Posted on 07/17/2009 6:16:43 PM PDT by b4its2late
Ok, here's my inventory. I have an old 12 gauge single shot in decent condition, and two handguns. A Sig P220 (45 ca) and a 9mm Glock (for work). I have some cash that will be worth less than it is now fairly soon, so I figure to invest in one or two more firearms. I would like suggestions and if you have any idea of price ranges just to narrow the focus. I'll have to go and try them out.
No safety. S&W Model 640. It’s designed to fire from inside of a pocket, if necessary. I carry it with me everywhere.
Self defense and target. Might evolve to hunting.
Ok
Ok, I was in your situation not so long ago. Thanks to the help of our fellow Freepers, I now own a Remington 870 12g, with both a 26” bird barrel and a 20” “make my day” barrel; a Marlin Lever Action .30-30; a Marlin Lever Action .357/.38sp; and a S & W .357/38sp Revolver.
Great suggestion.
I do have target ammo and “self defense” ammo, but more is better than less.
Find a pump with 18 to 20 inch barrel (<$300) for self defense. You can add a lonnger barrel later for hunting.
Get you a carbine sized centerfire rifle in the 30 caliber range. An inexpensive SKS ($250-$400) (7.62x39) is fun to shoot, cheap to shoot. It's very good for self defense, can be used to hunt with. it's not a tackdriver, but gets the job done.
Your options are almost infinite.
I have a Benelli Supernova Tactical. Great gun.
At this point anyway.
Personally I recommend first rifle being a bolt action, pretty much any caliber starting with a 3. Serves double duty for hunting and well neighborhood defense.
Depending on the brand you can get a stupid accurate 30-06 right out of the box without any modifications.
With a bolt action don’t have to worry too much about local regulations (yet), except some hunt areas only allow shotgun slugs because of proximity to civilization.
Also eliminates the temptation to spray 30 rnds down range without learning how to do things properly, like aiming.

Saiga 12 Gauge
I love the Sig quality, but it just didn’t feel right in my hand. You need to handle a Springfield XDm. Wonderful grip, and it won the NRA pistol of the year award. Recoil is light. If you get a .40, there is a 9mm conversion kit so you can should either caliber.
Everyone needs a .22 rifle and a shotgun. You already have the shotgun and even tho it is a single barrel that is better than nothing.
A good .22 rifle is a lifetime investment. Probably the best one for the money is one of the BRNO bolt actions. Also the Ruger 77/22. The 10.22 may not be the best .22 but it has more accessories including mags than any other so it would be a good choice.
Everyone should also have a .22 handgun capable of taking game and self defense too if necessary. The Beretta model 70 or the Ruger auto, or the Ruger single six, but the really great ones are the S&W model 17 and the Colt Woodsman. Most of the old High Standard target models are also great. These last few would also be good investments.
You just might want another shotgun too. Any of the major brand autoloaders or pumps would be fine.
Consider getting a .22LR conversion kit for your Glock. Great for practice shooting.
http://www.advantagearms.com/default.aspx?tabid=56
Agreed, but make sure to get it chambered for 5.56mm NOT .223. Many people make the mistake of thinking they are the same, but they are not. A 5.56mm chamber will fire both NATO 5.56mm, (can we say military surplus) and .223 Rem. A .223 Rem chambered rifle will fire .223 Rem but will have a high jam rate if trying to fire the 5.56mm NATO rounds. In simple terms the length is slightly longer on the 5.56, (mostly due to the slightly heavier bullets and thicker brass of the military round) nothing you would notice to look at them, even side by side, but the difference is there.
http://www.thegunzone.com/556v223.html
Remington 11-87 $700, or a Mossberg 935 $590. Great, dependable CIWs. No plug with one in the pipe is 6 rounds.
Long gun, Colt AR-15, any HBAR (heavy barrel) model. You talk about “reach out and touch someone”, 800 yard Bullseyes all day long. $1200. Buy only Colt!! The off-brand ARs (Les Baer, Bushmaster, et al, can use only .223 rounds. The Colt can use .223 or NATO 5.56. The chambering is different for many rifles. NATO 5.56, M193, is the cheapest round at $.44. For weapons check out impactguns.com; ammo the-armory.com. If you buy from them, tell them to contact me via FReepmail.
18 1/2” straight cylinder (cylinder bore—no choke) Mossberg (Maverick) pump shotguns were about $200 and less a year or two ago, IIRC. They’re tough and great. If you want to pay more for a slicker, more finely machined action, consider a Remington.
Check your NY firearms statutes before buying, BTW.
Fiocchi shotgun loads are low-priced and very well made, IMO. You’ll want to know that later. Their 00 buck, reduced recoil loads are great to fire, too (if appropriate for your living density situation).
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