Rifle or Shotgun?

Shotgun, because you can always put a slug in it. Depending on your build, I'm going to play devil's advocate against the 12-gauge suggestions & say a 16 or a 20, just because they're a bit easier to handle, and which one depends on your build. I've handled a 20 with no problems whatsoever, a 12 will rock me back a little if I'm not paying enough attention to brace myself a little more - which you may not remember to do if it's an emergency. I'm on the short to average side, and range from a thin to medium build most of the time.

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If you're just going to have one I would say go with a 12 ga. shotgun.

For action type I would go with pump and stay away from autoloaders. They have their good points. They soften recoil. Most people can shoot them faster. However most of them cannot handle lighter birdshot loads and they are just not reliable with a wide variety of loads. (Benellis excepted) They are also much more expensive especially for the very reliable models such as the aforementioned Benelli models which is probably the only autoloader I would trust my life to even though I love my Remington 1187 for hunting chores. A Benelli M4 runs nearly 2 grand. Benelli M1 will be about a grand. Not weapons for the budget conscious.

For general home defense duty I like the Mossberg 590. The 50665 model particularly. Simple. Rugged. Easy to clear double feed jams. (Beats the venerable Remington 870 here which is why I like the Mossberg for defensive work). Easy to see top mounted safety. Relatively inexpensive and will last several lifetimes. Not as smooth and elegant as the Remington 870 but more working tool. When I hunt I take the 870. The Mossberg is a tool for work to be beat and abused.

For buckshot ammo I prefer #1 buckshot over 00. More pellets and less chance of over penetration and more lethal. Birdshot is for birds. It isn't for defensive work. It cannot penetrate deep enough. It doesn't have the mass or the sectional density. Slugs are good if you have to reach out and touch things but they aren't very accurate unless you shoot them out of specialized barrels.

If you get a shotgun one of the first things you need to do (once you get any needed firearms training) is go out with a bunch of your buckshot defensive loads and slugs and a bunch of law enforcement type silhouette targets you can hang up at varying distances. Then experiment with your weapon. You will quickly find out you do indeed have to aim a shotgun and they are not the mythical yard wide pellet spraying killing machines you just point and shoot with. You can easily miss with them.

Also realize that if you're wanting to reach out and touch things out much over 25 yards you would be better served with a rifle and if you want something primarily for inside the house you are better off with a pistol in my opinion. Long guns are just far too long and awkward inside most homes and far too easy for an intruder to grab and control.

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If you are worried about recoil just buy some light twelve loads. They are really a 20 gauge load in a 12 gauge shell and since the 12 weighs more than a twenty it will actually recoil less than a twenty gauge.

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Isnt it funny that we sorta focus on 2 legged preditors?
I dont have a lot of experiance with cougars but Im well versed in bear relations if its a black they will usually go on their way with a shout heck just knowing you are there is all it uaually takes ,thats what bear bells are for. BROWNS are a diferent story. Dont plan on killing one with a shotgun heck dont plan on killing one at all! Ive seen a brown that was first shot at 500yards with 5 shots from a 300 win mag. then as it turned and ran towards the shooter shot agin 5 more times reloaded and shot agin 5 more times finally it was shot 5 times with a .458 5 times with 12 gauge slugs and then at that point all 3 in the party unloaded 4 pistols into it. It stopped on the tree the hunter had been using for a benchrest.
When they examined the carcuss they had the thought that under the situation maybe they where missing a lot . A close look showed that one of the first 5 shots(the only ones broadside) was a killing shot to the heart one broke the shoulder and none of the first 5 missed! it was sorta hard to say the carcuss was very torn up but it appeard that they achieved a very faverable hit ration of over 50% in ALL their shots
It takes a lot of POWER to kill a bear and a 12 gauge dosent have it BUT its still a very effective defencive gun.
the most effective gun is one you hit with and are not scared of be sure to take the steps I told you about so that even if its not a pleasure at least shooting wont bea pain to you

Remington 870 Express, 20 gauge youth model.

