What gun to buy?

[Ryguy]

If you plan on using the rifle for hunting I would recommend a 25-06 or the 270. The 25-06 is a very flat shooting rifle, however the shells are pretty spendy these days. The 270 ballistics are very close to the 25-06 and the 270 shells are much less expensive to buy. Either rifle will do you well. The 30-06 is also a good rifle. But my prefference is the 270 or 25-06. You can pick up a brand new Weatherby Vanguard rifle for $399.00

Hand gun I would personally go with a .45 cal.

[StarGate]

Originally Posted by jaseman

I love my lever-action Marlin 30-30 carbine. Doesn't reach out quite as for as a 30-06, but when I was still hunting, it was all dense woods and brush. The short carbine was perfect, and the lever-action let me re-rack the chamber quicker than a bolt if necessary. It's still my favorite to take out to the range!!!

I currently have my 2nd 30-30 Marlin. First one was stolen in a burgulary. I started using it (the first one) when I was about 21 and continued up into my late 30's. I love the gun as a brush gun for it's shortness and ability to swing in tight quarters. My X used it several times because of it's light weight and low recoil. The 2 drawbacks I found with the gun were range (horrible ballistics) and penetration (rarely had a through and through). I don't care for the the Winchester equivilent because of the top eject and the problems that presents mounting a scope. I know it's a short range gun but I like the ability to be more precise with the aim that the crosshairs offer over the iron sights. A 4x40 scope is more than enough for this gun but I use a 3x9x40 and just keep it set at the low end magnification. I love the 308 a friend uses.

[keith_stepp]

Originally Posted by 900classic

I'm not too familiar with guns but my wife and I have decided that we would both like to take the gun safety classes that are offered at our local gun shop and purchase guns.

What would you recommend as a good handgun for home/personal protection for a man? and for a woman?

We'd also like to purchase a rifle. Just about everyone that I have spoken with has recommended either a 30-06 or a 270.

What are the best guns the price? Any help would be great! Thanks!

First off... I own many guns and have hunted regularly for over 30 years, so I am not an anti-gun nut.

There are a lot of good reasons to own a gun, but personal defense is not one of them, unless you are willing to invest a lot of time in combat/personal defense training; and it is no small commitment. Brandishing a fire arm is not enough to deter a person who has decided to break into your home or car. You had better be prepared to kill that person; and again... that is no small commitment. That said... I do think that everyone has a personal responsibility to defend themselves, but there are better ways than a hand gun.

However...

Shooting is a lot of fun. My hand gun of choice is the .357 magnum revolver. Why? Two reasons... First, in terms of ballistics and force, the .357 is a good combination of knock down power and very flat trajectory. I bought my S&W 929 to hunt with though. It is IMO the perfect hand gun round for hunting javelina or varmits. After a couple of boxes though, this gun will bang you up pretty good, which leads me to... Second, it can also shoot .38 special cartridges, which you can shoot all day long. I typically shoot .38 special when I am at the range, because it is a lot more fun than getting beat up by the .357. I prefer revolvers for nostalgic reasons (I love cowboy guns), but a semi-auto is probably more fun to shoot, because you spend less time loading; plus there are some competition shooting that basically requires a larger capacity magazine. The 9mm is probably the most economical gun to get, because the ammunition is dirt cheap. I have fired 3 different brands of 9mm semi-autos: Smith and Wesson, Barretta, and Colt. They all shot about the same. I think the key to success here is to buy a well known manufacturer and avoid knock-offs and surplus weapons.

A decent hand gun will run you $300 to $500 new. If a gun has been well cared for, it will last many lifetimes. I would not buy a gun used, unless it was from a reputable dealer. If you do buy used, do not be surprised if you do not see a significant cost savings. They just do not lose value over time. I would also not buy a gun until you have had a chance to shoot it a few times. Many ranges have loaner guns as well as professional instruction available. Its a good thing.

As far as rifles go... there is no gun more fun to shoot than a .22 LR semi-automatic. I have 3 .22 LR rifles and they are by far my favorite guns. The most fun to shoot is a bolt action Marlin that I have equipped with a scope. It is not much of a hunting rifle (squirrels and rabbits if they sit still), but at the range it is a ton-o-fun. I also have a Ruger semi-auto that is fun to shoot and there is a lot of after market stuff you can get to customize it.

