To my surprise - I want a gun

I would also engourage you to get a Pelet Gun. When you get more experance you might join the gun enthusios in shooting at targets. Then I would sugest a .22 rifle or pistol. Then when you becone more proficant you can get a shot gun or a larger pistol for self defence.

I have never lived without a gun in my house except during my military carrer. I would feel naked without one.

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God must have loved stupid people because he made so many of them.

I'd say paintball - those things HURT (even through 3 layers of clothing!)..... and actually they aren't that hard to aim - I can shoot one of those better than our rifle and I never use the shotgun - for some reason I personally never hold it where it need to be where I don't bruise the heck outta my arm - so I gave up on that one.

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Dana
Chicama Run

What kind of ranges are you dealing with? Sorry to say that unless you buy a very good air rifle you're probably not even going to hit the dog. A good air rifle is probably as loud as a .22 anyhow. You could set up a good back stop and take out your frustration with one of these http://www.airgundepot.com/eaa-drozd.html.

Just kidding, dealing with stray dogs is not a fun thing to do, especially in the city. Actually the crossbow is a better bet you could use flat faced blunt arrows to just give a good whack. The bow can be fitted with a crank winch to pull back the string.

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Do not meddle in the affairs of Dragons, for you are crunchy and good with ketchup........

To the ignorant suggesting airguns- it is likely illegal as well as immoral to use an aigun and tio think that 5 pumps is ok in that 1377- how bout you stand at that distance and have someone shoot you with it?

A paintball for shooting as a deterent is safest and most likely defensable with the law. Airguns used if found out will likely be an animal cruelty charge in this day and age. I have no problem personally with a well placed shot to kill but in the city or populated subhurbs is not a good or likely legal thing either.

I believe in lethal DEFENSE and if ya want to try less than lethal pepper spray is a good choice but I would employ it only with a gun for back up. A dog can inflict serious damage to you too. A gun and training is a good thing but it is only or should only be an available option.

Well if you need quiet, then I would use a snare. Makes no noise and works 24 hours a day. Easily hidden. You will still need a shovel

Paintball Gun is my vote in town. The good ones will run you as much as a .22, they're accurate and they HURT, plus they mark the animal and are quiet.



For a good pellet gun, try this: AirForce



The other "best" option would be a livestock guardian dog(s). Anatolian Shepherds and Cane Corso or other Mastiffs come to mind.

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5 Stones Workshop

Infowars
Endtime
SWRC

If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy.
~ James Madison ~

What sort of fencing do you have?

You are looking at a few hundred dollars minimum for a decent weapon. (I have no idea how much paintball guns cost though) Plus cost for training, which for you is an absolute must, even for paintball.

For that amount of money I am wondering if you can make repairs to your fence that would raise the height.
Besides, a taller/better fence will work even if you aren't home.
Same with a good guard dog.

SLINGSHOT $5.00 or PAINTGUN
The first you can kill with the second you can mark with your choice.

COMMON SENSE---Bearfootfarm----I have enough sense that At least I can Read---I never suggested She Reload anything and NEVER Suggested she over--LOAD a Shell. Reloading is a Serious Hobby--Which I Took that Way and Also With MY COMMON SENSE---I knew MY Limits on my reloads. Being/making Friends Takes More Common Sense than Re-Loading and With Your Attitude I Would Feel Your Friends Are Getting Less and Less. There is ways to get your Message across without trying to DOWN someone-----You could have told me to Be Careful---it was Dangerous-----You Have No Right To Jump On My Case. I try to get along with everyone on here-----Maybe if you would use your COMMON SENSE---you could figure out that you can get farther in life making friends. Randy

Edited to add-----I will have to do some research to argue about How A Light Powder Charge Can cause MORE Pressure than a Heavy Charge---You got some Links to Show me how that Works?? I am Always Open for a Friendly Education. You can PM me with those links so we don't take over this thread. My "MANY" Light Loads had seemed to have little pressure, Worked Good For Me.

ajaxlucy,



Where in Indiana do you live and how much land do you have? Depending on the city, it may be illegal to discharge a firearm within city limits. However, that does not necessarily preclude citizens from discharging a firearm in preservation of life or property. Aggressive dogs in my yard would be considered threats to my wife and children; therefore, dead dogs. One thing you will have to be very aware of is the backstop--you are responsible for every bullet that exits the barrel of your firearm.

In your case, I would suggest a .22 LR rifle. It is very manageable and not very loud at all. If your neighbors are too close (as in a few yards), use CB rounds--they are even quieter.

