Gun owners. Need help finding a gun that is right for me.

[Curtis]

Hey everyone!

I haven't posted a whole lot lately, been busy with work. Things out here on the desert Orchard are going just fine, but now I am alone out here the two other people quit. (Well one was "fired", kind of. The other visited home for a week, I guess fell in love or something and decided to come back for two days then leave on a 3 hour notice).

Anyhow, i've been thinking about obtaining some sort of weapon for personal protection in the house. Its kind of like the last house on the left before you get to about 60 miles of ongoing nothingness and desert terrain. If something were to happen here, it would be a while before anyone could get here, or any of that. I think I would just feel safer knowing I had a weapon to protect myself if needed. There are no guns here on the property, aside from a BB gun I keep next to my bed

Not quite sure what I need, I know nothing about guns. I guess I would like some sort of handgun of sorts to keep in my room, perhaps even some sort of semi-automatic rifle of sorts too incase of a Zombie invasion or Global Economic failure when people start stealing our fresh food source (GTFO my Pomegranates!) and water, haha. (More realistically coyotes and things that could attack our animals)

I'm not looking to carry one one me, so I don't think I need to have a permit here in Nevada if they're on the property. Although I am not a resident of the state, I just moved here in March perhaps I need to become one first?

Well, lets talk about it figure out what I should get.

Thanks.

[MountainDon]

Gun laws apply to people in the state, not just a resident. A person traveling through must comply with the state laws. There are no permits or licenses required for a citizen (U.S.) to possess a firearm in NV. Open carry is allowed in most places but concealed carry requires a permit.

As for what gun; that's like asking what car/truck should I buy. It depends on the use. If intimidating a trespasser is a goal it's hard to beat a shotgun.

You mentioned coyotes. If that is a real necessary potential use I'd go with a 22-250, with a scope. Semi auto is nice but a bolt action would suffice as if you miss, the coyote won't stand still for another shot anyhow.

That'll be certain to get some comments/opinions flying.

[peternap]

Unless your willing to dedicate a lot of time and with the cost of ammo these days, money, I would try to steer you away drom a handgun. I shoot a lot and am having some issues with handgun shooting these days and I spent $500.00 worth of handloaded ammunition last week to correct it (I hope).

Anyway, a 12 ga shotgun is hard to beat.

If you just hav to have a longer range gun, buy a rifle also. The combined cost will be no more than 1 good handgun.

[NM_Shooter]

+1 for a shotgun.  Preferably a nice, reliable pump with screw in chokes.  #4 buckshot is hell on coyotes.  You can hunt anything with a 12ga. 

For a noob, pistols are too easy to get turned in the wrong direction.  Rifles take a decent amount of practice to learn to shoot. 

This is what I would recommend:

1)  Mossberg model 500 12 ga w/3" capability and screw chokes.  You can later get special barrels for that such as a rifled slug barrel.

next

2)  Learn to shoot a .22 rifle well.  The Ruger 10/22 is an excellent choice.

BTW, seriously consider a hunter safety course.  Don't believe everything you read.  Gun nuts like me are notorious for misrepresenting facts.

Have fun.  I wish I had some guns.  I used to own some, but they got lost in the fire / flood / locust / liberal attack.  Damn democrats bugs.

[MountainDon]

I love my 10/22 with scope.        and my Mossberg 500   

for coyotes it depends on how close they are as far as a shotgun goes

[harry51]

If close enough, 12ga w/buckshot would be ok for the coyotes, and for human intruders, an awesome deterrent and very effective if, heaven forbid, a gunfight happened. I agree with Don that a 22-250 would be a good coyote rifle, with a .223 being about minimum caliber for that purpose. Ruger mini 14 would be a good choice if you want a semiauto. Personally, I think a 6mm Remington bolt gun makes a real good all around rifle. Please don't shoot at coyotes with a .22. They're tough, and even a coyote deserves to be dispatched humanely. Ditto the advice to take a hunter safety course, and/or a NRA course or two. Local gun shops usually know who the certified instructors are and how to contact them.

[peternap]

Found one for you!

[Curtis]

Thanks for all the input.

I guess when I get the chance, I will go down to a shooting range and try some of these suggestions out.

Upon making a purchase, I'll be sure to take a class of sorts to get me properly acquainted with it.

[MountainDon]

Jeepers, Peter!!! What the heck is that!

[Virginia Gent]

Gun laws apply to people in the state, not just a resident. A person traveling through must comply with the state laws.