My most used guns though are my shotguns. For either shooting or hunting, they are the most versatile. Bird hunting is about all I do in the way of hunting now-a-days and trap and skeet shooting is very challenging and fun. Unlike target shooting, trap and skeet is fun. I personally get real tired of shooting paper and the only time I go to the range anymore is to sight the guns in and make sure they are still shooting straight, which I do about once a year for all of my guns and is a bit of a chore. A shotgun though just needs to be cleaned and occasionally swap chokes.

I have a .270 bolt action set up for deer hunting, which I have not used (other than to sight in) in years. I am not a deer hunter. Even a .270 has a pretty hard kick and I personally hate the .30-06 for this reason. After a couple of boxes, my shoulder is sore. How is that fun? A .243 or .223 rifle is a ton more fun to shoot, has about the same ballistics, but does not have the knock down power. If you are just target shooting though, who cares? My next gun will probably be an AR-15. It is a bit spendy, but it is a wonderful gun to shoot and there is a ton of options out there to customize it.

If you wanted to hunt... you can hunt deer with a .223 or a .243 (6mm), but clearly they do not have the knock down power of a .30-06. Not even close. The caliber of your rifle depends a lot on the terrain you will be hunting. If you are hunting wide open ranges, you need a gun that can shoot pretty flat out to 300 yards. Only a .30-06 or .270 can really do this and still have the power required to drop your game in its tracks. If you are hunting in the woods where long shots are impossible and quick shooting is a requirement, then something like a .30 30 is plenty good enough, or even a slug shooting shotgun.

BTW, price is the absolute last thing on my list when it comes to selecting a gun. If I cannot afford the gun I want, I simply do not buy a gun at all. Do not compromise based on price. I have never traded a gun or sold a gun. The oldest gun in my collection was my grandfather's and it is at least 40 year's old. If you take care of a well built gun, it will be in your family for generations.

[blkrad]

Seems like the most popular opinion so far is a Kimber .45.
They are great guns....I have one, but...for a new gun we're talking around $1200.00.
Someone mentioned the cost of ammo. Not cheap, especially when you are a beginner shooter and want to go thru a lot of ammo.

I notice that Utah allows concealed carry permits and has many authorized trainers. Perhaps your local gun store has classes. I recommend you take a class. Some trainers have loaner weapons to use for the class.
If not there are many reliable guns, both semi-autos and revolvers, that are available and are in the $500.00 and less range.
I find the cheapest ammo, other than .22, to buy is 9mm. You can hear the .45 advocates hollering now that they won't stop anybody. That simply is not true.
The majority of law enforcement agencies carry nines.

Once you decide on the 9mm there are many options. Someone mentioned Springfield XDs. They are great, easy to shoot, reliable and in the $500 range.
Kahrs, Keltecs, and Ruger has options also.
Again as someone mentioned, a .22 pistol to start with is an excellent way to go. Cheap ammo, no intimidating noise and recoil. Your wife may really prefer that to start.

Pick up some of the Gun Magazines and read. They have a lot of useful info.
Good luck. Once you get into guns they are as much fun as motorcycles.

[Big Ed]

For the pistol, might I recommend a .357. Taurus makes some very nice models that are very reasonably priced. There are some added advantages to the 357, one is it will shoot 38 specials. A much cheaper round that, for practice, are ballisticly very similar to the 357.

Also, with a revolver, there are less moving parts. It is easier to learn the mechanics of it and easier to clean it. Now, I will admit that you may want to be sure to get a double action, this means that you have to thumb the hammer, or a SA/DA. The trigger draw in single action can be long and heavy, but thumb **** it, and it is a very light and crisp trigger.

Just my opinion. I have fired revolvers and semi-autos and I much prefer the revolver for home defense.

As for the shotgun. I agree, they can be wonderful for home defense, if you plan ahead.
For one, you do not want to use a long barreled hunting shotgun for home defense. Several companies make a home defense model of their shotguns. They tend to be shorter, some have a pistol grip, and are easier to maneuver in a household setting. They will also have a larger magazine. Most hunting shotguns are limited to 3 shells, while the home defense versions will hold 7 or 8.
You also need to think about shells. A previous poster stated that "a shotgun will not go through walls". I beg to differ. Load that baby with 000 buckshot, and it will pass cleanly through a wall. So, your choice of ammo is important. #8 shot, while painfull, will most likely not put an adult male down (unless you are really close). Number 2 or 4 will make stew meat out of an intruder at moderate range. And, really, in a house, moderate is likely to be all you need.

