No rifle or handgun will be of much value unless you practice with it. The ballistics and stopping power of any bullet is irrelevant if you cannot hit a damn thing with the firearm.
Try a mini 14 with folding stock , it fires a .223 as fast as you can pull the trigger and there are lots of after market add ons for up grading (Flash suppressor, Red Dot sight , 10 , 20 , 30 , and 40 round clips , folding stocks and more) . They generally sell for around $450.00 . I refer to mine as the "Anarchy Buster" You can also buy a 1000 rounds of .223 ammo for around $100.00 , which makes it economic to own , good luck ....
We have lots of variety, but when I am not at home, my wife prefers a mini-30 within reach. Modified stock makes it light, handy, and easy to use. Shotgun nearby, too, is too awkward for her, but preferred by me.
8mm
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Rock River Arms CAR-4 with Eotech holosight.
A car itself is more than the equal of any but the 50 cal round. You can use it.
I love these threads. In most of them, the poster is covertly saying, "I sure hope someone tries to do something bad to my house/car/business so I have an opportunity to use this wonderful new toy!"
I can't help feeling the same way about my toys and tools.
If you plan on shooting someone for lighting up your cars, I suggest you get a lawyer....
Remember one word LIABILTY
What kind of range are you talking about? I've always been a fan of the M1 Carbine.They're super light,tiny, and used to be really cheap although I haven't priced one for years.I,ve shot Garrands,Mini14s,AKs,ARs and many others the little M1 is still one of my favorites.
I also recommend a short rifle in .308 (7.62) for its vehicle penetrating potential.
A AR 15 type would be my preference.
TMc
As with all of these be sure you are ready to use deadly force - if not take the family out the back and hightail it. Cars aren't worth dying for - on either side.
30-06 with a scope for the single molitov slinger...and just about any 12 gauge shotgun for trench clearing....or street clearing....
Just the sound of a pump shotgun rack will move the little darlings down the street....
"..I feel I need a good rifle for neighborhood defense."
You only need a .30-06 if your neighborhood stretches across the valleys of the Rocky Mtns. I would suggest a Marlin or Winchester lever action in .30-30. It is light, handy and lethal to 150 yards.
Sounds as though you have been attacked by some malevolent SUV's.
I'd like to throw in a personal question as well for the firearm experts on FR.
I own an old PWA, Pac Western Arms AR-15. It shoots well, and is accurate, IMO. However, since the company is defunct, I believe, I'm wondering about trading it in on something more current, perhaps a Bushmaster, or maybe even an entirely different configuration.
Any comments or advice, I'd appreciate. Thanks.
I've got an older Mini 14 that I use mostly for a boat gun. I like the thing and consider it to be fairly accurate, though I've often heard that the newer ones are not known for that.
OTOH, I like a riot configuration pump shotgun for home defense. A rifle does reach out more though, which is both good and bad.
I have a mini-14. I would not recommend either the mini-14 or the mini-30. I wouldn't handicap a BB gun with the horrendous sights on these guns. The rear sight on the mini-14 literally wobbles, and the rear sight on the mini-30 is prone to breakage.
I recently purchased an aftermarket rear sight for my mini-14, but the sight cannot be lowered enough to get the bullets withing 18" of the target. The original rear sight is so utterly worthless that I am now modifying the front sight to compensate for the aftermarket rear.
A friend also has a mini-14, and the original rear sight cannot be lowered enough to get within 6" of the target. He is watching what I do with my gun to decided on whether to modify his, or sell it to some unsuspecting sucker.
Best advice that I can give you: don't buy the mini-14 or the mini-30, unless you want some major headaches regarding getting the gun to actually hit the target.
My personal favorite for home defense.