Looking to buy a gun

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my wife was anti-gun. With all that's going down in the country, she's changed her tune

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further evidence to support Theory of Life # 129: You're only anti-gun until you actually need one.

Have you ever owned a gun before?

if unfamiliar with firearms...

i'd scan the reviews of your local gun range...
words like "friendly" and/or "knowledgeable" that are frequently used means that's a place you may wanna visit.

most gun ranges/shop offer gun safety/ownership classes..
my personal opninion is i would not be a rush to purchase any tool unless i had the confidence on being able to use it.
...especially one that can ruin you financially or kill or maim yourself or those close to you with very little effort.

now.. if you grew up hunting or can hit a human sized target from 500 yards away with iron sights only..ignore everything i just said.

1st gun for home defense..
an AR shotgun(if u can find one)
i like birdshot for a "warning" load and then nothing but slugs.


edit: ok, ok ok...don't use slugs

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1st gun for home defense..
an AR shotgun(if u can find one)
i like birdshot for a "warning" load and then nothing but slugs.

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Bad advice

Do not shoot slugs in a house unless you want it to penetrate 3 houses away

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i like birdshot for a "warning" load and then nothing but slugs

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I agree but I would go with T shot or buck shot instead of a slug....a slug will penetrate masonry walls with enough force to still do some damage and its only one shot...inside a home T shot in a 3inch shell and a cylinder choke is more than sufficient to dissuade anyone that a 9MM would dissuade...most would be creepers will seek environs elsewhere when they hear a pump gun slide working....nary a shot needs to be fired....that sound is universally recognized and very good information to pass on to a would be thief or scoundrel meaning to do some dirt in your home.

What’s your budget?

I agree with others that going get training is the most important first step if you have no exposure to firearms. There is a lot of safety and weapon manipulation involved.

One of the best home defense weapons is the AR15 but if you have limited firearms experience I would suggest getting that first. If you prefer something smaller and more compact, id get a full sized 9mm that both you and the wife find comfortable to handle (meaning the grip isn’t too thiccccc if either of y’all has small hands).

The only reason I don’t suggest a 12 gauge is because effective ammo (buckshot for self defense) is absolutely punishing on the shoulder, especially for a novice shooter.

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i like birdshot for a "warning"

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This is bad advice. Always try your best to hit what you are aiming at. Don’t send rogue projectiles out of your gun with no intended target. You are responsible for everything that leaves the barrel.

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T shot in a 3inch shell and a cylinder choke is more than sufficient to dissuade anyone that a 9MM would dissuade...most would be creepers will seek environs elsewhere when they hear a pump gun slide working....nary a shot needs to be fired....that sound is universally recognized and very good information to pass on to a would be thief or scoundrel meaning to do some dirt in your home

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This is also not great advice. If someone is bold enough to enter an occupied home they probably already know it is occupied. Plus if someone is on mind-altering drugs there is no negotiation to make them “reverse course.” It will likely require physically stopping them and birdshot will not do that effectively, although a turkey load will be marginally better.

In my classes I refer to this as a “physical stop” instead of a “psychological stop.” The second is when the perp decides to end the fight. The first is when the defender ends the fight and is typically required if drugs are involved.

Unless you are willing to commit to the effort to educate yourself and practice with a firearm then your wife was right the first time. Just get a big dog