"Car"-bine recommendations

[Dionysusigma]

Well, a friend/coworker of mine is moving to Rhode Island this winter for school (eventually wants to get a degree in Archaeology from Brown, but that's beside the point). Having been in a few bad situations before in her life, she isn't going to do this without some sort of self-protection... and a butterfly knife isn't going to cut it (ha ha).

She wants a gun for defense purposes; but being 18, a handgun will not work. A few details on the situation:

She's about average height and build, but tough
Money is not something she has a lot of (budget is ~$200 at the extreme highest)
Ruggedness is important
Capacity is a big factor as well

Means of conveyance is a '70s Chevy 1/2 ton pickup. Neither she nor I know much about the "Peaceable Journey" laws, so where online would one find them? Can someone actually carry a long gun in their car, loaded, without breaking the law?

Personally, in a perfect world I would recommend an MP5K, but a Kel-Tec Sub 2000 with Beretta mags appears more realistic. However, even that is much too expensive... I mentioned the Hi-Point carbine, but capacity is rather low. One of my more creative suggestions was a used Remington 870 Marine Mag with a PG and PG foregrip, but that may be a bit much.

Anything that anyone can add or has to say about this sort of situation(such as similar stories or whatnot) is greatly appreciated. There's only so much that one can do with insufficient information...

 

[Vitamin G]

I know in PA, a loaded rifle in a car/truck is a big no-no. Even "charged magazines" constitute a loaded rifle.

 

[Snake Eyes]

Peaceable Journey law summaries for each and every state, plus links for more detailed info can be found at Packing.org.

The obvious answer for the firearm is a defense oriented pump shotgun.

 

[KarbineKrazy]

$200? camp 9s can be had for about $250.... maybe less...

you can get 14 rounders for fairly cheap, 20 rounders will be coming into the country from MecGar shortly for about $25 a piece.

compact, yep! she gets into any money, she could put a Choate Folder on it for about $100

Oh, btw, a camp 9 is a great starter gun for women anyway... My girlfriend loves mine! pretty good with it too.

 

[AK103K]

She wants a gun for defense purposes; but being 18, a handgun will not work

Federal law is 18 to posesess and 21 to purchase for a handgun. Unless your state laws are different, she can have the pistol with her legally at 18. Carrying it loaded while traveling is another thing, but then again, that goes for rifles and shotguns too in most places these days.

 

[Kaylee]

shotgun makes sense.. for a rifle the obvious answer is an SKS. Cheap gun, not bad recoil, cheap ammunition (so she can afford to actually practice with it), and pretty darn durable.

 

[rbernie]

Sorry to say, but she doesn't need a rifle or a handgun. She needs a Mossberg 500 in 20GA. Should cost around $250 new or about $150 used in good shape. Load it with #4 Buck, and she's set.

 

[BigBlueEyedDevil]

Remington 870

Winchester 1300

Mossberg 500

Any one of those loaded up with reduced recoil buckshot.

Just my two cents.

 

[SLCDave]

Saiga 12 or 20?

 

[Shane333]

I'm with SLCDave. Just about any Saiga shotgun or rifle will do.

 

[Rupestris]

I picked up my Winchester 94 used for $175.
Saigas in 7.62X39 are $199 here in MI.
Used Rem 870's go for about $200 as well.

I'd opt for a used Winchester lever gun in .357 Mag.

 

[HiWayMan]

I second the used levergun in .357 mag, but make it a Marlin. Drop a red dot on it and it is good to go out to about 150 yds. My "Trapper" configured Marlin sports a Lyman adjustable sight. It's been riding shotgun in my truck for a couple of years. It is damn comforting loaded with 125gr gold dots.

 

[Rupestris]

HiWay,
I had originally wanted to suggest a Marlin but after a quick check on Gunbroker, it seems the Marlins in .357 are fetching a premium. The Win's are a littel closer to the $200 mark.
When it comes to affordable .30-30's I prefer the Win 94 (except for that nasty trigger). Otherwise, make mine Marlin too.

