The Case FOR Guns

[glenn kangiser]

Not even a snicker? hmm

[glenn kangiser]

I have been going prospecting in areas where Marijuana growers farm.  It is public BLM property and I will not tolerate them taking my right to use it by shooting at me so... I have taken to wearing my .380 when out there in case I have uninvited unfriendly guests.

I don't have and don't want to get the concealed carry permit so I wear it on my belt when alone.  I figure I can at least protect myself if they want to cause trouble.

[Sassy]

StinkerBell, I gotta admit your comment does give one a graphic image...   

MtnDon, you will be proud of me, I joined the NRA last month!  Glenn didn't even know until I told him tonite    But I've only shot a gun a few times in my life - a friend had an air gun that she had me shoot a few times - she was into guns & believed you should have them & know how to use them in case you were in a situation where they'd come in handy...  My son had me shoot a couple times - he told me I should know how to use a gun, also - especially because I am way out in the country by myself a lot in the valley & also in the mountains, although Glenn is usually here.

Another time, I was doing an interview for a local newspaper at a gun club where they were "reloading" they let me shoot a couple times.

Oh, and I did hold a machine gun down in Mexico one time... 

[MountainDon]

Glenn, I believe in situations like you describe wearing one in the open is better than concealed.

Sassy. Woo-Hoo!!! Good for you. I believe knowing how to handle a firearm is a good thing.

[glenn kangiser]

Thanks, Don.  Makes sense to me.

Hey, Don, my buddy accidentally made me a left handed holster instead of right handed one, and I wear it on my right side - rather backward but it doesn't interfere with my cell phone/pliers holder and stays pretty well out of the way when I am bending, driving,  working etc.  I don't see it as being a situation where I'm going to be into quick draw or anything - just need to retrieve it in case I need to run behind a rock and shoot back.  What do you think?

[Homegrown Tomatoes]

I've never owned my own guns... though I've been around them most of my life.  What type of gun, and where to buy one?  As we will hopefully soon be living in a more rural area, we'd like to buy one but would like to hear your recommendations.  I am not to fond of shotguns as every one that I've ever shot kicks really bad.  Maybe just a .22 rifle?

[glenn kangiser]

A .22 is a pretty effective weapon - in fact many people underestimate them.  Range of over a mile (not for shooting, but danger zone), and for a general purpose gun for no special reason I think it is great.  Shooting problem varmints without waking everyone in the neighborhood, it is my first choice.  I go to my 30.06 for bear problems or high accuracy and stopping power.  .22's can be very accurate also, and they are cheap to shoot. 

The other guys are bigger on guns and I'm sure can help more but that is my choice.  I use my Beretta .380 Auto Pistol for ease of carrying and lots of bullets -- not especially accuracy, but I can be a fair shot.

[Willy]

I've never owned my own guns... though I've been around them most of my life.  What type of gun, and where to buy one?  As we will hopefully soon be living in a more rural area, we'd like to buy one but would like to hear your recommendations.  I am not to fond of shotguns as every one that I've ever shot kicks really bad.  Maybe just a .22 rifle?

It depends on what you want it for. I have my 12 ga shotgun loaded with 3" Mag Slugs and OO Buck to do a job on large game close range and that includes the 2 legged types too if needed. If you want stopping power it will get the job done. Now for the little varmits that get in my garden I have a 22Cal 10/22 Ruger with a 4 power scope. It works great right out the 2nd story window over the garden plot. I also have a Ranch Mini 14 with assorted mags of different capasitys for my plinker but it also works for different stuff. Long distance I use my M-14 Springfeild Match Grade with 7.62 rounds. The Ruger SP101 pistol with +Ps .38 Cal Hydro Shocks works for a concealable & managable hand gun for personal protection. It just all depends what you want or need them for in what to own. I have several for differnt stuff. If I had to chose only one it would be my 12 ga shot gun. I do not hunt anymore and my fire arms are for protection of my place and livestock. I may have to deal with a mountian lion, bear, coyote ect on the ranch due to our many animals here. Mark
 

[MountainDon]

You pose that question to 6 people, you'll get six different answers. At least.   

