Gun Recommendations? (Bozeman: crime, homes, living)

[Clark Fork Fantast]

Originally Posted by AQHA

Given your name (Snowdreamer), I will assume you are a lady-- or at least a man who wears eyeliner, either way, the following advice will apply. Get a .38 revolver with a 4 inch barrel.

I'd go with the .38 because the recoil (how hard it kicks you) is very light, and when you want more powerful ammunition you can use the .357 magnum in the same gun. The .357 mag is a very powerful round and effective on man or beast. The .38/.357 revolver is a great combination.

I recommend you go with a revolver over an automatic because the revolver is very simple. An auto in the hands of a well practiced and experienced shooter has some advantages, but for your purpose the revolver will be more simple and easier to learn.

I agree with everything you said--and I bought a Ruger SP101 years ago for self-defense. Prior to that I took a handgun safety course where they let you try out several kinds of weapons. I found that I simply couldn't get the automatic to eject properly every time, but the revolver was perfect for me. I also found, to my surprise, that I was very good at hitting the target, so I've been plinking ever since! But it's a lot more fun to go target shooting with a Single Action, so I use a Uberti .38 Stallion. The ammo works in the Ruger, too. I go to the range and practice with the Ruger, and have fun shooting the Uberti. And all I wanted out of the course what some knowledge about gun safety! That's the way it goes!

Snowdreamer, if you're missing NW MT (so am I), then you're probably not in MT. There must be a large city nearby with a gun range, and they probably offer classes in gun safety. You can probably just google "gun safety classes" and your city. I'd recommend a one-on-one all-day course if that's possible.

As for a rifle, you shouldn't have any problem learning to shoot a Winchester such as the 30-30. But for self-defense inside the home the shotgun suggestion is probably better.

[mark6052]

take your time to learn what you like and are confortable with. also try visit with other women that shoot. they will be more helpful. start with borrowing a .22 pistol. I've started many shooters with mine. stay away from those that want to help by letting you shoot there .45mag or big boomers. a .38 or 9mm is plenty. there is some good performance ammo out there for them. welcome to the world of target shooting, hunting or personnal defense.

[Reziac]

Originally Posted by organick

Don't think anyone plans on outlawing guns anytime soon. Just my 2 cents but the idea of guns providing protection is kind of backwards. Protection from what? The incidence of random violent crimes are so small its crazy. On the other hand you have the chance of accidents using a gun or children getting ahold of it. Again just my 2 cents and not at all saying you should not be allowed to own a gun just voicing a personal opinion about safety.

Statistically, gun accident is one of the LEAST likely causes of death in children. They are far more likely to drown in their own bathtub.

Random violent crimes are scarce precisely because there are still a lot of armed citizens. Crimes that get stopped before they're quite committed don't make it into police blotters, so the numbers are hard to pin down, but per the most conservative estimates, at least a million crimes are prevented each year by an armed citizen being on the spot (and per some studies, the estimate is as high as two million crimes prevented).

I personally have stopped three crimes by being the armed person on the spot: Ran off a guy who was beating hell out of my neighbour; ran off a guy who was about to rob the place (sneaking around at midnight on someone else's property kinda informed me what he was up to); ran off a guy who was about to come into my house and knowing him, take everything that was loose and beat hell out of me too, since he outweighed me by 150 pounds and was known to enjoy such activities. My friend Mr.Ruger equalized that situation; otherwise I might well be dead (ditto for my neighbour).

In England, where average citizens are now disarmed, home invasion robberies are a major and increasing problem, and the perps no longer care if you're home. Might be fun to knock you around a bit!

[organick]

Originally Posted by Reziac

Statistically, gun accident is one of the LEAST likely causes of death in children. They are far more likely to drown in their own bathtub.

Random violent crimes are scarce precisely because there are still a lot of armed citizens. Crimes that get stopped before they're quite committed don't make it into police blotters, so the numbers are hard to pin down, but per the most conservative estimates, at least a million crimes are prevented each year by an armed citizen being on the spot (and per some studies, the estimate is as high as two million crimes prevented).

I personally have stopped three crimes by being the armed person on the spot: Ran off a guy who was beating hell out of my neighbour; ran off a guy who was about to rob the place (sneaking around at midnight on someone else's property kinda informed me what he was up to); ran off a guy who was about to come into my house and knowing him, take everything that was loose and beat hell out of me too, since he outweighed me by 150 pounds and was known to enjoy such activities. My friend Mr.Ruger equalized that situation; otherwise I might well be dead (ditto for my neighbour).

