Youth 870 pump 20 gauge. .17 hmr bolt in a Winchester. Sorry you need two. There is no perfect gun. Have been searching my whole life. Now I'm up to 25 long guns. Beware. More addictive than heroin or cigarettes;-)
Best all around gun?
- Thread starter JMER817
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skipmarcy
Veteran Member
I'm surprised no one has mentioned a Savage 24 - they come in several caliber/gauge combinations and are easy enough to use. I had a nice little 20 ga/ .22 mag when I was a kid. Used to be able to get the rifle side in a centerfire cartridge too and of course if you want a 12 ga they have it although for a woman or child the 20 would be a better choice in a light gun like this one. Get one of those elastic cartridge holders that slip on the buttstock - I keep a single 12 ga in my living room with one of those with 5 rounds in it. Very versatile & simple firearm, easy to use in a high-stress situation, you can safely keep it loaded where all you have to do is cock the hammer and go. Not to worry that it's a single shot, a scared woman with a shotgun of any type is a pretty good deterent in my opinion ...
Have some nice guns myself, Marlin lever action 22, Winchester lever action 22 in mag. and regular. Winchester 30-30. In short, I know what a good gun feels like.
If I am picking one gun as you are, it would be a model 62 Taurus in stainless steel. Bought a blued version used about 5 years ago and flat out fell in love with it. Great feel and easy to carry, very accurate.
And, relatively cheap, buy it and beat the heck out of it. Used mine was 180.00 at Cabelas. Had a couple nice Model 61s but they were too valuable to use without feeling guilty about it.
Might be available in magnum also, if so buy one of them also and drag it out when the coyotes come calling.
Taurus International Manufacturing Inc
MotorSeven
Elite Member
There are a lot of opinions here, all valid. If I had to pick one round for everything hands down it's the .22LR. Ammo is versatile(light/heavy bullets, high/low velocity and sub sonic) and cheap when compared to any other caliber. I can take kids and adults out shooting for an entire day and spend less than $30(1K rounds). 5k rounds shipped to your door is around $170...that's a lot of plinking:laughing:
.22 Rifles, pistols and revolvers are also cheaper to own. My favorite is a Ruger 10/22($217 @ WallyWorld) & I own...well..a few of them. The 10 round rotary mag does not stick out so it fits in a scabbard on the tractor or 4 wheeler. When sitting by the door it has a 25 round mag which Ruger themselves now produce. It is the most customizable carbine/rifle in the world with a host of aftermarket parts that will make you dizzy. There are .22 specific scopes, red dots. lasers, holographic and iron sights avaliable. I built one that shoots 1/4" groups @ 25 yds and 3/4" groups at 100 yds as long as the wind and the nut behind the scope do their part. Go here to learn everything you ever wanted or didn't want to know about the Ruger 10/22:
Ruger 10/22 - RimfireCentral.com Forums
I also like to throw the Henry lever action in the scabbard when out on the farm when I'm in the westerner mood. Revolvers and semi auto pistols are also fun to shoot and compliment a rifle or carbine.
Shotguns are great, but I always grab the 10/22 before the 870 or the Mini 14 when something is after the chickens. A tactical stock with a light & holo sight is a ton lighter than a similarly equipped 870. Other calibers do a much better job at distance than a .22, no question. But, a well placed .22 round is a very deadly thing, capable of killing any animal in North America. Recommended for a Griz...no, but capable. As far as 2 legged predators, it's a nasty round that bounces around doing severe damage and I have seen the results many many times...not good.
I guess what I am trying to say that you will find that shooting and carrying a .22 around is easier that the heavier caliber rifles/shotguns. You can practice a lot more and hone your skills.... priceless. Kids and wives love to shoot them, so it is a great learning tool. It's not a big investment, when it gets wet, or muddy, or dusty you won't cringe.
forgeblast
Elite Member
What about an over under, that has .22 in the top and 20 gauge in the bottom. You have it all.
bullbreaker
Elite Member
So can my Rigid framing nail gun when I put a high dollar scope on it. :laughing:
(just kidding cound'nt help it)
Boone
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dmccarty
Super Star Member
A pump gun is not the simplest weapon to use. It has a safety, a pump, and a slide release. If doing combat reloads the shell holder can really mess things up.
That pump can mess you up too with even a little bit of stress. I have seen plenty of people pump a live round out of the gun by mistake or time out because they got confused with the slide release, safety, and the pump position.
A 12 gauge, even with lower power loads can beat you to pieces. I saw one guy, he would NOT listen to the instructors, beat himself black and blue with a 12 gauge. By the time the guy was finished he could not lift his right arm because of the bruising he took. It was ugly.
ALL of the above can be fixed by practice. If you keep the gun loaded, chamber empty, and "cruiser" safe you need to practice taking off the safety, hitting the slide release, and putting a round in the chamber. With a bit of stress, those simple steps can be suddenly, not so simple.
Positioning the gun on the body is important. Even low power rounds can beat you.
Practice Practice Practice.
Later,
Dan
That pump can mess you up too with even a little bit of stress. I have seen plenty of people pump a live round out of the gun by mistake or time out because they got confused with the slide release, safety, and the pump position.
A 12 gauge, even with lower power loads can beat you to pieces. I saw one guy, he would NOT listen to the instructors, beat himself black and blue with a 12 gauge. By the time the guy was finished he could not lift his right arm because of the bruising he took. It was ugly.
ALL of the above can be fixed by practice. If you keep the gun loaded, chamber empty, and "cruiser" safe you need to practice taking off the safety, hitting the slide release, and putting a round in the chamber. With a bit of stress, those simple steps can be suddenly, not so simple.
Positioning the gun on the body is important. Even low power rounds can beat you.
Practice Practice Practice.
Later,
Dan
two_bit_score
Super Star Member
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If you seriously anticipate using a gun for home defense why would you have to work the slide under pressure? Just take it off safety and pull the trigger.
Jimbrown
Veteran Member
This will do all that you need Probably can find used ones if you look.
Mossberg Rifles/Shotguns mossberg 54210 500b 20 3in 22 accu - www.shotgunwarehouse.com
Mossberg Rifles/Shotguns mossberg 54210 500b 20 3in 22 accu - www.shotgunwarehouse.com
dmccarty
Super Star Member
If one has not practiced with the shotgun you can really mess up its operation. I have seen people dump live rounds out of pump guns because they pumped too many times. Range time is not as stressful as having to shoot someone.
What if you need a second round?
It is safer to have the chamber empty and the slide ready to pump a round but it is more complicated to load.
Practice.
Later,
Dan
