What do I buy?

[DrCap]

Sorry to start a new thread, but I was wondering if you more knowledgeable people can tell me what guns to buy and about how much I should pay?

With all the b.s. that's happening, it's time for me to move to the next stage of planning to stay ahead of the game.

I am looking for a handgun and a rifle (or shotgun?) of decent quality, which doesn't require lots of skill to shoot, and would have fairly standard ammunition.

I know nothing about guns (except pictures) and will be visiting a gun dealer shortly. It's been probably 20 years since I went shooting with a shotgun... though I will practice once I choose.

If I had to chose right now, it'd be a Browning 14 shot 9mm and a Winchester.
The dealer I am going to see is reputable.

Thanks for any help.

 

[heavenlyboy34]

for bigger targets, a 20 gauge shotgun works well. Smaller gauges work well in close quarters. I prefer pump action, btw.

 

[Uriel999]

Mossberg makes a great shotgun for dirt cheap. You could get one all day for 200 to 250 bucks max and you'll never worry about it breaking. That and some 00 buckshot and your good to go. Not only that, barrels can be changed incredibly easy. Want an 18.5 inch barrel for the house protection, but a 26 inch for ducks or turkey? The barrel just unscrews.

As for a rifle, what do you want? You can build an ar-15 for less than thousand bucks so I have learned (thanks guys who've helped educate me on ar-15s). You could also get a Remington 700 hunting rifle with a scope (you'd probably spend more on the scope than the gun itself) for around lets just say 2 grand. The Remington 700 is an incredible long ranged weapon. Although at the same time if you get an AR-15 you could just get multiple barrels and be able to use it for close quarters or long distance.

 

[DrCap]

Thanks for the info.

If the assault weapons ban got passed again (since the democrats are probably going to control the congress and the white house) and I had an AR-15, would it suddenly become a worthless piece of metal that was registered in my name? I can imagine the police showing up at my door, offering me a $100 gift card and telling me I had no choice since it would be illegal!?!

I'll probably just buy a shotgun instead, and I already have access to a shotgun anyway, but I want my own. I just had read here a while ago that it is good to have a rifle...

I think the $200 gun would allow me to get more bang for my buck (sorry I couldn't resist).

 

[Dequeant]

I am looking for a handgun and a rifle (or shotgun?) of decent quality, which doesn't require lots of skill to shoot, and would have fairly standard ammunition.

Handgun is easy: You want a handgun that shoots either .45 ACP or 9mm. Those are the easiest to find ammo for, period. My vote would go for an XD 45 ACP Compact. It holds 14 rounds of .45 ACP.......that's a shit ton of knockdown power that 9mm owners will never know the meaning of.

Rifles are harder. My choice of calibers would be either 5.56, 7.62 or 30-06. Those are easy calibers to find rounds for. In the event of civil war or rebellion, chances are you'll be able to pick up those calibers from dead fighters. You want something with good capacity, low weight, and decent range. ARs are perfect, with a close second going to AKs (lets not turn this into an AK vs AR thing). AKs will be heavier but more reliable, ARs will be lighter and more accurate.

I've already got the XD 45 ACP, and just finished building my left handed AR. Take the advice of armchair soldiers with a grain of salt, i'm on active duty and i've actually taken this advice to heart and bought/built my own guns just as i've advised you. I'd swear by both of them.

If the assault weapons ban got passed again (since the democrats are probably going to control the congress and the white house) and I had an AR-15, would it suddenly become a worthless piece of metal that was registered in my name? I can imagine the police showing up at my door, offering me a $100 gift card and telling me I had no choice since it would be illegal!?!

A gun is never a worthless piece of metal unless you allow it to be. More than likely it would be grandfather claused like they did with the first AWB....since you had it assembled into a complete rifle before the ban took place, you're legal. If they outright make it illegal even though you had it before the ban.........well, give it to them when they come 75 grains at a time.

 

[Pericles]

Good advice posted above. I have small hands, so the large capacity pistols don't do it for me. I prefer the GI style 1911A1, as they tend to work well right out of the box - suggest the best price to performance ratio is with the Rock Island 1911A1 made by Armscor. The special compact models and whatnot often need some work to get them to function well - not a good plan for a defense weapon. I happen to be good with a 1911A1, not everyone takes to it. If you can, try before you buy.

