Why do you have the particular guns you have?

[BigBear]

Well, you'll notice I made an exception for firearms. If I were to get suddenly rich it is not beyond the realm of possibility that I would walk into a gunshop, approach the counter, and when the clerk asks "can I help you", I'll look around while pointing at everything and respond, yes, I'll take it. Just give me a number and while you guys are boxing it all up and doing the CBI check, I'll be at the bank getting a cashier's check...

+1 x infinity.

[sniper7]

Well, you'll notice I made an exception for firearms. If I were to get suddenly rich it is not beyond the realm of possibility that I would walk into a gunshop, approach the counter, and when the clerk asks "can I help you", I'll look around while pointing at everything and respond, yes, I'll take it. Just give me a number and while you guys are boxing it all up and doing the CBI check, I'll be at the bank getting a cashier's check...

no way you are thinking on too small a scale.
I would walk in and just say: "I would like to buy it". the desk guy would be like, "what". me: "yes I would like to buy it...the store...I am going to buy it, so go get your owner"

[theGinsue]

Guns? Who here has guns? I thought all of this talk was just theory - at least since we all lost our guns in tragic boating accidents.

[Batteriesnare]

Guns? Who here has guns? I thought all of this talk was just theory - at least since we all lost our guns in tragic boating accidents.

I suppose we're relishing the cherished memories we had before that fateful day.....

[MichiganMilitia]

I only have a few..

Winchester model 1894 (made in 1994) in .30-30 -- This is a fun gun to shoot and is a classic. It was my first gun and I think that someday I would love to sit on my back porch and shoot prairie dogs or something with it while smoking a cigar. I won't ever sell this one.

Mossberg 500A Persuader (full synthetic stock version) 12 gauge, 20" barrel -- I just got this one a few months ago and I plan to keep it as a home defense and general purpose shotgun. I've shot trap with it, I've shot paper targets with it, and I'll shoot anything that comes in the front door without my permission with it.

AR-15 in 6.8x43mm with the DMR-C chamber (the tightest one available) 16" barrel -- This was my first AR and will stay with me until I die. It can easily hit a quarter at 100yds. If I was going to hunt any small or medium game, this is the gun I would use. It can carry 1000 ft-lbs of energy out to 350 yds. I can't think of many situations where I would need to shoot much further than that.

AR-15 in 5.56mm, 16" barrel -- This is quickly becoming my "go-to" gun. It's the cheapest to shoot and it is fairly accurate. I have a RDS on here and I like to do "run and gun" drills and practice (and improve!) most of my shooting skills with this one. In a SHTF scenario, I would grab this AR and the Mossberg along with their respective ammo cans full of ammo and head for the hills in my truck.

I hope to get a Glock 19 and start carrying, but there are other things that need to be taken care of first. (finish school, etc)

[sniper7]

I only have a few..
I hope to get a Glock 19 and start carrying, but there are other things that need to be taken care of first. (finish school, etc)

just carry your shotgun...that's what the thugs do

[tbaby303]

buying guns is like being hook on crack, you can never get enought. Once you keep going, you can never stop.

[Troublco]

Guns? Who here has guns? I thought all of this talk was just theory - at least since we all lost our guns in tragic boating accidents.

What a sad day that was.

The Mossberg 590 I had prior to the TBA (Tragic Boating Accident) was a terrific house gun. I had it loaded with those mini-shells (#12 shot, if I remember correctly) in the belief that even with a cylinder bore, it'll still be like a freight train at 21 +/- feet but it wouldn't go much further than the first wall it hit. Plus, to be flat out honest, there's something about a shotgun that'll mount a bayonet that just appeals to me.

I've had a few folks at work ask me about what they should get for home defense, and they usually are thinking about a pistol. I love pistols, I enjoy them, but honestly if someone who doesn't yet own a gun asks me about the ideal home defense weapon I usually steer them to a shotgun. Pistols, in my opinion, take substantially more training to be effective with in the home-defense role and unless you're using some sort of frangible ammo (Like Glasers) you have a high risk of overpenetration. I don't know about you guys, but I have homes around me and I know most of these folks and don't want bullets flying around through their places. A shotgun, on the other hand, is often cheaper to purchase, cheaper to practice with, and the ammo is available almost anywhere. Go to wallyworld and buy one of those 100 round boxes of shells and go practice every month or two. Load 'er up with birdshot and you're good. In the distances you find in most homes, a column of birdshot will still go through a person bent on doing you and yours bodily harm like that freight train I mentioned earlier. But it won't go much further. Plus, there's the psychological factor of them looking down the equivalent of a sewer pipe to make them think about changing their mind before they continue whatever they're doing. Plus you can just tape a flashlight to a shotgun barrel for a cheap & easy tactical light, unless you want to get a light-equipped foreend. I do recommend a full stock of some sort though. Have any of you guys ever shot those pistol-grip only setups? Not exactly conducive to practicing a lot. Or even much!

[Irving]

I disagree. Birdshot will hardly penetrate the skin. I've even seen arrest photos of a guy that took a round of birdshot to the face. It just looked like he had chicken pox. If a round won't go through walls, it doesn't stand a chance going through bad guys.

[MichiganMilitia]

If a round won't go through walls, it doesn't stand a chance going through bad guys.

I agree. That's why I'm a big fan of 0, 00, or 000 Buckshot. Nothing like getting hit with multiple 9mm bullets going 1300 fps. ...Talk about a show stopper!