Finally on home defense, while the noise of a pump shotgun is intimidating, DO NOT rely on that. If you pick up a firearm in the defense of your home (or anything else) you need to be fully prepared to take a life. If you believe that waving a firearm will scare off an intruder, you may be right, but you may also end up being killed with your own firearm.

A gun can be a reliable method of home defense. But it should also be the last method. Upgrade your locks, check your landscaping, get an alarm. Prevention needs to come first. The firearm should be your fall back.

[mkelley]

For in-the-home defense, a .45/.410 revolver would be my choice.
Taurus International Manufacturing Inc

[Saleenguy]

Hunting small to medium size game, reasonably close range, a 270 or 308 are great rifles....a 30-06 is one of my fav rifles, just a step up.
If you get into big game, and a little more range I love my 300 magnum.

If you get into buy a self loader, its kinda fun to hang out in the shop with a beer, watch TV, and load some rounds.

I prefer Glock, but am not super experienced with hand guns, so that maybe because its what i have and am familiar with more than others.

I have a lot of rifles, and been hunting since i was a kid with my uncles and Dad.

When I go out on my horse I generally carry my 270, its good self protection, and a survival gun for extended bush trips if i need it.

For hunting moose, i am too lazy to ever want to fire twice now, so just use my 300 mag exclusively to hunt.

A moose at 300 yards generally never takes a single step, they just drop.

[hiredgun]

For home defense I would recommend a 357 or 38 revolver, you or the wife could handle it fine (I taught my daughter to shoot with my 357 loaded with 38s when she was 12 or 13) you already stated that you wanted to take classes that's a great start, as others have stated knowing the gun and how to use it is what makes it a defense not simply having it. with that said, I would further recommend practice with the cheap ammo but after you are comfortable and proficient, buy some pre-fragmented ammo to keep it loaded with if you are planning to pull the trigger inside a residence,pre-fragmented ammo helps keep the round only in what you intend to shoot, I am not a fan of a shotgun to be used inside a home unless you plan on doing alot of training with it. a handgun is more natural with little training ( meaning right now with no training you can turn and point to an object or a person with your hand or finger) a long gun takes more practice and like stated in other posts sometimes the length is a problem. for a hunting rifle you first need to decide what you intend to hunt then the choice is easy.
just my .02

[900classic]

Thanks everyone. This is helping a lot.

[Jake '53]

Originally Posted by Big Ed

..... Now, I will admit that you may want to be sure to get a double action, this means that you have to thumb the hammer, or a SA/DA. The trigger draw in single action can be long and heavy, but thumb **** it, and it is a very light and crisp trigger......

A little correction on Big Ed's post. Single action or double action refers to the trigger mechanism. Single action; pulling the trigger only releases the hammer to fire, double action; pulling the trigger cocks and releases the hammer to fire.

A single action revolver requires that the hammer be manually cocked before pulling the trigger, a double action revolver can be fired by just pulling the trigger although double action revolvers can be used single action by manually cocking the hammer, then firing.

[bobkat]

I have two Colt 1911 45s. I love them and can shoot them more accurately then any other pistols I have owned. I also have 2 single action Rugers one in 22 and one in 44mag. For high power rifle I would recommend a bolt action rifle in 308 caliber. Plenty of punch, low recoil and incredible accuracy. The military uses the 308 for their snipers along with the big ole 50 cal.

[Dougsboy]

I keep a winchester 12 guage Defender handy for home protection along with other assorted handguns. The Defender has an 18in. barrel and is legal and lethal. I also own a Charles Daly 1911, a Walther PPK/S and a Kahr 9mm. The Kahr is my favorite for conceal-carry as it is very light and extremly accurate at 25 yds. Loaded up with hollow points it will stop most any perp.