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http://www.nra.org/ Defend America's Original Homeland Security

"COMMON SENSE---Bearfootfarm----I have enough sense that At least I can Read---"

We can all read. I read the post where you suggested she get someone to load UNSAFE loads. I read the part where you said "When I had my re-loader set-up I could reload a shell so weak the pellets would fall just a few feet from where I was standing". That means its also so weak that the wad could have stuck in the barrel, causing the gun to BLOW UP on the next shot

"-----Well I never went much over what was recommended "

"Much over"?

So youre telling someone to "find someone" to load shells with charges that are both too light and too HOT, and that you have done this yourself.

Load a shotgun shell with rice? Tell me which reloading manual you found that load in. Its not in any of mine but Ive only been doing it for about 30 years so maybe its something new. Feel free to show me the source.

ANYONE who wont follow safety rules themselves shouldnt be giving advice about how to reload. And I cant, in good conscience, sit here and watch someone giving DANGEROUS advice and not point it out. If you have sources to prove those methods are safe and accepted practices , please enlighten me and Ill admit Im wrong

You can Google "Detonation light loads" and learn about that and other DANGERS of reloading

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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

slingshot

Could do like an ole neighbor used to do, feed em and git em where that you can ketch them, instead off stinging them and moving them on, :baby04: .. Then haul em off in the jillikins and tie to a bush or tree and blow their heads off with a 12ga. from point blank range.

It's scary how much ignorance is so loud around here!? Bearfootfarm is one of the only ones that have any common sense. Reloading shells under powered? Airguns as loud as a .22? What is this, a gang of idiots seeing how quick you can get a forum friend killed or thrown in jail? Even shooting a dog with a paintball gun is likely to get you locked up in most states. Try calling your local animal control officer if you are having problems with a stray or invasive animal. If you want to get a gun, get it for reasons that are relevent to your situation. Yours is not. If you decide to get a gun, get the training that will enable you to handle it safely and responsibly. Follow your local laws as to proper liscensing(sp?).
I own guns and practice with them regularly. I support the right for people to own weapons of all sorts. I call the police immediately when someone is endangering themselves or someone else with a weapon. I do not try to enforce law or intimidate others with my guns. To own a gun is not just a right, it's a responsibility. Unless you can live by that single rule- you don't need to own a gun.

Doug

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I Rule My World!...Tonya said I could.

Detonation from too light loads:
"Occasional detonations of light loads of slow powders was well debated in the 50's and 60's and is now an accepted fact of interior ballistics. They are easier to understand given the facts above, and the fact that most energetic materials have two burn rates, a deflagration rate and a detonation rate. Propellants are distinguished from explosives (by the knowledgable, anyway) as energetic material being consumed at its deflagration rate. Explosives are self-consuming at their detonation rate. "

Most energetic materials can be consumed at either rate, given certain circumstances. Dynamite lit with a match will produce a blazing bonfire, but no explosion. Expose it to the concussion of a blasting cap and it will detonate. Light it with a match in an small, unvented closed chamber (called a "bomb") and it will transition from deflagration to detonation once the pressures get high enough (assuming it is not already completely consumed.)
http://www.charm.net/~kmarsh/burn.html



"Re: The Light Load Controversy
People seem to be familiar with light load ruptures, but they are very difficult to reproduce. It lends some to believe it was from a double-charge accidently put into the case, but it does have references going back to the 1881 period of time.

There is some agreement on the following: Very low density loads (meaning the ratio of powder volume to cartridge case volume) of very fast powders under varying environmental conditions can create up to 4X normal chamber pressures and may cause the light load rupture to occur. Ruptured barrels can be symptomatic of too much powder (double charge loads, etc.). Ruptured cylinders and dissappearing backstraps can be sypmptomatic of a light-load rupture.

The use of low density charges with one of the top 10 fastest powders in the world at half the recommended factory charge weight may work in your gun, but it's risky.

It may not work in someone else's gun. Therefore, no one should recommend very light loads, especially of fast burning powders to anyone. Stuck bullets is another matter. With very light loads and powder against the bullet, a very mild shot can stick a bullet in the barrel. The NEXT shot can have disasterous consequences, also leading to the cautions against very light loads of any type, but especially of fast burning powders at the other end of the case from the primer. "

http://www.reloadammo.com/liteload.htm

As for the dog problem, if you live in town, call animal control. Take pics of the dogs on your property. Odds are there is a leash law. And a good electric fence will cost less than a good gun and wont get you locked up

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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

Barefootfarm----I Totally agree with you and your Links on reloading rifle/pistol amo can be Very Dangerous if light loaded------I would Never "Light Load" this type of amo. That would Be Stupid. Having reloaded SHOTGUN SHELLS since 1972, I have experimented alot, because I wanted to know what would happen if my reloader didn't drop powder into a shell, so I test fired several SHOT GUN shells to see if the primer would push the wad and pellets out the gun. YOU and I both know the "WAD"(you mentioned above) pushes the pellets out the shot gun barrel, so if the wad didn't come out, the pellets would not either unless they roll out the barrel if held down.

