pointed at you at that moment.

But if you're considering becoming an unofficial "first responder" to an incident, that opens up a whole case of worm cans. Then you should consider a 12 guage if that suits you, or a Sport Utility Rifle in .556mm, 7.62 Russian, or 7.62 Nato.

Just remember that as you go dashing in to engage the jihadis before they can kill more innocents, the first arriving police are likely to shoot you if they see you holding a weapon, before they sort out who's who.

[wardaddy]

I would agree anything one can kill well with and is accustomed to.

I know bowhunters I would not want within 50 yards of my trail in light wind.

I have a neighbor....an eccentric neurologist (are there any other kind..lol) who hunts squirrels long bow....not recurve...an osage longbow. I have seen him hit pie plates all day long at 40 yards.

Me....I prefer a 1911 or high caliber wheelgun at reach and any decent black gun or even a universal caliber hunting rifle on the back seat or in the rack. It depends on where you live I would suppose. In the city, 5.56 or 7.62 Russian are great.....out in Squantos land I'd prefer a bit more down range punch and since my vehicle is toting ammo...ammo weight is not the same concern it might be in the A-Shau valley tromping about.

For sporting calibers, I prefer the 30-06 cause I was born with one in my hands.

For strategic offensive stuff, one could hardly go wrong with a .338 Lapua TRG-1(?)...Sako


I could go on and on.....I am quite fond of Weatherby Bolt Action in 300 weatherby mag but again cause I'm used to them.

Same for .270s or even my fav 20....the .220 Swift

This is like a which superhero is the baddest thread.

My favorite firearm has always been the one I could grab first as these things have never been planned in my world.

[ExSoldier]

..."the first arriving police are likely to shoot you if they see you holding a weapon, before they sort out who's who."

That's a chilling thought. My thought is that unless they're already on top of the event, they'll fall all over themselves assessing a'la Colombine before they can do any good. With the exception of the special response teams (even then it's "iffy") cops aren't trained to engage and destroy. Remember the four "F" credo? Find 'em Fix 'em Fight 'em and Finish 'em!

I wonder if, since 9-11, cops are at all trained to remember if they live in a shall issue RTC state? I would hope that training takes into effect what impact lawfully armed citizens may have on a domestic terror attack involving armed suspects instead of an airline attack.

I just sent a letter to the Miami Herald asking this question. I was just published recently so I don't expect them to print this, but maybe some reporter will ask the question.

[river rat]

Any man with the courage, and a rock or a sharp stick - can arm himself by killing the first armed adversary he can ambush - and take his weapons..

Courage is the only implement or attribute that can't be bought or taken from the enemy..

Semper Fi