Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Assault rifles offer a bit too much for home defense
Indy Star ^

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.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: assaultrifles; banglist; guns
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 161-180181-200201-220 ... 241-255 next last
To: Constitutional Patriot
I don't know a thing about the Cetme rifles.
181 posted on 02/17/2003 9:51:37 AM PST by Blood of Tyrants (Even if the government took all your earnings, you wouldn’t be, in its eyes, a slave)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 144 | View Replies]

To: Constitutional Patriot
I don't know a thing about the Cetme rifles. Except that their ergonomics are not nearly so friendly as the FAL.
182 posted on 02/17/2003 9:52:08 AM PST by Blood of Tyrants (Even if the government took all your earnings, you wouldn’t be, in its eyes, a slave)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 144 | View Replies]

To: Shooter 2.5
Yepper, that's the one! Good call! Did you like the part at the end where they blew up an old car with dynamite? Wheee! The "whump" you hear about three seconds after the blast is the engine block returning to earth. Great fun for the whole family!
183 posted on 02/17/2003 10:06:34 AM PST by Billy_bob_bob ("He who will not reason is a bigot;He who cannot is a fool;He who dares not is a slave." W. Drummond)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 171 | View Replies]

To: sneakypete
I'd like to see that video, it sounds worth watching. I'm interested in "real-world" results from rounds being fired, I've heard so much balderdash over the years that I'm inclined to believe what I see with my own eyes. If you can find the name of the video and where I might get a copy I would appreciate it.
184 posted on 02/17/2003 10:11:15 AM PST by Billy_bob_bob ("He who will not reason is a bigot;He who cannot is a fool;He who dares not is a slave." W. Drummond)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 169 | View Replies]

To: conservativefromGa
$600 for a Kalashnikov? Sure, it's a good, rugged gun. They're fun to shoot. But $600?

And since when can 7.62 X 39 mm go through an engine block? Is there an engine out there with a wax block that I've never heard of?
185 posted on 02/17/2003 10:16:02 AM PST by Redcloak (Jøìn thë Çøålìtìon tø Prëvënt the Åbûsë of Ûnnëçëssårìlÿ Lëngthÿ, Vërbøsë ånd Nønsënsìçål Tåg Lìnës)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Long Cut
For the less-well informed in these matters, the AK's 7.62mm round approximates that oh-so-POWERFUL round, the .38 SPECIAL, in ballistic potential. It just does it at a longer range.

Actually the 7.62mm is a .30 cal round and the NATO spec is the same as a .308 winchester and if you have armour piercing, or steel tipped rounds they will penetrate and engine block with no problems at all. The m14 was cambered for this round as well as the m60 machine gun. The max effective range for m14 is 450 meters...with scope 1100 meters. Trajectory is different but still very similar to the 30.06 used in the M1 Garad. Please do not fire it at my car.

Thanks and GOD Bless,

RAWGUY

186 posted on 02/17/2003 10:18:52 AM PST by RAWGUY
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: yarddog
I plan on getting one of the Remington 11-87's which have been remade into combat configuration as soon as I can afford it. I don't think Remington makes one but am not sure.

I'm pretty sure that Remington does offer "Police" marked models of the 870 and 11-87, complete with ghost-ring rear sight and rifle-type blade front sight. Extended magazine, short barrel, black plastic furniture. Find a local gun shop where the off-duty cops hang out; they'll either have the "Law Enforcement" models in stock or will happily order the model of your choice.

IIRC, Remington does not feature those variants in the consumer products catalog. Check the prices, too - it might be cheaper to pick up a plain 11-87 and ship it off to Scattergun Technologies (Wilson).

187 posted on 02/17/2003 10:23:42 AM PST by Charles Martel
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 104 | View Replies]

To: RAWGUY
Um, the poster was refering to the 7.62x39. Certainly more potent than a .38 but it is not a .308 either. Think 30-30 Win with a pointy bullet.
188 posted on 02/17/2003 10:40:11 AM PST by MileHi
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 186 | View Replies]

To: RAWGUY
The AK-47 round is 7.63 X 39 mm. the Nato round is 7.62 X 51 mm. There is also a Russian round for the Mosin Nagant rifles and there are several other 7.62 rounds that do have metric measurements even though called such as the .303 British.
189 posted on 02/17/2003 10:40:16 AM PST by harpseal (Stay well - Stay safe - Stay armed - Yorktown)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 186 | View Replies]

To: harpseal
What do you know about ghost ring sights? Are they a close range sight? I have never had a chance to use one. I take it they do not work like a peep sight.
190 posted on 02/17/2003 10:44:30 AM PST by MileHi
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 189 | View Replies]

To: MileHi
Specs on 7.62 x 39
191 posted on 02/17/2003 10:50:57 AM PST by from occupied ga (Your government is your enemy, and Bush is no conservative)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 188 | View Replies]

To: xrp
well said
192 posted on 02/17/2003 10:56:36 AM PST by teeman8r
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: conservativefromGa
Utterly irrelevant. Why I keep a weapon is no business of anyone else as long as I use it responsibly. These kind of smoke screens are presented to distract us from the fundamental issue, i.e., the right to keep and bear arms as a continuing deterent against tyranny.
193 posted on 02/17/2003 11:01:58 AM PST by MoGalahad
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Constitutional Patriot
Does this include the Cemte rifles (.308) that I have seen at a lot of the gun shows lately? They look a little rough, but not to the point of being junk. I was thinking of getting one.

