Next gun for safety

[jben]

I sometimes find it curious that nobody ever seems to recommend a good lever action. Something like a Marlin 336 in .30-30 or a 1894 in .357mag/.38special or .44mag would serve the stated purpose, be good for hunting and plinking and not break the bank.

[SDgarrick]

+1 on the .22, they are lethal, can be fired by about anyone and make a great economic training tool in case these riots you speak of ever manifest. What good is feedin 15 people if none of 'em can shoot worth a damn. Really, you can't afford not to have a .22.

[ripcurlksm]

500 yards is a lot closer than you think

[TheBundo]

I sometimes find it curious that nobody ever seems to recommend a good lever action. Something like a Marlin 336 in .30-30 or a 1894 in .357mag/.38special or .44mag would serve the stated purpose, be good for hunting and plinking and not break the bank.

I'm with you on the lever-action

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IX2oZ6Kv_qo

[mcsoupman]

So a .22, a sks, or a sux-16ca. do those sound like my options? The m1a, mini 14s seem to be a little pricier.

[Maddog5150]

500 yards is a lot closer than you think

500 yards of self defense, especially in most areas in california, is an oxymoron imo.
At what point do you believe your life is in danger? I'm sure the joggers up the street are really coming towards you
A shotgun would be more than enough in the urban scenario. I like the idea of a lever 44mag but thats because Im just crazy. A mini, kel-tec, mmg m4gery would be the max range.

OP, I just had a conversation today with a guy who wants to take sniper classes with his mossberg 100 and OEM scope. Whatever you do, dont be THAT guy

[mcsoupman]

OP, I just had a conversation today with a guy who wants to take sniper classes with his mossberg 100 and OEM scope. Whatever you do, dont be THAT guy

Why? In golf they always say it is the swing, not the club

Anything particularily different about the lever action rifles?

[ripcurlksm]

500 yards of self defense, especially in most areas in california, is an oxymoron imo.

i wasnt implying that, just a distance of 500 yards at the rage is not as far as it might seem in someones head

[mcsoupman]

And BTW, I currently have subdivided partially developed land over 500 yards clear behind my house.

[bruceflinch]

I'd opt for Mini-14,, then shotgun & then handgun. in that order.

[Gator Monroe]

SKS !

[Maddog5150]

Why? In golf they always say it is the swing, not the club

That might very well be so but you cant win the indy in a pinto no matter how much money you dump into it

i wasnt implying that, just a distance of 500 yards at the rage is not as far as it might seem in someones head

Apology, I misread you post. I do however disagree. 500 yards is a lot farther than people think. At an open ranger thats marked with little to no landmarks it may seem closer but where there are terrain features, range seems to be farther than you think. Example, run 500 yards. Thats really easy. Now run 500 yards in dense forrest. You may not even see 500 yards in that terrain.

[mcsoupman]

What is the range on the 10/22 versus my 24" shotgun slug? Sorry, I am still learning.

[Maddog5150]

slugs can be pretty accurate up close but they start to sail randomly the farther you get.I remember taking a couple of benelli tacticool shotguns for Riverside police to check out a few years back and after they demo'd it, they were trying to hit a gong out 150 yards with the M4's rifle sights. needless to say, the rifled slugs were sailing randomly away from the gong.

I can get a pretty tight group with my 10/22 at 100 yards. I sure the M4 and M2 would of done better with higher grade hunting loads than the low velocity LE slugs though.

[squishyhead]

OP- I think the 10/22 would be perfect for you. So many things about .22LR go unappreciated, especially for the benefits it provides to newbie shooters. First, ammo is REALLY cheap so you can get a lot of practice in that can help you perfect your marksmanship skills. Second, never be fooled by .22's size, it is a lethal round and should be taken very seriously for that single reason. Third, the 10/22 is a nice little semi-auto that won't break the bank but will offer you some repeating fire protection should S ever HTF.

PS- I'd rule out the mini-14. I've shot several, and a quick analysis would be that ruger TRIED to make a minuaturized M1A, and failed miserably. Buying a ranch rifle for what they usually go for just isn't right.