what is the best handgun and shotgun in america?

[bigdog 376]

Go to a local range, get some advice and shoot some theirs to give you and idea, it depends on if you are a man or woman experience or not. If you know a peace officer or neighbor who is one ask for advice.

MY wife shot an AK47 in College, but likes her BB Gun and is a real ANNIE Oakley, always fresh Rabbit etc.

[slim 1,525]

Most peace officers shoot once a year. Not the guys I'd be asking for gun advice.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Most peace officers shoot once a year. Not the guys I'd be asking for gun advice.

Horrible situation here in Vermont. A burglary suspect was run out of a summer home (vacant) by the State Cops. The Dumb@ss turned and made like he was pointing a gun at the cops and they let fly with a bunch of rounds from their standard issue Glock .40s with NO hits. The bad guy turned and ran into the forest, where he again ran into another officer and did the same "pointing a gun stance" with an object in his hand and THAT cop capped him with a single shot...died moments later. But c'mon, this is ridiculous. In a city, who know how many people could get hurt with all the bullets flying. Turns out the "gun" e was pointing was a cell phone (maybe with a gun "app", do they have an app for that?)

The cops asked him why and he said he wanted to be killed. Suicide by cop should not take so many bullets. The guy died going to the hospital. He is white, so there will be no issues with shooting an unarmed man.

Our club allows the local police and the CBP to use the range on Wednesdays and the local cops are generally lousy shots.

[unlockingsky 94]

.........................................................

The cops asked him why and he said he wanted to be killed. Suicide by cop should not take so many bullets. The guy died going to the hospital. He is white, so there will be no issues with shooting an unarmed man.

Our club allows the local police and the CBP to use the range on Wednesdays and the local cops are generally lousy shots.

i feel sorry for the cop that killed suicidal man. now he may have to go through counseling because he kill someone which he think he shouldn't have killed.

cops are lousy shooters... maybe their accuracy would be better at using guided missiles.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

cops are lousy shooters... maybe their accuracy would be better at using guided missiles.

That's what Obama prefers for killing unarmed US citizens without a trial.

[DaveE 178]

i feel sorry for the cop that killed suicidal man. now he may have to go through counseling because he kill someone which he think he shouldn't have killed.

cops are lousy shooters... maybe their accuracy would be better at using guided missiles.

Suicide by cop is not at all uncommon. I had a guy who worked for me in the military who had alcohol problems. We got him all the help in the world, but if you don't want help, nothing will work. He made it to retirement and moved to the Northeast US. Got a call from his wife a couple years ago saying he was dead. It seem that after a argument that got abusive she called the police. Mac went to the garage with his unloaded shotgun, sat in a chair and waited for the police to arrive. When they opened the door wanting to talk to him, he pointed the unloaded shotgun at the police and smiled. They did not miss.

As to the handgun, just find one that you or your wife are comfortable with, and can shoot well. Practice, practice, practice. Caliber is not nearly as important, as expertise. My wife likes a Ruger LCP. I am old fashioned and usually carry a CZ-52, (I know, I know). I just like the thing. I also have a Colt 1911 (made in 1918), a Ruger P-91DC in .40, and a Glock 21 in .45.

Shotguns I only hunt with, so can offer no advice.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Suicide by cop is not at all uncommon. I had a guy who worked for me in the military who had alcohol problems. We got him all the help in the world, but if you don't want help, nothing will work. He made it to retirement and moved to the Northeast US. Got a call from his wife a couple years ago saying he was dead. It seem that after a argument that got abusive she called the police. Mac went to the garage with his unloaded shotgun, sat in a chair and waited for the police to arrive. When they opened the door wanting to talk to him, he pointed the unloaded shotgun at the police and smiled. They did not miss.

As to the handgun, just find one that you or your wife are comfortable with, and can shoot well. Practice, practice, practice. Caliber is not nearly as important, as expertise. My wife likes a Ruger LCP. I am old fashioned and usually carry a CZ-52, (I know, I know). I just like the thing. I also have a Colt 1911 (made in 1918), a Ruger P-91DC in .40, and a Glock 21 in .45.

Shotguns I only hunt with, so can offer no advice.

I also have a Colt M1911 made in 1918! With holster and two original mags. BITES me like crazy when I shoot it...I wear gloves for that one

This type of suicide always troubles me. Now some cop has to deal with shooting a guy (not the cops who could not shoot straight though) It is even worse when they decide to off themselves by having a head-on with some innocent family going to the zoo. I mean if you are going to off yourself, just load the shotgun, put it in your mouth and use your toe to pull the trigger.

[zzzlpr 7]

It seems like you don't have experience with guns.

So, DO NOT BUY a gun before trying many different guns and calibers.

Go to a range where you can rent different guns and try several options.

Couple of reasons:

What is the point of you buying a shotgun but you can't handle the recoil? FYI, shotguns in real life are quite different than in movies. real life = big recoil and you have to aim it.

