Choices choices!

[FMF Doc]

So tax money came in, and after paying off all my debt, which thankfully was not that much, I have $1500 to spend. I have narrowed my choices down to 2 different options, involving 3 different types of weapons. I already have a Ruger LC9 and Marlin .22LR.

Choice 1: Buy a Gen4 Glock 19($500) and Mosberg 500 Special Purpose($440), Gun Safe($250) and some more 9mm ammo and 12g ammo($310)

I like this choice because it only adds one new "caliber of ammo" 12g. The 9mm for the LC9 can be used in the glock. I would like to have a second pistol as an alternative when I can CCW it and as a truck gun. It would also give me a shot gun, the quintessential "must have" for any America home. And lastly it gets a gun safe that will make the wife happy. Apparently a hard sided locking case for the rifle isn't safe enough with two little ones in the house ?!
What I don't like is that I will only be able to purchase a small quantity of ammo, and still will not have a weapons system to reach out past 150 yds or bring to bear a significant volume of fire.

Choice 2: Delton Sierra 316 MOE($720), Mags and some ammo ($530-780... and maybe that gun safe($250).

I like this because I get a rifle that can reach out and touch someone at 500-600 meters...and yes, I CAN accurately hit a man-size target at that range. I still only add one new caliber, 5.56. I am very familiar with the Ar platform as I used it extensively in the military and am quite proficient with it. I have some apprehension that after this next election, this rifle might not be legal to buy.
What I don't like is that this still leaves me with only the one pistol, and when I have that with me, it leaves only a rifle, 5.56 or .22LR, for the wife for home defense.

So, which option is better? Eventually, assuming it doesn't become illegal, I'll have all of them, and a .308 to go with it, but for now, which sounds like the better choice???

 

[bergmen]

Personally, I would put the gun safe at the top of the list. You would want a nice garage to park that shiny new sports car, same for your guns.

You will feel much better leaving the house knowing that your firearms are in a safe, secure place.

Also, gun safes are great for storing other valuables that might be vulnerable to theft or destruction in the case of a fire. We have jewelry, passports, all of the vehicle pink slips, coins, cash, etc. in the safe.

Dan

 

[spazzymcgee]

I very strongly second the gun safe. Especially with children in the house. Work on getting the safe, then after saving for a little while longer, I would get the AR. I think the AR-15 is a measurably more quintessential part of the modern American home than the shotgun.

 

[boomhower1820]

I say AR but spend a bit more for something better.

 

[bannockburn]

So overall you're looking to spend $1500 on either package? Why not mix and match? Like you get the Glock 19 ($500), and the Delton Sierra 316 ($720), and the gun safe ($250). Still at around $1500 and you can buy mags, ammo, and accessories whenever you have some extra money to spend. Use the "big" money to buy the "big" ticket items; everything else can be acquired a little bit at a time along the way.

 

[nosmr2]

Expensive, good gun safe. I know it's not as much fun as a new toy, but...

 

[Roan]

Of the two, I recommend option 1. It gives you a shotgun, which I personally think is the most enjoyable weapon to take to a range since you get to bust clays. It gives you a second pistol, which is also fun to have. You definitely need a gun safe.

If you feel you really need a long range rifle, pick up a Mosin Nagant for $100. It's powerful, cheap, cheap to shoot, reliable, relatively accurate, and will draw positive attention at the range. Plus, the accessories are cheap, since the only accessory that doesn't come with it is a tin can with a funny lid that's buried under an apartment building in Budapest.

 

[Tipro]

I'm from NC like the OP, and I'm attracted to Delton because they're based out of North Carolina. Don't know if that matters to you though.

 

[smokey30725]

I agree with the recommendation about a good reliable safe. I used to work at a sporting goods store and was amazed at how many peope would buy a 1000 shotgun or rifle and when you recommended a safe for around the same price they would always say something about the cost. I sold several nice browning and cannon safes............especially to people replacing guns after a break in. I bought a liberty safe with my tax return in 2002 and consider it one of the best purchases I have ever made.

 

[wannabeagunsmith]

Choice 1, mainly for the Glock, you really need a pistol other than an LC9 just saying.

 

[hoghunting]

So tax money came in, and after paying off all my debt, which thankfully was not that much, I have $1500 to spend.

My suggestion would be to change your withholding at work. If you paid off debt and still had $1500 left over, you're giving the government too much money as a free loan. Change your withholding, put $150 - $200 monthly into your own savings account or investment account, and use that money for bonus purchases. Then buy a safe.

 

[JPG19]

I'd pickup a nice safe, a "higher end" AR, and save up for the Glock.

 

[ms6852]

Buy a safe and do not be like me buy the biggest you can afford, because eventually you will run out of room for your firearms.

 

[2zulu1]

Or you can get an M1 Garand from the Civilian Marksmanship Program , the G19 and a decent safe. End bloc clips for the Garand are inexpensive and at the distance you will be engaging the '06 still has a lot of power compared to the 5.56, especially if you handload bullets like the 165 gr SSTs. AP ammo penetrates a lot of 'stuff' when a lot of 'stuff' gets in the way.

At a future time you can go the Colt M4 route with a 1:7 twist barrel for stabilizing heavier bullets for longer distance shooting.

Your wife can probably shoot the Garand w/o much difficulty, same can't be said for the Mossberg loaded with LE OO buck.

 

[tarosean]

250 dollar safe would probably be a smidgen better than a cardboard box...

Up the quality of safe, forgo the cheap AR.. buy the 12G and if your still worried about AR's becoming illegal buy a stripped lower or two.

 

[FAS1]

Since you mentioned two kids, how about a quick access handgun safe for your LC9? It's alot easier to secure a handgun next to your bed for home defense with kids in the home than long guns.

FAS1 Safe Video Clip