Posted on 09/27/2005 5:35:15 AM PDT by beaureguard
Thanks for your following letter, Matt, which I received this afternoon:
Do you think at some point you could write a column on some of the basics of getting into the world of firearms? Specifically, I'm looking for tips on acquiring weapons for home defense and hunting. While I'm not a survivalist weirdo, I have no intention of waiting for any level of government to ride to the rescue, should bad times come along.
Since I have been hit with numerous requests (mostly post-Katrina) from people looking for that first firearm, I am pleased to respond with a column on the topic. Since you used the word “weapons” (plural) and spoke of “getting into the world of firearms” (again plural) I have a number of recommendations for you. And here they are:
Marlin .22 Magnum, Model 25 MN. We are going to start you off with an inexpensive gun you can easily pick up at WalMart. I bought my Model 25 five years ago for just $150, although they cost about $170 now. Take your new .22 magnum out to the country and fire a few shots at a paper plate taped on the side of a tree stump. Start out at 25 yards. When you get confident, you can put an inexpensive Simmons scope on it for those 50-yard raccoon shots. I have a big back yard and, for me, a part of home defense is getting rid of those raccoons that tear up everything in sight. Your varmint problems will soon be a thing of the past with this little bolt action rifle. It will also teach you patience and shot discipline better than a .22 semi-automatic. Remember, Matt, every shot counts so don’t waste ammo. In fact, make sure that you always buy more than you just shot after a day at the range. Some people call that stockpiling. I call it an investment in your future.
Smith and Wesson .357 Magnum, Model 686. I usually recommend a four-inch barrel but I want you to get a six-inch stainless model. This will help you in the realm of hunting and self-defense. For example, a 145-grain Winchester silver tip will stop that coyote you run into while deer hunting. It will also help stop any intruder (it will even stop his pit bull, for that matter). Keep this gun under your bed and loaded at all times.
Also, this is a great revolver for your wife (assuming you are married, which is another choice I recommend) to get used to shooting. Put some light 110-grain .38 Special rounds in it and see how she likes it. With a big six-inch barrel, it will be easy to handle with hardly any recoil.
Benelli Nova 12-gauge. I have a couple of Remington 870 pump shotguns. But, recently, I bought a 24-inch barrel Nova with Advantage Timber camouflage. I will use mine – a super magnum that takes 3 ½-inch loads – to hunt a turkey this Thanksgiving. You can use yours for varmint hunting, quail hunting, and a number of other purposes with the right 2 3/4 –inch load. Some light buckshot will also make this a good home defense weapon, provided you are in an open space (the barrel is a little long for this particular function).
Stoeger Double-barreled 20-gauge Supreme Coach Gun. If you really want your wife to get into this (to make it a family affair), she needs her own shotgun. I recommend the nickel-plated version because it’s so darned pretty. Let her keep it under her side of the bed and, please, stay on her good side. For more details, see this link: http://www.stoegerindustries.com/firearms/coach-supreme.tpl.
Ruger Mini-14 Ranch Rifle. A lot of people who saw what recently happened in New Orleans have concluded that every man needs an assault rifle. I came to that conclusion years ago. Go to WalMart and get this nice .223 semi-automatic for around $500 (I got mine when they were $375). Then get a scope (the rings are included with this model). I would also recommend several 30-round magazines by Thurmold. I have fired hundreds of rounds through mine without a single jam – even when firing as rapidly as possible. You might also want a flash suppressor, which will keep the muzzle low while you fire away. This is a fun gun that helps explain why I never picked up golf.
Browning A-bolt .270. And, of course, you will need a long-range bolt action rifle when you start bagging deer. My 30.06 Browning A-Bolt Medallion is probably my favorite weapon. Deer, black bear, and boar like it much less. I recommend the .270 to the novice because it has less recoil and will still get the job done. Winchester Power Point rounds (130-grain bullets) are very cheap and more than adequate. Mail me later for venison recipes.
Ruger Super Redhawk .454 Casull. I have no business recommending this gun to you, Matt. Nonetheless, buy it anyway. This gun takes Colt 45 rounds that are great for home defense. When, somewhere down the road, you feel like handling a very powerful handgun, this will provide some great entertainment with the .454 Casull rounds. Get the model with the 9 ½-inch barrel and kill a wild boar. Then kill a black bear. Then put a scope on it (the scope rings are included) and kill a deer at 100 yards. After you are done with your assignments, call me and let me know whether I have given you good advice.
