I’m at the beginning of the process of acquiring a gun (maybe several). I have a list and would like some brutal/practical feedback on my choices.
My family hates that I plan to get a gun; this is the main factor in my decisions.

First (and potentially only) is a 12-gage shotgun. For home defense and hunting.
Something like the Winchester 1300, Defender 8 shot or Coastal Marine; Benelli, Remington and Mossberg make similar models but the 1300s have 8 shot capacity. Our hobby is sailing, that’s why I’m considering the Marine version.

Second and Third, I’m not sure in which order.
A.22 automatic pistol. For personal defense. Maybe the Berretta or the Walther. Small, light, easy to conceal and widely available inexpensive ammunition (cheaper to shoot and get good at).
The Thomson/Center G2 Contender Rifle with several different barrels (different calibers). Mostly for hunting, but potentially for sniping and defense.

All thoughts and criticisms appreciated.
Thanks
Michael

Okay I know the mods dont like a lot of gun talk on the board so I will make this short and sweet and tell you only what you need to know to be safe.

1. Shoot a 12ga indoors and you may very well go deaf and even make your ears bleed. The smaller the room the better the chances. If you have children they are even more susceptible to permanent ear damage.

2. I have trouble even stopping rabbits with a 22cal so I wouldn't even consider it for defense. Granted (as Bountyhunter may tell you) we've got real BIG rabbits here in Texas though.

Firearms are a legitimate topic of discussion. That said, Doug and I ( both firearm owners) know to well this subject can turn into a Frankenstein made up of Michael Moore and Col Jeff Cooper body parts. So once more into the breech and posters mind your manners. You have made a few very telling remarks. This is a point of conflict with your family. You don't seem to have a great deal of firearms experience, yet perceive several potential scenarios of need. Retailers LOVE consumers like you. You need to sit down, put your hands on your head and count to 10 on this. I would find a local shooting range, gun club or collector's association. The people involved in this activity are opinionated, prejudiced and oftentimes dead wrong about reality. But, they can help you "kick some tires." A firearm is no less expensive, potentially dangerous and with social liability than a car. Would you buy a corvette right out of high school driver's ed? Where do you live? What prompted this interest? Who will have ( or get) access to these tools? Lets cypher these problems before stirring the Alchemist's pot of ballistics and delivery systems.

Thats's pretty good. You sure you're not a professional writer? Maybe you should be... seriously.

Well said Chris, Thank You, many good points. Don't be in a hurry to spend your money, what's "right" for one "expert" may not be right for you. Get some training with both handgun and shotgun. The training will help you make good choices when buying and make you a better/safer shooter. Take a look at www.frontsight.com. Check with ranges in your area and see if they have classes. Last and not least, you really need to work this out with your family.

You’re absolutely correct. I need to be very careful about this, and I intend to. I don’t plan to buy anything anytime soon. I have a lot to learn. So far my experience consists of gun safety training in the Boy Scouts (20 years ago or so) and a few times out with friends “plinking”. I think it would be a good skill to have in one toolbox, shooting that is. I also think it would be better to learn how to shoot before the “need” arises. The advice I’ve received from gun stores is “Go bigger” always. With the potential for accidents I intend to get only as much fire power as I need. I’m not interested in collecting an arsenal, just having the appropreate tool.
I hope to one day to buy a boat and sail around the world, also, I hope to canoe up through Canada to Hudson Bay. I’ve been told that for both excursions a gun (and the skill to use it is advisable. This is all some time away. What brought my interest to front burner was a recent crime in my neighborhood. A retired widow was home along during the day and a guy broke through her locked screen door, beat her up and robbed her. Now I’m not a 76 year old and I’m usually not home during the day. Also, we keep our doors locked. A few days later another neighbor’s window was broken while she was sleeping, her scream scared away whomever it was. We’ve formed a neighborhood watch but since then several cars and garages have been broken into. I live in Minneapolis Minnesota.
Thanks.

Boat owners, especially on a world cruise face a multitude of laws and regulations in each port of call. That said, your future canoe venture north bring a favourite rifle immediately to mind, The British SMLE .303 . You have a 10 round, rapid fire weapon equally capable of dropping a surly moose , south seas pirate or putting a round into his search light. Ammunition is still fairly common ( especially Canada,) the weapon is robust, built to take abuse and still relatively inexpensive. Mine sits in the closet with the bolt secreted nearby. This business of "go bigger" has merit, but like anything you pay for it on both ends and at some point the returns diminish. The post about a 12 guage's acoustical damage is case in point, along with recoil and controllability. I once went to the range with a prewar, 6" model 10 Smith & Wesson in .38 spl. I had a recent police academy grad next to me. He had some hi capacity shiny thing in the latest wonder round. He looked at my old wheel gun with a sad look while putting on his recoil gloves, yellow shooting glasses and laying out multiple magazines before croutching in some stance stolen from a Pilotti studio. I rapid fired 6 rounds of 200 grain super police from a camp Perry stance before he could bring his 3 dot ,glow in the dark sights to bear. I put them in the torso target's head to. He was not amused. Big isn't much use if you miss big with it. I have an even better home defense system though. My tomcat confronted a maintenance man who forgot to knock once. Now that was messy <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />. Have you considered a small, yappy dog? Burglars hate them <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

"I once went to the range with a prewar, 6" model 10 Smith & Wesson in .38 spl. I had a recent police academy grad next to me. He had some hi capacity shiny thing in the latest wonder round. He looked at my old wheel gun with a sad look while putting on his recoil gloves, yellow shooting glasses and laying out multiple magazines before croutching in some stance stolen from a Pilotti studio."

I'm glad I don't understand a word of it.... I'll just try to get to work tommorrow without firing a shot - real or imaginary

Living in peace
Martin

Reminds me of my uncle Fred back in WV. He is the stereotypical hillbilly who lives way back in the woods in a house he built himself from wood he cut himself from his land, hunts when he needs food and doesn't worry about hunting seasons and laws, grows all his own food and when he needs some money he will cut some trees and sell some wood. County had a shooting contest, people came from all round, country and city folk, some professional shooters who drive around the country to contests like that. Everyone talked fred into going to the competition even though he had never competed in anything before. He reluctantly agreed drove the old rusty scout a few hours to the town where it was held with an old worn out hunting rifle, took first place and drove home bored because the professional shooters were so easy to beat. It goes to show the best rifle is not the newest, most expensive one you can get it is the one you use and are familiar with.

MichaelJ:

Based on your previous post regarding non-lethal ammunition, don't buy any guns for any purpose but do get a premium grade mink glove to sooth any "badies" that may accost you.

Bountyhunter