Actually, that's not entirely true. If you are just passing through a state, you are allowed to keep your gun in the truck of your vehicle. The ammo has to be separate as well and both have to be in a secured case; that's per Federal law mind you. Now carrying the gun on your persons in your car is a different story.

As for the type of gun, like everyone else it's hard to pick out for anyone who isn't you.

I liked the suggestion of a 12 ga. shotgun. Should anyone be so inclined as to break into your house, the sound of a pump action 12 ga. loading round is very well known and should be a great deterrent. If you want a handgun, which I think equally important if you are in a tight space in your place, or to give to someone else in the house to defend themselves should there be multiple intruders, I suggest a revolver. I suggest that because you mentioned you aren't to savoy with weapons and semi-auto pistols can require some maintenance while revolvers are easier to clean/care for. Plus a semi-auto can malfunction in many ways, while a revolver there is only really one way ... the round being a dud. In which case you just pull the trigger again. With a semi-auto you have to pull back the slide to chamber another round if one misfires or stovepipes. Valuable time, if you ask me, when your life is on the line. Any round you get for self-defense, in my opinion, should be hollow point ammunition. It adds more bite to your bark.

Also, another helpful suggestion. Find out what ammunition your local LEOs use, and/or their side-arm. That way should you have to dispatch an intruder and you get taken to court for it, one of the arguments prosecution will use against you is excessive force because of your handgun and/or its load. However if you carry/use the same gun/ammo that the Sheriff/Police do, you can make sure to bring that up and it shuts down a major argument that prosecutors love to use.

[peternap]

Jeepers, Peter!!! What the heck is that!

600 Nitro Express

[Squirl]

Speaking of home defense. I don't know if you live alone or have roommates or guests.  But shot does not get as much penetration as bullets so you are less likely to kill people in the next room. Both the sound and site are highly identifiable and intimidating (deterrent).  Also in a close range/combat situation, it is good not to have to worry about pinpoint accuracy and you are more likely to hit your target.

Other factors
Price- Shotguns tend to be some of the cheapest guns used or new. 
Ammo- Priced well, can be found EVERYWHERE.  Easy to find reloading supplies.
Reliable- I would go with a pump or double barrel with dual trigger if you are looking for reliability.
Hunting- There are almost no restrictions to using a shotgun on almost every kind of game.
Regulation- Most gun laws that I have found tend to affect handguns.

I personally prefer a 20 over a 12, but a 12 is more common.  I have never seen a place that carried 12 ga shells and not 20.

[Curtis]

Thanks everyone, all the input has been really helpful.

Some things I had not considered had been brought up, thanks for the insight.

I currently live alone, but I have a friend joining the adventure out here the first or second week of August to lend a hand on the Orchard.

Like mentioned before, when I have the spare cash and I happen to be back in Vegas with time to kill (typically i'm just running back and forth to the airport to pick my boss up), i'll stop by one of the many gun stores / ranges and try a couple things out to see what I prefer.

[phalynx]

Effects of a .50cal handgun or larger in your hands.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZL797pOAZ0

[cordwood]

 A Mossberg 500 with 2 chokes would be my suggestion. A full choke for most large game birds and varmints & a modified or improved cylinder for in home LARGE PESTS with large buckshot! A fairly cheap reliable .22 like a Marlin model 60 to go with it and a shopping cart full of ammo for both can be had for about $500
And don't think you can just plunk down cash and walk out with it . If you  have ever been finger printed or your name is similar to a bad guy somewhere your NICS background check could be delayed or denied. If you don't have a state photo ID you will have trouble as well. Even face to face private sales are illegal to nonresidents. My brother in-law lives in Pahrump and he and his dad got in an argument many years ago (as fathers & sons sometimes do) in Kalifornia. Even though he was not arrested the "Domestic Violence" report was still on file and results in DENIED on a NICS check.
Also for most folks that don't like waiting I suggest getting your NICS check run early in the morning on a Mon. or Tues. that's when the call centers are the least busy. 

[poppy]

I am a fan of the Remington 870 express with 2 barrels.  My old fart choice is 20 ga.

A 20" slug barrel and a 26 or 28" barrel with choke tubes.  The slug barrel with slugs or 0 buck shot for deer or dears.

The longer barrel for small game.

[Virginia Gent]

I am a fan of the Remington 870 express with 2 barrels.  My old fart choice is 20 ga.

That is the exact same shotgun I have! I got it for $350, brand new, at the gun show here in Richmond about 2 weekends ago. I had to buy it at the price!