[freedomlover]

Got one of these this weekend.

#50665 590® 12 ga. Pump Action 9-shot capacity, parkerized finish, bead sight, 20" cylinder bore barrel with heat shield and Speed-Feed® stock

Uh huh.

[Robert357]

I am amazed this came out of a news organization. My only comment on the basically fine article is that it does not emphasize the need to practice, practice, practice at a gun range. There are a few nitpicks I would make on action types, and comments about "handgun power" but all in all a pretty impressive article with lots of nice cross links.

[Clemenza]

Any Freepers care to advise me about picking up a handgun from a pawnshop. Local gunshops in Miami are expensive (ex. Taurus .22 Automatic goes for over $300).

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

I am using this method.

Buy a gun, buy another, see another I like buy it.

Pretty soon I'll have to get another safe.

PT145 is next up, end of the week.

[quizitiveOne]

Here's a similar article from a couple years ago authored by Lurker.

So You Want To Buy A Gun

http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a380ac90132ec.htm

[from occupied ga]

I bought one of these and practice with it about three times a year. I have a few smaller things too.

[SlickWillard]

I purchased the Mossberg 51663 pump action shotgun, mail order, from KY Imports, through a local FFL dealer:

http://www.mossberg.com/pcatalog/Price590.htm [51663 MSRP $531]

http://www.kyimports.com/rifle3.htm#Mossberg [51663 @ $389.99]

You might also try Arizona Gun Runners

http://www.arizonagunrunners.com/Products/Mossbergshotguns/mossbergshotguns1/mossbergshotguns1.html [51663 @ $360.00]

but they're harder to get ahold of - they don't answer the phone - and you have to play phone tag, or email tag, if you want to buy something from them.

In combination with the Federal Classic F131RS rifled slug, at 3110 FPS muzzle energy

http://www.federalcartridge.com/cgi-bin/specs2.pl?product=31crs

Federal Load #	Energy in Foot-Pounds (to nearest 5 foot-pounds)
	Muzzle	25 Yds.	50 Yds.	75 Yds.	100 Yds.
F131RS	3110	2555	2120	1785	1540
F130RS	2805	2310	1930	1645	1450
F127RS	2520	2075	1725	1455	1255

this should stop all but the worst of the bad guys.

The great thing about long guns is that there's no waiting period whatsoever.

[J. Semper Paratus]

Thanks for the great post.

Don't forget to buy copious amounts of ammo to fit your arms and...

KEEP IT DRY!

I prefer that you associate your new gun ownership with good organizations such as the NRA and your local state firearms association such as the California Rifle and Pistol Association.

There is power in numbers.

[the bottle let me down]

bttt

[harpseal]

I have a new handgun favorite the sig Mauser M2 in .45acp it has an absolutely outstanding trigger, short grip, great feel, and absolute reliabability and it is not made of combat tupperware. I know the Glock is a truly great firearm I just plain do not like their trigger action.

Stay well - Stay safe- Stay armed - yorktown

[Liberty Ship]

Good article. I have one point of disagreement, however. It's a small, hair-splitting one but I will raise it just the same. Sunni said:

"Look down deep into your soul: do you know, to the marrow of your bones, that if some bad guy came after you or your family, you'd be able to shoot him or her? Repeatedly, if necessary? If you can answer "Yes", then a firearm is probably a good choice for you. If you know you can't, don't buy a gun! Criminals can sense fear and uncertainty; if you hesitate at The Moment of Truth, your gun may be taken away from you and used to prey on other innocent people. Don't buy a gun if you can't or won't use it."

I have heard this line handed out across the counters at gun stores, etc., and as a Certified Personal Protection Instructor, I disagree.

Firearms ownership is about freedom, and about choice. My recommendation is that if an individual is thinking about getting a firearm, he should get the gun and get the training regardless of whether he or she thinks he or she can pull the trigger. Who knows what he will do when the chips are down? If you have the gun and have the training, when the time comes you have a CHOICE. And if you have the tool as well as the knowledge, attitude, and skills that come from training, the choice is yours. Remember, justification arises from the belief that you or another innocent person will die or suffer great bodily harm if you do not use lethat force. So at that last instant, if you are armed, whether or not you shoot is up to you. You can still choose to die (not shoot). If you don't have the gun, you have no choice or control, and you may not have the option of staying alive.

My experience has been that most people who doubt their ability to use lethal force in self defense simply have not had the issues of justification sufficiently explained to them. Once they understand just how narrow and clear-cut it is, the idea of using a firearm in self defense comes easier.

The argument about the perp getting control of the gun is a concern, but it will only happen if you let it. Besides, what a criminal might do with your personal property after he kills you should not be the determining factor in your having "right to choose" in a lethal confrontation. Even if you are one of us who knows he can pull the trigger, the same thing can happen if you hesitate or get caught by surprise, etc.

[Billthedrill]

A 2nd Amendment BTT. I've been vocal in recommending formal instruction to new users. Bit me good - two Sundays in a row the "members' bay" was a training bay and I had to shoot with the unwashed in the general public's bay. Curses...I don't think it's just my imagination, I think a whole lot of people have reconsidered their attitudes toward firearms since 9/11. And a whole lot of those are doing something positive about it.

[Shooter 2.5]

"A shotgun is a long gun that is often associated with hunting and sports shooting."

This is the only sentence that aggravates the he!! out of me. People have been using rifles and handguns for more "sport shooting" than shotguns. There are least a dozen different disciplines where rifles and handguns are used. I'm pretty sure that pistol and rifle shooting were Olympic sports long before they introduced trap and skeet. No wonder that the anti's think that a handgun is only used for killing when the writers refuse to print the rifle and handgun sports.

[TOMH1]

"Any shotgun gauge except .410 is considered acceptable"

While the 410 is not a barn burner, you wouldn't want to get shot with it. It has roughly the power of a .41 magnum from a 4 inch barrel. Mossberg has a home security model, HS410, that could be usefull for someone not able to use a handgun or a stouter shotgun.

[Tree of Liberty]

BANG!

[Saundra Duffy]

I love my gun. It's a 38 revolver, Charter Arms "bulldog". Alloy; very light weight. Do I sleep well at night? You betcha. For victory & freedom!!!

[ZULU]

"The first question you need to consider is whether any gun is a good choice for you. Look down deep into your soul: do you know, to the marrow of your bones, that if some bad guy came after you or your family, you'd be able to shoot him or her?"

You can bet your as* or anyone else's I would!! So should any other decent, freedom-loving American!

[R. Scott]

"There's no formula for determining what gun will work best for you. Many will try to tell you otherwise, though, with statements like, "Women can't handle .45 or larger ammunition; it'll kick too much."

A surprisingly fine article, and this is of particular import. I had been out of target shooting for several years for various reasons. I purchased a Taurus .44 Magnum and was surprised to discover that I could no longer hold it steady on target. I started working out again concentrating on the hands, forearms, upper arms and shoulders. I now have no problem even when using the scope. I have a consistent and steady sight picture once again.

[Mulder]

I'd recommend anything from the Sig-Sauer line of handguns.

They are a little pricey compared to other brands, but well worth.

[SERE_DOC]

This will do the job