Looking To Buy My First Rifle...

[Anthony W.]

Originally Posted by RickC Sniper

Why did you choose a .44? Have you ever fired a .44?

I have, several times, and it made me not want one.

Try before you buy.

I like the 44/ Ruger 480 for the stopping power. Having something almost 50 cal in your hand makes you feel like Dirty Harry.

I fired one and I know the recoil is horrible - but - from what I've been told - it is one of those "one shot, one kill" weapons at close range

[Hottentot]

Anthony, I'm curious: have you ever been in a situation, where someone has directly threatened your life with more than just words?

[CaptainMattJ.]

how bout a vulcan minicannon with some high velocity armor piercing 20mm rounds



or how bout a nice, simple satellite phone.........thats speed dialed to an AC-130 circling above? no?


Desert Eagles are nice. they slick and shiny. but you only get one chance to fire at someone, cause the recoil on this baby will send it flying without serious effort. it would usually take one shot before the burglar knows that he should get the ^&*( outta there. It will surely wake up the neighbors.

a shotgun will definitely blow a hole through a burglar, but it will most likely blow a hole through your house if you either miss or fire from a distance.

a pistol would be sufficient. There are many rifles that fire hefty slugs. Personally, if i had my pick, id choose an m1 garand, if it wasn't an antique. it would be easier to buy and its been battle proven. even a colt .45 1911 would be my choice. an m1 garand is pretty cheap too, if you dont buy it like a collectors item. Though i wonder where youd get the ammo........

[kranz]

Originally Posted by Anthony W.

makes you feel like Dirty Harry.

I fired one and I know the recoil is horrible - but - from what I've been told - it is one of those "one shot, one kill" weapons at close range

you are not serious, aren't?
Thank God we still need visas in order to go to the US....

[Growler]

Originally Posted by Anthony W.

I like the 44/ Ruger 480 for the stopping power. Having something almost 50 cal in your hand makes you feel like Dirty Harry.

I fired one and I know the recoil is horrible - but - from what I've been told - it is one of those "one shot, one kill" weapons at close range

Any .44 Mag worth anything is gonna be a heavy beast in comparison to, say an M9 or even a 1911.

If I need to defend my family in an emergency situation like a home invasion, I don't want to be trying to haul a horse pistol to bear on my target. Point, shoot - that's all the time you're gonna have, better to use it with a 9mm that's easy to move around but requires a double tap than to lose trying to haul that .44 to bear for even the first shot.

I hope you've got some Popeye forearms if you're going to do that with a .44 Mag.

[Stealhead]

Originally Posted by Anthony W.

I like the 44/ Ruger 480 for the stopping power. Having something almost 50 cal in your hand makes you feel like Dirty Harry.

I fired one and I know the recoil is horrible - but - from what I've been told - it is one of those "one shot, one kill" weapons at close range

Any firearm can be one shot one kill if the bullet hits the right spot.The larger the caliber the more recoil and the less accurate additional rounds fired are going to be.In all reality the best weapon is the one that allows you to put the most rounds into a center mass target quickly and relatively accurately.Also not sure about other states but in FL you must be 21 to purchase a handgun 18 to get a long barrel weapon.I have a loud speaker that plays Barry Manalow tunes when ever I fear that a stranger is trying to invade my turf.


For a person not experienced with firearms much I'd say that a semiautomatic hand gun in the 9x19mm~.40cal range is the best option they have less recoil yet have enough power to get the job done.Also a firearm under the bed is about the worst place a dresser top or drawer is much more effective and allows easy access to extra magazines should you need them.

Of course without a good course in firearms safety basic ,shooting,and defensive shooting tactics you might as well not own any firearm.Dirty Harry is a fictitious character who never was in any real danger and never shot anyone.Guns are deadly and so are people who might try to hurt you(real people) and they might be very deadly with a fire arm so simply having a weapon means little.