When it comes to shooting a dog/animal----Common sense can tell you if you load rice/rock salt into a shotgun shell it will not do as much damage to the animal as lead pellets----I don't need a book for that info!!

Barefootfarm---I am not trying to to Prove you wrong---You are Totally right when it comes to rifle/pistol loads. I also edited my first post and posted that I was told this was dangerous and was waiting for some Links to prove it(i don't want anyone to get hurt)-----People can read---they can decide the right thing to do. I never would have mentioned getting a "Light Loaded shot gun" shell if I had no experience with them or Rice Loads---I have shot MANY. Reload charts did not just come into the world---They were developed by Experience/testing. I have just not yet offered my Experience to The "Reload Chart Makers" yet. (little Humor Here)

I am Always Open to Learn---I Love Learning new things--Its a part of me, And am Willing to Learn from you and others on this Forum But your first post concerning this-----You were trying to put me down, make me small, jumping on my Case about Something YOU HAVE NEVER experimented with yourself when It comes to SHOT GUN SHELLS-----You only go by the Book(Other men's word/experience). Putting me/others Down is not a Way to Teach and That is All I was really Asking------Teach Me-----Don't Down Me. If I am Wrong---I will admit it. I feel I am Wrong for messing up this Thread Trying to Take up for myself----So I am through with this Subject on this Thread----If You feel the need to Continue, please Open another thread on this subject or PM me. Thanks!!

Now Concering the dog on the original Post---After reading other post--I too feel you are living in a to populated area to use any type of Fire Arm.


Randy

Thanks for all the input. I have about 2 acres with city streets on two sides and several neighbors. There's 6' perimeter fencing that my ram damaged. That's where the dogs got in the first time. It's been repaired and the ram is gone now, but one of the dogs has been back. It's the smaller one, not the one that wounded my ewe. My dogs chased it to the fence and it jumped and clambered until it finally got out.

County ordinance says I can use firearms to protect self, family, or property, but I wonder if I woudn't be more dangerous to all of the above than the stray dog. I like the paintball idea of marking the dog so it's owners get a message about their wandering pet. I'm going to check with animal control and a local gun shop to find out what's legal and possible.

My husband says there's no need to get so worked up and that I'm over-reacting, but I want to explore some options, so thanks for the advice and opinions.

Good Luck!!! Randy

hmmmm...even here in Calif. with some strict gun laws,you can KILL a predator of lifestock with a gun,barring local gun discharging regs.

Just cant see a paintball gun getting you locked up.

BooBoo

I agree and disagree with you here. I understand you have a strong opinion about this, but not EVERYONE here is an ignoramus. A lot of people have a practical POV, rather than just a hypothetical one.

The whole reloading thing is obviously not a wise thing to do for someone with no experience, neither is using a real gun (even a .22) within city limits or near suburbs. In my experience its not legal even in the county, where I am, if you shoot closer than within 150 yards of a house.........point taken, I agree with you.

In the country...fine, as long as you can aim and are humane about it.

BUT......

For instance, you mentioned calling animal control. Have you ever had to WAIT on animal control?.....what if its a Sunday or Holiday?......have they ever been busy and told you they might be there in a few HOURS? (especially when they are disturbing your chickens or whatever NOW?)......sometimes you have to take care of things yourself.

A paintball gun isn't life threatening, but will hurt and hopefully deter an feral animal. I HIGHLY doubt anyone would be thrown in jail for it, especially with just cause.

As for the other stuff...

A pellet gun/slingshot.....I wasn't so much in favor of...but if thats all you have.....
A pellet may lodge in the animal an wound it unnecessarily. I am not a cruel person and I don't care for this idea. The animal is just looking for food, its not after YOU, per se.

A slingshot?.....maybe......but have you ever tried to fire one at a moving target?.....especially a big dog?......he might decide to attack you. Just a thought. I would be comfortable with one, but I have used them quite a bit.

A crossbow.....ESPECIALLY for this person who doesn't even know how to fire a gun?..... ......I don't think so. Arrows deflect and end up in strange places.

I think the best option is a livestock guardian dog. Thats what they were bred for, and having a dog is "always" fun.

Live traps would also be a good humane way to deal with an animal, but may be a little expensive depending on what size trap you need.

........see, we aren't all dumb.

__________________
5 Stones Workshop

Infowars
Endtime
SWRC

If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy.
~ James Madison ~