9mm is OK - but as a friend who carried a .45 for real put it, "I knew when I hit someone with a .45 round, because they had a totally different scream."

I second the choice of a rifle as the AR - the Army gave me the opportunity to try one out in a couple of different models, I'm currently building another as a DIY project as I don't like the on the market stuff. It needs to be kept suitably clean to work well - the AKs are much more forgiving if you happen not to be a neat freak.

 

[rwbris18]

I suggest that you go to the range and rent a couple of gun models. Shoot them and find out if you can hit something with it. The best gun for you is one with which you feel comfortable with and can use (actually hit something).

It's not the gun that kills... it's the ammo. Look into the specifications of the ammo you wish to carry. Most of the hand guns mentioned are good. I have 9mm and .40 Springfield XDs. I just love them. (Medium priced - $500) Most people can handle a .38 or 9mm well (including the little lady). You might consider a .357 which can use .38 to practice and .357 for protection. You will also want to check the cost of the ammo for practice purposes and common availability.

You will need to practice to become proficient.
Remember: You can't miss fast enough. :o

I agree with the rifle caliber choices. I would add one for the AR15... a spare 9mm upper in the event ammo becomes scarce. But, I'm a gun nut and there is no such thing as too many.

I think a 12 gage or 20 gage shot gun is the best home defense. The little lady can use the 20 gage.
Only a coroner will know the difference... by counting the BBs. They range from about $250 for pumps to $1000 for autoloads. Mossburg, Browning and Benelli are all good choices. Mossburg => $250 to $500; Browning => $500 to $1000; Benelli => $800 to $1200.

Check out my page and the links: http://briscoefamily.com/emergency/tip8.php
Or these articles: http://www.backwoodshome.com/author_index.html#mayoob

 

[DrCap]

Check out my page and the links: http://briscoefamily.com/emergency/tip8.php
Or these articles: http://www.backwoodshome.com/author_index.html#mayoob

Thanks for the above links.

And thanks all for the info.

 

[KevinR]

I'm asking for a Ruger Mark II for christmas

 

[Hawk45]

Buy an assault rifle from an individual so there is NO paperwork on it and keep your mouth shut about it. If they start going door to door collecting them it is time to USE it anyway.

As for the Browning High Power it is a very good weapon. Just have lots of spare mags and good hollow points for it NOW and practice to be sure they feed properly in it. Also have a good gunsmith remove the magazine dis-connector so it will still fire when the mag is out and you are reloading.

My personal weapon of choice is a Glock in 45 ACP, but that is just a personal choice of mine.

As to an assault rifle I would suggest a good AK-47. Virtually the same ballistics of a 30-30 but reloads MUCH faster with mags instead of shoving rounds one by one in the side of the weapon.

Most new Winchesters are going for OVER $400 and you can get an AK for the same money. Ammo is cheaper and lighter than the 30-30 rounds also.

 

[Kludge]

If the assault weapons ban got passed again (since the democrats are probably going to control the congress and the white house) and I had an AR-15, would it suddenly become a worthless piece of metal that was registered in my name? I can imagine the police showing up at my door, offering me a $100 gift card and telling me I had no choice since it would be illegal!?!

I always seem to have trouble locating things when the police show up.


Can't take what they and I can't find.

 

[xd9fan]

Dr Cap you should go with a .22 rifle and /or pistol first. There are many fun .22 guns out there. (if S does hit the fan) the .22 is a great small game getter)

Kevin's post and picture of the Ruger Mark II is a great first start. (Ruger does not make MarkII any more but they did "up grade" to MarkIII's) I love....LOVE LOVE..I'm talkin...serious LOVE my Ruger Mark III Hunter. Fun as hell for target shooting and I use it hunting.

For great instruction on weapons any weapon.....Clint Smith rocks
check out his dvd videos.....yes pricey...but nobody is better than Clint!
http://www.thunderranchinc.com/

good luck and have fun!

 

[JohnMeridith]

I would own

9mm, .40, .45 semi auto pistol mid or full size with good capacity and 5-8 mags

.22 rifle with 3-9 power scope(I use a ruger 10/22) with 10k or so rounds (whiles its still cheap)

ak-47 with 10 30rd mags and 2-3k rounds of ammo (while its still cheap)

Since FL is less intrusive on gun rights when it comes to private sales, most of my guns are not registered sales yet are 100% legal.

