Posted on 11/18/2008 9:29:52 PM PST by USAFJeeper
I tend to agree. It's all about what you are accustomed to.
Shooting Skeet and 5-Stand with my O/U 12 gauge, I never leave the field without shooting at least 75-100 shells. And O/U generally has more recoil than semi-autos.
My ex had a shotgun I could handle just fine, but I don't remember what it was and only took one shell at a time. He also had a .22 cal pistol (I think). Nobody taught me how to use either, and I figured it out myself. The pistol held six rounds.
My biggest, biggest concern if I can get a permit, is how to have it handy and very safe from the one small child who comes regularly to my home. That is a huge issue. What's the sense of having a gun if you have to keep it locked away unloaded, ammo stored separately? A safety lock I was told comes with a .45 cal which would be a plus but not enough, also told little recoil.
Now all this in the hopes I never have to actually USE it.
I was wondering about possible defense devices that aren't guns. Knives you have to get too close. Mace is more or less useless. Those dart guns, can't remember what they're called. Some kind of chemical? Stun gun? It's awful to have to think about this. My life was threatened several years ago, and I spent a week either in my car or in a different motel every night. But that was a little different; I'm thinking of being prepared for the totally unexpected that can happen very quickly.
Thanks for your input. Maybe the best thing to do would be to try it out no matter how inconvenient the extra driving or buy and have the option to exchange.
I agree. Definitely try before you buy.
“...how to have it handy and very safe from the one small child who comes regularly to my home.”
I mentioned getting a pistol of some type to my wife - who for the longest time said NO WAY to having a pistol in the house.
This time she said “As long as it is kept safe, like in a safe, no ammo, etc.”. I mentioned to her “Or, it is always on my person - even in the house”. She said “Oh - that would work.” (Now - what to get, what to get. Probably a .357 revolver. Perhaps a .40 auto. My next step is to go to the local gun range where you can shoot various types, take lessons, etc.)
Even still - the shotgun will remain a standard, easy to use and effective means of home defense.
You just gave me a brilliant idea of what to get my liberal inlaws! NRA memberships!
Ditto on the A-5. The Humpback has been my favorite for decades. I have three Belgians and a Japanese Browning. The Japanese gun it what I take to the field.
My wife (5’4” and barely a 110 pounds when wet) has a Winchester Defender. It’s 12 gauge, short barreled and holds eight. She shoots it from the hip, it’s not accurate but when she’s using 4 ought it doesn’t have to be. She learned that from her Texas granny, who ounce blowed a hole in a wall by accident.
I think people need to think in terms of not just one invader but an unknown number. One or two are probably most likely, but now with gangs and not knowing how badly society might break down, you have to add into the mix as many repeats as possible without having to reload.
There is a group I lurk on, and they talk about getting military-grade kevlar vests. And not just kevlar but some kind of special liner. Man, are they serious or just thinking worst case scenario? They don't come across like they are out looking for a fight but just being prepared for self defense either at home or wherever they feel they have to flee to their "safe place". They talk about having those and a way to get to them, too, if traffic becomes an issue. And all sorts of other very practical things dealing with basic survival.
Lately a lot of trolls and political ranters have invaded thr group, so I don't read it much, but was amazed at their resourcefulness in things like rigging up a generator from a car, too complicated for me. Food storage. Water purification, all sorts of good tips.
Is anyone else having funny things happen when they try to post?
LOL! It's not as if you even have to own a gun, just contribute toward preserving second amendment rights, etc.
I used to be totally anti-gun, hardly bought toy ones for my kids, had cap guns and all the fun of that when I was a kid. But then years ago I got to talking to somebody about wishing they would grab guns, he was a liberal of all things IIRC, and he said if they got rid of all the guns, then only the military/police and criminals would have them. So that made me more open to regular people owning them, but I must say some people aren't stable or responsible enough to have them, and unfortunately, some of those are the ones who have bunches of them.
But I thoroughly respect stable people owning them and learning gun safety and are responsible about it. So I changed my mind. And I'm slowly changing a few others' minds that are mature, responsible, no substance abuse probs, etc., and some are more open now than I would expect.
paid less for my nova than most of my friends did on their 500s and 870s :)
As for using a shotgun inside, length may be a problem. Standard barrel is 28 inches long, somewhat hard to maneuver in the house. Mossberg does make an 18 1/2 inch barrel that is just longer than the magazine.
Personally, I would like to get the Taurus “Judge.” It is a revolver that fires .45 caliber rounds and .410 shotgun shells. Check out this video:
A 12 GA is a 12 GA. Make and model for a pump isn’t going to affect recoil. That’s a function of the shells you use. 2-3/4, 3”, magnum; Light loads vs. heavy etc. Semi-Auto’s will reduce recoil somewhat over a pump, as some of that energy is used to cycle the bolt.
My recommendation is a Mossberg 500 20 gauge shotgun. Tell her not to hold it up to her shoulder like a rifle (unless she wants to have a good knock upside the head). Just hold it waist high and aim and fire. And go to a range and practice firing some shells and get used to the recoil. Get “home defense” shells - can’t remember the exact name but a gun dealer would know what they are.
Buckshot.
L
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