 

[wdlsguy]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but -

§ 11-47-51 Loaded weapons in vehicles. – It is unlawful for any person to have in his or her possession a loaded rifle or loaded shotgun or a rifle or shotgun from the magazine of which all shells and cartridges have not been removed in or on any vehicle or conveyance or its attachments while upon or along any public highway, road, lane, or trail within this state; provided, that the provisions of this section shall not apply to ...

http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/Statutes/TITLE11/11-47/11-47-51.HTM

 

[Dionysusigma]

Oy.

I wonder how fast I can teach her to load the mag...

Federal law is 18 to posesess and 21 to purchase for a handgun.

Unfortunately, she's in the same boat as I am in that area... parents won't do it for her due to "difference in opinion."

Waitaminute--might there be a short M1 Garand that would lend itself well to this purpose? Or would the en bloc clip be considered a magazine? (fast, easy loading... and cool too )

Another question along these same lines: Would a Mossberg 500/Remington 870 with a barrel shortened to 18+1/8", pistol grip, and pistol foregrip still be over the legal length, or would a combo pistol grip and topfolder stock be required?

TIA... *goes off to Strategies & Tactics to start another thread...*
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=109060

 

[MrMurphy]

20ga double barrel shotgun. Idiotproof operation, packs a good punch at close range, double barrels are very intimidating, and they're very SHORT! (no reciever). You can go from "empty" to "loaded and ready" in about three seconds. A ammo belt with 25 rounds next to it doesn't mean "loaded" or have the belt under the seat. They run about $300 for a Baikal or Stoeger, a little less used. The design basically hasn't changed for the last 130 years, so there's very little to screw up.

 

[Ian]

might there be a short M1 Garand that would lend itself well to this purpose?

There are some of those; I have one. Don't know if the clips would be considered "loaded," but I do know that you aren't going to find one in that budget.

Seems to me that depending on her recoil tolerance, an SKS, Mosin Nagant, No5 Enfield, or shotgun could all make good choices.

 

[Marcus]

In this case and if she really wants a rifle I`d say an SKS transported with an empty magazine but with a supply of loaded stripper clips. Marcus

 

[itgoesboom]

20 ga shotgun is a great idea. Good amount of punch, very reliable, easy to load and unload. Also very intimidating.

SKS is nice, longer range, and the ability to have loaded stripper clips, which are very quick. Also extremely reliable, and the recoil isn't too severe at all, and it is sized right for a female shooter.

I.G.B.

 

[artherd]

For just one trip? Keep a loaded revolver in a holster. Revolver can go from 'loaded' to 'unloaded' with a trick of the wrist )

I certinly do not do the same thing with my glock G34 (in CA where loaded mag is not 'loaded' if it is not contacting the gun.) drop mag rack slide. 1 second total.

 

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

Find someone who can buy a good used revolver for her. If she's 18, she can own a handgun, she just can't buy it for herself.

The big advantage of a revolver over any longun is that it's conceleable. She can keep it on her person, not locked away in the trunk, so that it's actually on hand should she ever need it.

Revolvers are simple to learn, reliable, effective, and cheap. They can be unloaded quickly and with one hand, should the law suddenly require an unloaded gun. The only hangup is finding a way to procure it for her. Are you old enough to buy one for her?

 

[DF357]

RI is one of the most gun unfriendly states around.

I live about 25 miles from the border in SE Mass , and know many people in RI. I've been told and have read that it's nearly impossible to get a carry license in that state.

Peaceable journey laws usually only apply when you pass thru a state without stopping for more that a few minutes at a time. I doubt it would apply in this case.

 

[KarbineKrazy]

I still say a camp 9 is the way to go. It's unloaded until you put a magazine in it. and a 9mm carbine packs some punch with a good hollow point 147 gran bullet.