A .22LR rifle is a good tool to practice with. You can buy a box of 500 for under $20. It doesn't get any cheaper. A .22 can be effective against a lot of small predators that might be after your chickens for example. Even if you don't hot them, they'll run off for a while. Even bigger animals, like bears, will likely leave the area if you shoot in their general direction. Just don't make the mistake to hit one, it'll get very angry.

HGT, what's your intention, your intended use? Varmints? Bird hunting?

As for where to buy... you could start by inquiring at a local gun club. Talk to some owners, they're usually a friendly lot. Once you narrow down what you want gun shows can be a good place. Also watch the local classified ads for used guns.

A handy resource for checking prices on new guns is Gallery of Guns. It's a site run by Davidson, a gun distributor. Click on Gun Locater and you can search out types, find area dealers and see prices.

I started with a .22LR single shot used rifle my Dad gave me. Still have it. The first gun I bought was another 22, a semi-auto and I still have that one too. I added a few over the years, sold some, regretted some, and have a small arsenal now. Hard to say for sure what single gun I'd pick if I had to choose just one, but that's because I do hunt; deer, elk, ducks, mainly, and there's a "best" for each, although deciding that too will cause a lot of arguing about what's best.

Oh, and I love scopes to the point where I hardly have a rifle without one.

[Willy]

A .22 is a pretty effective weapon - in fact many people underestimate them.  Range of over a mile (not for shooting, but danger zone), and for a general purpose gun for no special reason I think it is great.  Shooting problem varmints without waking everyone in the neighborhood, it is my first choice.  I go to my 30.06 for bear problems or high accuracy and stopping power.  .22's can be very accurate also, and they are cheap to shoot. 

The other guys are bigger on guns and I'm sure can help more but that is my choice.  I use my Beretta .380 Auto Pistol for ease of carrying and lots of bullets -- not especially accuracy, but I can be a fair shot.

There is or has been a lot of 1,200 lb steers in my freezer that a 22 cal dropped on the place. Course when it came time to drop our 1,800 lb bull I used the Mini-14 cause his head is thick and I did not want to just make him real mad do to his size and abilities to do some serious damage. Mark

[glenn kangiser]

Really nice looking dead bull.  What breeds do you have, Mark?

A friend has some mini-angus looking cows - says they don't try to get out of the fences so bad.

[Willy]

Really nice looking dead bull.  What breeds do you have, Mark?

A friend has some mini-angus looking cows - says they don't try to get out of the fences so bad.

We have Scottish Highlands, Angus and Angus Cross, Longhorns, Herfords and a few totaly mixed breeds. Then add to that around 30-40 goats, maybe 60 rabbits, 20-30 chickens, 2 horses and 3 newfoundland dogs. A lot of mouths to feed and they go thru over 70 ton of hay during the winter!! I am glad we have the big barn to store it in and the facilities to deal with them. It all started out my daughter wanted a couple calves 12 years ago and I am not sure what happen after that!!?? Mark

[StinkerBell]

They look soft and cuddly Willy.

[Homegrown Tomatoes]

Well, I guess the reason for owning one (besides defense) would be mainly to chase off critters.  DH has *talked* about hunting, but has yet to take anyone up on the offer of going on a hunting trip (he seriously needs to take a gun safety class first.)  If we ever do raise our own beef, I'll probably pay someone else to butcher it... don't think I could do that myself, and I've got an aunt and uncle who run a small meat processor/ butcher shop, and would likely pay them to do it.  Besides, figure I need to experience my rights before they are all bargained away by politicians.  And, I like to target practice... used to be fairly good, but haven't shot a gun in so long I'm probably pretty lousy by now.

By the way, Mark, those Scottish Highlands are so cute...  I always liked Charolais (sp?) for the same reason.  Our neighbor had a herd of them when I was a kid, and I always thought they looked like marshmallow cows.  Our Hereford/Angus crosses weren't quite as cute, which is probably why I never had any problem eating them.

[MountainDon]

Well, I guess the reason for owning one (besides defense) would be mainly to chase off critters. 