Thanks for writing, Matt. And welcome to my world.
I don't have time to reload standard caliber stuff, let alone "exotics".
My friend buys guns as a hobby.Quite a collection. I have several myself.
Yep, this guy is off base. 12 gauge, yes, the mini-14 or better yet a mini-30, yes. 357/38 is a good first handgun. Skip th 22 magnum, just get a 22 LR and buy hundreds of round for the price of 50 mags. I don't know why he's suggesting a 454 to a newbee.
Any recommendations or feedback from all of you gun experts out there will be appreciated.
No personal experience with it but the Walther P22 has a good reputation.
If I could only own one gun, it would probably be a .22 LR with the possible exception of a shotgun, but the .22 mag is useful for a lot of medium sized game and even for self defense. It has more than twice the energy of the .22LR and about the same as a .45 auto.
I have noted in killing varmints and feral animals that it is much quicker to kill than a regular .22 when shot in the body.
I thought 2 safes was a minimum in Texas. At least it is if you share a a surname with me. When I build a new house, it will have a vault. I will still have the 2 gun safes, but will soon be needing the vault too.
*Ping*
Hey, you guys woke me up! I usually sleep under the gunshop porch. Cozy there.
Anyhoo....while I wait for the Squantos to check in, once he regains consciousness from all that Hoppes #9 he uses as aftershave....may as well...he's going to smell like it anyway, with all the guns he uses...
Muttly SOP requires the most available cartridges, in the most reliable (military proven) actions. This comes down to 12ga.-3", .357 Magnum, 9mm, .44 Magnum, .45ACP .22LR, .223, .30'06......and perhaps .30-30 and .308.
Note on shotguns, often overlooked...but for general utility use, and certainly for practical bug-out survival, the side-by-side with double triggers is one of the very best, though perhaps least glamorous choices. It is available with shorter barrels, choke tubes, can be had or modified to have a pistol grip, is intuitive in operation, has 2 firing pins, can choose between 2 loads and chokes, is shorter and lighter than pumps and autos, that is, legal overall length can be made with longer barrel length...something worth having...and can even fire BOTH barrels at once, if need be...and it sometimes is.
bttt
I can't AFFORD NOT to reload . . . what with me, my hubby, and the two kids, plus our friends that tend to go out to the range with us, we burn up a heckuva lot of ammo. And even though the 10/22 is my son's favorite rifle, not everybody wants to shoot that one (my daughter likes the Garand.)
Then why are we here muttly ?.......:o)
From my earlier post : "Here is where the user needs to evaluate themselves and the level of commitment they do (or don't) have to develop the skills necessary to become proficient with their "tool" of choice."
We're here to hold an intelligent conversation for the benefit of regular people....not writer weirdos. When TSHTF, and all this wise man has with him is his .454 and 6 extra rounds.....he'll change his tune....but everyone he advised will still be out looking for a couple more .22 Mags...and wondering what went wrong!
...now...OTOH...a Desert Eagle in .256 Win. Mag, with an extra .357 barrel may not be too bad.....!
(there I go again.......I know...I know.)
I love my Glock 30, but I'm VERY careful when I reholster in my CCW vest. I usually take the vest off and reholster.
I've been very happy with the Rugers I own. One my my biggest mistakes was getting rid of my old Blackhawk. I wish I had that one to do over again.
A .256 Win Mag Ruger Hawkeye isn't much more questionable than some of the things listed in the article.
I miss my Super Blackhawk. The glock is nice weapon but I like simple.
Sure do.
I picked up a nice Glock 21 with a Dynamic Finishes Inc. Desert Camo water-transfer paintjob. Added an M-6 laser/flashlight to the rail...it is sweet!!!!
"The standard 40 grain bullet is now advertised to have a muzzle velocity of 1,910 fps in a 22" rifle barrel and carries 324 ft. lbs. of energy. From the 6.5" barrel of a revolver the velocity is 1400 fps with an energy of 174 ft. lbs"
45 ACP out of a six inch barrel has about 495 ft/lbs of energy.
Comparing both in a handgun, the 45 has almost three times the muzzle energy.
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