School me on shot guns

Bugsinrugs · 11-17-2018, 01:55 PM

Ok...someone talk me down. My blood is still boiling from having my truck stolen right in my front of my house. I’m out in the woods on five acres and my nearest neighbor is about 1/4 mile away. I have never been a gun person but now I’m thinking about a shot gun for intimidation and protection. Is this a stupid reaction? I am thinking about a pump action shot gun. Recommendations? Referrals? As in councilling? Thanks

Scott Douglas · Scott Douglas's Garage

No offense, but, your truck wasn't stolen, you gave it away by leaving it unlocked with the keys in it.
I don't care where you live, if that's how you operate you shouldn't have a gun IMO.

Just my perspective on your situation.

Bill Douglas · 11-17-2018, 01:59 PM

A shotgun is a good idea.

Protection and fun.

A remington 870 is the standard it seems.

BeyGon · 11-17-2018, 02:05 PM

Would a shot gun have helped you when someone stole your truck, did you see them do it, did they know you are unarmed? Would you have used it? Did you in fact leave the key in it?

Seahawk · 02:16 PM

Guns are inanimate objects, you really need to understand the import of brandishing a weapon before you decide to buy the inanimate object for any purpose.

There is a world of difference between owning a gun and deciding to use one in anger. Be smart, it isn’t what you think. Trust me.

KFC911 · 11-17-2018, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

A shotgun is a good idea.

Protection and fun.

A remington 870 is the standard it seems.

An older one is a few feet away....19" bbl with Fiocchi Low recoil Buck Shot...spreads to about 9" at 25' or so...

Need to clean mine...it's been in service

fintstone · fintstone's Garage

If you are out in the woods on five acres and your nearest neighbor is about 1/4 mile away...you are brave or crazy not to have a gun. Do you have a fire extinguisher and a smoke detector...and a first aid kit? If you called 911, how long before five-O arrives? When seconds count...how fast will law enforcement be there? Minutes or hours?

If you are not used to guns, get someone to teach you...and read the law (as you still could not shoot a guy in CA for stealing your truck).

varmint · 11-17-2018, 03:04 PM

Take a firearms safety course. If you’re in Nevada I assume there’s one within five miles of you.

Fun way to spend a weekend.

P.s.
The first thing they will teach you is that you’re not allowed to use deadly force in the defense of property, like atruck. Only if your life is in danger.

id10t · 11-17-2018, 03:05 PM

I'd recommend a pistol caliber carbine. Since you are in CA, a 9mm AR is out.

357 or 44 lever gun for capacity, a 30-30 if you think 5 rounds is enough.

Bugsinrugs · 11-17-2018, 03:11 PM

Good advice from everyone. Yes, I know it was my fault for leaving my keys on the floor of my truck. Been doing it for 25 years and it caught up to me. I don’t think I could shoot someone. Only if my family was threatened. I would most definitely get training. My best buddy has a concealed gun permit and has offered to school me. Like I said before, there is ( according to the Sheriff) a bunch of meth heads that follow contractors to job sites. They steal tools in the dead of night. I lost a Bosch multi tool but gained two roof harnesses and some kind of unfolding photographers screen. They were in the back of my truck when it was recovered.

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

There is a 9 mm carbine sold here for right around $500, uses Glock magazines, have had a hard time not picking one up. Sort of surprised my buddy had not gotten one. Maybe I will shoot his, but I expect Governor Gavin Nuisance will make them illegal soonish.

Shotgun would probably be the ticket for you, but it must be secure, always. You will want to practice with it. You can even get a little machine to throw clay pigeons

It is the answer to a different problem than the truck taken thing

ckelly78z · 11-17-2018, 07:06 PM

I own guns to prevent being a victim. Part of safety is ensuring the keys are in my pocket at all times, and letting people know I like to shoot, by doing target practice regularly on my own property.

Evans, Marv · 11-17-2018, 09:20 PM

^^^^^ I own guns for the same reason. Keep in mind they are a tool to be used for the purposes they are appropriate for. I also live in a rural area, and everybody around here owns guns, and it's common knowledge to anyone who comes into the area.

Gogar · 11-17-2018, 09:39 PM

Nothing wrong with a shotgun, but I agree about why your car got stolen.

A Remington 870 would be fine, a few rounds of birdshot and a few of 00 behind them.

Cajundaddy · Cajundaddy's Garage

I like shotguns. I prefer 12GA. I think we should be able to own them and we should regularly qualify at the range so we are skilled with their operation and pretty damn accurate. That said I think they should ALWAYS be a last resort for home defense.

I like layers of protection far better than just my 12GA. My property is gated, I have 2 big black dogs for early detection, I have motion sensor lighting, my cars are inside a locked garage, I have very secure doors and windows, I have a big fat can of bear spray under the bed.

If some bad guy wants to do wrong at my house, he has a lot of hurdles to jump. If he gets past all of my layers of protection I have been up for a while, made a pot of coffee, called 911, and my 12GA with duck load followed by a slug is ready to go. I am now fully alert and I have the tactical advantage of knowing where he is while he does not know where I am. After all this, if he keeps coming, he has earned two in the chest on my terms.

Get your house in order first. Once you have multiple layers of protection in place to make yourself a hardened target, to buy you time, and give you the tactical advantage , go pick out a nice 870 if you still feel the need. Make that 12GA your last resort, not your 1st groggy reach at 2AM.

KFC911 · 11-17-2018, 11:30 PM

If I fear for my safety....all bets would be off. I ain't shooting over "stuff" though...nope.

plexiform · plexiform's Garage

Mossberg 500 ATI Scorpion is a good one for intimidation.

Seahawk · 04:29 AM

Tell you what, Bugs, I have a 20ga 870 Express we haven't shot in 10 years.

Nice little shotgun, great, I think, for your needs. I bought it from a friend of mine for my son 20 years ago.

Two barrels, one for shot, one for slugs.

You pay shipping and it is yours...KC got me in the spirit!

ckelly78z · 11-18-2018, 04:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seahawk

Tell you what, Bugs, I have a 20ga 870 Express we haven't shot in 10 years.

Nice little shotgun, great, I think, for your needs. I bought it from a friend of mine for my son 20 years ago.

Two barrels, one for shot, one for slugs.

You pay shipping and it is yours...KC got me in the spirit!

Good on you for finding the Christmas spirit early ! that's very generous.

Seahawk · 11-18-2018, 05:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ckelly78z

Good on you for finding the Christmas spirit early ! that's very generous.

I blame KC911 - Rat Bastard

In the years since I bought the 870, we inherited some really nice shot guns and the Express got pushed to the back of the safe.

Better to find a good home!