Reasons:

1. The 870 Youth is built on the 870 LW frame, which makes it about a pound lighter than the normal 870 20 gauge. Couple that with the 21" standard barrel, and you have a weapon the size and weight of a .22 rifle, with all of the attributes, but with the punch of a shotgun.

2. 3" chamber. This is a 20 gauge magnum, which allows you to shoot 3" magnum loads.

3. Screw-in chokes. The gun is furnished with one choke, a modified. It's fine for most things you'll do with the gun, but a nice turkey choke coupled with a 3" shell will put as many #6 shot on target as a 12 gauge. The right gun will kill squirrels at 60 yards.

4. Buckshot. A few words about buckshot...most people have no earthly idea what type of buckshot their shotgun likes. 00 is most common, but not always the best...remember, shotgunnin' is much akin to JEB Stuart's calvary - you want to get their fustest with the mostest. Some guns wil pattern much better with #1 than with 00. Some may like 000. Others #4 or even #3. The only way to know, is to shoot the gun with the desired load...even then, patterns will vary between ammunition makers. Find what your gun likes, and stick with it.

5. Cost. The Remington is well-made, tons of parts, and a very good value.



For the 20 gauge above, I'd start with #3 buckshot 3" magnum for defense. For familiarization, I'd use low brass #8 fineshot until she's comfortable with the gun.

I think we ahve TMIed poor Amelia!
What do you man about back country? hiking or living? packing somthin in a hundred miles on your back will make you want somthing diferent than throw ing it on a tracter for the ride to the back 40

Do not try to shoot 22 shorts, longs or long rifles in a 22 magnum. 22 magnum has a longer case and as such you could damage your firearm or yourself.

In 22lr it's perfectly safe to shoot longs, shorts, CB caps.

*Go to a shooting range and TEST nay weapon you are considering buying.


Kenneth

12g Pump is a must have.

Now, if you want it JUST FOR PERTECTIONS not to be used for hunting.

The remington 870 express magnum synthetic NON RIFFLED with short muzzel (police) works great!

These are the same guns most state troopers and sheriffs offices have mounted in their cars.

They are great for using in a home as they are short. They also make it easy to just "spray and pay".

I would recommend a "trooper" loal. One bird shot (as a warning) one slug ( to hit them with if they do not stop with the warning shot) one 00 Buck (to hit the guy in the car driving at ya) more bird shot and such.

I purchased on of these at a State police auction. It is a unchocked modle and has no capper. It holds 7 shots. Or I can use 15 mini mag shells. These are half the size of a normal shell.

This gun is not a hunting gun. One they hold to many shot and second they are not riffled.

They also sell riffled 870's as well(most of them are riffled). These are great for hunting and a great entery level gun. They have longer muzzels and are great for out door use and home protection.

I also recommend you buy a few boxes of shells and shoot alot with it. That way you have a idea of what you are working with.

A good 12 g can be used by Men, women and even kids if need be.

http://www.remington.com/products/fi...tic_18inch.asp

These are some great shells for protection. They affer very low recoil and great protection.

Law encofment and the military used to be the only use of them. Now we can buy them. Some states stillout law them as well.

They are a fun load. You can also fit twice as many of them in you weapon.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...?Item=45662744

This was actually the one I was thinking of! I had one several years ago & fell in love with it - the stock fit me perfectly, and it didn't have the kick of a 12. I was actually able to out-shoot my dad in a few cases, and he had at least 35+ years more experiance than I at that point.

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A rifle or shotgun each has it's advantages and disadvantages. I'm going for one of each. I already have a Winchester 94 and a Sterling .380 auto. I'm looking for a Remington 870. The Sterling and Winchester are both light and easy to handle but the Winchester packs a lot more punch. With a 16" barrel, the Winchester does very well with close defense. The laser sight I added allows me to shoot from the hip and still hit my targets.