In England, where average citizens are now disarmed, home invasion robberies are a major and increasing problem, and the perps no longer care if you're home. Might be fun to knock you around a bit!

I beg you to show legitimate evidence of this. Plus your example was not very good, if your neighbor was being beat and someone was breaking into your house those are both crimes. I have a very hard time believe 2 million. If that were true why wouldn't the police and gov encourage citizens to arm themselves??

My brother has worked in a prison for 20 years and has gotten to know some inmates personally. When he asks them where they get there guns from the most common answer is from you. They target gun owners for robberies when they are not home in order to steal there weapons.

[TypicalCalifornian]

OK, I resolved years ago to not provide research for the obviously uninformed but i have character flaws that prevent me from just ignoring.

John Lott, Ph.D, wrote the definitive book on gun use in America "More Guns, Less Crime. he has testified before Fed and State congress and this has resulted in 34 states passing CCW laws and in each case crime dropped. The statistics in support of gun ownership are irrefutable. Lott does a good job describing the before and after in the UK, Australia and some rather interesting stat's about crime between states bordering Canada.

[Wingfoot]

A Ruger22 pistol that you can shoot a lot and get good with is better than ANY gun you can't hit with,much less a shotgun inside a house for an unexpierenced lady.

People make fun of a 22, but aint nobody volunteering to stand in front of one.

[cedar_bluff_tree_farm]

Originally Posted by snowdreamer

My apologies if this topic has been visited before...but just wondering, what kind of pistol or rifle is recommended for protection of person and property? I've never really had reason to have either before, but I'd like to get one or both before they're outlawed. I've also been looking at taking classes through the NRA on how to handle these since I have limited experience and nobody to teach me. Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

When I go hiking in bear country with a buddy, I take a .22 caliber handgun along because it provides excellent protection in case I run into a grizzly bear.

You might say - .22 caliber won't do anything for the bear.

Sure it will. I shoot my buddy in the leg, and then I run! Works every time.

[AQHA]

Originally Posted by Montana Griz

In order to be able to fire .357 Mag ammo, you have to have a revolver chambered for .357 ammo. Then....you can fire .38 special ammo in it (if you want to) for a round that is less powerful and have less recoil than the .357 Mag.

Good point, I wasn't very clear on that.


I also have a SW snubbie, I basically use it for a belly gun. Kicks like a devil with that short barrel but I love the gun. I know it will do it's part if called to action.

[Reziac]

Originally Posted by TypicalCalifornian

OK, I resolved years ago to not provide research for the obviously uninformed but i have character flaws that prevent me from just ignoring.

John Lott, Ph.D, wrote the definitive book on gun use in America "More Guns, Less Crime. he has testified before Fed and State congress and this has resulted in 34 states passing CCW laws and in each case crime dropped. The statistics in support of gun ownership are irrefutable. Lott does a good job describing the before and after in the UK, Australia and some rather interesting stat's about crime between states bordering Canada.

That's precisely the research I was thinking of, but couldn't make the name come to mind at 5am. Thanks for bringing it up!

He has a website here: The Bias Against Guns with links to the data he used for another book, "The Bias Against Guns; Why Almost Everything You've Heard about Gun Control Is Wrong"
a blog here: John Lott's Website
and an interview here (one of many, this one is fairly short): Interview with John Lott, author of More Guns, Less Crime

Side note on certain "low crime rates" reported from Europe: their reporting can be radically different from ours; frex, in some countries it's not "rape" unless the woman was injured badly enough to need hospitalization. Therefore -- hardly any rapes are reported.

Of the three incidents I referred to, only one got as far as being a crime (neighbour getting beat up; cops didn't arrive til half an hour later). The other two were stopped before they got that far. In all three cases, it was the last time those career lowlifes ever threatened our persons or property.

[AQHA]

Originally Posted by TypicalCalifornian

John Lott, Ph.D, wrote the definitive book on gun use in America "More Guns, Less Crime. he has testified before Fed and State congress and this has resulted in 34 states passing CCW laws and in each case crime dropped.

I read this book. Very informative.

I like the advise given by a previous poster about the .22, he makes a good point. It's not really a man stopper but it can be a situation stopper.