[Big Ed]

Originally Posted by Jake '53

A little correction on Big Ed's post. Single action or double action refers to the trigger mechanism. Single action; pulling the trigger only releases the hammer to fire, double action; pulling the trigger cocks and releases the hammer to fire.

A single action revolver requires that the hammer be manually cocked before pulling the trigger, a double action revolver can be fired by just pulling the trigger although double action revolvers can be used single action by manually cocking the hammer, then firing.

I always get that backwards.

My bad.

[Jake '53]

Originally Posted by Big Ed

I always get that backwards.

My bad.

It could be really embarassing to be in a gun store and ask to see some single action revolvers, complain to the clerk that the trigger doesn't work and have them explain the difference. Not that it ever happened to me.

[900classic]

I just made a few purchases. I got a 30-06 Howa 1500 package and a Smith and wessor air weight revolver. I haven't gone shooting yet but I'll post my impressions soon.

[Jamie C.]

Originally Posted by 900classic

I just made a few purchases. I got a 30-06 Howa 1500 package and a Smith and wessor air weight revolver. I haven't gone shooting yet but I'll post my impressions soon.

You certainly started out on the tough end of the learning curve with that air weight...

You'd better start out with light target loads and work your way up. Otherwise, you're gonna end up with a sore hand and an extreme dislike of snubbie handguns.

[cmdrstp]

Choose the largest caliber you can shoot accurately and fast.

A .45 or larger will offer nothing if you can't control the weapon (this will be compounded by the stress of an actual threat). The gun and it's action must fit your hand and skill. Expose you and your wife to as many models as you can. And, take a handgun safety/defense class. You will get some more insight in an appropriate choice for you and your wife. Asking what the best gun/caliber is akin to asking what the best motorcycle is. There is no cookie cutter answer. Good luck. Let us know what you choose. Once you do, know every inch on it as you do your wife! Familiarity has to be second nature, a reflex. This comes only with diligent practice.

[nomidlname]

Little snub nose hammerless 38 special revolver? very nice. Good for Conceal Carry. It looks like you could comfortably carry it on an ankle holster or a purse if the wife is packin the heat.

After you have put a few hundred rounds through it at the range take it down to your local gun simth guru and have that trigger pull lightened up a little. It will make pulling the trigger on a double action weapon a lot easier. You don't need to but it's something I would look into if I had that gun. Don't get all crazy and make it a 2lb pull... 5 to 8 lbs is a nice smooth double action trigger pull.

Also, when practicing you can empty a chamber, spin the cylinder and gently close it. *Caution* Wait until the cylinder comes to a complete stop before closing or you might damage your weapon. Then take aim and pull the trigger. Obviously 1 of your 5 pulls will not fire a round... You should not be aware when this will happen or otherwise it defeats the purpose of the exercise. What it does is allows you to see if your pulling, flintching, or lifting the weapon as you are firing. Another nice practice technique is to take a verified empty weapon, balance an empty shell casing on top of the barrel and dry fire it. This will help you smooth out your trigger pull. If the empty casing falls you pulled to fast or jerked or something. If the casing stays balanced on the top of your barrel through the complete dry fire then your trigger pull is pretty smooth.

Once again, Have fun, stay safe, and practice

[Idaho]

I wish you and your wife the very best in your decisions about which guns to buy and I applaud you both for taking the safe and informed manner in which you go about being purchasers/responsible gun owners.

Well thankfully not everyone on here is so freaking in love with the .45 cal handgun. Personally I would not own one, but that is just me. A 9mm or .40 caliber is more than enough to get the job done. A big heavy bullet and of its blah blah stopping power is wasted if it can't find its target.

If I wanted a shotgun for home defense, the Mossberg 590 12ga. is supposed to be a good one to look at. If I had the money, I would.

A rifle, I don't know what your needs are but if I could only have one it would be a 30.06. It is what I use and with a 150 grain Nosler partition bullet it will work fine for anything from pronghorn to moose. I must admit I have chosen to not go moose hunting but I would not change rifles or ammo for the purpose.

[SilverEagle]

Congrats, the Howa is a fine package. It is what the Weatherby Vanguard is made from. 30-06 has been around for 100 years.....nuff said.

The airweight might be like Jamie C said can be a steep learning curve, but a 38 Special is a good round............I can't believe I missed this gun thread when it 1st came about?