Protecting the Homestead: First time gun buyers

Posted by Aaron on September 27, 2015 in Firearms |4 Comments

I believe many people outside of the gun culture have too many false ideas of what are good and bad choices for home defense.  If you’re new to this way of life, here are some good choices when it comes to what makes an effective firearm for defending the homestead.  No matter what you choose, get a flashlight or a dedicated light attached to your gun.  You MUST know that you aren’t shooting a loved one by accident.

Shotguns –  There are many shotguns to choose from.  For your first, I highly recommend going for a Mossberg 500 or Remington 870.  Many experts will agree with me.  Look at the features of both to find out what is best for you.  I will say that my Mossberg 500 came with an 18.5 inch home defense barrel AND a hunting barrel.  When it comes to ammo, do not choose bird shot.  It will do great at killing birds, but not so great when it’s time to stop a two-legged attacker.  Load 00 Buck or slugs only.  As far as concerns of over penetration, most handgun rounds pass through whole houses.  But keep reading…  we’ll get to that. 

Handguns – Great for the range and home defense as well.  Pick the caliber YOU shoot best with.  Unfortunately, there is no “man stopper” caliber for handguns.  Your goal is to hit where it counts.  Except for the 40 cal.  Fact: Anyone who is shot with a 40cal will be blown five feet backwards and turned to dust (insert sarcastic smirk here).  Checkout Corbon for ammunition.  They have some of the best home defense ammo there is, and some great choices if you’re concerned about over penetration.

 

Rifles – Be careful about choosing a rifle if your primary use is home defense.  A hunting round and a scope will do more harm than good in the home.  That being said, AR15s are great if you’re using the 223 or 5.56 round (not green tip) designed to tumble and fracture.  They deliver a lot of energy on impact and have a lesser chance of hurting more than your intended target.

So the reason I called this a way of life is because getting a firearm is a decision that can have huge impacts on life as you know it.  Don’t get me wrong, guns are a ton of fun, and I wish more law abiding people would get into shooting; however, this right to bear arms comes with a big responsibility to safety and keeping a cool head.  I’m glad I have the liberty to protect my family if ever I need to.  Exercise your rights.  If we don’t… we just might lose them.   

Be safe.  Use wisdom.  God bless-