 

[JohnMeridith]

Dr Cap you should go with a .22 rifle and /or pistol first. There are many fun .22 guns out there. (if S does hit the fan) the .22 is a great small game getter)

Kevin's post and picture of the Ruger Mark II is a great first start. (Ruger does not make MarkII any more but they did "up grade" to MarkIII's) I love....LOVE LOVE..I'm talkin...serious LOVE my Ruger Mark III Hunter. Fun as hell for target shooting and I use it hunting.

For great instruction on weapons any weapon.....Clint Smith rocks
check out his dvd videos.....yes pricey...but nobody is better than Clint!
http://www.thunderranchinc.com/

good luck and have fun!

I am bidding on a mark II target on gunbroker, but I don't want to spend a ton of money on one. I should just go ahead and "pull the trigger" since I will save $ in the long run for ammo.

 

[rwbris18]

I have a Ruger Mark I, Ruger Mark III and 2 Ruger 10/22s (carbine & target).

I must agree I have the MOST fun with my Ruger Mark III. I must I go through at least 500 rounds a week... "and it keeps ticking."

 

[xd9fan]

JohnMeridith GO FOR IT!!

I bought a Mark II Govt Target model after I had so much fun with my Mark III Hunter

Love them both.

 

[KevinR]

everything i find online says I should go towards a Mark II instead of III, but I'm going to find a brick and mortar store and if they have either i'll get it

 

[Dave39168]

.22LR pistols and rifles are great for learning/relearning to shoot, and practicing markmanship because with a .22 you can afford to learn to shoot properly. If you can't afford to buy a .22 just for training, find a friend who will let borrow one.

The AR is a GREAT rifle, but if money is of concern to you, as it is to most... I'd say get the cheapest stamped-reciever AK47 you can find. The cheapest AKs are still ultra reliable (They aren't cadillacs they are pick-up trucks.) They aren't built to hit one inch cirlces at 100 yards like the ARs are, but will do 4-5" at 100 yards all day long. Which is plenty of practical accuracy in that type of weapon. An SKS is an even cheaper alternative and shoot the same round as AK (7.62x39), but no detachable mags with the SKS. You can get cheap (.50 cent) 10 round strippers clips, which i can use to load an SKS almost as fast as I can change the mag on an AK.

IMHO mossberg pump shotgun is your best value in that area. I'd say get a 12 gauge b/c shells are more common. Pumps are more reliable.

For a handgun, I'd say get a ruger. They are cheaper than guns others have suggested. But they are good guns. They are not built as tight and are not as accurate as some of the higher dollar ones, but everytime you pull trigger it goes bang. In my experience ruger is very reliable. I'd suggest 9mm for a handgun. Especially for a newer shooter, there is less recoil than a .45 which is better for learning to shoot. Also the 9mm rounds are about 1/2 the cost of .45s which means you can afford to practice more.

If you've got more to spend there are better guns than i have suggested, but if you're on a tight budget these are you best values.

Don't take firearm ownership lightly. It is a huge responsibility. Find a friend who is big into shooting and get them to show you the ropes. I really can't stress the importance of practice, its a very nice feeling when you have shot a particular gun enough that you are comfortable with it and you know where your shot is going to hit before you even pull the trigger. Practice, Practice, Practice.

 

[Dave39168]

I am bidding on a mark II target on gunbroker, but I don't want to spend a ton of money on one. I should just go ahead and "pull the trigger" since I will save $ in the long run for ammo.

Don't overlook the browning buckmark .22 pistol. I love mine. Mark II or buckmark are both great guns.

 

[JenHarris]

Don't overlook the browning buckmark .22 pistol. I love mine. Mark II or buckmark are both great guns.

I have a Springfield XD 9MM for personal protection and a browning buck mark 22 for target practice. I will probably get a larger caliber later but since I was a beginner I wanted to get something that didn't kick too much to learn on. I love both guns, but the browning grip is amazing for girls with small hands.

I highly recommend taking the NRA personal protection class. They covered a lot of information that I found to be really useful.