a good match for me.

Hi everybody,

I am 28 years old, am 165 pounds, and have just spent a year in the hospital getting rid of cancer, am disabled, and on blood thinner for a blood clot, and cannot even afford to be beaten up anymore for fear of blood loss.

I now find myself in a rough neighborhood, far from the country-side that has always been my home.

In the short time that I have been here, My riding lawnmower has been stolen, a few of the people next to me has had break-ins, and crazy people roam the streets talking to themselves.

I am not being dramatic. I don't care about my property so much, but I do care about my family. This will be a in home, self defense application.

I have had some experience with firearms being from the country, but only smaller calibers like 38, 38 special, 22, and a small amount of 9mm, and rifles like SKS, and 8mm long rifle.

I feel I need something bigger, but there is no range nearby, and no one I know has an example of the firearms I am looking at.

specifically, I am looking at 45.ACP, and 12 Ga.

I have been looking through your excellent forums for some time now, and have learned a lot. So now I would like to give the details about me, and see if I have a good plan.

My wrists are weakened due to my illness, and my arm strength is diminished, that will get better with time, but I need to do something now.

I have heard you say repeatedly that the 45 acp is a low recoil round, and is one of the most efficient rounds available for what I need it for, also, the 12 ga is similar in this way.

but having no real experience with these, and with my current health, do you believe that I should choose a smaller caliber, or will the 45 be manageable for me.

I cannot afford a gas operated 12, and the pump is supposed to be brutal.

I am not afraid of firearms, I grew up with them around me, and enjoy shooting the calibers I stated very much. it is purely a issue of physical weakness.

I am looking at a firestar model 45. and a mossberg 870. Either way, I will practice many times a week, and the cost of ammo is not an issue.

What is an issue is recoil, as I feel like an old woman at times still. I have read over your posts on 45 caliber low recoil ammo, and most aren't impressed. so for this discussion, let's assume I use the 185-200 grain ammo, in the most inoffensive load.

I cannot test them before I buy, but don't want that to be a factor in choosing a capible firearm. I will overcome if physically able.

if I get the heavy firestar, and a moderately powerful hollow point ammo, do you think my poor wrists will be ok?

or should I get a mossberg 12? will that be ok for my poor shoulder?

or should I choose a smaller caliber? AS A NOTE, I would feel safer with the 45.

also, if one of these solutions seem best to you, what ammo would you recommend for me?

and how do these calibers I have experience with compare with my choices in terms of recoil?

you may be having fun here, but I believe that this info helps save lives in some way, keep it up highroad.

oh, and as a side note, I cannot blame you if I find I can't do it, and I will simply get another caliber. so don't worry about it.
HD

First,

thank you all for the invaluable advice, and equally, for the kind words. It is difficult for me, considering I used to be a strapping lad.

So, if it's OK, I would like to try to work toward an outcome. The general feeling is that the 9mm can deliver the effect I am looking for, and still be manageable, and is the largest diameter bullet I can handle at this point. I want to pick one up.

and also, that the 410 is not a bad gun for the range that I would be faced with.

and also, something I have not considered, the carbine. could be a viable option for me.

I will look beyond the 45acp for now until I get better.

here is a bit more detail, I am on disability income, and can really only spend about $300-400, maybe 500 on a solution, and this is really more than I have. I noticed the advice on the Saiga shotguns, and am aware that they operate like the Ak-47, and the action reduces felt recoil. this gun interests me, because when I am well again, I could hunt with it.

I live in Oklahoma, and have plenty of room to practice, but the number of ranges in my area is zero. and I have small hands, compacts fit me best for pistols.

I will need to have all of the money up front, and I have used everything I had just living day to day over the last year, so if you could factor this in, and perhaps if it's not too much trouble, provide advise on where I can get the most bang for my buck, (pun intended), and be something like you suggested that will be good for me,that would be most appreciated.

I am open to all of these solutions, and and am leaning toward the 9mm, but the saiga 410, or 20 idea might work also, if as mild as you said. also, can I get a nice carbine for my price range?

I know it's not really enough to get some of these fine arms you proposed, but it's the best I can muster sadly. If you could point me in the right direction, or know a dealer, or just have one you no longer want, I would be most grateful.

and to answer your question Sauer grapes, chemo has made my nerves endings sensitive in a way that is difficult to explain, when I hit my hands too hard on something for instance, it's like stubbing your toe when your foot is asleep. a strange feeling. the issue is recoil shock. (get checked often you do not want to wait like I did.)

thanks again everyone, a truly great community, you should all be proud of it, and I am truly grateful for you helping me along.

and if you would like to give more info, or advice, please do, I have found the links to be good ones, and I feel like I'm in good hands.

HD