Go with an old fashioned 12 gauge double barrel.
Use 00 or 000 pellets.
The 2 shots of a double barrel will do just fine.
It’s easy to take care of, fairly quick to reload & ** it is so stone-ax simple that there is virtually nothing to jam, break, or otherwise malfunction when you need it the most.**
Add a shotgun spotting lamp or laser to help you aim.
This is all you really need for a good home defense.
00 or 000 shot is probably not a good idea unless your nearest neighbour is a bit distant. 00 can easily penetrate drywall and cause damage to fleshy organisms on the other side. A better bet would be #6 or #8 shot. This will probably not penetrate your walls, and if it does it probably won’t seriously injure your kid who’s sleeping in the next room. But it can discourage an intruder (and the wad won’t do him much good either). In case your District Attorney is a member of an anti-gun lobby, the coice of smaller shot shows that you did not intend to kill the intruder (“intent” being a major factor in charging a person with a serious crime).
Sadly, we live in a society in which we are generally expected to submit to criminals; and if we fight back, we open ourselves up to legal attacks by those who are shocked that a person would protect himself.
Sorry. Getting off into GD again.
First, support gun control, use two hands.
I agree with Johnny L.A. Get a gun that feels good.
Find a gun shop that has a shooting range where you can rent handguns to practice. You can try several, and pick the one you like best.
I have several guns, and for target practice and “plinking” I like my little Ruger .22, that I’ve had since about 1965/66. For home protection I like both my 9mm, and .380, but I’ve also had .38s, .45s, and .357s. All fine weapons, and all of the major manufacturers make good ones. As Drachillis mentioned, if you don’t like the big bang, stick with a .22. One of my favorite guns is a .22 Magnum. Much larger than a .22LR, but smaller than the others. It still packs a good punch, but the ammo is more expensive.
I also like a "scatter-gun for home protection, and have a shotgun with the shortest barrel legally available. I use 000 shot. Don’t worry about my neighbors. My house is built of slump block and the property is surrounded by a block wall 6’ high. The size of the shot would be a consideration in an apartment, or “stick” house, and smaller shot would be recommended.
And there are only three things to remember about shooting: Safety, safety, safety.
Johnny L.A. wrote:
::shaking head::, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny… How about both? I shot 16 rounds of trap and sporting clays this weekend, and played 18 holes of golf on Sunday. There are too many parallels ie., focus, concentration, muscle memory, correct mechanics and strategy!! (BTW, good post!)
To the OP: For utter simplicity, go with a wheel-gun. Something like the Taurus revolver in .38 cal (5-shot) with Glaser rounds. Another easy firearm to learn and shoot is something like the Ruger P95 in 9mm. It’s an autoloader with ambidextrous de-cocker’s, so there’s not a lot of mechanical stuff to worry about. Ditto what everyone has said about a safety course. Have fun!
Okay, I’ll come clean. I’ve tried golf a few times, but it just drives me nuts. I can never get the ball in the dragon’s mouth so I can win a free round.
I don’t know much about minnesota laws but here in Iowa we have the Hunter Safety courses. You don’t have to be a hunter to take them. I encouraged both my kids to take them but my youngest, a daughter, beat me to it by asking to take it.
The course includes handguns.
The instructors are all very knowledgeable.
Besides films on gun safety they get to shoot several guns at the local shooting range,I haven’t seen anyone use a handgun there but I’ll bet someone would spend some time with you explaining safety if you would have one to try.
BTW Sarah now owns her own 20 guage shotgun. I haven’t had the pleasure of hunting with her yet because of a bad hip.
Not mentioned here yet is the 32. Larger than the 22 it is used more for self defence. It is sometimes considered a ladies gun because of its size. It has more recoil than the 22 but not nearly as much as a 38.It is also available as a revolver ot semiautomatic.
Actually…
I still think you don’t get enough “bang for your buck”, as it were.
Actually…
IMO, .25 and .32 should not be considered unless you’re a collector because there are other cartidges that are more readily available and cheaper.
Yep sure enough. I must have been daydreaming went I read that part.
I still think the difference in the recoil between the 32 and the 38 is enough to make the 32 a consideration.It is lighter, easier to handle,without the kick. You sure are right about the price of ammo though.