If that's the case a good 22LR could do the job. As said before cheap to shoot so you can practice all day and not break the bank or your shoulder. Depending on range it may scare 'em more than kill 'em.

For more serious varmint critter shooting any of the "22" varmint calibers would offer more power; 22WMR, 22-250, 222 swift, .223, etc.  223 ammmo can be had fairly reasonably. And the newer .17 cal would deserve a look. But these are not choices for deer hunting.

[Willy]

They look soft and cuddly Willy.

They are like big fuzzy puppies till they grow up into something like this Bull! This ones a big push over and not a bit of mean till he meets another bull then look out and give them all the room they need of want to work it out! Mark

[Homegrown Tomatoes]

I'll never forget the year that my Grandpa bought Grandma her own shotgun for her birthday... she was always complaining that his gifts were not practical/ were too romantic, etc. (yes, she's a bit of a knothead) so he got her a shotgun.  Boy was she pouting for a few days!  I thought it was hilarious. 

Glenn, your story about prospecting in the area where marijuana growers have their crops  reminds me of a time when I was working at OU's biological station for the summer.  We were in SE Oklahoma collecting plants with a bunch of highschool kids... we'd noticed a lot of marijuana growing (and were naive enough to think it was wild) as we went into a swamp to collect aquatic plants.  It was somewhere in the McCurtain County Wilderness Area, and we were in a clearly marked university vehicle parked up on the main road.  Well, just about the time we got up to our belt buckles in the murky swamp water and the kids were happily collecting duckweed, two good ol' boys came out of nowhere with their shotguns and their Redman rings in their pockets, and their rottweilers, and they escorted us back to our ride where we thanked them and sped away as quickly as possible.   That day, I really wished that at least one of us had been packing!  I thought a few of the kids were going to pee their pants or hyperventilate before we got back to the van, they were so scared.  Now I can look back on it and laugh, but at the time, we weren't sure that anyone would ever find our bodies in the bottom of that swamp.

[StinkerBell]

Willy,

I have a very very NOVICE question. When you slaughter your cattle do you or can you use the hyde for something other then leather pants.... The fur reminds me of a Polar Bear (I have no idea why) so with that reference it looks like it would make a good rug or blanket.

[Willy]

Willy,

I have a very very NOVICE question. When you slaughter your cattle do you or can you use the hyde for something other then leather pants.... The fur reminds me of a Polar Bear (I have no idea why) so with that reference it looks like it would make a good rug or blanket.

My Daughter has a Tanning Buiness at home and tans the hides "Hair On" at home. She has made rugs, wall hangers, couch throws ect out of them. People have bought them for making chaps out of also. I think they would make a neat jacket for winter. She sells alot of leather stuff on ebay and is allways adding new stuff all the time. Mark
http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZlnghrn

[Willy]

Willy,

I have a very very NOVICE question. When you slaughter your cattle do you or can you use the hyde for something other then leather pants.... The fur reminds me of a Polar Bear (I have no idea why) so with that reference it looks like it would make a good rug or blanket.

My Daughter has a Tanning Buiness at home and tans the hides "Hair On" at home. She has made rugs, wall hangers, couch throws ect out of them. People have bought them for making chaps out of also. I think they would make a neat jacket for winter. She sells alot of leather stuff on ebay and is allways adding new stuff all the time. Mark
http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZlnghrn
This is a picture of the tumblers for softning the hides in I built and a few hides she tanned. Took a long time to build these and get them to turn at 28 RPMs the best range to do it with. Now the room is all sheeted off and not as clean! Mark

[StinkerBell]

I could see on a very cold winter night (maybe with no heat) using that as a warm toasty bed cover......

[StinkerBell]

Oh yes.....


I also see glenn and Nethog in a Fred Flinstone and Barney Rubble Outfits..........

[glenn kangiser]

I imagine you see me as a real knockout drop dead hunk, eh?, Stink?

[StinkerBell]

Yabba Dabba Not Exactly.......lol

[Sassy]

 

BTW, nice skins, Willy!     they look nice & warm