What is the point of a 357 magnum if you are going to flinch and likely miss your target? real life = big recoil, big flash and deafening loud.

As I said, it is all relative, for example, I keep a 357 revolver and a CZ75 9mm loaded at home, but I also have a Ruger Mark III 22lr loaded for my wife. She can't handle my first choices, but I don't recommend being on the receiving end of her 1st choice.

Lastly, after you zero out and have your gun, make sure you practice, practice, practice and practice smart.

We, wife and I, practice, 3-4 times a month.

[unlockingsky 94]

.................. When they opened the door wanting to talk to him, he pointed the unloaded shotgun at the police and smiled. They did not miss.

...................

the police doesn't know that the shotgun was unloaded. if they knew it was unloaded, they would have took another approach. post-matter, this gives them the potential to have conflicting thoughts. unless we have police comfortable killing people anyway.

[DaveE 178]

the police doesn't know that the shotgun was unloaded. if they knew it was unloaded, they would have took another approach. post-matter, this gives them the potential to have conflicting thoughts. unless we have police comfortable killing people anyway.

If someone is pointing a weapon at you, you can never know it is not loaded. First rule of firearms safety, is assume every gun is loaded. If your best friend assures you that the weapon is unloaded and points it at you, you better find another friend.

[slim 1,525]

the local cops are generally lousy shots.

Most cops I know have qualified with their duty weapon and meed the minimum requirements for their state. If they're really gung ho they'll join the SWAT team and get to shoot a submachine gun and/or shotgun or something like that the minimum number of times as well.

Even the "snipers" aren't exactly Top Shots. Typically they go through a three day class or something and get a few extra training rounds on the local 100 yard range so they can shoot 20 rounds from the bench every quarter.

Don't get me wrong I've met some cops who shoot a bunch. But the typical, run of the mill cop gets to shoot his duty weapon and that's about it.

Thankfully most of them never need to use their weapons because we see things like what happened in Gary's post. But, better than that, we live in a society that's "common sense" enough we don't need the police to shoot people for us.

As to the handgun, just find one that you or your wife are comfortable with, and can shoot well. Practice, practice, practice. Caliber is not nearly as important, as expertise. My wife likes a Ruger LCP. I am old fashioned and usually carry a CZ-52, (I know, I know). I just like the thing. I also have a Colt 1911 (made in 1918), a Ruger P-91DC in .40, and a Glock 21 in .45.

Shotguns I only hunt with, so can offer no advice.

I keep coming back to the LCP for an EDC gun. I haven't bought one yet but the more and more I mess with them, the more and more I want one.

As for shotguns, they're big and heavy, but I've seen some pretty small women handle them well even when their life is NOT at stake. I can only imagine how easy it'd be for mama bear to defend her cubs when threatened.

I personally believe a 12ga. pump to be the best home defense weapon available because the length allows a further engagement distance than a handgun. Try "fending off an attacker" (in a non-lethal encounter) with a pistol and see how far that gets you. The sound alone is usually enough to let folks know you mean business. It can be outfitted with a great flashlight too. And the one I just bought (Mossberg 590A1) can even be equipped with a bayonet! But if it comes to it, one shot of 12 ga will stop a threat immediately. A single trigger pull equals nine rounds of 9mm and those rounds are accurately going farther too.

I hate to think about my wife getting into it with someone, but if she does, I'm not too worried. The software is way more important than the hardware. Guns, knives, knuckles, teeth. Kicking and screaming and not going down without a fight. That's not really something you can teach someone (without a lot and lot of training) but it's something these RUB women seem to have instilled in them from birth. Thanks, grandfather Lenin.

if you are going to off yourself, just load the shotgun, put it in your mouth and use your toe to pull the trigger.

I'd rather go over Niagara Falls or something like that. Big, spectacular BASE jump or something.

So, DO NOT BUY a gun before trying many different guns and calibers.

Go to a range where you can rent different guns and try several options.

Outstanding advice. I'll add - go with someone who knows guns or where someone can show you how to properly use them.

unless we have police comfortable killing people anyway.

I'm sure most cops struggle with ending another human's life but they're trained to do so without thinking. "If this, then shoot." Sad that they have to deal with the drama concerning a shooting but as long as they're in the right, it shouldn't be any more of a struggle than arresting someone.

There was a sniper who was asked what he felt after killing someone. His reply? "Recoil."

[Jamie and Sveta 18]

If you've NEVER owned a firearm... IMO, a .454 Casull is PERFECT for you............... ?

[slim 1,525]

If you've NEVER owned a firearm... IMO, a .454 Casull is PERFECT for you............... ?

That's like taking a porn star to prom.

[Iyawo Ijebu 157]

You Guys and your cute powder burning devices.

How about knives? What happened to looking your would be accoster apologetically in the eye as you carve him/her?

Edited May 4, 2012 by Iyawo Ijebu

[Reyan 56]

What about the Smith & Wesson Model 500? It was entertaining watching a petite woman (the instructor picked her) fire this gun during my handgun safety class.