Turbo6Smackdown
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Dec 31, 2005
- Messages
- 6,110
Here's the deal on the famous autoloading .22's from Ruger. First off you said that Ruger's not cheap. If you meant THAT ruger, then yes. Though that's not the case with all of them. They're one of the most affordable companies on the market. It's just that the particular gun you chose, is a fad gun (yes, there's trendy guns too) and that explains the price. It's actually a 300 dollar pistol. It just costs that much because soo many people love it. Myself included. They are great guns, but they're not expensive.
As far as a .22 for defense? I know that shot placement is way more important than calibre, but a .22 is a little on the small side.
Though, ammo is still available, and affordable. To use a .22 as a defensive weapon, a lot more training is required. If you can turn a corner, acquire the target (his head ONLY), and squeeze off 3 rounds, with ALL of them scoring a hit, in a SMALL amount of time, then you're good to go. No worries. But if you expect to incap the subject, with a single .22lr to centre mass, you're going to get yourself hurt.
Bottom line, if you can do the training, and achieve the standard, then go for it. Locking it up in a safe, does not preclude it from being utilized as a defensive weapon though. Just get one of those little single gun safes, that you mount to something, and use a quick code to open. They're like 80 bucks at the local gun stores.
A .380? Not that bad, but ammunition is ABSOLUTELY NON EXISTENT. I know, because I search the internet sites EVERY SINGLE DAY for it, and it's DAM HARD to find... Buffalo Bore has it, and it is of VERY high quality. In fact, it's the only .380 ammo I'd bet my life on, in a defensive capacity. Read his loading philosophy on the caliber. You'll be impressed. He's a straight shooter for sure.
Other than that, if you want to get a gun that will work as a defensive piece, and still be affordable to shoot, and have readily available ammo supplies, then get a foreign surplus gun. Something like a Makarov, or CZ82 in 9x18.
For the situation we're in right now, standard issue guns and ammo are not only rare, but expensive as well. Foreign stuff is always coming ashore, because a lot of the smaller european countries, are always in the middle of a calibre or weapons change somewhere. Maybe serbia just nixed their current service sidearm, for a 9mm nato pistol. Bam, there's 2000 barely used serbian pistols up for sale. Or the Czech republic just got rid of their vz58's. Now there's a ton of spare parts, or surplus 7.62x39 ammo available. This translates into cheap surplus for all. I just bought 200 rnds of 9x18mm for next to nothing... The gun costs 189 dollars, and is by a reputable maker (cz). Also got a case of ammo for my AK74. 150 bucks for 1080 rounds.
So with this info, do your research, and settle on what you can afford. As of now, pick your weapon based on MAGAZINE AND AMMO availability, NOT the piece itself. Trust me...
After we get out of this firearms mess (if we ever) then, you can pick your piece based off of ergonomics, value, looks, and craftsmanship. Until then, we're kinda ****ed. Unless of course you have a ton of money, which, if you're a turbo buick owner, I'm going to assume no.
(a little on my background. I've been deep into the shooting sports since I was about 12. Ive been in the army infantry since 1992, and in a very elite unit since 2000. I have been the team armorer since 2000 as well, and have had some formal training as such. I've been collecting weapons since I was 18, and have just bought 5 more guns in the last few months, along with over 60 magazines, and over 7000 rounds of ammo. next to buicks and softball, it's my main hobby. Will hopefully become a full time armorer when I get off this deployment.)
As far as a .22 for defense? I know that shot placement is way more important than calibre, but a .22 is a little on the small side.
Though, ammo is still available, and affordable. To use a .22 as a defensive weapon, a lot more training is required. If you can turn a corner, acquire the target (his head ONLY), and squeeze off 3 rounds, with ALL of them scoring a hit, in a SMALL amount of time, then you're good to go. No worries. But if you expect to incap the subject, with a single .22lr to centre mass, you're going to get yourself hurt.
Bottom line, if you can do the training, and achieve the standard, then go for it. Locking it up in a safe, does not preclude it from being utilized as a defensive weapon though. Just get one of those little single gun safes, that you mount to something, and use a quick code to open. They're like 80 bucks at the local gun stores.
A .380? Not that bad, but ammunition is ABSOLUTELY NON EXISTENT. I know, because I search the internet sites EVERY SINGLE DAY for it, and it's DAM HARD to find... Buffalo Bore has it, and it is of VERY high quality. In fact, it's the only .380 ammo I'd bet my life on, in a defensive capacity. Read his loading philosophy on the caliber. You'll be impressed. He's a straight shooter for sure.
Other than that, if you want to get a gun that will work as a defensive piece, and still be affordable to shoot, and have readily available ammo supplies, then get a foreign surplus gun. Something like a Makarov, or CZ82 in 9x18.
For the situation we're in right now, standard issue guns and ammo are not only rare, but expensive as well. Foreign stuff is always coming ashore, because a lot of the smaller european countries, are always in the middle of a calibre or weapons change somewhere. Maybe serbia just nixed their current service sidearm, for a 9mm nato pistol. Bam, there's 2000 barely used serbian pistols up for sale. Or the Czech republic just got rid of their vz58's. Now there's a ton of spare parts, or surplus 7.62x39 ammo available. This translates into cheap surplus for all. I just bought 200 rnds of 9x18mm for next to nothing... The gun costs 189 dollars, and is by a reputable maker (cz). Also got a case of ammo for my AK74. 150 bucks for 1080 rounds.
So with this info, do your research, and settle on what you can afford. As of now, pick your weapon based on MAGAZINE AND AMMO availability, NOT the piece itself. Trust me...
After we get out of this firearms mess (if we ever) then, you can pick your piece based off of ergonomics, value, looks, and craftsmanship. Until then, we're kinda ****ed. Unless of course you have a ton of money, which, if you're a turbo buick owner, I'm going to assume no.
(a little on my background. I've been deep into the shooting sports since I was about 12. Ive been in the army infantry since 1992, and in a very elite unit since 2000. I have been the team armorer since 2000 as well, and have had some formal training as such. I've been collecting weapons since I was 18, and have just bought 5 more guns in the last few months, along with over 60 magazines, and over 7000 rounds of ammo. next to buicks and softball, it's my main hobby. Will hopefully become a full time armorer when I get off this deployment.)