Also it my personal belief that if you are not able to fight in hand to hand combat you cant be sure of yourself in any other way that is why I trained in Tae Kwon Do when I was younger and still practice it.I say that because I think many men are big into guns and such because they lack confidence in them selves in a physical way and dont think they stand much of a chance in hand to hand.Boxing and Martial Arts are good for truly building your confidence and they can teach you how to avoid violence all together just by simply having confidence and showing that you have awareness of your surroundings.Violent people look for easy victims not hard ones by simply walking around and paying attention to your surroundings many people simply will not ***** with you.

I can give you an example:A few years back I drove up to this convince store as soon as I got out of my car and headed towards the door I noticed several gang members standing right beside the stores door.I knew that turning my back on them was not an option so heading back into my car was out so I had to press forward.I looked right at each guys hands and face and just prepared my self for possible action.As I walked past the first gang member he raised his hand and I started to raise mine.I guess he must have noticed that I did not turn my back on them and and did not show any fear of them and I clearly reacted to his hand movement to strike me and the guy just said to his pals"Dont' do this dude." Good thing because I was ready to fight hard so that would have been one nasty scene because they out numbered me by three.Basically wolves do not attack other wolves they attack sheep.

[antikristuseke]

Originally Posted by Anthony W.

I like the 44/ Ruger 480 for the stopping power. Having something almost 50 cal in your hand makes you feel like Dirty Harry.

I fired one and I know the recoil is horrible - but - from what I've been told - it is one of those "one shot, one kill" weapons at close range

It is a pistol caliber, counting on it to be a one shot, one kill weapon is a bit ridiculous to say the least. Another thing to consider is the weapons own weight. That being said, if you feel comfortable shooting a .44 get one.

Just don't expect it to put people down in one shot, also even Dirty Harry loaded his with .44 special

[Ducimus]

Originally Posted by Anthony W.

I like the 44/ Ruger 480 for the stopping power. Having something almost 50 cal in your hand makes you feel like Dirty Harry.

I fired one and I know the recoil is horrible - but - from what I've been told - it is one of those "one shot, one kill" weapons at close range

Dude, seriously, you don't need a hand cannon to put down an intruder. Ultimately, the best weapon for home defense, is the one you feel most comfortable with. It doesn't matter what hardware your packing if you can't hit your target center of mass. I suggest brain dumping hollywoodesque thoughts about firearms and think in practical terms.

Originally Posted by Hottentot

Anthony, I'm curious: have you ever been in a situation, where someone has directly threatened your life with more than just words?

I have. And no, i don't want to talk about it.


Here's my first line of home defense, right here:


I call him, my Early Warning Doggie Detection System. (or EWDDS for short. )

He's a good boy, he's not aggressive, but he is alert and watchful, and never leaves our side. He woofs, at every sound he hears. Frankly, he woofs too much. This dog can hear someone placing a business card on the front door - from across the house.

Odds are if someone broke in, hed be barking up a storm before they got one leg into the place. I figure most people, sane or otherwise, would decide to leave after hearing a dog barking.

If that doesn't work, then there's this (and thanks to the EWDDS, id be awake to use it if need be):

Mossberg 500. Short Length of pull stock, 18 1/2 inch barrel. It can hold up to 8 rounds. (7 in the magazine, 1 in the chamber). Overall length on this puppy is 38 inch's from muzzle to buttplate.

and yes Anthony W., thats your post in the background.
( Nevermind the grungy keyboard, stop watch, make shift coffee mug mat, and slippers. )

[Growler]

Fuzzy Slippers and a Shotgun.

There's something there... I don't know what, exactly, but something...

[Hottentot]

Originally Posted by Ducimus

I have. And no, i don't want to talk about it.

So have I and neither do I, so the attitude is unnecessary. The point was very simple, and I'm sure you understood it.

[Ducimus]

Originally Posted by Growler

Fuzzy Slippers and a Shotgun.

There's something there... I don't know what, exactly, but something...

Hey those slippers are comfortable. Suede leather, with a genuine artificial wool lining. Very comfortable in the winter! (or a cold basement home office )

[Growler]

Originally Posted by Hottentot

So have I and neither do I, so the attitude is unnecessary. The point was very simple, and I'm sure you understood it.

Hmm... maybe I read it differently, but I didn't get a bristly or hostile sense out of the statement by either of you; I got more a sense of something far different.

Originally Posted by Ducimus

Hey those slippers are comfortable. Suede leather, with a genuine artificial wool lining. Very comfortable in the winter! (or a cold basement home office )

Hey, I wasn't judging, just sayin'...


...at least they aren't rainbows or Hello, Kitty.

[Platapus]

Originally Posted by Stealhead

.In all reality the best weapon is the one that allows you to put the most rounds into a center mass target quickly and relatively accurately.

There is much wisdom in those words.

I am reminded of an almost interesting story from my sordid past. Back when I was a punk I was quite the gun nut and liked to hang round in my local gun shop. One day a customer came in that made the owner's day.

The customer wanted a hand gun for home defense. Great, that's why the gun store is there.

It simply had to be a .44 mag. A bit over kill to make a bad pun but hey, this is America and if someone wants to spend their money on a .44 mag, who is to say they can't. Would suck to be his neighbour, but that's not the gun shop owner's concern.

His next request was to have a scope installed on it. .44 mag with a scope for home defense. . But hey, still in America and if someone wants to pay for a scope on their .44 mag, the gun store owner is more than happy to do it. Perhaps he has a home with very long hallways.

The customer's last request was a bit unusual. He wanted a silencer.

A silenced .44 mag with scope for home defense. There were some issues

1. A silencer is a Class III device and there is "paperwork" involved that neither the customer nor the gun shop had

2. You can't silence a .44 mag bullet in flight unless you reduce the velocity to subsonic and that usually requires a special load which eliminates any "advantage" of the "magnum" round.

3. Any silencer capable of silencing a .44 mag round would be so long and wide as to be tactically unwieldy.

4. You can't silence a .44 mag revolver without encasing it in a box.

5. You don't need a frickin .44 mag with a fricking scope and a fricking silencer for frickin home frickin defense

Sans silencer, this customer spent about $2,000 for a gun with little practical use. This was more than 30 years ago. Gotta love Americans. They will buy stuff without really knowing what they are buying.

It was a fun and profitable day for the gun shop owner.

Too bad the owner did not have a .454 Casull in stock, he could have sold that for mega bucks.

[Platapus]

Originally Posted by Ducimus

Mossberg 500. Short Length of pull stock, 18 1/2 inch barrel. It can hold up to 8 rounds. (7 in the magazine, 1 in the chamber).

The best thing about a shotgun is that you may not have to even fire it.

What kinda rounds are you feeding it? What is your opinion on some of the non-lethal rounds for shot guns?

I am frankly torn on that issue.

[Ducimus]

Originally Posted by Platapus

The best thing about a shotgun is that you may not have to even fire it.

What kinda rounds are you feeding it? What is your opinion on some of the non-lethal rounds for shot guns?

I am frankly torn on that issue.

Shotguns do look nasty i'll admit that. Not that, it matters if its pointed at someone. Any gun looks nasty when its pointed at you.

Im feeding it 00 buck. I bought some cheap rounds, the Wolf brand. Im sure you've seen them at a sporting goods store. I'm not too worried about having a tight pattern in close quarters. I'll get some better rounds at some point, but it hasn't been a pressing issue. Its not like im discharging double 00 buck on a regular basis. Ive brought this piece out for target practice a couple times but thats about it. For the most part I figure any 00 buck round will do. Getting hit with one is like getting hit with nine 32 caliber bullets simultaneously.


As for non lethal, i have thought long and hard about a bean bag round. My biggest concern is safety. Because of that, I do not keep a round chambered. The weapon is not charged. I like and don't like this at the same time. Also, i'm afraid i will hesitate - and with good reason. I don't want to hit the dog, or loved one. When the **** hits the fan, you panic, plain and simple. The weapon is not ready to go at a moments notice, and i might hesitate.

WIth a bean bag round chambered, all those problems go away. I would not need to charge the weapon and i would not hesitate, while maintaining some semblence of saftey. If an accident happened, the damage would not be permanent. Just a very large bruise. You can also rack a follow up lethal round pretty fast if more persuasion was needed. So i would have to say that if i saw some nonleathal rounds at the store (and i haven't unfortuantely), i would get them.