Looking To Buy My First Rifle...

[Herr-Berbunch]

Originally Posted by nikimcbee

...such as?

Any that one doesn't feel the need to be armed in your own home

[Oberon]

Hmmm, I'm not sure what the licensing laws are in the States but what about a Garand? She's not bolt action, although the calibre of the bullet would probably suffer from the problem Steve has outlined in that it would go through the intruder and then off through seven states before it stopped.

In a pistol, perhaps the M9 would be a good choice, although it is rather modern but it has a little less stopping power than my other choice which is a M1911 (the pistol of Utah!).
Alternatively if you want to go historical, there's the Luger P08, it's a good pistol and if you put in the 19mm Parabellum round then you won't take down half the house.

I'm no real firearms expert...the biggest gun I've fired is an air rifle, but I do agree that training is key, if you get yourself a firearm be sure to join a local shooting club or visit your range often because the one major problem of having a weapon for self-defence is that in the heat of the moment that weapon can be taken away from you and used against you, so if you're going to do it right you have to do it right first time.

[Osmium Steele]

Originally Posted by Oberon

In a pistol, perhaps the M9 would be a good choice, although it is rather modern but it has a little less stopping power than my other choice which is a M1911 (the pistol of Utah!).

A little less stopping power? Is the sun a tad warm? Is water damp? etc. etc.

Originally Posted by Oberon

if you get yourself a firearm be sure to join a local shooting club or visit your range often because the one major problem of having a weapon for self-defence is that in the heat of the moment that weapon can be taken away from you and used against you, so if you're going to do it right you have to do it right first time.

+1

[Ducimus]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

You really don't want to use a rifle for home defense, especially a bolt-action. They're unwieldly, slow and if you have even a .30 cal it can go through the burglar, through the wall, through the other wall and through the neighbor.

This. On top of that, your more liable to miss in close quarters with a long gun like a bolt action rifle, AND it isn't as fast to reload as you would like.

Originally Posted by FIREWALL

Pistol grip 12gauge shot gun with short legal barrel is the ticket if it's legal in your state.

I keep it barrel pointed down within reach of my side of bed.

Pistol grip? Only if your shooting dove loads maybe. Personally, id ditch the pistol grip. Shooting buckshot with a pistol grip? Noooo thank you. is a better option.

[Krauter]

Originally Posted by Herr-Berbunch

Any that one doesn't feel the need to be armed in your own home

Come to Canada Where it's too cold to rob your neighbour, and even if you did, the snowstorms would ensure you don't get away

[Hottentot]

Originally Posted by Krauter

Come to Canada Where it's too cold to rob your neighbour, and even if you did, the snowstorms would ensure you don't get away

That place where people from here travel for sunbathing? I've heard it's nice in around January: not too hot, but pleasantly warm anyway.

[Schroeder]

Originally Posted by Oberon

Alternatively if you want to go historical, there's the Luger P08, it's a good pistol and if you put in the 19mm Parabellum round then you won't take down half the house.

9 mm still has a lot of penetration power. They can go through thin walls and kill bystanders. We had that here during a police raid a couple of years ago IIRC.

[RickC Sniper]

Sounds like you need two guns.

A military style bolt action would be fun at the range, but a sad choice for home defense.

Get a short barrel pump shotgun or a handgun for home defense. And don't keep it by the TV or under the pillow!!!


If the cost of rare ammo was no issue, then the cost of two guns shouldn't be either.

[Penguin]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Rifles are good for long-range shooting. Up close they make a handy club, but a baseball bat is better.

Well a baseball bat might look impressive to the attacker, but it is not the best choice in close-combat situations as they would happen in your home. I prefer to have an expandable baton here - my baseball bat is just decoration - until I start playing again - or participate in commercials

Originally Posted by Schroeder

9 mm still has a lot of penetration power. They can go through thin walls and kill bystanders. We had that here during a police raid a couple of years ago IIRC.

correct, another thing the German police had with the full metal jacket 9mm Parabellum is that the bullet lacks manstopping power, as it doesn't deform in soft targets and goes through the body. This often resulted into firing several shots, where the target is stopped but likely bleeds to death. This has changed in the last years, as now more states allow hollow-point bullets for the police.
So if this ammo is legal where you live, this would be the choice for home defense.

[Thomen]

Originally Posted by Penguin

Well a baseball bat might look impressive to the attacker, but it is not the best choice in close-combat situations as they would happen in your home. I prefer to have an expandable baton here - my baseball bat is just decoration - until I start playing again - or participate in commercials

Among other things, this is my choice of home defense:







Of course, these are a tad heavy and uh.. somewhat difficult to handle in tight areas, but boy.. they certainly do look awesome!

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Penguin

Well a baseball bat might look impressive to the attacker, but it is not the best choice in close-combat situations as they would happen in your home. I prefer to have an expandable baton here - my baseball bat is just decoration - until I start playing again - or participate in commercials

Actually I've discovered (thought it up and then tried it, actually) that if you're in the kitchen a stack of dinner plates are a great weapon. Grab a plate, flip it over, throw it like a frisbee and it will without fail break bones. If you miss you are already in the act of throwing the next one, so who cares?

For a pistol I like the M1911 or its derivatives. The bullet is big, soft and slow. It plays havoc with flesh but doesn't go through a wall as easily as a smaller, faster round.

[Penguin]

Originally Posted by Thomen

Among other things, this is my choice of home defense:

We also have a model axe here, about 15cm tall but with a solid metal blade - this is what my girlfriend uses to convince me of her opinions

[Thomen]

Originally Posted by Penguin

We also have a model axe here, about 15cm tall but with a solid metal blade - this is what my girlfriend uses to convince me of her opinions

I got the full sized replicas. Fortunately, these are to heavy for my wife to use in a fashion where they would be dangerous to anyone but herself.

[Marcantilan]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

For a pistol I like the M1911 or its derivatives. The bullet is big, soft and slow. It plays havoc with flesh but doesn't go through a wall as easily as a smaller, faster round.

Yep, but you have a big recoil (and less ammo to spend) I was once in the firing range with a Browning HP 9mm and Colt 1911 .45acp, and plenty of ammo. I discovered that, in some seconds (do not remember how many), I could fire three aimed shots with the 9mm; in the same time span, I could only fire once with the .45.

Of course, the hole produced by the Colt was impressive. Remember the 911 was made to stop filipine guerrillas with just ONE shot.

I also disagree with a rifle for home defense. I shot the Mauser 98 at the range and I could say that it is more dangerous for your shoulder than for anyone in front of the gun.

Regards!

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Marcantilan

Yep, but you have a big recoil

My friend Rocky has a variant from some manufacturer that is ported. Almost no recoil at all. The first time I shot it I thought it was his .22 target pistol, that looks and feels like a .45.