Century Int'l Arms seems to be the source for those CETMEs. I've read of some problems, but most seem satisfied with the rifles. The most common problem is a barrel not correctly "timed" to the receiver, so that the front sight is canted a few degrees left or right of the barrel centerline. The result is a gun that cannot be made to shoot to the point of aim, or require excessive windage correction when adjusting the sights. The problem can be corrected.

The CETME "clone" rifles are built on one of several types of receivers; mostly the stamped steel or the cast stainless steel. Both work, though the stamped version is made by Hesse Arms (or whatever name it is using these days) and there have been dimensional errors reported. If you check out a CETME, try to insert and remove a magazine. If the magazine binds and must be slammed in and removed with a mighty tug, it's probably a Hesse receiver.

The cast stainless receivers look pretty much the same, but seem to be of higher quality. That receiver was originally manufactured a few years ago by Special Weapons, LLC and the design, I believe, was sold to Century. There is also a cast aluminum H&K/CETME receiver which is ugly as sin - they have been improved lately (appearance-wise) but can be identified by the integral scope mounts. For not much more money, you can do better.

If you really want a HK/CETME type rifle, there is a screaming deal available right now at Federal Arms. They have the CETME rifle assembled on the stainless steel receiver for $299.95, and they throw in five magazines (Item No. RI1073X). Call them at (763) 780-5747 and ask for Harlan. I have no stake in their business, just a satisfied customer passing along what looks like a good deal. It's a "limited time offer", though - so don't wait too long if you want one shipped to the FFL of your choice.

If your tastes run more towards FALs, Harlan can help you there, too. Federal Arms has the matching-numbers Austrian StG-58 parts kits and Imbel metric receivers. Can't go wrong with that combo, and the guys at the FAL Files message board will help you out immeasurably whether you build it yourself or decide to pay someone to do the tough part.

194 posted on 02/17/2003 11:07:58 AM PST by Charles Martel
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 144 | View Replies]

To: from occupied ga
Interesting test of various Armor Piercing ammo. Never shot any except a little I loaded for my .06. I found a charge that prints right with my 165gr Partitions at 100 yards.

My Russian SKS groups 6-8" easy at 200 yards with the cheap hollow point ammo and punches through 1/8" plate (it was my gong but it only lasted one session - LOL!).

195 posted on 02/17/2003 11:09:38 AM PST by MileHi
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 191 | View Replies]

To: MileHi
Ghost ring sights are not as accurate per se as regular peep sights do the larger appreture at the rear the theory is thatthe rear appreture disappears when the eye is at the proper distance and one then just puts the front sight on the target. They work well at under 100 yards for relatively large targets. However, their big advantage is that they allow one to very rapidly lay the shotgun onto the target.
196 posted on 02/17/2003 11:10:05 AM PST by harpseal (Stay well - Stay safe - Stay armed - Yorktown)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 190 | View Replies]

To: harpseal
Thanks. Cooper speaks favorably of them but I wasn't clear of the application. I guess the turkey sight on my scattergun will work fine and I can see it in low light conditions pretty well.
197 posted on 02/17/2003 11:16:03 AM PST by MileHi
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 196 | View Replies]

To: conservativefromGa
It looks like to me that is just what I would want to take back a goverment that goes astray. Sort of like what we have today.
198 posted on 02/17/2003 11:16:23 AM PST by Phyto Chems
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MileHi
I just bought a Siaga rifle in 7.62x39 at a gun show for $139. I'm a college student and about to get married, so my budget is pretty tight. It's basically an AK reciever with a regular rifle stock (no pistol grip). It shoots about as well as I can aim it.

My only complaint is that it's limited to 10 rounds, but I've already found ways around that. Anyone else have any experience with these rifles? Some day I'll be able to afford a nice AR 15, but this one serves the purpose until then.

199 posted on 02/17/2003 11:33:03 AM PST by vt_crosscut
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 195 | View Replies]

To: vt_crosscut
My SKS holds 10 rounds and is loaded via stripper clips. I don't feel at any disadvantage, it loads in seconds. It is tough to "top it off" though.
200 posted on 02/17/2003 11:44:28 AM PST by MileHi
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 199 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 161-180181-200201-220 ... 241-255 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson