A family man's firearm

[John Joseph]

If your definition of "family man" is one charged with providing food and protection for a family, which would you recommend, a .22 rifle? Or a shotgun?

A .22 rifle is great for teaching kids how to shoot.
There's not enough recoil to give one's bride a flinch.
It can be used to harvest small game for the pot
A .22 can humanely dispatch livestock when needed
It can be quietly used to get rid of varmints like rats.
It is a visible sign that we're armed. Not like I'd want a .22 in a gunfight, but it does send a message to roaming hooligans to pass on by.
.22 ammo is (when available) cheap and easily stored.
Target shooting with .22s is fun and develops expertise in marksmanship

A shotgun can be used to hunt all sorts of game from the smallest(with bird shot) to the large (with slugs.)
A shotgun can also dispatch varmints, but the report is loud and shells are substantially more expensive.
A shotgun is a formidable weapon if one is forced to confront an evil-doer.
There are many target games that are fun ways of developing skills aimed at shooting moving targets.

If one doesn't yet have a vault, shotguns are easily broken down for more secure storage and .22 rifles, if bolt action, can simply have the bolt removed for security when not at home.

Which of the two do you think would be most beneficial primary acquisition for a newly wed or a family man?

[slomofo]

Unless you plan on feeding your family with squirrels, I'd scratch that .22 from the list.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

[sonofeugene]

Get both. It won't break the bank.

If I had to choose, given that I'm already a clean shot and I don't need to hunt my own food, I'd go for the shotgun as it's far, far better for HD.

I have one of each.

[russ69]

Lets get real. If you live in the country you might have a 22 rife or a shotgun to use around the farm, it would be a tool just like a rake or a shovel. Otherwise the only legit need is for fun and home protection. Sooooo do you have a farm? If not, a pistol might make more sense.

[Flying Dutchman]

One of each, as a good .22 and a good 12ga are staples in one's arsenal.

[SkyHawk]

You could always go combo - like the Savage 43: .22LR over .410 bore. But you'd be better off getting a dedicated 12ga and a 22 rifle.

[Jimi Jah]

What, do you live in the Alaska wilderness? Most buy food at stores.

[Ziggy91]

Unless you plan on feeding your family with squirrels, I'd scratch that .22 from the list.

My first laugh of the day. This is a valid point.

Owning both has its advantages, but I would never recommend a 12g for home defense, or any ownership aside from hunting or sporting. I'll give you my version... I think every "family man" should have a .223 and a 9mm in the home. Both can serve the purpose of learning to shoot, and home defense. Someone can argue about bigger caliber a like nothing less than a .45 or a .357 or whatever, but the FBI recently proved their arguments wrong.

[Mr. Beretta]

"If your definition of "family man" is one charged with providing food and protection for a family, which would you recommend, a .22 rifle? Or a shotgun?"


.22 rifle.

[Rosebud22]

Get both. It won't break the bank.

^^^^ Kinda what I was thinking.

[bombadillo]

12ga shotgun. And get to barrels with it. Get a 12 gauge barrel that is able to shoot steel shot, and get a rifled slug barrel that you can use at distance to shoot virtually anything alive. It would be a gun that could do absolutely everything to supply for your family, and get a pump action that is almost bulletproof

[Decoligny]

Unless you plan on feeding your family with squirrels, I'd scratch that .22 from the list.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

Go with a .22 magnum.

I know people who have successfully taken white tail deer with .22 magnum. Not legally, but they did take white tail on a regular basis. Back in the reddest of redneck country you do what you have to in order to feed your family.

Another option is to go with a shotgun, and buy an .22lr insert for it. If you have a pump action, they make short inserts the size of a shotgun shell. Accuracy may be an issue as it is basically a 2.5" barrel stuffed inside a shotgun. If you have a break action, they make nice long inserts that give you the accuracy of a rifle.

[meno377]

"If your definition of "family man" is one charged with providing food and protection for a family, which would you recommend, a .22 rifle? Or a shotgun?"


.22 rifle.

Plus one to this. I would add if you are responsible for providing food and protection for the family, it would include if you all had to bug out, even if it's just for a moment.

A .22 rifle will allow you to carry 2000 rounds or even more in a backpack and with good shot placement, you can take down a lot of 4 legged critters. More than most would expect.

[artb]

The totally dedicated family man would get both.

[John Joseph]

The totally dedicated family man would get both.

Agreed, but which one first?
In a post-Newsom California there may not be time for a newlywed man on a tight budget to acquire both.
Not to promote bad ju-ju but the last firearm you buy just might be the last firearm you're able to buy if Hillary and Obama have their way.