[Sensei Ern]

On a related note, can anyone provide a net resource describing what actions a person can do to protect their property and family?

A hundred years ago, there was a gun mounted on a swivel with trip wires attached so that if someone tripped the wire, the gun would point at the trespasser and shoot at them. Is that illegal? Are bear traps and such illegal?

Thanks!

[Centurion2000]

AK-47, cheap, reliable and not too many streets have lanes opened beyond 200 yards.

[jude24]

Rifle for auto defense? Horrible idea. Most states have a duty-to-retreat rule. If you are outside, and you attack a man who is threatening only damage to your property, you have no self-defense claim.

Armchair bravado makes for good bar room conversation, but in practice, it can get you locked away for 10 to 20 years.

If you find yourself in a dangerous situation with your automobile, don't shoot, drive away. It's your only legal option.

[Sensei Ern]

[SolidRedState]

12 GUAGE PUMP remove the plug, load with buckshot. You do not need a rifle for close in work.

[Lancer_N3502A]

All this talk about lawyers and liability is a bunch of hoey. IF there were to be a situation where rioters are "burning down the house" then we would be in a state of insurrection and ANY means you use to defend yourself, your family AND/OR your property would be justified.

[fisherman90814]

Nothing like an AK-47 to get your local thugs attention. If they are not allowed in your area, you may consider an SKS. Very reasonable semi auto military rifle with cheap ammo available. My personal choice would be a riot shotgun with 00 buck. I also like my bolt action .308 scoped Mauser action..................that is when I want to reach out and touch the car vandal 500 yards down the block. Your milage may vary.

[wardaddy]

the closest loaded one....bet someone already said that.

I would go for a 30 caliber lever action carbine....less likely to fail and ammo common...rugged...Marlin makes a slew of em...for normal home-ranch defense

with decent glass naturally

if you expect government forces then you might ought to kick it up a notch to a black gun and you can choose tween 20 or 30 calibers from a variety of makers from East Bloc to High Tech "sand bag required" stuff

[SaltyJoe]

Get a shot gun for self defense in the home. Ask around for the best ammo and check the thickness of your walls. Pump action is super reliable. If you get an auto, make sure it's reputable.

Yes, get a rifle, but be aware of how you use it indoors. You don't want a high-powered rifle going through your walls and potentially killing your children and/or your neighbor's children. If you own lots of property (like a farm), a rifle will cover most of the range. Remember, there are still horse thieves and cattle rustlers out there (no joke, they're very sophisticated nowadays).

Common citizens owning a high-powered rifles is what keeps bellicose nations from invading the American continent. Why hasn't the Soviet Union and PR China invaded the US in the 1970s when they were at their peak and President Carter was in office? Even with disastrous leadership at the helm, common citizens armed to the teeth would have thrown an invading force off the continent.

"Assault" rifle? Yes, our founding fathers owned and sometimes made their own "assault" rifles. The muzzle loading long barrels of the day were the most advanced weapons of the battlefield. They could even out range most of the field cannons and with much greater accuracy to boot. Use this knowledge to defeat those trying to disarm you of your "assault" rifles.

Also, remind those against the armed free citizen that if common citizens don't have firearms, then "Bush is going to own all of the guns." That bit of logic has disarmed most, if not all of the patriotic Democrats who still love America, but can't understand how conservatives are fighting for everyone's Right to Life (I usually meet these folk in unions). They don't have to love Bush, but they shouldn't deposit their brain in the waste basket just because of political party loyalty.

By supporting such reason to feed their rights and upholding the necessity of firearms for their self defense, it may encourage pro-American Democrats to remove their leftist extremist leadership who never loved America or their constituents. Yeah, yeah, I don't have much hope in seeing that happen...but it's Jesus Christ that I have to answer too and not mankind. How should I advise a father to defend his family? "Vote Republican. Vote Pro-Life."

[Lando Lincoln]

I have both a Mini-30 and a Mini-14. I won't use 'em in any competition, but I just love them - I probably use them more than anything after the .22 plinking. If you consider the Mini-14, get the Ranch model. It has integral scope ring mounts and the rifle is shipped with rings usually. Love the rifles - quick, handy, fun, sporty. I'm a fan.

Lando

[sauropod]

mark

[Lando Lincoln]

A follow-up.....I kept my previous response confined to the Rugers but I didn't address your larger question. My choice at home for the type of protection you reference is a Stoeger Coach gun side-by-side (gives me a "cowboy" feel)or the Remington 870. Loaded with any shot size - especially 4 shot and larger - they are a HUGE deterrent. Less $$$ than the Rugers, too. The bad guys testiquillas will pull up in his gut.....believe me.

Lando

[JoeGar]

After reading all of the recommendations on this thread, I've come to the conclusion that I need a shotgun instead of a rifle. With your money, I'd buy a Benelli M4. With my money, I'd buy a Remington 870.

[ßuddaßudd]

I own a mini-30 and very content with it. Stay away from the Chicom ammo and use the steel mags, imho.

[185JHP]

Keltec SU-16C.

[archy]

Don't give up on the Garand. The CMP has been showing some of the Greek and Danish Army returns in the $500 range for Service Grade, some for around $400 for Field Grade. Check here* for current prices and info.

If that's outside your immediate budget, you could pick up a barrelled receiver for now and begin adding parts as availability and budget permit. And you'd thereby become VERY familiar withye olde Garand's innards....

I think for vehicular carry a lever-action rifle might be a pretty fair answer, since the tube magazine would permit safe carry of a full tube with just a crank of the lever allthat's neaded to be ready for bear...or smaller varmints. They're nice and flat, and sling mounting offers no great challenge.

My own experience has been that such troubles are most frequent at night, or near sundown with nighttime coming soon. Accordingly, a red dot sight or other electro-optic unit is worth some thought, as is the consideration of muzzle flash and ammunition selection.

[Amish with an attitude]

I'm happy with my Colt AR-15 for outdoors, ammo is plentiful and cheap. Bought it in celebration of becoming an ex-Kalifornian.

For the unfortunate soul who manages the end up inside of the house, the 870 wingmaster is the weapon of choice.

[LowOiL]

(+) THE ART OF THE CACHE (+)

(great old thread worth reading)

http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3a9f53301414.htm

[JasonC]

You don't need to pay $1200 to get a full caliber rifle. You can get a Savage Arms or Remington 30-06 bolt action new for $550 or so, or used in good condition for $300. With a scoped included, if you want one.