Sunday, November 2, 2008
Guns
I've been mulling over getting a firearm or two to supplement my collection of sharp pointy objects, since it might be a bit more difficult to purchase a gun after the election. And one of our friends is considering moving to a remote area where it would be a good idea for her to keep a shotgun handy. We have a neighbors who's a Blackhawk instructor, so I asked some advice. The recommendations I got were Glock 19 pistol, Remington 870 (20 gauge, #4 buckshot) shotgun, or Armalite 15 if I wanted a rifle.
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I like Glocks. I like the technology. I like the reliability. The one I wanted to buy before I found out I could not was a Glock 30.
If you get one, consider .40 S&W or .45 ACP. The nice thing about .45 ACP is that if you ever buy a carbine, you can get one that will fire .45 ACP as well. And a hollowpoint .45 ACP is very effective against unarmoured targets. I myself find most 9mm to jumpy and prefer the heavier, but to me more predictable, kick of the .45.
Of course, you can't go wrong with a good 1911 model either. There is a reason, like the Browing HP, that they're still around.
If you are worried about any sort of armoured target and might only have a pistol, an FN FiveSeven might be your route. They have good armour penetration, but so-so stopping power beyond that. But if you get through the armour, it just means you might need a couple or three shots.
For a shotgun, The Mossberg M500 Series or M590 might be a good choice. I found them a very solid and well manufactured shotgun, though the 870 is classic. If you want one that is all weather capable, look for a Marine (as in boat, not USMC) model from whatever line you are looking for. If you could get it, an Atchison would be neat.
If you are thinking of home defense, let me advocate .12 ga. with "tactical loads". These are reduced powder loads and will tned to prevent over-penetration for pellets that miss, a key concern inside a building where drywall predominates. Still enough to drop a target without armour, but safer for your family. Using smaller shot helps a bit too, but it can still have a lot of zing if you have to fire it inside.
Rifles? I'm a big fan of the C7. I don't know if you can buy them down there. A C8 or M4 (semi-auto version) would also be quite ideal. .223 is a good round and can be accurate in the hands of a good shooter to over 500m. Ammo is light enough you can carry 150-180 if you need to slog it somewhere (as vs. my old FN where carrying more than about 100 was a sizable weight).
I've found the most accurate weapons I've ever shot that were acceptable for home defense were a .45 M1911A1 refurbed and a .380 S&W firing flat nosed target shooting rounds (forget the particular name). Yes, the target round might lack a wee bit of zing, but inside the house at 20m or less, they'll still fell a target and are super accurate.
Of course, if you live up here, you're better off with the pointy things.
I have a lot more familiarity with steel and, 20 years ago, might have preferred that. With a blade, I'd be certain of hitting, while I know it's easy to miss with a pistol. But, as the sage said, that was zen, and this is tao. I'm older and slower, and between stairs and furniture, this house isn't conducive to a ballestra and lunge.
Isn't Obama's stance in regard to handguns? I don't think he is against rifles and shotguns.
One of the items I'm considering is a pistol.
I've heard Obama say, more or less verbatim, "I won't take your shotgun, I won't take your rifle, I won't take your handgun." However, now that the Dems have the House, Senate, and White House, I can imagine some frisky legislator presenting a gun control bill; I can imagine Pelosi getting it passed; and I can imagine President Obama signing it even if he doesn't fully agree with it. I might sign it too, in his place. Fine, upstanding citizens like me certainly have a right to machine guns, sniper rifles and automatic grenade lauchers; but I don't want my drunken neighbor and his shrewish wife to have them, much lesss the two Crips and a Blood who had a shootout a couple of blocks fom here.
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