Posted on 02/16/2003 8:38:11 PM PST by conservativefromGa
John Strauss
Assault rifles offer a bit too much for home defense
February 14, 2003
As store shelves throughout the city are emptied of duct tape and plastic sheeting by people concerned about terrorist attacks, other folks think the best defense is a good offense.
Don Davis said gun sales at his Westside store have doubled since the latest terrorism alert. He said the $599 AK-47 is a top seller.
Davis became locally famous a few years ago with endlessly repeated TV commercials in which he cocked a finger at the camera and cackled, "Folks, I don't want to make money -- I just love to sell guns."
It turns out that terrorism sells.
"For me, when times are bad, business is good," Davis said Thursday.
He was at a trade show in Florida this week, shopping for gas masks for customers suddenly nervous about chemical or biological attacks.
At his Don's Guns, manager Ben Chance let me test-fire the AK-47 and a $999 Bushmaster, similar to the military M-16, in the store's indoor range.
The Bushmaster delivers a high-velocity round very accurately with little kick. The AK-47 will give you a jolt, but with that kick you get a larger round capable, they say, of going through a car's engine block.
Just what you need to stop terrorists invading your subdivision.
Of course, some people might end up with guns simply for home protection. And if that's the case, Chance says, an old-fashioned shotgun might do the trick.
"A 12-gauge is a nice gun to have in the house. You don't have to aim the gun. You just point it in the general vicinity, and you're actually going to hit what you're pointing toward, because (the shot) scatters."
Business also was up at 500 Guns on the Westside and at Pop Guns Trading Post on the Eastside. But managers at those stores said that had more to do with the arrival of income tax refund checks than Osama bin Laden or Saddam Hussein.
"There have been a few people come in and express concern," said Mike Hilton, the manager at Pop Guns. "But overall, people tend to be pretty complacent about it, to be honest."
Hilton said he recommends that someone who wants a gun take a training course. Then, once he has an idea of their skill level, he'll suggest a firearm -- often a small revolver.
He's not big on the AK-47 in this case. If used for self-defense, it's likely to "overpenetrate" -- go right through the attacker, through the wall of your home, through the wall of the next house and into somebody there.
Guy Montgomery, manager of 500 Guns, also recommends a revolver -- not a battlefield rifle -- for home defense.
Still, there's a magnetism about the assault weapons. Firing one of these guns is the shooting equivalent of twisting the throttle on a squat Harley -- lots of noise and simple, raw power.
They're fun, but they may not be real practical.
So if you're convinced al-Qaida is down the street and you want to establish a defensive perimeter in the front hallway, do the neighbors a favor.
Just borrow dad's old shotgun.
Using mil-surplus FMJ ammo, that's true. But you can also get hollow-point expanding hunting ammo in those calibres that will do a lot more damage
They are under 4 pounds now, and while not common, are getting fairly common for police raiding units in full gear.
Ditto kevlar (pistol proof only) helmets.
LOL! I've got an old 16 guage Stevens double barrel hammer gun for home protection. It was made in the 1930s, and it's quick, no safety, just cock the hammers and fire.
Yes standard rounds and IF they have trauma plates, but.. look here
I understand that if you "roll your own" you can get similar performance with a core of hardened T-15 (NOT that I would do anything like that of course :-)
The theory is that they are less prone to jam than a autoloader. Provided that your high state of excitement doesn't cause you to "short-stroke" it,that is.
They are also the cheapest multi-shot shotgun,and I'm sure that has something to do with it.
If the first shot doesn't do the job, aim low. Most non-SWAT-level vests don't cover the pelvic area, and having your testicles blown off and your femoral artery severed will take the fight out of most people.
THE finest pump shotgun ever built! I keep mine loaded with #4 buckshot. If I lived in a city or in a apartment,I would probably keep it loaded with #6 or #4 shot. This is providing I lived in a warm climate. If I lived in the north where a intruder is likely to be wearing layers of clothing or even a leather jacket,I'm most likely go to #2 shot or heavier.
Recoil is indeed the Benelli's nemisis IMO. As you know a spare round can stack on the follower if loaded carefully giving a capacity of 9 rounds. With the "Vang" modifications to the barrel the recoil is lessened to a certain degree while enhancing the lethality, accuracy and speed of the hits in the "A" zone.
Ability to handle recoil is a skill that must be "learned" with regards to such a firearm as the M1 Benelli. Managing such recoil is not easy but when mastered the Benelli is indeed a wonder to watch in the hands of such a skilled shooter.
Uncle Sugar sent me to a lot of schools to learn such or I may have done as you did, dropping / selling the M1 for a new Scatter-Gun Tech /Wilson or stock remington pump.
Stay Safe !
The AK round IS the ballistic equivalent of the old 30/30 Winchester,though. When was the last time you heard a 30/30 being refered to as a "high-powered rifle"?
BTW,generally speaking,the AK series of rifles are the most inaccurate pieces of crap ever made,and if you hit a man with one at 200 yards,it could be considered to be a accidential shooting. Even the old 30/30 lever actions are much more accurate.
They are super reliable,though.
Stay Safe !!
Don't you see? That's the job of the new Office of Reich Security! Leave it to those professionals and the professionals at the airports to protect us. They are trained and have badges!
While it is true they used Model 97 Winchester pump shotguns as "trench guns" in WW-1,there was also no shortage of Model 11 Remington semi-autos configured the same way. You used to see a LOT of these things with "Property of the US Gov't"" stamped on them. The reason the gooberment went to pumps after WW-1 was they were cheaper to buy.
If things break down to the point where there is no reliable food delivery into your nearest inner-city, the gang-bangers will not be expected to sit around going hungry
Taking a clue from Somalia, you can expect the gang-bangers to come out looking for what they need. Realisticly speaking, you will expect them to strip the local stores rather than bother home owners, because that way they maximise the loot and minimize their chances of getting shot
I'm pretty sure the 45/70 would insure you would end up eating T-Rex steaks.
Say WHAT? I guarantee I can load up some CAST 44 Magnum loads that will bust a cast engine block all to pieces. Hell,jacketed 357 Magnums were doing this in the 30's. That's one of the reasons they were developed and accepted for police use. Cast iron is so hard it's brittle.
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